The Koran Part 86

To whatever is evil may they be likened who believe not in a future life;10 but G.o.d is to be likened to whatever is loftiest: for He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Should G.o.d punish men for their perverse doings, he would not leave on earth a moving thing! but to an appointed term doth He respite them; and when their term is come, they shall not delay or advance it an hour.

Yet what they loathe themselves do they a.s.sign to G.o.d; and their tongues utter the lie, that theirs shall be a goodly lot. But beyond a doubt is it that the fire awaiteth them, and that they shall be the first sent into it.

By G.o.d we have sent Apostles to nations before thee, but Satan prepared their work for them, and this day is he their liege; and a woeful punishment doth await them.

And we have sent down the Book to thee only, that thou mightest clear up to them the subject of their wranglings, and as a guidance and a mercy to those who believe.

And G.o.d sendeth down water from Heaven, and by it giveth life to the Earth after it hath been dead: verily, in this is a sign to those who hearken.

Ye have also teaching from the cattle. We give you drink of the pure milk, between dregs and blood, which is in their bellies; the pleasant beverage of them that quaff it.

And among fruits ye have the palm and the vine, from which ye get wine and healthful nutriment: in this, verily, are signs for those who reflect.

And thy Lord hath taught the BEE, saying: "Provide thee houses in the mountains, and in the trees, and in the hives which men do build thee:

Feed, moreover, on every kind of fruit, and walk the beaten paths of thy Lord." From its belly cometh forth a fluid of varying hues,11 which yieldeth medicine to man. Verily in this is a sign for those who consider.

And G.o.d hath created you; by and bye will he take you to himself; and some among you will he carry on to abject old age, when all that once was known is known no longer. Aye, G.o.d is Knowing, Powerful.

And G.o.d hath abounded to some of you more than to others in the supplies of life; yet they to whom He hath abounded, impart not thereof to the slaves whom their right hands possess, so that they may share alike. What! will they deny, then, that these boons are from G.o.d?

G.o.d, too, hath given you wives of your own race, and from your wives hath He given you sons and grandsons, and with good things hath he supplied you.

What, will they then believe in vain idols? For G.o.d's boons they are ungrateful!

And they wors.h.i.+p beside G.o.d those who neither out of the Heavens or Earth can provide them a particle of food, and have no power in themselves!

Make no comparisons, therefore, with G.o.d.12 Verily, G.o.d hath knowledge, but ye have not.

G.o.d maketh comparison between a slave13 the property of his lord, who hath no power over anything, and a free man whom we have ourselves supplies, and who giveth alms therefrom both in secret and openly. Shall they be held equal?

No: praise be to G.o.d! But most men know it not.

G.o.d setteth forth also a comparison between two men, one of whom is dumb from his birth, and hath no power over anything, and is a burden to his lord: send him where he will, he cometh not back with success. Shall he and the man who enjoineth what is just, and keepeth in the straight path, be held equal?

G.o.d's are the secrets of the Heavens and of the Earth! and the business of the last hour will be but as the twinkling of an eye, or even less. Yes! for all things is G.o.d Potent.

G.o.d hath brought you out of your mothers' wombs devoid of all knowledge; but hath given you hearing, and sight, and heart, that haply ye might render thanks.

Have they never looked up at the birds subjected to Him in Heaven's vault?

None holdeth them in hand but G.o.d! In this are signs for those who believe.

And G.o.d hath given you tents to dwell in: and He hath given you the skins of beasts for tents, that ye may find them light when ye s.h.i.+ft your quarters, or when ye halt; and from their wool and soft fur and hair, hath He supplied you with furniture and goods for temporary use.

And from the things which He hath created, hath G.o.d provided shade for you, and hath given you the mountains for places of shelter, and hath given you garments to defend you from the heat, and garments to defend you in your wars. Thus doth He fill up the measure of His goodness towards you, that you may resign yourselves to Him.

But if they turn their backs, still thy office is only plain spoken preaching.

They own the goodness of G.o.d-then they disown it-and most of them are infidels.

But one day, we will raise up a witness out of every nation: them shall the infidels have no permission to make excuses, and they shall find no favour.

And when they who have acted thus wrongly shall behold their torment, it shall not be made light to them, nor will G.o.d deign to look upon them.

And when they who had joined a.s.sociates with G.o.d shall see those their a.s.sociate-G.o.ds, they shall say, "O our Lord! these are our a.s.sociate-G.o.ds whom we called upon beside Thee." But they shall retort on them, "Verily, ye are liars."

And on that day shall they proffer submission to G.o.d; and the deities of their own invention shall vanish from them.

As for those who were infidels and turned others aside from the way of G.o.d, to them we will add punishment on punishment for their corrupt doings.

And one day we will summon up in every people a witness against them from among themselves; and we will bring thee up as a witness against these Meccans: for to thee have we sent down the Book which cleareth up everything, a guidance, and mercy, and glad tidings to those who resign themselves to G.o.d (to Muslims).

Verily, G.o.d enjoineth justice and the doing of good and gifts to kindred, and he forbiddeth wickedness and wrong and oppression. He warneth you that haply ye may be mindful.

Be faithful in the covenant of G.o.d when ye have covenanted, and break not your oaths after ye have pledged them: for now have ye made G.o.d to stand surety for you. Verily, G.o.d hath knowledge of what ye do.

And, because you are a more numerous people than some other people, be not like her who unravelleth the thread which she had strongly spun, by taking your oaths with mutual perfidy. G.o.d is making trial of you in this: and in the day of resurrection he will a.s.suredly clear up to you that concerning which ye are now at variance.

Had G.o.d pleased, He could have made you one people: but He causeth whom He will to err, and whom He will He guideth: and ye shall a.s.suredly be called to account for your doings.

Therefore take not your oaths with mutual fraud, lest your foot slip after it hath been firmly fixed, and ye taste of evil because ye have turned others aside from the way of G.o.d, and great be your punishment.

And barter not the covenant of G.o.d for a mean price; for with G.o.d is that which is better for you, if ye do but understand.

All that is with you pa.s.seth away, but that which is with G.o.d abideth. With a reward meet for their best deeds will we surely recompense those who have patiently endured.

Whoso doeth that which is right, whether male or female, if a believer, him will we surely quicken to a happy life, and recompense them with a reward meet for their best deeds.

When thou readest the Koran, have recourse to G.o.d for help against Satan the stoned,14

For no power hath he over those who believe, and put their trust in their Lord,

But only hath he power over those who turn away from G.o.d, and join other deities with Him.

And when we change one (sign) verse for another, and G.o.d knoweth best what He revealeth, they say, "Thou art only a fabricator." Nay! but most of them have no knowledge.

SAY: The Holy Spirit15 hath brought it down with truth from thy Lord, that He may stablish those who have believed, and as guidance and glad tidings to the Muslims.

We also know that they say, "Surely a certain person teacheth him." But the tongue of him at whom they hint is foreign,16 while this Koran is in the plain Arabic.

As for those who believe not in the signs of G.o.d, G.o.d will not guide them, and a sore torment doth await them.

Surely they invent a lie who believe not in the signs of G.o.d-and they are the liars.

Whoso, after he hath believed in G.o.d denieth him, if he were forced to it and if his heart remain steadfast in the faith, shall be guiltless:17 but whoso openeth his breast to infidelity-on such shall be wrath from G.o.d, and a severe punishment awaiteth them.

This, because they have loved this present life beyond the next, and because G.o.d guideth not the unbelievers!

These are they whose hearts and ears and eyes G.o.d hath sealed up: these are the careless ones: in the next world shall they perish beyond a doubt.