The Qur'ân, Part I: Chapters I–XVI — SBE Vol. 6 (trans. E. H. Palmer, 1880)
The translator’s English as printed (E. H. Palmer). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
p. 255
fest signs and with scriptures; and we have sent down the Reminder to thee too, that thou mayest explain to men what has been sent down to them, and haply they may reflect.
Are those who were so crafty in evil. sure that God will not cleave open the earth with them, or bring them torment from whence they cannot perceive, or seize them in their going to and fro? for they cannot make Him helpless.
Or that He should seize them with a gradual destruction ? for, verily, your Lord is kind, merciful.
[50] Do they not regard whatever thing God has created; its shadow falls on the right or the left, adoring God and shrinking up?
- Whatever is in the heavens and in the earth, beast or angel, adores God; nor are they big with pride!
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are bidden.
And God says, ‘Take not to two gods; God is only one; me then do ye fear!’
His is what is in the heavens and in the earth ;
to Him is obedience due unceasingly ; other than
God then will ye fear ?
[55] And whatever favours ye have, they are from God; then, whenever distress touches you, unto Him ye turn for succour. Yet, when He removes the distress from you, lo! a party of you join partners with their Lord.
That they may disbelieve in what we have brought them and may enjoy,—but at length they shall know!
And they set aside for what they know not a
256 THE QuR’AN. XVI, 58-65.
portion of what we have bestowed upon them !.— By God! ye shall be questioned concerning that which ye have devised.
They make for God daughters ;—celebrated be His praise!—and for themselves they like them not *.
[60] When any one of them has tidings of a female child, his face is overclouded and black, and he has to keep back his wrath.
He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has heard ;—is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the dust ?—aye! evil is it that they judge!
For those who disbelieve in the future life is a similitude of evil: but for God is the loftiest similitude ; for He is the mighty, the wise!
If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing He would not leave upon the earth a single beast ; but He respites them until a stated time; and when their time comes they cannot put it off an hour, nor can they bring it on.
They set down to God what they abhor themselves; and their tongues describe the lie that ‘good is to be theirs. Without a doubt theirs is the Fire, for, verily, they shall be sent on there !
[65] By God! we sent (messengers) to nations before thee, but Satan made their works seemly to them, for he is their patron to-day, and for them is grievous woe!
1 See note 2, p. 132.
2 The Arabs used to call the angels ‘daughters of God.’ They, however, objected strongly (as do the modern Bedawin) to female offspring, and used to bury their infant daughters alive. This practice Mohammed elsewhere reprobates. See p. 132, note 3.
p. 257
132.
2 The Arabs used to call the angels ‘daughters of God.’ They, however, objected strongly (as do the modern Bedawin) to female offspring, and used to bury their infant daughters alive. This practice Mohammed elsewhere reprobates. See p. 132, note 3.
p. 257
We have only sent down to thee the Book, that thou mayest explain to them that which they did dispute about, and as a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe.
And God sends down water from the sky, and quickens therewith the earth after its death ; verily, in that is a sign to a people who can hear.
Verily, ye have in cattle a lesson; we give you to drink from that which is in their bellies, betwixt chyme and blood,— pure milk,—easy to swallow for those who drink.
And of the fruit of the palms and the grapes ye take therefrom an intoxicant and a goodly provision; verily, in that is a sign to a people who have sense !
[70] And thy Lord inspired the bee, ‘Take to houses in the mountains, and in the trees, and in the hives they build.
‘Then eat from every fruit, and walk in the beaten paths of thy Lord ;’ there cometh forth from her body a draught varying in hue}, in which is a cure for men; verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect.
God created you; then He will take you to Himself; but amongst you are some whom He will thrust into the most decrepit age ; so that he may not know aught that once he knew. Verily, God is knowing, powerful.
And God has preferred some of you over others in providing for you; but those who have been preferred will not restore their provision to those
1 The Arab writers mention several varieties of honey differing in colour, and some of which are used as medicine.
[6] sp. 258 whom their right hands possess? that they may share equally therein:—is it God’s favours they gainsay ?
And God has made for you from amongst yourselves wives, and has made for you from your wives sons and grandchildren; and has provided you with good things ;—is it in vanity that they believe, while for God’s favour they are ungrateful ?
[75] And they serve beside God what cannot control for them any provision from the heavens or the earth, and have no power at all.
Do not then strike out parables for God! Verily,
God knows, but ye do not know.
God has struck out a parable; an owned slave, able to do nothing ; and one whom we have provided with a good provision, and who expends therefrom in alms secretly and openly :—shall they be held equal ?—Praise be to God, most of them do not know!
And God has struck out a parable: two men, one of them dumb, able to do nothing, a burden to his lord; wherever he directs him he comes not with success; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just and who is on the right way ?
