Food which thou desirest and whosoever shall be â—…mpious shall be punished with torments that no man yet hath suffered He shall say at the Day of Judgment O Jesus Son of Mary didst thou enjoyn the people to worship thee and thy Mother as two Gods Jesus shall answer praised be thy name I will take heed of speaking what is not thou knowest if I have said it thou art Omniscient thou knowest what is in my Soul and I have no knowledge of what is in thee I delivered nothing but what thou didst command me to speak to wit Worship God your Lord and mine I am Witness from the time that I was in the World until thou didst cause me to dye thou didst observe the Deportments of the people thou feest all if thou chastisest Men they are thy Creatures if thou dost pardon them thou art Omnipotent and Wise. Then shall God say this day shall good works be profitable to the righteous they shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many Rivers there shall they dwell eternally with my grace in exceeding great felicity the Kingdom of heaven of Earth is Gods he is Omnipotent CHAP. VI. The Chapter of Gratifications containing an hundred sixty and fifteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to God the Creator of Heaven of Earth of darkness and of light such as believe not in their Lord are in error He it is that created you of the dust of the Earth and appointed a prefixed time for your death and resurrection nevertheless you doubt he is God in Heaven and in Earth he understandeth the secrets of your hearts and whatsoever you make manifest he knoweth the good and evil that you commit that his Commandments have been taught the Inhabitants of Mecca and that they have abjured them they opposed the revealed Truth but shall be chastised for their contempt They consider not how much People we have destroyed in past ages we gave them places to dwell in more strong and spacious than those which you inhabit sent them about of rain caused Fountains flow in the places of their habitation after this did we extirpate them by reason of their sins and established in their place a new People We have sent to thee the Scripture written in Vellum the unbelievers have handled it with their hands yet say it is evident sorcery and inchantment that they will not believe therein unless they see an Angel descend to confirm it Should we have sent an Angel they had perished by his presence unless we had sent him under the figure of a Man like unto them and cloathed as they are They derided the Prophets and Apostles thy Predecessors derision is fallen upon such as contemned them Say to them go through the World and consider the end of them that abjure the Law of God say to them to whom appertaineth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth it is Gods. He will imploy his mercy to save you doubtless he will assemble all of you at the Day of Judgment Nevertheless Infidels believe not in his Unity they consider not that whatsoever moveth by night and by day and whatsoever is in the World belongeth to his Divine Majesty who understandeth and knoweth all things Say to them require you other protection than that of God the Omnipotent Creator of Heaven and Earth who nourisheth all things is nourished by none Say to them I have received a command to embrace the Law of Salvation Be not ye in number of unbelievers I fear to disobey my Lord and fear the torments prepared for the wicked at the day of Judgment he that shall deliver himself shall enjoy the grace of God which is supream felicity If God will punish you none shall deliver you from his punishment if his Will is to do good to you he is Omnipotent always victorious and hath all power over his Creatures he is most wise and Omniscient Say to them What better testimony is there in the World than that of God Say to them He shall testifie between you and me to whom he hath inspired the Alcoran to instruct you Will any among you that shall learn it say there is any other God but God I will not say so there is but one God and I am innocent from the sin you commit in associating him with a companion equal to him many of them that understand the written Law have knowledge of the truth of the Alcoran their Children also know it but such as forsake their own Souls will not believe in God. Who more unjust than he that blasphemeth against God and his Commandments Certainly the wicked shall be miserable I will assemble all of them and say Where are the gods which you did associate with God They shall have none other excuse but to say by God Lord we were of the number of Idolaters Consider how they will lie and disavow their blasphemies some there be among them that hearken to thee we have hardened their hearts they will not learn the Alcoran because their ears are stopped When they shall hear related all the miracles of the World and shall see them with their eyes they will not believe until they have disputed against thee The wicked say the Alcoran is but a lie and â—…able of Antiquity they forbid the People to believe it and contemn it certainly they destroy their Souls and know it not thou shalt see when they shall be detained in the fire of Hell they will say Would to God I might return into the World I would obey the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and be in the number of true believers They knew the truth but concealed it should they return into the World they would return to their impiety they are liars They affirm there is none other life than that of the World neither any resurrection when they shall be before God they shall acknowledge their errors he shall cause them to feel the chastisements due to their blasphemies Such as believe not in the Resurrection are wretched Men they shall be afflicted for their sins at the hour when ever death shall surprize them they shall bear on their back the burthen of their crimes and avouch the life of this world to be but deceit and vanity and the life of the other to be full of felicity for the righteous nevertheless the wicked are not converted I know thou wilt be incensed against such as shall say they desire to obey thee and shall renounce thy Doctrine they that contemn the Commandments of God are impious they have belied the Prophets thy Predecessors the Prophets endured their lies and were patient until we destroyed them God declineth not what he hath promised Thou knowest what the Prophets foretold if Men abandon thee canst thou coveâ—… to continue on earth to instruct them and to be in Heaven at the same time to cause prodigies appear testimonies of thy mission Had it so pleased God he had
God hath spoken to them and hath said enter into Paradise and fear not you shall for ever be exempt from affliction the damned shall cry unto the Blessed Give us of the water which you drink and the meats that you eat they shall answer The drink and bread of Paradise is prohibited to Infidels who sported with their Faith that were proud of the wealth of the Earth and that scoffed at the Commandments of God he hath forgotten them because they forgot the coming of the Day of Judgment and blasphemed against his Precepts We are come to the Inhabitants of Mecca to instruct them in the Alcoran we teach it unto men to give them knowledge of the right way and to acquire the mercy of God if they believe in that Book Shall they expect to believe until they know its explication It s explication shall appear at the Day of Judgment that day such as shall have lived without Faith shall say Certainly the Prophets delivered the Truth shall we partake of their Prayers will they intercede for us until we return to the World to do better than we have done and to obey Gods Commandments But they shall be damned because of their Blasphemies God is your Lord he created the Heaven and the Earth in six days and sitteth on his Throne he causeth the Night incontinently to succeed the day the Sun the Moon and the Stars move at his Command and all the World obeyeth him praised be God Lord of the Uniniverse Pray to God privately and publickly he abhorreth the unjust pollute not the Earth after the Ordure is removed pray to God to avoid his Chastisements and obtain his mercy which is for the righteous It is God that sendeth the Winds to dissipate the Rain when they carry the Clouds we drive them charged with water into places dry dead and ruined and cause the Rain to fall there that they may produce Herbs and Fruits so will we cause the dead to arise again perhaps Men will remember the good Land bringeth forth good Fruits through the permission of its Lord and the bad Land produceth only Darnel I teach my Commandments to such as are not ingrateful Certainly we sent Noah to instruct Men he said O ye people worship one God alone if you adore other then him you shall be punished at the Day of Judgment their Rulers answered O Noah thou art in a great Errour He replyed I erre not I am a Messenger sent from God to preach his Will I give you most wholsome Advice God hath taught me what you know not Is it strange to you that he hath sent you his Commandment by the Tongue of a Man like your selves to declare to you the torments of Hell Fear God he will pardon your sins But they belyed Noah we saved him in the Ark with his Retinue and drowned those that contemned our Law they were altogether blind We sent Hod to his Brother Aâ—…d and to his Retinue he said O ye people worship one God alone whom will ye adore or whom fear but God The Teachers answered thou art in an extream ignorance we believe thee to be in the number of Lyars he replied I am not a Lyar I am a Messenger sent from God to preach his Commandments I give good and salutary Advice wonder not that God teacheth you his Precepts by the Tongue of a Man like you who declareth to you his Pleasure Remember that he left you on Earth after Noah that he encreased you in number force and power Call to mind his grace you shall be happy They answered are we come to this to worship one God alone and to relinquish what our Fathers adored Shew us the truth whereof thou dost preach if thou art true he said the wrath and indignation of God shall fall upon you will you dispute with us of the Names that you and your Fathers imposed on your Idols God did not enjoyn to worship them neither have you reason to do it expect your punishment I will expect it with perseverance Then did we deliver him from their Malice and all the true Believers that were with him and destroyed those Infidels by reason of their impiety We sent Salhe to Temod and his people he said to them O ye people worship but one God he shall shew you a Miracle in this Camel suffer it to feed on the Earth and do to it no harm lest you be chastised Remember how God left you on the Earth after Aad he gave you to dwell in the Valleys in the Plains and Mountains Remember God and pollute not the Earth any more Their Captains who were proud demanded of the poor if they believed that Salhe was indeed the Messenger of God they answered We believe in his words and in his Doctrin Then said those proud Men we abjure what ye believe we condemn him and they slâ—…w the Camel of Salhe in Dâ—…ision disobeyed the Commandments of God and said O Salhe Let us now see the punishment that thou didst preach if thou art of the Prophets at the same time an Earthquake with Thunder surprized them and they remained dead as Carcasses in their Houses Salhe forsook them and said O ye people I declared to you the Will of God with fidelity but ye detest them that affect you and give you good Counsels Remember thou how Lot spake to the People saying will you daily defile your selves with Whoredome and with a filthiness that was never yet seen in the World by any your Predecessors Will you love Men better than Women Will you love sin rather than Piety They said Let us expel Lot and his Family from our City for that they will not contaminate themselves with us but God delivered him out of their hands and those of his House except his Wife who continued with them that were punished We caused a Rain to fall upon them that destroyed all of them Consider the end of the wicked We sent Chaib to the Countrey of Madian he said O ye people worship one God alone weigh with good Weights measure with good Measure and retain nothing from your Neighbour Possess not the high ways to give terrour to the people neither divert true Believers from the Law of God Remember that you were but a small handful of Men and he caused you to multiply consider the end of the wicked If any among you embrace the Faith and others contemn it have patience until God judge your differences there is no better Judge than he Their Teachers said O Chiab we will banish thee from Madian thee and those that are of thy Fath if thou art of our Religion he answered should I not abhor your Religion I should blaspheme against God who hath delivered me I will follow it if it please God he knoweth all things I will commend my self wholly to the Will of his Divine Majesty Lord judge our Controversie thou art the best Judge of the World. Then said their Teachers to the
