wicked God will not enlighten you neither hearken to your prayers because ye have traduced his Prophet the time of the punishment of your crimes shall suddenly arrive CHAP. XXVI The Chapter of Poets containing an hundred and twenty seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most pure he understandeth all things he is most wise These signs are the signs of the book that distinguisheth truth from falshood wilt thou destroy thy self because men are impious If I will I can cause my judgments to descend upon them that shall humble them they despise my Commandments they scoff but shall be rigorously punished See they not how many fruits we have made to spring out of the earth It is a token of our Omnipotency nevertheless the greatest part of them believe not that thy Lord is the omnipotent and the merciful Instruct them how thy Lord said unto Moses thou shalt be my messenger to the Infidels and the people of Pharoah that they may have my fear before their eyes Moses said Lord I fear they may traduce me and that my tongue cannot be loosed send with me my brother Aaron they know the fault I have committed and will put me to death The Lord said to him they shall not put thee to death go both whither I command you I will be with you and will hear what they say say to Pharoah that ye are the Messengers of the Lord of the World and let him dismiss with you the Children of Israel Pharoah said unto Moses have I not seen thee within this house a little Child Didst thou not dwell with us many years Dist thou not kill a man Thou art impious Moses said I did what I did I was in the number of the seduced I fled when I feared you since that time God hath given me knowledg and placed me in the number of his Prophets and Apostles he hath sent me his grace to set before thee the evil that thou dost commit in causing thy self to be adored of the Children of Israel Pharoah said unto him who is that God of the World He answered it is the Lord of Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them Pharoah said to them that were about him Hear ye not what he saith Moses continued his speech and said my Lord is your God the God of your Fathers and of your Predecessors Pharoah said this Prophet that is sent to you is a fool Moses said I am indeed the Messenger of the Lord of the West and East if ye had understanding to know him Pharoah said if thou worship any other God but me I will cause thee to be put unto the bottom of a Pit Moses said to him Wilt thou do it seeing I am come to thee with reasons so strong and arguments so infallible Pharaoh said unto him Bring thy reasons if thou art true Then he cast his staff on the ground and it was changed into a Serpent he drew his Hand out of his bosom it appeared white and shining to the Eyes of the spectators Then said Pharoah to them that were about him Certainly behold here a skilful Magician he would drive you from your Country through his Magick what say ye They answered He with his Brother must be terrified and men must be sent into all thy Cities to assemble the most knowing Magicians of all thy Dominions when they came together at the day appointed it was demanded of them if they were called to follow the magick of Moses and of Aaron They said what shall be our reward if we be victorious Pharoah said unto them Yes ye shall be rewarded and be among them that approach my Person Moses said unto them will you cast your staves on the ground or shall I first cast mine They cast their cords and their staves first saying With the assistance of Pharoah we shall be victorious then Moses cast his Rod on the ground which devoured their cords and staves when they beheld this miracle they fell prostrate and said We believe in the Lord of the World God of Moses and Aaron Pbaroah said to them If ye believe in Moses without my permission ye shall see what shall 〈◊〉 you he is your Master he understandeth Magick better than you I will cause your right feet and left hands or your right hands and left feet to be cut off and cause you all to be hanged they said This shall do us none harm we shall return before God our Lord we hope that he will remit our sins because we shall be the first Converts We said unto Moses go with the Children of Israel my servants and fear not the People of Pharoah that shall follow thee Pharoah sent his Commissioners through his Dominions to assemble the People and said speaking of the Children of Israel those men are few in number they have displeased me but I will well awake them We moved Pharoah and his People to depart out of Egypt to pursue the Children of Israel we caused them to quit their Gardens Fountains and Houses of pleasure and made the Children of Israel heirs of their treasure they surpriz'd them at the rising of the Sun when the Children of Israel beheld them they said we are overtaken Moses answered No my Lord is with me he shall guide me then we inspired Moses to strike the Sea with his Rod incontinently it divided it self on both sides like two Mountains we saved him and all that were wiâ—…h him and drowned the men of Pharoah which shall serve for an example to the incredulous and obstinate thy Lord is Omnipotent and merciful Relate to unbelievers the History of Abraham when he said to his Father and his People whom do ye adore they answered We adore our Idols he said unto them Do they hear you when ye invoke them Do they good unto you when ye worship them or mischief when ye neglect them they answered We find that our Fathers worshipped them as we do Abraham said unto them you and your Fathers worship vain things ye adore only Idols mine Enemies I will not worship them I will worship the Lord of the World who created guideth and nourisheth me who giveth me health when I am sick who maketh me to live and will cause me to die and from whom I hope for pardon of my Sins at the Day of Judgment Lord give me the knowledg of thy will grant that my Tongue and Words may be credited as true by Posterity put me into the number of the Heirs of Paradise pardon my Father who hath been in the number of the erroneous and make me not ashamed at the Day of the Resurrection at the Day when riches and Children shall be unprofitable except to such as shall have an heart estranged from Impiety God shall make the righteous to approach to Paradise and the wicked to see Hell They shall say Can the Idols that ye adore save you Can they save themselves They shall be
an infinite pain by reason of their lying When it was said to them Pollute not the earth they said We are true observers of the Law of God notwithstanding they were they that polluted the earth but they knew it not When it was said to them Believe ye as the world believeth They said Shall we believe as fools believe they themselves are fools and know it not When they met with such as believed in God they said We believe as you do And when they returned towards the Devils their Companions they said We believe as you and mock at those men Certainly God mocketh them and continueth them in their Errours to their confusion They that have purchased Errour for the right way have gained nothing in their commerce and are not well directed they are like to such as kindled fire and when it hath enlightened what is about them God hath deprived them of light and left them in darkness deaf dumb blind and they shall never be converted or as a cloud of Heaven full of darkness thunder and lightning they stop their ears with their fingers by reason of the noise and for fear of death but God seeth the unbelievers he caused lightning to approach that ravished from them their sight they have followed what appeared to them and are detained in darkness But if God had pleased he had deprived them both of hearing and sight for he is Omnipotent O People worship your Lord who created you and all that were before you it may be that you will fear him that hath extended the Earth that raised the Heaven and caused Rain to descend that caused the production of Fruits to enrich you Say not That God hath a Companion equal to him because you know the contrary If you doubt that I have sent my servant come and bring some Chapters like to the Alcoran and call to witness the Idols that you adore if you are good men if you have not done it or cannot perform it Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Infidels and Idolaters and declare to true believers who do good works That they shall enjoy the immense pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers they shall there find all sorts of fair and savoury Fruits which God hath prepared for them they shall consider if they be like to such as they had before in the world They shall there have Wives fair and delicate and shall dwell in eternal felicity God is not ashamed to compare a little Puny to an extream Greatness Now so it is that true believers know that it proceedeth from their Lord. The wicked demand what God doth mean by that comparison He by this means mis-leadeth and directeth many men but mis-leadeth none but the disobedient Such as pervert his Testament and his Promises such as retrench his Commandments and defile the Earth are damned Why will you be impious seeing that God hath given you life after death He will cause you to die he will raise you again and you shall all return before him to be judged He it is that created whatever is upon Earth and ascending to Heaven hath ordained seven Heavens knowing all things Remember to instruct men that thy Lord said to his Angels I would create a Vicar upon Earth and when they answered Wilt thou there place him that shall defile it and shed Blood while we exalt thy Glory and sanctifie thee I know said he what you know not He taught Adam the Names of all things who discovered them to the Angels to whom God said Declare to me the Names of all things that I have created if you know them they replyed Praise is due to thy Divine Majesty we know nothing but what thou hast taught us thou alone art knowing and wise He said to Adam Declare to them the Names of all things that I have created After he had taught them God said Did I not tell you that I knew what is not neither in Earth nor Heaven and that I understand whatever you make manifest and whatever you keep most secret Remember thou that we said to the Angels Humble your selves before Adam they all humbled themselves except the Devil He was already proud and in the number of the wicked We said unto Adam Dwell thou and thy Wife in Paradise and eat there what thou likest but approach not that Tree lest thou be in the number of the unjust The Devil made them to sin and depart from the Grace in which they were then we said to them Descend you enemies one to another you shall have a dwelling upon Earth and goods wherewith to live for a time Adam begged pardon for his fault of his Lord he pardoned him because he is gracious and merciful and said Descend and go all of you out of Paradise there shall hereafter come to you a guide from me Such as shall follow him shall be delivered from fear and affliction at the day of Judgment such as shall be impious and conceal my Commandments shall burn eternally in the fire of Hell. O Children of Israel remember the Grace I have done you I will satisfie my Promises perform yours fear me and believe in what I have sent from Heaven confirming what was before taught you be not the first impious and forsake not my Law at any rate fear me and cover not the Truth with a lye neither willingly conceal it Make your Prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and worship your Lord with them that adore him Will you command people that have no care of their Souls to do good Will you meditate upon Scripture with observing it Entreat for succour with Patience and with Prayers they abound not but in them that are obedient that believe they shall one day behold their Lord and shall return before him to be judged O Children of Israel call to mind my favours I have preferred you to all the world fear the day wherein one Soul shall not be chastised for another when Prayer shall not be heard neither ransom succours nor protection be found for the wicked Remember that we delivered you from the hands of Pharaoh who afflicted you through the violence of torments who murthered your Children abused your Wives and that your Lord encreased your Miseries because of the Enormity of your Crimes Remember that we divided the Seas to save you and that we drowned Pharaoh's men in your view nevertheless you worshipped the Calf when we detained Moses with us forty Nights in which you were extreamly to blame after this we pardoned you it may be that you will give me thanks We gave unto Moses the Book that distinguisheth good from evil perhaps you will be converted Remember that Moses said to his people You were to blame for having adored the Calf repent and be converted to your Creator Slay one another that will be a thing acceptable to God he will pardon your Crime he is gracious and merciful You said O Moses
