The Koran (Al-Qur'an) Part 8

The last pretender to prophecy I shall now take notice of is one who appeared in the city of Amasia, in Natolia, in the year 638, and by his wonderful feats seduced a great mult.i.tude of people there. He was by nation a Turkman, and called himself Baba, and had a disciple named Isaac, whom he sent about to invite those of his own nation to join him. Isaac accordingly, coming to the territory of Someisat, published his commission, and prevailed on many to embrace his master's sect, especially among the Turkmans; so that at last he had six thousand horse at his heels, besides foot. With these Baba and his disciple made open war on all who would not cry out with them, "There is no G.o.d but G.o.d; Baba is the apostle of G.o.d:" and they put great numbers of Mohammedans, as well as Christians, to the sword in those parts; till at length both Mohammedans and Christians, joining together, gave them battle, and having entirely routed them, put them all to the sword, except their two chiefs, who being taken alive, had their heads struck off by the executioner.

I could mention several other impostors of the same kind, which have arisen among the Mohammedans since their prophet's time, and very near enough to complete the number foretold by him: but I apprehend the reader is by this time tired as well as myself, and shall therefore here conclude this discourse, which may be thought already too long for an introduction.

AL KORAN.

CHAPTER I.

ENt.i.tLED, THE PREFACE, OR INTRODUCTION; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL G.o.d PRAISE be to G.o.d, the LORD of all creatures; the most merciful, the king of the day of judgment.

Thee do we wors.h.i.+p, and of thee do we beg a.s.sistance.

Direct us in the right way, in the way of those to whom thou hast been gracious; not of those against whom thou art incensed, nor of those who go astray.

CHAPTER II.

ENt.i.tLED, THE COW; REVEALED PARTLY AT MECCA, AND PARTLY AT MEDINA.

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

A.L.M.

There is no doubt in this book; it is a direction to the pious, who believe in the mysteries of faith, who observe the appointed times of prayer, and distribute alms out of what we have bestowed on them, and who believe in that revelation, which hath been sent down unto thee and that which hath been sent down unto the prophets before thee, and have firm a.s.surance of the life to come: these are directed by their LORD, and they shall prosper.

As for the unbelievers, it will be equal to them whether thou admonish them, or do not admonish them; they will not believe.

G.o.d hath sealed up their hearts and their hearing; a dimness covereth their sight, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment.

There are some who say, We believe in G.o.d, and the last day; but are not really believers: they seek to deceive G.o.d, and those who do believe, but they deceive themselves only, and are not sensible thereof.

10 There is an infirmity in their hearts, and G.o.d hath increased that infirmity; and they shall suffer a most painful punishment, because they have disbelieved.

When one saith unto them, Act not corruptly in the earth; they reply, Verily we are men of integrity.

Are not they themselves corrupt doers? but they are not sensible thereof.

And when one saith unto them, Believe ye as others believe; they answer, Shall we believe as fools believe? Are not they themselves fools? but they know it not.

When they meet those who believe, they say, We do believe: but when they retire privately to their devils, they say, We really hold with you, and only mock at those people: G.o.d shall mock at them, and continue them in their impiety; they shall wander in confusion.

There are the the men who have purchased error at the price of true direction: but their traffic hath not been gainful, neither have they been rightly directed.

They are like unto one who kindleth a fire, and when it hath enlightened all around him, G.o.d taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness, they shall not see; they are deaf, dumb, and blind, therefore will they not repent.

Or like a stormy cloud from heaven, fraught with darkness, thunder, and lightning, they put their fingers in their ears because of the noise of the thunder, for fear of death; G.o.d encompa.s.seth the infidels: 20 the lightning wanteth but little of taking away their sight; so often as it enlighteneth them, they walk therein, but when darkness cometh on them, they stand still; and if G.o.d so pleased, he would certainly deprive them of their hearing and their sight, for G.o.d is almighty.

O men of Mecca, serve your LORD who hath created you, and those who have been before you: peradventure ye will fear him; who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and the heaven as a covering, and hath caused water to descend from heaven, and thereby produced fruits for your sustenance. Set not up therefore any equals unto G.o.d, against your own knowledge.

If ye be in doubt concerning that revelation which we have sent down unto our servant, produce a chapter like unto it, and call upon your witnesses besides G.o.d, if ye say truth.

But if ye do it not, nor shall ever be able to do it; justly fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the unbelievers.

But bear good tidings unto those who believe, and do good works, that they shall have gardens watered by rivers; so often as they eat of the fruit thereof for sustenance, they shall say, this is what we have formerly eaten of; and they shall be supplied with several sorts of fruit having a mutual resemblance to one another. There shall they enjoy wives subject to no impurity, and there shall they continue forever.