shall tear them up and level them with the Earth thou shalt see them levelled and beaten down Then shall men without retardment follow him that shall summon them to universal Judgment they shall humble themselves before God thou shalt that Day hear low and humble voices that day shall prayers be ineffectual except of them that shall be pleasing to God whom he will permit to speak He knoweth whatsoever men do in this World and what must befull them in the other and they know it not they shall humble themselves and hang down the Head before the Living and Eternal Lord all Infidels shall be damned and the Righteous of True-believers that have done good works shall not fear injustice We have sent the Alcoran in the Arabique Tongue it teacheth men our Commandments peradventure they will fear impiety it teacheth them what they ought to know Exalt the glory of God King of the World he is truth it self press not thy self to read the Alcoran until thou hast well understood it Say Lord encrease my knowledge We heretofore prohibited Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit he was unmindful of our Commandment I found in him no perseverance Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before him they humbled themselves except the Devil who refused to do it Remember that we said Adam the Devil is thine enemy and the enemy of thy Wife he will endeavour to make you miserable to cause you both to go out of Paradise where thou sufferest neither hunger nor thirst nor cold nor heat the Devil tempted them and said oh Adam I will conduct thee to the Tree of Eternity a treasure that shall never perish they did both eat of the fruit of that Tree then knew they their filthiness and took the leaves of Trees to cover their nakedness Adam disobeyed his Lord and became miserable nevertheless he heard and pardoned him and shewed him the right he said descend from Paradice ye Enemies of each other I will hereafter send you a guide he that shall follow him shall not err and shall be blessed he that shall go astray and will not believe in me shall be miserable in the World and blind at the Day of Judgment that Day shall he say Lord wherefore hast thou made me blind I had good sight when I was in the World I did this day forget thee as thou didst forget my Commandments thus do I intreat Infidels The torments of the other World are more grievous than those of the Earth and of longer continuance do not unbelievers tremble when they consider how many men upon Earth we have destroyed in past Ages Their misery shall serve for example to them that are wise had not thy Lord said that he will defer the punishment of the wicked until the time appointed he had already destroyed them Be patient and endure their Discourse praise thy Lord before the Sun arise before it setteth an hour before Night and at the end of Day thou shalt do a thing acceptable to him The life of the World is sweet to tempt you but the Riches of thy Lord are better and Eternal Command the People to make their prayers at the time appointed and be not impatient towards them I require no Riches of thee I will enrich thee and in the end Paradise shall be for the Righteous The unbelievers have said if Mahomet sheweth not some Miracle from God and knoweth not the exposition of the Books of our Predecessors we will not believe in him we before his coming destroyed many wicked persons who said Lord hadst thou sent us a Prophet we had observed thy Commandments before we became infamous and laden with ignominy Say unto them every one expecteth his end expect ye and ye shall one day know them that follow the right way and have not erred CHAP. XXI The Chapter of the Prophets containing an Hundred and Twelve Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and merciful The Day approacheth wherein the People shall render an account of their actions but they consider it not and depart from the Commandments of God if they hear them they laugh they understand them not and keep secret their evil intentions Is not Mahomet a man like to you Will ye say that he is a Magician You see the contrary God heareth whatsoever is spoken both in Heaven and Earth and knoweth all things They say certainly Mahomet hath dreamed what he speaketh he hath invented it and is a Poet we will not believe him unless he shew some Miracle as did the Prophets that were before him We have layed waste many Cities because their inhabitants were incredulous we sent before thee but men who were inspired of us Enquire of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the written Law if ye know it not they were men that did eat and drink and were mortal we effected what we promised to them we preserved them with such as believed and destroyed the incredulous we have sent you a Book to instruct you will ye understand it How many Infidel Cities have we made desolate How many new People have we established in their place When they felt our punishment they fled fly not and return to what hath delighted you return into your houses peradventure ye will yet covet the Riches of the Earth they said Misery is upon us we are too blame thus did they talk until they were destroyed We have not created Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is between them to sport with had it been our will that they should have scoffed on Earth they should scoff likewise in Heaven On the contrary I oppose the truth to falsehood to confound it and in effect it doth confound it Misery shall be upon you because of your blasphemies whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods the Angels are not ashamed to worship him they praise him Day and Night and exalt his glory without blasphemy The Infidels worship Gods made of Earth have they power to create any thing Were there in Heaven and on Earth another God they would not accord praised be God Lord of the Universe what the Infidels relate is untrue He asketh no counsel when he will do any thing as do men will they worship any other God but him Say unto them produce your arguments behold what we have to speak unto you behold our reasons and those of our predecessors Certainly the greatest part of them are ignorant of the Truth and go astray We inspired into all the Prophets which we sent that there was but one God that ought to be worshipped They said believe ye that the Angels are the Sons of God Praised be God on the contrary they are his Creatures he loveth them they speak not but after him and obey what he commandeth them he knoweth all their actions past and future they pray for no man but through his permission and fear to displease him Who among them will say I am God
instead of God He shall be cast headlong into the Fire of Hell thus 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
one God fear the day of Judgment and defile not the Earth They impudently traduced him but were surprized by an Earthquake and remained dead in their houses as carkasses We destroyed Aad and Temod their ruine is yet apparent in the places of their habitations the Devil tempted and seduced them from the right way notwithstanding they knew their error We destroyed Caron Pbaroah and Haman Moses preached to them my Commandments they contemned them and became proâ—…d in the Earth but escaped not the punishment of their crimes We chastised some by an impetuous wind and others were surprized by thunder we deprived them of their riches and they were drowned God was not unjust towards them they drew mischief on themselves through their impiety They that worship Idols are like to the Spider she buildeth her house of her â—…ob-web that cannot defend from heat or cold They would not adore Idols did they understand what they do God seeth what they worship he is omnipotent and wise I teach the people these parables and none but the wise understand them Truly God created Heaven and Earth it is a sign of his Omnipotency to True believers Instruct them in the book that is inspired into thee make thy prayers at the time appointed prayers divert men from sin to be mindful of God is the best work thou canst perform he knoweth all the actions of men Dispute with mildness against them that have knowledg of the written Law except against the wicked that are among them Say unto them We believe in what hath been taught you and in what hath been taught us Your God and our God is one God we are resigned to his divine will. We have sent thee the Alcoran as we sent to them the Old Testament Such as understand the Old Testament believe in the Truth of the Alcoran Thou hast not written it with thine own hand hadst thou written it thou hadst caused them to doubt who desire to make it void Certainly it containeth and teacheth intelligibly the Commandments of the Law none but Infidels reject it They have said We will not believe in this Book unless God work in it some miracle Say unto them Miracles proceed from God I am sent only to preach the torments of Hell. Is it not sufficient that we have sent thee the Alcoran to instruct them It containeth the effects of my mercy and precepts necessary for their salvation Say unto them it sufficeth that God is witness of mine actions betwixt you and me he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth They that believe in Idols and have not faith in God are damned They urge thee to make them see the punishment of their crimes if the time were come they should soon feel it they shall rescent it when they least think of it but they know it not they shall press thee to make them see it Say unto them Hell is prepared for Infidels When they shall be plunged in torments over their heads and under their feet it shall be said unto them Taste the punishment which ye have deserved O ye people that believe The Earth is sufficiently large and spacious for you to separate your selves from the wicked worship me alone all Creatures shall die and be assembled before me to be judged The True believers that shall have done good works shall inhabit Paradise wherein flow many rivers wherein is the reward of the righteous of them that persevere to do good and are patient in their affliction and trust in their Lord. How many beasts be there that have not wherewith to live God nourisheth them and you also he understandeth and knoweth all things If thou ask of the Infidels who created Heaven and Earth the Sun and the Moon they will say It is God. Wherefore then do they deny his Unity God enricheth and impoverisheth whom â—… leaseth him he is omniscient If thou demand of them who causeth the rain to fall from Heaven to give life to the Earth after the death thereof they will say It is God. Say unto them Praised be God that ye avouch it nevertheless the greatest part of men understand it not The life of this world is but sport and vanity life is in Paradise had they knowledge to comprehend it When they enter into a ship and see the tempest they call upon God and protest to profess his Law And when he hath preserved them on the Land they are ingrateful for his grace and return to their Idolatry they shall too late understand their error Know they not that we have established in Mecca all safety and freedom and that men are taken away by violence to be slain and made slaves believe they in things unprofitable shall they be ingrateful for the graces of God who is more impious than he that blasphemeth against God and impugneth the known Truth is there no place in Hell for the wicked I will guide into the right way them that shall fight for the Faith God is with them that do good CHAP. XXX The Chapter of the Grecians containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am the most wise God. The Grecians were vanquished upon the frontier of the Persians but shall be victorious before the end of seven years God disposeth all things from the beginning to the end When they shall be victorious the True believers shall rejoyce in the victory that God shall give them he protecteth whom to him seemeth good he is omnipotent and merciful He hath promised them victory and departeth not from his promises of which the greatest part of men are ignorant they affect the life of this world and consider not their end Will they not consider that God hath created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and hath appointed to every thing a limited and prefixed time Certainly the greatest part of the people believe not in the Resurrection Will they not consider the end of their predecessors who were more powerful and wealthy than they God hath sent to all an Apostle to teach them his Law he hath done to them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves through their iniquity the end of the wicked shall be like to their works they despise the Commandments of God and deride them but God shall cause them to die and rise again and all shall be assembled before him at the day of Judgment that day shall they be desperate their Idols shall not intercede for them they shall forsake them and they shall be separated from the true believers Such as believe in God and do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise and the wicked shall be chastised according to their demerits Praise God pray unto him evening and morning praise is due to him in heaven and earth pray unto him before the Sun set and at the hour of noon he maketh the dead to come out of the living and the living out of the dead he
