REFERENCES.In theIntroduction, pp. xviii.-xxv. and xliv.-xlviii., appeared before in my Introduction to Lane’sSelections from the Kur-ān, 2nd ed. (Trübner’s Oriental series, 1879), to which I must refer the reader for further information on Mohammad and Islām, and especially concerning the portions of the Korān dealing with the Jewish legends purposely omitted from the present work. Pp. xxxv.-xxxviii. reproduce a few paragraphs from theEdinburgh Review, No. 316, October 1881, p. 371, ff. The Arab poetry quoted in the Introduction is from the admirable versions contributed by Mr. C. J. Lyall to the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1877 and 1881. The description of Mohammad’s person and mode of life, pp. xxvii.-xxix., is from E. Deutsch,Literary Remains, p. 70, ff; and R. Bosworth Smith,Mohammed and Mohammedanism, 2d ed., p. 131; to which, and to the Rev. E. Sell’sFaith of Islam, in many respects the best treatise on the Mohammadan religion, as it now is, that has appeared in recent years, the reader is referred for much concerning modern and historical Mohammadanism which is beyond the design of the present volume.In the text, I must acknowledge my general indebtedness to the versions of George Sale and the Rev. J. M. Rodwell for many valuable interpretations; but I wish especially to record my obligations to Prof. E. H. Palmer, in respect of some fine renderings which he has been the first to use in his translation of the Korān for the series ofSacred Books of the East, and which I have not hesitated to adopt.S. L.-P.
In theIntroduction, pp. xviii.-xxv. and xliv.-xlviii., appeared before in my Introduction to Lane’sSelections from the Kur-ān, 2nd ed. (Trübner’s Oriental series, 1879), to which I must refer the reader for further information on Mohammad and Islām, and especially concerning the portions of the Korān dealing with the Jewish legends purposely omitted from the present work. Pp. xxxv.-xxxviii. reproduce a few paragraphs from theEdinburgh Review, No. 316, October 1881, p. 371, ff. The Arab poetry quoted in the Introduction is from the admirable versions contributed by Mr. C. J. Lyall to the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1877 and 1881. The description of Mohammad’s person and mode of life, pp. xxvii.-xxix., is from E. Deutsch,Literary Remains, p. 70, ff; and R. Bosworth Smith,Mohammed and Mohammedanism, 2d ed., p. 131; to which, and to the Rev. E. Sell’sFaith of Islam, in many respects the best treatise on the Mohammadan religion, as it now is, that has appeared in recent years, the reader is referred for much concerning modern and historical Mohammadanism which is beyond the design of the present volume.
In the text, I must acknowledge my general indebtedness to the versions of George Sale and the Rev. J. M. Rodwell for many valuable interpretations; but I wish especially to record my obligations to Prof. E. H. Palmer, in respect of some fine renderings which he has been the first to use in his translation of the Korān for the series ofSacred Books of the East, and which I have not hesitated to adopt.
