it were better for you. God is only one God, celebrated be His praise that He should beget a Son! His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth ; and God sufficeth for a guardian.
[170] The Messiah doth surely not disdain to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nigh to Him ; and whosoever disdains His service and is too proud, He will gather them altogether to Himself.
But as for those who believe and do what is right, He will pay their hire and will give increase to them of His grace. But as for those who disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with a grievous woe, and they shall not find for them other than God a patron or a help.
p. 2
O ye folk! proof has come to you from your Lord, and we have sent down to you manifest light. As for those who believe in God, and take tight hold of Him, He will make them enter into mercy from Him and grace; and He will guide them to Himself by a right way.
[175] They will ask thee for a decision ;. say, ‘God will give you a decision concerning remote kinship.’
If a man perish and have no child, but have a sister, let her have half of what he leaves; and he shall be her heir, if she have no son. But if there be two sisters, let them both have two thirds of what he leaves; and if there be brethren, both men and women, let the male have like the portion of two females. God makes this manifest to you lest ye err; for God all things doth know.
Tue CHAPTER OF THE TABLE.
(V. Medinah.)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. .
O ye who believe! fulfil your compacts.—Lawful for you are brute beasts, save what is here recited to you, not allowing you the chase while ye are on pilgrimage; verily, God ordaineth what He will.
O ye who believe! do not deem the monuments of God to be lawful, nor the sacred month 2, nor the offering, nor its neck garlands, nor those who sojourn at the sacred house, craving grace from their Lord and His pleasure.
1 See note 1, p. 73. * Muharram.
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But when ye are in lawful state again, then chase; and let not ill-will against the people who turned you from the Sacred Mosque! make you transgress ; but help one another in righteousness and piety, and do not help one another to sin and enmity; but fear God,—verily, God is keen to punish.
Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that which is devoted to other than God, and the strangled and the knocked down, and that which falls down, and the gored, and what wild beasts have eaten —except what ye slaughter in time—and what is sacrificed to idols?, and dividing carcases by arrows’.
To-day shall those who disbelieve in your religion despair; do ye not then fear them, but fear me— [5] To-day is perfected for you your religion, and fulfilled upon you is my favour, and I am pleased for you to have Islam for a religion. But he who is forced by hunger, not inclined wilfully to sin, verily, God is forgiving, compassionate.
They will ask thee what is lawful for them? say, ‘Lawful for you are good things and what ye have taught beasts of prey (to catch), training them like dogs ;—ye teach them as God taught you ;—so eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of God over it, and fear God, for verily, God is swift in reckoning up.’
Lawful for you to-day are good things, and the food of those to whom the Book has been given is
1 The Qur4ish, who sent to meet Mohammed with 1400 men at ‘Hud4ibtfyeh to prevent him from approaching Mecca, a. H. 6.
® Literally, ‘stones set up,’ Dolmens and the like, which are so common throughout Arabia.
5 By the game of mAisar, see p. 32.
[6] Hp. 13 lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them; and chaste women of those who believe, and chaste women of those to whom the Book has been given before you,—when you have given them their hire, living chastely and not fornicating, and not taking paramours. But whoso disbelieves in the faith, of a truth his work is vain, and he shall be in the next life of those who lose.
O ye who believe! when ye rise up to prayer wash your faces, and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and your feet down to the ankles. And if ye are polluted, then purify yourselves. But if ye are sick, or on a journey, or if one of you comes from the privy, or if ye have touched women and cannot find water, then take fine surface sand and wipe your faces and your hands therewith. God does not wish to make any hindrance for you ; but He wishes to purify you and to fulfil his favour upon you; haply ye may give thanks.
[10] Remember the favour of God to you and His covenant which He covenanted with you, when ye said, ‘We hear and we obey?;’ and fear God, verily, God knows the nature of men’s breasts.
O ye who believe! stand steadfast to God as witnesses with justice; and let not ill-will towards people make you sin by not acting with equity. Act with equity, that is nearer to piety, and fear God; for God is aware of what ye do.
God has promised to those who believe and work righteousness, that for them is pardon and a mighty hire. But those who disbelieve and call our signs lies, these are the fellows of hell.
1 Referring to the oath of fidelity which Mohammed’s adherents took at ‘Akabah.
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O ye who believe! remember God's favour towards you, when a people intended to stretch their hands against you, but He withheld their hands from you’; and upon God let believers rely.
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O ye who believe! remember God's favour towards you, when a people intended to stretch their hands against you, but He withheld their hands from you’; and upon God let believers rely.
[15] God did take a compact from the children of Israel, and raised up of them twelve wardens; and God said, ‘ Verily, I am with you, if ye be steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and believe in my apostles, and assist them, and lend to God a goodly loan; then will I cover your offences and make you enter gardens beneath which rivers flow: and whoso disbelieves after that, he hath erred from the level way.
And for that they broke their compact, we cursed
‘them, and placed in their hearts hardness, so that they perverted the words from their places, and forgot a portion of what they were reminded of?.
But thou wilt not cease to light upon treachery amongst them, save a few of them; but pardon them and shun them; verily, God loves the kind.
And of those who say, ‘ Verily, we are Christians,’ we have taken a compact; but they have forgotten a portion of what they were reminded of ; wherefore have we excited amongst them enmity and hatred till the resurrection day; but God will tell them of what they have done.
O ye people of the Book! our Apostle has come to you to explain to you much of what ye had hidden of the Book, and to pardon much. There has come to you from God a light, and a perspicuous
1 Various stories are told in explanation of this passage, but they are all obviously apocryphal, the angel Gabriel intervening to prevent some mischief either to the Apostle or his followers.
2 That is, the text foretelling the coming of Mohammed; see Introduction.
H2
p. 25
Book; God guides thereby those who follow His pleasure to the way of peace, and brings them into a right way.
They misbelieve who say, ‘Verily, God is the Messiah the son of Mary;’ say, ‘Who has any hold on God, if he wished to destroy the Messiah the son of Mary, and his mother, and those who are on earth altogether ?’ .
[20] God’s is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and what is between the two; He createth what He will, for God is mighty over all !