conspired against them think they that I know not their secrets and whatsoever they utter The Angels our Messengers keep account say unto them If God have a Son who shall we first adore Praised be God King of the Heavens and of the Earth the matter is not as the Infidels deliever it Leave them implunged in their impiety let them laugh and rejoyce until the day of their punishment arrive One God alone ought to be worshipped in Heaven and Earth he is most wise and Omniscient Praised be he to whom appertaineth the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is between them He knoweth the hour and the day that all the World shall be assembled before him to be judged The Idols that the Infidels adore shall not be able to intercede for them the good intercede for them that have knowledge of the truth if thou ask of men Who created them They will say It is God How can they then depart from his Commandments Lord this People is incredulous Depart thou far from their company they shall in the end too late acknowledg their errors CHAP. XLIV The Chapter of Smoke containing Fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is Prudent and Wise. I swear by the Book that distinguisheth good from evil that we sent it the Night of blessing to teach the People the torments of Hell this Book explaineth our Commandments and all that we heretofore commanded the Prophets this is a special grace of thy Lord he heareth and knoweth all things he is Lord of Heaven and Earth and of all that is between them believe in his Omnipotency There is no God but he he giveth life and death to whom he listeth he is your Lord the Lord of your fathers and predecessors the wicked deride this discourse but the Day of Judgment attends them that day the Heaven shall resemble Smoak that shall cover the World that day shall the People say Behold here grievous torments Lord deliver us from this misery we will believe in thy Law Their conversion shall be in vain because when the Prophet preached to them they scorned his words and said That he was a foolish Teacher and when they were comforted on Earth they returned to their impiety Remember thou the day when they were vanquished and taken by force and that we were revenged on their impiety We heretofore tryed the People of Pharoah my beloved Prophet preached to them my Commandments and said Come follow me Oh ye servants of God! I am a faithful â—…essenger of his divine Majesty resist not his law will teach you his Commandments he shall defend me from your malice he shall preserve me from being stoned but if he will not believe me depart far from me He prayed to his Lord when he knew that that people was unbelieving â—…nd impious God said unto him Go forth by night out of the City with my servants if the men of Pharoah pursue thee enter into the Sea through a path large and spacious thine enemies that shall follow thee shall be drowned How many Gardens Fountains and places of Pleasure wherein they took delight did â—…hey forsake They fell into the power of anoâ—…her with all their treasures and none lamented â—…hem either in Heaven or Earth they expected â—…ot that punishment We delivered the Children of Israel from Pharoahs tyranny he was â—…owerful and a great sinner We elected them through our certain knowledg among all the world â—…nd tryed them through our Miracles and Commandments The wicked say we shall dye and not rise again if the Resurrection be true cause our fathers to revive to evidence the truth of thy words Are they more powerful than their predecessors whom we destroyed because of their â—…mpiety We have not created in vain the Heaven and the Earth and whatsoever is between them we created them for certain signs of our â—…nity the greatest part of the world understand â—…t not the day of Judgment is the time appointed for their punishment that day none shall be able to save his neighbour or parent or friend nor shall any be saved but those to whom God shall give his mercy he is omnipotent and merciful The fruit of the Tree of Hell called Zacon shall serve for food to the wicked it shall boyl in their bellies like pitch or water They shall cry Take the wicked drag them into the fire of Hell pour upon their heads all manner of torments It shall be said unto them taste the pains oâ—… Hell ye believed your selves to be thâ—… omnipotent and precious on Earth behold thâ—… punishment of which ye doubted The righteouâ—… shall be in delicious places in Gardens adorneâ—… with Fountains they shall be clothed with purple they shall behold each other face to face wâ—… will assemble them with women pure and cleaâ—… who shall have most beautiful eyes they shall havâ—… fruits savoury and delicious of all seasons the shall never dye and shall be delivered from thâ—… torments of Hell through the special grace 〈◊〉 thy Lord behold supreme felicity Certainly we have sent the Alcoran in thy tongue peradveâ—… ture the Arabians will learn it they covet thy 〈◊〉 ine but persevere thou and expect the time of 〈◊〉 punishment of their crimes CHAP. XLV The Chapter of Genuflexion or Knee-bowinâ—… containing fifty nine Verses 〈◊〉 at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifâ—… God is most prudent and Wise. This Book sent by the Omnipotent and Wise. The Heaveâ—… and the Earth are most certain signs of his Uniâ—… to such as believe in his Law your Creation aâ—… â—…he Creation of all Creatures are markâ—… of his greatness to them that have his fear before their eyes the difference of the night and the day the rain that he sendeth from Heaven to cause fruits to spring out of the Earth and to revive it after its death and the diversity of winds are signs of his Omnipotency to them that have knowledg to comprehend it I relate to thee the wonders of God with truth in what will 〈◊〉 believe if they believe not in the word of his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that hear the Commandments of God and become proud as if they had not heard them Preach unto such men that they shall suffer the rigors of infinite pains They deride the Faith when they are spoken to Certainly they shall be punished in the fire of Hell their riches shall not be able to save them neither the Idols which they adore they shall be eternally damned This Book guideth men into the way of salvation they that shall not believe in the Law of God shall feel the effects of his fury He created the Seas that bear the Ships for the advantage of your commerce peradventure ye will acknowlged this grace He hath created for you all that is in Heaven and on Earth it is a sign of his goodness to such as consider it Speak unto them that believe
we will not believe thee for that we see not God then you were smitten with thunder you saw your Misery with your own eyes nevertheless we raised you after your death perhaps you will give me thanks We covered you with the shadow of Clouds we caused Manna and Quails to fall upon you and said Eat the good things we have given you They did us no harm when they murmured they afflicted themselves We said Enter into that City and eat therein what shall content you enter in at the gate with humility and say Remove our sins from us I will pardon your offences and encrease the Graces of those that are righteous then the wicked altered their words that were taught them but I sent my indignation from Heaven upon them according to their demerits When Moses demanded drink for his people we said Smite the Rock with thy Rod incontinently there sprung forth twelve Fountains and every man knew his place where to drink Eat and drink the good things of God and defile not the Earth any more You said unto Moses we are not satisfied with one sort of meat entreat thy Lord that he give us what the Earth produceth Beets Cucumbers Garlick Lentils and Onions he said Desire you to change good for evil Go down into Aegypt you will there find what you require They were beaten with disgrace and poverty and returned into the wrath of God for that they disobeyed his Commandments and unjustly slew his Prophets for which they were greatly to blame All those that shall believe Christians Iews or Samaritans such as shall believe in God at the day of Judgment and do good works shall be recompensed by their Lord and be free from fear and affliction at the day of the Resurrection When we received your promise to believe in the Old Testament we raised a Mountain over you to over-shadow you and said Comprehend with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will fear the fire of Hell and disobedience nevertheless you have gone astray without the mercy of your Lord you shall be in the number of the damned You know what befel those that observed not the Sabbath we said unto them Be ye abhorred and despised as Apes We left this punishment as an Advertisement to their Temporaries and Posterity and particularly to be for an example to the true Believers Remember thou that Moses said unto the people God commandeth you to sacrifice a Cow. They answered doest thou mock us He replyed God defend me from being in the number of the ignorant They said Call upon thy Lord that he instruct us what Cow that ought to be He said it must be a Cow of a middle age neither young nor old and do what is commanded you They said pray unto thy Lord that he shew us of what colour it ought to be It must said he be of a bright yellow colour that it may delight the eyes of the beholders They said invoke thy Lord that he instruct us what it ought to resemble and we shall if it please him be obedient to his Commandments He said God answereth you that it must be a Cow that never bare the yoke to till the earth neither water the fields round and that hath never laboured neither hath spot upon her Body They said thou hast now spoken truth they then sacrificed her and it wanted not much but they had not done it When you have slain any one you are then full of wrath and become proud God bringeth to light whatever you conceal We said smite that dead Body with a piece of that Cow so God raiseth again the dead and manifesteth to you his Miracles it may be you will comprehend them yet your hearts are hardned more obdurate than Rocks for Rivers flow from Rocks when they cleave and appear or when they fall and overturn by the permission of his Divine Majesty God is not ignorant of your actions Do you desire the Iews should believe you because many among them write the word of God and alter it at pleasure after they have comprized it When they meet with true Believers they say we believe in God and being assembled they say among themselves have you entertained those true Believers for that God hath instructed you that they may find no excuse against you at the day of Judgment before his Divine Majesty Understand you not that they would excuse themselves upon what you have said to them Know they not that God knoweth whatever they conceal and what they bring to light There be some that know neither to read nor write that understand nothing of Scripture but what they have learned from the lies of their Doctors yet they think to be knowing Men. Misery is upon them that conceal the Scripture in their hands that alter it and say that what they read proceedeth from God to profit any thing thereby Misery is upon them because of what their hands have written Misery is upon them and upon what they have gained in blaspheming against God. They have said we shall continue in Fire but a certain number of days Say unto them have you capitulated with God He will not act against his Promises Will you speak of God what you know not Such as have gained ought and were entangled in the sin of their gain shall for ever remain in the flames of Hell and they 〈◊〉 have faith in God and do good works shall â—…nally enjoy the delights of Paradise â—…ber thou that we taught the Commandâ—… of the Law and how we said to the 〈◊〉 of Israel worship one only God do good unto your Farher and Mother to your Allies Orphans and the Poor speak mildly unto the People make your Prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes nevertheless they were disobedient except some very few among them When we received the Commandments of God and that we said shed not your Blood neither forsake your Houses you approved it your selves are Witnesses Nevertheless you slew many and constrained a great number to desert their habitation you assisted each other in injustice and impiety If Slaves have recourse to you you shall redeem them their deliverance is appointed you Do you believe one part of the Scripture to abjure the other The reward of any of you that shall do this thing is ignominy in this World and to be precipitated into the most grievous torments of Hell at the day of Judgment God is not ignorant of your actions Such as purchase the Life of the World to quit Paradise shall not be eased in their Miseries and be utterly deprived of succours Certainly we gave the Law to Moses and after him sent many Prophets We inspired knowledge into Jesus the Son of Mary and strengthned him by the Holy Ghost but you arose against the Prophets that came contrary to your affections you belyed one part and slew another The unbelievers said our heart is hardned It
