The Qur'ân, Part I: Chapters I–XVI — SBE Vol. 6 (trans. E. H. Palmer, 1880)

But sorcerers shall not prosper.’

They said, ‘Hast thou come to turn us away from what we found our fathers at, that there may be for you twain grandeur in the earth? but we will not believe you.’

[80] And Pharaoh said, ‘ Bring me every knowing sorcerer ;’ and when the sorcerers came, Moses said to them, ‘Throw down what ye have to throw!’ and when they threw down, Moses said, ‘ What ye have brought is sorcery! verily, God will make

? Your idols. 2 Noah’s people.

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it vain; verily, God rights not the work of evildoers !’

But God verifies the truth by His words, although the sinners are averse therefrom.

But none believed in Moses, save a race of his own people, through fear of Pharaoh and his chiefs ; lest he should afflict them, for verily, Pharaoh was lofty in the earth, and verily, he was extravagant.

And Moses said, ‘O my people! if ye did believe in God, then on Him rely, if ye be resigned.’ [85] They said, ‘Upon God do we rely. O our Lord! make us not a cause of trial for a people who do wrong, but save us by Thy mercy from the people who misbelieve!’

And we inspired Moses and his brother thus,
‘Establish, ye twain, houses for your people in
Egypt; and make ye your houses a qiblah!;
and be ye steadfast in prayer, and give glad tidings
to those who believe.’

Moses said, “O our Lord! verily, Thou hast brought to Pharaoh and his chiefs ornaments and wealth in the life of this world; O our Lord! that they may err from Thy way! O our Lord! confound their wealth and harden their hearts that they may not believe until they see grievous woe!’ He said, ‘ Your prayer is answered ; be upright then, ye two, and follow not the path of those who do not know!’

[90] And we brought the children of Israel across the sea; and Pharaoh and his hosts followed them eager and hostile, until when drowning overtook him, he said, ‘I believe that there is no god but

1 T.e. adapt them by their position and.construction to become places in which prayer may be performed.

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adapt them by their position and.construction to become places in which prayer may be performed.

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He in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who are resigned !’—‘ Now?! but thou didst rebel aforetime, and wert of those who do evil; but to-day we will save thee in thy body, that thou mayest be to those who come after thee a sign, for verily, many men are careless of our signs?!’ And we established the people of Israel with a sure establishment, and we provided them with good things ; nor did they disagree until there came to them the knowledge. Verily, thy Lord shall decide between them on the resurrection day concerning that whereon they did dispute. , And if thou art in doubt of that which we have sent down unto thee, ask those who read the Book before thee; verily, the truth is come to thee from thy Lord, be not then of those who are in doubt. And be not of those who say the signs of God are lies, or thou wilt be of those who lose! [95] Verily, those against whom God’s word is pronounced will not believe, even though there come to them every sign, until they see the grievous woe. Were it not so, a city would have believed and its faith would have profited it. But (none did) except the people of Jonas; when they believed we removed from them the torment of disgrace in this world, and we gave them provision for a while. But had thy Lord pleased, all who are in the earth would have believed altogether ; as for thee, wilt thou force men to become believers ?

1 This is supposed to be the taunting reply of the angel Gabriel.

* Compare Exodus xiv. 30. The Mohammedan legend is that as some of the children of Israel doubted whether Pharaoh was really drowned, the angel Gabriel caused the naked corpse to swim that they might see it.

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[100] It is not for any person to believe save by the permission of God; He puts horror on those who have no sense.

Say, ‘Behold what is in the heavens and in the earth! but signs and warners avail not a people who do not believe. Do they await aught but the like of the days of those who passed away before them?’ Say, ‘Wait ye then! verily, I am with you one of those who wait.’ Then we will save our apostles and those who believe; thus is it due from us to save believers.

Say, ‘O ye folk! if ye are in doubt concerning my religion, I will not worship those ye worship other than God; but I worship God, who takes you to Himself, and I am bidden to be of the believers!’ [105] And, ‘ Make steadfast thy face to the religion as a‘Hanif!; and be not of the idolaters; and call not besides God on what can neither profit thee nor harm thee; for if thou dost, verily, thou art then of the unjust!’

And should God touch thee with harm, there is none to remove it save He; and if He wish thee well, there is none to repel His grace; He makes it fall on whom He will of His servants; for He is pardoning and merciful!

Say, ‘O ye people! there has come to you the truth from your Lord, and he who is guided, his guidance is only for his soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a guardian over you.’

Follow what is revealed to thee, and be patient until God judges, for He is the best of judges.

} See p. rg, note 1.

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Tue CwapTer or Hop.

(XI. Mecca.)

A. L.R. A book whose signs are confirmed and then detailed, from the wise one, the aware : that ye worship not other than God,—verily, I am to you from Him a warner and a herald of glad tidings ; and that ye seek pardon from your Lord, then turn again to Him! He will cause you to enjoy a good provision to a named and appointed time, and will give His grace to every one deserving grace ; but if ye turn your backs, I fear for you the torment of a great day.

Unto God is your return, and He is mighty over all.

[5] Do they not, verily, fold up their breasts, that they may hide from Him? But when they cover themselves with their garments, does He not know what they conceal and what they display? verily, He knows the nature of men’s breasts !

There is no beast that walks upon the earth but its provision is from God. He knows its settlement and its resting-place ; all is in the perspicuous Book.

He it is who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His throne was upon the water? that He might try you, which of you did best.

[10] But shouldst thou say, ‘ Ye will be raised up after death,’ those who misbelieve will surely say, ‘ This is naught but obvious sorcery;’ and if we keep back from them the torment to a stated generation,

1 That is, before the creation ; see Genesis i. 2.

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they will surely say, ‘What hinders it ?’—Aye! on the day it comes to them there is no turning it away from them, but that shall close in on them at which they mocked.

And if we make man taste of mercy from us and then strip it off from him, verily, he is despairing, ungrateful ; and if we make him taste of comfort after distress has touched him, he will surely say, ‘The evils have gone away from me;’ verily, then he is joyful and boasting. Save those who are patient and do right ; these—for them is pardon and a mighty hire!

[15] Haply thou art leaving part of what is revealed to thee and thy breast is straitened thereby, lest they should say, ‘Why is not a treasure sent down to him? or why did not an angel come with him ?—thou art only a warner, and God is guardian over all.’

Or they will say, ‘He hath devised it;’ say, ‘Bring ten sQrahs like it devised; and call upon whom ye can beside God, if ye do tell the truth!’ And if they do not answer, then know that it is revealed by the knowledge of God, and that there is no god but He—are ye then resigned ?