The Koran (Al-Qur'an) Part 15

Wherefore do thou, O prophet, judge between them according to that which G.o.d hath revealed, and follow not their desires; but beware of them, lest they cause thee to err from part of those precepts which G.o.d hath sent down unto thee; and if they turn back, know that G.o.d is pleased to punish them for some of their crimes; for a great number of men are transgressors.

50 Do they therefore desire the judgment of the time of ignorance? but who is better than G.o.d, to judge between people who reason aright?

O true believers, take not the Jews or Christians for your friends; they are friends the one to the other; but whoso among you taketh them for his friends, he is surely one of them: verily G.o.d directeth not unjust people.

Thou shalt see those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, to hasten unto them, saying, We fear lest some adversity befall us; but it is easy for G.o.d to give victory, or a command from him, that they may repent of that which they concealed in their minds.

And they who believe will say, Are these the men who have sworn by G.o.d, with a most firm oath, that they surely held with you? their works are become vain, and they are of those who perish.

O true believers, whoever of you apostatizeth from his religion, G.o.d will certainly bring other people to supply his place, whom he will love, and who will love him; who shall be humble towards the believers; but severe to the unbelievers: they shall fight for the religion of G.o.d, and shall not fear the obloquy of the detractor. This is the bounty of G.o.d, he bestoweth it on whom he pleaseth: G.o.d is extensive and wise.

Verily your protector is G.o.d, and his apostle, and those who believe, who observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms, and who bow down to wors.h.i.+p.

And whoso taketh G.o.d, and his apostle, and the believers for his friends, they are the party of G.o.d, and they shall be victorious.

O true believers, take not such of those to whom the scriptures were delivered before you, or of the infidels, for your friends, who make a laughing-stock, and a jest of your religion; but fear G.o.d, if ye be true believers; nor those who when ye call to prayer, make a laughing-stock and a jest of it; this they do, because they are people who do not understand.

Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, do ye reject us for any other reason than because we believe in G.o.d, and that revelation which hath been sent down unto us, and that which was formerly sent down, and for that the greater part of you are transgressors?

60 Say, Shall I denounce unto you a worse thing than this, as to the reward which ye are to expect with G.o.d? He whom G.o.d hath cursed, and with whom he hath been angry, having changed some of them into apes and swine, and who wors.h.i.+p Taghut, they are in the worse condition, and err more widely from the straightness of the path.

When they came unto you, they said, We believe: yet they entered into your company with infidelity, and went forth from you with the same; but G.o.d well knew what they concealed.

Thou shalt see many of them hastening unto iniquity and malice, and to eat things forbidden; and woe unto them for what they have done.

Unless their doctors and priests forbid them uttering wickedness, and eating things forbidden; woe unto them for what they shall have committed.

The Jews say, The hand of G.o.d is tied up. Their hands shall be tied up, and they shall be cursed for that which they have said. Nay his hands are both stretched forth; he bestoweth as he pleaseth: that which hath been sent down unto thee from thy LORD shall increase the transgression and infidelity of many of them; and we have put enmity and hatred between them, until the day of resurrection. So often as they shall kindle a fire for war G.o.d shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but G.o.d loveth not the corrupt doers.

Moreover if they who have received the scriptures believe, and fear G.o.d, we will surely expiate their sins from them, and we will lead them into gardens of pleasure; and if they observe the law, and the gospel, and the other scriptures which have been sent down unto them from their LORD, they shall surely eat of good things both from above them, and from under their feet. Among them there are people who act uprightly; but how evil is that which many of them do work!

O apostle, publish the whole of that which hath been sent down unto thee from thy LORD: for if thou do not, thou dost not in effect publish any part thereof; and G.o.d will defend thee against wicked men; for G.o.d directeth not the unbelieving people.

Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, ye are not grounded on anything, until ye observe the law and the gospel and that which hath been sent down unto you from your LORD. That which hath been sent down unto thee from thy LORD will surely increase the transgression and infidelity of many of them: but be not thou solicitous for the unbelieving people.

Verily they who believe, and those who Judaize, and the Sabians, and the Christians, whoever of them believeth in G.o.d and the last day, and doth that which is right, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be grieved.

70 We formerly accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, and sent apostles unto them. So often as an apostle came unto them with that which their souls desired not, they accused some of them of imposture, and some of them they killed: and they imagined that there should be no punishment for those crimes, and they became blind, and deaf. Then was G.o.d turned unto them; afterwards many of them again became blind and deaf; but G.o.d saw what they did.

