Part 26

 

Sura XLVI (46)

Al Ahkaf

(Mecca -- 35 Verses)

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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Ha. Mim. The Revelation (sending down) of this Book is from the Mighty, the Wise!

We have not created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between them otherwise than in truth and for a settled term. But they who believe not, turn away from their warning.

Say: What think you? As for those whom you invoke beside God, shew me what part of the earth it is which they have created? Had they a share in the Heavens? Bring me a Book sent down by them before this Koran, or traces of their knowledge; -- if you are men of truth.

And who erreth more than he who, beside God, calleth upon that which shall not answer him until the day of Resurrection? Yes, they regard not their invocations;

And when mankind shall be assembled together, they will become their enemies, and ungratefully disown their worship.

And when our clear signs are recited to them, they who believe not say of the truth when it cometh to them, "This is plain sorcery."

Will they say, "he hath devised It?" Say: If I have devised the Koran, then not one single thing shall you ever obtain for me from God! He best knoweth what you utter in its regard! Witness enough is He between me and you! And He is the Gracious, the Merciful.

Say: I am no apostle of new doctrines: neither know I what will be done with me or you. Only what is revealed to me do I follow, and I am only charged to warn openly.

Say: What think you? If this Book be from God, and you believe it not, and a witness of the children of Israel witness to its conformity with the Law, and believe, while you proudly disdain it. . .? Ah! God guideth not the people guilty of such a wrong!

46:10 But the infidels say of the believers, "If it were a good Book they would not have been before us in believing it:" And not having submitted to guidance, they proceed to say, "It is an old lying legend!"

But before the Koran was the Book of Moses, a rule and a mercy; and this Book confirmeth it (the Pentateuch) in the Arabic tongue -- that those who are guilty of that wrong may be warned, and as glad tidings to the doers of good.

Assuredly they who say, "Our Lord is God," and take the straight way to Him -- no fear shall come on them, neither shall they be put to grief:

These shall be the inmates of Paradise to remain therein for ever, -- the recompense of their deeds!

Moreover, we have enjoined on man to shew kindness to his parents. With pain his mother beareth him; with pain she bringeth him forth: and his bearing and his weaning is thirty months; until when he attaineth his strength, and attaineth to forty years, he saith, "O my Lord! stir me up to be grateful for thy favours wherewith thou hast favoured me and my parents, and to do good works which shall please thee: and prosper me in my offspring: for to thee am I turned, and am resigned to thy will" (am a Muslim).

These are they from whom we will accept their best works, and whose evil works we will pass by; among the inmates shall they be of Paradise: -- a true promise which they are promised.

But he who saith to his parents, "Fie on you both! Promise you me that I shall be taken forth from the grave alive, when whole generations have already passed away before me?" But they both will implore the help of God, and say, "Alas for thee! Believe: for the promise of God is true." But he saith, "It is no more than a fable of the ancients."

These are they in whom the sentence passed on the nations, djinn and men, who flourished before them, is made good. They shall surely perish.

And there are grades for all, according to their works, that God may repay them for their works; and they shall not be dealt with unfairly.

And they who believe not shall one day be set before the fire. "You made away your precious gifts during your life on earth; and you took your fill of pleasure in them: This day, therefore, with punishment of shame shall you be rewarded, for that you behaved you proudly and unjustly on the earth, and for that you were given to excesses."

46:20 Remember, too, the brother of Ad when he warned his people in Al Ahkaf -- and before and since his time there have been warners -- "Worship none but God: verily I fear for you the punishment of the great day."

They said, "Art thou come to us to turn us away from our Gods? Bring on us now the woes which thou threatenest if thou speakest truth."

"That knowledge," said he, "is with God alone: I only proclaim to you the message with which I am sent. But I perceive that you are a people sunk in ignorance."

So when they saw a cloud coming straight for their valleys, they said, "It is a passing cloud that shall give us rain." "Nay, it is that whose speedy coming you challenged -- a blast wherein is an afflictive punishment: --

It will destroy everything at the bidding of its Lord!" And at morn nought was to be seen but their empty dwellings! Thus repay we a wicked people.

