The Koran Part 126

They said, "Call on they Lord for us that He would make plain to us what cow it is-for to us are cows alike,-and verily, if G.o.d please, we shall be guided rightly:"

He said, "G.o.d saith, 'She is a cow not worn by ploughing the earth or watering the field, sound, no blemish in her.' " They said, "Now hast thou brought the truth:" Then they sacrificed her; Yet nearly had they done it not:

And when ye slew a man, and strove among yourselves about him, G.o.d brought to light what he had hidden:

For we said, "Strike the corpse with part of her." So G.o.d giveth life to the dead, and sheweth you his signs, that haply ye may understand.

Then after that your hearts became hard like rocks, or harder still: for verily, from rocks have rivers gushed; others, verily, have been cleft, and water hath issued from them; and others, verily, have sunk down through fear of G.o.d: And G.o.d is not regardless of your actions.

Desire ye then that for your sakes31 the Jews should believe? Yet a part of them heard the word of G.o.d, and then, after they had understood it, perverted it, and knew that they did so.

And when they fall in with the faithful, they say, "We believe;" but when they are apart32 one with another, they say, "Will ye acquaint them with what G.o.d hath revealed to you, that they may dispute with you about it in the presence of your Lord?" Understand ye their aim?

Know they not that G.o.d knoweth what they hide, as well as what they bring to light?

But there are illiterates among them who are unacquainted with the Book,33 but with lies only, and have but vague fancies. Woe to those who with their own hands transcribe the Book corruptly, and then say, "This is from G.o.d,"

that they may sell it for some mean price! Woe then to them for that which their hands have written! and, Woe to them for the gains which they have made!

And they say, "h.e.l.l fire shall not touch us, but for a few days:"34 SAY: Have ye received such a promise from G.o.d? for G.o.d will not revoke his promise: or, Speak ye of G.o.d that which ye know not?

But they whose only gains are evil works, and who are environed by their sins,-they shall be inmates of the fire, therein to abide for ever:

But they who have believed and done the things that be right, they shall be the inmates of Paradise,-therein to abide for ever.

And when we entered into covenant with the children of Israel, we said, "Wors.h.i.+p none but G.o.d, and be good to your parents and kindred, and to orphans, and to the poor, and speak with men what is right, and observe prayer, and pay the stated alms." Then turned ye away, except a few of you, and withdrew afar off.

And when we made a covenant with you that ye should not shed your own blood,35 nor expel one another from your abodes, then ye ratified it and yourselves were witnesses.

Then were ye the very persons who slew one another; and ye drove out a part of your own people from their abodes; ye lent help against them with wrong and hatred; but if they come captives to you, ye redeem them!-Yet it was forbidden you to drive them out.36 Believe ye then part of the Book, and deny part? But what shall be the meed of him among you who doth this, but shame in this life? And on the day of the Resurrection they shall be sent to the most cruel of torments, for G.o.d is not regardless of what ye do.

These are they who purchase this present life at the price of that which is to come: their torment shall not be lightened, neither shall they be helped.

Moreover, to Moses gave we "the Book," and we raised up apostles after him; and to Jesus, son of Mary, gave we clear proofs of his mission, and strengthened him by the Holy Spirit.37 So oft then as an apostle cometh to you with that which your souls desire not, swell ye with pride, and treat some as impostors, and slay others?

And they say, "Uncirc.u.mcised are our hearts." Nay! G.o.d hath cursed them in their infidelity: few are they who believe!

And when a Book had come to them from G.o.d, confirming that which they had received already-although they had before prayed for victory over those who believed not-yet when that Koran come to them, of which they had knowledge, they did not recognise it. The curse of G.o.d on the infidels!

For a vile price have they sold themselves, by not believing what G.o.d hath sent down, envious of G.o.d's sending down his grace on such of his servants as he pleaseth:38 and they have brought on themselves wrath upon wrath. And for the unbelievers is a disgraceful chastis.e.m.e.nt.

And when it is said to them, "Believe in what G.o.d hath sent down," they say, "In that which hath been sent down to us we believe:" but what hath since been sent down they disbelieve, although it be the truth confirmatory of their own Scriptures. SAY: Why then have ye of old slain G.o.d's prophets,39 if ye are indeed believers?

Moreover, Moses came unto you with proofs of his mission. Then in his absence ye took the calf for your G.o.d, and did wickedly.

And when we accepted your covenant, and uplifted40 the mountain over you, we said, "Take firm hold on what we have given you, and hearken." They said, "We have hearkened and have rebelled:" then were they made to drink down the calf into their hearts for their ingrat.i.tude. SAY: A bad thing hath your faith commanded you, if ye be indeed believers.