But the Jews and the Christians say, ‘We are the sons of God and His beloved.’ Say, ‘Why then does He punish you for your sins ? nay, ye are mortals of those whom He has created! He pardons whom He pleases, and punishes whom He pleases; for God's is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and what is between the two, and unto Him the journey is.
O people of the Book! our Apostle has come to you, explaining to you the interval of apostles; lest ye say, ‘There came not to us a herald of glad tidings nor a warner.’ But there has come to you now a herald of glad tidings and a warner, and God is mighty over all!
O people of the Book! our Apostle has come to you, explaining to you the interval of apostles; lest ye say, ‘There came not to us a herald of glad tidings nor a warner.’ But there has come to you now a herald of glad tidings and a warner, and God is mighty over all!
When Moses said to his people, ‘O my people! remember the favour of God towards you when He made amongst you prophets, and made for you kings, and brought you what never was brought to anybody in the worlds. O my people! enter the Holy Land which God has prescribed for you; and be ye not thrust back upon your hinder parts and retreat losers, [25] They said,‘O Moses! verily, therein is a people, giants; and we will surely not enter therein
V, 25-35- THE CHAPTER OF THE TABLE, IOI
until they go out from thence; but if they go out then we will enter in.’ Then said two men of those who fear,—God had been gracious to them both,— ‘Enter ye upon them by the door, and when ye have entered it, verily, ye shall be victorious; and upon God do ye rely if ye be believers.’ They said, ‘O Moses! we shall never enter it so long as they are therein; so, go thou and thy. Lord and fight ye twain; verily, we will sit down here.’ Said he, ‘My Lord, verily, I can control only myself and my brother; therefore part us from these sinful people.’ He said, ‘Then, verily, it is forbidden them; for forty years shall they wander about in the earth ; so vex not thyself for the sinful people.’
[30] Recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam; truly when they offered an offering and it was accepted from one of them, and was not accepted from the other, that one said, ‘I will surely kill thee;’ he said, ‘God only accepts from those who fear. If thou dost stretch forth to me thine hand to kill me, I will not stretch forth mine hand to kill thee; verily, I fear God the Lord of the worlds; verily, I wish that thou mayest draw upon thee my sin and thy sin, and be of the fellows of the Fire, for that is the reward of the unjust.’ But his soul allowed him to slay his brother, and he slew him, and in the morning he was of those who lose. And God sent a crow to scratch in the earth and show him how he might hide his brother’s shame, he said, ‘ Alas, for me! Am I too helpless to become like this crow and hide my brother's shame?’ and in the morning he was of those who did repent.
[35] For this cause have we prescribed .to the children of Israel that whoso kills a soul, unless itp. 44 be for another soul or for violence in the land, it is as though he had killed men altogether; but whoso | saves one, it is as though he saved men altogether.
Our apostles came to them with manifest signs ; then, verily, many of them did after that commit excesses in the earth.
V, 35-44.
be for another soul or for violence in the land, it is as though he had killed men altogether; but whoso | saves one, it is as though he saved men altogether.
Our apostles came to them with manifest signs ; then, verily, many of them did after that commit excesses in the earth.
The reward of those who make war against God and His Apostle, and strive after violence in the earth, is only that they shall be slaughtered or crucified, or their hands cut off and their feet on alternate sides, or that they shall be banished from the land ;—that is a disgrace for them in this world, and for them in the next is mighty woe; save for those who repent before ye have them in your power, for know ye that God is forgiving, merciful.
O ye who believe! fear God and crave the means to approach Him, and be strenuous in His way, haply ye will prosper then.
[40] Verily, those who disbelieve, even though they had what is in the earth, all of it, and the like thereof with it, to offer as a ransom from the punishment of the resurrection day, it would not be accepted from them; but for them is grievous woe. They may wish to go forth from the Fire, but they shall not go forth therefrom, for them is lasting woe. -
The man thief and the woman thief, cut off the hands of both as a punishment, for that they have erred ;—an example from God, for God is mighty, wise.
But whoso turns again after his injustice and acts aright, verily, God will turn to him, for, verily, God is forgiving, merciful.
Do ye not know that God, His is the kingdom ofp. 103 the heavens and the earth; He punishes whom He pleases, and forgives whom He pleases, for God is mighty over all ?
[45] O thou Apostle! let not those grieve thee who vie in misbelief; or those who say with their mouths ‘ We believe,’ but their hearts do not believe; or of those who are Jews, listeners to a lie,—listeners to other people, but who come not to thee. They pervert the words from their places and say, ‘ If this is what ye are given, take it; but if ye are not given it, then beware!’ but he whom God wishes to mislead, thou canst do nothing with God for him; these are those whose hearts God wishes not to purify, for them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the next is mighty woe,—listeners to a lie, eaters of unlawful things!
But if they come to thee, then judge between them or turn aside from them; but if thou turnest aside from them they shall not harm thee at all, but if thou judgest, then judge between them with justice, verily, God loves the just. But how should they make thee their judge, when they have the law wherein is God’s judgment? Yet they turn back after that, for they do not believe.
But how should they make thee their judge, when they have the law wherein is God’s judgment? Yet they turn back after that, for they do not believe.
Verily, we have revealed the law in which is guidance and light; the prophets who were resigned did judge thereby those who were Jews, as did the masters! and doctors by what they remembered of the Book of God and by what they were witnesses of. Fear not men, but fear me, and sell not my signs for a little price ; for whoso will not judge by what God has revealed, these be the misbelievers.
1 See note 2, p. 56.
104 THE QuR’AN. V, 49°55-
We have prescribed for thee therein ‘a life for a life, and an eye for an eye, and a nose for a nose, and an ear for an ear, and a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds retaliation ;’ but whoso remits it, it is an expiation for him, but he whoso will not judge by what God has revealed, these be the unjust.
[50] And we followed up the footsteps of these (prophets) with Jesus the son of Mary, confirming that which was before him and the law, and we brought him the gospel, wherein is guidance and light, verifying what was before it of the law, and a guidance and an admonition unto those who fear.