S. L.-P.
ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.PAGEINTRODUCTIONvThe Korān is capable of adequate representation in small compass and approximately chronological order. The original audience of Mohammad’s speeches: Arabian characteristics in desert-life and town-life, poetry and religion. Mohammad’s early life, person and habits, call to preach, and work at Mekka. The three periods of Mekka speeches. Change of position at Medina, and consequent change in oratory. The Medina speeches. Incompleteness of the law of the Korān. The Traditions or Table-talk.ReferenceslviAnalytical Table of ContentslviiTHE SPEECHES AT MEKKAI.—THE POETIC PERIOD.Aet. 40-44,a.d.609-6131The Night(xcii.)3The difference between the good and the wicked in their lives and their future states; warning of hell and promise of heaven.The Country(xc)5The steep road to the life to come is by charity and faith.The Smiting(ci.)7The terrors of the Judgment Day and the Bottomless Pit.The Quaking(xcix.)8Signs of the Last Day, when all secrets shall be revealed.The Rending Asunder(lxxxii.)9Signs of the Last Day; man’s unbelief; angels record his actions, by which his fate shall be decided.The Chargers(c.)11Man’s ingratitude towards God will be exposed on the Last Day.Support(cvii.)12Uncharitable hypocrites denounced.The Backbiter(civ.)13The covetous slanderer shall be cast into Blasting Hell.The Splendour of Morning(xciii.)14The goodness of God towards Mohammad must be imitated towards others.The Most High(lxxxvii.)15God the Creator is to be magnified. Mohammad is enjoined to admonish thepeople; the opposite fates of those who hearken and those who turn away; the message is the same as that delivered by Abraham and Moses.The Wrapping(lxxxi.)17Signs of the Last Day. Authenticity of the Korān: Mohammad neither mad nor possessed. The Korān a reminder, but man is powerless to follow it except by God’s decree.The News(lxxviii.)19Men dispute about the Last Day: yet it shall come as surely as God created all things. The last trump and the gathering of mankind to judgment. Description of the torments of Hell and the delights of Paradise.The Fact(lvi.)22Signs of the Last Day. The three kinds of men—prophets, righteous, and wicked—and the future state of each. The power of God shown in creation. The Korān true and sacred. The state after death.The Merciful(lv.)27ABenedicitereciting the works of God, and the Judgment and Paradise and Hell, with a refrain challenging genii and mankind to deny His signs.The Unity(cxii.)32A profession of faith in one God.The Fātihah(i.)33A prayer for guidance and help: the MuslimPaternoster.THE SPEECHES AT MEKKAII.—THE RHETORICAL PERIOD.Aet. 44-46,a.d.613-61535The Kingdom(lxvii.)37The power of God shown in creation; Hell the reward of those who disbelieve in God’s messengers and discredit His signs. None but God knows when the Last Day will be.The Moon(liv.)41The Judgment approaches, but men will not heed the warning, and call it a lie and magic. Even so did former generations reject their apostles: the people of Noah, Ad, Thamūd, Lot, Pharaoh; and there came upon all of them a grievous punishment. Neither shall the men of Mekka escape. Refrain: the certainty of punishment and the heedlessness of man.K.(l.)45Why is the Resurrection so incredible? Does not God continually create and re-create? Former generations were equally incredulous, but they all found the threat of punishment was true. So shall it be again. The recording angels shall bear witness, and hell shall be filled. Who can escape God, who created all things, and to whom all things must one day return?Y.S.(xxxvi.)49Mohammad a true messenger from God to warn the people, whose ancestors would not be warned. God hardens their hearts so that they cannot believe. Everything is written down in the Book of God. Just so did the people of Antioch reject the apostles of Jesus, and stoned the only convert among themselves; and there came a shout from heaven and exterminated them. Why do not men reflect on such warnings? Signs of the Resurrection are seen in the revival of spring and the growth of plants, and the alternations of night and day, and the changes of the sun and moon, and the ships that sail on the sea. Yet they are not convinced! The Last Day shall come upon them suddenly. Paradise and Hell. The Korān not a poem, but a plain warning of God’s might and judgment to come. Their idols need protection instead of giving it. God who first made life can quicken it again: his “Fiat” is instantly carried out.The Children of Israel(xvii.)57The dream of the journey to Jerusalem. The two sins of the children of Israel and their punishments. The Korān gives promise of a great reward for righteousness and an aching torment for disbelief. Each man shall be judged by his own deeds, and none shall be punished for another’s sin; nor was any folk destroyed without warning. Kindness