God’s are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; nor is the matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher still! Verily, God is mighty over all!
God’s are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; nor is the matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher still! Verily, God is mighty over all!
[80] God brings you forth out of the wombs of your mothers knowing naught; and He makes for you hearing, and sight, and hearts,—haply ye may give thanks !
1 Their slaves.
XVI, 81-89. THE CHAPTER OF THE BEE, 259
Do they not see the birds subjected in the vault of the sky ?—none holds them in but God: verily, in that is a sign unto a people who believe.
God made for you in your houses a repose; and made for you, of the skins of cattle, houses}, that ye may find them light, on the day ye move your quarters and the day when ye abide; and from their wool, and from their fur, and from their hair come furniture and chattels for a season.
And God has made for you, of what He has created, shades; and has made for you shelters in the mountains; and He has made for you shirts to keep you from the heat, and shirts? to keep you from each other’s violence:—thus does He fulfil His favours towards you,—haply ye yet may be resigned.
But if they turn their backs,—thine is only to preach thy plain message.
[85] They recognise the favours of God, and yet they deny them, for most men are ungrateful.
And on the day when we shall send from every nation a witness; then shall those who misbelieve not be allowed (to excuse themselves), and they shall.not be taken back into favour.
And when those who join their partners with God say, ‘Our Lord! these be our partners on whom we used to call beside Thee.’ And they shall proffer them the speech, ‘Verily, ye are liars!’ And they shall proffer on that day peace unto God; and that which they had devised shall stray away from them.
1 « Tents’ are called ‘houses of hair’ or ‘of hide’ by the desert Arabs. = Of mail. $2
p. 260
[90] Those who misbelieve and turn folks off
God’s path, we will add torment to their torment,
for that they were evildoers.
And on the day when we will raise up in every nation a witness against them from among themselves, and we will bring theé as a witness against these!; for we have sent down to thee a book explaining clearly everything, and a guidance, and a mercy, and glad tidings to the believers.
Verily, God bids you do justice and good, and give to kindred (their due), and He forbids you to sin, and do wrong, and oppress; He admonishes you, haply ye may be mindful!
Fulfil God’s covenant when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after asseverating them, for ye thereby make God your surety; verily, God knows what ye do.
And be not like her who unravels her yarn, fraying it out after she hath spun it close, by taking your oaths for mutual intrigue, because one nation is more numerous than another; God only tries you therewith, but He will make manifest to you on the resurrection day that whereon ye did dispute ?. .
p. 255
fest signs and with scriptures; and we have sent down the Reminder to you too, that you may explain to men what has been sent down to them, and haply they may reflect.
Are those who were so crafty in evil. sure that God will not cleave open the earth with them, or bring them torment from whence they cannot perceive, or seize them in their going to and fro? for they cannot make Him helpless.
Or that He should seize them with a gradual destruction ? for, verily, your Lord is kind, merciful.
[50] Do they not regard whatever thing God has created; its shadow falls on the right or the left, adoring God and shrinking up?
- Whatever is in the heavens and in the earth, beast or angel, adores God; nor are they big with pride!
They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are bidden.
And God says, ‘Take not to two gods; God is only one; me then do you fear!’
His is what is in the heavens and in the earth ;
to Him is obedience due unceasingly ; other than
God then will you fear ?
[55] And whatever favours you have, they are from God; then, whenever distress touches you, unto Him you turn for succour. Yet, when He removes the distress from you, lo! a party of you join partners with their Lord.
That they may disbelieve in what we have brought them and may enjoy,—but at length they shall know!
And they set aside for what they know not a
256 THE QuR’AN. XVI, 58-65.
portion of what we have bestowed upon them !.— By God! you shall be questioned concerning that which you have devised.
They make for God daughters ;—celebrated be His praise!—and for themselves they like them not *.
[60] When any one of them has tidings of a female child, his face is overclouded and black, and he has to keep back his wrath.
He skulks away from the people, for the evil tidings he has heard ;—is he to keep it with its disgrace, or to bury it in the dust ?—aye! evil is it that they judge!
For those who disbelieve in the future life is a similitude of evil: but for God is the loftiest similitude ; for He is the mighty, the wise!
If God were to punish men for their wrong-doing He would not leave upon the earth a single beast ; but He respites them until a stated time; and when their time comes they cannot put it off an hour, nor can they bring it on.
They set down to God what they abhor themselves; and their tongues describe the lie that ‘good is to be theirs. Without a doubt theirs is the Fire, for, verily, they shall be sent on there !
[65] By God! we sent (messengers) to nations before you, but Satan made their works seemly to them, for he is their patron to-day, and for them is grievous woe!
1 See note 2, p. 132.
2 The Arabs used to call the angels ‘daughters of God.’ They, however, objected strongly (as do the modern Bedawin) to female offspring, and used to bury their infant daughters alive. This practice Mohammed elsewhere reprobates. See p. 132, note 3.
p. 257
132.