them and they shall not erre Safa and Meroa are Tokens of his power He that shall go on Pilgrimage to Mecca shall not do amiss to visit those two places he that obeyeth shall do well God rewardeth them that do good works and knoweth all things I will lay my Curse upon such as conceal my Commandments they shall be accursed above whatever is in this world except them that shall be converted that shall do good works and bring to light what they concealed I will give them my Grace I am gracious and merciful The wicked that died in their impiety shall be eternally accursed of God of Angels and of all the World they shall never be eased in their torments and shall be without end deprived of protection Your God is one sole God there is none other God but God gracious and merciful The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth the difference of the day and the night the Ship that saileth on the Sea for the advantage of Commerce the Rain that falleth from Heaven to give Life to the Earth after it's death the diversity of Winds and the Clouds that move between Heaven and Earth are Signs 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 befel them they could not re-unite 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 Errour with exceeding sorrow and they shall be eternally confined in the fire of Hell. O ye people eat what is good and savoury in the Earth and follow not the steps of the Devil he is your open enemy he will command you that which is evil and filthy and to speak of God what you know not When it was said to the Infidels obey the Commandments of God they said We will follow the steps of our Fathers we will observe what they observed surely their Fathers were unwise and mis led they are like to him that cryeth and understandeth nothing of what is spoken but the voice they are deaf dumb blind and without judgment O ye that believe in God eat the good things that he hath given you and give him thanks if it be him that you worship He forbiddeth you to eat Carrion Blood Swines flesh and whatever is not killed in pronouncing the name of his Divine Majesty except it be in extreme necessity and in this case it shall not be reputed disobedience nor sin God is benigne and merciful what they eat that conceal 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 judgment but with fury he will not purifie them and they shall suffer rigorous torments They that have purchased Errour for the right way and punishment for pardon shall burn in the fire of Hell for that God hath sent the most true Book that containeth his Commandments they that impugne what is contained in that Book are in an exceeding great Errour far from the truth It is not justification to turn the Face making your Prayers towards the East or West he shall be justified that shall believe in God the day of judgment the Angels the Scriptures and the Prophets and that in Charity shall impart some part of his Goods to his Parents to Orphans to the Poor to Pilgrims and to Slaves Such as believe in God and have his fear before their Eyes persevere in their Prayers pay Tithes they satisfie their Promises and are patient in their adversities O ye that believe the Talio is commanded you in murther the free for the free the Slave for the Slave the Woman for the Woman But if any one pardon the blood of his Brother he shall prosecute the Malefactor according to what he shall see most advantagious through damages and interests It is a facility which God hath given you through his mercy He that shall do injury to the Malefactor having received satisfaction of him shall suffer grievous torments at the day of Judgment you shall find life in the Talio O you that are wise it may be you will fear God He commandeth you to make your Testament when you approach unto death give Legacies of your substance to your Father and Mother your near Kindred and bestow Alms on the poor 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 feareth that there is an Errour in the Testament that opposeth Reason he shall do well to reconcile the parties with affection God is gracious and bountiful O ye that believe Fasting is commanded you as it was them that were before you you shall fear God and Fast particularly a certain number of days but if any one among you is sick or in travel at the time of Fasting he shall count the days that he fasted not and shall fulfil them at another time Such as are not of strength to Fast shall satisfie for Fasting through Alms he that shall obey shall do well If you Fast you shall do well Fast the month of Ramazan in which the Alcoran descended from Heaven to guide men into the right way it containeth Precepts of Divine Right and distinguisheth good from evil all those that live to this Month ought to Fast. He that is sick or in a Voyage shall accomplish the days that he Fasted not another time at his Conveniency God willeth that his Law should be light unto you and not a Burthen his Will is that you observe the days of Fasting and that you return him thanks for that he hath guided you in the right way perhaps you will give him thanks I will be near unto my Servants when they shall enquire of thee concerning the Mysteries of my Law I will hear their Supplications when they invoke me that they may persevere in obedience to my Commandments peradventure they will follow the right way It is lawful for you to know your Wives the night of Fasting they are necessary to you as your Cloaths and you are to them as necessary as their Garments God knoweth that otherwise you should have betrayed your Souls he is bountiful to you and hath pardoned you know them and perform what God hath appointed you Eat and drink until you may distinguish a white thread from a black by the light of the morning then begin to fast until night Know not your wives
hand the tie of marriage doth not leave to them the whole of courtesie it is requisite to gratifie them and to forget nothing of the benefits between you God beholdeth all your actions stand upon your guard when you make your prayers especially that at noon and be obedient unto God. If you fear your enemies and cannot place your selves on your knees neither perform the Ceremonies that are appointed you omit not to say your prayers on foot or on horseback and being freed from fear remember God and how he hath taught you what you know not Such as die shall be good to their Wives by their Testament they shall bestow on them wherewith to live during the time they must tarry before they marry again drive them not from your houses If they willingly depart the sin of what they shall do in their own persons shall not be upon you God is Omnipotent and just you shall likewise do good to your Wives that you have divorced according to your power it is a thing reasonable among such as fear God Thus God teacheth you his Commandments perhaps you will learn them See you not them that departed their houses for the fear they had of death they are thousands in number God hath said to them die after this he raised them again God is the Benefactor of the People but the greatest part return him no thanks for his favours Fight for his Law and know that he understandeth and knoweth all things Who is he that will afford him a good turn He will augment him with multiplicity of increase he giveth good and taketh it away from whom it pleaseth him you shall all return before him to be judged Knowest thou not that a company of the Children of Israel after the death of Moses said to their Prophet send us a King we with him will fight for the Law of God He answereth them have you disobeyed the Commandments of God If they enjoyn you to fight you will not do it They said we have no greater desire than to fight for the glory of his Divine Majesty we for this Cause have abandoned our houses and those of our Parents nevertheless when they were commanded to fight they all except some few of them retired but God knoweth them that sin against him Their Prophet said to them God hath sent Saul to be your King they answered why shall he be our King we rather deserve the Royalty than he he is not rich enough he replied God hath chosen him to command you he hath encreased his knowledge and Stature he giveth Royalty to whom he listeth he is liberal and prudent in all his Actions Their Prophet said to them the sign of his Reign shall be that the Ark shall appear to you from God to confirm your hearts wherein shall be contained the remainder of what the people of Moses and Aaron left and it shall be born by Angels this shall be to you the sign of his Reign if you believe in God. When Saul went forth with his Troops to fight his Enemies he said God shall try you by a River he that shall drink of that River shall not be mine unless he drink with his hand they all except some few of them drank at their Pleasure and having past that River with the true Believers they said we have not this day strength sufficient to resist Goliah and his Troops but such as believed in God and feared his Divine Majesty said how often through the permission of God hath a small Troop defeated a great Army He is with them that are patient when they saw Goliah with his Troops appear they said Lord give us patience confirm our steps and give us Victory over the Infidels They through the permission of God vanquished their Enemies David slew Goliah and God gave him the Royalty and knowledge of future things Had not God raised the people one against the other the whole Earth had been full of disorders such are the Miracles of God as I declare to thee with truth thou art indeed one of the Prophets of his Divine Majesty We have conferred our graces on the Prophets on some more than on others many have spoken to their Lord and some have been more elevated than others We gave knowledge to Jesus the Son of Mary and fortified him through the Holy Spirit Had it pleased God the Prophets that came heretofore had not been slain after they had taught his Commandments Men were of different Opinions some believed in God others were impious had it pleased God they had not been slain but he doth what pleaseth him O ye that are true Believers dispense in Alms some part of your wealth that we have given you before the day arrive wherein you shall find no Ransom Alms Protection nor Prayers that can succour you Certainly Infidels are greatly to blame God! There is but one only God living and eternal think not that he slumbereth or sleepeth whatever is in Heaven or in Earth is his who shall intercede for thee with his Divine Majesty unless by his permission He knoweth all the Actions of men and whatever they have done they know nothing but what it hath pleased him â—…o teach them The largeness of his Throne containeth Heaven and Earth and the Conservation of both is not troublesome to him he is Omnipotent and glorious The Law ought not to be abjured it manifesteth the difference of Faith and Impiety He that believeth not in Tagot or the Devil and hath Faith in God layeth hold on the strongest knot that cannot be dissolved broken or cut asunder God understandeth and knoweth all things he aideth and assisteth them that believe in his Unity he will cause them to come out of darkness and will guide them into light the wicked shall have Tagot and the Devil for their Protector he shall cause them to forsake the light and shall lead them into darkness such men shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell. Consider you not his Action to whom God had given the Royalty When he disputed concerning God with Abraham Abraham said to him My Lord is he that giveth life and death He said I even I give life and death to my Subject when I see good Abraham answered God causeth the Sun to rise in the East make thou it to arise in the West then the Infidel was confuted God is not a guide to unjust Persons Hast thou considered the action of him that came into a Village desolate and ruined and said How is it that God can be able to give life unto this Village after it's death and re-establish it after so great a ruine Then God caused him to die after the space of an hundred years raised him again and said to him How long hast thou continued here he answered I have sojourned here a day and a half On the contrary thou hast been here an hundred years consider thy Meat and Drink that they are not altered through