Then let the people of the gospel judge by that which is revealed therein, for whoso will not judge by what God has revealed, these be the evildoers.
We have revealed to thee the Book in truth verifying what was before it, and preserving it; judge then between them by what God has revealed, and follow not their lusts, turning away from what is given to thee of the truth.
For each one of you have we made a law and a pathway; and had God pleased He would have made you one nation, but He will surely try you concerning that which He has brought you. Be ye therefore emulous in good deeds; to God is your return altogether, and He will let you know concerning that wherein ye do dispute.
Wherefore judge thou between them by what God has revealed, and follow not their lusts; but beware lest they mislead thee from part of what God has revealed to thee; yet if they turn back, then know that God wishes to fall on them for some sins of theirs,—verily, many men are evildoers.
[55] Is it the judgment of the Ignorance theyp. 105 crave!? but who is better than God to judge for people who are sure?
O ye who believe! take not the Jews and Christians for your patrons: they are patrons of each other; but whoso amongst you takes them for patrons, verily, he is of them, and, verily, God guides not an unjust people.
Thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a sickness vieing with them; they say, ‘We fear lest there befall us a reverse.’ It may be God will give the victory, or an order from Himself, and they may awake repenting of what they thought in secret to themselves.
Those who believe say, ‘Are these they who swore by God with their most strenuous oath that they were surely with you ?’—their works are in vain and they shall wake the losers.
Those who believe say, ‘Are these they who swore by God with their most strenuous oath that they were surely with you ?’—their works are in vain and they shall wake the losers.
O ye who believe! whoso is turned away from his religion—God will bring (instead) a people? whom He loves and who love Him, lowly to believers, lofty to unbelievers, strenuous in the way of God, fearing not the blame of him who blames. That is God’s grace! He gives it unto whom He pleases, for God both comprehends and knows.
[60] God only is your patron, and His Apostle and those who believe, who are steadfast in prayer and give alms, bowing down. Whoso taketh as patrons God and His apostles and those who believe ;— verily, God’s crew, they are victorious!
O ye who believe! take not for patrons those who
1 The time before the Mohammedan dispensation is always so called. 3 T.e. to take his place.
p. 69
take your religion for a jest or a sport, from amongst those who have been given the Book before and the misbelievers; but fear God if ye be believers. Nor those who, when ye call to prayer, take it for a jest and a sport; that is because they are a people who do not understand.
Say, ‘O people of the Book! do ye disavow us, for aught but that we believe in God, and what was revealed to us before, and for that most of you are evildoers ?’
[65] Say, ‘Can I declare unto you something worse than retribution from God ?? Whomsoever God has cursed and been wroth with—and he has made of them apes and swine—and who worship 7aghit, they are in a worse plight and are more erring from the level path. When they come to you they say, ‘We believe;’ but they entered in with unbelief, and they went out therewith, and God knows best what they did hide.
Thou wilt see many of them vieing in sin and enmity, and in eating unlawful things,—evil is it that they have done. The masters and their doctors prohibit them from speaking sin and eating unlawful things,—evil is what they have performed.
The Jews say, ‘God's hand is fettered;’ their hands are fettered and they are cursed for what they said; nay! His hands are outspread, He expends how He pleases! and that which has been sent down to thee from thy Lord will surely increase many of them in their rebellion and misbelief, for we have cast amongst them enmity and hatred till the resurrection day. Whenever they light a fire! for war,
1 The ancient Arabs always lit a beacon-fire as a proclamation of war, or a notice of the approach of an enemy. /
p. 107
God puts it out; they strive for corruption in the earth, but God loves not the corrupt.
Whenever they light a fire! for war,
1 The ancient Arabs always lit a beacon-fire as a proclamation of war, or a notice of the approach of an enemy. /
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God puts it out; they strive for corruption in the earth, but God loves not the corrupt.
[70] But did the people of the Book believe and fear, we would cover their offences, and we would make them enter into gardens of pleasure ; and were they steadfast in the law and the gospel, and what has been sent down to them from their Lord, they should eat from above them and below them. Amongst them are a nation who are moderate, but many of them—bad is what they do.
O thou Apostle! preach what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord; if thou do it not thou hast not preached His message, and God will not hold thee free from men; for God guides not people who misbelieve.
Say, ‘O people of the Book! ye rest on naught until ye stand fast by the law and the gospel, and what is revealed to you from your Lord.’ But what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord will of a surety increase many of them in rebellion and misbelief, vex not thyself then for a people who misbelieve.
Verily, those who believe and those who are Jews, and the Sabzans, and the Christians, whosoever believes in God and the last day, and does what is right, there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve.
We took a compact of the children of Israel, and we sent to them apostles; every time there came to them an apostle with what their souls loved not, a part of them they did call liars and a part of them they slew.
[75] And they reckoned that there would be no disturbance ; but they were blind and deaf! and then
p. 83
God turned again towards them: and then many amongst them were blind and deaf! but God saw what they did.
_They misbelieve who say, ‘Verily, God is the Messiah the son of Mary;’ but the Messiah said, ‘O children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord;’ verily, he who associates aught with God, God hath forbidden him Paradise, and his resort is the Fire, and the unjust shall have none to help them.
They misbelieve who say, ‘Verily, God is the third of three ;’ for there is no God but one, and if they do not desist from what they say, there shall touch those who misbelieve amongst them grievous woe.
Will they not turn again towards God and ask pardon of Him? for God is forgiving and merciful.
The Messiah the son of Mary is only a prophet: prophets before him have passed away; and his mother was a confessor; they used both to eat food.— See how we explain to them the signs, yet see how they turn aside!
[80] Say, ‘Will ye serve, other than God, what can neither hurt you nor profit you?’ but God, He both hears and knows.
Say, ‘O people of the Book! exceed not the truth in your religion, and follow not the lusts of a people who have erred before, and who lead many astray, and who go away from the level path.’
Say, ‘O people of the Book! exceed not the truth in your religion, and follow not the lusts of a people who have erred before, and who lead many astray, and who go away from the level path.’
