have preference over you, and had God pleased He would have sent angels ; we have not heard of this amongst our fathers of yore: [25] he is nothing but a man possessed; let him bide then for a season.’ |
Said he, ‘ Help me, for they call me liar!’
And we inspired him, ‘Make the ark under
1 See Part IJ, p. 126, note 2. 4 That is, ‘seven heavens.’
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our eyes and inspiration ; and when the oven boils over, conduct into it of every kind two, with thy family, except him of them against whom the word has passed; and do not address me for those who do wrong, verily, they are to be drowned !
‘But when thou art settled, thou and those with thee in the ark, say, “ Praise belongs to God, who saved us from the unjust people!”
[30] ‘And say, “My Lord! make me to alight in a blessed alighting-place, for Thou art the best of those who cause men to alight!”’ Verily, in that is a sign, and, verily, we were trying them.
Then we raised up after them another generation ; and we sent amongst them a prophet of themselves (saying), ‘Serve God, ye have no god but He; will ye then not fear ?’
Said the chiefs of his people who misbelieved, and called the meeting of the last day a lie, and to whom we gave enjoyment in the life of this world, ‘This is only a mortal like yourselves, who eats of what ye eat, [35] and drinks of what ye drink; and if ye obey a mortal like yourselves, verily, ye will then be surely losers! Does he promise you that when ye are dead, and have become dust and bones, that then ye will be brought forth?
‘Away, away with what ye are threatened,—there is only our life in the world! We die and we live, and we shall not be raised! [40] He is only a man who forges against God a lie. And we believe not in him!’
Said he, ‘My Lord! help me, for they call me liar!’ He said, ‘Within a little they will surely awake repenting!’
And the noise seized them deservedly; and we
F 2
68 THE Qur’AN. XXIII, 43-38.
made them as rubbish borne by a torrent; so, away with the unjust people !
Then we raised up after them other generations.
[45] No nation can anticipate its appointed time, nor keep it back.
Then we sent our apostles one after another. Whenever its apostle came to any nation they called him a liar; and we made some to follow others ; and we made them legends; away then with a people who do not believe !
Then we sent Moses and his brother Aaron with our signs, and with plain authority to Pharaoh and his chiefs, but they were too big with pride, and were a haughty people.
And they said, ‘Shall we believe two mortals like ourselves, when their people are servants of ours ?’
_ [50] So they called them liars, and were of those who perished.
And we gave Moses the Book, that haply they might be guided.
And we made the son of Mary and his mother a sign; and we lodged them both on a high place, furnished with security and a spring.
And we gave Moses the Book, that haply they might be guided.
And we made the son of Mary and his mother a sign; and we lodged them both on a high place, furnished with security and a spring.
O ye apostles! eat of the good things and do right ; verily, what ye do I know!
And, verily, this nation! of yours is one nation, and I am your Lord; so fear me.
[55] And they have become divided as to their affair amongst themselves into sects?, each party
1 Or, ‘religion.’ 2 Literally, ‘into Scriptures,’ i.e. into sects, each appealing to a particular book.
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rejoicing in what they have themselves. So leave them in their flood (of error) for a time.
Do they reckon that that of which we grant them such an extent, of wealth and children, we hasten to them as good things—nay, but they do not perceive!
Verily, those who shrink with terror at their Lord, [60] and those who in the signs of their Lord believe, and those who with their Lord join none, and those who give what they do give while their hearts are afraid that they unto their Lord will return,—these hasten to good things and are first to gain the same. But we will not oblige a soul beyond its capacity; for with us is a book that utters the truth, and they shall not be wronged.
[65] Nay, their hearts are in a flood (of error) at this, and they have works beside this which they do?. Until we catch the affluent ones amongst them with the torment; then lo! they cry for aid.
Cry not for aid to-day! verily, against us ye will not be helped. My signs were recited to you, but upon your heels did ye turn back, big with pride at it 2, in vain discourse by night.
[70] Is it that they did not ponder over the words, whether that has come to them which came not to their fathers of yore? Or did they not know their apostle, that they thus deny him? Or do they say, ‘He is possessed by a ginn?’ Nay, he came to them with the truth, and most of them are averse from the truth.
But if the truth were to follow their lusts, the
1 T.e, their works are far different to the good works just described. 2 At their possession of the Kaabah. The Qurdis are meant.
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heavens and the earth would be corrupted with all who in them are!—Nay, we brought them their reminder, but they from their reminder turn aside.
Or dost thou ask them for a tribute? but the tribute of thy Lord is better, for He is the best of those who provide.
[75] And, verily, thou dost call them to a right way ; but, verily, those who believe not in the hereafter from the way do veer.
But if we had mercy on them, and removed the distress! they have, they would persist in their rebellion, blindly wandering on!
And we caught them with the torment’, but they did not abase themselves before their Lord, nor did they humble themselves; until we opened for them a door with grievous torment, then lo! they are in despair.
they have, they would persist in their rebellion, blindly wandering on!
And we caught them with the torment’, but they did not abase themselves before their Lord, nor did they humble themselves; until we opened for them a door with grievous torment, then lo! they are in despair.
[80] He it is who produced for you hearing, and sight, and minds,—little is it that ye thank. And He it is who created you in the earth, and unto Him shall ye be gathered. And He it is who gives you life and death; and His is the alternation of the night and the day ; have ye then no sense?
Nay, but they said like that which those of yore did say.
They said, ‘What! when we have become earth and bones, are we then going to be raised? [85] We have been promised this, and our fathers too, before ;—this is naught but old folks’ tales!’
Say, ‘Whose is the earth and those who are therein, if ye but know?’
' The famine which the Meccans suffered; and which was attributed to Mohammed’s denunciations. ? Their defeat at Bedr.
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They will say, ‘God’s.’ Say, ‘Do ye not then mind ?’
Say, ‘Who is Lord of the seven heavens, and Lord of the mighty throne?’
They will say, ‘God.’ Say, ‘Do ye not then fear ?’
[90] Say, ‘In whose hand is the dominion of everything ; He succours but is not succoured,—if ye did but know ?’
They will say, ‘God's.’ Say, ‘Then how can ye be so infatuated ?’
