The Koran Part 137

1 This Sura was revealed at a period after the victory at Bedr, when there was still some hesitation on the part of Muhammad's followers to take decided steps for securing their position. See 37.

2 Lit. will He cause to wander, that is, from their proper aim and end, the rewards of Paradise. See verse 5 ad f.

3 The Meccans and other unbelievers of Muhammad's time. The Hanefites suppose this law to apply only to the battle of Bedr. The s.h.i.+tes take it as of universal obligation.

4 This verse is said (by Omar b. Muhammad, and Itq. 43) to be the expression of Muhammad's feelings at the injuries inflicted on Mecca. He is reported to have wept over it.

5 The first sign being the mission of Muhammad; the second, the splitting of the moon; the third, the smoke mentioned in Sura xliv. p. 89.

6 That is, commanding war against the infidels.

7 Unintelligible or affected words, applied to the new religion in contempt.

See Sura [xci.] ii. 56, p. 343.

8 Matt. xxi. 43.

SURA III.-THE FAMILY OF IMRAN1 [XCVII.]

MEDINA.-200 Verses

In the Name of G.o.d, the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful

ELIF. LAM. MIM.2 G.o.d! there is no G.o.d but He, the Living, the Merciful!

In truth hath He sent down to thee "the Book," which confirmeth those which precede it: For He had sent down the Law, and the Evangel aforetime, as man's Guidance; and now hath He sent down the "Illumination."3 (Furkan.)

Verily for those who believe not in the signs of G.o.d, is a severe chastis.e.m.e.nt! And G.o.d is Mighty, the Avenger!

G.o.d! nought that is in Earth or that is in Heaven, is hidden unto Him. He it is who formeth you in your mothers' wombs. There is no G.o.d but He; the Mighty, the Wise!

He it is who hath sent down to thee "the Book." Some of its signs are of themselves perspicuous;-these are the basis4 of the Book-and others are figurative. But they whose hearts are given to err, follow its figures, craving discord, craving an interpretation; yet none knoweth its interpretation but G.o.d. And the stable in knowledge say, "We believe in it: it is all from our Lord." But none will bear this in mind, save men endued with understanding.

O our Lord! suffer not our hearts to go astray after that thou hast once guided us, and give us mercy from before thee; for verily thou art He who giveth.

O our Lord! For the day of whose coming there is not a doubt, thou wilt surely gather mankind together. Verily, G.o.d will not fail the promise.

As for the infidels, their wealth, and their children, shall avail them nothing against G.o.d. They shall be fuel for the fire.

After the wont of the people of Pharaoh, and of those who went before them, they treated our signs as falsehoods. Therefore G.o.d laid hold of them in their sins; and G.o.d is severe in punis.h.i.+ng!

Say to the infidels: ye shall be worsted, and to h.e.l.l shall ye be gathered together; and wretched the couch!

Ye have already had a sign5 in the meeting of the two hosts. The one host fought in the cause of G.o.d, and the other was infidel. To their own eyesight, the infidels saw you twice as many as themselves: And G.o.d aided with his succour whom He would: And in this truly was a lesson for men endued with discernment.

Fair-seeming to men is the love of pleasures from women and children, and the treasured treasures of gold and silver, and horses of mark, and flocks, and cornfields! Such the enjoyment of this world's life. But G.o.d! goodly the home with Him.

SAY: Shall I tell you of better things than these, prepared for those who fear G.o.d, in His presence? Theirs shall be gardens, beneath whose pavilions the rivers flow, and in which shall they abide for aye: and wives of stainless purity, and acceptance with G.o.d: for G.o.d regardeth his servants-

Who say, "O our Lord! we have indeed believed; pardon us our sins, and keep us from the torment of the fire;"-

The patient, and the truthful, the lowly, and the charitable, and they who seek pardon at each daybreak.

G.o.d witnesseth that there is no G.o.d but He: and the angels, and men endued with knowledge, stablished in righteousness, proclaim "There is no G.o.d but He, the Mighty, the Wise!"

The true religion with G.o.d is Islam: and they to whom the Scriptures had been given, differed not till after "the knowledge"6 had come to them, and through mutual jealousy. But as for him who shall not believe in the signs of G.o.d-G.o.d will be prompt to reckon with him!