other he that shall be trusted in shall satisfie his promise and fear God his Lord no Man shall conceal his testimony he that shall conceal shall sin in his heart God knoweth all your actions Whatsoever is in Heaven or in Earth belonging unto God whether you conceal or reveal what is in your minds he shall require an account of you he pardoneth and chastiseth whom it pleaseth him he is Omnipotent The Prophet believed in all that God sent to him as likewise all the true believers Such as believe in God the Angels and Scriptures and generally all the Prophets without exception say We have heard and obeyed Pardon us O Lord Thou art our refuge God requireth of no Man more than he is able to perform the good that a Man shall do shall be for himself and the evil that he doth shall be likewise against him Lord excuse us if we have forgotten thee or sinned Lord charge us not with any heavy burthen as thou didst charge them that were before us charge us not with that which we are not able to support blot out our sins and give us thy mercy Thou art our Lord give us victory against the Infidels CHAP. III. The Chapter of the Lineage of Joachim containing two hundred Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the most wise God. God! There is but one only God living and eternal He hath sent to thee the Book that containeth truth and confirmeth the Scriptures that were sent before it He sent the Old Testament and the Gospel that were heretofore guides to the People He hath sent the Alcoran that distinguisheth good from evil they that believe not in the Law of God shall be severely chastised He is Omnipotent and revengeful Nothing is hid from him in Heaven or in Earth It is he that formed you in the Wombs of your Mothers as it pleased him there is no God but the Omnipotent and Wise God. He it is that sent to thee the Book whose precepts are necessary they are the original and foundation of the Law like in purity one to the other and without contradiction Such as in their heart incline to depart from the truth do often follow their inclination desirous of Sedition and to understand the explication of the Alcoran but none understand it's explication but God and such as are profound in learning they say we believe in God all things proceed from his Divine Wisdom nevertheless none remember but the wise Lord cause not our hearts to erre after thou hast guided us into the right way give us thy mercy thou art most bountiful towards thy Creatures Lord thou art he that shalt assemble the World at the Day of Judgment at which day nothing shall be found doubtful when thou wilt not go against thy Promises and when wealth and Children shall not serve to the wicked but to kindle the fire of Hell. The Infidel Lineage of Pharoah and those that preceded him blasphemed and abjured the Law of God but he surprized them in their sin he is grievous in his Chastisements Say to the Infidels they shall be vanquished and shall be gathered together into the fire of Hell that is prepared for them You have an example in the two Troops that fought for the glory of God they beheld with their eyes Infidels become true Believers like unto themselves God strengtheneth with his Aid whom it pleaseth him this shall be for example to such as shall clearly see The love and desire of Women of Children of Riches abundance of Gold and of Silver of Horses Cattel and of Tillage are pleasing to Men such are the Riches of the life of this World but the most assured refuge is in God. Say unto them I will declare unto you things much better for them that shall have the fear of God before their eyes they shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many Rivers with Women beautiful and Lean and all manner of Content God beholdeth them that adore him and that say Lord we believe in thy Law pardon our sins and deliver us from the torments of Fire The Patient the persevering true Believers the obedient the good Men such as beg Pardon of God in the Morning the Angels the Learned that love Justice testifie that there is but one only God. The Law of Salvation is a Law pleasing to his Divine Majesty no man contradicteth this Truth among such as know the written Law but through Envy He that shall not obey the Commandments of God shall find his Divine Majesty very exact to call him to an Account If the impious dispute with thee say to them I am wholly resigned to the Will of God with all such as have followed me Ask of such as know the written Law and them that know it not if they resign themselves to God if they do they will follow the right way if they go astray thou hast none other Obligation but to preach to them God beholdeth them that adore him Declare grievous torments to those that conceal his Commandments that kill the Prophets and injure them that instruct the people in Justice the good Works that they do shall be unprofitable to them on Earth and they shall be in the other World deprived of protection Seest thou not a party of them that know the written Law how they were called to a Lecture of the Book of God to the end they might judge with Equity the differences that are among them but many are returned to their sin they contemned the Scripture in that they said the fire shall not touch us but for a certain number of days They are deceived in their blasphemies what will become of them when we shall assemble them at the day of Judgment when nothing shall be doubtful and every one shall be recompensed as he shall have merited No injustice shall be done unto them Say Lord thou possessest the Kingdoms of the World thou givest Royalty to whom thou seest good from thy hand O Lord proceedeth all good thou art Omnipotent thou causest day to enter the night and night the day thou causest life to come out of death and death out of life thou enrichest without measure whom thou seest good The Believers shall not obey the unbelievers to the exclusion of true Believers he that doth this thing observeth not the law of God but if you fear your Enemies God willeth that you fear him also he is the assured refuge of the righteous say to them whether you conceal what is in your heart or whether you manifest iâ—… God knoweth all things he knoweth all that is either in Heaven or Earth he is Omnipotent think on the day wherein every one shall find the good and the evil that he hath done then shall you desire to be cleansed from your sins and that the number of your good works exceed that of your evil God willeth that you fear him he is
It shall be said to them that have black visages Have you followed impiety after you made profession of the Faith Taste this day the torment due to your sin Such as shall have white visages shall be in the favour of God in which they shall eternally continue See there the Mysteries of the Law of God which instructeth thee with Truth God willeth that no injustice be done to his People whatever is in Heaven or in Earth appertaineth to him he disposeth all things There hath appeared no Nation on the Earth that hath followed a better way than you forbid ye to do that which is not reasonable and believe in one only God If those that heretofore had knowledge of the written Law had believed in God they had done very well there be among them that believe what is veritable but the greatest part are impious They shall not hurt you but with their tongue and shall find no protection against you if they fight you they shall turn their backs they were beaten with shame and ignominy where they made a stand except when they embraced the Law of God and observed the precepts that were taught the faithful When they returned in the wrath of God they were beaten with poverty because they believed not the word of his Divine Majesty but slew his Prophets without reason and disobeyed his Commandments They that heretofore had knowledge of the written Law are not all alike there be among them that persevered in obedience and in the night meditate on the miracles of God worship him and believe in his Divine Majesty and the Day of Judgment preach honesty prohibit to do things dishonest and apply themselves to good works certainly they are good Men. Hide not the good works which you perform God knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Riches and Children shall be unprofitable to Infidels with God they shall eternally dwell in the fire of Hell The Alms that they give in this World are like to a Wind exceeding hot or extreamly cold that fell upon the Tillage of them that did injury to their own Souls and wholly destroyed it God did no injustice to them they were mischievous to themselves through their sins O ye that believe in God esteem no man to be elected of God that is not of your Religion The wicked endeavoured to bring you into their disorders malice appeared in their mouth and that which their heart cherisheth is yet greater We have taught you the Commandments of God if you observe them you shall protect your selves from the malice of Infidels O ye you love them and they love not you you believe generally in the Scriptures and they believe not what you believe When they met you they said We believe in God and when they were gone from you they bit for anger their Fingers ends Say to them Die with your Choler God knoweth what is in your hearts If good happen to you they are displeased and when evil befalleth you they rejoyce If you have patience and fear God their malice shall not hurt you God knoweth all their Actions Remember the morning when some of thy people deserted the true Believers in the Field of battel and when two of thy Companions forsook the fight God was their Protector All true Believers ought to trust in him He protected you at Beder where you were a few Men ill armed perhaps you will fear him and give him thanks for that favour Say to the true Believers sufficeth it not that God succoureth you with three thousand of his Angels Truly if you have patience and fear God he will come to succour you at need and your Lord will assist you with five thousand of his Angels sent from Heaven he will not send you this assistance but to declare to you his Protection and to confirm your hearts Victory proceedeth from his Divine Majesty He is Omnipotent and prudent in all his works he will extirpate in this World one part of the wicked or will so sharply reprehend them that they shall become desperate Thou hast nothing to do whether he shall pardon or chastise them because they are wicked Whatever is in the Earth and in Heaven is his he pardoneth as he seeth good he is gracious and merciful to the righteous O ye that believe be not Usurers and fear God peradventure you will obey his Commandments Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Infidels Obey God and the Prophets his Apostles your sins shall be forgiven you beg pardon speedily of your Lord. The extent of Paradise containeth Heaven and Earth it is prepared for the good God