With power had we endued them, even as with power have we endued you; and we had given them ears and eyes and hearts: yet neither their eyes, nor their ears, nor their hearts aided them at all, when once they gainsaid the signs of God; but that punishment which they had mocked at enveloped them on all sides.

Of old, too, did we destroy the cities which were round about you; and in order that they might return to us, we varied our signs before them.

But did those whom they took for gods beside God as his kindred deities, help them? Nay, they withdrew from them. Such was their delusion, and their device!

And remember when we turned aside a company of the djinn to thee, that they might hearken to the Koran: and no sooner were they present at its reading than they said to each other, "Hist;" and when it was ended, they returned to their people with warnings.

They said, "O our people! verily we have been listening to a book sent down since the days of Moses, affirming the previous scriptures; it guideth to the truth, and to the right way.

46:30 O our people! Obey the Summoner of God, and believe in him, that He may forgive your sins, and rescue from an afflictive punishment.

And he who shall not respond to God's preacher, yet cannot weaken God's power on earth, nor shall he have protectors beside Him. These are in obvious error."

See they not that God who created the Heavens and the Earth, and was not wearied with their creation, is of power to quicken the dead? Yea, he is for all things Potent.

And a day is coming when the infidels shall be set before the fire. "Is not this it in truth?" They shall say, "Aye, by our Lord." He said, "Taste then the punishment for that you would not believe."

Bear thou up, then, with patience, as did the Apostles endued with firmness, and seek not to accelerate their doom. For, on the day when they shall see that with which they have been menaced,

It shall be as though they had waited but an hour of the day. Enough! shall any perish save they who transgress?

Sura XLVII (47)

Muhammad

(Medina -- 40 Verses)

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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Whoso believe not, and prevent others from the way of God -- their works will He cause to miscarry;

But whoso believe, and do things that are right, and believe in what hath been sent down to Muhammad -- for it is the truth from their Lord -- their sins will He cancel, and dispose their hearts aright.

This -- because the infidels followed vanity, while those who believe, followed the truth from their Lord. Thus to men doth God set forth their likenesses.

When you encounter the infidels, strike off their heads till you have made a great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters.

And afterwards let there either be free dismissals or ransomings, till the war hath laid down its burdens. Thus do. Were such the pleasures of God, he could himself take vengeance upon them: but He would rather prove the one of you by the other. And whoso fight for the cause of God, their works he will not suffer to miscarry;

He will vouchsafe them guidance, and dispose their hearts aright;

And he will bring them into Paradise, of which he hath told them.

Believers! if you help God, God will help you, and will set your feet firm:

But as for the infidels, let them perish: and their works shall God bring to nought:

47:10 This -- because they were averse from the command which God sent down; Fruitless, therefore, shall their works become!

Have they not journeyed through the land, and seen what hath been the end of those who flourished before them? God brought destruction on them: and the like of this doth await the infidels.

This -- because God is the protector of those who believe, and because the infidels have no protector.

Verily God will bring those who believe, and do the things that are right, into the Gardens, beneath whose shades the rivers flow: but they who believe not, take their fill, and eat as the beasts eat! And their dwelling- place the fire!

And how many cities were mightier in strength than thy city,. which hath thrust thee forth! We destroyed them, and there was none to help them.

Shall he who followeth the clear teaching of his Lord be as he, the evil of whose doings hath been made to seem good to him, or like those who follow their own lusts?

A picture of the Paradise which is promised to the Godfearing! Therein are rivers of water, which corrupt not: rivers of milk, whose taste changeth not: and rivers of wine, delicious to those who quaff it;

And rivers of honey clarified: and therein are all kinds of fruit for them from their Lord! Is this like the lot of those who must dwell for ever in the fire? and shall have draughts of boiling water forced on them which will rend their bowels asunder?

Some of them indeed hearken to thee, until when they go out from thee, they say with sneers to those to whom "the knowledge" hath been given, "What is this he said?" These are they whose hearts God hath sealed up, and who follow their own lusts.