Nay, we have brought them the truth, but, verily, they are liars! -
God never took a son, nor was there ever any god with Him ;—then each god would have gone off with what he had created, and some would have exalted themselves over others,—celebrated be His praises above what they attribute (to Him)!
He who knows the unseen and the visible, exalted be He above what they join with Him!
[95] Say, ‘My Lord! if Thou shouldst show me what they are threatened,—my Lord! then place me not amongst the unjust people.’
Repel evil by what is better’. We know best what they attribute (to thee). And say, ‘My Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the incitings of the devils ; [100] and I seek refuge in Thee from their presence !’
Until when death comes to any one of them he says, ‘My Lord! send ye me back?, haply I may do right in that which I have left!’
1 I.e. by doing good for evil, provided that the cause of Islam suffers nothing from it.
2 T.e. back to life. The plural is used ‘by way of respect,’ say the commentators.
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Not so!—a mere word he speaks!—but behind them is a bar until the day they shall be raised.
oe And when the trumpet shall be blown, and there shall be no relation between them on that day, nor shall they beg of each other then!
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Not so!—a mere word he speaks!—but behind them is a bar until the day they shall be raised.
oe And when the trumpet shall be blown, and there shall be no relation between them on that day, nor shall they beg of each other then!
[105] And he whose scales are heavy,—they are the prosperous. But he whose scales are light, these are they who lose themselves, in hell to dwell for aye! The fire shall scorch their faces, and they shall curl their lips therein! ‘Were not my signs recited to you? and ye said that they were lies!’ They say, ‘Our Lord! our misery overcame us, and we were a people who did err! Our Lord! take us out therefrom, and if we return!, then shall we be as
[110]"He will say, ‘Go ye away into it and speak not to me!’
Verily, there was a sect of my servants who said, ‘Our Lord! we believe, so pardon us, and have mercy upon us, for Thou art the best of the merciful ones.’
And ye took them for a jest until ye forgat my reminder and did laugh thereat. Verily, I have recompensed them this day for their patience; verily, they are happy now. >
He will say, ‘How long a number of years did ye tarry on earth ?’ [115] They will say, ‘ We tarried a day or part of a day, but ask the Numberers®’
He will say, ‘Ye have only tarried a little, were ye but to know it. Did ye then reckon that we created you for sport, and that to us ye would not return?’ But exalted be God, the true; there is no god but He, the Lord of the noble throne! and
1 To our evil ways. ? That is, the recording angels.
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whoso calls upon another god with God has no proof of it, but, verily, his account is with his Lord; verily, the misbelievers shall not prosper. And say, ‘Lord, pardon and be merciful, for Thou art the best of the merciful ones!’
Tue CHAPTER OF LIGHT. (XXIV. Medinah.)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
- A chapter which we have sent down and determined, and have sent down therein manifest signs ; haply ye may be mindful.
The whore and the whoremonger. Scourge each of them with a hundred stripes, and do not let pity for them take hold of you in God’s religion, if ye believe in God and the last day; and let a party of the believers witness their torment. And the whoremonger shall marry none but a whore or an idolatress; and the whore shall none marry but an adulterer or an idolater; God has prohibited this to the believers; but those who cast (imputations) on chaste women and then do not bring four witnesses, scourge them with eighty stripes, and do not receive any testimony of theirs ever, for these are the workers of abomination. [5] Except such as repent after that and act aright, for, verily, God is forgiving and compassionate.
And those who cast (imputation) on their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, then the testimony of one of them shall be to testify four
74 THE QuR’AN. XXIV, 6-13.
[5] Except such as repent after that and act aright, for, verily, God is forgiving and compassionate.
And those who cast (imputation) on their wives and have no witnesses except themselves, then the testimony of one of them shall be to testify four
74 THE QuR’AN. XXIV, 6-13.
times that, by God, he is of those who speak the truth; and the fifth testimony shall be that the curse of God shall be on him if he be of those who lie. ’ And it shall avert the punishment from her if she bears testimony four times that, by God, he is of those who lie; and the fifth that the wrath of God shall be on her if he be of those who speak the truth.
[10] And were it not for God’s grace upon you and His mercy, and that God is relenting, wise. . .1
Verily, those who bring forward the lie, a band of you,—reckon it not as an evil for you, nay, it is good for you; every man of them shall have what he has earned of sin; and he of them who managed to aggravate it, for him is mighty woe 2.
Why did not, when ye heard it, the believing men and believing women think good in themselves, and say, ‘This is an obvious lie?’ Why did they not bring four witnesses to it? but since they did not bring the witnesses, then they in God’s eyes arep. 75 the liars. And but for God’s grace upon you, and His mercy in this world and the next, there would have touched you, for that which ye spread abroad, mighty woe. When ye reported it with your tongues, and spake with your mouths what ye had no knowledge of, and reckoned it a light thing, while in God's eyes it was grave.
1 He would punish you.
2 This passage and what follows refers to the scandal about Mohammed's favourite wife Ayesha, who, having been accidentally left behind when the prophet and his followers were starting at night on an expedition, in the sixth year of the Higrah, was brought on to the camp in the morning by Zafwan ibn de Mu’ha/fal: this gave rise to rumours derogatory to Ayesha’s character, which these verses are intended to refute. Ayesha never forgave those who credited the reports against her innocence, and ’Ali, who had spoken in a disparaging manner of her on the occasion, so seriously incurred her displeasure that she contrived to bring about the ruin of his family, and the murder of his two sons Hasan and Husein; the principal parties concerned in the actual spread of the calumny were punished with the fourscore stripes above ordained, with the exception of the ringleader, Abdallah ibn Ubbai, who was too important a person to be so treated.
[15] And why did ye not say when ye heard it, ‘It is not for us to speak of this ? Celebrated be His praises, this is a mighty calumny!’
God admonishes you that ye return not to the like of it ever, if ye be believers; and God manifests to you the signs, for God is knowing, wise.
[15] And why did ye not say when ye heard it, ‘It is not for us to speak of this ? Celebrated be His praises, this is a mighty calumny!’
God admonishes you that ye return not to the like of it ever, if ye be believers; and God manifests to you the signs, for God is knowing, wise.