loveth them that give Alms in joy and in affliction that subdue their Passion and forgive such as offend them he loveth them that do good and that after the Commission of any sin remember his Divine Majesty and implore his Pardon Who but God forgiveth sins Such as persist not in their Errours and acknowledge their sins shall be recompensed with the mercy of God and enjoy his favour in Paradise There were heretofore Laws and Means to conduct men into the right way but consider what hath been the end of Infidels The Alcoran was sent to instruct the World to guide men in the right way and to preach to the good Dishearten not neither afflict your selves in fighting you shall be Victorious if you believe in God if you have been wounded the like hurts have befaln the impious God so diversifieth days among men to the end he may know them that are truly zealous in his Law and that among you Witnesses be taken against the malice of Infidels God loveth not the unjust he forgiveth sins to those that believe and extirpate Infidels Do you believe to enter Paradise and that God knoweth not them that fought gallantly He knoweth them that were patient in adveâ—…sity and persevered in obedience to his Commandments You expected death before you met it you saw it with your Eyes and were Victorious Certainly Mahomet is the Prophet and Apostle of God there were many Prophets before him when they died or were slain you returned upon your steps to impiety They that return upon their steps do no harm to God he will reward only such as acknowledge his favours and men cannot die without his permission and that in a time prescribed and predestinate I will give the good things of this World to whom it pleaseth me and will abundantly recompence them that praise me How many Prophets and men with them that were not dejected through their afflictions that befel them in fighting for the Law of God They were not weakned neither humbled to the Infidels God affecteth them that are patient in their adversities and such as persevere in his Law. They said in their afflictions Lord pardon our sins confirm our steps and protect us against the Infidels God giveth them the Riches of the Earth and the Treasures of Heaven he loveth them that do good O ye
nor Children and have a Brother or Sister each of them shall have a sixth part of the succession if they be more they shall share the third after payment of Legacies and debts without fraud following what God hath ordained he knoweth all your actions and is prudent in what he ordaineth it is so ordained by his Divine Majesty He that shall obey him and his Prophet shall enter into Paradise where many Rivers flow and shall dwell in eternal felicity he that shall disobey God and his Prophet shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell where he shall suffer ignominious torments If your Wives commit adultery take four witnesses of their fault that be of your Religion if they bear witness keep them prisoners in your Houses until death or until God shall otherwise ordain punish Whoremongers Concubines and Adulterers if they repent of their fault do them no harm God is gracious and merciful to them that repent Conversion dependeth on God he is merciful to them that commit sin ignorantly and speedily repent he is Omniscient and most Wise. Pardon is not for them that do wickedly to the very hour of their death we have prepared great torments for them that shall die impious O ye that believe in God! it is not lawful for you to inherit what is your Wives by force take not violently away what you have given them unless they be surprized in manifest adultery see them with civility if you have an aversion from them it may chance that you hate a thing wherein God hath placed much good but if they desire to repudiate your Wives to take others and that you have given them any thing take not any thing that appertaineth to them Will you take their wealth with a lie and a manifest sin How shall you take it since you have approached each other and that you have promised to use them civilly Marry not the Wives of your Fathers what is past was incest abomination and a wicked way Your Mothers are forbidden you your Daughters Sisters Aunts Nieces your Nurses and your Foster-sisters the Mothers of your Wives the Daughters that your Wives have had by other Husbands of whom you shall have a particular care The Daughters of Women that you shall have known are also forbidden you if you have not known them it will be no sin the Wives of your Sons are likewise prohibited and two Sisters for what is past God is gracious and merciful Married Wives are likewise forbidden you except the women Slaves that you shall have acquired God hath so commanded you except what is above forbidden it is lawful for you to marry at your Pleasure If you desire women for money and neither commit Concubinage nor Adultery give them their Salary for which you shall agree so you shall not offend God he is Omniscient and most Wife He that shall not be able to espouse women of Free-condition shall marry such women or maids that are Slaves as shall please him God knoweth the Faith of the one and other Marry your Wives with the permission of their Parents and give them their Dowry with honesty If women of Free-condition that have committed neither Concubinage nor Adultery secretly nor publickly flie into second Nuptials and come to commit Adultery they shall be doubly punished more than the Daughters of Love. The Marriage of Slaves is for them that fear Whoredom If you abstain from Marrying them you shall not do amiss God is gracious and merciful he is willing to teach you his Law and direct you in the way of them that preceded you he is gracious and merciful to his people Such as follow the Appetite of the wicked decline extreamly from the Truth God willeth that his Law be Light unto you for that man was created weak O you that believe in God devour not your substance among you with Usury but if you Traffick be peaceable in your Affairs slay not one another God is merciful to them that obey him He that disobeyeth through malice and injustice shall burn in the fire of Hell it is an easie thing to God to punish them If you depart from mortal sins I will cover your Faults and cause you to enter into Paradise covet not through Envy what God hath given to your Neighbour men and women shall have the wealth they have gained beg Grace of God he knoweth all things Give to your Associates what appertaineth to them We have ordained a Portion prefixt to the one and the other in the succession of your Father Mother and Kindred God seeth all The men shall have Authority over the women they shall have them in their keeping they shall have in their power the wealth that God shall give them and shall have care of what shall be convenient to be expended for them Discreet and obedient Wives observe in the absence of their Husbands the Commandments of God make Remonstrances to them that shall be disobedient and remove them from your Bed chastise them If they obey you seek not occasion to abuse them unjustly God is most high and most mighty If you fear there may happen some difference between a Man and his Wife send to them some of their Kindred to put an end to their Quarrel and reconcile them God will give his Peace to them he is Omniscient Worship God and say not that he hath a Companion equal to him do good to your Father and Mother your Kindred Orphans the Poor your Neighbours Pilgrims your Friends and your Slaves God loveth not the Proud. We have prepared rigorous torments for them that are avaricious that recommend Avarice to the people that conceal the Graces that God hath bestowed on them and that are impious Such as dispend their wealth with Hypocrisie believe neither in God nor the Day of Judgment and those that shall have the Devil for their Companion will be in exceeding bad Company he shall not approach them if they believe in God and the Day of Judgment and give in Alms some part of the Riches God hath given them God knoweth them and doth no injustice to any one of the weight of a small Ant. If the righteous do good of the quantity of a Pismire God shall multiply it and give them a great reward In what condition will Infidels be at the Day of Judgment for that we have Witnesses of all Nations against their impiety and that we will call thee for a Witness against them of their Deportments That day the Infidels that have disobeyed the Prophet shall desire to be consumed like to the Earth and not to have concealed or altered through their Discourse the Commandments of God. O you that believe make not your Prayers being drunk until you know what you speak neither likewise being polluted unless in passing on the way until you be cleansed if you be in a journey or sick or go to discharge your Belly or have known your Wives and find no water to wash you you
most wise They that esteemed that the Temple built by Unbelievers to seduce the righteous to distinguish the wicked from the good and to observe such as had before fought against God and against his Prophet is the Temple of his Divine Majesty swear that they desire to do well and that their intention is most honest but they are Lyars and God shall be witness of their falshood make not thy Prayers in that Temple make thy Prayers in the Temple founded on the fear of God that is reasonable there be Persons in that Temple who desire to be purified God loveth such as have a clean Soul Who is he that buildeth best he that foundeth his building upon the fear of God or he who layeth the Foundation of his building upon the brink of a Ditch of Sand which falleth and ruineth it self They who esteem the Temple built by Unbelievers to seduce the people to be the Temple of God shall be with that Temple and with the Infidels that built it burnt in the fire of Hell God guideth not the unjust their building shall serve only to torment them God knoweth their design and is most wise he purchaseth of true Believers their Souls and Goods and giveth them Paradise if they be slain or if they slay when they shall fight for the Faith they shall have what he hath promised to them in the Old Testament the Gospel and in the Alcoran Who better satisfieth what he hath promised than God Declare to them that they have made a good purchace they have gained the height of Felicity Such as are firm in their Faith who pray honour and worship God who observe his Commandments and all true Believers shall enjoy the delights of Paradise with all manner of content The Prophet and true Believers ought not to ask pardon of God for Infidels notwithstanding they be their Parents having had knowledge that they are damned because of their infidelity Abraham prayed not for his Father untill he had promised him to adore one God alone when he knew his Father to be an Enemy to God he declared himself an Enemy to his sin he ceased praying for him although he was exceeding charitable and patient in his afflictions God mis-leadeth not them that he hath put into the right way he giveth them to understand what they ought to do he knoweth them that deserve to be seduced and such as merit to be guided through the right way The Kingdom of Heaven and Earth is Gods he giveth life and death to whom he seeth good Who except God shall protect you he hath given his Grace to the Prophet and to such as followed him in his affliction although it wanted but a little that the hearts of many of them inclined not to the party of the Unbelievers but he pardoneth them he hath been gracious and merciful to three Persons who deserted the Prophet and were sorry for their Errour they knew there was no sure refuge but in God he pardoned them when they were converted he is gracious and merciful to such as repent O ye that believe Fear God be righteous the Inhabitants of Medina and the Arabians that dwell about that City ought not to contradict the Will of the Prophet of God neither dislike what he approveth because they have endured neither thirst nor pain nor anguish for the Service of his Divine Majesty they have not been