Part 21
Thus
have we sent down the Book of the Koran to thee:
and they to whom we have given the Book of the law believe in it: and of these Arabians there are those who believe
in it: and none, save the Infidels, reject our
signs.
Thou didst
not recite any book (of revelation) before it:
with that right hand of thine thou didst not transcribe one: else might they who treat it as a vain thing have
justly doubted:
But it
is a clear sign in the hearts of those whom "the knowledge" hath reached.
None except the wicked reject our signs.
And
they say, "Unless a sign be sent down to him from his Lord...." Say: Signs are in the power of God alone. I am only a
plain spoken warner.
29:50 Is it not
enough for them that we have sent down to thee the Book to be recited to them?
In this verily is a mercy and a warning to those who
believe.
Say: God is witness enough between me and you.
He
knoweth all that is in the Heavens and the Earth, and they who believe in vain
things and disbelieve in God -- these shall be the lost ones.
They
will challenge thee to hasten the punishment:
but had there not been a season fixed for it, that
punishment had already come upon them. But it shall overtake them suddenly when
they look not for it.
They
will challenge thee to hasten the punishment:
but verily Hell shall be round about the infidels.
One
day the punishment shall wrap them round, both from above them and from beneath
their feet; and God will say, "Taste you your own doings."
O my
servants who have believed! Vast truly is my Earth:
me, therefore! yea worship me.
Every
soul shall taste of death. Then to us shall you return.
But
those who shall have believed and wrought righteousness will we lodge in
gardens with palaces, beneath which the rivers flow. For ever shall they abide therein. How goodly the reward of those who labour,
Who
patiently endure, and put their trust in their Lord!
29:60 How many
animals are there which provide not their own food! God feedeth them and you.
He heareth, Knoweth all things.
If
thou ask them who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, and hath imposed laws
on the sun and on the moon, they will certainly say, "God." How then
can they devise lies?
God
lavisheth supplies on such of his servants as He pleaseth or giveth to them by
measure. God knoweth all things.
If
thou ask them who sendeth rain from heaven, and by it
quickeneth the earth, after it hath been dead, they will certainly answer,
"God." Say: Praise be to God! Yet most of them do not understand.
This
present life is no other than a pastime and a disport:
but truly the future mansion is life indeed! Would that they knew this!
Lo! when they embark on shipboard, they call upon God, vowing
him sincere worship, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold they join partners
with Him.
In our
revelation they believe not, yet take their fill of good things. But in the end
they shall know their folly.
Do
they not see that we have established a safe precinct while all around them men
are being spoiled? Will they then believe in vain idols, and not own the
goodness of God?
But
who acteth more wrongly than he who deviseth a lie against God, or calls the
truth when it hath come to him, a lie? Is there not an abode for the infidels
in Hell?
And
whoso maketh efforts for us, in our ways will we guide them: for God is assuredly with those who do righeous
deeds.
Sura XXX (30)
The Greeks
(
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Elif. Lam.
Mim. The Greeks have been defeated
In a
land hard by: But after their defeat they
shall defeat their foes,
In a
few years. First and last is the affair with God. And on that day shall the
faithful rejoice
In the
aid of their God: He aideth whom He will; and
He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
It is
the promise of God: To his promise God will
not be untrue: but most men know it not.
They
know the outward shews of this life present, but of the next life are they
careless.
Have
they not considered within themselves that God hath not created the Heavens and
the Earth and all that is between them but for a serious end, and for a fixed
term? But truly most men believe not that they shall meet their Lord.
Have
they never journeyed through the land, and seen what hath been the end of those
who were before them? Mightier were they than these in strength; and they broke
up the land, and dwelt in it in greater numbers than they who dwell there now;
and their apostles came to them with proofs of their mission: and it was not God who would wrong them, but they
wronged themselves.
Then
evil was the end of the evil doers; because they had treated our signs as lies,
and laughed them to scorn.