But as to those who have the guidance, He will increase their guidance, and He will teach them what to fear.

47:20 For what do the infidels wait, but that the Hour come suddenly on them? Already are its signs come, and when it hath come on them indeed, how can they be warned then?

Know, then, that there is no god but God: and ask pardon for thy sin, and for believers, both men and women. God knoweth your busy movements, and your final resting-places.

The believers say, "Oh, would that a Sura were sent down!" but when a peremptory Sura is revealed, whose burden is war, thou mayest see the diseased of heart look toward thee, with a look of one on whom the shadows of death have fallen! But better in them would be obedience and becoming language.

And if, when the command for war is issued, they are true to God, it will be assuredly best for them.

Were you not ready, if you had turned back from Him, to spread disorder in the land, and violate the ties of blood?

These are they whom God hath cursed, and made deaf, and blinded their eyes!

Will they not then meditate on the Koran? Are locks upon their hearts?

But as to those who return to their errors after "the guidance" hath been made plain to them, Satan shall beguile them, and fill them with his suggestions.

This -- because they say to those who abhor what God hath sent down, "We will comply with you in part of what you enjoin." But God knoweth their secret reservations.

But how? When the angels, in causing them to die, shall smite them on the face and back!

47:30 This -- because they follow that which angerth God, and abhor what pleaseth Him: therefore will He make their works fruitless.

Think these men of diseased hearts, that God will not bring out their malice to light?

If such were our pleasure, we could point them out to thee, and thou surely know them by their tokens: and know them thou shalt, by the strangeness of their words. God knoweth your doings.

And we will surely test you, until we know the valiant and the steadfast among you: and we will test the reports of your conduct.

Verily they who believe not, and turn others from the way of God, and separate from the Apostle after that "the guidance" hath been clearly shewn them, shall in no way injure God: but their works shall he bring to naught.

Believers! obey God and the Apostle: and render not your works vain.

Verily those who believe not, and who pervert others from the way of God, and then die in unbelief, God will not forgive.

Be not fainthearted then; and invite not the infidels to peace when you have the upper hand: for God is with you, and will not defraud you of the recompense of your works.

Surely this present life is only a play, and pastime! but if you believe, fear God; He will give you your rewards: but He will not ask all your riches of you.

Should He ask them of you, and urge you, you would shew yourself niggards: and He would bring your grudges to light.

37:40 Lo! you are they, who are called to expend for the cause of God: and some of you are niggards: but whoso is niggardly shall be niggard only to his own loss; for God is the Rich, and you are the poor: and if you turn back, He will change you for another people, and they shall not be your like!

Sura XLVIII (48)

The Victory

(Medina -- 29 Verses)

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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Verily, We have won for thee an undoubted victory --

In token that God forgiveth thy earlier and later faults, and fulfilleth His goodness to thee, and guideth thee on the right way,

And that God succoureth thee with a mighty succour.

He it is who sendeth down a spirit of secure repose into the hearts of the faithful that they might add faith to their faith; (for God's are the armies of the Heavens and of the Earth: and God is Knowing, Wise:)

And that He may bring the believing men and the believing women into gardens 'neath whose trees the rivers flow, to dwell therein for ere, and that He may cancel their evil deeds: for this is the great bliss with God:

And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the men and women who join other gods with God, and think evil thoughts of Him. Theirs shall be a round of evil; and God is angry with them: and, an evil journey thither!

The armies of the Heavens and of the Earth are God's, and God is Mighty, Wise!

Verily, we have sent thee to be a witness and a herald of good (an announcer), and a warner,

That you may believe on God and on His Apostle; and may assist Him, and honour Him, and praise him, morning and evening.

48:10 In truth, they who plighted fealty to thee, really plighted that fealty to God: the hand of God was over their hands! Whoever, therefore, shall break his oath shall only break it to his own hurt; but whoever shall be true to his engagement with God, He will give him a great reward.

