be with the true believers and receive from God a very great reward He will not send you misery if you give him thanks for his favours and obey him he accepteth the acknowledgment of his benefits and knoweth all things He willeth not that what evil is committed be published he that publisheth the evil he doth is very much to blame if you manifest the good you do or if you conceal it and abstain from doing evil he will be merciful to you he is Omnipotent Such as blaspheme against God and his Prophets his Apostles such as would make a distinction between the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and the precepts of his Prophets such as affirm ' they believe in some of the Prophets and believe not in all and take a middle way between faith and impiety are indeed impious we have prepared for them ignominious torments but they who believe in God and generally in all his Prophets and Apostles shall be recompensed of God gracious and merciful They that know the written Law will require thee to cause to descend from Heaven a Book and written Tables They demanded of Moses greater things and said Cause us to behold God with our eyes then thunder surprized them by reason of their impiety They adored the Calf after having had the knowledge of our Commandments nevertheless we pardoned them and gave to Moses an absolute dominion over them We raised the Mountain over them following our promises and said to them Enter the Gate of the Temple with adoration and humility and no longer transgress the observation of the day of Rest We for this matter received from them a strong promise but they swerved from what they had promised and we cursed them because of their impiety by reason of the Murther they committed without reason on the persons of the Prophets and of the words they uttered viz. Our heart is hardned Contrariwise God imprinted infidelity in their hearts they shall never believe in his Law except very few of them because of their malice and the blasphemies they vomited against Mary they said We have slain the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary the Prophet and Apostle of God Certainly they slew him not neither crucified him they crucified one among them that resembled him such as doubt it are in a manifest error and speak not but through opinion Certainly they slew him not on the contrary God took him up to himself he is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions Such as have the knowledge of Scripture ought to believe in Jesus before his death he shall be a witness against them of their actions at the Day of Judgment We have prohibited them that Judaize by reason of their sin things that were permitted them We have prepared for them great torment because they mis-lead the World from the right way because they take Use that is forbidden them and unjustly eat the substance of their neighbour Such of them as are profound in Learning and all the faithful believe in the Scriptures both ancient and modern I will give great rewards to them that shall make their prayers at the time appointed that shall pay Tyths and believe in the Day of Judgment We have sent thee our inspirations as we sent them to Noah and the Prophets after him as we heretofore sent them to Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob the Tribes to Jesus Iob Ionas Aaron and to Solomon and gave the Psalter to David We have told thee who were the Prophets that preceded thee but we have not spoken to thee concerning the merits of all of them Moses spake to God as his Prophet and Apostle all declared his mercy and preached the torments of Hell to the end Men might have no cause of excuse God is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions He shall be witness that the Alcoran was sent to thee with his Commandments the Angels likewise shall testifie it but it ought to suffice thee that God is witness The Infidels that hinder the People to follow the Law of God were exceedingly erroneous God will not pardon them he will lead them into the path of Hell where they shall remain eternally it is a thing easie to his Divine Majesty O People A Prophet is come to you who preacheth to you the Truth from the Lord believe him you shall do well if you believe him not know that whatever is in Earth and in Heaven is Gods and that God knoweth whatsoever you do O ye that understand the written Law Obey the Commandments of God and speak not of his Divine Majesty but with truth the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary is a Prophet and an Apostle of God his Word and his Spirit which he sent to Mary believe therefore in God and in his Prophets and say not there be three Gods put an end to that discourse you shall do well For there is but one God praised be God he hath no Son whatever is in Heaven and in Earth obeyeth him it is sufficient that he is witness The Messiah esteemeth in no dishonour to be the servant of God neither the Angel nor the Cherubins He that holdeth it a dishonour to be at his service is too proud he shall assemble all the World at the Day of Judgment and every one shall receive the recompence that he shall have merited he shall augment his favours upon them that shall have believed in his Divine Majesty and have done good works he shall chastise them that shall have held it a dishonour to be his servants and have been proud upon the Earth they shall find no safe refuge but in his mercy O People God hath sent you a Protector a most strong argument and a most clear light they that shall trust in God shall enjoy his grace and he shall guide them into the right way They will enquire of thee concerning successions say to them God teacheth you touching successions as followeth if a Man decease without issue and hath a Sister she shall have the moity of what he shall leave and shall inherit it if she have no Children If they be two Sisters they shall have two thirds of what the deceased left if they be many Brothers and many Sisters the Son shall have as much as two Daughters God teacheth you his Commandments depart not from the right way he is Omniscient CHAP. V. The Chapter of the Table containing an hundred and twenty Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye that believe in God! Satisfie what you have promised it is permitted you to eat of the Beasts that be in the World except of what shall be hereafter declared Hunting is forbidden you during the time that you shall go on Pilgrimage to Mecca God ordaineth what he will O ye that believe say not That it is permitted to do what God hath prohibited perform what is commanded you during the Month of Pilgrimage give no impediment to such as carry presents
THE ALCORAN OF MAHOMET Translated out of Arabick into French. BY THE Sieur du Ryer Lord of Malezair and Resident for the French King at ALEXANDRIA AND Newly Englished for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish Vanities To which is prefixed the LIFE of MAHOMET THE Prophet of the Turks and Author OF THE ALCORAN With a Needful Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what Use may be made of or if there be danger in Reading the ALCORAN LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall. MDC LXXXVIII 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 maist the better prepare to encounter and I hope overcome them It may happily 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 fear if thou consider that this his Alcoran the Ground-work of the Turkish Religion hath been already translated into almost all Languages in Christendom at least the most general 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 success of their Wars and greatness of their Empire than 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 a composure so farced with contradictions blasphemies obscene speeches and ridiculous fables that some modest and more rational 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 saith the learned Grotius is a manifest argument of its iniquity For that Merchandise may justly be suspected which will not be sold unless unseen and though all Men are not alike perspicacious in the knowledge and discerning of things some by arrogancy and vain conceit of themselves others by affection Some by custom being drawn into error yet should we believe that the way to eternal life cannot be understood by them who without any respect of profit or preferment seek it submitting themselves with all they have to God imploring his assistance we should sin against his infinite goodness 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 Press 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 darkness by following strange lights as by this Ignis Fatuus of