30:10 God bringeth forth the creation --
then causeth it to return again -- then to Him shall you come back.
And on
that day when the hour shall arrive, the guilty shall be struck dumb for
despair,
And
they shall have no intercessors from among the gods whom they have joined with
God, and they shall deny the gods they joined with Him.
And on
that day when the Hour shall arrive, shall men be separated one from another;
And as
for those who shall have believed and done the things that are right, they
shall enjoy themselves in a flowery mead;
But as
for those who shall not have believed, but treated our signs and the meeting of
the next life as lies, they shall be given over to the torment.
Glorify
God therefore when you reach the evening, and when you rise at morn:
And to
Him be praise in the Heavens and on the Earth; and at twilight, and when you
rest at noon.
He
bringeth forth the living out of the dead, and He bringeth forth the dead out
of the living: and He quickeneth the earth
when dead. Thus is it that you too shall be brought forth.
And
one of his signs it is that He hath created you out of dust; then lo! you
become men who spread themselves far and wide:
30:20 And one of his signs it is, that He
hath created wives for you of your own species, that you may dwell with them,
and hath put love and tenderness between you. Herein truly are signs for those
who reflect.
And
among his signs are the creation of the Heavens and of the Earth, and your
variety of tongues and colour. Herein truly are signs for all men.
And of
his signs are your sleep by night and by day, and your goings in quest of his
bounties. Herein truly are signs to those who hearken.
And of
his signs are, that He sheweth you the lightning, a source of awe and hope; and
that He sendeth down rain from the heaven and giveth life by it to the earth
when dead. Herein truly are signs to those who understand.
And of
his signs also one is that the Heaven and the Earth stand firm at his bidding: hereafter, when with one summons He shall summon
you out of the earth, -- lo! forth shall you come.
His,
whatsoever is in the Heavens and on the Earth:
all are obedient to him.
And He
it is who bringeth a creature forth, then causeth it to return again; and to
him is this most easy. To whatever is loftiest in heaven and earth is He to be
likened; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
He
setteth forth to you an instance drawn from yourselves. Have you among the
slaves whom you right hands have won, any partner in what we have bestowed on
you, so that you share alike? Fear you them as you fear each other? (Thus make
we our signs clear to men of understanding.)
No,
you do not. But the wicked, devoid of knowledge, follow their own desires: and those whom God shall mislead, who shall guide,
and who shall be their protector?
Set thou
thy face then, as a true convert, towards the Faith which God hath made, and
for which He hath made man. No change is there in the creation of God. This is
the right Faith, but the greater part of men know it not.
30:30 And be you turned to Him, and fear
Him, and observe prayer, and be not of those who unite gods with God:
Of
those who have split up their religion, and have become sects, where every
party rejoices in what is their own.
When
some evil toucheth men, they turn to their Lord and call upon him: then when he hath made them taste his mercy, lo, a
part of them join other gods with their Lord,
Ungrateful
for our favours! Enjoy yourselves then. But in the end you shall know your
folly.
Have
we sent down to them any mandate which speaketh in favour of what they join
with God?
When
we cause men to taste mercy they rejoice in it; but if, for that which their
hands have aforetime wrought, evil befall them, they despair.
See
they not that God bestoweth full supplies on whom, He pleaseth and giveth
sparingly to whom He pleaseth? Signs truly are there herein to those who
believe.
To him
who is of kin to thee give his due, and to the poor and to the wayfarer: this will be best for those who seek the face of
God; and with them it shall be well.
Whatever
you put out at usury to increase it with the substance of others shall have no
increase from God: but whatever you shall give
in alms, as seeking the face of God, shall be doubled to you.
It is
God who created you -- then fed you -- then will cause you to die -- then will
make you alive. Is there any of your companion-gods who can do aught of these
things? Praise be to Him! and far be He exalted above the gods they join with
Him.
30:40 Destruction hath appeared by land and
by sea on account of what men's hands have wrought, that it might make them
taste somewhat of the fruit of their doings, that haply they might turn to God.