They are surely infidels, who say, Verily G.o.d is Christ the son of Mary; since Christ said, O children of Israel, serve G.o.d, my LORD and your LORD; whoever shall give a companion unto G.o.d, G.o.d shall exclude him from paradise, and his habitation shall be h.e.l.l fire; and the unG.o.dly shall have none to help them.

They are certainly infidels, who say, G.o.d is the third of three: for there is no G.o.d, besides one G.o.d; and if they refrain not from what they say, a painful torment shall surely be inflicted on such of them as are unbelievers.

Will they not therefore be turned unto G.o.d, and ask pardon of him? since G.o.d is gracious and merciful.

Christ the son of Mary is no more than an apostle; other apostles have preceded him; and his mother was a woman of veracity: they both ate food.

Behold, how we declare unto them the signs of G.o.d's unity; and then behold how they turn aside from the truth.

Say unto them, Will ye wors.h.i.+p, besides G.o.d, that which can cause you neither harm nor profit? G.o.d is he who heareth and seeth.

Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in your religion, by speaking beside the truth; neither follow the desires of people who have heretofore erred, and who have seduced many, and have gone astray from the straight path.

Those among the children of Israel who believe not were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus the son of Mary. This befell them because they were rebellious and transgressed: they forbade not one another the wickedness which they committed; and woe unto them for what they committed.

80 Thou shalt see many of them take for their friends those who believe not.

Woe unto them for what their souls have sent before them, for that G.o.d is incensed against them, and they shall remain in torment forever.

But, if they had believed in G.o.d, and the prophet, and that which hath been revealed unto him, they had not taken them for their friends; but many of them are evil-doers.

Thou shalt surely find the most violent of all men in enmity against the true believers to be the Jews, and the idolaters: and thou shalt surely find those among them to be the most inclinable to entertain friends.h.i.+p for the true believers, who say, We are Christians. This cometh to pa.s.s, because there are priests and monks among them; and because they are not elated with pride: And when they hear that which hath been sent down to the apostle read unto them, thou shalt see their eyes overflow with tears, because of the truth which they perceive therein, saying, O LORD, we believe; write us down therefore with those who bear witness to the truth, and what should hinder us from believing in G.o.d, and the truth which hath come unto us, and from earnestly desiring that our LORD would introduce us into paradise with the righteous people?

Therefore hath G.o.d rewarded them, for what they have said, with gardens through which rivers flow; they shall continue therein forever; and this is the reward of the righteous.

But they who believe not, and accuse our signs of falsehood, they shall be the companions of h.e.l.l.

O true believers, forbid not the good things which G.o.d hath allowed you; but transgress not, for G.o.d loveth not the transgressors.

And eat of what G.o.d hath given you for food that which is lawful and good: and fear G.o.d, in whom ye believe.

G.o.d will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths; but he will punish you for what ye solemnly swear with deliberation. And the expiation of such an oath shall be the feeding of ten poor men with such moderate food as ye feed your own families withal; or to clothe them; or to free the neck of a true believer from captivity: but he who shall not find wherewith to perform one of these three things shall fast three days. This is the expiation of your oaths, when ye swear inadvertently. Therefore keep your oaths. Thus G.o.d declareth unto you his signs, that ye may give thanks.

90 O true believers, surely wine, and lots, and images, and divining arrows, are an abomination of the work of Satan; therefore avoid them that ye may prosper.

Satan seeketh to sow dissension and hatred among you, by means of wine and lots, and to divert you from remembering G.o.d, and from prayer: will ye not therefore abstain from them?

Obey G.o.d, and obey the apostle, and take heed to yourselves: but if ye turn back, know that the duty of our apostle is only to preach publicly.

In those who believe and do good works, it is no sin that they have tasted wine or gaming before they were forbidden; if they fear G.o.d, and believe, and do good works, and shall for the future fear G.o.d, and believe, and shall persevere to fear him, and to do good; for G.o.d loveth those who do good.

O true believers, G.o.d will surely prove you in offering you plenty of game, which ye may take with your hands or your lances, that G.o.d may know who feareth him in secret; but whoever transgresseth after this shall suffer a grievous punishment.