the Alcoran Such as it is I present to thee having taken the pains only to translate it out of French not doubting though it hath been a poyson that hath infected a very great but most unsound part of the Universe it may prove an Antidote to confirm 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 Angel anon the Prophets and frequently maketh God to speak in the plural 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 Coreis who were enemies to his design He intituled this Book the Alcoran as one would say the Collection of Precepts He likewise termed it El Forcan that is that distinguisheth good from evil He divided it 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 and speaketh little of their Inscription He divided it into many signs or Verses that contain his ordinances and fables without observation either of the consequence or connexion of the discourse which 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 affirm the original 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 honour Thou shalt find at beginning of some Chapters letters of the Arabick Alphabet which some Men will not expound They fear 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 avouch 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 recompence 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 Musulmans 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 until 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 Temples and Hospitals and are obliged to give to the poor the first day of the year the tith of what they have gained during the preceding year They believe that after being well washt saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony they have also the Soul purified from all Filthiness and Sin which is the cause that they wash and bath often especially before they pray They have no Sacrament but Circumcision they cause their Children to be circumcised at the age of seven or eight years and when they can pronounce these words La ilha illa allha Mehemet rasoul allha that is There is but one God Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle this is their profession of faith nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham whose Law is recommended to them by Mahomet they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at several times by the Angel Gabriel in the City of Mecca and that of Medina because the Jews and Christians had altered the Holy Scriptures and the Law of God. They are permitted to have four Wives married at the same time and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain They can put away their Wives when they think fit paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage and marry again at their pleasure but the Women are bound to tarry until they are assured that they are not with Child before they marry again and their Husbands are obliged to keep and take the care of the Children The Children which they have by their slaves are indifferently esteemed with those of their Wives and are all held as legitimate They have Temples Colleges and Hospitals well revenued they have covents of Religious that live exemplarily obey their Superiours without contradiction and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers They have moreover another sort of Religious Vagabonds through the World clothed like fools of that Country they often go naked and cut their skin in many places are held to be holy persons and live by alms which are never refused them both the one and the other sort of Religious are called Dervis they are known by their habit and can retire and marry when they please They deny Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God neither believe they in the Holy Trinity they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet born of the Virgin Mary a Virgin both before and after her delivery that he was conceived by divine inspiration or by a divine breath without a father as Adam was created without a Mother that he was not crucified that God took him into Heaven and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the World to confirm the Law of Mahomet they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ crucified a man among them that resembled him They pray to God for the Dead they invoke their Saints of whom they have a large Legend nevertheless they believe not Purgatory and many among them imagine that the Soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgment They have Mecca and Medina that are two Cities of Arabia in great veneration because Mahomet was born at Mecca and buried at Medina they make thither great pilgrimages and believe that Land to be Holy They bear likewise singular respect to the City of Ierusalem for that it hath been the Birth-place and habitation of many Prophets They use no Clocks at the hour of their prayers their Priests ascend the highest part of a Tower that is in a corner of the Temple and with a loud voice call the people to prayer singing prayers composed for that purpose WE the Consuls Governors Protectors and Defenders of the Priviledges Freedoms and Liberties of the City of Marseillis do certifie and attest to all to whom it shall appertain that Mr. Andrew du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the King's Chamber and heretofore Consul to his Majesty in Egypt hath executed the charge for the said Consulship like a Man of honesty and honour no complaint having been made at any time or his administration or deportment during the time of his abode there and that he exercised that office Neither was any complaint ever made of the said Mr. du Ryer during the time he sojourned at Constantinople for the service of his Majesty but all the Captains and Officers of Merchant Vessels and of others that negotiated in the same parts received of him all favour as in matters that concerned them as in affairs that did relate to the service of his Majesty and the advantage of his Subjects traffick in testimony of which We have drawn and signed these Presents and have put and affixed to them the Seal and accustomed Arms of this City At Marseillis the 12. day of Feb. 1633. De Bourgongne Consul I. Savornin Consul Meinardet Consul By the said Consuls Boet. To Mr. du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber at Constantinople SIR HAving heard by the report of many Merchants of this City the good offices that you have daily performed towards them of our Nation and particularly our fellow Citizens who all unanimously much commend your affection and singular care to protect and defend them We thought our duty to return you by these lines a thousand thanks and that the more affection for that your courtesie and not their merits carried you to all those good offices of which they and we shall ever keep a perpetual memory to render you any acknowledgment when occasion shall be offered and give you a testimony by our services that you have not cast your Seed upon barren Ground In the mean time Sir we beseech you be pleased to continue to us the honour of your friendship and effects of your favour as we shall desire in all emergent occasion to testifie that we are really Sir Your most affectionate Servants the Consuls Governors of the City of Marseillis Monthouliau Francis Nappollon Du Pont. From Marseillis this 24. of August 1632. A Translation of the Command of the Grand Seignior concerning Mr. Malezair ILlustrious and Excellent Commanders refuge of the great Triumphant Eminent Glorious and Honourable Lords endued with the special Graces of God Bashaws or Vice-Roys Beys or Governors that are upon the Roads of our most August Port to the Realm of France God. perpetuate your glory just Iudges of the Musulmans Minerals of Vertue and Knowledge that are upon the Road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God increase your Vertues Honourable and trusty Governors Captains of Frontiers and Castles Captains and Patrons of Gallies and Vessels Customers that are