Verily, those who love that scandal should go abroad amongst those who believe, for them is grievous woe in this world and the next; for God knows, but ye do not know.
[20] And but for God’s grace upon you, and His mercy, and that God is kind and compassionate... .!
O ye who believe! follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he who follows the footsteps of Satan, verily, he bids you sin and do wrong; and but for God’s grace upon you and His mercy, not one of you would be ever pure; but God purifies whom He will, for God both hears and knows. And let not those amongst you who have plenty and ample means swear that they will not give aught to their kinsman and the poor! and those who have fled their homes in God’s way, but let them pardon and pass it over. Do ye not like God to forgive you ? and God is forgiving, compassionate.
? Abu bekr had sworn not to do anything more for a relation of his, named Mis/a‘h, who had taken part - spreading the reports against Ayesha,
76 THE QuR’AN. XXIV, 23-31.
Verily, those who cast imputations on chaste women who are negligent but believing shall be cursed in this world and the next; and for them is mighty woe. The day when their tongues and hands and feet shall bear witness against them of what they did, on [25] that day God will pay them their just due; and they shall know that God, He is the plain truth.
The vile women to the vile men, and the vile men to the vile women; and the good women to the good men, and the good men to the good women : these are clear of what they say to them— forgiveness and a noble provision !
O ye who believe! enter not into houses which are not your own houses, until ye have asked leave and saluted the people thereof, that is better for you; haply ye may be mindful. And if ye find no one therein, then do not enter them until per- -mission is given you, and if it be said to you, ‘Go back!’ then go back, it is purer for you; for God of what ye do doth know. It is no crime against you that ye enter uninhabited houses,—a convenience for you;—and God knows what ye show and what ye hide.
[30] Say to the believers that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts; that is purer for them; verily, God is well aware of what they do.
And say to the believing women that they cast down their looks and guard their private parts, and display not their ornaments, except those which are outside; and let them pull their kerchiefs over their bosoms and not display their ornaments save to their husbands and fathers, or the fathers of their
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p. 77
husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or what their right hands possess, or their male attendants who are incapable’, or to children who do not note women’s nakedness; and that they beat not with their feet that their hidden ornaments may be known? ;—but turn ye all repentant to God, O ye believers! haply ye may prosper.
And marry the single amongst you, and the righteous among your servants and your handmaidens. If they be poor, God will enrich them of His grace, for God both comprehends and knows. And let those who cannot find a match, until God enriches them of His grace, keep chaste.
And such of those whom your right hands possess as crave a writing®, write it for them, if ye know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of God which He has given you. And do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, if they desire to keep continent, in order to crave the goods of the life of this world; but he who does compel them, then, verily, God after they are compelled is forgiving, compassionate *.
Now have we sent down to you manifest signs, and the like of those who have passed away before you °, and as an admonition to those who fear.
1 Or, according to some, of deficient intellect.
* T.e. they are not to tinkle their bangles or ankle-rings.
5 T.e. a document allowing them to redeem themselves on payment of a certain sum.
* Abdallah ibn Ubbdi, mentioned in Part II, p. 74, note 2, had six slave girls whom he compelled to live by prostitution, One of them complained to Mohammed, whence this passage.
5 T.e. like the stories of Joseph, Part I, p. 221, and the Virgin
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[35] God is the light of the heavens and the earth; His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, and the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as though it were a glittering star; it is lit from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the east nor of the west, the oil of which would well-nigh give light though no fire touched it,—light upon light!—God guides to His light whom He pleases; and God strikes out parables for men, and God all things doth know.
In the houses God has permitted to be reared and His name to be mentioned therein—His praises - are celebrated therein mornings and evenings.
Men whom neither merchandize nor selling divert from the remembrance of God and steadfastness in prayer and giving alms, who fear a day when hearts and eyes shall be upset;—that God may recompense them for the best that they have done, and give them increase of His grace; for God provides whom He pleases without count.
But those who misbelieve, their works are like the mirage in a plain, the thirsty counts it water till when he comes to it he finds nothing, but he finds that God is with him; and He will pay him his account, for God is quick to take account.
But those who misbelieve, their works are like the mirage in a plain, the thirsty counts it water till when he comes to it he finds nothing, but he finds that God is with him; and He will pay him his account, for God is quick to take account.
[40] Or like darkness on a deep sea, there covers it a wave above which is a wave, above which is a cloud,—darknesses one above the other,—when one puts out his hand he can scarcely see it; for he to whom God has given no light, he has no light.
Mary, Part II, p. 29, both of whom, like Ayesha, were accused of incontinence, and miraculously proved innocent.
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Hast thou not seen that God,—all who are in the heavens and the earth celebrate His praises, and the birds too spreading out their wings; each one knows its prayer and its praise, and God knows what they do?
Hast thou not seen that God drives the clouds, and then re-unites them, and then accumulates them, and thou mayest see the rain coming forth from their midst; and He sends down from the sky mountains! with hail therein, and He makes it fall on whom He pleases, and He turns it from whom He pleases; the flashing of His lightning wellnigh goes off with their sight ?
God interchanges the night and the day; verily, in that is a lesson to those endowed with sight.
And God created every beast from water, and of them is one that walks upon its belly, and of them one that walks upon two feet, and of them one that walks -upon four. God creates what He pleases ; verily, God is mighty over all!
[45] Now have we sent down manifest signs, and: God guides whom He pleases unto the right way.
They will say, ‘We believe in God and in the Apostle, and we obey. Then a sect of them turned their backs after that, and they are not believers.
And when they are called to God and His Apostle to judge between them, lo! a sect of them do turn aside. But had the right been on their side they would have come to him submissively enough.
Is there a sickness in their hearts, or do they doubt, or do they fear lest God and His Apostle
1 I. e. masses of cloud as large as mountains.
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should deal unfairly by them ?—Nay, it is they who are unjust.
[50] The speech of the believers, when they are called to God and His Apostle to judge between them, is only to say, ‘We hear and we obey;’ and these it is who are the prosperous, for whoso obeys God and His Apostle and dreads God and fears ‘Him, these it is who are the happy.