trampled under foot by their Enemies they shall irritate the Infidels and shall receive no displeasure on the contrary they shall acquire merit and perform a good work God doth not deprive them of recompence that do well he shall write down their expence for his Service and the number of the Idols that they shall destroy for reward of their good works It is not necessary that all the faithful go to the War it is sufficient that of every Lineage and of every Nation there go a party while the rest shall learn the Laws and Mysteries of Faith to instruct their Companions when they shall return from their Voyage perhaps they will fear the chastisement of God. O ye that believe in God! fight against them that would cause you to be defiled in impiety be valiant and know that God is with them that have his fear before their eyes When God caused to descend from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran some of them said through disdain that will encrease the Faith of this people Certainly it augmenteth the Faith of true Believers it rejoyceth them and enflameth the wrath of his Divine Majesty upon Infidels who persist in their pollutions and dye in their wickedness They know not that God tryeth the good once or twice a year they will not be converted it is lost time to preach to them When God sent from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran they beheld each others and said doth any one see us They returned in their impiety and God turned their heart from the right way for that they would not learn the Truth God hath sent you a Prophet of your own Nation who with Passion desireth to deliver you from your obstinacy and is extreamly affected to instruct you in the way of Salvation God is mild and pitiful towards true Believers If they abandon the Faith say unto them God is my Protector there is but one sole God I recommend my self to the Will of his Divine Majesty he is the Lord of the Majestick Throne CHAP. X. The Chapter of Jonas containing an hundred and nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am God the merciful The Precepts contained in this Book proceed from the Omnipotent Doth the people wonder that we have inspired a Man to preach to the wicked the torments of Hell and to declare to true Believers that they shall find true what their Lord to them hath promised The wicked say that it is but Sorcery and enchantment Certainly God is your Lord who created Heaven and Earth in six days and sitteth on his Thone disposing all things no Man interceedeth for his Neighbour without his permission he is your God and your Lord worship him alone will ye not consider it you all shall be one day assembled before him he promised with truth that he will cause Men to dye and raise them again to recompence such as have believed in his Law and done good works The Unbelievers shall drink a boyling drink and shall endure great torments because of their impiety He it is that gave light to the Sun and brightness to the Moon that created the signs to know the number of years the account of Months and of whatsoever he hath created these things teach with truth the Miracles of his Divine Majesty to such as have knowledge to understand them the difference of Day and of Night and what God hath created in Heaven and in Earth are marks of his Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes They who believe there is no
instead of God He shall be cast headlong into the Fire of Hell thus do I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth was shut up VVe opened them and gave life to every thing through the Rain which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity VVe created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein ways large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling nevertheless they depise our Commandments It is the Lord who created Day and Night the Moon and the Sun all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no Person to dwell for ever on Earth all men shall taste of Death I will prove you with good and evil and ye shall appear before me to give account of your actions The Infidels scoff at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our gods They obey not the Commandments 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 Judgment 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 think 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 merciful God preserveth you Day and Night Nevertheless ye reject his Commandments 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 deaf hear not when they are exhorted VVhen 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 works at the Day of Judgment that I may do injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of Mustard-seed and will most exactly account We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evil and commanded them to preach our Commandments to them that had our fear before their eyes That Book is blessed and was sent from us nevertheless unbelievers reject and condemn it We heretofore instructed Abraham in the right way and knew that he was a Righteous man. Remember thou that he said to his Father and his People What Idols do ye adore They said We find that our Fathers adored them he said unto them your Fathers and you were exceedingly erroneous They said Dost thou speak the truth or dost thou jest He said Certainly your Lord is the Lord of Heaven and Earth I swear to you that he created them Having convinced those Idolaters he said By God I will make war upon your Idols he broke them with an Hatchet in their absence except the greatest Idol on which he hung his Hatchet and said Peraventure they will accuse him to have broken the other Seeing at their return their Idols broken they said who hath in this manner handled our gods He is impious we heard it is a young man named Abraham who derideth them bring him before the eyes of the People perhaps they shall find witnesses of his action They said unto him Oh Abraham It is thou that hast so abused our gods he said on the contrary it is that great Idol they enquired of each other if those Idols spake and if they had motion afterwards they returned to themselves and said to the People Ye are too blame to adore those Idols he threw them headlong against the ground and they said Oh Abraham Thou well knewest that they spake not at all he answered Why therefore do ye worship what can neither benefit nor hurt you You defile your selves in adoring them instead of God Do ye not know him Then they said Burn Abraham and let us defend our Gods if ye are Righteous men but we commanded the Fire to lose its heat to preserve Abraham they would have tormented him and we destroyed them we saved him as we preserved Lot we conducted him into the Land of Blessing gave him Isaac and Iacob and the Children of their Children Righteous men and True believers to instruct the People in the way of Salvation we inspired them to do good works to pray at the time appointed to pay Tithes and to worship us we gave to Lot prudence and knowledge and delivered him from the Inhabitants of the City who were the most vicious upon Earth we were gracious to him because he was Righteous Remember Noah and that he heretofore invoked us we heard his Prayer and delivered him from great danger and all that were with him in the Ark we delivered him from the hand of the wicked whom we drowned Remember David and Solomon who rendred Justice in the Field whereinto the Flocks of the Village entred by Night without Shepherds we are witness of their Judgments we instructed Solomon in Justice we gave him Prudence and Knowledg the Mountains adored us with David and with him the Birds praised us we were with them when they praised us We taught you the manner of sowing Seed to preserve you from necessity peradventure ye will be thankful to me We commanded the Winds to obey Solomon and know all that he did The Devils obeyd him they dived into the Sea to fish for Gems for him and travelled also in other matters and we hindred them to act mischief against men Remember Iob who prayed to his Lord and said I am in exceeding great affliction thou art the merciful of the merciful We heard him and delivered him from his affliction gave to him our grace and to his family and to them that were with him who had patience and trusted in me Remember Ismael Enoch Delcafel and Zachary they persevered in well doing we gave them our grace because they were Righteous Remember Ionas who forsook his People in displeasure he believed I could do nothing against him but he cryed in the dark and said There is no God besides thee praised be thy Name I am to blame for having offended thee We heard him and delivered him from his disaster Thus do I protect True believers when they invoke me Remember Zachary who made his Prayer and said Lord I know there is no better Heir in the World than thy self yet let me not dye without issue We heard his request gave him a Son named Iohn and rendred his Wife fruitful All these Prophets went on with alacrity to do well and invoked us with humility with desire to obtain our grace and with fear of
it they are remote from the Angels and cannot hear their speech say not there is another God with God if thou say it thou shalt be chastised preach the torments of Hell to them that shall follow thee be humble and civil to True believers if they disobey thee say unto them I am innocent of what ye do and am resigned to the Will of God 〈◊〉 potent and merciful He beholdeth thee when thou dost pray and worship him he heareth and knoweth all things Shall I tell ye to whom the Devils address themselves They apply themselves to Lyars they tell to them what they have heard spoken but they all lye The erronous imitate the Poets they are confuted in their Discourse and say they have done what they have not except those that believe in God that do good works who often think of his Divine Majesty and that have been protected against the injustice of Infidels the unjust shall know that they shall one day rise again CHAP. XXVII The Chapter of the Pismire containing Fourscore and thirteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful God is most pure he understandeth all These mysteries are the mysteries of the Alcoran which distinguisheth the Truth from a Lye it conducteth men into the right way and proclaimeth the Joys of Paradise to such as believe in the Law of God who make their prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and have knowledg of their end They that believe not in the Day of Judgment like well of what they do and are in confusion they shall in the end be in the number of the damned The Alcoran was conveyed to thee from the most prudent that knoweth all things Remember thou that Moses said to his Family I see a Fire I go to it I will bring you tidings I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed when he drew near to the Fire he heard a voice that said to him oh Moses that which is in this Fire and whatsoever is about it is blessed praise is due to God Lord of the Universe I am God Omnipotent and Eternal Cast thy staff on the ground When Moses beheld his staff to move as it had been alive he went back very sorrowful and returned no more Fear not that staff my Messenger and my Prophets have no fear in my presence he that shall be converted shall find me gracious and merciful Put thine Hand into thy Pocket it shall come forth white without harm it shall be one of the Nine marks of my Omnipotency Pharoah and his Ministers were altogether erroneous when they saw my Miracles they said that they were but Sorcery they despised them and encreased their impiety Consider what is the end of the wicked and how they have been destroyed We gave knowledg to David and to Solomon they said God hath gratified us above many of his Servants that have believed in his Omnipotency Solomon was David's Hâ—…ir and and said to the People we understand the Language of Birds we know whatsoever can be known it is an exceeding great Grace Solomon's Army being one day assembled before him composed of