Moreover, G.o.d will not be ashamed to propound in a parable a gnat, or even a more despicable thing: for they who believe will know it to be the truth from their LORD; but the unbelievers will say, What meaneth G.o.d by this parable? he will thereby mislead many, and will direct many thereby: but he will not mislead any thereby, except the transgressors, who make void the covenant of G.o.d after the establis.h.i.+ng thereof, and cut in sunder that which G.o.d hath commanded to be joined, and act corruptly in the earth; they shall perish.

How is it that ye believe not in G.o.d? Since ye were dead, and he gave you life; he will hereafter cause you to die, and will again restore you to life; then shall ye return unto him.

It is he who hath created for you whatsoever is on earth, and then set his mind to the creation of heaven, and formed it into seven heavens; he knoweth all things.

30 When thy LORD said unto the angels, I am going to place a subst.i.tute on earth; they said, Wilt thou place there one who will do evil therein, and shed blood? but we celebrate thy praise, and sanctify thee. G.o.d answered, Verily I know that which ye know not; and he taught Adam the names of all things, and then proposed them to the angels, and said, Declare unto me the names of these things if ye say truth.

They answered, Praise be unto thee; we have no knowledge but what thou teachest us, for thou art knowing and wise.

G.o.d said, O Adam, tell them their names. And when he had told them their names, G.o.d said, Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and know that which ye discover, and that which ye conceal?

And when we said unto the angels, Wors.h.i.+p Adam, they all wors.h.i.+pped him, except Eblis, who refused, and was puffed up with pride, and became of the number of unbelievers.

And we said, O Adam, dwell thou and thy wife in the garden, and eat of the fruit thereof plentifully wherever ye will; but approach not this tree, lest ye become of the number of the transgressors.

But Satan caused them to forfeit paradise, and turned them out of the state of happiness wherein they had been; whereupon we said, Get ye down, the one of you an enemy unto the other; and there shall be a dwelling-place for you on earth, and a provision for a season.

And Adam learned words of prayer from his LORD, and G.o.d turned unto him, for he is easy to be reconciled and merciful.

We said, Get ye all down from hence; hereafter shall there come unto you a direction from me, and whoever shall follow my direction, on them shall no fear come, neither shall they be grieved; but they who shall be unbelievers, and accuse our signs of falsehood, they shall be the companions of h.e.l.l fire, therein shall they remain forever.

40 O children of Israel, remember my favor wherewith I have favored you; and perform your covenant with me, and I will perform my covenant with you; and revere me: and believe in the revelation which I have sent down, confirming that which is with you, and be not the first who believe not therein, neither exchange my signs for a small price; and fear me.

Clothe not the truth with vanity, neither conceal the truth against your own knowledge; observe the stated times of prayer, and pay your legal alms, and bow down yourselves with those who bow down.

Will ye command men to do justice, and forget your own souls? yet ye read the book of the law: do ye not therefore understand?

Ask help with perseverance and prayer; this indeed is grievous unless to the humble, who seriously think they shall meet their LORD and that to him they shall return.

O children of Israel, remember my favor wherewith I have favored you, and that I have preferred you above all nations; dread the day wherein one soul shall not make satisfaction for another soul, neither shall any intercession be accepted from them, nor shall any compensation be received, neither shall they be helped.

Remember when we delivered you from the people of Pharaoh, who grievously oppressed you, they slew your male children, and let your females live: therein was a great trial from your LORD.

50 And when we divided the sea for you and delivered you, and drowned Pharaoh's people while ye looked on.

And when we treated with Moses forty nights; then ye took the calf for your G.o.d, and did evil; yet afterwards we forgave you, that peradventure ye might give thanks.

And when we gave Moses the book of the law, and the distinction between good and evil, that peradventure ye might be directed.

And when Moses said unto his people, O my people, verily ye have injured your own souls, by your taking the calf for your G.o.d; therefore be turned unto your Creator, and slay those among you who have been guilty of that crime; this will be better for you in the sight of your Creator: and thereupon he turned unto you, for he is easy to be reconciled, and merciful.

And when ye said, O Moses, we will not believe thee, until we see G.o.d manifestly; therefore a punishment came upon you, while ye looked on; then we raised you to life after ye had been dead, that peradventure ye might give thanks.

And we caused clouds to overshadow you, and manna and quails to descend upon you, saying, Eat of the good things which we have given you for food: and they injured not us, but injured their own souls.

And when we said, Enter into this city, and eat of the provisions thereof plentifully as ye will; and enter the gate wors.h.i.+pping, and say, Forgiveness! we will pardon you your sins, and give increase unto the well- doers.