Those of the children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of David and Jesus the son of Mary; that is because they rebelled and did transgress; they would not desist from the wrong they did; evil is that which they did. Thou wiltp. 109 see many of them taking those who disbelieve for their patrons; evil is that which their souls have sent before them, for God’s wrath is on them, and in the torment shall they dwell for aye. But had they believed in God and the prophet, and what was revealed to him, they had not taken these for their patrons; but many of them are evildoers.
[85] Thou wilt surely find that the strongest in enmity against those who believe are the Jews and the idolaters; and thou wilt find the nearest in love to those who believe to be those who say, ‘ We are Christians ;’ that is because there are amongst them priests and monks, and because they are not proud.
And when they hear what has been revealed to the prophet, you will see their eyes gush with tears at what they recognise as truth therein; and they will say, ‘O our Lord! we believe, so write us down amongst the witnesses. Why should we not believe in God and the truth that is given to us, nor desire that our Lord should make us enter with the upright people?’
Therefore has God rewarded them, for what they said, with gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the reward of those who do good; but those who disbelieve and say our signs are lies, they are the fellows of hell.
O ye who believe! forbid not the good things which God has made lawful for you, nor transgress ; verily, God loves not the transgressors.
[90] But eat of what God has provided you lawfully of good things; and fear God, in whom ye believe.
God will not catch you up for a casual word in your oaths, but He will catch you up for having
110 THE QuR’AN. V, 91-96.
what ye make deliberate oaths about; and the expiation thereof is to feed ten poor men with the middling food ye feed your families withal, or to clothe them, or to free a neck!; but he who has not the means, then let him fast three days. That is the expiation of your oaths, when ye have sworn to keep your oaths; thus does God explain to you His signs,—haply ye may be grateful.
O ye who believe! verily, wine, and el maisar?, and statues’, and divining (arrows) are only an abomination of Satan’s work; avoid them then that haply ye may prosper. Satan only desires to place enmity and hatred between you by wine and m4isar, and to turn you from the remembrance of God and from prayer; but will ye not desist, and obey God, and obey the apostles, and beware, for if ye turn back then know that our Apostle has only his message to preach ?
Satan only desires to place enmity and hatred between you by wine and m4isar, and to turn you from the remembrance of God and from prayer; but will ye not desist, and obey God, and obey the apostles, and beware, for if ye turn back then know that our Apostle has only his message to preach ?
There is no crime in those who believe and do right, for having tasted food, when they fear God, and believe, and do what is right, and then fear Him, and believe, and then fear, and do good, for God loves those who do good.
[95] O ye who believe! God will try you with something of the game that your hands and your lances take, that God may know who fears Him in secret ; and whoso transgresses after that, for him is grievous woe.
O ye who believe! kill not game while ye are on
? Ie. from the yoke of captivity.
2 See note 4, p. 32.
® This has been thought by strict Musselmans to exclude the game of chess. Sunnts, however, play the game with plain pieces like drafts, though Persians and Indians are not so scrupulous.
V, 96-101. THE CHAPTER OF THE TABLE, III
pilgrimage. But he amongst you who kills it purposely, his compensation is the like of that which he has killed, in sheep—of which two equitable persons amongst you shall be judge—an offering brought to the Kaabah; or as an expiation, the food of poor persons, or an equivalent thereof in fasting, that he may taste the evil result of his deed. God pardons bygones; but whoso returns, God will take vengeance on him, for God is mighty and the avenger.
Lawful for you is the game of the sea, and to eat thereof; a provision for you and for travellers ; but forbidden you is the game of the land while ye are on pilgrimage; so fear God to whom ye shall be gathered.
God has made the Kaabah, the sacred House, to be a station for men, and the sacred month, and the offering and its neck garland; this is that ye may know that God knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and that God knows all things. Know that God is keen to punish, but that God is forgiving, merciful.
The Apostle has only to preach his message, but God knows what ye show and what ye hide.
[100] Say, ‘The vile shall not be deemed equal with the good, although the abundance of the vile please thee.’ Fear God then, O ye who have minds! haply ye may prosper.
O ye who believe! ask not about things which if they be shown to you will pain you; but if ye ask about them when the (whole) Qur’4n is revealed, they shall be shown to you. God pardons that, for God is-forgiving and clement. People before you have asked about that, yet on the morrow did they disbelieve therein.
II2 THE QUR'AN. V, 102-106.
And God has not ordained any Ba‘hfrah or SA4ibah, nor Waztlah nor ‘HAmi!, but those who misbelieve invent a lie against God, for most of them do not understand. ‘
People before you have asked about that, yet on the morrow did they disbelieve therein.
II2 THE QUR'AN. V, 102-106.
And God has not ordained any Ba‘hfrah or SA4ibah, nor Waztlah nor ‘HAmi!, but those who misbelieve invent a lie against God, for most of them do not understand. ‘
And when it is said to them, ‘Come round to what God has revealed unto His Apostle,’ they say, ‘Enough for us is what we found our fathers agreed upon.’ What! though their fathers knew nothing and were not guided.
O ye who believe! mind yourselves; he who errs can do you no hurt when ye are guided: unto God is your return altogether, and He will declare to you that which ye do not know.
[105] O ye who believe! let there be a testimony between you when any one of you is on the point of death—at the time he makes his will—two equitable persons from amongst you; or two others from some other folk, if ye be knocking about in the land, and the calamity of death befall you; ye shall shut them both up after prayer, and they shall both swear by
1 These were the names given to certain animals which were marked and allowed to graze at liberty. Ba‘hfrah was the name given to a camel which had had ten young ones; her ear was then slit and she was turned loose to feed. When she died her flesh was eaten by the men only, the women being forbidden to touch it. There were, however, cases in which any she-camel was so called and treated. SAibah signifies merely a camel turned loose, her being so turned out was generally in fulfilment of a vow. Waztlah was a term applied to any cattle, including sheep and goats, and generally meant a beast who had brought forth a male and female at the seventh parturition. ‘H4mf? was a stallion camel which, after begetting ten young ones, was turned loose. As all these customs were connected with the idolatrous superstitions of the pagan Arabs, and tended to keep alive the rites and beliefs of paganism, Mohammed forbade them, with other similar super- Stitions.
p. 113
God, if ye doubt them, (saying), ‘We will not sell (our testimony) for a price, though it were to a relative, nor will we hide God’s testimony, verily, then, we should be among sinners.’ But if it shall be lit upon that they too have deserved the imputation of sin, then let two others stand up in their place with those who think them deserving of the imputation, the nearest two in kin, and they shall both swear by God, ‘ Indeed, our testimony is truer than the testimony of those two, and we have not transgressed, for then we should surely be of the unjust: thus is it easier for men to bear testimony according to the
. purport thereof, else must they fear lest an oath be given to rebut their own oath; but let them fear God and listen, for God guides not the people who do ill.