we will not believe thee for that we see not God then you were smitten with thunder you saw your Misery with your own eyes nevertheless we raised you after your death perhaps you will give me thanks We covered you with the shadow of Clouds we caused Manna and Quails to fall upon you and said Eat the good things we have given you They did us no harm when they murmured they afflicted themselves We said Enter into that City and eat therein what shall content you enter in at the gate with humility and say Remove our sins from us I will pardon your offences and encrease the Graces of those that are righteous then the wicked altered their words that were taught them but I sent my indignation from Heaven upon them according to their demerits When Moses demanded drink for his people we said Smite the Rock with thy Rod incontinently there sprung forth twelve Fountains and every man knew his place where to drink Eat and drink the good things of God and defile not the Earth any more You said unto Moses we are not satisfied with one sort of meat entreat thy Lord that he give us what the Earth produceth Beets Cucumbers Garlick Lentils and Onions he said Desire you to change good for evil Go down into Aegypt you will there find what you require They were beaten with disgrace and poverty and returned into the wrath of God for that they disobeyed his Commandments and unjustly slew his Prophets for which they were greatly to blame All those that shall believe Christians Iews or Samaritans such as shall believe in God at the day of Judgment and do good works shall be recompensed by their Lord and be free from fear and affliction at the day of the Resurrection When we received your promise to believe in the Old Testament we raised a Mountain over you to over-shadow you and said Comprehend with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will fear the fire of Hell and disobedience nevertheless you have gone astray without the mercy of your Lord you shall be in the number of the damned You know what befel those that observed not the Sabbath we said unto them Be ye abhorred and despised as Apes We left this punishment as an Advertisement to their Temporaries and Posterity and particularly to be for an example to the true Believers Remember thou that Moses said unto the people God commandeth you to sacrifice a Cow. They answered doest thou mock us He replyed God defend me from being in the number of the ignorant They said Call upon thy Lord that he instruct us what Cow that ought to be He said it must be a Cow of a middle age neither young nor old and do what is commanded you They said pray unto thy Lord that he shew us of what colour it ought to be It must said he be of a bright yellow colour that it may delight the eyes of the beholders They said invoke thy Lord that he instruct us what it ought to resemble and we shall if it please him be obedient to his Commandments He said God answereth you that it must be a Cow that never bare the yoke to till the earth neither water the fields round and that hath never laboured neither hath spot upon her Body They said thou hast now spoken truth they then sacrificed her and it wanted not much but they had not done it When you have slain any one you are then full of wrath and become proud God bringeth to light whatever you conceal We said smite that dead Body with a piece of that Cow so God raiseth again the dead and manifesteth to you his Miracles it may be you will comprehend them yet your hearts are hardned more obdurate than Rocks for Rivers flow from Rocks when they cleave and appear or when they fall and overturn by the permission of his Divine Majesty God is not ignorant of your actions Do you desire the Iews should believe you because many among them write the word of God and alter it at pleasure after they have comprized it When they meet with true Believers they say we believe in God and being assembled they say among themselves have you entertained those true Believers for that God hath instructed you that they may find no excuse against you at the day of Judgment before his Divine Majesty Understand you not that they would excuse themselves upon what you have said to them Know they not that God knoweth whatever they conceal and what they bring to light There be some that know neither to read nor write that understand nothing of Scripture but what they have learned from the lies of their Doctors yet they think to be knowing Men. Misery is upon them that conceal the Scripture in their hands that alter it and say that what they read proceedeth from God to profit any thing thereby Misery is upon them because of what their hands have written Misery is upon them and upon what they have gained in blaspheming against God. They have said we shall continue in Fire but a certain number of days Say unto them have you capitulated with God He will not act against his Promises Will you speak of God what you know not Such as have gained ought and were entangled in the sin of their gain shall for ever remain in the flames of Hell and they 〈◊〉 have faith in God and do good works shall â—…nally enjoy the delights of Paradise â—…ber thou that we taught the Commandâ—… of the Law and how we said to the 〈◊〉 of Israel worship one only God do good unto your Farher and Mother to your Allies Orphans and the Poor speak mildly unto the People make your Prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes nevertheless they were disobedient except some very few among them When we received the Commandments of God and that we said shed not your Blood neither forsake your Houses you approved it your selves are Witnesses Nevertheless you slew many and constrained a great number to desert their habitation you assisted each other in injustice and impiety If Slaves have recourse to you you shall redeem them their deliverance is appointed you Do you believe one part of the Scripture to abjure the other The reward of any of you that shall do this thing is ignominy in this World and to be precipitated into the most grievous torments of Hell at the day of Judgment God is not ignorant of your actions Such as purchase the Life of the World to quit Paradise shall not be eased in their Miseries and be utterly deprived of succours Certainly we gave the Law to Moses and after him sent many Prophets We inspired knowledge into Jesus the Son of Mary and strengthned him by the Holy Ghost but you arose against the Prophets that came contrary to your affections you belyed one part and slew another The unbelievers said our heart is hardned It
is God that hath cursed them by reason of their impiety and few of them will believe the Commandments of his Divine Majesty When God hath sent them any Book confirming the Scriptures which they before approved viz. the Old Testament and the Gospel they demanded succours when they met with the wicked and being succoured they either understood it not or would not receive it â—… The curse of God is upon Infidels especially upon them that have sold their Souls and through Envy disobeyed his Commandments He bestoweth his grace on whom he pleaseth they are returned in the displeasure of his Divine Majesty who hath prepared for them grievous torments because of the Enormity of their Crimes When it was said to them Believe in the Commandments of God they said Do we not believe in what hath been commanded us Nevertheless they have no faith in the truth which God hath sent confirming the Prophecies and the Precepts that they before approved Say unto them had you heretofore slain the Prophets if you had believed in his Law Moses certainly had caused you to see Miracles but ye adored the Calf after his departure wherefore you were greatly to blame We received your Promise to observe the Commandments of the Law and raised a Mountain over you Understand with affection what we teach you and hearken to what is commanded you they answered we have heard and disobeyed and inclined their heart to the adoration of the Calf because of their impiety Say to them doth your faith command you to do it if you believe in God and life eternal Think upon death if you be righteous They regard not their past errours but God knoweth the unjust Thou shalt find them with diligence and desire to live a long time The wicked hope to live a thousand years but they shall be exempt from the Punishment to live long God beholdeth all their Actions Say to them who is an Enemy to Gabriel He by the permission of God hath inspired into thee the Alcoran that confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and guideth the good in the way of their Salvation and declareth to them the joys of Paradise He that is an Enemy to God the Angels his Prophet to Gabriel and Michael shall be rigorously chastised God is an Enemy to Infidels We have sent thee Precepts clear and intelligible none will abjure them but the wicked Some of them have acted against their own Promises and the greatest part is incredulous Many of them that have knowledge in the written Law have forsaken it even when God sent them any Prophet to confirm the Scriptures that they had before received and approved They cast the Book of God behind their Backs as if they knew it not and adhered to what the Devils taught in the Reign of Solomon yet Solomon sinned not but the Devils only that instructed the People in Magick and what was taught by the two Angels Arot and Marot in Babylon Before