They swear by God with their most strenuous oath that hadst Thou ordered them they would surely go forth. Say, ‘Do not swear—reasonable obedience!; verily, God knows what ye do.’
Say, ‘Obey God and obey the Apostle; but if ye turn your backs he has only his burden to bear, and ye have only your burden to bear. But if ye obey him, ye are guided; but the Apostle has only his plain message to deliver.’
Say, ‘Do not swear—reasonable obedience!; verily, God knows what ye do.’
Say, ‘Obey God and obey the Apostle; but if ye turn your backs he has only his burden to bear, and ye have only your burden to bear. But if ye obey him, ye are guided; but the Apostle has only his plain message to deliver.’
God promises those of you who believe and do right that He will give them the succession in the earth as He gave the succession to those before them, and He will establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them, and to give them, after their fear, safety in exchange ;—they shall worship me, they shall not associate aught with me: but whoso disbelieves after that, those it is who are the sinners.
[55] And be steadfast in prayer and give alms and obey the Apostle, haply ye may obtain mercy.
Do not reckon that those who misbelieve can
1 The construction of the original is vague, and the commentators themselves make but little of it. The most approved rendering, however, seems to be either that obedience is the reasonable course to pursue, and not the mere swearing to obey.
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frustrate (God) in the earth, for their resort is the Fire, and an ill journey shall it be.
O ye who believe! let those whom your right hands possess, and those amongst you who have not reached puberty, ask leave of you three times: before the prayer of dawn, and when ye put off your clothes at noon, and after the evening prayer ; —three times of privacy for you?: there is no crime on either you or them after these while ye are continually going one about the other. Thus does God explain to you His signs, for God is knowing, wise.
And when your children reach puberty let them ask leave as those before them asked leave. Thus does God explain to you His signs, for God is knowing, wise.
And those women who have stopped (child-bearing), who do not hope for a match, it is no crime on thein that they put off their clothes so as not to display their ornaments; but that they abstain is better for them, for God both hears and knows.
[60] There is no hindrance to the blind, and no hindrance to the lame, and no hindrance to the sick, and none upon yourselves that you eat from your houses, or the houses of your fathers, or the houses of your mothers, or the houses of your brothers, or the houses of your sisters, or the houses of your paternal uncles, or the houses of your paternal aunts, or the houses of your maternal uncles,
.1 Ie. at the times when persons are undressed, namely, to rise in the morning, to sleep at noon, and to retire for the night, their attendants and children must not come in without -first asking permission.
(9] G.
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or the houses of your maternal aunts, or what ye possess the keys of, or of your friend, there is no crime on you that ye eat all together or separately’.
(9] G.
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or the houses of your maternal aunts, or what ye possess the keys of, or of your friend, there is no crime on you that ye eat all together or separately’.
And when ye enter houses then greet each other with a salutation from God, blessed and good. Thus does God explain to you His signs, haply ye may understand.
Only those are believers who believe in God and His Apostle, and when they are with Him upon public business go not away until they have asked his leave; verily, those who ask thy leave they it is who believe in God and His Apostle.
But when they ask thy leave for any of their own concerns, then give leave to whomsoever thou wilt of them, and ask pardon for them of God; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.
Make not the calling of the Apostle amongst yourselves like your calling one to the other? ; God knows those of you who withdraw themselves covertly. And let those who disobey his order beware lest there befall them some trial or there befall them grievous woe. Ay, God’s is what is in the heavens and the earth, He knows what ye are at; and the day ye shall be sent back to Him then He will inform you of what ye have done, for God all things doth know.
1 The Arabs in Mohammed’s time were superstitiously scrupulous about eating in any one’s house but their own.
* That is, do not address the prophet without some respectful title.
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Tue CHAPTER OF THE DISCRIMIN cu "an0,D \ (XXV. Mecca.) LP eres
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
Blessed be He who sent down the Discrimination to His servant that he might be unto the world a warner; whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and who has not taken to Himself a son, and who has no partner in His kingdom, and created everything, and then decreed it determinately! And they take beside Him gods who create not aught, but are themselves created, and cannot control for themselves harm or profit, and cannot control death, or life, or resurrection.
[5] And those who misbelieve say, ‘This is nothing but a lie which he has forged, and another people hath helped him at it;’ but they have wrought an injustice and a_ falsehood.
And they say, ‘Old folks’ tales, which he has got written down while they are dictated to him morning and evening.’
Say, ‘He sent it down who knows the secret in ‘the heavens and the earth; verily, He is ever forgiving, merciful !’
And they say, ‘What ails this prophet that he eats food and walks in the markets ?—unless there be sent down to him an angel and be a warner with him.... Or there be thrown to him a treasury,
1 In Arabic Al Furq4n, which is one of the names of the Qur'an. G2
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or he have a garden to eat therefrom....!’ and the unjust say, ‘ Ye only follow an infatuated man,’
[10] See how they strike out for thee parables, and err, and cannot find a way.
G2
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or he have a garden to eat therefrom....!’ and the unjust say, ‘ Ye only follow an infatuated man,’
[10] See how they strike out for thee parables, and err, and cannot find a way.
Blessed be He who, if He please, can make for thee better than that, gardens beneath which rivers flow, and can make for thee castles!
Nay, but they call the Hour a lie; but we have prepared for those who call the Hour a lie a blaze: when it seizes them from a far-off place they shall hear its raging and roaring; and when they are thrown into a narrow place thereof, fastened together, they shall call there for destruction.
[15] Call not to-day for one destruction, but call -for many destructions!
Say, ‘Is that better or the garden of eternity which was promised to those who fear—which is ever for them a recompense and a retreat?’ They shall have therein what they please, to dwell therein for aye: that is of thy Lord a promise to be demanded. .
And the day He shall gather them and what they served beside God, and He shall say, ‘Was it ye who led my servants here astray, or did they err from the way ?’
They shall say, ‘Celebrated be Thy praise, it was not befitting for us to take any patrons but Thee; but Thou didst give them and their fathers enjoyment until they forgot the Reminder and were a lost people!’ .
[20] And now have they proved you liars for what ye say, and they! cannot ward off or help.
