The Koran Part 139

And whoso after this inventeth the lie about G.o.d: These are evil doers.

SAY: G.o.d speaketh truth. Follow, therefore, the religion of Abraham, the sound in faith, who was not one of those who joined other G.o.ds to G.o.d.

The first temple that was founded for mankind, was that in Becca,33-Blessed, and a guidance to human beings.

In it are evident signs, even the standing-place34 of Abraham: and he who entereth it is safe. And the pilgrimage to the temple, is a service due to G.o.d from those who are able to journey thither.

And as to him who believeth not-verily G.o.d can afford to dispense with all creatures!

SAY: O people of the Book! why disbelieve ye the signs of G.o.d? But G.o.d is witness of your doings.

SAY: O people of the Book! why repel believers from the way of G.o.d? Ye fain would make it crooked, and yet ye are its witnesses! But G.o.d is not regardless of what ye do.

O believers! if ye obey some amongst those who have received the Scripture, after your very Faith will they make you infidels!

But how can ye become infidels, when the signs of G.o.d are recited to you, and his prophet is among you? Whoever holdeth fast by G.o.d, is already guided to a straight path.

O ye believers! fear G.o.d as He deserveth to be feared! and die not till ye have become Muslims.

And hold ye fast by the cord 35 of G.o.d, all of you, and break not loose from it; and remember G.o.d's goodness towards you, how that when ye were enemies, He united your hearts, and by his favour ye became brethren;

And when ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, he drew you back from it.

Thus G.o.d clearly sheweth you his signs that ye may be guided;

And that there may be among you a people who invite to the Good, and enjoin the Just, and forbid the Wrong. These are they with whom it shall be well.

And be ye not like those who have formed divisions, and fallen to variance after the clear proofs have come to them. These! a terrible chastis.e.m.e.nt doth await them,

On THE DAY when faces shall turn white, and faces shall turn black! And as to those whose faces shall have turned black "... .What! after your belief have ye become infidels? Taste then the chastis.e.m.e.nt, for that ye have been unbelievers."

And as to those whose faces shall have become white, they shall be within the mercy of G.o.d: therein shall they abide for ever.

These are the signs of G.o.d: we recite them to thee in truth: And G.o.d willeth not injustice to mankind.

Whatever is in the Heavens, and whatever is on the Earth, is G.o.d's. And to G.o.d shall all things return.

Ye are the best folk that hath been raised up unto mankind. Ye enjoin the Just, and ye forbid the Evil, and ye believe in G.o.d: And if the people of the Book had believed, it had surely been better for them! Believers there are among them, but most of them are perverse.

They will never inflict on you but a trifling damage; and if they do battle with you, they shall turn their backs to you: then they shall not be succoured.

Shame shall be stamped upon them36 wherever found, unless they ally them with G.o.d and men! And the wrath of G.o.d will they incur, and poverty shall be stamped upon them! This-for that they believed not in the signs of G.o.d, and slew the prophets unjustly: This-because they rebelled, and became transgressors.

Yet all are not alike: Among the people of the Book is an upright folk, who recite the signs of G.o.d in the night-season, and adore:

They believe in G.o.d and in the latter day, and enjoin justice, and forbid evil, and speed on in good works. These are of the righteous.

And of whatever good ye do, ye shall not be denied the meed. G.o.d knoweth those who fear Him.

But as for the infidels, their wealth, and their children shall avail them nothing against G.o.d. They shall be the inmates of the fire, to abide therein eternally.

The alms which they bestow in this present life, are like a freezing wind, which falleth upon and destroyeth the cornfields of a people who have been to themselves unjust. G.o.d doeth them no injustice, but to themselves are they unjust.

O ye who have believed! form not intimacies among others than yourselves.

They will not fail to corrupt you. They long for your ruin. Hatred hath already shewn itself out of their mouths, but more grievous is what their b.r.e.a.s.t.s conceal. The tokens thereof we have already made plain to you, if ye will comprehend.

See now! ye love them, but they love not you. Ye believe the entire Book. And when they meet you, they say, "We believe;" but when they are apart, they bite their fingers' ends at you, out of wrath. SAY: "Die in your wrath!" G.o.d truly knoweth the very recesses of your b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

If good befalleth you it grieveth them, and when ill lighteth on you, they rejoice in it. But if ye be steadfast and fear G.o.d, their craft shall in no way harm you. For G.o.d is round about their doings.

And remember when thou didst leave thy household at early morn, that thou mightest prepare the faithful a camp for the war;37-G.o.d heard, knew it-

When two troops of you became full of anxious thoughts, and lost heart, and when G.o.d became the protector of both! In G.o.d, then, let the faithful trust.

G.o.d had already succoured you at Bedr, when ye were the weaker! Fear G.o.d, then, that ye may be thankful.

Then thou didst say to the faithful, "Is it not enough for you that your Lord aideth you with three thousand angels sent down from on high?"

Aye: but ye if be steadfast and fear G.o.d, and the foe come upon you in hot haste, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels in their cognisances!38

This, as pure good tidings for you, did G.o.d appoint, that your hearts might be a.s.sured-for only from G.o.d, the Mighty, the Wise, cometh the Victory-and that He might cut off the uttermost part of those who believed not, or cast them down so that they should be overthrown, defeated without resource.

It is none of thy concern whether He be turned unto them in kindness or chastise them: for verily they are wrongful doers.

Whatever is in the Heavens and the Earth is G.o.d's! He forgiveth whom He will, and whom He will, chastiseth: for G.o.d is Forgiving, Merciful.

O ye who believe! devour not usury, doubling it again and again! But fear G.o.d, that ye may prosper.

And fear the fire which is prepared for them that believe not; and obey G.o.d and the apostle, that ye may find mercy:

And vie in haste for pardon from your Lord, and a Paradise, vast as the Heavens and the Earth, prepared for the G.o.d-fearing.

Who give alms, alike in prosperity and in success, and who master their anger, and forgive others! G.o.d loveth the doers of good.

They who, after they have done a base deed or committed a wrong against their own selves, remember G.o.d and implore forgiveness of their sins-and who will forgive sins but G.o.d only?-and persevere not in what they have wittingly done amiss.

As for these! Pardon from their Lord shall be their recompense, and gardens 'neath which the rivers flow; for ever shall they abide therein: And goodly the reward of those who labour!

Already, before your time, have examples been made! Traverse the earth, then, and see what hath been the end of those who treat prophets as liars.

This Koran is a manifest to man, and a guidance, and a warning to the G.o.d- fearing!

And be not fainthearted, and be not sorrowful: For ye shall gain the upper hand if ye be believers.39

If a wound hath befallen you, a wound like it hath already befallen others: we alternate these days of successes and reverses among men, that G.o.d may know those who have believed, and that He may take martyrs from among you,- but G.o.d loveth not the wrongful doers-

And that G.o.d may test those who believe, and destroy the infidels.

Thought ye that ye should enter Paradise ere G.o.d had taken knowledge of those among you who did valiantly, and of those who steadfastly endure?