people if you follow Chaib you are damned not long after an Earthquake and Thunder surprized them and in the Morning they were found dead in their Houses such as belyed Chaib found no safety in their Habitations they were wretched he abandoned them and said O ye people I have preached to you the Will of God with fidelity I will no longer afflict my self with the Malice of the wicked We inflicted Sickness and Poverty on them that disobeyed the Prophets whom we sent to the Inhabitants of Madian peradventure they will be converted We proved them through Diseases and Health and gratified them in many Occurrences yet they said our Fathers were afflicted with Sickness and Poverty we shall be as they but we chastised them for their sin when they least considered it Had the Inhabitants of Mecca had our fear before their eyes and obeyed our Commandments we had opened to them the blessing of Heaven and Earth we will punish them because they are impious Some there be that shall be afflicted in the Night when they sleep and others that shall be toâ—…mented by day when they sport and recreate themselves they believed God to be a dâ—…ceiver and are damned God guideth into the right way true Believers and makes them Heirs of the Earth after their Parents had he so pleased he might have destroyed all the World he might have hardned the hearts of the people and no man had hearkned to his word I recount what things befel that City many Prophets have been sent to its Inhabitants and wrought many Miracles yet would they not relinquish their former impiety thus have we hardned the hearts of Infidels they violated their Promises and we found most of them to be wicked and disobedient We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his people he to them shewed Miracles which through their Malice they contemned but consider the end of those wicked men Moses said unto Pharaoh I am a Messenger sent from God the God of the Universe when I speak of God I deliver the Truth I am come through his Command to tell thee thou must dismiss with me the Children of Israel and no longer detain them in thy Dominions Pharaoh said if thou comest from God and art true in thy sayings let us see some Miracles then he cast upon the ground his Staffe which was changed into a Serpent shewed his hand that appeared exceeding white to the eyes of the Spectators The Doctors of Pharaoh said this Man is a Magician he would have us to abandon our Countrey what is your opinion detain him Prisoner and his Brother and send into your Cities to assemble Magicians The Magicians of Pharaoh appearing before him they said what shall be our reward if we shall be Victorious He replyed to them you shall be well rewarded and shall be of them that approach my Person They said O Moses wilt thou first cast down thy Staffe on the ground or shall we ours Moses bad them cast down theirs which they did enchanting the eyes of the Spectators and terrifying them with an extraordinary enchantment God inspired Moses to cast down his Rod which devoured the Staves of the other and the Truth appeared above falshood and above the Vanity of their Actions they were vanquished to their confusion forsook their Magick and prostrating themselves on the Earth uttered these words We believe in the Lord of the Universe the Lord of Moses and of Aaron Pharaoh said to them Ye believe in the God of Moses without my permission this is a deceit invented by you to drive the people out of my Dominions but you shall soon know the punishment that I will lay upon you I will cut off your feet and hands and command you to be crucified They answered We recommend our selves wholly to the Will of God whatsoever is thy revenge on us thou shalt not hinder us to believe in the Miracles that we see neither to obey the Commandments of his Divine Majesty Lord give us patience and to die in the number of true Believers Then said Pharaoh's Doctors dismiss Moses and his people that they may go whither they see good to pollute the Earth that they may leave thee in quiet with thy Gods He said I will cause their Children to be slain their Wives to be abused and I will inflict upon them a thousand torments Moses said to his people Implore succours of God with patience and Prayers the whole Earth is Gods he giveth it to inherit to whom he seeth good the other World is for the rightâ—…ous They said O Moses We before thy coming desired the death of our Enemies he replyed God will not destroy your Enemies to leave you alone upon the Earth he shall behold your Actions We afflicted Pharaoh and his Subjects with Famine perhaps unbelievers will consider it When any happiness befel them they said they well deserved it and when they fell into Misery they affirmed Moses and his people to be the cause of it It is God that punished them but of this most of them were ignorant They said unto Moses cease to shew us thy Miracles to inchant us we will not obey thee We sent upon them a Deluge Grass-hoppers Lice Frogs and Blood one after another nevertheless they were proud and in the number of the wicked When our wrath fell upon them they said O Moses call upon thy Lord that he give us what to thee he promised remove his displeasure from us we will believe thee and will dismiss with thee the Children of Israel When we delivered them from affliction they sharpned their Tongues murmured and violated their Promises we avenged our selves upon them and drowned them in the Sea for that they contemned our Miracles and we gave the West and East to the Children of Israel who were humble before us we gave them our blessing our word was accomplished upon them because of their perseverance and we destroyed the Armies of Pharaoh The Children of Israel having past the Sea met with Men that adored Idols and said O Moses make unto us Gods like to the Gods of this people he answered ye are ignorant these Men are wretched what they do is but ignorance and Vanity shall I desire that you worship other Gods than God that preferred you to all the World We have delivered you from Pharaoh's people who caused you to endure great torments they murthered your Children abused your Wives and you suffer heavy afflictions for the punishment of your sins We detained Moses on the Mountain thirty Nights and ten other Nights which is in all forty Nights when he went up he said to his Brother Aaron be thou my Lieutenant command this people in mine absence and follow not the path of the wicked When Moses at the time appointed arrived at the top of the Mountain and that his Lord spake to him he said Lord permit me to see thee he said thou shalt not see me behold this Mountain if it continue firm
Resurrection such as place their content in the wealth of this World they that trust in their Riches and that are ignorant of the Commandments of God shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell because of their sins and the true Believers shall be conducted by his Divine Majesty into delicious Gardens wherein flow many Rivers they shall there find whatsoever they shall desire and shall say at the beginning of their Prayers praised be God afterwards they shall say Salvation be to God and at the end of their Prayers praise be to God Lord of the Universe Although God doth sometimes suddenly chastise Men he always attendeth the time of their Destiny I will leave them that shall not believe in the Resurrection in their Errours to their confusion When Man is afflicted he invoketh us standing sitting lying and in all postures and when we have delivered him from his affliction he persisteth in his wickedness It seemeth good to the wicked to do in this manner we destroyed their Predecessours when they believed not in the Prophets neither obeyed the Precepts that we sent them and have established you on the Earth in their place after them to see your Deportments When thou teachest our Commandments to them that believe not in the Resurrection they say that the Precepts of the Alcoran are altogether contrary to what thou preachest and that thou hast altered them Say unto them I have no Will to alter them of my self I do but what is inspired into me of God I fear to be punished at the Day of Judgment should I disobey his Divine Majesty Say unto them Had it pleased God I had neither read nor taught you his Commandments I sojourned a long time with you before I taught you will you not learn them Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth God doth not aid the Infidels that worship what can neither benefit nor hurt them and say their Idols shall intercede for them will you instruct God in any thing that he knoweth not of what is in Heaven or in Earth Praised be God he hath no Companion Men were all of one Religion before Infidelity took place and if God had not said that he would defer the punishment of the wicked until the Day of Judgment he had already destroyed them in this World because of their impiety They say we will not believe in the Prophet if God make not some Miracles to appear in him Say unto them God knoweth what shall be expect I will expect with you When we gave them to taste of content after their affliction they had subtilty upon our Commandments Say unto them God is more subtile than you his Messengers shall write your subtilties he it is that made Men to travel upon the Earth and Sea It is he that sendeth them a favourable wind to rejoyce them in their Ships when Tempest surprizeth them they believe that the Waves will overwhelm them then they invoke God with desire to embrace his Law and say if God doth deliver us from this danger we will believe in his Unity and return him thanks for this mercy and being delivered from peril persist in their wickedness O People you draw mischief on your selves you require nothing but the wealth of this World you all shall appear before us to be judged according to your works the life of the World is like to the Rain which we cause to descend from Heaven it causeth with mixture all sorts of herbage to spring forth for the nourishment of Men and Beasts When the Earth is adorned with Flowers and enriched with its Fruits the Inhabitants oftentimes believe they have the power to cause their production then send we our chastiiements Day and Night upon the Earth and render it as mown and as if the Day before it had brought no Fruit. Thus do I discover Mysteries to such as have knowledge to comprehend them They beg their Salvation of God he saveth and putteth in the way of Salvation whom it pleaseth him He shall not cover the Visage of them that have done good works they shall appear without shame and dwell in Paradise where they shall remain eternally and such as shall have done evil shall be punished after their demerits they shall be covered with shame and none shall be able to protect them they shall be as if a great part of the obscurity of the Night had covered their countenance they shall be condemned to the fire of Hell where they shall dwell eternally Think on the Day wherein we will â—…ssemble all the World and will say to the Infidels Hâ—…ll shall be your habitation where be the â—…dols you adored we have separated you from each other Their Idols shall say to them You have not worshipped us God is witness was there any thing between us and you that rendred us ignorant of your adorations That Day shall every one see what he hath done and know that God is Truth it self their Idols shall be separated far from them and they shall understand their blasphemies Say unto them who enricheth you with the wealth of Heaven and Earth Who causeth life to come out of death and death out of life Who disposeth all things in the World They shall answer it is God Say unto them why have you not therefore his fear before your eyes God is indeed your Lord what is there after the Truth but falshood How will you depart from his Law his Word shall be accomplished against Infidels Say unto them Have your Idols the power to cause Men to die and to make them rise again God causeth them to die and to rise again how shall they be able to blaspheme after these reasons Say unto them Are your Idols able to conduct you into the right way God guideth the People into the way of Salvation who ought rather to be followed he that guideth the People into the right way or he that misleadeth them What reason have ye to follow the evil way The greatest part of them follow but their own opinion but their opinion is not conformable to the Truth God knoweth all their actions there is no falshood in the Alcoran it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and perspicuously explaineth them there is no doubt but it proceedeth from the Lord of the Universe They say Mahomet hath invented this Book say unto them Come and bring any thing that resembleth it in Doctrine and Eloquence and call the Idols which ye adore we shall see if you are sincere on the contrary they have blasphemed and have talked of what they understood not when they heard the exposition of the Alcoran Thus did their Predecessors but consider what is the end of the unjust There be among them who will believe in this Book and others that will not believe Thy Lord knoweth them that defile the Earth if they slander thee say unto them I will answer with my actions and ye shall answer with yours ye are innocent of what I act and I
