in the number of them that have obeyed GGDS Commandments they shall quarrel among them and shall say it is you that have seduced us from the right way through your oaths ye swore that ye followed the law of God and observed his Commandments they shall answer on the contraay we have no power over you you your selves were in manifest error the word of God shall be accomplished against us and we shall for company suffer the torments of hell if we seduced you we were likewise seduced and we shall this day be your compaions in punishment That day shall the wicked be in this manner afflicted they become insolent on earth when it is told them there is but one God and say shall we abandon our gods for a foolish lying Poet on the contrary he teacheth you the truth as did the Prophets that were before him ye shall be chastised and intreated according to your demerits Such as shall obey Gods Commandments shall have a place of safety wherein to rest with all sorts of fruits in pleasant gardens sitting orderly on delicious beds with glasses full of drink pleasing to the taste which shall not make them drunk Their wives white as fresh eggs shall not cast an eye upon any but upon them they shall talk together and one among them shall say I had on earth a companion who asked me if I beleived in the Resurrection and if after being reduced to earth bones and dust we shall rise again come with me let us go see what he doth he shall see him in the boâ—tom of hell shall say unto him by God it wanted little but that thou hadst seduced me without the grace of God I had bin damned as thou art we are not in the number of the dead we shall not suffer any paine on the contrary we are in exceeding great happiness thus are the righteous rewarded who are the more happy they who are in our felicity or such as are neer to Zacon the tree of hell This tree commeth out of the bottom of hell it riseth high and the branches themselves resemble the heads of devils the damned shall eat of the fruit thereof they shall drink boyling water and hell shall be the place of their habitation there Fathers were Infidels they followed their footsteps and the way of them that were seduced before them we sent unto them Preachers whom they refused to hear but consider what is the end of the righteous and that of the wicked We saved Noâ—h and gave grace to such as obeyed him we delivered him with his family from a great danger and perpetuated his progeny he shall be praised of all them that shall come after him because we gave him our blessing thus do I recompense the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments we saved him and them that followed him and drowned the infidels Remember Abraham God gave him an heart free from impiety and malice he said to his father his People wherefore worship ye false gods instead of the true God think ye to escape the punishment of your crimes Then he had a vision in heaven and said I am sick of your Idolatry they departed from him with purpose to be converted and empty the Temples of Idols of their treasures he said to the Idols wherefore eat ye not the sacrifices that are before you wherefore speak ye not and gave them a great blow with his right hand the people came together with wrath because he had stricken their gods he said unto them will ye worship the works of your hands know ye not that it is God that created you then they said among them let us build a great pile and put fire to it and cast Abraham into the fire they conspired against him but we rendred them ashamed and confounded Abraham said unto them I go towards my Lord he shall guide me into the way of salvation Lord give me a son that may be in the number of the righteous we declared to him that he should have a son exceeding wise when he arrived to years of discretion he said unto him my Sonne I dreamed this night that I must sacrifice thee what wilt thou that I doe he replyed my father do what is commanded you ye shall find me full of patience when his father laid him on the ground and put the knife nigh unto his throat we said uâ—to him O Abraham it is enough thou hast satisfyed thy dream thus do I entreat the righteous thus were we wont to prove them We redeemed hiâ— son with a fair Ram he shal be praised of posterity thoâ—â— that shall come after him shall bless his memory Thâ— do I reward the righteous he was in the number of theâ— that obey my Commandments We declared to him that he should have a son called Isaac from whom should issue many believers and unbeleivers Certainly we gave our grace to Moses and Aaron we delivered them with their followers from an evident peril we protected them they were in the number of the victorious we gave them the book full of light and conducted them into the right way they shall be praised in ages to come and posterity shall bless their memory Thus do I recompence the righteous they were in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Elias is in the number of my Prophets and Apostles he said unto the people wherefore fear ye not God wherefore worship ye the Idol Balan and forsake the Creator of the world God is your Lord and the Lord of your predecessors they traduced him and were condemned to the fire of hell except such among them as obeyed my Commandments We left his memory happy to posterity thus I reward the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Lot was in the number of my Prophets and Apostles Remember thou how we delivered him and his family from evident perill except his wife who remained among them that were chastised having saved him we destroyed the wicked they saw in the moâ—ning the foot steps of the ruine that befell them the night before wil ye not understand this mirale Jonas was in the number of the Prophets Remember thou that he fled in a ship was the cause of evill to the Saylors he was swallowed of a Whale â—ad he not repented of his fault he should have continued in the belly of that fish until the day of Iudgment we cast him on the shore extreamly feeble we covered him with leaves of Filbert and sent him to preach to more then an 100000 persons that we reconverted whose decease ferred untill the time appointed The Infidells have demanded if thy Lord hath daughters as they have sons did we create the Angels male and female in their presence They lie when they say that God hath a son hath he desired to have daughters rather than sons how can you thus blaspheme Consider ye not that he is God
continuance doe not unbelievers tremble when they consider how many men upon Earth we have destroyed in past Ages Their misery shall serve for example to them that are wise Had not thy Lord said that he will deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the time appointed he had already destroyed them Be patient and endure their discourse praise thy Lord before the Sunne arise before it setteth an hour before night and at the end of day thou shalt doe a thing acceptable to him The life of the world is sweet to tempt you but the riches of thy Lord are better and eternall Command the people to make their prayers at the time appointed and be not impatient towards them I require no riches of thee I will enrich thee and in the end Paradise shall be for the righteous The unbelievers have said if Mahomet sheweth not some racle from God and knoweth not the exposition of the books of our predecessors we will not believe in him We before his comming destroyed many wicked persons who said Lord hadst thou sent us a Prophet we had observed thy Commandements before we became infamous and laden with ignominie Say unto them every one expecteth his end expect ye and ye shall one day know them that follow the right way and have not erred CHAP. XXI The Chapter of the Prophets containing an hundred and twelve Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull The day approacheth wherein the people shall render an accompt of their actions but they consider it not and depart from the Commandements of God if they heare them they laugh they understand them not and keep secret their evill intention Is not Mahomet a man like to you Will ye say that he is a Magician you see the contrary God heareth whatsoever is spoken both in Heaven and Earth and knoweth all things They say certainly Mahomet hath dreamed what he speaketh he hath invented it and is a Poet we will not believe him unless he shew some miracle as did the Prophets that were before him We have layed waste many Cities because their inhabitants were incredulous we sent before thee but men who were inspired of us Enquire of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the written Law if ye know it not they were men that did eat and drink and were mortalâ— we effected what we promised to them we preserved them with such as believed and destroyed the incredulous We have sent you a Book to instruct you will ye understand it How many Infidel Cities have wee made desolate How many new people have we established in their place When they felt our punishment they fled fly not and return to what hath delighted you return into your houses peradventure ye will yet cover the riches of the Earth They said misery is upon us we are too blame Thus did they talke untill they were destroyed We have not created Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is between them to sport with had it been our will that they should have scoffed on Earth they should scoffe likewise in Heaven On the contrary I oppose the truth to falsehood to confound it and in effect it doth confound it Misery shall be upon you because of your blasphemies whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods the Angels are not ashamed to worship him they prayse him day and night and exalt his glory without blasphemie The Infidels worship Gods made of Earth Have they power to create any thing Were there in Heaven and on Earth another God they would not accord praised be God Lord of the Universe what the Infidels relate is untrue Hee asketh no counsell when he will doe any thing as do men will they worship any other God but him Say unto them produce your arguments behold what we have to speak unto you behold our reasons and those of our predecessors Certainly the greatest part of them are ignorant of the truth and goe astray We inspired into all the Prophets which we sent that there was but one God that ought to be worshipped They said believe ye that the Angels are the sonnes of God Praysed be God on the contrary they are his creatures he loveth them they speak not but after him and obey what he commandeth them he knoweth all their actions past and future they pray for no man but through his permission and feare to displease him Who among them will say I am God instead of God he shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell thus doe I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth were shut up We opened them and gave life to every thing through the raine which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity We created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein wayes large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling neverthelesse they despise our Commandement It is the Lord who created day and night the Moone and the Sunne all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no person to dwell for over on Earth all men shall taste of death I will prove you with good and evill and ye shall appeare before me to give accompt of your actions The Infidels scoffe at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our Gods They obey not the Commandements of God he created man of dust and shall shew you the effects of his omnipotency be not impatient to see the punishment of the wicked who say when shall be the day of judgement did they know it they would remove the fire from their backs and visages that day shall surprize them it shall astonish them when they thinke least of it they cannot retard it and shall be deprived of protection Certainly they scorned the Prophets that were sent before thee but they were punished after their demerits Say unto them who but the mercifull God preserveth you day and night neverthelesse yee reject his Commandements Have they any other God but me that is able to save them Their Gods cannot defend themselves I will not protect them yet will I enrich them as I enriched their fathers and will prolong their life to punish them on Earth Know they not that their estates diminish on all sides through thy Conquests Is it so that they are victorious Say unto them I preach to you what God hath inspired into me but the deafe heare not when they are exhorted When they are a little touched with the chastisements of God they say oh misery We are too blame and are unjust I will weigh their workes at the day of Judgement that I may doe injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of mustard-seed and will most exactly accompt We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evill and commanded them to preach our Commandements to them that had our feare before their eyes