Say: Journey through the land, and see what hath been
the end of those who were before you! The greater part of them joined other
gods with God.
Set
thy face then towards the right faith, ere the day come which none can hinder
God from bring on. On that day shall they be parted in twain:
Unbelievers
on whom shall be their unbelief; and they who have wrought righteousness, and
prepared for themselves couches of repose:
That
of his bounty He may reward those who have believed and wrought righteousness;
for the unbelievers He loveth not.
And
one of his signs is that He sendeth the winds with glad tidings of rain, both
that He may cause you to taste his mercy, and that ships may sail at his
command, that out of his bounties you may seek wealth, and that haply you may
render thanks.
We
have sent apostles before thee to their peoples, and they presented themselves
to them with clear proofs of their mission; and while it behoved us to succour
the faithful, we took vengeance on the guilty.
It is
God who sendeth the winds and uplifteth the clouds, and, as He pleaseth,
spreadeth them on high, and breaketh them up; and thou mayest see the rain
issuing from their midst; and when He poureth it down on such of his servants
as He pleaseth, lo! they are filled with joy,
Even
they who before it was sent down to them, were in mute despair.
Look then
at the traces of God's mercy -- how after its death he quickeneth the earth!
This same God will surely quicken the dead, for to all things His might is
equal.
30:50 Yet should we send a blast, and should
they see their harvest turn yellow, they would afterwards shew themselves
ungrateful.
Thou
canst not make the dead to hear, neither canst thou make the deaf to hear the
call, when they withdraw and turn their backs:
Neither
canst thou guide the blind out of their error:
in sooth, none shalt thou make to hear, save him who shall believe in our signs: for they are resigned to our will (Muslims).
It is
God who hath created you in weakness, then after weakness hath given you
strength: then after strength, weakness and
grey hairs: He createth what He will; and He
is the Wise, the Powerful.
And on
the day whereon the Hour shall arrive, the wicked will swear
That
not above an hour have they waited: Even so
did they utter lies on earth:
But
they to whom knowledge and faith have been given will say, "You have
waited, in accordance with the book of God, till the day of Resurrection: for this is the day of the Resurrection -- but you
knew it not."
On
that day their plea shall not avail the wicked, neither shall they again be
bidden to seek acceptance with God.
And
now have we set before men, in this Koran, every kind of parable: yet if thou bring them a single verse of it, the
infidels will surely say, "You are only utterers of vain things."
It is
thus that God hath sealed up the hearts of those who are devoid of knowledge.
30:60 But do thou, Muhammad, bear with
patience, for true is the promise of God; and let not those who have no firm
belief, unsettle thee.
Sura XXXI (31)
Lokman
(
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Elif.
Lam. Mim. These are the verses (signs) of the wise Book,
A
guidance and a mercy to the righteous,
Who
observe prayer, and pay the impost, and believe firmly in the life to come: --
These
rest on guidance from their Lord, and with these it shall be well.
But a
man there is who buyeth an idle tale, that in his lack of knowledge he may
mislead others form the way of God, and turn it to scorn. For such is prepared
a shameful punishment!
And
when our signs are rehearsed to him, he turneth away disdainfully, as though he
heard them not, -- as though his ears were heavy with deafness. Announce to him
therefore tidings of an afflictive punishment!
But
they who shall have believed and wrought good works, shall enjoy the gardens of
delight:
For
ever shall they dwell therein: it is God's
true promise! and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Without
pillars that can be seen hath He created the heavens, and on the earth hath thrown
mountains lest it should move with you; and He hath scattered over it animals
of every sort: and from the Heaven we send
down rain and cause every kind of noble plant to grow up therein.
31:10 This is the creation of God: Shew me now what others than He have created. Ah!
the ungodly are in a manifest delusion.