On the day when God shall assemble the apostles and shall say, ‘How were ye answered ?’ they will say, ‘We have no knowledge; verily, thou art He who knoweth the unseen.’
On the day when God shall assemble the apostles and shall say, ‘How were ye answered ?’ they will say, ‘We have no knowledge; verily, thou art He who knoweth the unseen.’
When God said, ‘O Jesus, son of Mary! remember my favours towards thee and towards thy mother, when I aided thee with the Holy Ghost, till thou didst speak to men in the cradle and when grown up.
[110] ‘And when I taught thee the Book and wisdom and the law and the gospel ; when thou didst create of clay, as it were, the likeness of a bird, by my power, and didst blow thereon, it became a bird; and thou didst heal the blind from birth, and the leprous by my permission; and when thou didst bring forth the dead by my permission; and when I did ward off the children of Israel from thee, when thou didst come to them with manifest signs, and those who
(6] I
114 THE QuR’AN. V, 110-116.
misbelieved amongst them said, “ This is naught but obvious magic.”
‘And when I inspired the apostles that they should believe in him and in my Apostle, they said, “We believe; do thou bear witness that we are resigned.”’
When the apostles said, ‘O Jesus, son of Mary! is thy Lord able to send down to usa table from heaven ?’ he said, ‘Fear God, if ye be believers ;’ and they said, ‘ We desire to eat therefrom that our
‘hearts may be at rest, and that we may know that what thou hast told us is the truth, and that we may be thereby amongst the witnesses.’ Said Jesus the son of Mary, ‘O God, our Lord! send down to us a table from heaven to be to us as a festival,—to the first of us and to the last, and a sign from Thee,—and grant us provision, for Thou art the best of providers.’
[115] God said, ‘Verily, I am about to send it down to you; but whoso disbelieves amongst you after that, verily, I will torment him with the torment which I have not tormented any one with in all the worlds.’
And when God said, ‘O Jesus, son of Mary! is it thou who didst say to men, take me and my mother for two gods, beside God?’ He said, ‘I celebrate Thy praise! what ails me that I should say what I have no right to? If I had said it, Thou wouldst have known it; Thou knowest what is in my soul, but I know not what is in Thy soul; verily, Thou art one who knoweth the unseen. I never told them save what Thou didst bid me,—“ Worship God, my Lord and your Lord,” and I was a witness against them so long as I was amongst them; but when Thou didst take me away to thyself Thou wert the watcher over them, for Thou art witness over all. If
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Thou shouldst punish them, verily, they are Thy servants; if Thou shouldst forgive them, verily, Thou art the mighty and the wise.’ God said, ‘This is the day when their confession shall profit the confessors, for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for ever and for aye.’
God is well pleased with them, and they well pleased with Him; that is the mighty happiness.
[120] God’s is the kingdom of the heavens, and the earth, and all that is therein, and He is mighty over all.
Tue CwHapTer oF CATTLE). (VI. Mecca.)
- In the name of the merciful and compassionate God!
Praise belongs to God who created the heavens and the earth, and brought into being the darkness and the light. Yet do those who misbelieve hold Him to have peers.
He it is who created you from clay; then He decreed a term,—a term? ordained with Him. And yet ye doubt thereof.
He is God in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret conduct and your plain, and He knows what ye earn‘,
* So called from the mention which it contains of the superstitious customs of the Arabs with regard to their cattle.
* Said to be a protest against the dualistic doctrine that Light and Darkness were two co-eternal principles.
* I.e. a term for your life and another for your resurrection.
* By good or evil works.
I2
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There came not to them any sign of the signs of their Lord, but they turned away ; [5] and they have called the truth a lie now that it has come to them, but there shall come to them the message of that at which they mocked.
Do not they see how many a generation we have destroyed before them, whom we had settled in the earth as we have not settled for you, and sent the rain of heaven upon them in copious showers, and made the waters flow beneath them? Then we destroyed them in their sins, and raised up other generations after them.
Had we sent down to thee a book on paper, and they had touched it with their hands, still those who misbelieve would have said,‘This is naught but obvious‘magic.’ They say, ‘Why has not an angel been sent down to him?’ but if we had sent down an angel, the affair would have been decided, and then they would have had no respite.
And had we made him! an angel, we should have made him as a man too; and we would have made perplexing for them that which they deem perplexing now.
[10] There have been prophets before thee mocked at, but that encompassed them which the scoffers among them mocked at.
Say, ‘Go about in the earth, then wilt thou see how has been the end of those who called them liars.’
Say, ‘Whose is what is in the heavens and the earth ?’
Say, ‘God’s, who has imposed mercy on himself.’
1 Te. the prophet.
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He will surely gather you together for the resurrection day. There is no doubt in that, but those who waste their souls! will not believe.
His is whatsoever dwells in the night or in the day, He both hears and knows.
Say, ‘Other than God shall I take for a patron, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He feedeth men, but is not fed.’ Say, ‘I am bidden to be the first of those resigned ;’ and it was said to me, ‘ Be not thou of the idolaters.’ [15] Say, ‘I fear, if I rebel against my Lord, the torment of the mighty day.’
Whomsoever it is averted from on that day, God will have had mercy on; and that is obvious happiness.
And if God touch thee with harm, there is none to take it off but He; and if He touch thee with good, He is mighty over all. He is sovereign over His servants, He is the wise, the aware!