1 Another reading of the text is, ‘ ye cannot.’
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And he of you who does wrong we will make him taste great torment.
We have not sent before thee any messengers but that they ate food and walked in the markets; but we have made some of you a trial to others: will ye be patient? thy Lord doth ever look.
And those who do not hope to meet us say, ‘ Unless the angels be sent down to us, or we see our Lord....!’ They are too big with pride in their souls and they have exceeded with a great excess!
|" The day they shall see the angels,—no glad tidings on that day for the sinners, and they shall say, ‘It is rigorously forbidden?!’
[25] And we will go on to the works which they have done, and make them like motes in a sunbeam scattered! The fellows of Paradise on that day shall be in a better abiding-place and a better noonday rest.
The day the heavens shall be cleft asunder with the clouds, and the angels shall be sent down descending.
The true kingdom on that day shall belong to the Merciful, and it shall be a hard day for the misbelievers.
And the day when the unjust shall bite his hands? and say, ‘O, would that I had taken a way with the Apostle®! [30] O, woe is me! would that I had
The true kingdom on that day shall belong to the Merciful, and it shall be a hard day for the misbelievers.
And the day when the unjust shall bite his hands? and say, ‘O, would that I had taken a way with the Apostle®! [30] O, woe is me! would that I had
1 The ancient Arabs used this formula when they met an enemy during a sacred month, and the person addressed would then abstain from hostilities. The sinners in this passage are supposed to use it to the angels, but without effect. Some commentators take it to mean that the ‘glad tidings’ are ‘rigorously forbidden,’ and that the angels are the speakers.
2 See Chapter III, verse 115. 8 That is, followed him.
86 , THE Qur’An. XXV, 30-40.
not taken such a one for a friend now, for he did lead me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me, for Satan leaves man in the lurch!’
The Apostle said, ‘O my Lord! verily, my people have taken this Qur’4n to be obsolete!’
Thus have we made for every prophet an enemy from among the sinners; but thy Lord is good guide and helper enough.
Those who misbelieve said, ‘Unless the Qur’4n be sent down to him all at once’... .!’—thus—that we may stablish thy heart therewith, did we reveal it piecemeal®. [35] Nor shall they come to thee with a parable without our bringing thee the truth and the best interpretation.
They who shall be gathered upon their faces to hell,—these are in the worst place, and err most from the path.
And we did give to Moses the Book, and place with him his brother Aaron as a minister; and we said, ‘Go ye to the people who say our signs are lies, for we will destroy them with utter destruction.’
And the people of Noah, when they said the apostles were liars, we drowned them, and we made them a sign for men; and we prepared for the unjust a grievous woe.
[40] And ‘Ad and Thamdd and the people of ar Rass’, and many generations between them.
1 Like the Pentateuch and Gospels, which were revealed all at once, according to the Mohammedan tradition.
3 Or it may be rendered, ‘slowly and distinctly;’ the whole revelation of the Qur’4n extends over a period of twenty-three years.
8’ The commentators do not know where to place ar Rass; some say it was a city in Yamamah, others that it was a well near Midian, and others again that it was in ‘Had/ramaut.
p. 87
For each one have we struck out parables, and each one have we ruined with utter ruin.
Why, they! have come past the cities which were rained on with an evil rain; have they not seen them ?—nay, they do not hope to be raised up again.
p. 87
For each one have we struck out parables, and each one have we ruined with utter ruin.
Why, they! have come past the cities which were rained on with an evil rain; have they not seen them ?—nay, they do not hope to be raised up again.
And when they saw thee they only took thee for a jest, ‘Is this he whom God has sent as an apostle? he well-nigh leads us astray from our gods, had we not been patient about them.’ But they shall know, when they see the torment, who errs most from the path. [45] Dost thou consider him who takes his lusts for his god? wilt thou then be in charge over him? or dost thou reckon that most of them will hear or understand? they are only like the cattle, nay, they err more from the way.
Hast thou not looked to thy Lord how He prolongs the shadow? but had He willed He would have made it stationary; then we make the sun a guide thereto, then we contract it towards us with an easy contraction.
And He it is who made the night for a garment ; and sleep for repose, and made the day for men to rise up again. [50] And He it is who sent the winds with glad tidings before His mercy; and we send down from the heavens pure water, to quicken therewith the dead country, and to give it for drink to what we have created,—the cattle and many folk.
We have turned it? in various ways amongst them that they may remember; though most men
1 That is, the idolatrous Meccans; see Part I, p. 249, note 2. 2 That is, either the Qur’4n, cf. Part II, p. 5, line 25; or the words may be rendered, ‘ We distribute it’ (the rain), &c.
88 THE QuR’AN. XXV, 52-63.
refuse aught but to misbelieve. But, had we pleased, we would have sent in every city a warner. So obey not the unbelievers and fight strenuously with them in many a strenuous fight.
[55] He it is who has let loose the two seas, this one sweet and fresh, that one bitter and pungent, and has made between them a rigorous prohibition.
Yet they worship beside God what can neither profit them nor harm them; but he who misbelieves in his Lord backs up (the devil).
We have only sent thee to give glad tidings and towarn. Say,‘I ask you not for it a hire unless one please to take unto his Lord a way!” [60] And rely thou upon the Living One who dies not; and celebrate His praise, for He knows well enough about the thoughts, of His servants. He who created the heavens and the earth, and what is between them, in six days, and then made for the throne; the Merciful One, ask concerning Him of One who is aware.
And when it is said, ‘Adore ye the Merciful!’ they say, ‘What is the Merciful? shall we adore what thou dost order us?’ and it only increases their aversion.
Blessed be He who placed in the heavens zodiacal signs, and placed therein the lamp and an illuminating moon!
And when it is said, ‘Adore ye the Merciful!’ they say, ‘What is the Merciful? shall we adore what thou dost order us?’ and it only increases their aversion.
Blessed be He who placed in the heavens zodiacal signs, and placed therein the lamp and an illuminating moon!
And He it is who made the night and the day
» That is, that if a man chose to expend anything for the cause of God he can do so.
XXV, 63-7s. THE CHAPTER OF THE DISCRIMINATION. 89 alternating for him who desires to remember or who wishes to be thankful.