Money at the bottoms of their Sacks and said our Father what shall we desire more our money is restored to us and we have Bread for our Family permit that our Brother go with us we shall have better measure that is a small thing to the King of Egypt I will not send him with you unless ye all swear before God to bring him back again if there be no great impediment They swore to fulfil his Will then said he I take God to be witness of your Oath O my Sons enter not all together into the City but go in at several Gates to the end the people may not be jealous of you God commandeth what to him seemeth good I relye on him all true Believers ought to resign themselves to his Divine Will they entred the City as their Father enjoyned them to content him being arrived before Ioseph he took his little Brother by the hand and said to him trouble not thy self for what shall become of thy Brethren having filled their Sacks he caused a Cup adorned with precious stones to be put into the Sack of his little Brother caused it to be given out that they of the Caravan had stoln the Kings Cup and sent Men after them to search those strangers protested they saw it not and that they came not into Egypt to steal that they were Sureties for each other and that he who had stoln it deserved punishment The Cup was found in the Sack of his young Brother he caused him to be apprehended and accused them all of Theft Lord said they his Father is old he will be extreamly afflicted for his absence take one of us in his place thou shalt in the end find us to be honest Men God forbid said he that I should detain other than him who was found guilty of Theft that would be injustice finding themselves out of hope to free their Brother they saved themselves in a secret place remote from the City where the eldest said to his Brethren you know the Oath we took at our departure and how heretofore we intreated Ioseph I will not go out of Egypt without my Fathers permission God is most just he shall dispose of me and my Brother as shall please him return to your Father and say unto him thy Son was taken in Theft we saw him and endeavoured to our power to deliver him they of the Caravan shall be Witnesses Iacob said at their return they were the cause of that accident that did not displease you and he took patience saying God perhaps will favour my Sons to return in health he knoweth in what condition I am he is most prudent in what he ordaineth He retired from among his Sons extreamly afflicted and bewailed the loss of his Son Ioseph had his eyes continually covered with tears and he bore in his heart great sorrow His Sons said unto him Dost thou yet remember Ioseph to add to thy grief and hasten thine end I am said he extreamly desolate I leave all to the Will of God he hath taught me what ye know not My Sons return into Egypt and enquire tidings of your two Brethren despair not of the Spirit of God none despair of Gods Spirit but the wicked When they came unto Ioseph they said unto him The Famine that is in our Countrey hath extreamly afflicted us it hath often constrained us to come to buy Corn thou of thy favour hast made us good measure thou hast caused our Money to be restored for Alms God will reward thee he recompenceth such as are Alms-givers He said unto them Ye remember what ye did unto your Brother Ioseph They replyed Certainly thou art not Ioseph I am Ioseph said he and behold my Brother Benjamin God hath given us his Grace he rewardeth him that hath his fear before his eyes and is patient in his afflictions he depriveth not the righteous of recompence God said they hath poured his favours upon us in saving thee whom we have exceedingly offended Be not said he ashamed God this day pardoneth you that sin he is gracious and merciful return to your Father and bear to him this Shirt cast it upon his face he shall recover sight and return hither with him and with your whole Family The Caravan was then half way upon return when Iacob said to them that attended him I smell the odour of my Son Ioseph you deride me but what I speak is most true They told him that he was still in his old Errour some days following one of his Sons arrived with tidings of Ioseph and cast the Shirt that he had given him upon him and incontinently he recovered his sight and said Did I not always tell you that I knew what ye knew not they said Our Father pardon us and ask the forgiveness of God for us who have exceedingly offended him He answered I will beg pardon of God for you he is gracious and merciful When they arrived before Ioseph he took his Father by the hand saying Enter without fear into Egypt caused him to sit down and his Brethren fell prostrate before him My Father said he behold there the interpretation of mine old Dream God hath rendred it true he hath favoured me in delivering me from Prison and conducting you hither he hath put an end to the jealousie wich the Devil had procured between me and my Brethren The Lord is liberal to whom seemeth good to him he knoweth what is necessary for his people and is most prudent in what he ordaineth Lord thou hast given me wealth and knowledge to interpret Dreams Creator of Heaven and Earth thou art my Protector give me the Grace to die in thy Law and place me in the number of the righteous This History of Ioseph is an ancient History which I relate to thee Thou wert not with his Brethren when they conspired against him nevertheless the greatest part of the people are incredulous Demand no reward of them for having preached the Alcoran it instructeth only the wise How many signs be there in Heaven and Earth of the Unity of God yet the people believe not therein and most of them adore Idols assuredly God shall punish them at an unexpected hour and in a time which they know not Say unto them Behold the right way I call to the way of Salvation and Light such as follow me I return thanks to God for that I am not in the number of Unbelievers We sent aforetime none but Men to instruct the people will not Men consider what hath been the end of the wicked that were before them Paradise is for them that are righteous will ye not be converted They caused the Prophets to lose all hopes of their Conversion and believed them to be Lyars but we protected them and delivered from their Malice such as seemed good to us Nothing shall exempt the wicked from the punishment of their pains they shall serve for example to Men of Spirit The Alcoran containeth no blasphemies
his Parables perhaps they will be mindful An evil word is like to a bad Tree that hath been torn from the Earth there is nothing to sustain it and it is without Root or Fruit God fortifieth the true believers through his word in this World and in the other and causeth the unjust to err he doth what to him seemeth good Seest thou not them that have changed his grace into impiety and have made such as have followed them to dwell in the House of perdition They shall abide eternally in the fire of Hell. They say that God hath a Companion equal to him and err from the way of his Law Say unto them ye shall have wealth in this World but Hell is your Rendezvous Say to the true believers who make their prayers at the time appointed and give alms in private or publick that the day shall come wherein they shall neither buy nor sell and where every one shall be recompensed for his works Say unto them God hath created the Earth and the Heavens he maketh the Rain to descend from Heaven which causeth to spring sorth all sorts of Fruits to enrich you he created the Ship that through his permission saileth on the Sea he created the Rivers the Sun and the Moon which move continually he created the Day and the Night and bestoweth on you whatsoever ye desire his favours towards you can neither be numbred nor recounted nevertheless the inhabitants of Mecca are always impious and wicked Abraham said Lord protect this City and make it to be the refuge of the World Keep me and my Children from the worship of Idols they have seduced a part of the People he that shall follow me and profess thy unity shall be mine if any one disobey me thou art gracious and merciful Lord one part of my Lineage inhabiteth Mecca in a place unfruitful give them the grace to persevere in thy service incline the hearts of Men to affect them enrich them with the Fruits of the Earth peradventure they will thank thee thou knowest whatsoever is in the World I know it not nothing that is in Heaven or in Earth is hid from thee praised be God who hath given me Ismael and Isaac in mine old age he heareth prayers when it pleaseth him Lord give me and my Posterity the grace to persevere in well doing hear my prayers pardon me and pardon my Father and all true believers at the Day of Judgment Think not that God is ignorant of the actions of Infidels he deferreth the punishment of their crimes until the day that all Men shall have their eyes opened that day shall they behold their sins before their eyes and their hearts shall be full of desolation If thou preachest to the people the Day of Judgment hath God will the wicked say preserved us to this present time to do what thou dost appoint us Say unto them have ye not sworn heretofore that there is no Resurrection Ye have dwelt with the unjust ye have seen how they have been chastised and how we have spoken to you in Parables Certainly they conspire but God knoweth their conspiracy their policy is to tempt the prophet to see if he will make the Mountains to move Think not that God will violate what he hath promised to the Prophets he is Omnipotent and avengeful Consider the day wherein the Earth and Heavens shall change their face and all people shall rise again that Day shall one sole God Omnipotent command Men to come out of their Monuments Thou shalt that day see the wicked bound in their Chains their Garments shall be full of Pitch and Guitran their Faces shall be covered with Fire that Day shall he recompence and chastise every one according to his works he is exact to keep account This Book was sent to instruct the People and teach them that there is but one God the wise will remember CHAP. XV. The Chapter of Hegir containing seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. The signs are the signs of the Alcoran which distinguish eth good from evil How may the Infidels hope what the True Believers hope for depart from them let them eat the substance of the poor let them become rich and content themselves in their hopes they shall see one day what their end shall be We have destroyed no City until the time destined to its ruine was expired there is no Nation that can advance or retard its destiny The wicked have said O Man who believest that the Alcoran was sent to thee we will affirm that thou art a Sorcerer until the Angels do assure us that thou art true The Angels shall not descend to the Earth unless to chastise them and they shall not be able to retard the time of their punishment we certainly have sent the Alcoran upon Earth and will preserve it without alteration we heretofore sent Prophets one after another the wicked scorned and contemned them thus I imprint impiety in the hearts of the wicked they shall not believe in the Prophet and shall incur the punishment of their predecessors should we open the entrance of Heaven and should they behold the Angels go in and go out at the shadow of the gate they would yet say their eyes were inchanted and that they were bewitched we created signs in Heaven and adorned them with Stars to content the minds of them that consider them we sheltered them from the assaults of the Devil but the Butterfly followeth every thing that shineth and believeth it to be a Star we extended the Earth and raised the Mountains with proportion we have made it to produce all sorts of Fruits to sustain and enrich you we have reserved in our power the Keys of the treasures thereof to distribute to them by measure what shall be necessary we caused a fresh wind to arise and sent Rain to water them it is not you that caused the fruits thereof to spring forth it is we who give life and death and dispose of all things in the World. We know who they were that did precede you and who they shall be that shall succeed you I will assemble all at the end of the World to be judged we created Man of the slime of the Earth and before him the Devil of fire without smoak Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create Man of the slime of the Earth I will breath upon him to give him life prostrate your selves before him the Angels adored him except the Devil God said unto him Wherefore dost thou not adore Man He replied I will not adore him thou hast created me of fire and him of the mire of the Earth He said get thee out of Paradise thou shalt be banished and accursed until the Day of Judgment Lord said the Devil lay not thy curse upon me until the Day of Judgment he said thou shalt be accursed until the Day