THE ALCORAN OF MAHOMET Translated out of Arabique into French BY THE Sieur Du Ryer Lord of Malezair and Resident for the King of France at ALEXANDRIA And newly Englished for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities LONDON Printed Anno Dom. 1649. THE TRANSLATOR TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THere being so many Sects and Heresies banded together against the Truth finding that of Mahomet wanting to the Muster I thought good to bring it to their Colours that so viewing thine enemies in their full body thou mayst the better prepare to encounter and I hope overcome them It may hapily startle thee to find him so to speak English as if he had made some Conquest on the Nation but thou wilt soon reject that feare if thou consider that this his Alcoran the Ground-work of the Turkish Religion hath been already translated into almost all Languages in Christendome at least the most generall as the Latin Italian French c. yet never gained any Proselyte where the Sword its most forcible and strongest argument hath not prevailed And indeed the greatest Doctors of their Religion have never alledged any thing for the truth thereof but the successe of their wars and greatnesse of their Empire then which nothing is more fallacious for that which both in former and these latter Ages hath been common to the bad with the good cannot be a certain evidence of the justice of a Cause or the truth of Religion Thou shalt find it of so rude and incongruous â— composure so faâ—ced with contradictions obscene speeches and ridiculous fables that some modest and more rationall Mahometans have thus excused it that their Prophet wrote an hundred and twenty thousand sayings whereof three thousand only are good the residue as the impossibility of the Moons falling into his sleeve the Conversion and Salvation of the Devils and the like are false and ridiculous Yet is the whole esteemed so sacred that upon the Cover thereof is inscribed Let none touch it but he who is clean Nor are the vulgar permitted to read it but live and die in an implicite faith of what their Priests deliver which indeed as faith the learned Grotius is a manifest argument of its iniquity Grotius de ver Reâ— Christ. For that merchandise may justly be suspected which will not be sold unlesse unseen and though all men are not alike perspicacious in the knowledge and discerâ—nig of things some by arrogancy and vain coâ—ceit of themselves others by affection Some by custome being drawn into error yet should we belive that the way to eternall life cannot not be understood by them who without any respect of profit or preferment seek it submitting themselves withall they have to God imploring his assistance we should sin against his infinite goodnesse Therefore Christian Reader though some conscious of their own instability in Religion and of theirs too like Turks in this whose prosperity and opinions they follow were unwilling this should see the Presse yet am I confident if thou hast been so true a votary to orthodox Religion as to keep thy self untainted of their follies this shall not hurt thee And as for those of that Batch having once abandoned the Sun of the Gospel I believe they will wander as far into utter darkenesse by following strange lights as by this Ignis Fatuus of the Alcoran Such as it is I present â—o thee having taken the pains only to translate it â—ut of French not doubting though it hath been a â—oyson that hath infected a very great but most unsound part of the universe it may prove an Antidote to confirme in thee the health of Christianity THE FRENCH EPISTLE TO THE READER THe Book is a long conference of God the Angels and Mahomet which that false Prophet very grosly invented sometimes he introduceth God who speaketh to him and teacheth him his Law then an Angell anon the Prophets and frequently maketh God to speak in the plurall in a stile that is not ordinary He declaimeth against such as worship Idols particularly against the Inhabitants of the City of Mecca and against the * The Coreis were a powerfull family in Arabia in Mahomets time Coreis who were enemies to his designe He intituled this book the Alcoran as one would say the Collection oâ— Precepts He likewise termed it El Forcan that is that distinguisheth good from evill He divided iâ— into many Chapters to which he gave what inscription he thought good he most commonly intituleth them with words that are in their first line without regard to the matter they treat of anâ— speaketh little of their Inscription He divided in to many signs or Verses that contain his ordinances and fables without observation either of thâ— consequence or connexion of the discourse whicâ— is the cause that thou shalt find in this Book a multitude of incongruous pieces and divers repetitions of the same things It hath been expounded by many Mahometan Doctors their exposition being as ridiculous as the Text They affirme the originall of the Alcoran to be written upon a Table kept in Heaven that the Angel Gabriel brought this Copy to Mahomet who could neither write nor read and stile him Prophet or Apostle in honor Thou shalt find at beginning of some Chapters letters of the Arabique Alphabet which some men will not expound They feare to utter things that may displease their false Prophet Most of their Doctors affirm those Letters to be the first letters of the Names of God Thou shalt find the exposition in this version Thou wilt wonder that such absurdities have infected the best part of the world and wilt a vouch that the knowledge of what is contained in this Book will render that Law contemptible A Summary of the Religion of the TURKS THe Turks believe one sole God in one sole Person Creator of heaven and earth the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked who hath created Paradise for the recompense of the righteous and Hell for the last punishment of crimes They believe that Mahomet was a very great Prophet whom God sent into the world to teach men the way of salvation and call themselves Musulmaâ—s that is to say recommended to God or saved They believe the Decalogue of Moses and are obliged to observe it they celebrate Friday as the Christians Sunday that day they assemble in Temples at noon to pray They are obliged to pray five times a day viz. in the morning at noon at the evening when the Sun setteth and an hour within night They fast the month or moon which they call Ramazan during this month they neither drink nor eat all the day untill the Sun be set but in the night drink and eat according to their appetites flesh and fish except the flesh of swine and wine that is at all times forbidden them after this fast they have the feast of great Bairan as the Christians Easter after Lent They are great founders of
is with such as are patienâ—â— Say not that those that are slain for the defence of thâ— Law are dead contrariwise they are alive but you knâ—â— it not I will try you and afflict you through the losse â— your goods and disease of your persons Paradise shall â— for them that shall be patient and shall say in their afâ—â—ction We are given up unto God and shall returne befâ—â—â— him to be judged his Grace shall be upon them and thâ— shall not erre * Safa and Meâ—oa are mountains neer Mecca Safa and Moroa are tokens of his poweâ— He that shall goe on Pilgrimage to Mecca shall not doâ—â— misse to visit those two places he that obeyeth shall 〈◊〉 well God rewardeth them that doe good works and knâ—â—eth all things I will lay my curse upon such as concealeâ— Commandements they shall be accursed above whateâ— is in this world except them that shall be converted tâ— shall doe good works and bring to light what they conâ—â—â—led I will give them my Grace I am gracious and merciâ— The wicked that died in their impiety shall be eternâ—â— accursed of God of Angels and of all the World â—â— shall never be eased in their torments and shall be wâ—â—â—out end deprived of protection Your God is one â— God there is none other God but God gracious and â—â—â—cifull The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth difference of the day and the night the Ship that saiâ— on the Sea for the advantage of commerce the Rain that falleth from Heaven to give life to the Earth after its death the diversity of Winds and the Clouds that move between Heaven and Earth are signes of the unity of God to those that can understand it There be that adore Idols and love them The True-believers love but one sole God When thou shalt see the wicked know they shall one day see the punishment of other crimes All strength and vertue proceedeth from God most severe in his chastisements When that a part of them that had embraced the true Law separated themselves from the company of True believers and that any mischief befell them they could not reunite themselves Then they said in their affliction If we another time meet our companions we will separate our selves from them as they have separated themselves from us Thus shall God give them to understand their error See Kitab â—l tenoir with exceeding sorrow and they shall be eternally confined in the fire of Hell O ye people eat what is good and savory in the Earth and follow not the steps of the Divell he is your open enemy he will command you that which is evill and filthy and to speak of God what you know not When it was said to the Infidels obey the Commandements of God they said We will follow the steps of our Fathers we will observe what they observed surely their Fathers were unwise and misâ—led they are like to him that cryeth and understandeth nothing of what is spoken but the voyce they are deaf dumb blind and without judgement O ye that believe in God eat the good things that hee hath given you and give him thanks if it bee him that you worship Hee forbiddeth you to eate Carrion Blood Swines flesh and whatever is not killed in pronouncing the name of his Divine