Men Devils and Birds â—…e lead them to the Valleâ—… of Pismires a 〈◊〉 their Queen cryed out Oh Pismires â—… enter into your Houses leâ—…t Solomon and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trample you under foot withâ—… knowledg 〈◊〉 it Solomon hearing these words 〈◊〉 some time without speaking and 〈◊〉 end began to laugh saying Lord assist me that I may give thee thanks for the benefits and graces which thou didst confer upon my Father if I do well thou wilt accept it place me through thy Mercy in number of them that exalt thy glory he called for the Whoop and said Wherefore see I not the Whoop Is she in the number of the absent I will punish and put her to death if she have not a lawful excuse not long after she humbled her self before Solomon who asked her whence she came She answered I come from seeing what thou seest not I come from the Kingdom of Saba whence I bring certain tidings I have found a woman their Queen who hath whatsoever is necessary for a King she hath a great and magnificent Throne I have found that she with her Subjects adore the Sun the Devil caused them to delight in this their action he hath seduced them from the right way and they shall be in error until they worship one God who sendeth Rain from Heaven and maketh the Earth to produce Plants and Fruits who knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men and what they utter God! There is but one God Lord of the Universe Solomon said I shall soon see if thou speak truth or whether thou be in the number of the Lyars Go bear to her this Letter and observe what she and her People shall answer at her arrival the Queen said to her Ministers Oh ye that are raised to dignity in my dominions a Letter is given me from Solomon of this tenour In the Name of God gracious and merciful rise not up against me and obey me Give me counsel what I ought to do I will do nothing without your advice and what you see not with your eyes They answered Our welfare and misery depend on thee command whatsoever shall seem good to thee and we will obey thee She said When Kings enter a City they introduce many disorders they abase and humble the chief of the Inhabitants and the most eminent if Solomon and his People come hither they will use us in the like manner I think it requisite to send to him an Ambassador with some presents perhaps he will take a resolution to return When the Ambassador arrived in Solomon's presence he said unto him Do ye bring me presents God hath bestowed on me more riches then on you presents rejoyce you because ye love them Return to them that sent you I will go visit them with Forces so great that they shall not be able to resist I will drive them out of their Dominions and they shall be miserable if they obey me not Then he said to his People Sirs who will bring to me the Royal Seat of that Woman before she and her subjects obey me One of the Devils said unto him I I will bring it before thou arise from thy place I am strong enough to bear it I will carry it carefully One of them that attended Solomon who knew the Scriptures said I will bring it to thee in the twinkling of an eye When Solomon beheld this Throne before him he said Behold here a favour of God to try if I would acknowledg his benefits He that returneth thanks to God for his graces performeth his duty he rejecteth him that is ungrateful I will try if she followeth the right way or whether she be in the number of the seduced They changed something in her Royal seat to try if she would know it when she arrived in Solomon's presence
up the Mountains upon the Earth to fasten and hinder it to move he hath thereon dispersed many Beasts and sent Rain from Heaven which causeth Plants to spring forth and Herbs of divers sorts Behold here what God hath created shew me what your Idols have created assuredly Idolaters are manifestly seduced from the right way We inspired knowledg into Locman and spake unto him to give God thanks he that returneth thanks to God for his Graces doth good for his Soul. God rejecteth the ingrateful and praise is due to him in all places Remember thou that Locman said unto his Son O my Son believe not thou that God hath a companion it is an exceeding great Sin We have commanded man to honour his Father and Mother his Mother beareth him with grief upon grief and weaneth him at the age of Two years be thou not ingrateful for God's benefits honour Father and Mother thou shalt be one day before God to be judged If thy Parents press thee to believe that God hath companions obey them not follow the way of them that obey him all men shall be one day assembled before him to be rewarded according to their works O my Son if thou dost evil of the weight of a Grâ—…n of Mustardseed or of the weight of a Rock or of the greatness of Heaven and Earth God will know it and put it in account he is exact and Omniscient O my Son make thy prayers at the time appointed do what is honest and civil fly what is not approved and be patient in thy adversities regard not the World disordered through pride converse not with the proud God detesteth the haughty observe thy steps walk with modesty speak gently they be persons that bray like Asses when they speak seest thou not that God hath created for men all that is in Heaven and Earth and conferreth on them his Graces in general and particular There be ignorant persons that dispute of the Deity without reason when it is said unto them Do what God hath appointed they answer We will do what we saw done by our Fathers They consider not that the Devil calleth them and their Fathers to the pains of Hell. He that obeyeth God and doth good works fastneth him to the strongest Knot and will have a care of him at the Hour of his end The impiety of the wicked ought not to afflict thee they shall be one day assembled in our presence to be chastised I will shew them all that they have done I know what is in the hearts of men I will prolong awhile their punishment upon Earth and precipitate them in the other World into the Fire of Hell. Hast thou not demanded of them who created Heaven and Earth They said It is God say unto them therefore praised be God nevertheless the greatest part of them are ignorant Whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods he hath no want of the World praise is due unto him in all that he doth if all the Trees of the World were Pens and the Sea Ink they could not comprehend the effect of his Omnipotency he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He created and shall make you to rise again with one word he understandeth and seeth all things Consider they not that God causeth the Night to enter into the Day and the Day into the Night that he created the Sun and the Moon that move in the Heaven until the day appointed he knoweth whatsoever ye do because he is truly God they that invoke other than him invoke things vain and unprofitable God alone is most high and most mighty Seest thou not how the Ship runneth upon the Water for a token of his Omnipotency to such as acknowledg his Graces When the Wars arose against the Infidels many called upon God with resolution to follow his Law when he saved them on the Land some persevered to do well and others returned to their impiety none but deceivers and ingrateful persons despise his Commandments O People fear God and the day when the Father shall not be able to succour his Child neither the Child serve his Father God's promises are infallible be not proud of your Riches neither that God tolerateth and suffereth you he knoweth the time when ye shall be chastised the hour that the Rain shall fall upon the Earth he knoweth what is in the wombs of women whether it be Male or Female none but God knoweth what thou wilt do to morrow none but he knoweth the place where thou shalt die he knoweth all he knoweth all CHAP. XXXII The Chapter of Worship containing an Hundred and Thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the most Wise God. Doubtless this Book was sent by the Lord of the Universe will the wicked say that thou hast invented it On the contrary it is the truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord to preach to them that heretofore had none to instruct them peradventure they will follow the right way God created Heaven and Earth and all that is between them in Six days and sitteth on his Throne Who shall protect you Who shall hear your prayers but he Will you never consider it He disposeth all things in Heaven and Earth all men shall one day be assembled before him to be judged a Thousand years are but one day before his Divine Majesty he knoweth what is past present and future he is Omnipotent and Merciful he hath created every thing for his People he formed man of the Dirt and Dust of the Earth he inspired the Soul into his Body he giveth you hearing sight and sense but few men return him thanks for his Graces They say What shall we die and return to be a new People Certainly they believe not in the Resurrection Say unto them The Angel of Death shall cause you to die and ye shall return before God to be judged Thou shalt then see how the Infidel will hang down the Head before their Lord and say Lord we now see the certainty of the Resurrection we this day know the truth of thy words permit us to return into the World we will be Righteous we now understand what is profitable and necessary for us we could have given a guide to every Person my word is most true I will fill Hell with the wicked and Paradise with the Righteous thus shall men be rewarded and chastised according to their works Taste O ye wicked the pains that ye have deserved in refusing to believe in this day which ye have found we leave you in the miseries due to your incredulity taste the eternal torments that ye have merited through your impiety Such as believe in the mysteries of my Law are humble they worship me alone and praise me when they hear mention of me they are not proud rebel not against my Commandments They arise from their Bed to make their prayers with fear and hope and imploy in pious works some part of
〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 they shall say Lord we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Superiors they seduced us 〈◊〉 the right way Lord chastise them douâ—… and give them thy curse O ye that believe be not like them that displeased Moses he was innnocent of the crimes that they laid upon him he was inspired of God fear God and speak with civility your works shall be acceptable to him and he shall pardon your sins he that shall obey God and his Apostle shall be happy fidelity and obedience are pleasing to him in Heaven and in Earth and upon the Mountains Such as depart far from him as did Adam do injury to themselves and are ignorant he shall chastise those men and women that shall be disobedient and impious he will give his grace to those men and women that shall believe in his Law he is gracious and merciful to them that obey him CHAP. XXXIV The Chapter of †Saba containing Fifty four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praised be God whatsoever is in Heaven and in the Earth appertaineth to him praise is due unto him he is most Wise and Omniscient he knoweth whatsoever entreth into the Earth and cometh out of it whatsoever ascendeth to Heaven and descendeth he is gracious and merciful to his creatures The wicked demand if they shall see the Day of Judgment say unto them yes and that thy Lord knoweth the time he knoweth what is past present and future and all that is in Heaven and in the Earth even to the weight of an Atome what is yet less and what is yet greater than an Atome is written in a Book that discovereth every thing he shall reward the True believers that have done good works he shall give them his Mercy and enrich them with precious treasures Such as have endeavoured to suppress his Law shall feel the effects of his indignation They that understand the Scripture know that God hath taught thee the very truth to guide the People into the right way into the path of honour and vertue but the wicked said