Say, ‘What is the greatest witness?’ Say, ‘God is witness between you and me.’ This Qur’4n was inspired to me to warn you and those it reaches. Do ye really bear witness that with God are other gods? Say, ‘I bear not witness thereto:’ say, ‘He is but one God, and I am clear of your associating (gods with him).’
[20] Those to whom we have brought the Book know him? as they know their sons;—those who lose their souls do not believe.
Who is more unjust than he who forges against God a lie, or says His signs are lies? verily, the unjust shall not prosper.
1 [.e. their innate propensities to good and their reason. 2 Mohammed.
118 THE Qur’AN. VI, 22-31.
On the day when we shall gather them all together, then shall we say to those who have associated others with ourself, ‘Where are your associates whom ye did pretend?’ Then they will have no excuse but to say, ‘ By God our Lord, we did not associate (others with thee)!’ See how they lie against themselves, and how what they did forge deserts them! [25] And they are some who listen unto thee, but we have placed a veil upon their hearts lest they
_should understand it, and in their ears is dulness of hearing; and though they saw each sign they would not believe therein; until when they come to thee to wrangle with thee, the unbelievers say, ‘ These are but old folks’ tales.’
They forbid it and they avoid it;—but they destroy none but themselves; yet they do not perceive.
But couldst thou see when they are set over the fire and say, ‘Would that we were sent back! we would not call our Lord’s signs lies, but we would be of the believers?’ Nay! now is shown to them what they did hide before; and could they be sent back, they would return to that they were forbidden, for they are very liars.
They say there is naught but this life of ours in the world and we shall not be raised. [30] But couldst thou see when they are set before their Lord; he says, ‘Is not this the truth?’ They say, ‘Yea, by our Lord!’ he says, ‘Then taste the torment, for that ye did misbelieve !’
Losers are they who disbelieved in meeting God, until when the hour comes suddenly upon them they say, ‘Woe is us for our neglect thereof!’ for they
VI, 31-41. THE CHAPTER OF CATTLE. II9
shall bear their burdens on their backs, evil is what they bear.
The life of this world is nothing but a game and a sport, and surely the next abode were better for those who fear. What! do they not understand ?
THE CHAPTER OF CATTLE. II9
shall bear their burdens on their backs, evil is what they bear.
The life of this world is nothing but a game and a sport, and surely the next abode were better for those who fear. What! do they not understand ?
Full well we know that verily that which they say grieves thee; but they do not call thee only a liar, for the unjust gainsay the signs of God. Called liars too were apostles before thee; but they were patient of being called liars and of being hurt until our help came to them; for there is none to change the words of God—now has there come to thee the story of those He sent.
[35] And if their turning from thee be hard for thee, and if thou canst seek for a shaft down into the earth, or a ladder up into the sky, to bring them a sign—but if God pleased He would bring them all to guidance, be thou not then of the ignorant.
He only answers the prayer of those who listen; but the dead will God raise up, then unto Him shall they return. They say, ‘Unless there be sent down some sign from his Lord’—say, ‘ Verily, God is able to send down a sign, but most of them do not know.’
There is not a beast upon the earth nor a bird that flies with both its wings, but is a nation like to you; we have omitted nothing from the Book; then to their Lord shall they be gathered. Those who say our signs are lies—deafness, dumbness, in the dark! whom He pleases does God lead astray, and whom He pleases He places on the right way.
[40] Say, ‘Look you now! if there should come God’s torment, or there should come to you the hour, on other than God would ye call, if ye do tell the truth?’ Nay, it is on Him that ye would call,
120 THE QUR'AN. VI, 41-g0.
and He will avert that which ye call upon Him for if He but please ; and ye shall forget that which ye did associate with Him.
Ere this we sent unto nations before thee, and we caught them in distress and trouble that haply they might humble themselves. And do they not, when our violence falls upon them, humble themselves ?>— but their hearts were hard, and Satan made seemly to them that which they had done.
And when they forgot what they were reminded of, we opened for them the gates of everything, until when they rejoiced at what they had, we caught them up suddenly, and lo! they were in despair. ~ [45] And the uttermost part of the people who did wrong were cut off; praise be to God, Lord of the worlds!
Say, ‘Look you now! if God should catch your hearing and your sight, and should set a seal upon your hearts—who is god but God to bring you it again ?’
Say, ‘Look you now! if God’s torment should come upon you suddenly or openly, would any perish save the people who do wrong ?’
We do not send our messengers save as heralds of glad tidings and of warning, and whoso believes and acts aright, there is no fear for them, and they shall not be grieved, but those who say our signs are lies, torment shall touch them, for that they have done so wrong.
[50] Say, ‘I do not say to you, mine are the treasuries of God, nor that I know the unseen; I do not say to you, I am an angel—if I follow aught but what I am inspired with—:’ say, ‘Is the blind equal to him who sees— ?’ what! do ye not reflect ?
VI, 51-60. THE CHAPTER OF CATTLE. 12f
Admonish therewith those who fear that they shall be gathered unto their Lord; there is no patron for them but Him, and no intercessor; haply they may fear.
Repulse not those who call upon their Lord in the morning and in the evening, desiring His face; they have no reckoning against thee at all, and thou hast no reckoning against them at all ;—repulse them and thou wilt be of the unjust.
So have we tried some of them by others, that they may say, ‘Are these those unto whom God has been gracious amongst ourselves?’ Does not God know those who give thanks ?
And when those who believe in our signs come to thee, say, ‘Peace be on you! God hath prescribed for Himself mercy; verily, he of you who does evil in ignorance, and then turns again and does right,— verily, He is forgiving and merciful.’
[55] Thus do we detail our signs, that the way of the sinners may be made plain.
_ Say, ‘I am forbidden to worship those ye call upon beside God ;’ say, ‘I will not follow your lusts, for then should I err and not be of the guided.’
Say, ‘I stand on a manifestation from my Lord, which ye call a lie. I have not with me what ye fain would hasten on, that the matter might be settled between me and you; but God knows best who are the unjust.’