and respect to parents, and duty to kinsfolk and travellers and the poor; hospitality, yet without waste; faithfulness in engagements, and honesty in trading, enjoined. Idolatry, infanticide, inchastity, homicide (except in a just cause and in fair retaliation), and abusing orphans’ trust, and pride, forbidden. The angels are not the daughters of God: He has no partner, and the whole creation worships Him. But God hardens people’s hearts so that they turn away from the Korān. The Resurrection is nearer than they think. The faithful must speak pleasantly and not wrangle. Mohammad has no power to compel belief. The false gods themselves dread God’s torment. The power of working miracles was not given to Mohammad, because the people of yore always disbelieved in them: so Thamūd with the miraculous camel. The story ofthe devil’s original enmity to Adam; but the devil cannot protect his followers against God, to whom belongs all power on land and sea, and whose is the Judgment. Mohammad nearly tempted to temporize. Prayer at sunset and dawn and night vigils commended. Man’s insincerity. The spirit sent from God. The Korān inimitable. The demand for miracles and for angelic messengers repudiated. The fate of those who disbelieve in the resurrection. Moses and Pharaoh: the consequences of unbelief. The Korān divided for convenience. The solace of the faithful. God and the Merciful the same deity.THE SPEECHES AT MEKKAIII.—THE ARGUMENTATIVE PERIOD.Aet. 46-53,a.d.615-62273The Believer(xl.)75The revelation is from God. Former generations rejected their apostles and were punished. The angels praise God. The despair of the damned. The great tryst: the judgment of God is unerring. The generations of yore were greater than those of to-day: yet nothing could save them from God. The history of Moses and Pharaoh and the Egyptian convert, and the evil fate of the infidels. The proud shall not win in the end. Praiseof God in His attributes. Hell is the goal of idolaters and polytheists. Patience enjoined upon Mohammad. The signs of God’s might and the dire consequences of doubting it.Jonah(x.)87Repudiation of sorcery. Signs of God’s power, and the consequences of believing and disbelieving them. Insincerity of man: but former generations were destroyed for unbelief. Mohammad has no power to speak the Korān save as God reveals it. Idolatry ridiculed. Miracles disclaimed. Man believes when he is in danger, and disbelieves when he is rescued. The life of this world like grass that will be mown to-morrow. The reward of well and evil doing and the judgment of idolaters. God’s might in creation. The Korān no forgery, as will be plainly seen one day. Every nation has its apostle and its appointed term, which cannot be hastened or retarded. Now the people are warned, and all they do is seen of God. God’s power: He has no Son. The story of Noah and the ark, and Moses and the magicians, and the passage of the Red Sea, and the establishing of the Children of Israel. The people of Jonah. God compels unbelief or belief as He pleases, and nonecan believe without His permission. The signs of God are in the heavens and the earth. True worship.Thunder(xiii.)104The mighty works of God. The punishment of unbelief. Miracles disclaimed. The omniscience and unvariableness of God, the hurler of thunder and lightning and the giver of rain. The reward of the faithful; the torment of apostates. God misleads whom He will, and, if He pleased, could guide all mankind aright. Apostles have been mocked at before: and the mockers were punished. Paradise. Mohammad’s task is only to warn: it is God’s business to punish.SPEECHES OF MEDINATHE PERIOD OF HARANGUE.Aet. 53-63,a.d.622-632113Deception(lxiv.)115God’s power in creation. Former apostles were rejected. The resurrection, though disbelieved, is a fact—a day when people shall find their hopes are deceptive. Paradise and Hell. All things are ordained by God. Obedience to God and the apostle enjoined. The pleasures of this world are to be distrusted, but the fear of God and almsgiving commendable.Iron(lvii.)118Praise of God and exhortation to belief and almsgiving and fighting for the faith. The future state of the faithful and of the hypocrites. The charitable shall be doubly rewarded. The present life only a pastime and delusion. Everything predestined. The sending of the apostles, of Noah, Abraham, and Jesus. Asceticism repudiated. Exhortation to faith and fear.The Victory(xlviii.)124A victory was given to encourage the faithful. Commendation of those who pledged themselves to support Mohammad and rebuke to the desert Arabs who held aloof (on the occasion of the expedition to Hudeybia); they shall not share in the spoil (of Khaibar). Promise of booty. The truce (of Hudeybia). The opposition to Mohammad’s pilgrimage to Mekka shall be withdrawn; and a victory shall soon be won. The devotion of the faithful