Majesty except it bee in extreame necessity and in this case it shall not bee reputed disobedience nor sin God is benigne and mercifull what they eata that conceale the Word of God for any profit or advantage shall be nothing but matter of fire in their bowels God shall not speak to them at the day of judgement but with fury he will not purifie them and they shall suffer rigorous torments They that have purchased error foâ— the right way and punishment for pardon shall burn â—â— the fire of Hell for that God hath sent the most true Booâ— that containeth his Commandements they that impugnâ— what is contained in that Book are in an exceeding greaâ— error far from the truth It is not justification to turn the face making your prayers towards the East or West hâ— shall be justified that shall believe in God the day oâ— judgement the Angels the Scriptures and the Prophets and that in charity shall impart some part of his goods teâ— his parents to orphans to the poore to pilgrims and tâ— slaves Such as believe in God and have his feare beforâ— their eyes persevere in their prayers pay Tithes they satisfie their promises and are patient in their adversities Oâ— ye that believe the Talio is coâ—manded you in murther the free for the free the slave for the slave the woman foâ— the woman But if any one pardon the blood of his brother he shall prosecute the malefactor according to whaâ— he shall see â—ost advantagious through damages and interests It is a facility whâ—ch God hath given you through his mercy He that shall doe injury to the malefactor having received satisfaction of him shall suffer grievous torments at the day of judgement you shall find life in the Talio The Talio is a pain equall to the offence O you that are wâ—se it may be you will feare God He commandeth you to make your Testament when you approach unto death give legacies of your substance to youâ— Father and Mother your neer Kâ—nâ—ed and bestow Alms on the poore If any man alter your Testament the sin shall be upon him and upon all them that shall alter it God understandeth and knoweth all things If any one feâ—reth that there is an error in the Testament that opposeth Reason he shall doe well to reconcile the parties wâ—th affection God is gracious and bountifull O ye that belâ—eve Fasting is commanded you as it was them that were before you you shall feare God and Fast particularly a certaine number of days but if any one among you is sick or in travell at the time of Fasting he shall count the days that he fasted not and shall fulfill them at another time Such as are not of strength to Fast shall â—â—tisfie for Fasting through Alms he that shall obey shall doe well If you Fast you shall doe well Fast the month of * Ramazan is their Faster which continueth 30 daies during which the Fast. Ramazan in which the Alcoran descended from Heaven to guide men into the right way it containeth preâ—epts of Divine Right and distinguish good from evill all â—hose that live to this month ought to Fast. He that is â—ick or in a voyage shall accomplish the days that he faâ—ted not another time at his conveniency God willeth â—hat his Law should be light unto you and not a burthen â—is will is that you observe the dayes of fasting and that â—ou returne him thanks for that he hath guided you in the â—ight way perhaps you will give him thanks I will be near â—nto my servants when they shall enquire of thee concerning the mysteries of my Law I will heare
not surprise you they are your declared Enemies when thou shalt be neare them and shalt appoint the true believers to make their prayers keep about thee a partie of them for a guard while the residue make their prayers having finished their Orisons they shall doe as the first take armes and keep a guard during the time their companions shall make their prayers the Infidels desire that you quit your armes to surprize you you shall not doe amisse to quit them if raine trouble you or you be sick but continue alwayes upon your guard God hath prepared for Infidels ignominious torments Having finished your prayers Remember God standing sitting or lying downe and pray when you shall be in a place of safety prayer is commanded the faithfull in a prefixed and appointed time Bee not negligent to pursue the Infidels if you suffer they shall suffer 〈◊〉 you but you hope for that which they must not hope for God knoweth all their actions hee is most prudent 〈◊〉 all his works We have sent to thee the most true Book the end thou mayst iudge the differences that are amoâ—â— the people as thy Lord hath instructed thee Contend 〈◊〉 with Traitors and aske pardon of God he is gracious aâ—â— mercifull Dispute not with those that betray their soulâ— God loveth not treacherous sinners they conceale theâ—selves from the world he is with them when they hide their hearts such things as are displeasing to him 〈◊〉 knoweth all their actions O yee you dispute for the in this world who shall dispute for them against God 〈◊〉 the day of Iudgement who shall that day be their prâ—tector He that shall implore pardon of God have offended him shall finde him gracious and merciful who doth evill shall find evill God is Omniscient aâ—â— most wise Gelaldin saith a great and little sin He that committeth a venial or a mortal sin aâ—â— would excuse himself committeth evidently a mortall sin Many of them had endeavoured to seduce thee hadst thâ—â— not been directed by the grace and mercy of God Bâ—â— they seduce only their own souls and shall do thee 〈◊〉 harme God hath sent to thee the Book that containeâ— his Commandements he hath taught thee what thou diâ— not understand and his grace is eminently upon thee there is no good in the multiplicity of their secrets or diâ—course except in such as command alms honesty aâ—â— peace among the people with desire to please God theâ— shall recive from his divine Maiesty a great reward 〈◊〉 that shall contradict the Prophet having had knowledâ—â— of the right way and shall follow other paths then that 〈◊〉 the true believers shall relapse into his impiety I wiâ—â— cause him to burn in the fire of hell where is the habitatioâ— of the wicked God pardoneth not them that say he haâ— companions except this he pardons all things as he seeâ— good he that affirmeth that God hath a companioâ— greatly erreth and is estranged from the truth If they invoke other then God they invoke Idols the devill obstinate and cursed of God when he said to him thou wiâ—â— not give me power over them that worship thee but I will seduce them from the right way I will prolong their wicked life to retard their conversion I will cause them to cut off the * The ancient Arabians cut off the ear of any beast and gave him liberty through their country for expiation of their sins ears of beasts they shall disobey thy commendements and they shall envie thy creatures He that demandeth succours of the devill is in manifest perdition he will promise to men long life and retard their repentance but he promiseth them but a vain glory hell is the dwelling place of such men out of which they shall find no issue Such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many rivers God is most true in what he promiseth who is more then God in his words Your lies and the lies of them that know the written Law do him no harm See Gelaldin be that shall do ill shall be punished and shall find no protector he that shall do well See Kitab el tenoir and shall believe in the Law of God shall enter into Paradise and shall have no iniustice done to him what better law is there then to resigne thy self to God and to be an honest man Follow the Law of Abraham God chose Abraham to love him whatsoever is in heaven and in earth belongeth to his divine Maiesty he knoweth all things They will question thee concerning women say to them God teacheth you in that what you were taught in the Scripture touching Orphans and women give to them what is appointed by the Law and desire not to espouse them only to possess their wealth God teacheth you likewise to give to Orphans what appertaineth to them and not to iniure them he will understand your good actions If a woman fear to be illentreated by her husband and that he will divorce her they shall do well mutually to accord for peace is exceeding good If you be too obstinate and cannot agree together if you do good to your wives in divorcing them and feare to wrong them God will take notice of your actions If you believe you cannot keep equality and iustice among your wives although you apply your selves to it Incline not altogether to your own appetites and leave not your wife as a thing left in toleration If you live in a good accord and fear to injure them God will be mercifull to you If they separate themselves conformably to the precepts of the Law God will enrich them with his protection he is bountifull and wise and whatever is in Heaven and Earth obeyeth him We have recommended to you the fear of God as we have heretofore to them that had knowledge of the written Law If you be impious know that whatever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods he hath no need of his creatures must be exalted it sufficeth thee he is thy protector If he will he can cause you to perish and put other creatures in your place for he is Omnipotent He that loveth the good things of the Earth shall find in God all the wealth of this world and of the other he understandeth and seeth all things Oh you that believe be true in your testimonies notwithstanding it be against your selves against your Father and Mother and against your kindred and consider the rich no more then the poore God is the protector of the one and the other follow not your appetites to favour the rich more then the poore pervert not the Truth be not scâ—â—pulous to testifie what you know God knoweth all your actions Oh ye that believe in God! and his Prophet and the Book that was sent before him know he that blasphemeth against his divine Majestie against his Angels the Scripture the Prophets and life eternall greatly erreth and departeth
