The Koran Part 129

War is prescribed to you: but from this ye are averse.

Yet haply ye are averse from a thing, though it be good for you, and haply ye love a thing though it be bad for you: And G.o.d knoweth; but ye, ye know not.

They will ask thee concerning war in the Sacred Month. SAY: To war therein is bad, but to turn aside from the cause of G.o.d, and to have no faith in Him, and in the Sacred Temple, and to drive out its people, is worse in the sight of G.o.d; and civil strife is worse than bloodshed. They will not cease to war against you until they turn you from your religion, if they be able: but whoever of you shall turn from his religion and die an infidel, their works shall be fruitless in this world, and in the next: they shall be consigned to the fire; therein to abide for aye.

But they who believe, and who fly their country, and fight in the cause of G.o.d may hope for G.o.d's mercy: and G.o.d is Gracious, Merciful.

They will ask thee concerning wine89 and games of chance. SAY: In both is great sin, and advantage also, to men; but their sin is greater than their advantage. They will ask thee also what they shall bestow in alms:

SAY: What ye can spare. Thus G.o.d sheweth you his signs that ye may ponder

On this present world, and on the next. They will also ask thee concerning orphans. SAY: Fair dealing with them is best;

But if ye mix yourselves up (in their affairs)-they are your brethren: G.o.d knoweth the foul dealer from the fair: and, if G.o.d pleased, he could indeed afflict you! Verily, G.o.d is Mighty, Wise.

Marry not idolatresses until they believe; a slave who believeth is better than an idolatress, though she please you more. And wed not your daughters to idolaters until they believe; for a slave who is a believer, is than better an idolater, though he please you.

They invite to the Fire; but G.o.d inviteth to Paradise, and to pardon, if he so will, and maketh clear his signs to men that they may remember.

They will also question thee as to the courses of women. SAY: They are a pollution. Separate yourselves therefore from women and approach them not, until they be cleansed. But when they are cleansed, go in unto them as G.o.d hath ordained for you. Verily G.o.d loveth those who turn to Him, and loveth those who seek to be clean.

Your wives are your field: go in, therefore, to your field as ye will; but do first some act for your souls' good: and fear ye G.o.d, and know that ye must meet Him; and bear these good tidings to the faithful.

Swear not by G.o.d, when ye make oath, that ye will be virtuous and fear G.o.d, and promote peace among men; for G.o.d is He who Heareth, Knoweth.

G.o.d will not punish you for a mistake in your oaths: but He will punish you for that which your hearts have done. G.o.d is Gracious, Merciful.

They who intend to abstain from their wives shall wait four months; but if they go back from their purpose, then verily G.o.d is Gracious, Merciful:

And if they resolve on a divorce, then verily G.o.d is He who Heareth, Knoweth.

The divorced shall wait the result, until they have had their courses thrice, nor ought they to conceal what G.o.d hath created in their wombs, if they believe in G.o.d and the last day; and it will be more just in their husbands to bring them back when in this state, if they desire what is right. And it is for the women to act as they (the husbands) act by them, in all fairness; but the men are a step above them. G.o.d is Mighty, Wise.

Ye may divorce your wives twice: Keep them honourably, or put them away with kindness. But it is not allowed you to appropriate to yourselves aught of what ye have given to them, unless both fear that they cannot keep within the bounds90 set up by G.o.d. And if ye fear that they cannot observe the ordinances of G.o.d, no blame shall attach to either of you for what the wife shall herself give for her redemption. These are the bounds of G.o.d: therefore overstep them not; for whoever oversteppeth the bounds of G.o.d, they are evil doers.

But if the husband divorce her a third time, it is not lawful for him to take her again, until she shall have married another husband; and if he also divorce her, then shall no blame attach to them if they return to each other, thinking that they can keep within the bounds fixed by G.o.d. And these are the bounds of G.o.d; He maketh them clear to those who have knowledge.