And the servants of the Merciful are those who walk upon the earth lowly, and when the ignorant address them, say, ‘Peace!’ [65] And those who pass the night adoring their Lord and standing!'; and those who say, ‘O our Lord! turn from us the torment of hell; verily, its torments are persistent ; verily, they are evil as an abode and a station.’
And those who when they spend are neither extravagant nor miserly, but who ever take their stand between the two; and who call not upon another god with God; and kill not the soul which God has prohibited save deservedly?; and do not commit fornication: for he who does that shall meet with a penalty; doubled for him shall be the torment on the resurrection day, and he shall be therein for aye despised. [70] Save he who turns again and believes and does a righteous work ; for, as to those, God will change their evil deeds to good, for God is ever forgiving, merciful.
And he who turns again and does right, verily, he turns again to God repentant.
And those who do not testify falsely; and when ‘they pass by frivolous discourse, pass by it honourably ; and those who when they are reminded of the signs of their Lord do not fall down thereat deaf and blind; and those who say, ‘Our Lord! grant us from our wives and seed that which may cheer our eyes, and make us models to the pious!’
[75] These shall be rewarded with a high place? for that they were patient: and they shall meet
* For prayer. ? See Part I, p. 135, note 1. 5 In Paradise. -p. 12 therein with salutation and peace,—to dwell therein for aye; a good abode and station shall it be!
Say, ‘My Lord cares not for you though you should not call (on Him); and ye have called (the Apostle) a liar, but it shall be (a punishment) which ye cannot shake off.’
THe CHAPTER OF THE POoETs.
(XXVI, Mecca.)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
ZI. S. M. Those are the signs of the perspicuous Book; haply thou art vexing thyself to death that they will not be believers!
If we please we will send down upon them from the heaven a sign, and their necks shall be humbled thereto. But there comes not to them any recent Reminder from the Merciful One that they do not turn away from. [5] They have called (thee) liar! but there shall come to them a message of that at which they mocked.
But there comes not to them any recent Reminder from the Merciful One that they do not turn away from. [5] They have called (thee) liar! but there shall come to them a message of that at which they mocked.
Have they not looked to the earth, how we caused to grow therein of every noble kind ? verily, in that is a sign; but most of them will never be believers! but, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and merciful.
And when thy Lord called Moses (saying), ‘ Come to the unjust people, [10] to the people of Pharaoh, will they not fear?’ Said he, ‘My Lord! verily, I fear that they will call me liar; and my breast is straitened, and my tongue is not fluent; send then
XXVI, 12-29. THE CHAPTER OF THE POETS. gt unto Aaron’, for they have a crime against me, and I fear that they may kill me?.’ Said He, ‘ Not so; but go with our signs, verily, we are with you listening.
[15] ‘And go to Pharaoh and say, “ Verily, we are the apostles of the Lord of the worlds (to tell thee to) send with us the children of Israel.”’
And he said, ‘ Did we not bring thee up amongst us asa child? and thou didst dwell amongst us for years of thy life; and thou didst do thy deed which thou hast done, and thou art of the ungrateful!’
Said he, ‘I did commit this, and I was of those who erred.
[20] ‘And I fled from you when I feared you, and my Lord granted me judgment, and made me one of His messengers ; and this is the favour thou hast obliged me with, that thou hast enslaved the children of Israel!’
Said Pharaoh, ‘Who is the Lord of the worlds ?’ Said he, ‘The Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is between the two, if ye are but sure.’
Said he to those about him, ‘Do ye not listen ?’ [25] Said he, ‘Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore!’
Said he, ‘ Verily, your apostle who is sent to you is surely mad!’
Said he, ‘The Lord of the east and of the west, and of what is between the two, if ye had but sense!’
Said he, ‘If thou dost take a god besides Me I will surely make thee one of the imprisoned !’
Said he, ‘ What, if I come to thee with something obvious ?’
1 That he may be my minister. 3 The slaying of the Egyptian.
p. 49
[30] Said he, ‘ Bring it, if thou art of those who ‘tell the truth!’
And he threw down his rod, and, behold, it was an obvious serpent! and he plucked out his hand, and, behold, it was white to the spectators!
He! said to the chiefs around him, ‘ Verily, this is a knowing sorcerer, he desires to turn you out of your land! what is it then ye bid ?’
[25] They said, ‘Give him and his brother some hope, and send into the cities to collect and bring to thee every knowing sorcerer.’
And the sorcerers assembled at the appointed time on a stated day, and it was said to the people, ‘Are ye assembled ? haply we may follow the sorcerers if we gain the upper hand.’
haply we may follow the sorcerers if we gain the upper hand.’
[40] And when the sorcerers came they said to Pharaoh, ‘Shall we, verily, have a hire if we gain the upper hand?’ Said he, ‘ Yes; and, verily, ye shall then be of those who are nigh (my throne). And Moses said to them, ‘ Throw down what ye have to throw down.’ So they threw down their ropes and _ their rods and said, ‘By Pharaoh’s might, verily, we it is who shall gain the upper hand!’
And Moses threw down his rod, and, lo, it swallowed up what they falsely devised!
[45] And the sorcerers threw themselves down, adoring. Said they, ‘We believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron!’ Said he, ‘Do ye believe in Him ere I give you leave?» Verily, he is your chief who has taught you sorcery, but soon ye shall know. I will surely cut off your hands and your feet from opposite sides, and I will crucify you all together !’
} Pharaoh.
p. 93
[50] They said, ‘No harm; verily, unto our Lord do we return! verily, we hope that our Lord will forgive us our sins, for we are the first of believers!’
And we inspired Moses, ‘ Journey by night with my servants; verily, ye are pursued.’
And Pharaoh sent into the cities to collect; ‘Verily, these are a small company. [55] And, verily, they are enraged with us; but we are a multitude, wary !
‘Turn them out of gardens and springs, and treasuries, and a noble station!’—thus,—and we made the children of Israel to inherit them.
[60] And they followed them at dawn; and when the two hosts saw each other, Moses’ companions said, ‘Verily, we are overtaken!’ Said he, ‘Not so; verily, with me is my Lord, He will guide me.’