But the unG.o.dly changed the expression into another, different from what had been spoken unto them; and we sent down upon the unG.o.dly indignation from heaven, because they had transgressed.

60 And when Moses asked drink for his people, we said, Strike the rock with thy rod; and there gushed thereout twelve fountains according to the number of the tribes, and all men knew their respective drinking-place. Eat and drink of the bounty of G.o.d, and commit not evil on the earth, acting unjustly.

And when ye said, O Moses, we will by no means be satisfied with one kind of food; pray unto thy LORD therefore for us, that he would produce for us of that which the earth bringeth forth, herbs and cuc.u.mbers, and garlic, and lentils, and onions; Moses answered, Will ye exchange that which is better, for that which is worse? Get ye down into Egypt, for there shall ye find what ye desire: and they were smitten with vileness and misery, and drew on themselves indignation from G.o.d. This they suffered, because they believed not in the signs of G.o.d, and killed the prophets unjustly; this, because they rebelled and transgressed.

Surely those who believe, and those who Judaize, and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believeth in G.o.d, and the last day, and doth that which is right, they shall have their reward with their LORD; there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be grieved.

Call to mind also when we accepted your covenant, and lifted up the mountain of Sinai over you, saying, Receive the law which we have given you, with a resolution to keep it, and remember that which is contained therein, that ye may beware.

After this ye again turned back, so that if it had not been for G.o.d's indulgence and mercy towards you, ye had certainly been destroyed.

Moreover ye know what befell those of your nation who transgressed on the sabbath day; We said unto them, Be ye changed into apes, driven away from the society of men.

And we made them an example unto those who were contemporary with them, and unto those who came after them, and a warning to the pious.

And when Moses said unto his people, Verily G.o.d commandeth you to sacrifice a cow; they answered, Dost thou make a jest of us! Moses said, G.o.d forbid that I should be one of the foolish.

They said, Pray for us unto thy LORD, that he would show us what cow it is.

Moses answered, He saith, She is neither an old cow, nor a young heifer, but of a middle age between both: do ye therefore that which ye are commanded.

They said, Pray for us unto thy LORD, that he would show us what colour she is of. Moses answered, He saith, She is a red cow, intensely red, her colour rejoiceth the beholders.

70 They said, Pray for us unto thy LORD, that he would further show us what cow it is, for several cows with us are like one another, and we, if G.o.d please, will be directed.

Moses answered, He saith, She is a cow not broken to plough the earth, or water the field, a sound one, there is no blemish in her. They said, Now hast thou brought the truth. Then they sacrificed her; yet they wanted but little of leaving it undone.

And when ye slew a man, and contended among yourselves concerning him, G.o.d brought forth to light that which ye concealed.

For we said, Strike the dead body with part of the sacrificed cow: so G.o.d raiseth the dead to life, and showeth you his signs, that peradventure ye may understand.

Then were your hearts hardened after this, even as stones, or exceeding them in hardness: for from some stones have rivers bursted forth, others have been rent in sunder, and water hath issued from them, and others have fallen down for fear of G.o.d. But G.o.d is not regardless of that which ye do.

Do ye therefore desire that the Jews should believe you? yet a part of them heard the word of G.o.d, and then perverted it, after they had understood it, against their own conscience.

And when they meet the true believers, they say, We believe: but when they are privately a.s.sembled together, they say, Will ye acquaint them with what G.o.d hath revealed unto you, that they may dispute with you concerning it in the presence of your LORD? Do ye not therefore understand?

Do not they know that G.o.d knoweth that which they conceal as well as that which they publish?

But there are illiterate men among them, who know not the book of the law, but only lying stories, although they think otherwise.

And woe unto them, who transcribe corruptly the book of the law with their hands, and then say, This is from G.o.d: that they may sell it for a small price.

Therefore woe unto them because of that which their hands have written; and woe unto them for that which they have gained.

80 They say, The fire of h.e.l.l shall not touch us but for a certain number of days. Answer, Have ye received any promise from G.o.d to that purpose? for G.o.d will not act contrary to his promise: or do ye speak concerning G.o.d that which ye know not?

Verily whoso doth evil, and is encompa.s.sed by his iniquity, they shall be the companions of h.e.l.l fire, they shall remain therein forever: but they who believe and do good works, they shall be the companions of paradise, they shall continue therein forever.

Remember also, when we accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall not wors.h.i.+p any other except G.o.d, and ye shall show kindness to your parents and kindred, and to orphans, and to the poor, and speak that which is good unto men, and be constant at prayer, and give alms. Afterwards ye turned back, except a few of you, and retired afar off.