not that God hath children We made mention in the Alcoran of whatsoever is necessary to be preached to the people say unto them If there be a God with God as ye affirm invoke him that hath his Throne in Heaven praised be God he hath no Companion he is most high and great The seven Heavens praise him and all that is on Earth glorifie him but ye comprehend it not he is gracious and merciful We will separate thee from the wicked we will harden their hearts and stop their ears When thou shalt read the Alcoran and say There is but one God they will turn the back â—…d deride thee I know what they desire to hear they would have the people to hearken to the words of the unjust who say That thou art a Sorcerer and a Magician consider to whom they compare thee they certainly are in error and are not able to find the right way What! we are say they bones and flesh shall we rise again and become new Creatures who shall cause us to rise again Say unto them Although ye be stone iron bones and flesh he who first created you shall raise you again They shall shake the head at thee and ask of thee In what time they shall rise again say unto them Peradventure it shall be suddenly When ye shall be called out of the graves by the Commandment of God ye will believe that ye have remained but very little time in the world then shall the Infidels confess that the Devil hath deceived them and that he is their open enemy Your Lord knoweth you all he will pardon or chastise you as seemeth good to him We have not sent thee to be their guardian thy Lord knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth Certainly we gave graces to some Prophets which we gave not to others and we gave the Psalter to David Say unto the Infidels invoke the Idols which ye adore and see if they are of power to deliver you from affliction They that implore God desire to be nigh unto him who are they that shall nearest approach his divine Majesty they who hope in his mercy or such as fear his punishment Certainly his punishment ought most to be feared We will destroy all the Cities of the world before the day of Judgment and chastise the wicked with rigorous torments this is written upon the Tables kept in heaven nothing hath hindred us to manifest the miracles which the inhabitants of Mecca desire to see but the contempt shewed by their predecessors Temod saw the miracles of the Camel and contemned it I will no more shew miracles but to make the people to apprehend the torments of hell Remember thou that we have said to thee that thy Lord knoweth all that the world doth that which we gave thee to see in the voyage by night is to prove the people as the cursed tree which is spoken of in the Alcoran there be persons that will believe it others that will not believe but I will try them to augment their confusion Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before Adam and that they did humble themselves except the devil who said Shall I adore him whom thou hast created of the earth who is he whom thou hast preferred to me Certainly if thou tarry until the day of Judgment I will destroy his race except that small number that shall be under thy protection Thy Lord said unto him Get thee hence hell shall be thy punishment and the punishment of them that shall follow thee deceive by thy speeches them whom thou shalt be able to deceive seduce whom thou canst seduce with the wealth of the earth cause them to exercise Usury and commit the sin of whoredom tell them there is neither Resurrection nor Judgment whatsoever thou shalt promise them shall be but vanity and falshood thou shalt have no power over them that shall worship me I will protect them against thee It is your Lord who causeth the ship to travel upon the waters for the advantage of traffique when the tempest chargeth you your Idols forsake you he alone is able to protect you nevertheless when he hath caused you to arrive at the Port you deny his Unity and follow your impiety believe ye that he will another time make the sea calm to you and he will send you a favourable wind if ye do not acknowledg him your protector Believe you to return again to the sea He shall send you an impetuous wind that shall overwhelm you with your impiety and ye shall find none to protect you against him We have conferred on men many favours we have conducted them on the earth and sea enriched with all sorts of riches and gratified them above all creatures of the earth preach to them the day wherein I will assemble before me all the Nations of the World with the Prophet that shall have preached to them He to whom shall be given the Book of the Accompt of his works in his right hand shall read his accompt entirely no injustice shall be done to him and he shall be happy He that shall be blind in this world shall be so in the other and shall not see the right way They would divert thee from performing what we have inspired into thee to induce thee to blaspheme against me If thou do it thou shalt be of their friends were it not for the strength that we have given thee they would make thee to incline to their impiety hadst thou done it we had given thee to taste of great afflictions in this world and in the other thou hadst found none to protect thee against us it wanted not much but they had affrighted thee at Medina to cause thee to go out of it had they driven thee thence they had not continued there long after thee We heretofore sent our Prophets to instruct the people in our Law thou shalt find therein nothing to change make thy prayers when the Sun shall set at the beginning and at the end of the night and at the dawning of day the Angels shall be witnesses of thine orisons spend one part of the night in prayer this shall be an augmentation of merit thy Lord shall establish thee in the place of his glory Say Lord into whatsoever place I go make me to enter and go forth with truth give me thy protection Say that truth is come aâ—…d that vanity is vanished this Book shall heal the people of their error it shall bring them into the way of mercy and encreaâ—…e the misery of unbelievers We have exhorted men to abandon their impiety they have not done it and despaired when they were touched with affliction Say unto them Each of us doth after his will and God knoweth him that followeth the right way they shall demand of thee concerning the Soul Say unto them the soul is an effect of God he hath given you very little knowledge assuredly had it so
to follow their Religion in which we shall be eternally miserable Thus did we stir up the people against them to the end they might know that thy Lord is true when he said He will cause the dead to arise again the Resurrection is indubitable nevertheless unbelievers dispute among them concerning the History of the Sleepers and say That they built a secret place to retire themselves God knoweth the Truth The True believers believe that they made no building the Infidels say they were five and that their dog was the sixth they speak by opinion but the True believers affirm them to be seven and their dog to be the eighth Say unto them My Lord knoweth how many they were few persons except God know their number Doubt no more the History of the Sleepers the matter is averred and known dispute no more with the Jews and say not I will do this to morrow without saying If it pleaâ—…e God. Call God to mind after thou hast forgot him and say The Lord shall guide me and teach me the History of the Sleepers who remained in Cave three hundred years there be who affirm they continued there nine hundred years Say unto them God knoweth the time of their abode there he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth and seeth all things he alone disposeth every thing and hath no companion Preach what thy Lord hath inspired into thee his word admitteth of no alteration there is no safer refuge than in him dwell with those that invoke him morning and evening and desire to see his face depart not from their company if thou desirest to have content of life in this world obey not those whose heart we have hardned and are unmindful of us follow not their impiety whatsoever they do is but offence and sin Say unto them the truth proceedeth from your Lord who shall desire it shall be True believers and who shall not desire it shall be an Infidel we have prepared Hell to chastise the impious and prisons wherein to detain them They shall implore succors against the melting pit into which they shall be plunged as into waters it shall rost their faces and shall be their drink I will not frustrate of reward them that shall have done well they shall enjoy the delights of the gardens of Eden wherein flow many rivers they shall have bracelets of fine Gold they shall be cloathed with green with Scarlet with shining colours and shall sit on thrones with an eternal felicity Declare to them this parable there were two men I gave to the one of them gardens wherein are store of fruits he in contempt told his companion that he was more wealthy and powerful than he and entred into his gardens being an Infidel and an Idolater and said I do not think these shall ever have an end they shall endure a long time without withering His companion said to him If thou dost not ackowledge this to proceed from God and if thou be ingrateful towards him that created thee of dust and made thee a man thou shalt soon find thy gardens ruined this cometh from God my Lord who hath no companion all strength and truth proceedeth from his divine Majesty If I have less of substance than thou God can give me fruits more fair than those of thy gardens or send thunder that shall destroy them he shall fill them with water of rain that shall encompass them and hinder thee to approach them In the morning this Infidel found his gardens destroyed to the very roots he was extreamly perplexed by reason of the expence he had made to plant them evenly and he said Would to God I had not adored Idols He shall find none that is able to protect him at the day of Judgment but God all protection and grace issueth from his divine bounty and the end of the righteous shall be happy Speak unto them this parable The life of the world is like unto rain fallen from Heaven that refreshed and revived the herbs of the Earth and in the morning were dry as chaff carried away by the wind God is omnipotent Riches and Children are the ornaments of this life but good works are eternal they are acceptable to God and give us hope of his grace Be thou mindful of the day when the mountains shall walk and thou shalt see the Earth to be plain that day we assemble the good and the wicked and will not fail of my word to any person that day shall the Infidels beseech the Lord to save them he shall say unto them You came unto us naked as when we at first created you and ye believed on Earth that there was no resurrection Then shall he give to every one the Book wherein shall be written the accompt of their sins Thou shalt see the wicked trembling with fear saying behold here our destruction What is there in this Book It containeth their venial and mortal sins and detecteth their offences they shall find the number of their crimes before their eyes Thy Lord is unjust to none Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to prostrate themselves before Adam and that they humbled themselves except the Devil who was in the number of Angels he disobeyed his Lord nevertheless Adam and his posterity have obeyed him although he is their open enemy and particularly of the Infidels Consider ye not that God created Heaven and Earth and he made you and hath no need to be aided of you Be thou mindful of the day when it shall be said to Idolaters Call upon your Idols that ye have worshipped for remission of your sins they shall implore them but none shall hear their prayers we have ruined them the wicked shall behold the fire into which they shall fall and find none to save them We taught men in the Alcoran many parables yet do the wicked abound in question and dispute too much What hindreth men to believe since there is come to them a guide to conduct them into the right way If they beg not pardon of God what hapned to their predecessors and at Beder shall befall them they shall be visibly punished I send Prophets only to anounce the joys of Paradise and to preach the torments of Hell the unbelievers dispute vainly to obscure the truth they deride my Commandments and the fire of Hell who is more unjust than he who knoweth the Commandments of his Lord and disobeyeth him and forgetteth his past sins We have hardned their hearts they shall not understand the Scripture we have stopped their ears they shall hear nothing if thou callest them to the right way they shall not follow thee thy Lord is gracious and merciful should he chastise them after their demerits he should forthwith destroy them he tarrieth until the time that he hath promised to punish them and they shall find none of power to protect them We have destroyed Cities when their inhabitants have offended and we prefixed the day