eternally in hell fire Who is more unjust then he that blasphemeth against God and his Commandements Such shall be punished conformably to the Scripture When the Angels of death shall cause them to die they shall say Where be the Idols that you adored instead of God they shall answer that those false gods have forsaken them and shall acknowledge their Idolatry but God shall say to them enter into hell with the men and devils that are condemned they shall execrate the Secâ—s that preceded them and being assembled they shall say Lord judge them they seduced us augment their miseries in hell God shall say We will adde to their and your pains but you understand it not They shall say among themselves we are not the cause that you were unbelievers you were not such to please us suffer with us the torments that you have merited I will not open the gate of heaven to such as disobey my Commandements untill a Camell pass through the eye of a needle so will I chastise sinners hell shall be their bed fire shall be their covering and such as shall have done good works according to their power shall dwell eternally in Paradise I will remove deceit far from their heart rivers shall flow in their fields with delights and they shall say praysed be God who hath brought us hither otherwise we had bin in the number of the erronious Certainly the Prophets Gods Messengers taught us the truth in saying the observance of the Commandements of his divine Majesty should render us heirs of Paradise Such as shall be saved shall tell the damned that they have found the grace foretold them of God and we will demand of them if they have not met with the punishment that his divine Majesty did denounce against them they shall say aloud Yes and that the curse of God is upon the unjust that misled men from his Law and they shall be eternally in the number of the miserable * The Mahometan Doctors believe that such as shall have doâ—e as much good as evil and whose ballance shall not decline neither on the scale of good works or of bad shall dwell in the place called Aaraf with them that have done neither good nor evill and this place is between Hell and Paradise Between the blessed and the damned there is a separation and a place called Aaraf or prisons wherin are many persons who know the blessed and the damned by their countenances they call to the blessed and salute them yet they go not into Paradise notwithstanding their great desire to enter When they turn their eyes towards the damned Lord say they involve us not in the number of the unjust Such as are in that place call to the damned they know them by their visages and say to what served your riches and that ye arose against the Faith and Commandements of God Behold the faithfull whom ye contemned you swore they should be deprived of mercy God hath spoken to them and hath said enter into Paradise and fear not you shall for ever be exempt from affliction the damned shall cry unto the blessed Give us of the water which you drink and the meats that you eat they shall answer The drink and bread of Paradise is prohibited to Infidels who sported with their faith that were proud of the wealth of the earth and that scoffed at the Commandements of God he hath forgotten them because they forgot the comming of the day of Judgement and blasphemed against his precepts We are come to the Inhabitants of Mecca to instruct them in the Alcoran we teach it unto men to give them knowledge of the right way and to acquire the mercy of God if they believe in that Book Shall they expect to believe untill they know its explication It s explication shall appear at the day of Judgement that day such as shall have lived without faith shall say Certainly the Prophets delivered the Truth shall we partake of their prayers will they intercede for us untill we return to the world to do better then we have done and to obey Gods Commandements But they shall be damned because of their blasphemies God is your Lord he created the heaven and the earth in six dayes and sitteth on his Throne he causeth the night incontinently to succeed the day the Sun the Moone and the Stars move at his command and all the world obeyeth him praised be God Lord of the Universe pray to God privately and publikely he abhorreth the unjust pollute not the earth after the ordure is removed pray to God to avoid his chastisements and obtain his mercy which is for the righteous It is God that sendeth the windes to dissipate the rain when they carry the clouds we drive them charged with water into places drie dead and ruined and cause the rain to fall there that they may produce herbs and fruits so will we cause the dead to arise again perhaps men will remember the good land bringeth forth good fruits through the permission of its Lord and the bad land produceth only darneill I teach my Commandements to such as are not ingratefull Certainly we sent Noah to instruct men he said O ye people worship one God alone if you adore other then him you shall be punished at the day of Judgement their Rulers answered O Noah thou art in a great error He replyed I erre not I am a messenger sent from God to preach his Will I give you most wholsome advise God hath taught me what you know not Is it strange to you that he hath sent you his Commandement by the tongue of a man like your selves to declare to you the torments of Hell Fear God he will pardon your sinnes But they belyed Noah we saved him in the Arke with his retinue and drowned those that contemned our Law they were altogether blinde We sent Hod to his brother Aad and to his retinue he said Oh ye people worship one God alone whom will ye adore or whom feare but God The Teachers answered thou art in an extream ignorance we believe thee to bâ— in the number of lyars he replyed I am not a lyar I am a messenger sent from God to preach his Commandements I give good and salutary advice wonder not that God teacheth you his precepts by the tongue of a man like you who declareth to you his pleasure Remember that he left you on Earth after Noah that he encreased you in number force and power Call to minde his grace you shall be happy They answered are we come to this to worship one God alone and to relinquish what our fathers adored Shew us the truth whereof thou dost preach if thou art true he said the wrath and indignation of God shall fall upon you will you dispute with us of the names that you and your fathers imposed on your Idols God did not enjoyne to worship them neither have you reason to doe it expect your punishment I will
then their own and their slaves such as covet other transgresse the bounds of reason they that faithfully preserve what hath been intrusted to them they that effect what they have promised and that make their prayers at the time appointed shall be heirs of Paradise where they shall dwell eternally We formed man of the dust of the earth with mire blood congealed with a little flesh and bones which we invested with skin we another time created him when we breathed into him the soul in the body and blessed him as one of our fairest ornaments O men ye shall all dye and shall rise again at the day of judgment we created above you seven heavens See Gelaldin and have care of the conservation of al people that are beneath we send water from heaven to satisfy your necessities we make it to fall upon the earth and have power to cause to passe away and deprive you of it We have created made gardens to bring forth Date trees Grapes many other fruits by which ye live we created trees in the mountain of Sinai that produce oyl and * Or dying Colours tincture ye receive great advantage by beasts they sustain you with milk and afford you many other proffits ye mount them and ships also carry you whither ye desire to go We sent Noah who spake to the people and said worship one God alone what other God wil ye implore but him Will ye not fear to worship another The chief among the people that were idolaters said to their adherents this man is a man like your selvs he would appear and be esteemed more then you if God would be adored alone as he saith he would cause an angel to descend that should bring his Commandments we have not heard spoken to our Predecessors what he saith he is a man possessed of the Devil tarry and ye shal see what will become of him Then Noah said Lord protect me against them and defend me from their blasphemies we commanded him to build an Ark when our commandment was given to destroy the wicked and when the water of his caldron boyled we commanded him to enter into the Ark with two beasts of every kinde and species all men we destroyed except them of whom we have before spoken we said unto him speak not to me for Infidels they shall be drowned when thou shalt have taken order for every thing that must enter into the Ark with thee Say praise be to God who hath delivered us from the malice of the wicked Lord give us to descend in a blessed place thou art the best Pilot in the world It was a sign of my omnipotency to prove the people of Noah we created after them another people to whom we sent an Apostle to instruct them to worship one God and he said what God will ye adore other then God will ye not feare his wrath Their Doctors that were impious who denyed the Resurrection of the flesh and on whom we had conferred the wealth of the Earth said he is a man he eateth and and drinketh like you if ye obey not a man like to your selves â—hall ye be destroyed doth he promise you to return into the world after having been bones and dust O abuse O abuse ye are abused in what he promiseth he is a man like otherâ— he is a lyar we will not beleive him That apostle said Lord preserve me from their blasphemyes they shal repeat suddenly of their impiety then thunder surprised them and destroyed them as they deserved we made the land dry barren without fruit created other persons in theâ—â— place Man cannot die before his hour and none can retard it we sent our Apostles and our Prophets to instruct the peopl but they were slain one after another every Nation traduced the Prophet that we sent to them and we made them serve for examples to posterity and destroyed the wicked We sent Moses and his brother Aaron to Pharoah and his Doctors with our miracles and with most intelligible reasons they arose against the Faith they tormented the children of Israel and said shall we believe in a man like to our selves of them that obey us They slandred both of them and were in the number of the damned We gave to Moses the Book of the Law peradventure it wil guide the children of Israel into the right way we created Jesus Mary his mother they are signs of our Unity we established them in an eminent place where they stayed neere a fountaine O Apostles and Prophets eat of the frurts of the earth do good I know whatsoever ye do your Law is one law I alone am your Lord take heed to your selvs follow not the law of the Infidels every one liketh what he doth depart froÌ„ the wicked leave them in their errors an accompt shal be required of theÌ„ of the riches of the children that we have given them but they know it not Such as fear the punishment of their Lord that obey his Commandements profes his unity give Alms of the substance that he hath given them and feare in their hearts that they are not acceptable to them shall appear in his presence such as shall obey him shall enjoy his grace he requireth not of any man what he is unable to performe We have a booke that declareth the truth no injustice shall be done to him that shall doe what he is able certainly the Infidels are in ignorance of the Alcoran they act what is quite contrary to that which is commanded true believers but we have punished the chief among them in their prosperity Be not this day resolute ye shall not be protected of us Our Commandments are taught you neverthelesse ye are returned upon your steps and are risen against the Faith and in discoursing by night withdrew your selvs from the righteous Consider they not the words of the Alcoran â—oth it contain any thing that hath not bin ordained to their predecessors know they not the Prophet that God hath sent to them Wherefore will they not acknowledg him Will they say that he is possessed of the devil On the contrary he reacheth them the truth neverthelesse the greatest part of them detest him if their will had place heaven and earth whatsoever is betwixt them should be confounded we have instructed them in the Law which they ought to observe but they have renounced it Dost thou require of them any recompence for thy instructions Thy Lord shall reward thee there is none that is of power to recompence thee better then He. Call them to the right way such as shall not believe the Resurrection shall err If we pardon and deliver them from affliction they will still continue in their errors to their confusion we heretofore chastised them neverthelesse they humble not themselves neither implored their Lord and when we opened upon them the gate of our Judgements they became desperate God hath