The Arabs who took not the field with you, will say to thee, "We were engaged with our property and our families; therefore ask thou pardon for us." They speak with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: And who can have any power over God in your behalf, whether he will you some loss, or whether he will you an advantage? Yes, God is acquainted with your doings.

But you thought that the Apostle and the faithful could never more come back to their families; and your hearts were pleased at this; and you thought an evil thought of this expedition, and you became an undone people:

For, whoso believeth not in God, and His Apostle. . . . Verily, we have got ready the flame for the Infidels!

And God's is the kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth: Whom He will He forgiveth, and whom He will He punisheth: and God is Gracious, Merciful!

They who took not the field with you will say, when you go forth to the spoil to take it, "Let us follow you." Fain would they change the word of God. Say: You shall by no means follow us: thus hath God said already. They will say,. "Nay, you are jealous of us." Nay! they are men of little understanding.

Say to those Arabs of the desert, who took not the field, you shall be called forth against a people of mighty valour. You shall do battle with them, or they shall profess Islam. If you obey, a goodly recompense will God give you; but if you turn back, as you turned back aforetime, He will chastise you with a sore chastisement.

It shall be no crime on the part of the blind, the lame, or the sick, if they go not to the fight. But whoso shall obey God and His Apostle, he shall bring him into the gardens 'neath which the rivers flow: but whoso shall turn back, He will punish him with a sore punishment.

Well pleased now hath God been with the believers when they plighted fealty to thee under the tree; and He knew what was in their hearts: therefore did He send down upon them a spirit of secure repose, and rewarded them with a speedy victory,

And with the rich booty which they took: for God is Mighty, Wise!

48:20 God promised you the taking of a rich booty and sped it to you; and He withheld men's hands from you, for a sign to the faithful, and that He might guide you along the right way: --

And other booty, over which you have not yet had power: but now hath God compassed them for you; for God is over all things Potent.

If the Infidels shall fight against you, they shall assuredly turn their backs; then, neither protector nor helper shall they find!

Such is God's method carried into effect of old; no change canst thou find in God's mode of dealing.

And He it was who held their hands from you and your hands from them in the valley of Mecca, after that He had given you the victory over them: for God saw what you did.

These are they who believed not, and kept you away from the sacred Mosque, as well as the offering which was prevented from reaching the place of sacrifice. And had it not been that you would have trodden down believers, both men and women, whom you knew not, so that a crime might have lighted on you without your knowledge on their account, and that God would bring whom He will within His mercy, this would have been otherwise ordered. Had they been apart, we had surely punished such of them as believed not, with a sore punishment.

When the unbelievers had fostered rage in their hearts -- the rage of ignorance (of heathens) God sent down His peace on His Apostle and on the faithful, and stablished in them the word of piety, for they were most worthy and deserving of it: and God knoweth all things.

Now hath God in truth made good to His Apostle the dream in which he said, "You shall surely enter the sacred Mosque, if God will, in full security, having your heads shaved and your hair cut: you shall not fear; for He knoweth what you know not; and He hath ordained you, beside this, a speedy victory."

It is He who hath sent His Apostle with "the Guidance," and the religion of truth, that He may exalt it above every religion. And enough for thee is this testimony on the part of God.

Muhammad is the Apostle of God; and his comrades are vehement against the infidels, but full of tenderness among themselves. Thou mayest see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, imploring favours from God, and His acceptance. Their tokens are on their faces, the marks of their prostrations. This is their picture in the Law, and their picture in the Evangel: they are as the seed which putteth forth its stalk; then strengtheneth it, and it groweth stout, and riseth upon its stem, rejoicing the husbandman -- that the infidels may be wrathful at them. To such of them as believe and do the things that are right, hath God promised forgiveness and a noble recompense.

Sura XLIX (49)

the apartments

(Medina -- 18 Verses)

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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

O Believers! enter not upon any affair ere God and His Apostle permit you; and fear you God: for God Heareth, Knoweth.

O Believers! raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, neither speak loud to him as you speak loud one to another, lest your works come to nought, and you unaware of it.