O true believers, kill no game while ye are on pilgrimage; whosoever among you shall kill any designedly shall restore the like of what he shall have killed, in domestic animals, according to the determination of two just persons among you, to be brought as an offering to the Caaba; or in atonement thereof shall feed the poor; or instead thereof shall fast, that he may taste the heinousness of his deed. G.o.d hath forgiven what is past, but whoever returneth to transgress, G.o.d will take vengeance on him; for G.o.d is mighty and able to avenge.

It is lawful for you to fish in the sea, and to eat what ye shall catch, as a provision for you and for those who travel; but it is unlawful for you to hunt by land, while ye are performing the rights of pilgrimage; therefore fear G.o.d, before whom ye shall be a.s.sembled at the last day.

G.o.d hath appointed the Caaba, the holy house, an establishment for mankind; and hath ordained the sacred month, and the offering, and the ornaments hung thereon.q This hath he done that ye might know that G.o.d knoweth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth, and that G.o.d is omniscient.

Know that G.o.d is severe in punis.h.i.+ng, and that G.o.d is also ready to forgive, and merciful.

The duty of our apostle is to preach only; and G.o.d knoweth that which ye discover, and that which ye conceal.

100 Say, Evil and good shall not be equally esteemed of, though the abundance of evil pleaseth thee; therefore fear G.o.d, O ye of understanding, that ye may be happy.

O true believers, inquire not concerning things, which, if they be declared unto you, may give you pain; but if ye ask concerning them when the Koran is sent down, they will be declared unto you: G.o.d pardoneth you as to these matters; for G.o.d is ready to forgive, and gracious.

People who have been before you formerly inquired concerning them; and afterwards disbelieved therein.

G.o.d hath not ordained anything concerning Bahira, nor Saiba, nor Wasila, nor Hami, but the unbelievers have invented a lie against G.o.d: and the greater part of them do not understand.

And when it was said unto them, Come unto that which G.o.d hath revealed, and to the apostle; they answered, That religion which we found our fathers to follow is sufficient for us. What, though their fathers knew nothing and were not rightly directed?

O true believers, take care of your souls! He who erreth shall not hurt you, while ye are rightly directed: unto G.o.d shall ye all return, and he will tell you that which ye have done.

O true believers, let witnesses be taken between you, when death approaches any of you, at the time of making the testament; let there be two witnesses, just men, from among you; or two others of a different tribe or faith from yourselves, if ye be journeying in the earth, and the accident of death befall you. Ye shall shut them both up, after the afternoon prayer, and they shall swear by G.o.d, if ye doubt them, and they shall say, We will not sell our evidence for a bribe, although the person concerned be one who is related to us, neither will we conceal the testimony of G.o.d, for then should we certainly be of the number of the wicked.

But if it appear that both have been guilty of iniquity, two others shall stand up in their place, of those who have convicted them of falsehood, the two nearest in blood, and they shall swear by G.o.d, saying, Verily our testimony is more true than the testimony of these two, neither have we prevaricated; for then should we become of the number of the unjust.

This will be easier, that men may give testimony according to the plain intention thereof, or fear lest a different oath be given, after their oath.

Therefore fear G.o.d, and hearken; for G.o.d directeth not the unjust people.

On a certain day shall G.o.d a.s.semble the apostles, and shall say unto them, What answer was returned you, when ye preached unto the people to whom ye were sent? They shall answer, We have no knowledge, but thou art the knower of secrets.

110 When G.o.d shall say, O Jesus son of Mary, remember my favor towards thee, and towards thy mother; when I strengthened thee with the holy spirit, that thou shouldest speak unto men in the cradle, and when thou wast grown up; and when I taught thee the scripture, and wisdom and the law, and the gospel: and when thou didst create of clay as it were the figure of a bird, by my permission, and didst breathe thereon, and it became a bird, by my permission, and thou didst heal one blind from his birth, and the leper, by my permission; and when thou didst bring forth the dead from their graves by my permission; and when I withheld the children of Israel from killing thee, when thou hadst come unto them with evident miracles, and such of them as believed not said, This is nothing but manifest sorcery.

And when I commanded the apostles of Jesus saying, Believe in me, and in my messenger; they answered, We do believe; and do thou bear witness that we are resigned unto thee.

Remember when the apostles said, O Jesus son of Mary, is thy LORD able to cause a table to descend unto us from heaven? He answered, Fear G.o.d, if ye be true believers.

They said, We desire to eat thereof, and that our hearts may rest at ease, and that we may know that thou hast told us the truth, and that we may be witnesses thereof.