and their likeness.Help(cx.)130Exhortation to praise God in the hour of triumph.THE LAW GIVEN AT MEDINA131Religious Law133Creed and good works. Prayer. Alms. Fast. Pilgrimage. Fighting for the faith. Sacred month. Forbidden food. Oaths. Wine. Gambling. Statues. Divination.Civil and Criminal Law139Homicide; the blood-wit; murder; retaliation. Fighting against the faith. Theft. Usury. Marriage; adultery; divorce; slander. Testaments and heirs. Maintenance for widows. Testimony. Freeing slaves. Asylum. Small offences and great.THE TABLE-TALK OF MOHAMMAD145Concerning prayer149Of charity151Of fasting153Of reading the Korān154Of labour and profit155Of fighting for the faith159Of judgments160Of women and slaves161Of dumb animals164Of hospitality165Of government166Of vanities and sundry matters168Of death172Of the state after death175Of destiny180Notes183The Mekka Speeches, I—The Poetic Period183The Mekka Speeches, II—The Rhetorical Period187The Mekka Speeches, III—The Argumentative Period190The Medina Speeches, The Period of Harangue192The Law Given at Medina193Table-Talk of Mohammad195Index of Chapters of the Korān Translated in This Volume196The Golden Treasury Series1Transcriber's Note
THE SPEECHES AT MEKKAI. THE POETIC PERIODAet.40-44a.d.609-613
THE NIGHT.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.By theNightwhen she spreadeth her veil,By theDaywhen it is manifested,By what made the male and the female:Verily your aims are diverse.Then as for him who giveth alms and feareth God,And putteth his faith in the Best,We will speed him onward to ease.And as for him who is covetous and desirous of riches,And denieth the Best,We will speed him onward to trouble;And his riches shall not avail him when he falleth down into Hell.Verily ours is the guiding,And ours the latter and the former life.And I have warned you of a flaming fire:None shall be burned in it but the wretch,Who hath called it a lie and turned his back.But the righteous shall be guided away from it—He that giveth his substance in charity,And doeth no man a kindness in hope of reward,But only in seeking the face of his Lord the Most High;And in the end he shall surely be well pleased.(xcii.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.By theNightwhen she spreadeth her veil,By theDaywhen it is manifested,By what made the male and the female:Verily your aims are diverse.Then as for him who giveth alms and feareth God,And putteth his faith in the Best,We will speed him onward to ease.And as for him who is covetous and desirous of riches,And denieth the Best,We will speed him onward to trouble;And his riches shall not avail him when he falleth down into Hell.Verily ours is the guiding,And ours the latter and the former life.And I have warned you of a flaming fire:None shall be burned in it but the wretch,Who hath called it a lie and turned his back.But the righteous shall be guided away from it—He that giveth his substance in charity,And doeth no man a kindness in hope of reward,But only in seeking the face of his Lord the Most High;And in the end he shall surely be well pleased.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
By theNightwhen she spreadeth her veil,By theDaywhen it is manifested,By what made the male and the female:Verily your aims are diverse.
By theNightwhen she spreadeth her veil,
By theDaywhen it is manifested,
By what made the male and the female:
Verily your aims are diverse.
Then as for him who giveth alms and feareth God,And putteth his faith in the Best,We will speed him onward to ease.And as for him who is covetous and desirous of riches,And denieth the Best,We will speed him onward to trouble;And his riches shall not avail him when he falleth down into Hell.Verily ours is the guiding,And ours the latter and the former life.
Then as for him who giveth alms and feareth God,
And putteth his faith in the Best,
We will speed him onward to ease.
And as for him who is covetous and desirous of riches,
And denieth the Best,
We will speed him onward to trouble;
And his riches shall not avail him when he falleth down into Hell.
Verily ours is the guiding,
And ours the latter and the former life.
And I have warned you of a flaming fire:None shall be burned in it but the wretch,Who hath called it a lie and turned his back.But the righteous shall be guided away from it—He that giveth his substance in charity,And doeth no man a kindness in hope of reward,But only in seeking the face of his Lord the Most High;And in the end he shall surely be well pleased.
And I have warned you of a flaming fire:
None shall be burned in it but the wretch,
Who hath called it a lie and turned his back.
But the righteous shall be guided away from it—
He that giveth his substance in charity,
And doeth no man a kindness in hope of reward,
But only in seeking the face of his Lord the Most High;
And in the end he shall surely be well pleased.
(xcii.)