that shall never perish God shall recompense and augment his Graces upon them he is mercifull towards the good and accepteth the acknowledgment of his graces The Book that we have sent thee containeth the truth it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures GOD knoweth and seeth all things We have given the understanding of the Alcoraâ— to such as We have chosen among our creature there be some who have ill discharged what we taught them some have performed what was enjoyned them and others have taught it with affection and diligence through Gods permission This is a great grace they shall enter into the garden of Eden where they shall remain eternaly they shall be adorned with collars of gold enrichede with precious stones theâ— shall be cloathed with fine silk shall say praised be God who hath delivered us from affliction he is most merciful and accepteth the thanks of his creatures such as through his speciall grace shall enjoy the house of eternity shall be free from all pain and the Infidels shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell They shall not dye in those torments and their torture shall neve be asswaged thus shall the wicked be chastised they shall in vain implore succor of God and say Lord deliver us from these paines we will do better then we have done heretofore I will no more prolong your life on Earth I have sent you my prophets and Apostles They preached unto you my Commandments you would not hear them taste now the pains of Hell which ye have merited the wicked shall this day be deprived of protection Certainly God knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he knoweth all that is in the hearts of men He it is that hath made you to multiply on earth impiety shall rise against the impious it shall render them abominable before God and put them into the number of the damned Say unto them have ye well considered the Idols that ye have worshipped Tell me what have they created on Earth Were they Gods companions in the Creation of the Heavens Hath God sent to them a Book and reasons to authorize their impiety Certainly the wicked instruct one another only in pride and arrogancy God sustaineth the Heavens and the Earth he alone is able to sustain them he is gracious and merciful The wicked swore to fight for the encrease of the faith if there should come to them a Preacher to instruct them and when he came they augmented their wickednes became proud in the earth conspired against the True-deleivers their conspiracy fell upon themselves and they can expect none other things then what was ordained against their predecessors the law of God admitteth none alteration Consider they not what was the end of their Predecessors who were more wealthy powerfull then they Nothing is impossible to God he knoweth all things and 〈◊〉 omnipotent Should God punish the people when they â—â—nd him he should leave no living creature on the earth deferreth the chastisement of the wicked untill the time appointed when their time shall be come he will punish them according to their demerits he seeth all CHAP. XXXVI The Chapter intituled O Man containing foure score and eight verses written at Mecca Reader the Mahometans have entituled this Chapter with two letters of the Arabique Alphabet i s. The Bedaoi saith that i signifieth ia that is to say ô particulâ— vocativa and s is an abreviation that signifieth insan i e Man and that the Angel speaking to Mahomet began this Chapter in this manner O man I swear by the Alcoran c. See Tefsir Kitab el tenoir IN the name of God gracious and mercifull Oh man I swear by the Alcoran ful of Doctrine that thou art a prophet sent to teach the People the right way This book was sent by the Omnipotent and mercifull that thou mayst instruct men in that which was not taught their predecessors Certainly what was said is true viz. That the greatest part of them is incredulous we will put a chain upon their neck and bind their hands to the very chin they shall lift up the head to complain but we will place before behind them great obstacle we will cover their sight with darknes they shall not see a jot Misery is upon them whether thou dost reprove or not reprove them they shall not be converted If thou preachest to them that belive in the Alcoran and to such as beleive in what they have seen proclaim to them a generall pardon of their sinnes and a very great reward I make the dead to arise again and write exactly in a book the good the evil that men commiâ— Relate to them thâ— Parable of those of the City whither thy Lord senâ— his Prophets we sent into them two Prophets they slandered both of them we succored them by a third they all three said to the Inhabitants of this City we are sent from God to preach to you his Commandments They answered ye are but men like us God hath not sent us a sign to make you known ye are lyars They said certainly God knoweth that he sent us to you we are obliged only to preach to you his Commandments They answered would ye make us Infidels like your selves If ye end not this discourse we will stone you and make you to suffer heavy torments They said be your evill with you who hath heretofore so ill instructed you Certainly you are wickâ—d Then a man came running from the utmost part of the City who said unto them oh people obey the Apostles of God obey them that require no reward from you for the pains which they take in teaching you and who are in the right way Wherefore shall not I worship him that created me and before whom ye all shall be assembled to be judged Will ye worship another beside him If it be his will to chastise me your Idols cannot save me I should be extremely erroneous should I believe in your God hear and understnnd what I say unto you Neverthelesse they slâ—w hâ—m and said unto him go enter into Paradice He said in dying would to God this people knew the graces that his divine Majesty hath conferred on me he placed me in the number of the blessed After his death we did not send Angels from Heaven to chastise the wicked I will send them but once to destroy them they shall one day be dumb for shame that they have not followed the True believers and of being mocked by them that I sent to preach unto them my Commandments Will they not consider how much people we have destroyed in times past who are not returned and that shall be one day assembled before me to be judged The Earth drie dead and barren as a sign of my omnipotency for the wicked we made it revive and became green again and to bring forth fruits with whâ—ch they were satiate we there created Gardens Date-trees and Vines we cauâ—ed Fountains to
he will have to die in the heavens and earth the second time all the world shall rise again and attend his commandments the earth shall be full of the light of the Lord thereof he shall bring his book where in shal be written what the Prophets Martyrs have taught he shal judg the world with equity shall not do injustice to any every one shal be rewarded chastised for his works he knoweth all that they have don he shal send the Infidels into the fire of hel in troops â—hen they shal be arrived at the gate it shal open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold Hell which ye have merited were there not Prophets and Apostles to teach you the Commandments of God and to preach unto you on Earth the coming of this rigorous day They shall say yes but the word of God shall be accomplished against the wicked It shall be said unto them goe enter into Hell ye shall abide there eternally it is the habitation of the proud Such as shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be conducted in troups to the gate of Paradise the gate shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold what ye have gained the peace of God is with you ye have not been ignorant enter into Paradise ye shall dwel therein eternally They shall say praised be God for that we believed in his Law and because we are heirs of his grace we will goe into Paradise into what place shall seeme good to us God giveth his blessing to the righteous Thou shalt see the Angels about the throne of thy Lord who shall praise and exalt his glory they shall say God hath judged his creatures with equity praise is due to the Lord of the Vniverse CHAP. XL. The Chapter of the True-believer containing eighty five Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituleth this Chapter Of the Pitifull IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise This Book is sent by the omnipotent who knoweth all things who pardoneth sinnes and accepteth the conversion of his Creatures he is severe in his chastisements and indulgent to his people there is no God but he and all the world shall one day be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged No man disputeth against the precepts of the Alcoran but the wicked be not thou discontented if they live on earth with some felicity the people of Noahs time contemned his instructions their posterity did like them and every Nation hath conspired the death of them whom God sent to instruct them thy disputed to obscure the truth through their lies but they were punished and after what manner So is the word of God accomplished against the wicked they all shall be damned The Angells that are about the Throne of God and those that bear him praise and exalt his divine Majesty they beleive in his unity and beg pardon of him for the True-believers Lord Lord thy mercy extendeth through the whole world nothing is hid from thee either in Heaven or Earth pardon their sins that convert and embrace thy holy Law deliver them from the fire of Hell open to them the gate of the gardens of Eden which thou hast prepared for them their Fathers wives and children and them of their lineage that shal do good works thou art omnipotent and wise Depart from sin he that shall depart from it shall resent the effects of Gods mercy at the day of Iudgment and shall enjoy eternall felicity the Infidels shall be hated of God his hatred is far more dangerous then yours wil ye be Indels after being called to the observation of the Law of Salvation They said Lord wilt thou cause us to dye twice and shall we twice rise againe But they shall say at the the day of Judgment Lord we confesse we have offended thee we acknowledge our sinne in having renounced the belief of thine unity Shall we never go out of Hell to observe thy Law and follow the way of salvation No ye shal suffer in the fire of Hell because that ye have believd them that adored Idols and because ye have said that God hath companions equall to him All things obey one sole God omnipotent he it is that made you to see his Miracles and sendeth you the riches of Heaven and Earth none consider it but such as are converted Pray to God and observe his LAW although it be against the will of the wicked he elevateth his Creatures to what degree he listeth he hath created his Throne and sent his inspirations to whom he seeth good to preach the day of Judgement that day shall the people come out of their Monuments none shal be able to hide himselfe from his divine Majesty Who shall command that day It shall be God alone victorious that day shall he recompense every one after his works without injustice he is exact to make accompt If thou preach to the wicked the day of Judgement their heart will lift them up and they shall be full