among them will ye believe a man who affirmeth that after your death ye shall rise again and be new creatures He lyeth impudently he is possessed of the Devil Certainly they that believe not in the Resurrection are in an exceeding great error and shall suffer most grievous pains see they not what is above and what is below them Consider they not the Heaven and the Earth If I will I can render it barren and cause a piece of the Heaven to fall upon them for a sign of my Omnipotency We gave our grace to David and spake to the Mountains Birds and Metals with him to praise me we commanded him to make Cuirasses and Iron was soft in his hand as Wax O Lineage of David be not ingrateful I see whatsoever ye do We made the Winds subject to Solomon he commanded them Evening and Morning from the East to the West we gave him a Fountain and a Brook of dissolved Brass the Devils through our permission wrought it to his mind and we punished in the Fire of Hell such as refused to obey him They built for him lofty Palaces and spacious houses they formed Basons for Water Channels and Pools We said unto him O Lineage of David be not ingrateful for my graces for that few persons do acknowledge them When he dyed through our Commandment nothing discovered his death to the Devils but the worms that had eaten the end of his staff whereon he leaned when the Devils saw him fall they perceived that had they known the future and what was hid from them they should not have laboured so long a time in his Service The Inhabitants of Saba have a mark of my Omnipotency in their Countrey viz. two Gardens the one on the North side and the other towards the South it was said unto them eat of the good things that your Lord hath given you and return him thanks their Country is delicious God hath been merciful towards them nevertheless they are ingrateful and impious we sent the River of Arem that overflowed their Gardens we changed them into two Gardens of Thorns of Cyprus and a little Tamarinde thus did we punish them because of their impiety We established a way with many Cities for facility of commerce among them and the City which we blessed and spake unto the People to follow that way Night and Day with safety and withou fear They said God destroyeth us through the length of this way they returned to their impiety and we dispersed them upon the Earth to serve for example to Posterity and instruction to such as persevere in my Law and acknowledg my graces The Devil caused them to believe his Opinion they followed him except some of the True believers that were among them he had no power over them but to know them that believed in the Resurrection and such as doubt Thy Lord observeth and regardeth all Say unto them invoke your Idols they have not power of the bigness of an Atome neither in Heaven nor Earth God hath no Companion they shall find none to protect them at the Day of Judgment none shall intercede for them without the permission of his Divine Majesty if they receive any relaxation in their â—…ear they enquire of each other what God spaâ—…e and anâ—…wer that he spake 〈◊〉 truth that he is most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most mighty say unto them who enricheth you with the good things of Heaven and Earth They will say that it is God. Say unto them Who of you or of us followeth the right way Or who of you or of us is seduced Enquire not after our sins we are not curious to know what ye do God shall assemble us at the Day of Judgment and shall judg our differences with equity he is an exceeding great Judg say unto them Let us see the Idols that ye have worshipped certainly there is but One God Omnipotent and Wise. We have not sent thee but to declare to men the joys of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of Hell but the greatest part knoweth it not they ask in what time they shall see the punishment that is preached to them and if thou speakest the truth say unto them when the time thereof is come ye shall not be able to retard or advance an hour They have said That they will not believe in the Alcoran but thou shalt see them one day assembled in the presence of thy Lord thou shalt see that they shall accuse one another the Poor shall say unto the Rich you have hindred us to obey the Commandments of God they shall answer have we seduced you from the way that was taught you On the contrary you were wicked and malicious They shall say on the contrary you employed Night and Day your Artifices to render us ingrateful for the graces of God and to induce us to believe that he hath
impetuous Wind against those wicked people that destroyed them Temod is an example of our Omnipotency with his Nation they waxed proud and resisted the Commandments of their Lord when it was said to them that the punishment of the wicked was deferred to another time but Thunder surprised them they saw it they had not the power to stand on their feet and were deprived of protection The People of Noah's time are an example of our Omnipotency we destroyed them because they were impious We built Heaven with strength and virtue I am he that giveth power and strength we extended the Earth and created of every thing Male and Female perhaps ye will consider it Say unto them Turn ye to God I am sent from him to preach to you the pains of Hell Believe not that God hath another God with him the wicked said heretofore that the Prophets and Apostles whom he sent were Magicians and possessed of the Devil Have they recommended to their Posterity to do the like Certainly they are in a great error Separate thy self far from their company and be not troubled at what they say preach the Alcoran it is profitable to the Righteous I did not create the Devils and men but to worship me Say unto them I require nothing of unbelievers for instructing them I require not that they nourish me God enricheth whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent the wicked shall be chastised as heretofore have been their predecessors in their malice their time shall come and misery shall befal them at the day of Judgment CHAP. LII The Chapter of the Mountain containing thirty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Mountain upon which God spake to Moses by what is contained in the book written in parchment by the first Temple of Mecca by the arches of the heavens and by the sea full of water that God is one sole God and the punishment promised to unbelievers is infallible they shall not be able to escape it in the day when the heaven shall tremble and the mountains shall walk that day shall be unhappy to the incredulous they shall be precipitated in the fire of hell it shall be said to them behold the flames that ye despised is this Magick See ye it not enter have patience or ye will despair ye shall be chastised after your demerits They that shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be in delicious gardens which God hath prepared for them and shall be delivered from the pains of hell It shall be said unto them Drink and eat at your pleasure for recompence of your good works they shall repose upon beds well ordered we will marry them to wives that shall have fair eyes they shall be attended of their family and be largely rewarded for their good works every good action shall be to them a degree of happiness We will give them such fruits and Vines as they shall desire they shall present to each other the cup to drink they shall not speak an evil word and shall not sin they shall have Pages about them for their service beautiful as polished pearls they shall discourse among them concerning what they did before on Earth and say We were in the world we and our families with a great apprehension of the pains of hell but God hath gratified us he hath delivered us from eternal flames They shall say moreover we worshipped in the world but one God most just and most merciful Remember thou to preach the Alcoran thou art not ingrateful for the grace of God thou art not possessed of the Devil will they say that thou art a Poet a Rimer that nothing must be expected from thee but fables of past Ages Say unto them ye expect the time of my destruction but I with you expect the time of your ruine Do their Superiors command them to speak in this manner Will they be obstinate in their errors Will they say that Mahomet hath invented the Alcoran Certainly they are incredulous let them bring any discourse like to this book in Doctrine and Eloquence if what they affirm be true Were they created of any thing have they created any thing have they created themselves have they created the Heavens and the Earth Certainly they are incredulous Have they in their power the treasures of thy Lord are they Giants Have they a ladder that may raise them to hear what is spoken in Heaven let them produce some reason of their opinion Believe ye that God hath daughters and that ye have sons Will ye require of him a Salary for obeying his Law Is he your debtor The wicked are lyars do they know what shall be do they write it Desire they to conspire against thee The wicked often conspire against the righteous that worship but one God Praised be God he hath no companion If the Infidels should see a piece of the heaven to fall they would say It is a cloud driven by the winds leave them in their obstinacy until they come to the day of their death that day shall their conspiracy be vain and they deprived of protection They likewise shall be punished before their death but the greatest part know it not Have patience and expect the Judgment of God thou shalt soon see it I will protect thee and thou shalt not want help Praise thy Lord exalt his glory when thou shalt rise praise him in the night and before the Stars disappear CHAP. LIII The Chapter of the Star containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I sweat by the Star that disappeareth that your friend Mahomet erreth not he speaketh nothing of his own he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent and most bountiful God. The Angel approached him in the highest place of Heaven within the length of two bowes and somewhat nearer God hath inspired into him what he hath inspired into his servant who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him He hath spoken what he hath seen and in what form the Angel was Dispute not against him concerning what he saw he another time saw the Angel in heaven near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne and although that tree was covered with that which covered him his sight was not dazled and he is not in error Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord Have ye considered Alat Az and Menat those three Idols Will ye swear that God hath daughters and that ye have sons Ye will make a false oath and shall be in a manifest error Those Idols have nothing but the names which your fathers and you have given them God hath not commanded you to worship them Ye follow only your passions remote from the truth God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them God is