THE COUNTRY.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.I swear by thisCountry—And thou art a dweller in this country—And by father and child!Verily we have created man amid trouble:—Doth he think that no one shall prevail against him?He saith “I have squandered riches in abundance:”Doth he think that no one seeth him?Have we not made him two eyes,And a tongue and two lips,And pointed him out the two highways?Yet he doth not attempt the steep one.And what shall teach thee what the steep one is?The ransoming of captives,Or feeding on the day of famineThe orphan of thy kindredOr the poor that lieth in the dust;Finally, to be of those who believe, and enjoin steadfastness on each other, and enjoin mercy on each other:—These are the people of the right hand.And those who disbelieve in our signs, they are the people of the left:Over them a Fire closeth.(xc.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.I swear by thisCountry—And thou art a dweller in this country—And by father and child!Verily we have created man amid trouble:—Doth he think that no one shall prevail against him?He saith “I have squandered riches in abundance:”Doth he think that no one seeth him?Have we not made him two eyes,And a tongue and two lips,And pointed him out the two highways?Yet he doth not attempt the steep one.And what shall teach thee what the steep one is?The ransoming of captives,Or feeding on the day of famineThe orphan of thy kindredOr the poor that lieth in the dust;Finally, to be of those who believe, and enjoin steadfastness on each other, and enjoin mercy on each other:—These are the people of the right hand.And those who disbelieve in our signs, they are the people of the left:Over them a Fire closeth.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
I swear by thisCountry—And thou art a dweller in this country—And by father and child!Verily we have created man amid trouble:—Doth he think that no one shall prevail against him?He saith “I have squandered riches in abundance:”Doth he think that no one seeth him?Have we not made him two eyes,And a tongue and two lips,And pointed him out the two highways?Yet he doth not attempt the steep one.And what shall teach thee what the steep one is?The ransoming of captives,Or feeding on the day of famineThe orphan of thy kindredOr the poor that lieth in the dust;Finally, to be of those who believe, and enjoin steadfastness on each other, and enjoin mercy on each other:—These are the people of the right hand.And those who disbelieve in our signs, they are the people of the left:Over them a Fire closeth.
I swear by thisCountry—
And thou art a dweller in this country—
And by father and child!
Verily we have created man amid trouble:—
Doth he think that no one shall prevail against him?
He saith “I have squandered riches in abundance:”
Doth he think that no one seeth him?
Have we not made him two eyes,
And a tongue and two lips,
And pointed him out the two highways?
Yet he doth not attempt the steep one.
And what shall teach thee what the steep one is?
The ransoming of captives,
Or feeding on the day of famine
The orphan of thy kindred
Or the poor that lieth in the dust;
Finally, to be of those who believe, and enjoin steadfastness on each other, and enjoin mercy on each other:—
These are the people of the right hand.
And those who disbelieve in our signs, they are the people of the left:
Over them a Fire closeth.
(xc.)
THE SMITING.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.The Smiting!what is the Smiting?And what shall teach thee what the Smiting is?The Day when men shall be like scattered moths,And the mountains like carded wool!Then as for him whose scales are heavy—his shall be a life well-pleasing.And as for him whose scales are light—his abode shall be the Bottomless Pit.And what shall teach thee what that is?A Raging Fire!(ci.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.The Smiting!what is the Smiting?And what shall teach thee what the Smiting is?The Day when men shall be like scattered moths,And the mountains like carded wool!Then as for him whose scales are heavy—his shall be a life well-pleasing.And as for him whose scales are light—his abode shall be the Bottomless Pit.And what shall teach thee what that is?A Raging Fire!
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
The Smiting!what is the Smiting?And what shall teach thee what the Smiting is?The Day when men shall be like scattered moths,And the mountains like carded wool!Then as for him whose scales are heavy—his shall be a life well-pleasing.And as for him whose scales are light—his abode shall be the Bottomless Pit.And what shall teach thee what that is?A Raging Fire!
The Smiting!what is the Smiting?
And what shall teach thee what the Smiting is?
The Day when men shall be like scattered moths,
And the mountains like carded wool!
Then as for him whose scales are heavy—his shall be a life well-pleasing.
And as for him whose scales are light—his abode shall be the Bottomless Pit.
And what shall teach thee what that is?
A Raging Fire!
(ci.)