they taught the people they said We are not sedition neither be you impious The people learned of them what concerneth the Separation of the Man and the Woman and what breedeth hatred betwixt them They did not harm to any by their Magick but through the permission of God the people learned of them what might hurt and not be profitable to them they instructed in Magick them that sold their part in Paradise at the loss of their Souls although they knew their errour that they had before believed in God and feared his Divine Majesty Repentance inspired by God is exceeding profitable if they understood to know it O you that fear God say not honour us say regard us and hearken to what is commanded you To Infidels are prepared dolorous torments the Iews and Christians desired not that God should send you good but God very liberal gratifieth with his mercy whom he pleaseth he will not alter his Commandments neither forget them he will moreover teach others more profitable or of the like nature know you not that God is Omnipotent understand you not that to God appertains the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth who except God will be your Protector Will you question your Prophet as Moses was heretofore questioned He that shall change faithinto impiety shall forsake the good way Many that have knowledge in the Scripture endeavoured to mislead you through impiety and Envy notwithstanding they are not ignorant of the Truth forgive them and beware of them untill God hath otherwise disposed he is Omnipotent Make your Prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes you shall find before God the good that you do for your Souls he beholdeth all your Actions They have said that none but the Iews and Christians shall enter into Paradise it is their false invention say unto them if you be good Men bring your Reasons on the contrary he that resigneth himself to God and is a just Man shall be recompensed by his Divine Majesty there needeth not be any fear for him he shall not be tormented in the fire of Hell. The Iews say the Christians are void of reason and the Christians affirm the Iews to be without reason nevertheless they study the Scripture so speak the ignorant God will determine their difference at the day of the Resurrection Who is more unjust than he that hindred that God be remembred in Temples and that studieth nought but their destruction Such men cannot enter therein but with fear and terrour they shall have on Earth shame upon the Forehead and in the other World shall suffer exceeding great torments The East and West are Gods whithersoever men turn themselves the Face of God doth there meet them his Divinity extendeth through the whole Earth They said believe you that God hath a Son Praised be God on the contrary whatever is either in Earth or Heaven appertaineth to his Divine Majesty and all things obey him he hath created Heaven and Earth and when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is The unbelievers said if God speak not to us or if thou performest no Miracles we will not believe thee their Predecessors have said as much and their words have been like unto their hearts we have caused Miracles to appear to the righteous and have sent thee to preach and instruct the people inquire not why those that shall descend into Hell will not believe thee the Iews and Christians will not be satisfied of thee until thou follow their opinion say unto them there is no better guide in the World than God take heed lest thou follow their Appetites after that thou hast comprehended the knowledge which we inspired into thee who except God will be thy defender They whom we have taught the Scripture that study and read it with truth believe the contents of it and they that do not believe are damned O Children of Israel call to mind the favour that I did you I preferred you before all the World
shall lay hand upon the Sand and wipe your Face and Hands God is gracious and merciful to his Creatures Seest thou not how those that know the written Law purchase Errour how they desire to mis-lead you through their Riches and divert you from the right way God knoweth your Enemies it is enough that he is your defender and Protector Such as Iudaize alter the word of God and say to the Prophet we have heard and disobeyed thee they heard without hearing they say preserve us have care of us nevertheless do they pervert the word of God in reading it and alter his Commandments they should do better to say Lord we have heard and obeyed hearken only to us and regard us But God hath cursed them and few of them will believe in his Divine Majesty O you that have knowledge of the Scriptures believe in the Alcoran that confirmeth the Old and New Testament before that I deface your Visages and cause them to turn behind your Backs I will curse Infidels as I have cursed them of the Sabbath the Commandment of God is incontinently executed he pardoneth not them that associate him with Companions equal to him except this he forgiveth sins to whom it pleaseth him He that saith God hath Companions blasphemeth and mortally sinneth Consider not such as affirm themselves to be good Men contrariwise God maketh those good Men that please him no injustice shall befal them at the Day of Judgment Consider how they blaspheme it is sufficient that God manifestly beholdeth their sin Seest thou not them that have knowledge of the written Law that believe in Habot and Tagot Idols that say to the Infidels Behold the way of them that believe in God Certainly God hath cursed them he whom he curseth shall find none to protect him Shall they alone have part in the Kingdom of Heaven without giving Alms They will envy their Neighbour for the favours God hath conferred on him Certainly we gave to the posterity of Abraham the knowledge of the Scriptures and Prophecies we bestowed on them great abundance of wealth There were of them that believed in the Scripture and others that contemned it but they shall be punished in the fire of Hell. I will cause them to burn and change their burned skin into a new skin that they may suffer the more God is Omnipotent and prudent in what he ordaineth I will cause those that have believed in God and have performed good works to enter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with most beautiful Women I will give them to enter the shade of Paradise God recommendeth to you Fidelity among your selves to render faithfully what hath been intrusted to you and when you shall judge differences that shall happen among the people judge with Equity It is a good work that he commandeth you he beholdeth and knoweth all things O ye that believe obey God and the Prophets and such as command over you if you be in Controversie concerning any point refer it to God and his Prophet to understand the Exposition if you believe in God and the Day of Judgment you shall do well this will be the best Interpretation that you can attain to Seest thou not that they who think to believe in what hath been inspired into thee and what hath been inspired into thy Predecessors incline to dispute before Tagot Nevertheless they have commanded not to believe in that Idol the Devil laboureth to seduce and withdraw them from the Truth When it was said to them Obey the Commandment of God and his Prophet they departed from thee What will they do when there shall happen to them any punishment of their past sins They will return to thee and swear by the name of God That they desire Peace and to do good Works but God knoweth what is in their hearts and hath abandoned them Cease not to preach to them and to declare to them the Word of God the Prophets and Apostles were not sent but to preach and to be heard through the permission of his Divine goodness If when they have hurt their Souls they come to thee and demand pardon of God thou shalt beg pardon for them they shall find God gracious and merciful They will not believe in his Divine Majesty until they have disputed the difference with thee that is among them and when they shall no more doubt of what thou shalt have done they will without contradiction obey thee We have ordained them to kill each other and to forsake their Houses they have not done it except very few of them and although they did it they did it not to obey what should have been to them a great benefit and exceeding merit we had given them very great reward and guided them to the right way He that shall obey God and his Prophet shall be with them whom God hath endued with his Grace He that knoweth it resigneth himself to his Divine Majesty O you that are true Believers be upon your Guard assembled to fight stoutly for the Law of God. There be