Of old
we bestowed wisdom upon Lokman, and taught him thus -- "Be thankful to God: for whoever is thankful, is thankful to his own
behoof; and if any shall be thankless... God truly is self-sufficient, worthy
of all praise!"
And
bear in mind when Lokman said to his son by way of warning, "O my son!
joint not others gods with God, for the joining gods with God is the great
impiety."
(We
have commanded man concerning his parents. His mother carrieth him with
weakness upon weakness; nor until after two years is he weaned. Be grateful to
me, and to thy parents. Unto me shall all come.
But if
they importune thee to join that with Me of which thou hast no knowledge, obey
them not: comport thyself towards them in this
world as is meet and right; but follow the way of him who turneth unto me.
Until me shall you return at last, and then will I tell you of your doings;)
"O
my son! verily God will bring everything to light, though it were but the weight
of a grain of mustard-seed, and hidden in a rock or in the heavens or in the
earth; for, God is subtile, informed of all.
O my
son! observe prayer, and enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and be patient
under whatever shall betide thee: for this is
a bounden duty.
And
distort not thy face at men; nor walk thou loftily on the earth; for God loveth
no arrogant vain-glorious one.
But
let thy pace be middling; and lower thy voice:
for the least pleasing of voices is surely the voice of asses."
See
you not how that God hath put under you all that is in the heavens and all that
is on the earth, and hath been bounteous to you of his favours, both for soul
and body. But some are there who dispute of God without knowledge, and have no
guidance and no illuminating Book:
31:20 And when it is said to them, Follow
you what God hath sent down, they say, "Nay; that religion in which we
found our fathers will we follow." What! though Satan bid them to the
torment of the flame?
But
whoso setteth his face toward God with self-surrender, and is a doer of that
which is good, hath laid hold on a sure handle; for unto God is the issue of
all things.
But
let not the unbelief of the unbelieving grieve thee:
unto us shall they return: then will we tell
them of their doings; for God knoweth the very secrets of the breast.
Yet a
little while will we provide for them:
afterwards will we force them to a stern punishment.
If
thou ask them who hath created the heavens and the earth, they will certainly
reply, "God." Say: God be praised!
But most of them have no knowledge.
God's,
whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth! for God, He is the Rich, the
Praiseworthy.
If all
the trees that are upon the earth were to become pens, and if God should after
that swell the sea into seven seas of ink, His words would not be exhausted: for God is Mighty, Wise.
Your
creation and your quickening hereafter, are but as those of a single
individual. Verily, God Heareth, Seeth!
Seest
thou not that God causeth the night to come in upon the day, and the day to
come in upon the night? and that he hath subjected the sun and the moon to laws
by which each speedeth along to an appointed goal? and that God therefore is
acquainted with that which you do?
This,
for that God is the truth; and that whatever you call upon beside Him is a vain
thing; and that God -- He is the High, the Great.
31:30 Seest thou not how the ships speed on
in the sea, through the favour of God, that he may shew you of his signs? for
herein are signs to all patient, grateful ones.
When
the waves cover them like dark shadows they call upon God as with sincere
religion; but when He safely landeth them, some of them there are who halt
between two opinions. Yet none reject our signs but all deceitful, ungrateful
ones.
O men!
fear you your Lord, and dread the day whereon father shall not atone for son,
neither shall a son in the least atone for his father.
Aye!
the promise of God is a truth. Let not this present life then deceive you;
neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning God.
Aye!
God! -- with Him is the knowledge of the Hour; and He sendeth down the rain --
and He knoweth what is in the wombs -- but no soul knoweth what it shall have
gotten on the morrow: neither knoweth any soul
in what land it shall die. But God is knowing, informed of all.
Sura XXXII (32)
Adoration
(
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Elif.
Lam. Mim. This Book is without a doubt a Revelation sent down from the Lord of the
Worlds.
Will
they say, He hath forged it? Nay, it is the truth from thy Lord that thou
mayest warn a people to whom no warner hath come before thee, that haply they
may be guided.