But when ye divorce women, and the time for sending them away is come, either retain them with generosity, or put them away with generosity: but retain them not by constraint so as to be unjust towards them. He who doth so, doth in fact injure himself. And make not the signs of G.o.d a jest; but remember G.o.d's favour toward you, and the Book and the Wisdom which He hath sent down to you for your warning, and fear G.o.d, and know that G.o.d's knowledge embraceth everything.

And when ye divorce your wives, and they have waited the prescribed time, hinder them not from marrying their husbands when they have agreed among themselves in an honourable way. This warning is for him among you who believeth in G.o.d and in the last day. This is most pure for you, and most decent. G.o.d knoweth, but ye know not.

Mothers, when divorced, shall give suck to their children two full years,91 if the father desire that the suckling be completed; and such maintenance and clothing as is fair for them, shall devolve on the father. No person shall be charged beyond his means. A mother shall not be pressed unfairly for her child, nor a father for his child: And the same with the father's heir. But if they choose to wean the child by consent and by bargain, it shall be no fault in them. And if ye choose to have a nurse for your children, it shall be no fault in you, in case ye pay what ye promised her according to that which is fair. Fear G.o.d, and know that G.o.d seeth what ye do.

If those of you who die leave wives, they must await their state during four months and ten days; and when this their term is expired, you shall not be answerable for the way in which they shall dispose of themselves fairly. And G.o.d is cognisant of what ye do.

And then shall no blame attach to you in making proposals of marriage92 to such women, or in keeping such intention to yourselves? G.o.d knoweth that ye will not forget them. But promise them not in secret, unless ye speak honourable words;

And resolve not on the marriage tie until the prescribed time be reached; and know that G.o.d knoweth what is in your minds: therefore, beware of Him; and know that G.o.d is Gracious, Mild!

It shall be no crime in you if ye divorce your wives so long as ye have not consummated the marriage, nor settled any dowry on them. And provide what is needful for them he who is in ample circ.u.mstances according to his means, and he who is straitened, according to his means-with fairness: This is binding on those who do what is right.

But if ye divorce them before consummation, and have already settled a dowry on them, ye shall give them half of what ye have settled, unless they make a release, or he make a release in whose hand is the marriage tie. But if ye make a release, it will be nearer to piety. And forget not generosity in your relations one towards another; for G.o.d beholdeth your doings.

Observe strictly the prayers, and the middle93 prayer, and stand up full of devotion towards G.o.d.

And if you have any alarm, then pray on foot or riding: but when you are safe, then remember G.o.d, how he hath made you to know what ye knew not.

And94 such of you as shall die and leave wives, shall bequeath their wives a year's maintenance without causing them to quit their homes; but if they quit them of their own accord, then no blame shall attach to you for any disposition they may make of themselves in a fair way. And G.o.d is Mighty, Wise.

And for the divorced let there be a fair provision. This is a duty in those who fear G.o.d.

Thus G.o.d maketh his signs clear to you that ye may understand.

Hast thou not thought on those who quitted their dwellings-and they were thousands-for fear of death?95 G.o.d said to them, "Die:" then He restored them to life, for full of bounty towards man is G.o.d. But most men give not thanks!

Fight for the cause of G.o.d; and know that G.o.d is He who Heareth, Knoweth.

Who is he that will lend to G.o.d a goodly loan? He will double it to him again and again: G.o.d is close, but open handed also: and to Him shall ye return.

Hast thou not considered96 the a.s.sembly of the children of Israel after the death of Moses, when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Set up for us a king; we will do battle for the cause of G.o.d?" He said, "May it not be that if to fight were ordained you, ye would not fight?" They said, "And why should we not fight in the cause of G.o.d, since we and our children are driven forth from our dwellings?" But when fighting was commanded them, they turned back, save a few of them: But G.o.d knew the offenders!

And their prophet said to them, "Now hath G.o.d set (Talout) Saul king over you." They said, "How shall he reign over us, when we are more worthy of the kingdom than he, and of wealth he hath no abundance?" He said, "Verily G.o.d hath chosen him to be over you, and hath given him increase in knowledge and stature; G.o.d giveth his kingdom to whom he pleaseth; and G.o.d is Liberal, Knowing!"