among you that be Cowardly when any discomfiture hath befaln you they have said God protected me that I was not with them And when God gave you Victory they spake as if there had been no understanding between them and you Would to God I had been with them I should have acquired exceeding great merit Fight for the glory of God against them that prefer the life of this World to that of Heaven I will give an exceeding great reward to such as shall fight that shall be Victorious and to them that shall be slain fighting for the Faith. Wherefore fight you not for the Law of God for the liberty of Women and Children weak and afflicted that cry Lord deliver us out of this place the people thereof are unjust give us a Protector give us an assured refuge They that believe in God fight for his Law and Infidels fight for the Devil Fight against them that serve the Devil his Policies are weak Consider those to whom it was said Cease to imbrue your hands in the Blood of Infidels persevere in your Prayers and pay Tithes When they were commanded to fight part of them were afraid of the multitude as of God yea more afraid of the multitude than of God and said Lord thou hast not enjoyned us to fight unless thou hast differed us to a near end Say to them The wealth of the Earth is but a small thing there be great Riches in the other World for him that shall have the fear of God before his eyes No injustice shall be done to you wheresoever you are death will meet you notwithstanding you may be in strong Citadels If good happen to the Infidels they say it proceedeth from God if evil befal them they say that cometh from thee Say to them All proceedeth from God what then is the Will of those Men they cannot comprehend this
were in the grace of God said to them enter at the Gate and fight against them you shall be Victorious trust in God if you believe in his Law They said O Moses we will not enter so long as those Tyrants dwell therein go and fight against them with thy Lord we will here attend Then said Moses Lord I dispose but of mine own and my Brothers person separate us from this wicked people the Lord said to him the entrance into the Holy Land is prohibited to this people they shall wander forty years upon the Earth in confusion and amazement afflict not thy self with the Deportments of the wicked teach them the History of the Sons of Adam how they offered Sacrifices how the Sacrifice of the one was accepted that of the other was not he through envy menaced his Brother to murther him his Brother said to him God receiveth the Sacrifices and Holocausts of such as have his fear before their eyes assuredly if thou extendest thine hand to slay me I will not stretch forth mine to hurt thee I fear the Lord of the Universe If thou chargest thy self with the murther of my Person with thy past sins thou shalt go to Hell where the unjust shall be punished The murther of his Brother seemed easie and advantagious for him he slew him and is in the number of the Damned God sent a Raven that made a Pit in the Earth and shewed him the manner to bury the Body of his Brother Then said he would to God I had been weak and impotent that I were like to this Raven I must bury the Body of my Brother and he was penitent for his offence by reason of this murther we ordained to the Children of Israel that he who shall slay a Person innocent shall be punished as if he had slain the whole World and he that shall give him his Life shall be recompensed as if he had given Life to the whole World. My Prophets came to the Children of Israel taught them my Commandments and caused them to see Miracles nevertheless many of them were disobedient the punishment of them that oppose the Will of God that of his Prophet and that endeavour to pollute the Earth is to be slain hanged to have the right foot and the left hand or right hand and the left foot cut off and to be extirpated from the Earth they shall have in this World shame on the Forehead and shall feel in the other great torments except such as shall be converted before their death and shall know that God is gracious and merciful O ye that believe fear God fight for his Law you perhaps shall be happy All the Treasures of the World shall not be able to redeem Infidels at the Day of Judgment they shall endure exceeding great torments they shall desire to go out of the fire of Hell but shall dwell there eternally Cut off the hands of those Men and Women that steal they contract upon themselves the wrath of the World and the punishment that God hath prepared for the wicked He that shall turn and do good works shall be pardoned God is gracious and merciful to the penitent Knowest thou not that the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth is Gods that he chastiseth and pardoneth whom it pleaseth him and that he is Omnipotent O Prophet afflict not thy self to behold them running to impiety that say with the mouth we believe and have no Faith in their hearts neither for them that Iudaize and hearken to the lies of their Doctors to relate them to others they pervert the Language of the Old Testament and say If you be instructed in those Precepts you ought to observe them if they instruct you not in them take heed to your selves Such as make use of the name of God to move the people to Sedition are without Faith God will not purifie their hearts they shall have in this World shame upon the Forehead and feel in the other extream torments They listen to blasphemies and eat what is prohibited If they repair to thee and submit themselves to thy Judgment judge their Controversie with Equity converse not with them if thou depart from their Company they shall not hurt thee if thou givest judgment between them judge with Equity God loveth the Just How shall they submit to thy judgment seeing they have the Old Testament which containeth the Commandments of God They will not execute thy Judgment neither believe in the Old Testament wherein is the guide of the right way and a light to the Prophets to judge the differences arising among true Believers among Iews their Doctors and their Priests who study the Scripture and are Witnesses that it containeth the truth fear not the World but dread me sell not neither exchange my Commandments for any price Such as judge not conformably to the Law of God are Infidels We have ordained the Talio man for man an eye for an eye a nose for a nose an ear for an ear a tooth for a tooth a wound for a wound he that shall observe it shall do well and such as shall not judge conformably to the Law of God are unjust We sent after many Prophets Jesus the Son of Mary who confirmed the ancient Scriptures to him we gave the Gospel full of light to conduct the people to the right way with a confirmation of the Old Testament a guide and instruction for the righteous They that follow the Gospel ought to judge as it is commanded in the Gospel such as judge not conformably to what God hath taught them are disobedient to his Divine Majesty To thee have we sent the Book that containeth the truth and confirmeth the ancient Scritures determine the differences that shall arise among the people as I have inspired thee and follow not the Appetite of men that will abjure the truth which I have taught thee We have instructed all of you in a Law and assured means to lead you into the way of Salvation you should all have been of one and the same Religion had it so pleased God he hath done this to prove you Do good and know that you all shall be assembled before him and he shall resolve the doubts that are among you If thou judgest the differences that are among them judge conformably to what hath been inspired into thee and follow not their Appetites be careful they seduce thee not and move thee to doubt many things that God hath taught thee if they disobey his Commandments know he will severely punish them because of the Enormity of their Crimes The greatest part of the World are impious Do they affect the Judgment of the Ignorant What better Judge for the good is there than God O ye that believe obey not the Iews nor the Christians they mutually obey each other in their impiety he that shall obey them shall be like unto them God guideth not the unjust Thou seest such as are unstable in their Faith flock