Jesus the son of Mary said, O G.o.d our LORD, cause a table to descend unto us from heaven, that the day of its descent may become a festival day unto us, unto the first of us, and unto the last of us, and a sign from thee; and do thou provide food for us, for thou art the best provider.

G.o.d said, Verily I will cause it to descend unto you; but whoever among you shall disbelieve hereafter, I will surely punish him with a punishment, wherewith I will not punish any other creature.

And when G.o.d shall say unto Jesus, at the last day, O Jesus son of Mary, hast thou said unto men, Take me and my mother for two G.o.ds, beside G.o.d? He shall answer, Praise be unto thee! it is not for me to say that which I ought not; if I had said so, thou wouldest surely have known it: thou knowest what is in me, but I know not what is in thee; for thou art the knower of secrets.

I have not spoken to them any other than what thou didst command me; namely, Wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, my LORD and your LORD: and I was a witness of their actions while I staid among them; but since thou hast taken me to thyself, thou hast been the watcher over them; for thou art witness of all things.

If thou punish them, they are surely thy servants; and if thou forgive them, thou art mighty and wise.

G.o.d will say, This day shall their veracity be of advantage unto those who speak truth; they shall have gardens wherein rivers flow, they shall remain therein forever: G.o.d hath been well pleased in them, and they have been well pleased in him. This shall be great felicity.

120 Unto G.o.d belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth, and of whatever therein is; and he is almighty.

CHAPTER VI.

ENt.i.tLED, CATTLE; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL G.o.d.

PRAISE be unto G.o.d, who hath created the heavens and the earth, and hath ordained the darkness and the light; nevertheless they who believe not in the LORD equalize other G.o.ds with him.

It is he who hath created you of clay; and then decreed the term of your lives; and the prefixed term is with him: yet do ye doubt thereof.

He is G.o.d in heaven and in earth; he knoweth what ye keep secret, and what ye publish, and knoweth what ye deserve.

There came not unto them any sign, of the signs of their LORD, but they retired from the same; and they have gainsaid the truth, after that it hath come unto them: but a message shall come unto them, concerning that which they have mocked at.

Do they not consider how many generations we have destroyed before them?

We had established them in the earth in a manner wherein we have not established you; we sent the heaven to rain abundantly upon them, and we gave them rivers which flowed under their feet: yet we destroyed them in their sins, and raised up other generations after them.

Although we had caused to descend unto thee a book written on paper, and they had handled it with their hands, the unbelievers had surely said, This is no other than manifest sorcery.

They said, Unless an angel be sent down unto him, we will not believe.

But if we had sent down an angel, verily the matter had ben decreed, and they should not have been borne with, by having time granted them to repent.

And if we had appointed an angel for our messenger, we should have sent him in the form of a man, and have clothed him before them, as they are clothed.

10 Other apostles have been laughed to scorn before thee, but the judgment which they made a jest of encompa.s.sed those who laughed them to scorn.

Say, Go through the earth, and behold what hath been the end of those, who accused our prophets of imposture.

Say, Unto whom belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and earth? Say, Unto G.o.d, He hath prescribed unto himself mercy. He will surely gather you together on the day of resurrection; there is no doubt of it. They who destroy their own souls are those who will not believe.

Unto him is owing whatsoever happeneth by night or by day; it is he who heareth and knoweth.

Say, Shall I take any other protector than G.o.d, the creator of heaven and earth, who feedeth all and is not fed by any? Say, Verily I am commanded to be the first who professeth Islam, and it was said unto me, Thou shalt by no means be one of the idolaters.

Say, Verily I fear, if I should rebel against my LORD, the punishment of the great day: from whomsoever it shall be averted on that day, G.o.d will have been merciful unto him; this will be manifest salvation.

If G.o.d afflict thee with any hurt, there is none who can take it off from thee, except himself; but if he cause good to befall thee, he is almighty; he is the supreme Lord over his servants, and he is wise and knowing.

Say, What thing is the strongest in bearing testimony? Say, G.o.d; he is witness between me and you. And this Koran was revealed unto me, that I should admonish you thereby, and also those unto whom it shall reach. Do ye really profess that there are other G.o.ds together with G.o.d? Say, I do not profess this. Say, Verily he is one G.o.d; and I am guiltless of what ye a.s.sociate with him.

20 They unto whom we have given the scripture know our apostle, even as they know their own children; but they who destroy their own souls will not believe.