shall the fifth time call for the curse of God to be upon them if they be lyars The wife shall be exempt from punishment if she swear four times that her husband is a lyar and if the fifth time she pray that the wrath and indignation of God may be upon her if what her husband hath said be true in this manner doth God gratifie you that ye may understand the truth he is most gracious and most wise That Troup that made defection from the True believers with a lye and false testimony did you no harm on the contrary they did advantage you every one shall bear the burden of his sins the most malicious among them shall be thrown headlong into the torments of Hell It was an happiness that ye heard the sense of the Believers from their own mouth when they said that those men lyed impudently if they had not presented those four witnesses they had found none other they are lyars without the grace and mercy of God they should have already felt great torments in this world and in the other because of that imposture When they spake of what they were ignorant ye deemed it to be nothing but it is an exceeding great sin before God if when ye heard it ye said that to speak of those things did not concern you ye knew it to be an imposture God forbiddeth you to relapse if ye believe in his Law he thus declareth to you his pleasure he is Omniscient and most Prudent such as desire to cast obloquy among the True-believers shall be rigorously chastised in this World and in the other God knoweth that of which ye are ignorant Had not God been favourable to you he had chastised you in burning fury he is gracious and merciful Oh ye that are True-believers follow not the foot-steps of the Devil he will enjoyn you vice and sin had not God gratified you with his Mercy not any among you should have been purged from that imposture but God purifieth whom he seeth good he heareth all and knoweth all your intentions The most rich and powerful among you have not sworn to do no good to their Parents the Poor or to them that fight for the Law of God nevertheless they do it not to them and flie them desire they not that God should pardon them He is neither gentle nor pitiful but towards True-believers They that accuse of immodesty Women chaste innocent and faithful shall be accursed in this World and shall suffer great torments at the day when their Tongues their Hands and their Feet shall testifie against them at the same time shall God pay to them what shall be due unto them without injustice and they shall know that God is truth it self The wicked Women shall speak as the wicked men and the wicked men as the wicked Women The good Women shall speak as the good men and the good men as the good Women the good are innocent of the imposture of the wicked they shall enjoy the Grace of God and the Treasures of Paradise Oh ye that are True-believers enter not into anothers House without permission if ye salute them that dwell there ye shall do well peradventure ye will be mindful it ye find none of the House enter not without permission if they speak to you to return ye shall return it is better than to stay at the door God beholdeth all that ye do ye shall not offend God to enter into houses inhabited if ye have affairs there God knoweth all your intentions Speak unto the True-believers that they contain their sight that they be chaste that they do good and that God knoweth all their actions Speak unto the True-believing Women that they contain their sight and that they be chaste that they suffer nothing of their beauty to be seen but what ought to be seen that they cover their bosom and their visage that they permit them not to be be seen but by their Husbands their Children the Children of their Husbands their Brothers their Nephews their Sisters their Women and their Daughters Maid-servants and Slaves by their Domestiques that are not capable of Marriage by Children that regard not the beauty of Women and that they move not their feet to shew they are well shod Implore pardon of God peradventure ye shall be happy many Maidens of your own Religion the Daughters of the Righteous or your Slaves if they be poor God shall enrich them with his Grace he is most liberal and Omniscient Such as have not Means to Marry shall live chastly until God hath given them means Such as have desire to marry their Slaves shall have power to pass a Contract of Marriage if they know them to be wise and shall give them part of the wealth that God hath bestowed on them Despise not your Wives that are chaste to commit Whoredom if ye desire good in this World if ye contemn them God shall be to them propitious and merciful we have sent to you these Precepts clear and intelligible like to them that were taught your Predecessors to be preached to the Righteous God illuminateth the Heaven and the Earth as the Lamp that is in the Lanthorn of Chrystal fed with Oyl of the blessed Olive it seemeth to be a Star full of Light which goeth neither to the West nor to the East and yeildeth brightness upon brightness God guideth by his light whom it pleaseth him he teacheth his People Parables and is Omniscient he permitteth you to praise him in your Houses there to be mindful of his name and to exalt him evening and morning Oh ye men your affairs ought not to hinder your remembrance of his divine Majesty to make your prayers at the time appointed neither to pay Tithes Fear the day when the hearts of men shall be perplexed and their sight troubled when God shall reward and chastise every one after his works and shall augment his grace upon the good he enricheth with his innumerable benefits whom to him seemeth good The good works of the wicked are like to mists in a spacious plain they seem to be water when afar off and being approached nothing is to be there found They shall find before God the Book wherein is written whatsoever they have done he shall punish them according to their demerits he is exact to keep account Their actions are moreover like to the darkness that is in the bottom of the sea that is covered with wave upon wave obscurity and darkness upon one another he that is in this darkness cannot see his hand he that shall not be illuminated by God shall not see a jot Seest thou not that whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth exalteth the glory of God the Birds extend their wings before him to praise him he heareth the prayers of all his creatures and understandeth the praises that they give him he knoweth all that they do he is King of Heaven and earth the refuge of all the world
with you their adherents and the devils thrown headlong into the fire of hell the Idolaters shall dispute in hell with them whom they have worshipped and shall say By God we were abused when we adored you the wicked seduced us we have none this day to intercede for us neither friend to protect us could we return into the world we would believe in the Law of God this discourse shall be for example to the wicked that believe not that thy Lord is the Omnipotent and merciful The people of Noahs time slandered the Apostles and Prophets that were sent to them Noah their brother said unto them Fear God I am his Messenger sent to preach unto you fear God and obey him I require no recompence for my instructions God the sole Lord of the world shall reward my labours fear and obey him They said shall we believe in thee and thy followers who are infamous He said I know not what they do my Lord keepeth accompt of their actions if ye knew the right way ye would not worship Idols I drive not true believers from my society I am sent only to preach the torments of Hell. They said O Noah if thou quit not this discourse thou shalt be stoned Noah said Lord this people is impious judge our difference deliver me from their malice and all true believers that are with me We preserved him and those that were with him in the Ark and destroyed them that remained on the earth This is an evidence of our Omnipotency yet the greatest part of Infidels believe not that God is omnipotent and merciful The people of Aads time traduced the Apostles and Prophets that were sent unto them Hod his brother said unto them fear God I am his Messenger sent to preach unto you with fidelity Fear God and obey him I require of you no recompence of my preaching the Lord of the Universe shall abundantly reward me Will ye Build sowers and lofty Palaces as if ye would dwell eternally in the world Will ye be cruel without compassion on your selves Fear God and obey him fear him who giveth you his grace bestoweth on you wealth children gardens and fountains I fear that ye shall suffer grievous pains at the day of Judgment They said unto him Art thou come to be preached unto or to preach to us Thou relatest to us old mens Fables They slandered him and we destroyed them this is a token of our Omnipotency nevertheless the greatest part of Infidels believe not thy Lord to be Omnipotent and merciful The people of Temod belyed the Prophets that were sent unto them his brother Salhe said unto them fear God I am a messenger sent from God to preach to you fear God and obey him I require of you no recompence for my preaching the Lord of the Universe shall recompence my labours will ye forsake eternal riches to cleave to the wealth of this world to put your trust in your gardens your fountains your tillages your dates and fruits shall ye be esteemed prudent if ye build houses of pleasure in the mountains fear God obey his Commandments and obey not the wicked that defile the earth and do no good They said unto him thou art a Magician and an Inchanter thou art but a man like unto us shew us some miracle if thou be indeed a Prophet sent from God he said behold there a Camel he hath a place to drink at a day appointed ye likewise have it to drink as he do him no harm otherwise shall ye be punished at the day of Judgment They did hurt this Camel through contempt but had cause to repent it and were severely punished This is an example for posterity nevertheless the greatest part of Infidels believe not that thy Lord is altogether gracious and merciful The Citizens of Lot traduced the Prophets that were sent unto them Lot their brother said fear God I am a faithful Messenger sent from him to preach to you fear God and obey him I require of you no reward for my pains God will reward me will ye cleave to the world to reject that glory that he hath created for you ye forsake good to embrace evil They said O Lot if thou change not this discourse we will banish thee from our City he said perhaps I am one of those whom ye abhor Lord deliver me with my family from their hands We saved him with all his family except his wife who remained with the inhabitants of the City we caused to fall upon them a rain that destroyed them This is an example for posterity nevertheless the greatest part of Infidels believe not that thy Lord is Omnipotent and merciful They that inhabit the Forest slandered the Prophets that were sent unto them Chaib said to them fear God I am a faithful messenger sent from him to preach unto you the torments of hell fear God and obey him I require no reward of you for my preaching the Lord of the Universe shall recompence me Measure with good measure and weigh with good weights detain nothing from your neighbour defile not the earth fear him that created you and all those that were before you They said unto him thou art a Sorcerer thou art but a man like us we believe thee to be a lyar if thou art indeed sent from God cause a part of heaven to fall upon us he answered God knoweth that of which ye are ignorant they traduced him but were chastised being covered with a cloud that rained upon them a shewer of fire and they were burned as if it had been the day of Judgment this is a token of my Power but the greatest part of Infidels believe not that thy Lord is Omnipotent and merciful Certainly the Alcoran was sent by the Lord of the world the faithful Spirit inspired it into thine heart that thou mayst preach to the people the pains of Hell in the Arabique tongue the Scriptures heretofore made mention of it if the Infidels of Mecca are ignorant of it the Doctors of the children of Israel have knowledg to understand it although that we have not sent it in the language of the Persians yet cease not to instruct them in that which they know not we have imprinted a lye in the hearts of the wicked they shall not believe what is written in the Alcoran until they see the punishment prepared for Infidels at the day of Judgment that day shall come at unawares of which they are ignorant They say let us tarry and not believe as yet in what is contained in that book are they impatient until they see their punishment Hast thou seen how they have some years deferred it and how in the end that which we promised befel them their riches were to them unprofitatable We have not destroyed Cities without having forewarned them of their destruction we are unjust to none The devils did not bring the Alcoran it was to them of none advantage they could not compose
〈◊〉 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