THE QUAKING.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.When the earth shall quake with herquaking,And when the earth hath cast forth her burdens,And man shall say, “What aileth her?”On that day shall she tell out her tidings,Because thy Lord doth inspire her.On that day shall men come in companies to behold their works,And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of good shall behold it,And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of evil shall behold it.(xcix.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.When the earth shall quake with herquaking,And when the earth hath cast forth her burdens,And man shall say, “What aileth her?”On that day shall she tell out her tidings,Because thy Lord doth inspire her.On that day shall men come in companies to behold their works,And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of good shall behold it,And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of evil shall behold it.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
When the earth shall quake with herquaking,And when the earth hath cast forth her burdens,And man shall say, “What aileth her?”On that day shall she tell out her tidings,Because thy Lord doth inspire her.On that day shall men come in companies to behold their works,And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of good shall behold it,And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of evil shall behold it.
When the earth shall quake with herquaking,
And when the earth hath cast forth her burdens,
And man shall say, “What aileth her?”
On that day shall she tell out her tidings,
Because thy Lord doth inspire her.
On that day shall men come in companies to behold their works,
And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of good shall behold it,
And whosoever hath wrought an ant’s weight of evil shall behold it.
(xcix.)
THE RENDING ASUNDER.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.When the Heaven isrent asunder,And when the stars are scattered,And when the seas are let loose,And when the tombs are turned upside-down,The soul shall know what it hath done and left undone.O man! what hath deceived thee respecting thy Lord, the Generous;Who created thee, and fashioned thee, and moulded thee aright?In what form it pleased him He builded thee.Nay! but ye take the Judgment for a lie!But verily there are watchers over you—Worthy reporters—Knowing what ye do.Verily the righteous shall be in delight,And the wicked in Hell-Fire:They shall be burnt at it on the day of doom,And they shall not be hidden from it.What shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?Again, what shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?A day when no soul can avail aught for another soul, for the ordering on that day is with God.(lxxxii.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.When the Heaven isrent asunder,And when the stars are scattered,And when the seas are let loose,And when the tombs are turned upside-down,The soul shall know what it hath done and left undone.O man! what hath deceived thee respecting thy Lord, the Generous;Who created thee, and fashioned thee, and moulded thee aright?In what form it pleased him He builded thee.Nay! but ye take the Judgment for a lie!But verily there are watchers over you—Worthy reporters—Knowing what ye do.Verily the righteous shall be in delight,And the wicked in Hell-Fire:They shall be burnt at it on the day of doom,And they shall not be hidden from it.What shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?Again, what shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?A day when no soul can avail aught for another soul, for the ordering on that day is with God.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
When the Heaven isrent asunder,And when the stars are scattered,And when the seas are let loose,And when the tombs are turned upside-down,The soul shall know what it hath done and left undone.O man! what hath deceived thee respecting thy Lord, the Generous;Who created thee, and fashioned thee, and moulded thee aright?In what form it pleased him He builded thee.Nay! but ye take the Judgment for a lie!But verily there are watchers over you—Worthy reporters—Knowing what ye do.Verily the righteous shall be in delight,And the wicked in Hell-Fire:They shall be burnt at it on the day of doom,And they shall not be hidden from it.What shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?Again, what shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?A day when no soul can avail aught for another soul, for the ordering on that day is with God.
When the Heaven isrent asunder,
And when the stars are scattered,
And when the seas are let loose,
And when the tombs are turned upside-down,
The soul shall know what it hath done and left undone.
O man! what hath deceived thee respecting thy Lord, the Generous;
Who created thee, and fashioned thee, and moulded thee aright?
In what form it pleased him He builded thee.
Nay! but ye take the Judgment for a lie!
But verily there are watchers over you—
Worthy reporters—
Knowing what ye do.
Verily the righteous shall be in delight,
And the wicked in Hell-Fire:
They shall be burnt at it on the day of doom,
And they shall not be hidden from it.
What shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?
Again, what shall teach thee what is the Day of Judgment?
A day when no soul can avail aught for another soul, for the ordering on that day is with God.
(lxxxii.)