They who lower their voices in the presence of the Apostle of God, are the persons whose hearts God hath inclined to piety. Forgiveness shall be theirs and a rich reward.

They who call out to thee while thou art within thine apartments, have most of them no right perception of what is due to thee.

But if they wait patiently till thou come forth to them, it were far better for them. But God is Indulgent, Merciful.

O Believers! if any bad man come to you with news, clear it up at once, lest through ignorance you harm others, and speedily have to repent of what you have done.

And know that an Apostle of God is among you! should he give way to you in many matters you would certainly become guilty of a crime. But God hath endeared the faith to you, and hath given it favour in your hearts, and hath made unbelief, and wickedness, and disobedience hateful to you. Such are they who pursue a right course.

Through the bounty and grace which is from God: and God is Knowing, Wise.

If two bodies of the faithful are at war, then make you peace between them: and if the one of them wrong the other, fight against that part which doth the wrong, until they come back to the precepts of God: if they come back, make peace between them with fairness, and act impartially; God loveth those who act with impartiality.

49:10 Only the faithful are brethren; wherefore make peace between your brethren; and fear God, that you may obtain mercy.

O Believers! let not men laugh men to scorn who haply may be better than themselves; neither let women laugh women to scorn who may haply be better than themselves! Neither defame one another, nor call one another by nicknames. Bad is it to be called wicked after having professed the faith: and whoso repent not of this are doers of wrong.

O Believers! avoid frequent suspicions, for some suspicions are a crime; and pry not: neither let the one of you traduce another in his absence. Would any one of you like to eat the flesh of his death brother? Surely you would loathe it. And fear you God: for God is Ready to turn, Merciful.

O men! verily, we have created you of a male and a female; and we have divided you into peoples and tribes that you might have knowledge one of another. Truly, the most worthy of honour in the sight of God is he who feareth Him most. Verily, God is Knowing, Cognisant.

The Arabs of the desert say, "We believe." Say thou: You believe not; but rather say, "We profess Islam;" for the faith hath not yet found its way into your hearts. But if you obey God and His Apostle, he will not allow you to lose any of your actions: for God is Indulgent, Merciful.

The true believers are those only who believe in God and His Apostle, and afterwards doubt not; and who contend with their substance and their persons on the path of God. These are the sincere.

Say: Will you teach God about your religion? when God knoweth whatever is in the Heavens and on the Earth: yea, God hath knowledge of all things.

They taunt thee with their having embraced Islam. Say: Taunt me not with your having embraced Islam: God rather taunteth you with His having guided you to the faith: acknowledge this if you are sincere.

Verily, God knoweth the secrets of the Heavens and of the Earth: and God beholdeth what you do.

Sura L (50)

Kaf

(Mecca -- 45 Verses)

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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Kaf. By the glorious Koran:

They marvel forsooth that one of themselves hath come to them charged with warnings. "This," say the infidels, "is a marvellous thing:

What! when dead and turned to dust shall we. . . . ? Far off is such a return as this?"

Now know we what the earth consumeth of them, and with us is a Book in which account is kept.

But they have treated the truth which hath come to them as falsehood; perplexed therefore is their state.

Will they not look up to the heaven above them, and consider how we have reared it and decked it forth, and that there are no flaws therein?

And as to the earth, we have spread it out, and have thrown the mountains upon it, and have caused an upgrowth in it of all beauteous kinds of plants,

For insight and admonition to every servant who loveth to turn to God:

And we send down the rain from Heaven with its blessings, by which we cause gardens to spring forth and the grain of harvest,

50:10 And the tall palm trees with date-bearing branches one above the other

For man's nourishment: And life give we thereby to a dead land. So also shall be the resurrection.

Ere the days of these (Meccans) the people of Noah, and the men of Rass and Themoud, treated their prophets as impostors:

And Ad and Pharaoh, and the brethren of Lot and the dwellers in the forest, and the people of Tobba, all gave the lie to their prophets: justly, therefore, were the menaces inflicted.