to them and say they fear a change of times but God shall give advantage and Victory to his Prophet and they shall repent to have concealed in their minds the Miracles of his Divine Majesty What will they alledge for excuse who swore by the name of God exactly to observe their Religion and to be with you Their good works shall be unprofitable and they in the number of the Damned O ye that believe if you abandon your Faith God will put others in your place that shall love him and he them and this to your great ignominy and the advantage of converted Infidels that shall fight without fear for his Law Thus God bestoweth his grace as he seeth good he is liberal and Omniscient You ought certainly to obey God and his Prophet his Apostle they who believe in God that make their Prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and are in the Protection of God and his Prophet shall be beloved of his Divine Majesty and be Victorious O ye true Believers obey not such as scoff at your Religion who have knowledge of the written Law obey not Infidels and if you are good men fear God obey not them that deride your Prayers it is the action of those that are unwise O ye that understand the written Law will you not abhor me if I believe not in God in what he hath inspired into me and into them that preceded me The greatest part of you are wicked Say to them did I instruct you to do evil when I preached to you the effect of Gods mercy Those whom he curseth against whom he is incensed whom he hath Metamorphosed into Apes and Swine and who have adored Idols shall be confined in the fire of Hell they are in a very evil way When they come to thee they will say they believe in the Law of God they will enter thine House with impiety and go forth in the like manner but God knoweth what they conceal in their heart Thou shalt see many of them embrace Paganism follow a lye eat what is forbidden and this to displease their Doctors and Priests who have forbidden them to speak lies and eat meats that are unclean The Iews said The hand of God is shut contrariwise it is their hand that is shut and they shall be accursed by reason of their discourse certainly the hands of God are open and he doth good to whom he pleaseth Many amongst them through impiety and disobedience alter what is in the Scripture but we have cast among them hatred and horror even to the Day of Judgment God hath extinguished the fire which they had kindled to make War against the righteous they endeavour to pollute the Earth but God detesteth such as cause disorder he remitteth their sins that know the Scripture believe in his Law and flie impiety they shall enter Paradise that is full of delights They have read the Old Testament the Gospel and all Scriptures they enjoy abundance of all good things nevertheless many have disobeyed the Commandments of God. O Prophet preach what God hath taught thee whether thou dost preach it or doest not he will defend thee from the malice of men he abhorreth Infidels O ye that know the written Law if you observe not the Old Testament the Gospel and Scriptures which God hath sent you you shall be without merit Many of them through impiety and ignorance pervert what is contained in the Scripture afflict not thy self with the actions of the impious The Jews Samaritans Christians all that shall have believed in God the Resurrection of the Dead and have done good works shall be exempt from affliction there is nothing for them to fear at the day of Judgment We received of the Children of Israel a promise to believe in our Prophets and Apostles Yet have they slandred many and slain such as would not follow their appetites they believed there was no punishment for their crimes and became deaf and blind After this God pardoned them nevertheless they returned in their sin and are again become deaf and blind God beholdeth all their deportments Certainly they who affirm the Messiah the Son of Mary to be God are impious the Messiah commanded the Children of Israel to worship God his and their Lord the entrance into Paradise is forbidden to him that shall say God hath a Companion equal to him Hell shall be his habitation and the unjust shall find none to protect them at the Day of Judgment Such as affirm there are three Gods are impious there is but one God if they desist not from such discourse they shall burn in the fire of Hell if they turn and implore pardon of God he will be to them gracious and merciful The Messiah the Son of Mary is a Prophet and Apostle of God like to the Prophets that came before him his Mother is holy and both of them did eat and drink Consider how I manifest my unity to Infidels how they blaspheme and depart from the Truth say to them Will you worship instead of God what can neither benefit nor hurt you God understandeth and knoweth all things O ye that have knowledge of the written Law speak of your Religion with reverence and follow not the appetites of such as go astray and walk in an evil way The Infidels were accursed by the Tongue of David and of Messiah the Son of Mary because of their disobedience they abstain not from things that are not approved they do them and through obstinacy will continue them Thou shalt see many of the Inhabitants of Mecca adhere to them by reason of the sin they conceal in their hearts God assuredly will be incensed against them and they shall be confined eternally in the torments of Hell. If they had believed in God in his Prophet and the Scriptures they had not obeyed Infidels but many of them are impious Thou shalt find the Iews and Inhabitants of Mecca who believe in many Gods to be very great enemies to the faithful and the Christians to have a great inclination and amity towards the true believers for that they have Priests and Religious that are humble who have eyes full of tears when they hear mention of the Doctrine which God hath inspired into thee because of their knowledge of the Truth and say Lord We believe in thy Law write us in the number of them that prosess thy Unity who hindreth us to believe in God and the Truth wherein we have been instructed We desire with passion O Lord to be in the number of the just God shall hearken to their Prayers and pardon them he shall open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein is the reward of the righteous and the Infidels shall inhabit the abyss of Hell. O ye who are true believers inhibit not the eating of what God hath permitted offend not God he abhorreth them that offend him eat of the meats that are lawful for you and have his fear before your
and are gone astray from the right way It is God who created the Gardens full of Fruits and herbs of divers colours with Olives Pomegranets and other fruits alike and different Eat of the fruits of the Earth Pay the dues appointed when you reap and dispense not your substance lightly God abhorreth prodigals Of clean beasts some there be that have born the burthen and others that are young and have not born it Eat what God hath given you and follow not the footsteps of the Devil he is your open Enemy Say unto them behold eight pair of Beasts viz. two pair of Wethers two of Ewes two of Camels and two pair of Cowes of which is it permitted or forbidden you to eat Is it lawful for you to eat the Males or Females Which are those that God hath forbidden you Who is more wicked than he that blasphemeth to seduce from the right way the People that are ignorant God guideth not the unjust Say unto them In all that God hath inspired into me I find not that it is prohibited to eat of those beasts except they die of some Disease and if they be slain without pronouncing the name of God. The Flesh of Swine is forbidden you if you eat of it you incur the wrath of God If any one be in necessity and eateth without design to provoke God he shall find God gracious and merciful We forbad the Iews to eat of Beasts whose Feet were cloven and of the fat of Beasts except of such as is interlarded in the flesh the Entrails and the Bones We enjoyned this prohibition by reason of their sin and we are veritable in our words and exact in our promises If they slander thee say unto them The mercy of God is great and the wicked shall not avoid the punishment of their crimes The Infidels have said Had it pleased God we had not been unbelievers neither our Fathers also and nothing had been prohibited Their predecessors spake as they until they felt the punishment of their sin Say unto them Are you assured that God is content with your proceeding Tell us whence ariseth this assurance You in this follow but your opinion you are but lyers Gods providence is great he had guided all of you in the right way had it so pleased him Cause them come before us who said It is unlawful to eat of clean Beasts were they present when God made the Prohibition If they say they were present say not as they neither follow the appetites of blasphemous Infidels who believe not in the end of the word and worship many Gods. Say unto them Come I will instruct you what is by God forbidden to be eaten there is but one sole God say not he hath Companions equal to him do good to