2 The Arabs used to call the angels ‘daughters of God.’ They, however, objected strongly (as do the modern Bedawin) to female offspring, and used to bury their infant daughters alive. This practice Mohammed elsewhere reprobates. See p. 132, note 3.
p. 257
We have only sent down to you the Book, that you may explain to them that which they did dispute about, and as a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe.
And God sends down water from the sky, and quickens therewith the earth after its death ; verily, in that is a sign to a people who can hear.
Verily, you have in cattle a lesson; we give you to drink from that which is in their bellies, betwixt chyme and blood,— pure milk,—easy to swallow for those who drink.
And of the fruit of the palms and the grapes you take therefrom an intoxicant and a goodly provision; verily, in that is a sign to a people who have sense !
[70] And your Lord inspired the bee, ‘Take to houses in the mountains, and in the trees, and in the hives they build.
‘Then eat from every fruit, and walk in the beaten paths of your Lord ;’ there comes forth from her body a draught varying in hue}, in which is a cure for men; verily, in that are signs unto a people who reflect.
God created you; then He will take you to Himself; but amongst you are some whom He will thrust into the most decrepit age ; so that he may not know aught that once he knew. Verily, God is knowing, powerful.
And God has preferred some of you over others in providing for you; but those who have been preferred will not restore their provision to those
1 The Arab writers mention several varieties of honey differing in colour, and some of which are used as medicine.
[6] sp. 80 whom their right hands possess? that they may share equally therein:—is it God’s favours they gainsay ?
And God has made for you from amongst yourselves wives, and has made for you from your wives sons and grandchildren; and has provided you with good things ;—is it in vanity that they believe, while for God’s favour they are ungrateful ?
[75] And they serve beside God what cannot control for them any provision from the heavens or the earth, and have no power at all.
Do not then strike out parables for God! Verily,
God knows, but you do not know.
God has struck out a parable; an owned slave, able to do nothing ; and one whom we have provided with a good provision, and who expends therefrom in alms secretly and openly :—shall they be held equal ?—Praise be to God, most of them do not know!
And God has struck out a parable: two men, one of them dumb, able to do nothing, a burden to his lord; wherever he directs him he comes not with success; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just and who is on the right way ?
God’s are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; nor is the matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher still! Verily, God is mighty over all!
God’s are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; nor is the matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher still! Verily, God is mighty over all!
[80] God brings you forth out of the wombs of your mothers knowing naught; and He makes for you hearing, and sight, and hearts,—haply you may give thanks !
1 Their slaves.
p. 259
Do they not see the birds subjected in the vault of the sky ?—none holds them in but God: verily, in that is a sign unto a people who believe.
God made for you in your houses a repose; and made for you, of the skins of cattle, houses}, that you may find them light, on the day you move your quarters and the day when you abide; and from their wool, and from their fur, and from their hair come furniture and chattels for a season.
And God has made for you, of what He has created, shades; and has made for you shelters in the mountains; and He has made for you shirts to keep you from the heat, and shirts? to keep you from each other’s violence:—thus does He fulfil His favours towards you,—haply you yet may be resigned.
But if they turn their backs,—your is only to preach your plain message.
[85] They recognise the favours of God, and yet they deny them, for most men are ungrateful.
And on the day when we shall send from every nation a witness; then shall those who misbelieve not be allowed (to excuse themselves), and they shall.not be taken back into favour.
And when those who join their partners with God say, ‘Our Lord! these be our partners on whom we used to call beside You.’ And they shall proffer them the speech, ‘Verily, you are liars!’ And they shall proffer on that day peace unto God; and that which they had devised shall stray away from them.
1 « Tents’ are called ‘houses of hair’ or ‘of hide’ by the desert Arabs. = Of mail. $2
p. 96
[90] Those who misbelieve and turn folks off
God’s path, we will add torment to their torment,
for that they were evildoers.
And on the day when we will raise up in every nation a witness against them from among themselves, and we will bring theé as a witness against these!; for we have sent down to you a book explaining clearly everything, and a guidance, and a mercy, and glad tidings to the believers.
Verily, God bids you do justice and good, and give to kindred (their due), and He forbids you to sin, and do wrong, and oppress; He admonishes you, haply you may be mindful!
Fulfil God’s covenant when you have covenanted, and break not your oaths after asseverating them, for you thereby make God your surety; verily, God knows what you do.
And be not like her who unravels her yarn, fraying it out after she has spun it close, by taking your oaths for mutual intrigue, because one nation is more numerous than another; God only tries you therewith, but He will make manifest to you on the resurrection day that whereon you did dispute ?. .
No commentary for this page under the selected tracks.
There is commentary on page 1.