God it
is who hath created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between them in
six days; then ascended his throne. Save Him you have no patron, and none to
plead for you. Will you not then reflect?
From
the Heaven to the Earth He governeth all things:
in the end shall they come up to him on a day whose length shall be a thousand
of such years as you reckon.
This
is He who knoweth the unseen and the seen; the Mighty, the Merciful,
Who
hath made everything which he hath created most good; and began the creation of
man with clay;
Then
ordained his progeny from germs of life, from sorry water:
Then
shaped him, and breathed of His Spirit into him, and gave you hearing and
seeing and hearts: what little thanks do you
return!
And
they say, "What! when we shall have laid hidden in the earth, shall we
become a new creation?"
32:10 Yea, they deny that they shall meet
their Lord.
Say: The angel of death who is charged with you shall
cause you to die: then shall you be returned
to your Lord.
Couldst
thou but see when the guilty shall droop their heads before their Lord, and cry,
"O our Lord! we have seen and we have heard:
return us then to life: we will do that which
is right. Verily we believe firmly!"
(Had
we pleased we had certainly given to every soul its guidance. But true shall be
the word which hath gone forth from me -- I will surely fill hell with Djinn
and men together.)
"Taste
then the recompense of your having forgotten the meeting with this your day.
We, too, we have forgotten you: taste then an
eternal punishment for that which you have wrought."
They
only believe in our signs, who, when mention is made of them, fall down in
adoration, and celebrate the praise of their Lord, and are not puffed up with
disdain:
Who,
as they raise them from their couches, call on their Lord with fear and desire,
and give alms of that with which we have supplied them.
No
soul knoweth what joy of the eye is reserved for the good in recompense of
their works.
Shall
he then who is a believer be as he who sinneth grossly? they shall not be held
alike.
As to
those who believe and do that which is right, they shall have gardens of
eternal abode as the meed of their works:
32:20 But at for those who grossly sin,
their abode shall be the fire: so oft as they
shall desire to escape out of it, back shall they be turned into it. And it shall
be said to them, Taste you the torment of the fire, which he treated as a lie.
And we
will surely cause them to taste a punishment yet nearer at hand, beside the
greater punishment, that haply they may turn to us in penitence.
Who acteth
worse than he who is warned by the signs of his Lord, then turneth away from
them? We will surely take vengeance on the guilty ones.
We
heretofore gave the Book of the law to Moses:
have thou no doubt as to our meeting with him:
and we appointed it for the guidance of the children of Israel.
And we
appointed Imams from among them who should guide after our command when they
had themselves endured with constancy, and had firmly believed in our signs.
Now
thy Lord! He will decide between them on the day of resurrection as to the
subject of their disputes.
Is it
not notorious to them how many generations, through whose abodes they walk, we
have destroyed before them? Truly herein are signs:
will they not then hear?
See
they not how we drive the rain to some parched land and thereby bring forth
corn of which their cattle and themselves do not eat? Will they not then
behold?
They
say, "When will this decision take place? Tell us, if you are men of
truth?"
Say: On the day of that decision, the faith of infidels
shall not avail them, and they shall have no further respite.
32:30 Stand aloof from them then, and wait
thou, for they too wait.
Sura XXXIII (33)
The Confederates
(
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O
Prophet, fear thou God, and obey not the unbelievers and the hypocrites; --
Truly God is Knowing, Wise:
But
follow what is revealed to thee from thy Lord:
Cognisant truly is He of all your actions --
And
put thou thy trust in God, for a sufficient guardian is God.
God
hath not given a man two hearts within him; neither hath he made your wives who
you divorce to be as your mothers; nor hath he made your adopted sons to be as
your own sons. Such words are indeed in your mouths; but God speaketh the
truth, and in the right way He guideth.
Name
them after their fathers: this will be more
right before God. But if you know not who their fathers are, then let them be
your brethren in the faith, and your comrades. And unless made with intent of
heart, mistakes in this matter shall be no crime in you:
for God is Lenient, Merciful.
