The Qur'ân, Part II — Chapters XVII–CXIV — SBE Vol. 9 (trans. E. H. Palmer, Clarendon Press, 1880)

He shall surely make them enter by an entrance that they like ; for, verily, God is knowing, clement.

That (is so). Whoever punishes with the like of what he has been injured with, and shall then be outraged again, God shall surely help him; verily, God pardons, forgives.

[60] That for that God joins on the night to the day, and joins on the day to the night, and that God is hearing, seeing; that is for that God is the truth, and for that what you call on beside Him is falsehood, and that God is the high, the great.

Hast you not seen that God sends down from the sky water, and on the morrow the earth is green? verily, God is kind and well aware.

His is what is in the heavens and what is in the earth ; and, verily, God is rich and to be praised.

Hast you not seen that God has subjected for you what is in the earth, and the ship that runs on in the sea at His bidding, and He holds back the sky from falling on the earth save at His bidding !? verily, God to men is gracious, merciful.

[65] He it is who quickens you, then makes you

1 As it will do at the last day. The words of the text might also be rendered ‘withholds the rain,’ though the commentators do not seem to notice this sense.

64 THE QuR’AN. ' XXII, 6g-78.

die, then will He quicken you again—verily, man is indeed ungrateful.

For every nation have we made rites which they observe ; let them not then dispute about the matter, but call upon your Lord; verily, you are surely in a right guidance !

But if they wrangle with you, say, ‘God best knows what you do.’

God shall judge between them on the resurrection day concerning that whereon they disagreed.

Didst you not know that God knows what is in the heavens and the earth? verily, that is in a book ; verily, that for God is easy.

[70] And they serve beside God what He has sent down no power for, and what they have no knowledge of; but the wrong-doers shall have none to help them.

When our signs are read to them manifest, you may recognise in the faces of those who misbelieve disdain; they well-nigh rush at those who recite to them our signs. Say, ‘Shall I inform you of something worse than that for you, the Fire which God has promised to those who misbelieve ?

an evil journey shall it be!’ ~ O you folk! a parable is struck out for you, so listen to it. Verily, those on whom you call beside God could never create a fly if they all united together to do it, and if the fly should despoil them of aught they could not snatch it away from it—weak is both the seeker and the sought.

They do not value God at His true value; verily,
God is powerful, mighty.

God chooses apostles of the angels and of men; verily, God hears and sees. [75] He knows what is

XXII, 7g-XXIII, 14. THE CHAPTER OF BELIEVERS. 65 before them and what is behind them; and unto God affairs return.

They do not value God at His true value; verily,
God is powerful, mighty.

God chooses apostles of the angels and of men; verily, God hears and sees. [75] He knows what is

XXII, 7g-XXIII, 14. THE CHAPTER OF BELIEVERS. 65 before them and what is behind them; and unto God affairs return.

O you who believe! bow down and adore, and serve your Lord, and do well, haply you may prosper ; and fight strenuously for God, as is His due. He has elected you, and has not put upon you any hindrance by your religion—the faith of your father Abraham. He has named you Muslims before and in this (book), that the Apostle may be a witness against you, and that you may be witnesses against men.

Be you then steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and hold fast by God; He is your sovereign, and an excellent sovereign, and an excellent help!

Tue CHAPTER OF BELIEVERS.
(XXIII. Mecca.)

In the name of the merciful and compassionate
God.

Prosperous are the believers who in their prayers are humble, and who from vain talk turn aside, and who in almsgiving are active. [5] And who guard their private parts—except for their wives or what their right hands possess for then, verily, they are not to be blamed ;—but whoso craves aught beyond that, they are the transgressors—and who observe their trusts and covenants, and who guard well their prayers: [10] these are the heirs who shall inherit Paradise ; they shall dwell therein for aye!

We have created man from an extract of clay;

_ then we made him a clot in a sure depository; then [9] F

66 THE Qur’AN. XXIM, 14-27.

we created the clot congealed blood, and we created the congealed blood a morsel; then we created the morsel bone, and we clothed the bone with flesh ; then we produced it another creation; and blessed be God, the best of creators !!

[15] Then shall you after that surely die; then shall you on the day of resurrection be raise

And we have created above you seven roads?; nor are we heedless of the creation.

And we send down from the heaven water by measure, and we make it rest in the earth; but, verily, we are able to take it away; and we produce for you thereby gardens of palms and grapes wherein you have many fruits, and whence you eat.

[20] And a tree growing out of Mount Sinai which produces oil, and a condiment for those who eat.

And, verily, you have a lesson in the cattle; we give you to drink of what is in their bellies; and you have therein many advantages, and of them you eat, and on them and on ships you are borne!

We sent Noah unto his people, and he said,
‘O my people! worship God, you have no god but
Him ; do you then not fear ?’

Said the chiefs of those who misbelieved among his people, ‘This is nothing but a mortal like yourselves who wishes to. 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!’

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.’

p. 67

our eyes and inspiration ; and when the oven boils over, conduct into it of every kind two, with your 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 you are settled, you and those with you 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 You are 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, you have no god but He; will you 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 you eat, [35] and drinks of what you drink; and if you obey a mortal like yourselves, verily, you will then be surely losers! Does he promise you that when you are dead, and have become dust and bones, that then you will be brought forth?

‘Away, away with what you 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.