And their prophet said to them, "Verily, the sign of his kings.h.i.+p shall be that the Ark shall come to you: in it is a pledge of security97 from your Lord and the relics98 left by the family of Moses, and the family of Aaron; the angels shall bear it: Truly herein shall be a sign indeed to you if ye are believers."

And when Saul marched forth with his forces, he said, "G.o.d will test you by a river: He who drinketh of it shall not be of my band; but he who shall not taste it, drinking a drink out of the hand excepted, shall be of my band."99 And, except a few of them, they drank of it. And when they had pa.s.sed it, he and those who believed with him, the former said, "We have no strength this day against (Djalout) Goliath and his forces:" But they who held it as certain that they must meet G.o.d, said, "How oft, by G.o.d's will, hath a small host vanquished a numerous host! and G.o.d is with the steadfastly enduring."

And when they went forth against Goliath and his forces, they said, "O our Lord! pour out steadfastness upon us, and set our feet firm, and help us against the infidels!"

And by the will of G.o.d they routed them; and (Daood) David slew Goliath; and G.o.d gave him the kings.h.i.+p and wisdom, and taught him according to His will: and were it not for the restraint of one by means of the other, imposed on men by G.o.d, verily the earth had been utterly corrupted. But G.o.d is bounteous to his creatures.

Such are the signs of G.o.d: with truth do we rehea.r.s.e them to thee, for one of the Sent Ones art Thou.

Some of the apostles we have endowed more highly than others: Those to whom G.o.d hath spoken, He hath raised to the loftiest grade, and to Jesus the Son of Mary we gave manifest signs, and we strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.100 And if G.o.d had pleased, they who came after them would not have wrangled, after the clear signs had reached them. But into disputes101 they fell: some of them believed, and some were infidels; yet if G.o.d had pleased, they would not have thus wrangled: but G.o.d doth what he will.

O Believers! give alms of that with which we have supplied you, before the day cometh when there shall be no trafficking, nor friends.h.i.+p, nor intercession. And the infidels are the wrong-doers.

G.o.d! There is no G.o.d but He; the Living, the Eternal; Nor slumber seizeth Him, nor sleep; His, whatsoever is in the Heavens and whatsoever is in the Earth! Who is he that can intercede with Him but by His own permission? He knoweth what hath been before them and what shall be after them; yet nought of His knowledge shall they grasp, save what He willeth. His Throne reacheth over the Heavens and the Earth, and the upholding of both burdeneth Him not; and He is the High, the Great!

Let there be no compulsion in Religion.102 Now is the right way made distinct from error. Whoever therefore shall deny Thagout103 and believe in G.o.d-he will have taken hold on a strong handle that shall not be broken: and G.o.d is He who Heareth, Knoweth.

G.o.d is the patron of believers: He shall bring them out of darkness into light:

As to those who believe not, their patrons are Thagout: they shall bring them out of light into darkness: they shall be given over to the fire: they shall abide therein for ever.

Hast thou not thought on him104 who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because G.o.d had given him the kingdom? When Abraham said, "My Lord is He who maketh alive and cause to die:" He said, "It is I who make alive and cause to die!" Abraham said, "Since G.o.d bringeth the sun from the East, do thou, then, bring it from the West." The infidel was confounded; for G.o.d guideth not the evil doers:

Or how he105 demeaned him who pa.s.sed by a city which had been laid in ruins.106 "How," said he, "shall G.o.d give life to this city, after she hath been dead?" And G.o.d caused him to die for an hundred years, and then raised him to life. And G.o.d said, "How long hast thou waited?" He said, "I have waited a day or part of a day." He said, "Nay, thou hast waited an hundred years. Look on thy food and thy drink; they are not corrupted; and look on thine a.s.s: we would make thee a sign unto men: And look on the bones of thine a.s.s, how we will raise them, then clothe them with flesh." And when this was shewn to him, he said, "I acknowledge that G.o.d hath power to do all things."