And we inspired Moses, ‘Strike with thy rod the sea ;’ and it was cleft asunder, and each part was like a mighty mountain. And then we brought the others. [65] And we saved Moses and those with him all together; then we drowned the others; and that is a sign: but most of them will never be believers! And, verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful. ;
And recite to them the story of Abraham; [70] when he said to his father and his people, ‘ What do ye serve?’ They said, ‘We serve idols, and we are still devoted to them.’ He said, ‘Can they hear you when ye call, or profit you, or harm ?’
They said, ‘No; but we found our fathers doing thus.’ [75] He said, ‘ Have ye considered what ye have been serving, ye and your fathers before you ? Verily, they are foes to me, save only the Lord of the worlds, who created me and guides me, and who:
94 THE Qur’AN. XXVI, 79-11F.
Verily, they are foes to me, save only the Lord of the worlds, who created me and guides me, and who:
94 THE Qur’AN. XXVI, 79-11F.
gives me food and drink. [80] And when I am sick He heals me; He who will kill me, and then bring me to life; and who I hope will forgive me my sins on the day of judgment! Lord, grant me judgment, and let me reach the righteous; and give me a tongue of good report amongst posterity; [85] and make me of the heirs of the paradise of pleasure ; and pardon my father, verily, he is of those who err; and disgrace me not on the day when they are raised up again; the day when wealth shall profit not, nor sons, but only he who comes to God with a sound heart. [90] And paradise shall be brought near to the pious; and hell shall be brought forth to those who go astray, and it shall be said to them, “Where is what ye used to worship beside God ? can they help you, or get help themselves?” And they shall fall headlong into it, they and those who have gone astray, [95] and the hosts of Iblis all together !
‘They shall say, while they quarrel therein, “ By God! we were surely in an obvious error, when we made you equal to the Lord of the worlds! but it was only sinners who led us astray. [100] But we have no intercessors and no warm friend; but had we a turn we would be of the believers.” ’—Verily, in that is a sign, but most of them will never be believers; and, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and merciful.
[105] The people of Noah said the apostles were liars, when their brother Noah said to them, ‘ Will ye not fear ? verily, I am a faithful apostle to you; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for. it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. [110] So fear God and obey me.’ Theyp. 95 said, ‘Shall we believe in thee, when the reprobates follow thee?’ He said, ‘I did not know what they were doing; their account is only with my Lord, if ye but perceive. And I am not one to drive away the believers, [115] I am only a plain warner.’
They said, ‘Verily, if thou desist not, O Noah! thou shalt surely be of those who are stoned!’ Said he, ‘My Lord! verily, my people call me liar ; open between me and between them an opening, and save me and those of the believers who are with me!’
So we saved him and those with him in the laden ark, [120] then we drowned the rest; verily, in that is a sign, but most of them will never be believers; and, verily, thy Lord He is mighty and merciful.
And ‘Ad called the apostles liars; when their brother Hfd said to them, ‘Will ye not fear? [125] Verily, I am to you a faithful apostle; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Do ye build on every height a landmark in sport, and take to works that haply ye may be immortal ?
[125] Verily, I am to you a faithful apostle; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Do ye build on every height a landmark in sport, and take to works that haply ye may be immortal ?
[130] ‘And when ye assault ye assault like tyrants; but fear God and obey me; and fear Him who hath given you an extent of cattle and sons, and gardens and springs. [135] Verily, I fear for you the torment of a mighty day!’
. They said, ‘It is the same to us if thou admonish or art not of those who do admonish; this is nothing but old folks’ fictions, for we shall not be tormented!’
And they called him liar! but we destroyed them. Verily, in that is a sign, but most of them will never
p. 166
be believers. [140] And, verily, thy Lord is mighty, merciful.
Thamtd called the apostles liars; when their brother Z4li‘h said to them, ‘Do ye not fear ? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle; so fear God and obey me. [145] I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Shall ye be left here in safety with gardens and springs, and corn-fields and palms, the spathes whereof are . fine? and ye hew out of the mountains houses skilfully. [150] But fear God and obey me; and obey not the bidding of the extravagant, who do evil in the earth ‘and do not act aright!’
They said, ‘ Thou art only of the infatuated ; thou art but mortal like ourselves; so bring us a sign, if thou be of those who speak the truth!’
[155] He said, ‘This she-camel shall have her drink and you your drink on a certain day; but touch her not with evil, or there will seize you the torment of a mighty day!’
But they hamstrung her, and on the morrow they repented; and the torment seized them; verily, in that is a sign; but most of them will never be believers: but verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful.
[160] The people of Lot called the apostles liars ; when their brother Lot said to them, ‘Do ye not fear ? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle; then fear God and obey me. I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. [165] Do ye approach males of all the world and leave what God your Lord has created for you of your wives? nay, but ye are people who transgress!’
p. 97
They said, ‘Surely, if thou dost not desist, O Lot! thou shalt be of those who are expelled!’
Said he, ‘ Verily, I am of those who hate your deed; my Lord! save me and my people from what they do.’
[170] And we saved him and his people all together, except an old woman amongst those who lingered. Then we destroyed the others ; and we rained down upon them a rain; and evil was the rain of those who were warned. Verily, in that is a sign; but most of them will never be believers. [175] And, verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful, compassionate.
Then we destroyed the others ; and we rained down upon them a rain; and evil was the rain of those who were warned. Verily, in that is a sign; but most of them will never be believers. [175] And, verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful, compassionate.
The fellows of the Grove? called the apostles liars; Sho’hdib said to them, ‘Will ye not fear? verily, I am to you a faithful apostle, then fear God and obey me. [180] I do not ask you for it any hire; my hire is only with the Lord of the worlds. Give good measure, and be not of those who diminish; and weigh with a fair balance, and do not cheat men of their goods ; and waste not the land, despoiling it ; and fear Him who created you and the races of yore!’ [185] Said they, ‘Thou art only of the infatuated; and thou art only a mortal like ourselves; and, verily, we think that thou art surely of the liars; so make a portion of the heaven to fall down upon us, if thou art of those who tell the truth!’