THE CHARGERS.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.By theChargersthat pant,And the hoofs that strike fire,And the scourers at dawn,Who stir up the dust with it,And cleave through a host with it!Verily Man is thankless towards his Lord,And verily he is witness thereof,And verily in his love of weal he is grasping.Doth he not know?—when what is in the tombs shall be laid open,And what is in men’s breasts shall be laid bare;Verily on that day their Lord shall know them well!(c.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.By theChargersthat pant,And the hoofs that strike fire,And the scourers at dawn,Who stir up the dust with it,And cleave through a host with it!Verily Man is thankless towards his Lord,And verily he is witness thereof,And verily in his love of weal he is grasping.Doth he not know?—when what is in the tombs shall be laid open,And what is in men’s breasts shall be laid bare;Verily on that day their Lord shall know them well!
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
By theChargersthat pant,And the hoofs that strike fire,And the scourers at dawn,Who stir up the dust with it,And cleave through a host with it!
By theChargersthat pant,
And the hoofs that strike fire,
And the scourers at dawn,
Who stir up the dust with it,
And cleave through a host with it!
Verily Man is thankless towards his Lord,And verily he is witness thereof,And verily in his love of weal he is grasping.Doth he not know?—when what is in the tombs shall be laid open,And what is in men’s breasts shall be laid bare;Verily on that day their Lord shall know them well!
Verily Man is thankless towards his Lord,
And verily he is witness thereof,
And verily in his love of weal he is grasping.
Doth he not know?—when what is in the tombs shall be laid open,
And what is in men’s breasts shall be laid bare;
Verily on that day their Lord shall know them well!
(c.)
SUPPORT.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.What thinkest thou of him who calleth the Day of Judgment a lie?He it is who driveth away the orphan,And is not urgent for the feeding of the poor.Woe then to those who pray,Those who are careless in their prayers,Who make a pretence,But withholdsupport.(cvii.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.What thinkest thou of him who calleth the Day of Judgment a lie?He it is who driveth away the orphan,And is not urgent for the feeding of the poor.Woe then to those who pray,Those who are careless in their prayers,Who make a pretence,But withholdsupport.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
What thinkest thou of him who calleth the Day of Judgment a lie?He it is who driveth away the orphan,And is not urgent for the feeding of the poor.Woe then to those who pray,Those who are careless in their prayers,Who make a pretence,But withholdsupport.
What thinkest thou of him who calleth the Day of Judgment a lie?
He it is who driveth away the orphan,
And is not urgent for the feeding of the poor.
Woe then to those who pray,
Those who are careless in their prayers,
Who make a pretence,
But withholdsupport.
(cvii.)
THE BACKBITER.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.Woe to everybackbiter, slanderer!Who hath heaped up riches and counted them over!He thinketh that his riches have made him everlasting:Nay! he shall surely be cast into Blasting Hell.And what shall teach thee what Blasting Hell is?The fire of God kindled,Which reaches over the hearts;Verily it is closed over them [like a tent],With stays well-stretched.(civ.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.Woe to everybackbiter, slanderer!Who hath heaped up riches and counted them over!He thinketh that his riches have made him everlasting:Nay! he shall surely be cast into Blasting Hell.And what shall teach thee what Blasting Hell is?The fire of God kindled,Which reaches over the hearts;Verily it is closed over them [like a tent],With stays well-stretched.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Woe to everybackbiter, slanderer!Who hath heaped up riches and counted them over!He thinketh that his riches have made him everlasting:Nay! he shall surely be cast into Blasting Hell.And what shall teach thee what Blasting Hell is?The fire of God kindled,Which reaches over the hearts;Verily it is closed over them [like a tent],With stays well-stretched.
Woe to everybackbiter, slanderer!
Who hath heaped up riches and counted them over!
He thinketh that his riches have made him everlasting:
Nay! he shall surely be cast into Blasting Hell.
And what shall teach thee what Blasting Hell is?
The fire of God kindled,
Which reaches over the hearts;
Verily it is closed over them [like a tent],
With stays well-stretched.
(civ.)