If they shall dispute with thee, then SAY: I have surrendered myself to G.o.d, as have they who follow me.

SAY to those who have received the Book, and to the common folk, Do ye surrender yourselves unto G.o.d?7 If they become Muslims, then are they guided aright: but if they turn away-thy duty is only preaching; and G.o.d's eye is on His servants.

But to those who believe not in the signs of G.o.d, and unjustly slay the prophets, and slay those men who enjoin uprightness,-announce an afflictive chastis.e.m.e.nt.

These are they whose works come to nought in this world, and in the next; and none shall they have to help them!

Hast thou not marked those who have received a portion of the Scriptures, when they are summoned to the Book of G.o.d, that it may settle their differences? Then did a part of them turn back, and withdrew far off.

This-because they said, "The fire shall by no means touch us, but for certain days:"-Their own devices have deceived them in their religion.

But how, when we shall a.s.semble them together for the day of (which) whose coming there is no doubt, and when every soul shall be paid what it hath earned, and they shall not be wronged?

SAY: O G.o.d, possessor of all power,8 thou givest power to whom thou wilt, and from whom thou wilt, thou takest it away! Thou raisest up whom thou wilt, and whom thou wilt thou dost abase! In thy hand is good; for thou art over all things potent.

Thou causest the night to pa.s.s into the day, and thou causest the day to pa.s.s into the night. Thou bringest the living out of the dead, and thou bringest the dead out of the living; and thou givest sustenance to whom thou wilt, without measure.

Let not believers take infidels for their friends rather than believers: whoso shall do this hath nothing to hope from G.o.d-unless, indeed, ye fear a fear from them: But G.o.d would have you beware of Himself; for to G.o.d ye return. SAY: Whether ye hide what is in your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, or whether ye publish it abroad, G.o.d knoweth it: He knoweth what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and over all things is G.o.d potent.

On that day shall every soul find present to it, whatever it hath wrought of good: and as to what it hath wrought of evil, it will wish that wide were the s.p.a.ce between itself and it! But G.o.d would have you beware of Himself; for G.o.d is kind to His servants.

SAY: If ye love G.o.d, then follow me: G.o.d will love you, and forgive your sins, for G.o.d is Forgiving, Merciful. SAY: Obey G.o.d and the Apostle; but if ye turn away, then verily, G.o.d loveth not the unbelievers.

Verily above all human beings did G.o.d choose Adam, and Noah, and the family of Abraham, and the family of IMRAN, the one the posterity of the other: And G.o.d Heareth, Knoweth.

Remember when the wife of Imran9 said, "O my Lord! I vow to thee what is in my womb, for thy special service. Accept it from me, for thou Hearest, Knowest!" And when she had given birth to it, she said, "O my Lord! Verily I have brought forth a female,"-G.o.d knew what she had brought forth; a male is not as a female10-"and I have named her Mary, and I take refuge with thee for her and for her offspring, from Satan the stoned."11

So with goodly acceptance did her Lord accept her, and with goodly growth did he make her grow.12 Zacharias reared her. So oft as Zacharias went in to Mary at the sanctuary, he found her supplied with food.13 "Oh, Mary!" said he, "whence hast thou this?" She said, "It is from G.o.d; for G.o.d supplieth whom He will, without reckoning!"

There did Zacharias call upon his Lord: "O my Lord!" said he, "vouchsafe me from thyself good descendants,14 for thou art the hearer of prayer." Then did the angels call to him, as he stood praying in the sanctuary:15

"G.o.d announceth John (Yahia) to thee, who shall be a verifier of the word from G.o.d, and a great one, chaste, and a prophet of the number of the just."

He said, "O my Lord! how shall I have a son, now that old age hath come upon me, and my wife is barren?" He said, "Thus will G.o.d do His pleasure."

He said, "Lord! give me a token." He said, "Thy token shall be, that for three days thou shalt speak to no man but by signs: But remember thy Lord often, and praise him at even and at morn:"

And remember when the angels said, "O Mary! verily hath G.o.d chosen thee,16 and purified thee, and chosen thee above the women of the worlds!

O Mary! be devout towards thy Lord,17 and prostrate thyself, and bow down with those who bow."