Are we wearied out with the first creation? Yet are they in doubt with regard to a new creation!

We created man: and we know what his soul whispereth to him, and we are closer to him than his neck-vein.

When the two angels charged with taking account shall take it, one sitting on the right hand,

Not a word doth he utter, but there is a watcher with him ready to note it down:

And the stupor of certain death cometh upon him: -- "This is what thou wouldst have shunned" --

And there was a blast on the trumpet, -- it was the threatened day!

50:20 And every soul came, -- an angel with it urging it along, and an angel to witness against it --

Saith he, "Of this day didst thou live in heedlessness: but we have taken off they veil from thee, and thy sight is becoming sharp this day."

And he who is at this side shall say, "This is what I am prepared with against thee."

And God will say, "Cast into Hell, you twain, every infidel, every hardened one,

The hinderer of the good, the transgressor, the doubter,

Who set up other gods with God. Cast you him into the fierce torment."

He who is at his side shall say, "O our Lord! I led him not astray, yet was he in an error wide of truth."

He shall say, "Wrangle not in my presence. I had plied you beforehand with menaces:

My doom changeth not, and I am not unjust to man."

On that day will we cry to Hell, "Art thou full?" And it shall say, "Are there more?"

50:30 And not far from thence shall Paradise be brought near unto the Pious:

- "This is what you have been promised: to every one who hath turned in penitence to God and kept his laws;

Who hath feared the God of Mercy in secret, and come to him with a contrite heart:

Enter it in peace: this is the day of Eternity."

There shall they have all that they can desire: and our's will it be to augment their bliss:

And how many generations have we destroyed ere the days of these (Meccans), mightier than they in strength! Search you then the land. Is there any escape?

Lo! herein is warning for him who hath a heat, or giveth ear, and is himself an eye-witness.

We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, and no weariness touched us.

Wherefore put up with what they say, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord before sunrise and before sunset:

And praise Him in the night: and perform the two final prostrations.

50:40 And list for the day whereon the crier shall cry from a place near to every one alike:

The day on which men shall in truth hear that shout will be the day of their coming forth from the grave.

Verily, we cause to live, and we cause to die. To us shall all return.

On the day when the earth shall swiftly cleave asunder over the dead, will this gathering be easy to Us.

We know best what the infidels say: and thou art not to compel them.

Warn then by the Koran those who fear my menace.

Sura LI (51)

The Scattering

(Mecca -- 60 Verses)

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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

By the clouds which scatter with scattering,

And those which bear their load,

And by those which speed lightly along,

And those which apportion by command!

True, indeed, is that with which you are threatened,

And lo! the religion will surely come.

By the star-tracked heaven!

You are discordant in what you say;

But whoso turneth him from the truth, is turned from it by a divine decree.

51:10 Perish the liars,

Who are bewildered in the depths of ignorance!

They ask, "When this day of judgment?"

On that day they shall be tormented at the fire.

"Taste you of this your torment, whose speedy coming you challenged."

But the God-fearing shall dwell amid gardens and fountains,

Enjoying what their Lord hath given them, because, aforetime they were well-doers:

But little of the night was it that they slept,

And at dawn they prayed for pardon,

And gave due share of their wealth to the suppliant and the outcast.

51:20 On Earth are signs for men of firm belief,

And also in your own selves: Will you not then behold them?

The Heaven hath sustenance for you, and it containeth that which you are promised.

By the Lord then of the heaven and of the earth, I swear that this is the truth, even as you speak yourselves.

Hath the story reached thee of Abraham's honoured guests?

When they went in unto him and said, "Peace!" he replied, "Peace: -- they are strangers."

And he went apart to his family, and brought a fatted calf,

And set it before them. He said, "Eat you not?"

And he conceived a fear of them. They said to him, "Fear not:" and announced to him a wise son.

His wife came up with outcry: she smote her face and said, "What I, old and barren!"

51:30 They said, "Thus saith thy Lord. He truly is the Wise, the Knowing."