With Him are the keys! of the unseen. None knows them save He; He knows what is in the
1 Most of the Mohammedan commentators say this word means ‘treasuries.’ The allusion, however, is obviously to the Rabbinical tradition of the three keys, in the hands of God.
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land and in the sea; and there falls not a leaf save that He knows it; nor a grain in the darkness of the earth, nor aught that is moist, nor aught that is dry, save that is in His perspicuous Book.
[60] He it is who takes. you to Himself at night', and knows what ye have gained in the day; then He raises you up again, that your appointed time may be fulfilled ; then unto Him is your return, and then will He inform you of what ye have done.
He triumphs over His servants; He sends to them guardian angels, until, when death comes to any one of you, our messengers take him away; they pass not over any one, and then are they returned to God, their true sovereign.
Is not His the rule? but He is very quick at reckoning up.
Say, ‘Whe rescues you from the darkness of the land and of the sea?’ ye call upon Him in humility and in secret, ‘ Indeed, if He would rescue us from this, we will surely be of those who give Him thanks.’ Say, ‘God rescues from the darkness thereof, and from every trouble, yet ye associate others with Him.’
[65] Say, ‘He is able to send torment on you from above you and from beneath your feet, and to confuse you in sects, and to make some of you taste the violence of others.’
See how we turn about the signs, that haply they may discriminate. Thy people called it a lie, and yet it is the truth. Say, ‘I have not charge over you; to every prophecy is a set time, and in the end ye shall know.’
1 In sleep.
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When thou dost see those who plunge deeply into the discussion of our signs, turn from them until they plunge deeply-into some other discourse ;. for it may be that Satan may make thee forget; but sit not, after thou hast remembered, with the unjust people.
Those who fear are not bound to take account of _ them at all, but mind !—haply they may fear.
Leave those who have taken their religion for a play and a sport, whom this world’s life hath deceived, and remind them thereby that a soul shall be given up for what it has earned; nor has it, beside God, patron or intercessor; and though it should compensate with the fullest compensation, it would not be accepted. Those who are given up for what’ they have gained, for them is a drink of boiling water, and grievous woe for that they have misbelieved.
[70] Say, ‘Shall we call on what neither profits us nor harms us, and be thrown back upon our heels after God has guided us, like him whom Satan hath led away bewildered in the earth, who has companions who call him to guidance, “Come to us?”’ Say, ‘Verily, God’s guidance is the guidance, and we are bidden to resign ourselves unto the Lord of the worlds, and be ye steadfast in prayer and fear Him, for He it is to whom we shall be gathered.’
He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in truth; and on the day when He says, ‘BE,’ then it is. His word is truth; to Him is the kingdom on the day when the trumpets shall be blown; the knower of the unseen and of the evident ; He is wise and well aware.
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His word is truth; to Him is the kingdom on the day when the trumpets shall be blown; the knower of the unseen and of the evident ; He is wise and well aware.
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When Abraham said to his father Azar?, ‘Dost thou take idols for gods? verily, I see thee and thy people in obvious error. [75] Thus did we show Abraham the kingdom of heaven and of the earth, that he should be of those who are sure. And when the night overshadowed him he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord;’ but when it set he said, ‘I love not those that set.’ And when he saw the moon beginning to rise he said, ‘ This is my Lord ;’ but when it set he said, ‘If God my Lord guides me not I shall surely be of the people who err.’ And when he saw the sun beginning to rise he said, ‘This is my Lord, this is greatest of all;’ but when it set he said, ‘O my people! verily, I am clear of what ye associate with God; verily, I have turned my face to him who originated the heaven and the earth, as a ‘Hantf, and I am not of the idolaters,’ [80] And his people disputed with him ;—he said, ‘Do ye dispute with me concerning God, when He has guided me? but I fear not what ye associate with Him unless my Lord should wish for anything. My Lord doth comprehend all things in His knowledge, will ye not then remember? How should I fear what ye associate with Him, when ye yourselves fear not to associate with God what He has sent down to you no power todo? Which then of the two sects is worthier of belief, if indeed ye know ?’
Those who believe and do not obscure their faith with wrong, they are those who shall have security, and they are guided.
1 The Hebrew Terah is in Arabic Tarah. Eusebius gives the form Athar, which may in some measure account for the name here given.
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_ These are our arguments which we gave to Abraham against his people ;—we raise the rank of whom we will; verily, thy Lord is wise and knowing. And we gave to him Isaac and Jacob, each did we guide. And Noah we guided before and all his seed,— David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron,—for thus do we reward those who do good, [85] And Zachariah and John and Jesus and Elias, all righteous ones; and Ishmael and Elisha and Jonas and Lot, each one have we preferred above the worlds; and of their fathers and their seed and brethren; we have chosen them and guided them into a right way.
That is God’s guidance; He guides those whom He will of His servants; and if they associate aught with Him,—vain is that which they have worked.
It is to these we give the Book and judgment and prophecy; and if these disbelieve therein we have given them in charge to a people who shall not disbelieve.
[90] It is these that God hath guided, and by their guidance be thou led.
Say, ‘I will not ask you for it a hire: it is naught save a reminder to the worlds.’
[90] It is these that God hath guided, and by their guidance be thou led.
Say, ‘I will not ask you for it a hire: it is naught save a reminder to the worlds.’
They do not prize God at His true worth when they say, ‘God has never revealed to mortal anything.’ Say, ‘Who revealed the Book wherewith Moses came, a light and a guidance unto men? Ye put it on papers which ye show, though ye hide much! ;
1 The Jews are here, as frequently in the Qur'an, accused of suppressing and altering those parts of their scriptures which referred, according to the Mussulman theory, to the mission of Mohammed.
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and ye are taught what ye knew not, neither you nor your fathers.’ Say, ‘God,’ then leave them in their discussion to play.
This is the Book which we have revealed, a blessing and a confirmation to those which were before it, and that the mother of cities! may be warned, with those who are round about her. Those who believe in the last day believe therein, and they unto their prayers will keep.