of affliction their prayers shall not be heard and none shall intereede for them God knoweth them that have eyes of treachery and seeth all that is in the hearts of men he judgeth of every thing with truth the Idols which they worship are without power God alone understandeth all things and is omnipotent Consider they not what was the end of their predecessors who were more powerfull and more wealthy then they God surprized them in their sinnes there was none of power to save them for that they despised the Prophets of his divine Majesty they contemned his Law and were impious but he severely chastised them he is omnipotent and most severe Wee sent Moses with miracles with reasons cleare and intelligible to Pharoah to Haman and Caron they said that Moses was A Sorcerer and a Lyar and when hee preached to them the truth on our behalfe they said kill him with all those that believe him and make their wives infamous but their conspiracy was but impiety Pharoah said hinder me not to kill Moses let him invoke his God to save him I fear that he may alter your Law and introduce some disorder in the Land Moses said God mine and your Lord shall defend me from the malice of the proud that believe not the day of judgement Then a man of the domestiques of Pharoah that secretly professe the true Law said will ye slay a man that declareth that God is his Lord and that hath made you to see miracles if he be a lyar his lye shal be against him but if he speak the truth something of what he hath preached shall befal you God guideth nether the wicked nor lyars Oh people you this day command on Earâ—h with splendor who shall defend us from the wrath of God if it fall upon us Pharoah said I speak nothing to you but what I have told you heretofore and I will guid you
from our Commandments cannot hide themselves from us Shall he that shall be precipitated into Hell be better lodged then he that shall be saved at the day of Iudgment Do what shall please you your Lord beholdeth all your actions I will chastise them thot traduce the Alcoran it is a precious Book it is approved by the ancient and modern Scriptures it is sent from the glorious and mercifull None other thing shall be spoken to thee then what hath been spoken to the Prophets that preceeded thee thy Lord is mercifull and just Had we sent the Alcoran in the Persian tongue to a Prophet an Arabian by Nation the wicked would have said That the divine mysteries are not well explained Say unto them It is the guide of Believers and a remedy to their ignorance Infidels have deaf ears they are blind and hear not a◠those that are called too far off Certainly we gave the Book and the Law to Moses Vnbelievers doubt but if thy Lord had not said That he would defer their punishment untill the day of Iudgement he had already chastised them in this world because they doubt of the truth Whosoever shall doe good shall find good and the evill that a man committeth shall be against him Thy Lord doth no injustice to his Creatures None but he knoweth the day of Iudgement no fruit nor flower springeth out of the Earth and woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but by his permission Be thou mindful of the day that the lord shal cal Idolaters demand of them where be their Idols They shall say Lord we acknowledg thy Vnity None of us will hereafter adore those false gods They that worshipped one God departed from Idolaters they know that the punishment of their sin is infallible Man never ceaseth to require riches and is troubled when evill befalleth him if we give him good after his affliction he saith that he foresaw it and hath no thought of the comming of the day of Judgement if he be converted thy Lord openeth to him the gate of Paradise I will make the wicked to know their wickednesse and will most severely punish them when we bestow wealth on man he followeth his Idolatry and his sin and when he is touched in affliction he aboundeth in prayer Say unto them know ye not that the Alcoran proceedeth from God neverthelesse ye have renounced it who is more impious then he that impugneth the known truth I will cause them to see my miracles even to the utmost parts of heaven and earth and in their own persons to the end they may know the truth of the Alcoran Sufficeth it not them that thy Lord seeth all things neverthelesse they are in doubt of the Resurrection and of being assembled before him to be judged certainly God is omniscient CHAP. XLII The Chapter of Counsell containing fifty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent wise majestique he understandeth all things and is omnipotent God hath sent thee the same inspirations that he sent to them that did precede thee he is omnipotent and wise whatsoever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to him he is omnipotent and knoweth all things the heavens open at his command the Angels exalt his glory and implore his pardon for them that are on earth he is mercifull he beholdeth them that invoke Idols and knoweth them all but thou art not their Tutor We have inspired into thee the Alcoran in the Arabique tongue to preach to the Inhabitanta of Mecca and such as dwell about that City we have sent thee to preach unto them the day of Judgement there is no doubt that one part of men shall be saved and the other shall be damned had it pleased God he had created them of one the same Religion he giveth his grace to whom he listeth and Infidels shall be deprived of succour because they have required the protection of Idoles but God is the true protector of the world he reviveth the dead and is omnipotent he shall one day judge all the difficulties resolve all your doubts in your Religion he is my Lord I recommend my self to his divine Will he created your wife of your selvs he created all beasts male and female and caused you to multiply there is not any thing like unto him he keepeth the keyes of the Treasures of heaven and earth and taketh away and giveth wealth as pleaseth him The Law that I gave to Noah Abraham Moses and Jesus is that which I commanded thee to observe viz. to believe in one God The infidells are angry when thou preachest to them the unity of God he teacheth it whom he pleaseth and guideth into the right way them that obey him the wicked approve some points of his law and reject the rest although they have knowledge of his Vnity and that through the envy that is risen among them if thy Lord had not heretofore said that he would defer their punishment untill the day of Iudgment he had already destroyed them many of those who after them shall have knowledg of the Scriptures shall doubt of his Law but follow thou the way that is appointed thee and follow not their appetites Say unto them I believe in the Book that God hath sent I have received commandment to preach unto you that God is your and our Lord ye shall answer for your actions and we shall answer for ours it is not necessary to dispute against us God will one day assemble us in his presence to judge our differences he is our refuge such as dispute against the faith after knowledge of the truth are without reason their arguments shall be vaine with God they shall be the object of his wrath and shall suffer exceeding great pains God hath sent the Alcoran with truth ballance he will not instruct thee when the day of judgment shal be Such as have no faith in him ask when it shal come and they that believe him fear the coming thereof and know it to be infallible such as doubt are erroneous from the right way God is merciful to his people enricheth whom he pleaseth he is strong omnipotent he encreaseth the graces of him that desireth the riches of Heaven he giveth the wealth of the earth to them that effect it and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Religion prohibited of God God hath not revealed it to thē had he not deferred their punishment until the day of Iudgmment he had already destroyed them they shall in the end feel grevious tormens ye shal see thē fear their own deportments ye shall see them chastised after their demerits and the believers that do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise where they shall finde whatsoever they shall desire this is the great grace of God this is that which he hath proclaimed to the faithfull that believed
have done good works say unto them I require none other recompense for the pains that I take in preaching to you then to love my kindred he that shall do any good work shall be rewarded God is mercifull and good works are pleasing to him Will they say that thou hast blasphemed against God If it please God he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse or will imprint patience in thine heart he abolisheth lies and confirmeth the truth through his words he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men he accepteth the conversion of his creatures he pardoneth their sins and knoweth all their actions he heareth the prayers of the faithfull that do good works and augmenteth his grace upon them but Infidels shall undergo the rigours of eternall pains Had God equally enriched all his creatures they had bin in confusion upon Earth he enricheth whom he pleaseth he seeth and knoweth all he sendeth rain when men despair of his grace he is the protector of believers and praise is due to him eternally the creation of the Heavens and of the earth and of all that moveth betweene them is a sign of thine omnipotency If evil befal you believe that ye have deserved it neverthelesse he pardoneth you many things ye cannot escape his punishment on earth none is able to protect you against him The Vesâ—el that runneth upon the water big as a mountain is a token of his omnipotency to them that persevere in his Law and acknowledg his graces He shall reprove the wicked for their sins and shall pardon many They that dispute against his Commandments cannot escape their punishent the riches that ye possesse are the riches of the earth the riches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him are eternal They that depart from mortall sins that repent to have committed them that beg of God to be heard and persevere in their supplications they that take councel and consult among them what they ought to do that employ in good works part of the wealth that God hath given them that implore his help in their afflictions such as do good and such as commit evil shall be recompensed and punished according to their works God abhorreth Infidels ye have no power over them that implore his assistance in their affliction and repent your power extendeth over them that doin justice to the people and dâ—sobey on earth the Commandments of his divine Majesty they shall suffer great torments Such as persevere in well-dâ—iâ—g and pardon their Neighbour do what God hath Commanded He whom God shall mâ—slâ—ad shall finde none to guide him Thou shalt see that the Infidels shall ask if they may return into the world when they shall behold the fire of Hâ—l thou shalt see them flie with exâ—ream fear of eternal ignominy they shall look awry upon hell and the believers shall see that the wicked that have lost heâ—r Souls that have misled their family and all the impious shall be eternally damned none shall be able to save them and he that God shall mislead shall not finde the right way Say unto them beg pardon of God before the â—ay come that ye shall finde no way to return into the world nor excuse for your sins If they disobey thee we have not sent thee to be their