SAY: If the future dwelling place with G.o.d be specially for you, but not for the rest of mankind, then wish for death, if ye are sincere:

But never can they wish for it, because of that which their own hands have sent on before them!41 And G.o.d knoweth the offenders.

And thou wilt surely find them of all men most covetous of life, beyond even the polytheists. To be kept alive a thousand years might one of them desire: but that he may be preserved alive, shall no one reprieve himself from the punishment! And G.o.d seeth what they do.

SAY: Whoso is the enemy of Gabriel-For he it is who by G.o.d's leave hath caused the Koran to descend on thy heart, the confirmation of previous revelations, and guidance, and good tidings to the faithful-

Whoso is an enemy to G.o.d or his angels, or to Gabriel, or to Michael, shall have G.o.d as his enemy: for verily G.o.d is an enemy to the Infidels.

Moreover, clear signs have we sent down to thee, and none will disbelieve them but the perverse.

Oft as they have formed an engagement with thee, will some of them set it aside? But most of them believe not.

And when there came to them an apostle from G.o.d, affirming the previous revelations made to them, some of those to whom the Scriptures were given, threw the Book of G.o.d behind their backs as if they knew it not:

And they followed what the Satans read42 in the reign of Solomon: not that Solomon was unbelieving, but the Satans were unbelieving. Sorcery did they teach to men, and what had been revealed to the two angels, Harut and Marut, at Babel. Yet no man did these two teach until they had said, "We are only a temptation. Be not then an unbeliever." From these two did men learn how to cause division between man and wife: but unless by leave of G.o.d, no man did they harm thereby. They learned, indeed, what would harm and not profit them; and yet they knew that he who bought that art should have no part in the life to come! And vile the price for which they have sold themselves,-if they had but known it!

But had they believed and feared G.o.d, better surely would have been the reward from G.o.d,-if they had but known it!

O ye who believe! say not to our apostle, "Raina"43 (Look at us); but say, "Ondhorna" (Regard us). And attend to this; for, the Infidels shall suffer a grievous chastis.e.m.e.nt.

The unbelievers among the people of the Book, and among the idolaters, desire not that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord: but G.o.d will shew His special mercy to whom He will, for He is of great bounty.

Whatever verses we cancel,44 or cause thee to forget, we bring a better or its like. Knowest thou not that G.o.d hath power over all things?

Knowest thou not that the dominion of the Heavens and of the Earth is G.o.d's?

and that ye have neither patron nor helper, save G.o.d?

Would ye ask of your apostle what of old was asked of Moses? But he who exchangeth faith for unbelief,45 hath already erred from the even way.

Many of the people of the Book desire to bring you back to unbelief after ye have believed, out of selfish envy, even after the truth hath been clearly shewn them. But forgive them, and shun them till G.o.d shall come in with His working. Truly G.o.d hath power over all things.

And observe prayer and pay the legal impost:46 and whatever good thing ye have sent on before for your soul's sake, ye shall find it with G.o.d. Verily G.o.d seeth what ye do.

And they say, "None but Jews or Christians shall enter Paradise:" This is their wish. SAY: Give your proofs if ye speak the truth.

But they who set their face with resignation G.o.dward, and do what is right,- their reward is with their Lord; no fear shall come on them, neither shall they be grieved.

Moreover, the Jews say, "The Christians lean on nought:" "On nought lean the Jews," say the Christians: Yet both are readers of the Book. So with like words say they who have no knowledge.47 But on the resurrection day, G.o.d shall judge between them as to that in which they differ.

And who committeth a greater wrong than he who hindereth G.o.d's name from being remembered in his temples, and who hasteth to ruin them?48 Such men cannot enter them but with fear. Their's is shame in this world, and a severe torment in the next.

The East and the West is G.o.d's: therefore, whichever way ye turn, there is the face of G.o.d:49 Truly G.o.d is immense and knoweth all.

And they say, "G.o.d hath a son:" No! Praise be to Him! But-His, whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth! All obeyeth Him,

Sole maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! And when He decreeth a thing, He only saith to it, "Be," and it is.

And they who have no knowledge say, "Unless G.o.d speak to us, or thou shew us a sign ... !" So, with like words, said those who were before them: their hearts are alike: Clear signs have we already shewn for those who have firm faith:

Verily, with the Truth have we sent thee, a bearer of good tidings and a warner: and of the people of h.e.l.l thou shalt not be questioned.