Said he, ‘My Lord knows best what ye do!’ but they called him liar, and the torment of the day of the shadow seized them; for it was the torment of a mighty day: [190] verily, in that is a sign; but
1 See Part I, p. 249, note 3. [9] H
p. 216
most of them will never be believers; but, verily, thy Lord He is mighty, merciful !
And, verily, it? is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds; the Faithful Spirit came down with it? upon thy heart, that thou shouldst be of those who warn ;—[195] in plain Arabic language, and, verily, it is (foretold) in the scriptures of yore! Have they not a sign, that the learned men of the children of Israel recognise it?? Had we sent it down to any barbarian, and he had read it to them, they would not have believed therein. [200] Thus have we made for it* a way into the hearts of the sinners; they will not believe therein until they see the grievous woe! and it shall come to them suddenly while they do not perceive! They will say, ‘Shall we be respited >—What! do they wish to hasten on our torment ?’
[205] What thinkest thou? if we let them enjoy themselves for years, and then there come to them what they are threatened, that will not avail them which they had to enjoy! But we do not destroy any city without its having warners as a reminder, for we are never unjust.
[210] The devils did not descend therewith ; it is not fit work for them; nor are they able to do it. Verily, they are deposed from listening®; call not then with God upon other gods, or thou wilt be of the tormented; but warn thy clansmen who are near of kin. [215] And lower® thy wing to those of the believers who follow thee; but if they rebel against thee, say, ‘Verily, 1 am clear of what ye
do, and rely thou upon the mighty, merciful One, who sees thee when thou dost stand up, and thy posturing amongst those who adore?. [220] Verily, He both hears and knows!
Shall I inform you upon whom the devils descend ? they descend upon every sinful liar, and impart what they have heard?; but most of them are liars.
And the poets do those follow who go astray! [225] Dost thou not see that they wander distraught in every vale ? and that they say that which they do not do? save those who believe, and do right, and remember God much, and defend themselves after they are wronged; but those who do wrong shall know with what a turn they shall be turned ®.
Tue CHAPTER OF THE ANT. (X XVII. Mecca.)
In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
T.S. Those are the signs of the Qur'an and the perspicuous Book; a guidance and glad tidings to the believers, who are steadfast at prayer, and give alms, and of the hereafter are sure; verily, those who believe not in the hereafter we have made seemly for them their works, and they shall wander
1 Or, it may be thy going to and fro amongst believers, as Mohammed is reported to have done one night, to see what they were about, and he found the whole settlement ‘buzzing like a hornet’s nest with the sound of the recitation of the Qur’4n and of their prayers.’
3 That is, by listening at the door of heaven; see Part I, p. 50, note 2.
5 That is, in what condition they shall be brought before God.
H 2
p. 16
blindly on! [5] These are they who shall have an evil torment, and they in the hereafter shall be those who most lose! Verily, thou dost meet with this Qur’4n from the wise, the knowing One!
When Moses said to his people, ‘Verily, I perceive a fire, I will bring you therefrom news; or
I will bring you a burning brand; haply ye may be ' warmed.’ But when he came to it he was called to, ‘Blessed be He who is in the fire, and he who is about it! and celebrated be the praises of God, the Lord of the worlds! O Moses! verily, 1 am God, the mighty, wise ; [10] throw down thy staff!’ and when he saw it quivering, as though it were a snake, he turned back fleeing, and did not return. ‘O Moses! fear not; verily, as for me—apostles fear not with me; save only those who have done wrong and then substitute good for evil; for, verily, I am forgiving, merciful! but put thy hand in thy bosom, it shall come forth white without hurt ;—one of nine signs to Pharaoh and his people; verily, they are a people who act abominably.’
And when our signs came to them visibly, they said, ‘ This is obvious sorcery!’ and they gainsaid them—though their souls made sure of them— unjustly, haughtily; but, behold what was the end of the evildoers!
[15] And we gave David and Solomon knowledge ; and they both said, ‘ Praise belongs to God, who hath preferred us over many of His servants who believe !’ °
And Solomon was David’s heir; and said, ‘O ye folk! we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given everything ; verily, this is an obvious grace!’
XXVIT, 17-28. THE CHAPTER OF THE ANT. Io!
And assembled for Solomon were his hosts of the ginns, and men, and birds, and they were marshalled ; until they came upon the valley of the ants. Said an ant, ‘O ye ants! go into your dwellings, that _ Solomon and his hosts crush you not while they do not perceive.’
And he smiled, laughing at her speech, and said, .‘O Lord! excite me to be thankful for Thy favour, wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do righteousness which may please Thee ; and make me enter into Thy mercy amongst Thy righteous servants !’ ,
[20] And he reviewed the birds, and said, ‘ How is it I see not the hoopoe ? is he then amongst the absent ? I will surely torment him with a severe torment ; or I will surely slaughter him; or he shall bring me obvious authority.’
‘ And he tarried not long, and said, ‘I have compassed what ye compassed not; for I bring you from Sebd! a sure information: verily, I found a woman ruling over them, and she was given all things, and she had a mighty throne; and I found her and her people adoring the sun instead of God, for Satan had made seemly to them their works, and turned them from the path, so that they are not guided. [25] Will they not adore God who brings forth the secrets in the heavens, and knows what they hide and what they manifest >—God, there is no god but He, the Lord of the mighty throne !’
Said he, ‘We will see whether thou hast told the truth, or whether thou art of those who lie. Go with this my letter and throw it before them,
1 The Sheba of the Bible, in the south of the Arabian peninsula,
102 THE QuR’AN. XXVII, 28-40.
then turn back away from them, and see what they return.’
Said she, ‘O ye chiefs! verily, a noble letter has been thrown before me. [30] It is from Solomon, and, verily, it is, “In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Do not rise up against me, but come to me resigned!”’ She said, ‘O ye chiefs! pronounce sentence for me in my affair. I never decide an affair until ye testify for me.’
They said, ‘We are endowed with strength, and endowed with keen violence; but the bidding is thine, see then what it is that thou wilt bid.’
She said, ‘Verily, kings when they enter a city despoil it, and make the mighty ones of its people the meanest; thus it is they do! [35] So, verily, I am going to send to them a gift, and will wait to see with what the messengers return.’