knoweth all things hath revealed it to me that ye may be converted your hearts are inclined to do what is forbidden if ye act any thing against the Prophet know that God is his protector the Angel Gabriel and all the believers will defend him the Angels shall protect him against you If it be his will to repudiate you God shall give him for the future other wives in your place that shall be obedient True believers humble faithful devout contented mild clean Virgins and not Virgins Oh ye that believe in God! strengthen your selves you and your Families in obedience to his Commandments the Idolaters shall burn in the Fire of Hell with their Idols the Angels deputed to torment them disobey not God they execute whatsoever is commanded them Oh ye that are Infidels there is no excuse for you ye shall be chastised after your demerits Oh ye that believe turn to God with affection he shall pardon your sins and make you to enter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers the light of Faith shall go before the Prophet and them that have followed him when God shall recompence them they shall say Lord give us thy light pardon our sins thou art Omnipotent Oh Prophet fight against the Infidels and the wicked fortifie thy self against them Hell shall be their habitation God teacheth unbelievers a Parable and saith the wives of Noah and the wives of Lot were under the power of my two Servants righteous men they betrayed them but did not escape the punishment of their sin It was said unto them enter into the Fire of Hell with them that go into it God teacheth them a Parable that follow his Law take example by the Wife of Pharaoh she prayed to God and said Lord build me an House in Paradise deliver me from Pharoah from his works and unjust men Mary the daughter of Iosâ—…phat preserved her Virginity we inspired into her our Spirit she believed the words of her Lord and the Scriptures she was in the number of them that obey CHAP. LXVII The Chapter of Empire containing Thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Praised be he to whom belongeth the Empire oâ—… the World who is Omnipotent and hath created Life and Death to let you know which is the better he is Omnipotent and merciful He hath created seven Heavens one upon another thou seest nothing of what he hath created that is not proportioned raise yet thy sight to Heaven thou shalt not there see any thing defective behold it twice or more often thou shalt not perceive therein any thing vain or imperfect We have adorned the Heaven and the World with Stars we expelled thence the Devils we prepared for them a great fire and the torments of Hell for unbelievers They shall hear horrible and terribble voices that proceed from despair and wrath when they shall be cast thither headlong when they shall enter into Hell by Troops the Overseer of the torments shall say unto them Had you none on Earth that preached to you the pains of Hell Yes shall they reply they were preached to us but we traduced our preachers we said that God did not command to do what they declared that they were lyars and seduced from the right way had we heard them and had we been wise we should not this day have been in the number of the damned they shall confess their sins in the bottom of Hell. Such as fear God without seeing him shall receive pardon of their offences and an exceeding great reward Speak secretly or publickly God knoweth whatsoever ye have in your hearts since the time of your creation he is blessed and omniscient He hath established ways upon the earth go on all sides and live of his good things ye all shall revive and be one day assembled before him to be judged Believe ye that he who is in heaven cannot render the earrh dry and barren and cause it to tremble Believe ye that he who is in heaven is not able to send against you an impetuous wind to destroy you Ye shall hereafter feel what are the torments of hell Your predecessors would not believe them and were chastised for their incredulity Consider ye not the birds that flie over your heads how they extend and shut their wings nothing supporteth them but that mercy that beholdeth all things Who but God shall protect you in your miseries The Infidels are proud Who shall enrich you if God restraineth his grace nevertheless ye persevere in your sins and flie the truth Is he that creepeth on his face like to him that goeth on his feet in the right way Say unto them God hath created you he hath given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks for his graces Say unto them he created you of earth and ye shall one day be assembled before him to render account of your actions The wicked demand when the day of Judgment shall be Say unto them God knows I am sent only to preach to you the pains of hell Their visages shall become black when they shall see the punishment of their sins approach It shall be said to them behold that which ye have demanded with so much impatience Say unto them did you see that God destroyed me and them that were with me No he gave us his grace Who shall deliver the Infidels from the torments of hell Say unto them God is merciful we believe in him and we are resigned to the will of his divine Majesty ye shall know hereafter them that shall be seduced If the water that watereth your flocks enter under the earth who shall give you other water or another Fountain to supply you CHAP. LXVIII The Chapter of the Pen containing fifty two Verses written at Mecca Bedaoi entituleth this the Chapter of the Letter Noun n and saith that it is as much as to say Whale or great Fish Some other Doctors say that Noun n is the name of the Ink or Table on which the Angels write the Commandments of God Others affirm it to signifie the Inkhorn but many of the Mahometan Doctors intitle this the Chapttr of the Pen. IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Pen and by all that is written that thou art not possessed of the Devil through the grace of thy Lord thou shalt have an infinite reward God hath created thee with a creation high and most illustrious Thou shalt hereafter know and the Infidels likewise shall know one day them among you that are ignorant Certainly thy Lord knoweth them that are seduced and them that follow the right way Obey not the wicked they desire thee to be more inâ—…ulgent towards them and themselves more â—…ild towards thee Obey not those infamous â—…ars those bablers sinners and seducers and wicked persons full of treasures and children When the Mysteries of faith are related to them â—…hey say that they are but fables of antiquity we
and his Prophet shall be damned and shall remain eternally in the fire of hell The wicked shall know such as shall be deprived of succour and protection when they shall behold the pains prepared for them Say unto them I know not whether what is promised to you shall incontinently happen or whether God will defer it some time none knoweth what is to come but God and those whom he hath elected to be Prophets and Messengers of his Will he inspireth into them his Commandments to preach to men he upholdeth all the actions of men and keepeth an exact account of every thing CHAP. LXXIII The Chapter of the Fearful containing Twenty Verses writen at Mecca The Arabians have intituled this The Chapter of the Fearful when the Angel Gabriel brought this Chapter to Mahomet he was afraid of the splendour of his light and covered himself with his garments which gave occasion to the Angel to call him and say Oh fearful and not oh prophet as he was wont IN the name of God gracious and merciful O thou Fearful Arise by night pray to God at midnight until two third parts of the night and more Read the Alcoran and meditate thereon observe what it contains although it be tedious to thee thou wilt best comprehend it after thy first sleep because thou in the day hast affairs that divert thee Remember thou the name of God forsake the world to worship him he is Lord of the West and East there is no God but God take him for thy protector be not impatient at what the wicked say separate thy self from their society without fear leave me to punish them is there any one that is able to defend them their punishment is deferred but I have chains of iron bread full of thorns and great torments to inflict on them at the day when the earth shall tremble and the mountains shall be dissolved into dust O ye people we have sent to you a Prophet our Apostle to instruct you as we did to Pharoah he was disobedient and obstinate and we severely chastised him How will ye secure your selves from the torments of hell if ye be in the number of the wicked What will ye do at the day when Infants shall be men and heaven shall be opened What God promiseth is infallible these things are for the instruction of them that desire to follow the way of salvation Thy Lord knoweth that thou wilt arise about the third part of the night or at midnight as likewise a part of those that are with thee he reckoneth the hours and the minutes of night and day he knoweth that thou canst not reckon them exactly he pardoneth thee if thou risest a little sooner or a little later read during this time what thou shalt be able to read of the Alcoran God knoweth that there will be persons among you that will be sickly others that will be in travel for their affairs and some that will fight for the faith these persons shall be excused Read what ye shall be able of the Alcoran lift up your prayers to God pay tithes lend to God some benefit ye shall one day find the good that ye shall have done and a very good reward beg pardon of God he is gracious and merciful CHAP. LXXIV The Chapter of the Wrapped containing fifty seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful O thou wrapped Arise and preach to the people the torments of hell thy Lord is more powerful than the Idols make clean thy garments be thou mindful of the pains prepared for unbelievers separate thy self from their company lend nothing to Usury the day that the Trumpet shall sound shall be extreamly irksome to the wicked that day let me chastise him whom I created and to whom I gave riches and children and whom I placed in plenty nevertheless he demandeth more and is obstinate to disobey my Commandments I will add to his pains because he blasphemeth against the Alcoran wherefore doth he blaspheme he maketh his countenance sorrowful covered with hypocrisie when he beholdeth the people with his eyes melancholique and estranged from the way of salvation he is proud scorneth to follow the Prophet saith that the Alcoran is but Magick and but the word of man he shall be precipitated into the bottom of hell nothing remains to him but to be burned nineteen Spirits shall be appointed to torment the wicked they that punish the damned are Spirits We have mentioned this number of nineteen to seduce the Infidels and confirm the truth and the True believers in their faith They whom God instructeth in the Scripture and who believe in his Law are not in doubt of these Spirits but such as have evil in the heart who doubt of his Law and the wicked say that he by his number meaneth God Thus God seduceth and guideth whom he pleaseth no person knoweth the number of his Angels but God. I swear by the entrance of the night and the morning that hell is an exceeding great punishment prepared for the impious The believers and unbelievers the good and the bad shall answer for their actions and such as shall have their book of account in the right hand shall go into Paradise they shall enquire of the damned and say to them Who did cast you into hell They shall answer We dâ—…d not pray to God at the time appointed we gave not to the poor to eat we believed there was neither Resurrection nor Judgment until death surprized us the prayers of them that pray for them shall be in vain Wherefore is it that unbelievers depart from the Law of God They are like to the wild Ass which flyeth as far as he can when he seeth the Lion approach him every one of them would particularly see a book to instruct them and apprehendeth not the day of Judgment Certainly the Alcoran teacheth them the Law of God that read it none shall understand it but he that shall be pleasing to God who shall have his fear before his eyes and shall implore pardon of his sins of his divine Majesty CHAP. LXXV The Chapter of the Resurrection containing forty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear that it is most true That men shall rise again I swear that the wicked shall render an account of their actions think they that I cannot recollect their bones I will recollect all of them after they shall be corrupted I am able to recollect their fingers as they had them in their youth Certainly man is prone to blaspheme before the coming of the day of Judgment and enquireth when that day will be When his sight shall be troubled and the Sun and Moon gathered together then shall he say Whither shall I flye It shall be said to him Thou shalt have none other refuge but in God he shall be surprized and all his offences shall be commemorated to him and he shall witness against