The Koran Part 128

The followers shall say, "Could we but return to life we would keep ourselves clear from them, as they have declared themselves clear of us." So will G.o.d shew them their works! Sighing is upon them! but, forth from the fire they come not.

Oh men! eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, but follow not the steps of Satan, for he is your avowed enemy:

He only enjoineth you evil and wickedness, and that ye should aver of G.o.d that which ye know not.

And when it is said to them, "Follow ye that which G.o.d hath sent down;" they say, "Nay, we follow the usages which we found with our fathers." What!

though their fathers were utterly ignorant and devoid of guidance?

The infidels resemble him who shouteth aloud to one who heareth no more than a call and cry! Deaf, Dumb, blind: therefore they have no understanding.

O ye who believe! eat of the good things with which we have supplied you, and give G.o.d thanks if ye are His wors.h.i.+ppers.

But that which dieth of itself, and blood, and swine's flesh, and that over which any other name than that of G.o.d hath been invoked, is forbidden you.

But he who shall partake of them by constraint, without l.u.s.t or wilfulness, no sin shall be upon him. Verily G.o.d is Indulgent, Merciful.

They truly who hide the Scriptures which G.o.d hath sent down, and barter them for a mean price-these shall swallow into their bellies nought but fire. G.o.d will not speak to them, or a.s.soil them, on the day of the Resurrection: and theirs shall be a grievous torment.

These are they who have bartered guidance for error, and pardon for torment; But how great their endurance in fire!67

This shall be their doom, because G.o.d had sent down "the Book" with the very truth. And verily they who dispute about that Book are in a far-gone severance from it.

There is no piety in turning your faces toward the east or the west, but he is pious who believeth in G.o.d, and the last day, and the angles, and the Scriptures, and the prophets; who for the love of G.o.d disburseth his wealth to his kindred, and to the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and those who ask, and for ransoming; who observeth prayer, and payeth the legal alms, and who is of those who are faithful to their engagements when they have engaged in them, and patient under ills and hards.h.i.+ps, and in time of trouble: these are they who are just, and these are they who fear the Lord.

O believers! retaliation for bloodshedding is prescribed to you: the free man for the free, and the slave for the slave, and the woman for the woman: but he to whom his brother shall make any remission,68 is to be dealt with equitably; and to him should he pay a fine with liberality.

This is a relaxation69 from your Lord and a mercy. For him who after his shall transgress,70 a sore punishment!

But in this law of retaliation is your security for life, O men of understanding! to the intent that ye may fear G.o.d.

It is prescribed to you, when any one of you is at the point of death, if he leave goods, that he bequeath equitably to his parents and kindred. This is binding on those who fear G.o.d. But as for him who after he hath heard the bequest shall change it, surely the wrong of this shall be on those who change it: verily, G.o.d Heareth, Knoweth.

But he who feareth from the testator any mistake or wrong, and shall make a settlement between the parties-that shall be no wrong in him: verily, G.o.d is Lenient, Merciful.

O believers! a Fast is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may fear G.o.d,

For certain days. But he among you who shall be sick, or on a journey, shall fast that same number of other days: and as for those who are able to keep it and yet break it, the expiation of this shall be the maintenance of a poor man. And he who of his own accord performeth a good work, shall derive good from it: and good shall it be for you to fast if ye knew it.

As to the month Ramadhan in which the Koran was sent down to be man's guidance, and an explanation of that guidance, and of that illumination,71 as soon as any one of you observeth the moon, let him set about the fast; but he who is sick, or upon a journey, shall fast a like number of other days. G.o.d wisheth you ease, but wisheth not your discomfort, and that you fulfil the number of days, and that you glorify G.o.d for his guidance, and that you be thankful.

And when my servants ask thee concerning me, then will I be nigh unto them. I will answer the cry of him that crieth, when he crieth unto me: but let them hearken unto me, and believe in me, that they may proceed aright.

You are allowed on the night of the fast to approach your wives: they are your garment and ye are their garment.72 G.o.d knoweth that ye defraud yourselves therein, so He turneth unto you and forgiveth you! Now, therefore, go in unto them with full desire for that which G.o.d hath ordained for you; and eat and drink until ye can discern a white thread from a black thread73 by the daybreak: then fast strictly till night, and go not in unto them, but rather pa.s.s the time in the Mosques. These are the bounds set up by G.o.d: therefore come not near them. Thus G.o.d maketh his signs clear to men that they may fear Him.74

Consume not your wealth among yourselves in vain things, nor present it to judges that ye may consume a part of other men's wealth unjustly, while ye know the sin which ye commit.

They will ask thee of the new moons. SAY: They are periods fixed for man's service and for the Pilgrimage. There is no piety in entering your houses at the back,75 but piety consists in the fear of G.o.d. Enter your houses then by their doors; and fear G.o.d that it may be well with you.