Tutor thou art sent only to preach unto them When we give to man any pâ—osperity be rejoyceth and when affliction befalleth him â—e is ingratâ—ful for the grace of his Lord King of the heavens and earth God giveth children sons and daughters â—o whom he pleaseth he knoweth all things and is omnipotent he speaketh not to man but by inspiration and parable without being seen he sendeth his Prophets and Apostles into whom he inspireth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things and is omnipotent Thus have we sent thee our spirit to teach thee our Commandments thou knowest not before what was written in the Alcoran neither the misteries of faith we have sent it to thee to be a Light to the world I will guide into the way of Salvation whom I please I wil giude him into the way of the Lord to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth and who disposeth of all things CHAP. XLIII The Chapter of Ornament containing eighty and nine Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituled This Chapter the Chapter of Gold IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that teacheth to do well that we have sent it in the Arabique tongue peradventure ye shall understand the Alcoran it is written in in our originall Booke majestique and mysterious Shall I conceal from you the book of Salvation if ye be wicked How many Prophets and Apostles have we sent in past Ages whom unbeleivers have despised We destroyed the most powerful among them and all have incurred the pain of their predecessors If thou ask of them who created Heaven and Earth they will say that it is the omnipoten who knoweth all things Who hath extendeth the earth under you Who established the wayes to guide you It is God he causeth the rain to descend from Heaven in your necessity he maketh the dead drie and barren fields to revive in like manner shall the dead come out of their Sepulchers He it is that created whatsoever is in the world of divers kinds and Species and created the SHIPS and BEAST to carry you Remember the grace of your Lord say praised be he that created â—or us these things we had not the power to create them They all shall return before the Lord to be judged The Infidels have divided God into many parts Certainly he that saith that there are many Gods is impious hath he appointed you to say that the Angels which he hath created are his daughters seeing that he giveth you sonnes When it is declared to some Infidels that a Daughter is born to him he is not satisfied he desireth to have a son will they say that God adorneth himselfe and taketh ornaments to beautifie him like their Idols It is a manifest error they say that the Angels that worship God are the daughters of his divine Majesty I will write what they say and will râ—quire of them aâ— accompt of their discourse at the day of Iudgement They have said had it pleased God we had not adored the Angels They know not what they say and ignorantly blaspheme do they observe any Scripture that hath been taught them heretofore On the contrary they say that their fathers lived in like manner and that they follow their steps they have said as much to all the Prophets that were sent unto them When thou spakest to them to observe â—hat is contained in the Alcoran and to abandon the Idols which their fathers worshipped they answered that they believed neither in thee nor in thy mission but we avenged our selves upon them Consider what is the end of blasphemeâ—s Remember thou that Abraham said to his
the end too late acknowledg their errors CHAP. XLIIII The Chapter of Smoke cnotaining fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and mercifull God is prudent and wise I swear by the book that distinguish the good from evil that we sent it the night of blessing to teach the people the torments of hel this book explaineth our commandments al that we heretofore comanded the Prophets this is a speciall grace of thy Lord he heareth knoweth all things he is Lord of Heaven and Earth aâ—â— of all that is between them beleive in his omnipotency There is no God but he he giveth life and death to whom he listeth he is your Lord the Lord of your fathers and predecessors the wicked deride this discourse but the day of judgment attends them that day the heaven shal resemble smoak that shall cover the world that day shall the people say behold here grievous torments Lord deliver us from this misery we will believe in thy Law Their conversion shall be in vain because when the Prophet preched to them they scorned his words and said that he was a foolish teacher and when they were comforted on earth they returned to their impiety Remember thou the day when they were vanquished and taken by force and that we were revenged on their impiety We heretofore tryed the people of Pharoah my beloved Prophet preached to them my Commandments and said Come follow me oh ye servants of God! I am a faithful Messenger of his divine Maj. resist not his Law I wil teach you his Comandments he shal defend me from your malice he shal preserve me from being stoned but if ye will not believe me depart far from me He prayed to his Lord when he knew that that people were unbelieving impious God said unto him goe by night out of the City with my servants if the men of Pharoah pursue thee enter into the sea through a path large and spacious thine enemyes that shall follow thee shal be drownd How many gardens fountains places of pleasure wherin they took delight did they forsake They fel into the power of another with al their treasures and none lamented them either in Heaven or earth they expected not that punishment We delivered the Children of Israel from Pharoahs tyranny he was powerfull and a great sinner We elected them through our certain knowledg among all the world and tryed them through our Miracles and Commandments The wicked say we shall dye and not rise again If the Resurrection be true cause our fathers to revive to evidence the â—ruth of thy words Are they more powerful then their predecessors whom we destroyed because of their impiety We have not created in vain the Heaven and the Earth and whatsoever is between them we created them for certain signes of our Vnity the greatest part of the world understand it not the day of Iudgment is thâ— time appointed for their punishment that day none shall be able to save his neighbour or parent or freind nor shall any be saved but those to whom God shall give his mercy he is omnipotent and mercifull The fruit of the Tree of Hel called Zacon shall serve for food to the wicked it shal boil in their bellyes like pitch or water They shall cry take the wicked drag them into the fire of Hell pour upon their heads all manner of torments It shall bee said unto them tast the pains of Hell ye believed your selves to be the Omnipotent precious on Earth behold the punishment of which ye doubted The righteous shall be in delicious places in Gardens adorned with Fountains they shall be clothed with purple they sâ—all behold each other face to face we wil assemble them with women pure clean who shall have most beautifull eyes that shall have fruits savory and delicious of all seasons they shal never dye and shall be delivered from the torments of Hell through the special grace of thy Lord behold supreme felicity Certainly we have sent the Alcoran in thy tongue peradventure the Arabians will learn it they covet thy ruine but persevere thou and expect the time of the punishment of their crimes CHAP. XLV The Chapter of Genuflexion or Knee-bowing containing fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book is sent by the Omnipotent and wise The Heavens and the Earth are most certain signes of his Vnity to such as believe in his Law your Creation and the Creation of all Creatures are marks of his greatnesse to them that have his fear before their Eyes the difference of the night and the day the rain that he sendeth from Heaven to cause fruits to spring out of the Earth and to revive it after its death and the diversity of windâ— are signes of his Omnipotency to them that have knowledg to comprehend it I relate to thee the wonders of God with truth in what will Infidels believe if they believe not in the word of his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that hear the Commandments of God and become proud as if they had not heard them Preach unto such men that they shall suffer â—he rigors of infinite pains They deride the Faith when they are spoken to Certainly they be punished in the fire of Hell their riches shall not be able to save them neither the Idols which they adore they shall be eternally damned This Book guideth men into the way of salvation they that shall not believe in the Law of God shall feel the effects of his fury He created the Seas that bear the Ships for the advantage of your commerce peradventure ye will acknowledg this grace He hath created for you all that is in Heaven and on Earth it is a sign of his goodness to such as consider it Speak unto them that believe in the Law of Salvation that they pardon those that have not the fear of God before their Eyes God shall chastise them after their demirits Whosoever shall do good shall finde good and ye shall be assembled before his divine Majesty to be judged Certaiuly we instructed the children Israel in the Scripture and our Commandments we taught them knowledg and gave them the grace of Prophesie we enriched them with all sorts of riches preferred them to al the world We taught them our Law none disputed against our Commandmenes but such as had knowledg that through the envy thar arose among them but thy Lord shall judg their differences at the day of Iudgment We have sent thee our Law observe it and follow not the appetites of the ignorant they shall not be able to deliver thee from eternall pains The Infidels obey each other and the true-belivers obey God This book is the light of the world it guideth into the way of Salvation and the mercy of God them that believe in his divine Majesty Do the wicked imagine they shall