THE SPLENDOUR OF MORNING.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.By thesplendour of morning,And the still of night!Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor hated thee;And the future will surely be better for thee than the present,And thy Lord will surely give to thee and thou wilt be well pleased.Did He not find thee an orphan and sheltered thee,And found thee erring and guided thee,And found thee poor and enriched thee?Then as for the orphan, oppress him not,And as for him who asketh of thee, chide him not away,And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell of it.(xciii.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.By thesplendour of morning,And the still of night!Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor hated thee;And the future will surely be better for thee than the present,And thy Lord will surely give to thee and thou wilt be well pleased.Did He not find thee an orphan and sheltered thee,And found thee erring and guided thee,And found thee poor and enriched thee?Then as for the orphan, oppress him not,And as for him who asketh of thee, chide him not away,And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell of it.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
By thesplendour of morning,And the still of night!Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor hated thee;And the future will surely be better for thee than the present,And thy Lord will surely give to thee and thou wilt be well pleased.Did He not find thee an orphan and sheltered thee,And found thee erring and guided thee,And found thee poor and enriched thee?Then as for the orphan, oppress him not,And as for him who asketh of thee, chide him not away,And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell of it.
By thesplendour of morning,
And the still of night!
Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor hated thee;
And the future will surely be better for thee than the present,
And thy Lord will surely give to thee and thou wilt be well pleased.
Did He not find thee an orphan and sheltered thee,
And found thee erring and guided thee,
And found thee poor and enriched thee?
Then as for the orphan, oppress him not,
And as for him who asketh of thee, chide him not away,
And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell of it.
(xciii.)
THE MOST HIGH.In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.Magnify the name of thyLord,The Most High,Who created, and fashioned,And decreed, and guided,Who bringeth forth the pasturage,Then turneth it dry and brown.We will make thee cry aloud, and thou shalt not forget,Except what God pleaseth; verily He knoweth the plain and the hidden.And we will speed thee to ease.Admonish, therefore,—verily admonishing profiteth,—Whoso feareth God will mind;And there will turn away from it only the wretchWho shall broil upon the mighty fire;And then shall neither die therein, nor live.Happy is he who purifieth himself,And remembereth the name of his Lord, and prayeth.But ye prefer the life of this world,Though the life to come is better and more enduring.Truly this is in the books of eld,The books of Abraham and Moses.(lxxxvii.)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.Magnify the name of thyLord,The Most High,Who created, and fashioned,And decreed, and guided,Who bringeth forth the pasturage,Then turneth it dry and brown.We will make thee cry aloud, and thou shalt not forget,Except what God pleaseth; verily He knoweth the plain and the hidden.And we will speed thee to ease.Admonish, therefore,—verily admonishing profiteth,—Whoso feareth God will mind;And there will turn away from it only the wretchWho shall broil upon the mighty fire;And then shall neither die therein, nor live.Happy is he who purifieth himself,And remembereth the name of his Lord, and prayeth.But ye prefer the life of this world,Though the life to come is better and more enduring.Truly this is in the books of eld,The books of Abraham and Moses.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Magnify the name of thyLord,The Most High,Who created, and fashioned,And decreed, and guided,Who bringeth forth the pasturage,Then turneth it dry and brown.
Magnify the name of thyLord,The Most High,
Who created, and fashioned,
And decreed, and guided,
Who bringeth forth the pasturage,
Then turneth it dry and brown.
We will make thee cry aloud, and thou shalt not forget,Except what God pleaseth; verily He knoweth the plain and the hidden.And we will speed thee to ease.Admonish, therefore,—verily admonishing profiteth,—Whoso feareth God will mind;And there will turn away from it only the wretchWho shall broil upon the mighty fire;And then shall neither die therein, nor live.Happy is he who purifieth himself,And remembereth the name of his Lord, and prayeth.But ye prefer the life of this world,Though the life to come is better and more enduring.Truly this is in the books of eld,The books of Abraham and Moses.
We will make thee cry aloud, and thou shalt not forget,
Except what God pleaseth; verily He knoweth the plain and the hidden.
And we will speed thee to ease.
Admonish, therefore,—verily admonishing profiteth,—
Whoso feareth God will mind;
And there will turn away from it only the wretch
Who shall broil upon the mighty fire;
And then shall neither die therein, nor live.
Happy is he who purifieth himself,
And remembereth the name of his Lord, and prayeth.
But ye prefer the life of this world,
Though the life to come is better and more enduring.
Truly this is in the books of eld,
The books of Abraham and Moses.
(lxxxvii.)