And fight for the cause of G.o.d against those who fight against you: but commit not the injustice of attacking them first: G.o.d loveth not such injustice:

And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place they have ejected you; for civil discord76 is worse than carnage: yet attack them not at the sacred Mosque, unless they attack you therein; but if they attack you, slay them. Such the reward of the infidels.

But if they desist, then verily G.o.d is Gracious, Merciful.

Fight therefore against them until there be no more civil discord, and the only wors.h.i.+p be that of G.o.d: but if they desist, then let there be no hostility, save against the wicked.

The sacred month and the sacred precincts are under the safeguard of reprisals:77 whoever offereth violence to you, offer ye the like violence to him, and fear G.o.d, and know that G.o.d is with those who fear Him.

Give freely for the cause of G.o.d, and throw not yourselves with your own hands into ruin;78 and do good, for G.o.d loveth those who do good.

Accomplish the Pilgrimage and the Visitation79 of the holy places in honour of G.o.d: and if ye be hemmed in by foes, send whatever offering shall be the easiest: and shave not your heads until the offering reach the place of sacrifice. But whoever among you is sick, or hath an ailment of the head, must satisfy by fasting, or alms, or an offering. And when ye are safe from foes, he who contents himself with the Visitation of the holy places, until the Pilgrimage, shall bring whatever offering shall be the easiest. But he who findeth nothing to offer, shall fast three days in the Pilgrimage itself, and seven days when ye return: they shall be ten days in all. This is binding on him whose family shall not be present at the sacred Mosque. And fear G.o.d, and know that G.o.d is terrible in punis.h.i.+ng.

Let the Pilgrimage be made in the months already known:80 whoever therefore undertaketh the Pilgrimage therein, let him not know a woman, nor transgress, nor wrangle in the Pilgrimage. The good which ye do, G.o.d knoweth it. And provide for your journey; but the best provision is the fear of G.o.d: fear me, then, O men of understanding!

It shall be no crime in you if ye seek an increase from your Lord;81 and when ye pour swiftly on from Arafat, then remember G.o.d near the holy monument; and remember Him, because He hath guided you who before this were of those who went astray:

Then pa.s.s on quickly82 where the people quickly pa.s.s, and ask pardon of G.o.d, for G.o.d is Forgiving, Merciful.

And when ye have finished your holy rites, remember G.o.d as ye remember your own fathers, or with a yet more intense remembrance! Some men there are who say, "O our Lord! give us our portion in this world:" but such shall have no portion in the next life:

And some say, "O our Lord! give us good in this world and good in the next, and keep us from the torment of the fire."

They shall have the lot which they have merited: and G.o.d is swift to reckon.

Bear G.o.d in mind during the stated days: but if any haste away83 in two days, it shall be no fault in him: And if any tarry longer, it shall be no fault in him, if he fear G.o.d. Fear G.o.d, then, and know that to Him shall ye be gathered.

A man there is84 who surpriseth thee by his discourse concerning this life present. He taketh G.o.d to witness what is in his heart; yet is he the most zealous in opposing thee:

And when he turneth his back on thee, he runneth through the land to enact disorders therein, and layeth waste the fields and flocks: but G.o.d loveth not the disorder.

And when it is said to him, "Fear G.o.d," the pride of sin seizeth him: but he shall have his fill of h.e.l.l; and right wretched the couch!

A man, too, there is85 who selleth his very self out of desire to please G.o.d: and G.o.d is good to his servants.

O believers! enter completely into the true religion, and follow not the steps of Satan, for he is your declared enemy.

But if ye lapse after that our clear signs86 have come to you, know that G.o.d is Mighty, Wise.

What can such expect but that G.o.d should come down to them overshadowed with clouds, and the angels also, and their doom be sealed? And to G.o.d shall all things return.

Ask the children of Isreal how many clear signs we have given them. But if any man shall alter the boon87 of G.o.d after it shall have reached him, a.s.suredly G.o.d will be vehement in punis.h.i.+ng him.

This present life is prepared for those who believe not, and who mock at the faithful. But they who fear G.o.d shall be above them on the day of resurrection; and G.o.d is bounteous without measure to whom He will.

Mankind was but one people;88 and G.o.d sent prophets to announce glad tidings and to warn; and He sent down with them the Book of Truth, that it might decide the disputes of men; and none disputed but those to whom the Book had been given, after the clear tokens had reached them,-being full of mutual jealousy. And G.o.d guided those who believed to the truth of that about which, by his permission, they had disputed; for G.o.d guideth whom he pleaseth into the straight path.

Think ye to enter Paradise, when no such things have come upon you, as on those who flourish before you? Ills and troubles tried them; and so tossed were they by trials, that the Apostle and they who shared his faith, said, "When will the help of G.o.d come?"-Is not the help of G.o.d nigh?

They will ask thee what they shall bestow in alms. SAY: Let the good which ye bestow be for parents, and kindred, and orphans, and the poor, and the wayfarer; and whatever good ye do, of a truth G.o.d knoweth.