be intreated like the godly in their life and death and that they shall not be judged God hath created heaven and earth for a mark of his power he shall judg every one according to their works and shall do injustice to none Consider how they worship what cometh into their fancy God hath seduced them from his certain knowledge he hath rendred them deaf hath hardned their heart blinded them who shal guide if God seduce them Do they not consider it They say our resurrection shal be like the life of this world some dy others are born length of years cause us to die they know not what they say and speak but by opinion When they are preached unto they have no other ' discourse to utter but make our fathers to revive if what we say be true Say unto them God causeth you to live dy shal assemble you at the day of Iudgment there is no doubt in this but the greatest part of the people know it not God is the King of the heavens earth of the day of judgment that day shall he assemble the Infidels thou shalt see all Sects and all Religions assembled before him upon their knees every sect shall see their sins written in a particular book shal be al chastised after their demerits It shall be said unto them behold the book that speaketh against you we have exactly written what you have don God shal give his mercy to the righteous that is supream felicity It shal be said to the wicked have not the Commandments of God bin preached to you Ye became proud and were incredilous when it was told you that the promises of God and the day of Judgment were indubitable ye said that iâ— was but an opinion and that ye believe it not in the end ye shall acknowledge your offence and shall suffer the painâ— that ye despised God shall say unto them at the day of Iudgement I have this day forgotten you as ye forgot thâ— coming of this day the fiâ—e of hell shall be your habitation none shall deliver you because ye derided my Law and waxed proud with the riches of the earth They shall never get out of this Fire neither be able to repent Praise be to God Lord of the heavens and earth glory is due to him in all places he is omnipotent and wise CHAP. XLVI The Chapter of Hecaf containing thirty five Verses written at Mecca Hecaf is a Valley in the Country of Licmen upon the frontiers of Arâ—biâ— See Gelaldin and the Book intituled Kitab el Tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most prudent and wise This Book was sent by the Omnipotent and wise We created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a sign of our Omnipotency and Vnity and appointed to every thing a prefixed and limited time If the Infidels depart from that which hath been preached to them Say unto them have ye considered the Idols that ye adore shew me what they have created on earth are they Gods companions in the creation of the heavens bring me a Book sent from heaven before the Alcoran that containeth like it what remained of the doctrine of our Predecessâ—rs we shall see if ye be true who is more seduced then he that worshipeth things that can neither hear his prayers nor protect him at the day of judgment That day shall the Infidels be enemies to each other and the Idols shall not acknowledge them that have worshipped them When they heard the Alcoran read they affirmed it to contain the truth and when they were commanded to observe it they said that it is but magick Will they say that thou hast invented it Say unto them if I have invented it ye cannot deliver me from the punishment of God he knoweth all that is in this book it is sufficient that he is witnesse between you and me he is gracious and mercifull Say unto them I am not the first Prophet nor the first Apostle that God hath sent I know not what God shall determine of you and me I do but what he hath inspired into me and am sent to preach the torments of hel have ye considered in what condition ye shall be if the Alcoran be sent from God Ye have renounced it but one of the children of Israel is witnesse that it is sent from God and hath believed in his divine Majesty neverthelesse ye are become proud God guideth not the proud The Infidels say to the believers if the Alcoran were any good thing you should not exceed us in observing it it guideth not into the way of salvation it is but an old Fable The book of Moses that came before it teacheth the right way and the Will of God Say unto them the Alcoran confirmeth the Scriptures sent heretofore to them that precedeed us it is in the Arabique tongue he preacheth the pains of hell to unbelievers and declareth the joyes of Paradise to the righteous Such as shall believe that God is their Lord and shall obey him ought to fear nothing they shall suffer none affliction at the day of Judgment they shall enjoy Pardadise for the reward of their good works We have recommended to man to honor father and mother and to do good to them his mother beareth him with pain she bringeth forth with dolour she giveth him suck and weaneth him at the end of thirty moneths she hath care of him until he be in a condition to govern himself hath attained to age of discretion Then he saith Lord inspire me to be grateful for the grace that thou hast given to my father mother if I do well thou wilt accept it take care of my posterity I trust in thee desire to obey thy Commandments Their prayer shall be heard their sins shall be pardoned they shall enjoy the joyes of Paradise prepared for the righteous He that shall â—peak to his father and mother in civility shall say unto them in derision will ye bring me yet once more into the world after my death wil ye revive me from my grave many are dead heretofore that are not returned he shall be punished of God his father and mother shall require help of his divine Majesty and shall say unto him my son misery is with thee believe in God and in the Resurrection the word oâ— God is insallible if he reply that it is an old Fable he shall feel the punishment of God the word of his divine Majesty shall be accomplished against him as it hath been accomplished against them that did preceâ—e him in impiety as well devills as men they shal be damned they shall be in â—undry degrees of payns he shall chastise them after their demerits and no injustice shall be don to them It shall be said to the wicked that would depart out of hel fire ye expelled your felicity when ye lived in the world your punishment was deferred until
do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Al things shall have end and the majestique and glorious face of thy Lord shal be permanent what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth imploreth his grace he is ever himself what Lord do ye blasphemâ—e but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils I will require an account of your actions what Lord will ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devills passe the extremities of Heaven and Earth go beyond them if ye can ye have not the power what Lord do ye blaspheme but your owne Lord If he send against you flames without smoak and smoake without fire ye cannot defend your selves what Lord do ye blaspheme but your owne Lord When the heaven openeth it resembleth a rose or a crimson coloured skin what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The time will come when â—n accompt shall be required from men and Devils of their sinnes what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord The wicked shall be known by their countenance an accompt shall be required of their readinesse and negligence what Lord do ye plaspheme but your own Lord Behold hell which the wicked would not believe they shall turn round about and round about in boyling water of which they shaâ—â— drink what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Such as have had the fear of God before their eyes shal enter inro Gardens where the trees are covered with branches and leaves adorned with Rivers and Fountains with abundance of all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon fair beds lined with Crimson what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall gather thâ— fruits of this garden to their contentment what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall there have wives who shall not cast a look but upon them and whom no person man or Angel shall touch before them what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord They shall resemble Corrall and Rubies what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord good deedes are recompensed with good deeds what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be yet other gardens wherein are herbs exceeding green Rivers Dates Pomegranets and all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be in these gardens women who have eyes exceeding black and bodies exceeding white they are covered with pavillions none either men or angels shall touch them before their husbands what Lord do ye blaspeme but your own Lord They shal repose upon green Carpets near rivolets bordered with flowers what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Praised be the name of God thy Lord honour and glory are due to him eternally CHAP. LVI The Chapter of Judgment containing fourscore and nineteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The day of Iudgment will come none can deny it That day shall many be afflicted and humbled and many shal be elated rejoyced the Earth shall tremble the Mountain open and be dispersed like dust carryed away by the wind ye shal be present at that day in a threefold manner * These are the Blessed Some shall have in their right hand the book wherein shall be written all their actions * These are the Damned Others shall have it in their left hand and * The propâ—eâ—s such as preceeded them in wel-doing shal be the nearest to his divine Majesty and the higher in Paradise there shal be a great number of the first ages and few of the latter they shall repose upon beds adorned with gold and precious stones they shall look upon each other young boyes shall go about them with vessels Cups and Goblets full of delicious drink that shall not offend â—he head neither intoxicate them they shall have all the fruits that they can covet and such vyâ—nds as they shall desire they shaâ— have wâ—mâ—n with black eyes and who shall be white as polished pearls for recompense of their good works they shall not hear an evill word spoken they shall not sin and shall hear perpetually the voyce of them that bless them They that shall hold their book in their right hand shall be near an Apple-tree fresh and without throne and near the tree of * Muse is a fruit common in Egypt Muse under a pleasant shaddow by flowing water with store of fruits of all seasons they shall use them with freedom lying on delicious beds We have created the daughters of Paradise Virgins and affectionate to their husbands for the content of them that shall have in their right hands the book of the accompt of their actions of many of those that were in the first Ages and of many of such as shall be in the latter Those that shall have their book of accompt in the left hand shall be tormented with an exceeding hot winde they shall drink boyling water they shall be in a black hot and salt smoak for that they were Luxurious in the world for that they were negligent to observe the Commandments of God and continued in the enormity of their sins The Infidels say what after death we shall be earth and dust and shall we rise again with our fathers and predecessors Say unto them you your Predecessors and posterity shall all be assembled before God to be judged Then oh wicked Imposters shall ye eat of the fruit of the Tree * Zacon is the tree of Hel. Zacon ye shall fill your belly ye shall drink boyling water and be daily altered behold your condition at the day of Iudgment We created all of you if ye believe it not See Gelaldin consider the wealth ye possesse did you your selves create it We have appointed that ye shall dye we can if we please put other creatures like unto you in your place and metamorphize you into another forme which ye know not we caused the soule to enter into the body if ye consider not this think upon your tillage do ye make the earth to bring forth fruits or do I cause them to spring forth If I will I can render your fields drie as straw without grain neverthelesse are ye proud Ye say what shall cut grain that we have sown be lost No we will preserve it Consider the water that ye drink have ye made it to fal from the clouds or did we cause it to descend if we please we can render it so salt that ye shall not be able to drink it if ye acknowledg not this grace consider the fire that ye kindle did ye create the wood that burneth Wee created it to put you in mind of the fire of hell and for the profit of the people Exalt the name of God most mighty I swear by him that maketh the Stars to fall this is a great oath if ye understand it that the Alcoran is