Who is more unjust than he who devises against God a lie, or says, ‘I am inspired?,’ when he was not inspired at all? and who says, ‘I will bring down the like of what God has sent down;’ but didst thou see when the unjust are in the floods of death, and the angels stretch forth their hands, ‘Give ye forth your souls; to-day shall ye be recompensed with the torment of disgrace, for that ye did say against God what was not true, and were too proud to hear His signs*. And ye come now single-handed as we created you at first, and ye have left behind your backs that which we granted you; and we see not with you your intercessors whom ye pretended were partners* amongst you; betwixt you have the ties
1 Mecca.
2 This refers to Abdallah ibn Sa’hd ibn Abi Sar‘h, who acted as amanuensis to Mohammed, and when he came to the words ‘ We have created man from an extract of clay...., then we produced it another creation,’ he said, ‘and blessed be God, best of creators,’ and Mohammed told him to write that down too; whereupon he boasted that he also had been inspired with this sentence which Mohammed acknowledged to be part of the Qur’4n.
* This word is nearly always used for the verses of the Qur'an.
‘ That is, partners with God, idols; to associate being the usual phrase in the Qur'an for idolatry.
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been cut asunder ; and strayed away from you is what ye did pretend.’
[95] Verily, God it is who cleaves out the grain and the date-stone; He brings forth the living from the dead, and it is He who brings the dead from the living. There is God! how then can ye be beguiled ?
He it is who cleaves out the morning, and makes night a repose, and the sun and the moon two reckonings—that is the decree of the mighty, the wise !
He it is who made for you stars that ye might be guided thereby in the darkness of the land and of the sea. Now have we detailed the signs unto a people who do know.
He it is who made for you stars that ye might be guided thereby in the darkness of the land and of the sea. Now have we detailed the signs unto a people who do know.
He it is who made you spring from one soul, and gave you a settlement and a depository’. Now have we detailed the signs unto a people who discern.
He it is who sends down from the heavens water ; _and we bring forth therewith growths of everything; and we bring forth therefrom green things, wherefrom we bring forth grain in full ear; and the palm, from its spathe come clusters within reach; and gardens of grapes and olives and pomegranates, alike and unlike;—behold its fruit when it fruits and ripens! verily, in that ye have a sign for the people who believe.
[100] Yet they made the ginn? partners with
1 In the womb.
* Supernatural beings created, like the devils, of fire instead of clay, and possessed of miraculous powers. ‘They are devoutly believed in by Muslims, and are supposed to be subject to the same controlling laws as mankind, and to have also had prophets . sent to them. They are probably a survival of some old worship
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God, though He created them! and they ascribed to Him sons and daughters, though they have no knowledge ; celebrated be His praise! and exalted be. He above what they attribute to Him! The inventor | of the heavens and the earth! how can He have a son, when He has no female companion, and when He has created everything, and everything He knows?
There is God for you,—your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of everything; then worship Him, for He o’er everything keeps guard!
Sight perceives Him not, but-He perceives men’s sights; for He is the subtle, the aware.
Now has an insight from your Lord come unto you, and he who looks therewith it is for himself;
but he who is blind thereto, it is against his soul ; ‘ and I am not your keeper.
[105] Thus do we turn about the signs, that they may say, ‘Thou hast studied,’ and that we may explain to those who know.
Follow what is revealed to thee from thy Lord ; there is no god but He, and shun the idolaters.
But had God pleased, they would not have associated aught with Him; but we have not made thee a keeper over them, nor art thou for them a warder.
Do not abuse those who call on other than God, for then they may abuse God openly in their ignorance. So do we make seemly to every nation their work, then unto their Lord is their return, and He will inform them of what they have done.
of the powers of nature. The word ginn is the same as that which in the old translation of the Arabian Nights is rendered ‘ je” genie.
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They swore by God with their most strenuous oath, that if there come to them a sign they will indeed believe therein. Say, ‘Signs are only in God's hands; — but what will make you understand that even when one has come, they will not believe ?’
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They swore by God with their most strenuous oath, that if there come to them a sign they will indeed believe therein. Say, ‘Signs are only in God's hands; — but what will make you understand that even when one has come, they will not believe ?’
[110] We will overturn their hearts and their eyesights, even as they believed not at first; and we will leave them, in their rebellion, blindly wandering on.
And had we sent down unto them the angels, or the dead had spoken to them, or we had gathered everything unto them in hosts}, they would not have believed unless that God pleased—but most of them are ignorant.
So have we made for every prophet an enemy,— devils of men and ginns; some of them inspire others with specious speech to lead astray; but had thy Lord pleased they would not have done it; so leave them with what they do devise.
And let the hearts of those who believe not in the hereafter listen to it; and let them be well pleased with it; and let them gain what they may gain!
Of other than God shall I crave a decree, when it is He who has sent down to you the Book in detail, and those to whom we gave the Book know that it is sent down from thy Lord, in truth? be thou not then of those who doubt.
[115] The words of thy Lord are fulfilled in truth and justice; there is none to change His words, for He both hears and knows.
But if thou followest most of those who are in the
1 This word may also be rendered ‘before them’ or ‘a surety ' (for the truth of the revelation).
[6] Kp. 124 land, they will lead thee astray from the path of God; they only follow suspicion and they only (rest on) conjecture.
Thy Lord, He knows best who errs from His path, and He knows best the guided.
Eat then of what God’s name has been pronounced over, if ye believe in His signs. What ails you that ye do not eat from what God’s name ispronounced over, when He has detailed to you what is unlawful for you? Save what ye are forced to; but, verily, many will lead you astray by their fancies, without knowledge. Verily, thy Lord knows best the transgressors.
[120] Leave alone the outside of sin and the inside thereof; verily, those who earn sin shall be recompensed for what they have gained.
But eat not of what the name of God has not been pronounced over, for, verily, it is an abomination. Verily, the devils inspire their friends that they may wrangle with you; but if ye obey them, verily, ye are idolaters.
Is he who was dead and we have quickened him, and made for him a light, that he might walk therein amongst men, like him whose likeness is in the darkness whence he cannot come forth ? Thus is made seemly to the misbelievers what they have done.
And thus have we placed in every town the great sinners thereof, that they may use craft therein; but they use not craft except against themselves, although they do not understand.