Nearer
of kin to the faithful is the Prophet, than they are to their own selves. His
wives are their mothers. According to the Book of God, they who are related by
blood, are nearer to the one to the other than other believers, and than those
who have fled their country for the cause of God:
but whatever kindness you shew to your kindred, shall be noted down in the
Book.
And
remember that we have entered into covenant with the Prophets, and with thee,
and with Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus, Son of Mary: and we formed with them a strict covenant,
That
God may question the men of truth as to their truth. But a sore torment hath He
prepared for the unbelievers.
O
believers! remember the goodness of God towards you, when the armies came
against you, and we sent against them a blast, and hosts that you saw not; for
the you of God was upon your doings:
33:10 When they assailed you from above you,
and from below you, and when your eyes became distracted, and your hearts came
up into your throat, and you [Bought divers thoughts of God:
Then
were the faithful tried, and with strong quaking did they quake:
And when
the disaffected and the diseased of heart said, "God and his Apostle have
made us but a cheating promise:"
And
when a part of them said, "O people of Yathrib! there is no place of
safety for you here; therefore return into the city." And another party of
you asked the prophet's leave to return, saying, "Our houses are left
defenceless." No! they were not left defenceless:
but their sole thought was to flee away.
If the
enemy had effected an entry at all points, and they (the disaffected) had been
asked to promote confusion, they would have done so; but only a short time
would they have remained in it. -- (Medina).
They
had before pledged themselves to God that they would not turn their backs; and
a pledge given to God must be enquired of.
Say: Flight shall not profit you; if you have fled the
death or the slaughter, yet even then, but a little while shall you enjoy your
good things!
Say: Who is here that will screen you from God, whether
He choose to bring evil on you, or to shew you mercy? None beside God shall
they find to be their patron or helper.
God
well knoweth those among you who cause hindrances, and those who say to their
brethren, "Come hither to us;" and who come not to the fight except a
little.
It is
out of covetousness in your regard: for when
an alarm cometh, thou mayest see them look to thee, and roll their eyes like
him on whom the shadows of death have fallen! Yet, when the alarm is passed,
with sharp tongues will they assail you, covetous of the best of the spoil. No
faith have these! God will make their doings of no avail! And easy is this with
God.
33:20 They thought that the confederates
would never retire: and were the confederates
to come again, they would fain be dwelling among the Arabs of the desert, and
there ask news about you! for though they were with you, they fought not except
a little.
A
noble pattern had you in God's Apostle, for all who hope in God, and in the
latter day, and oft remember God!
And
when the faithful saw the confederates, they said, "This is what God and
His Apostle promised us, and God and His Apostle spoke truly:" and it only increased their faith and
self-devotion.
Some
were there among the faithful who made good what they had promised to God,.
Some have fulfilled their course, and others await its fulfilment, and have not
been changelings who change --
That
God may reward the faithful for their faithfulness, and may punish the
hypocrites, if He so please, or be turned unto them:
for God is Forgiving, Merciful.
And
God drove back the infidels in their wrath; they won no advantage; God sufficed
the faithful in the fight: for God is Strong,
Mighty.
And He
caused those of the people of the Book (the Jews), who had aided the
confederates, to come down out of their fortresses, and cast dismay into their
hearts: some you slew, others you took
prisoners.
And He
gave you their land, and their dwellings, and their wealth, for an heritage --
even a land on which you had never set foot:
for the might of God is equal to all things.
O
Prophet! say to thy wives, If you desire this present life and its braveries,
come then, I will provide for you, and dismiss you with an honourable
dismissal.
But if
you desire God and His Apostle, and a home in the next life, then, truly, hath
God prepared for those of you who are virtuous, a great reward.
33:30 O wives of the Prophet! should any of
you be guilty of a prove lewdness, doubly shall her chastisement be doubled: and with God this is easy.