your Father and Mother and slay not your Children in fear of dying with Famine God shall bestow on you and them also what shall be necessary commit not whoredom either privately or publickly kill no Man if justice do not command it God requireth you to observe what is above ordained perhaps you will consider it Take not the goods of Orphans but to succour them until they be of age of discretion measure and weight with good weight and just measure I enjoyn no Man any thing but what is in his power to perform Judge with equity although it be against your Parents and Allies satisfie what is above ordained God commandeth it peradventure you will consider it it is the right way which you ought to pursue go not aside God commandeth it perhaps you will fear his Divine Majesty We taught Moses our Commandments it is a peculiar grace to instruct the righteous and guide the People in the right way it may be you will believe in the Resurrection O ye Inhabitants of Mecca We have sent to you the Alcoran full of benediction perform what is ordained flie impiety your sins shall be forgiven you say not That God hath sent his Law to the two Nations that preceded you and that it is hid from you Will you say That had God taught you the Scripture you had been more obedient than they Certainly he hath taught you his Commandments it is a special grace to guide you into the right way Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth against his Divine Majesty and departeth from his Commandments Such Men shall be rigorously chastised in the fire of Hell. Will they expect that the Angels came to visit them That God should punish and declare to them his miracles Will they look for the Day of Judgment wherein repentance and conversion shall be unprofitable Such as believe in one part of the Law and reject the other have no foundation in their belief God shall make them to know their errors and shall punish them after the enormity of their crimes He that shall do a good work shall have a reward tenfold Whosoever acteth any wickedness shall be punished in like manner neither shall he receive injustice Say unto them God hath guided me in the way of his Law such as profess the Law of Abraham profess the unity of God Abraham was not in the number of unbelievers my prayers my vows my life my death shall be consecrated to God he hath no Companion I wholly commend my self to his Divine pleasure Say unto them Do I desire to worship other Gods than the Lord of the Universe The good that a Man doth is for himself and the evil that he committeth is against them you all shall one day appear in the presence of God he shall resolve your disputes He it is that prolongeth your Posterity and exalteth some above others to prove you your Lord is exact to chastise the wicked and gracious and merciful to the righteous CHAP. VII The Chapter of Prisons containing an hundred and six Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet entituled this Chapter the Chapter of Aaraf which is a place between Paradise and Hell where Men suffer no punishment See Mokari Bedaoi and Kitab el tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am God the most wise the most true This Book was sent to thee to preach to the True believers doubt not the Contents of it Say unto them Believe in what was sent to you from your Lord and worship none other God but him few there be among you that consider it How many Cities have we destroyed How often have we inflicted our punishment on their Inhabitants by day and by night when they reposed Nevertheless they said nothing but that they were greatly afflicted We will examine the People to whom we have sent our Prophets and require account of what they have learned and of what they have done We will examine our Prophets and demand an account of such as have followed and obeyed them I will cause them to remember what they have done worthy of reward We forsook not our Prophets when they preached to them the Truth their
Quarter of you give them Quarter to the end they may learn the word of God teach them his Commandments for they are ignorant How should they have Truce with God and his Prophet If they believe neither in the one nor the other except them with whom you entred Truce in the Temple of Mecca If they observe their promise to you observe what ye promised to them God loveth such as have his fear before their eyes How shall they have Truce with you If they have advantage over you they will respect neither your alliance nor confederacy They will speak well of you and contemn you in their heart the greatest part of them are impious they have preferred the riches of this World to the Commandments of God and have hindred the People to follow his Law as if they knew not what they did they bear no respect to the True believers wherein they are exceedingly to blame If they turn and make their prayers at the time appointed if they pay Tithes they shall be your Brethren in God. I teach the mysteries of faith to such as have understanding to comprehend them if they break their promise and disturb them of your Religion kill their Captains as persons without faith they will perhaps put an end to their impiety Slay such especially that renounce their faith who have endeavoured to drive the Prophet from Mecca and have begun to slay you will you fear them Will ye be terrified by them It is reasonable that ye fear God if ye believe in his Law fight them God shall chastise them by your hands he shall render them dishonourable and protect you against them he shall fortifie the hearts of True believers and expel melancholy he pardoneth whom he seeth good knoweth all things and is most prudent in what he ordaineth Think ye to be forsaken of God and that he discerneth not them that have fought gallantly for his Law from such as have adored Idols and disobeyed his Prophet The True believers abandon not their Religion another time to profess it God knoweth all your actions Infidels must not enter into the Temple of Mecca knowing that they are Infidels the good works which they shall do in this World shall be unprofitable and they shall dwell eternally in the fire of Hell. They that believe in God and the Day of Judgment that make their prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and worship one God alone shall visit the Temples of his Divine Majesty and such as fear the Creatures more than the Creator err from the right way We have ordained that such as shall bear fresh Water to Pilgrims and them that shall visit the Temple of Mecca shall be in the number of them that believe in God and the Day of Judgment Such as fight for the faith are not all equal in graces and merits before God he guideth not the unjust Such as have believed in God as have departed from the wicked and employed their wealth and persons to fight for his Law shall have a particular degree and a particular place near to his Divine Majesty they shall be the more happy God through his goodness declareth to them that they shall enter into delicious Gardens where they shall remain eternally there is with God a very great reward O ye that believe obey not your Fathers nor your Brothers that love rather to follow impiety than the faith Such as shall obey them shall offend exceedingly if your Father your Children your Brothers your Wives your Parents your friends the wealth that you have gained the fear of losing your riches and apprehension of poverty have more of power over you than God and his Prophet and hinder you to fight for the faith the Commandment of God shall be executed against you he guideth not the wicked and hath protected you in many occasions Remember the day of Battle of Hanin when ye rejoyced in the multitude of your Men it did not advantage you fear made you find the place too narrow for flight and ye turned the Back as vanquished Remember that God at that time put his Prophet and the true Believers in a place of safety and sent invisible Troops to chastise the Infidels he pardoneth sins as seemeth good to him he is gracious and merciful O ye that believe in God! Unbelievers are unclean permit not that they enter into the Temple of Mecca after this year if ye have apprehension of want God shall enrich you with his Grace if it please him he is Omniscient and most prudent Fight against them that believe not in God nor the Day of Judgment that forbid not to act what God hath prohibited and his Prophet hath forbidden and that judge not according to the Law of truth wherein they were instructed who heretofore received the written Law they chuse rather to pay Tribute than to be converted therefore are they contemptible The Iews have said that the Son of God is most powerful the Christians that the Messiah is the Son of God their words are like to the words of the Infidels that preceded them but God shall lay upon them his Curse Consider how they blaspheme they adore their Doctors and Priests and the Messiah also the Son of Mary who commanded them to worship one God alone there is but one 〈◊〉 God praised be God there is nothing equal to him they would extinguish the light of God with their mouth but he shall not suffer them he shall cause it to appear notwithstanding it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Infidels He hath sent his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men into the right way to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law of Truth and to make it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all other Laws of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Will of Idolaters O ye that truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many of the Doctors and Priests eaâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the substance of the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them from the Law of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as â—…reasure up and expend nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…s works they shall suffer great torments at the day when the fire of Hell shall be kindled upon them it shall burn their Forehead sides and back it shall be said to them behold the wealth which ye have treasured up for your Souls taste the Fruits of your Treasures which ye have amassed When God created the Heaven and the Earth he ordained the year of twelve Months amongst which four are priviledged Offend not God especially in those Months fight at all times against Unbelievers as they will fight against you and know that God is with them that have his fear before their eyes Sloth and forgetfulness abound in impiety God misâ—…eadeth through negligence the Unbelievers that prefer one Month to another in imitation of what is commanded they permit to do what God hath forbidden and delight in the Malice of their Actions but God is not the guide of the wicked O ye that believe wherefore have ye inclined to the Earth Why did ye prefer the wealth of this World to that of Paradise when you
jealousie and raise the dust in the midst of enemies That man is ingrateful for the graces of his Lord he himself is witness of his ingratitude and too much affecteth the riches of the Earth knoweth he not that God will make all the world to revive that he wlll bring to light whatsoever is most secret in the hearts of men and that he knoweth all that they have done CHAP. CI. The Chapter of Affliction containing eleven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful When the extreme affliction shall appear I will not tell thee in what time this shall be then shall all men be assembled stretched out like Quilts and the mountains shall be like carded wool Such whose ballance shall be weighty with good works shall go into Paradise and they whose ballance shall be light of good works shall go into hell they shall go into a fire so hot that I am not able to express the heat CHAP. CII The Chapter of Abundance containing eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Certainly all your care even to the grave is in the abundance of your wealth but ye shall hereafter learn ye shall hereafter learn the truth If ye had knowledge ye would meditate on the torments of hell you shall see one day that they are indubitable then shall ye ask where is Paradise CHAP. CIII The Chapter of the Evening IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the hour of the Evening That men are inclined to their destruction except such as believe in God that do good works and have in esteem truth and perseverance CHAP. CIV The Chapter of Persecution containing seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Misery is upon him that persecuteth his Neighbour Persecution hath its Counter-Persecution He that heapeth up treasures and is busied to count them thinketh they will make him immortal but they shall precipitate him into his misery I will not tell thee into what misery but the fire of hell is always kindled to burn the heart of the wicked they shall be overwhelmed in flames and bound to great pillars CHAP. CV The Chapter of Elephants containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Considerest thou not how thy Lord entreated them that came mounted upon Elephants to ruin the Temple of Mecca Was not their Conspiracy their own destructiom God sent against them flying Troops that threw upon them Stones whereon were imprinted their names he made them like to Corn sown in Fields devoured by Beasts CHAP. CVI. The Chapter of Coreis containing four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Coreis had no humanity for them the People come every Winter and every Summer to worship the God of the Temple of Mecca which nourisheth and delivereth them from famine and fear CHAP. CVII The Chapter of the Law containing seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Sawest thou him that blasphemed against the Law He it is that devoureth the substance of Orphans and the bread of the Poor Misery is upon them that are not attentive to their Prayers that are Hypocrites and hinder men to do well CHAP. CVIII The Chapter of Affluence containing three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful We have given thee a great Affluence of our Graces Pray to thy Lord lift up thine hands he that hateth thee shall be accursed CHAP. CIX The Chapter of Infidels containing six Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Oh Infidels Idolaters I worship not what ye worship and ye worship not what I worship I will not worship that which ye worship and ye will not worship that which I worship you observe your Law and I mine CHAP. CX The Chapter of Protection containing four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful A great number of People embrace the Law of God when he protecteth the true Believers and giveth them victory Exalt his Glory and implore pardon of him he is most merciful CHAP. CXI The Chapter of the Cord of Palm containing eleven Verses written at Mecca Galaldin entituleth this The Chapter of Loss IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Ablheb lost his hand God chastised him his Riches shall not save him he shall burn in eternal Flames with his Wife that carrieth Wood upon her Neck bound with a Cord of Palm CHAP. CXII The Chapter of Salvation containing four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say unto unbelievers God is eternal he neither begetteth nor is begotten and hath no companion CHAP. CXIII The Chapter of Separation containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say unto them God who hath separated light from darkness shall defend me from all the evils that he hath created from danger darkness from them that blow against the knot of the string from Sorcerers and the Envious CHAP. CXIV The Chapter of the People containing six Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say unto them I will beware of the temptations of the Devil and the malice of the people through the assistance of the Lord and King of the people FINIS Grotius de ver Rel. Christ. * The Coreis were â—… powerful family in Arabia in Mahomet â—… time A great question among Mahometans * Now a City called Medina-talnabi i e. the Town of the Prophet †Some will have him to be his Grand father * Sarra signifies in their tongue a Desart and Sahen to inhabit See Sands his Travel Euseâ—… in vit Coast. l. 9. c. 9. Hist. Theâ—…d l. 5. c. 24. Socrat l. c. â—… 18. Aug. l. 5. de civit dei c. 23. Psal. 10. 4 Vt iugulent hâ—…mines surgunt de nocte latronâ—…s Mat. 13. Rev. 20. Rev. 9. See Eâ—…pennius his Grammar See the Explication of Gelaldin See Gelaldin * The Puny is a stinking Worm frequently growing in Beds in hot Countries See Kitab el tenoir The Alcoran in the old and new Testament Gelaldin saith the innocent slay the wicked We have pardoned you see Gelaldin Gelaldin saith it is Ierusalem See Kitab el tenoir See Gelaldin See Kitab el tenoir * The Turks believe that a man shall rise again being smitten with the tongue of that Cow. See Bedaci See Gelaldin See Kitab el tenoir * The Turks believe that God raised a Mountain over the Israelites to overshadow them * Mahomet Arot and Marot Magicians The Iews and Christians who have the written Law See Gelaldin * Abraham's place is an Oratory in the Temple of Mecca See Gelaldin These are the Iews and Christians that follow the written Law. * So the Turks stile themselves * Safa and Meroa are Mountains near Mecca See Kitâ—… el teâ—…oir