idle They that have judgment will understand this discourse Say unto them oh ye people that believe in your Lord have his fear before your eyes such as shall do good works in this world shall enjoy abundantly the riches of the earth God will innumerably reward them that persevere in obedience to his Commandments Say unto them I am commanded to worship one God to profess his Unity and to be obedient to him Say unto them I apprehend the day of Judgment if I disobey God my Lord. Say unto them I will worship but one God worship ye others whom ye will. Such as shall despise the Law of God shall lose their souls and families at the day of Judgment These are two great losses and most certain they be involved in eternal fire Thus God preacheth to true believers O my creature speak unto them that have my fear before their eyes that they adore not Idols and that if they turn to their Lord they shall enjoy the delights of Paradise Proclaim to them that hear my Word and obey my Commandments that they are in the right way and well advised canst thou deliver from the fire of hell him that shall be condemned Certainly such as obey God shall enjoy the pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many rivers and there shall they dwell eternally This is the promise of God he swerveth not from that which he promiseth Seest thou not that God sendeth rain from heaven and maketh the rivers to run upon the earth he causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers colours thou seest them become yellow and then altogether drie this is a sign of his omnipotency Hath not he to whom God hath given the light of faith received a great grace from his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that have an heart hardned and forget his Law they are manifestly seduced he hath sent an excellent book for the instruction of men his precepts are alike in purity and without contradiction They that fear God tremble when they hear mention of this book and find their rest in the word of his divine Majesty This book is the guide of the righteous God by it guideth whom pleaseth him He whom God shall seduce shall find none to guide him he shall be precipitated into the fire of hell at the day of Judgment It shall be said that day to the wicked taste the torments that ye have merited their predecessors defamed the Prophets and were punished when they least thought of it God rendred them ignominious in this world and they shall feel in the other torments much more grievous and they know it not We have taught in this book what is necessary for the salvation of the people peradventure they will learn it it is in the Arabique tongue without falshood and contradiction perhaps the people will fly from impiety God teacheth you a parable Two men are associates in their traffique the one is wicked the other an honest man are they alike Praise is due to one sole God the greatest part of the Infidels understand it not Thou shalt die all men shall die and ye shall be assembled at the day of Judgment when ye shall dispute together Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth against God and against the known truth Shall not the wicked be damned Such as shall believe the Prophet and fly impiety shall obtain from God what they desire such is the recompence of the righteous God shall pardon their sins and reward them for their good works doth not he protect his servant They will terrifie thee with the Idols which they adore but he whom God shall mislead shall find none able to guide him and none shall be able to seduce him whom he shall guide is not he the omnipotent and revenging If thou ask of the Infidels who created heaven and earth they will say it is God Say unto them have ye therefore considered the Idols which ye adore can they exempt you from the wrath of God when it shall be his pleasure to chastise you Shall they be able to hinder his grace when it shall be his will to pardon you Say unto them my refuge is God I am resigned to his Will the wise trust in his divine Majesty Say unto them oh people do as you understand him I will do as I understand him ye shall know in the end that whosoever shall be condemned shall be ashamed and be precipitated into eternall torments We have sent unto thee the most true Book to instruct the people He that shall follow the right way shall meet with nothing but good and he that shall go astray shall meet with nothing but evill thou art not the guardian of the wicked God causeth men to die when the hour of their death is arrived he deferreth the death of many during their sleep and remitteth that of others to the time appointed this is a sign of his Omnipotencie to such as consider it Will ye worship any but God Say unto them how shall your Idols be able to intercede for you since they want power know you not this Say unto them we ought to invoke one God alone King of the heaven and earth you all shall one day be assembled before him to be judged The Infidels tremble with fear when they hear mention of one sole God and rejoyce when they hear speak of their Idols Say unto them God is Creator of the heavens and the earth he knoweth the past present and future Lord thou shalt one day judge the differences of thy creatures Should the Infidels possess all the riches of the earth and yet as much more they would not be able to escape the fire of hell at the day of Judgment they shall be punished more grievously than they imagine their sins shall be set before them and they shall feel the rigors of the torments which they despise Man calleth upon us when he is in affliction and when we give him our grace he saith he meriteth it on the contrary this is to prove him but most of them are ignorant of it their predecessors spake as they the good that they have done hath profited them nothing and the misery that they have merited is faln upon them they shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Know they not that God giveth and taketh away wealth from whom pleaseth him This is a sign of his omnipotency for the righteous Say unto them oh people they who have offended God ought not to despair of his grace he is gracious and merciful be ye converted and recommend your selves to his will before ye be condemned otherwise ye shall remain without protection follow the instruction that God hath sent to you before ye be 〈◊〉 the punishment of your crimes shall surprise you ye know not the time the wicked shall be afflicted for that they have not obeyed Gods Commandments they shall know their damnation and the sin that they have committed in scorning the
their sins there was none of power to save them for that they despised the Prophets of his Divine Majesty they contemned his Law and were impious but he severely chastised them he is Omnipotent and most severe We sent Moses with Miracles with Reasons clear and intelligible to Pharaoh to Haman and Caron they said that Moses was a Sorcerer and a lyar and when he preached to them the truth on our behalf they said kill him with all those that believe him and make their wives infamous but their conspiracy was but impiety Pharaoh said hinder me not to kill Moses let him invoke his God to save him I fear that he may alter your Law and introduce some disorder in the Land Moses said God mine and your Lord shall defend me from the malice of the proud that believe not the Day of Judgment Then a man of the domestiques of Pharaoh that secretly professed the true Law said will ye slay a man that declareth that God is his Lord And that hath made you to see Miracles If he be a Lyar his lye shall be against him but if he speak the truth something of what he hath preached shall befal you God guideth neither the wicked nor lyars Oh People you this day command on Earth with splendor who shall defend us from the wrath of God if it fall upon us Pharaoh said I speak nothing to you but what I have told you heretofore and I will guide you all into the right way he of his Domestiques that secretly professed the true Law said Oh people I fear lest ye be chastised as have been your predecessors as were the people of Noah Aad Temod and those that were after them God will not do injustice to men I fear for you the Day of Judgment a day when ye shall rise again with terror to render account of your actions he whom God shall seduce shall find none to guide him Certainly Ioseph came heretofore with instructions clear and intelligible Nevertheless ye doubted even until his death and said that after him God shall not send a Prophet like unto him thus doth God seduce the wicked that doubt of his Law he hateth such as dispute without reason they are abhorred of them that believe in his Divine Majesty thus God hardneth the heart of the proud and Tyrants Pharaoh said to * Haman build me an high Palace peradventure I shall arrive at the Heavens and as high as the God of Moses I believe him to be a Lyar. Thus Pharaoh delighted in his wicked actions he erred from the right way and his conspiracy was but his destruction He of his Family that was a True believer said Oh people follow me I will guide you into the right way the riches of the Earth pass away lightly and the riches of Heaven are Eternal he that doth evil shall find evil who doth good man or woman believing in God shall enter into Paradise where he shall be enriched innumerably with all manner of riches Wherefore invite you me to precipitate my self into the Fire of Hell since I exhort you to your Salvation Ye invite me to be wicked and to believe that God hath companions and I know it is not so I call you to the Omnipotent and merciful God doubtless I will not worship your Idols they cannot hear you either in this World or in the other we all shall be one day assembled before God who will condemn Infidels to the Fire of Hell consider hereafter what to you I have preached I am resigned to the will of God he beholdeth all the actions of his creatures he shall chastise them for the evil that they shall commit and for their wicked designs He sent his punishment upon the Lineage of Pharaoh they deserved to be precipitated into the Fire of Hell they shall burn Evening and Morning It shall be said to them at the Day of Judgment oh People of Pharaoh go enter into the Fire of Hell. The Infidels shall quarrel in Hell the poor shall say unto the rich We followed you are ye able this day to deliver us from Eternal flames They shall answer we all are damned with you God is a most just Judg. The damned shall say to the Ministers of Hell Pray to your Lord that he may asswage these torments for one day they shall answer had ye not on Earth the Prophets and Apostles of God to instruct you They shall say Yes pray therefore to God your selves the wicked love nothing but impiety I will protect on Earth my Prophets and them that observe my Law and particularly at the Day of Judgment that day the wicked shall have no excuse that shall advantage them my curse shall fall upon them and they all shall be damned We taught Moses the way of Salvation and made the Children of Israel heirs of his instructions to instruct them that shall understand them Persevere and be patient the promise of God is infallible implore pardon of thy sins and exalt the praise of thy Lord Evening and Morning They that dispute against the Commandments of God are without reason and have nought in their Souls but pride and ignorance Implore succor of God he understandeth and seeth all things the Creation of the Heavens and of the Earth is greater than the Creation of men but the greatest part of men know it not the Blind is not like to him that seeth clearly he that doth good is not like to him that doth evil neither is obscurity such as the light but few men consider it Doubtless the Day of Judgment shall come nevertheless the greatest part of men will not believe it Your Lord hath said Call upon me I will hear you such as shall resist my Law shall go into Hell and be Eternally seduced God hath created the Night for repose and the day for travel he is bountiful towards his creatures but the greatest part of the people are ingrateful God is your Lord Creator of all things there is no God but he How can the wicked Blaspheme So do they blaspheme that are ingrateful for the graces of God he hath established you on Earth he hath covered you with the Heavens he hath formed you enriched you he is your God your Lord blessed be God Lord of the Universe he it is that giveth and depriveth you of life there is no God but he be obedient to him and observe his Law praised be God Lord of the Universe who hath created you of mire Say unto the Infidels I am forbidden to worship the Idols that ye adore God hath taught me his unity I have received command to worship none but the Lord of the Universe he created you of dust and mire and congealed Blood he causeth you to be born little Infants he maketh you to arrive to the age of discretion to virility and old age many die before that age and all attain to the time of their destiny peradventure ye shall understand his Unity he it
is that maketh you to live and to die and when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is See ye not that they that dispute against his Commandments depart from his Law Such as reject our Commandments and what we enjoyned our Prophets to preach to men shall find their errors when they shall see Chains on their Necks and Fetters on their feet they shall be dragged and burned in Hell then shall it be said unto them where are those Idols that ye adored upon Earth They shall answer they are departed from us certainly they are without power thus God seduceth Infidels to their confusion It shall be said unto them These pains befal you for that ye were proud and insolent without reason enter within the gates of Hell which is the habitation of the proud ye shall dwell there Eternally Be patient and and persevere the word of God is infallible I will make thee to see a part of what I have promised to men I will cause thee to die and thou shalt behold them all assembled to be judged Certainly we sent Prophets before thee we have spoken to thee of one part of our Apostles and the rest are concealed from thee neither Prophet nor Apostles can preach any thing without God's permission he chastiseth the wicked when he pleaseth he shall judg the differences that are between them and the Prophets and shall destroy the unbelievers God hath created the beasts for your use some ye eat and others serve you to ride on from them ye reap profit they bear the burden as likewise do the Ships for the advantage of your commerce God manifesteth to you his graces And what graces Will ye despise them Do not unbelivers consider the end of them that were before them who were more powerful and rich than they Their Treasures did not save them they derided the Prophets and Apostles that preached to them and in the end felt the pains that they had despised When they shall fear the torments of Hell they shall say We believe in One God alone and renounce Idols This profession of Faith shall be unprofitable to them in Hell they shall incur the rigor of the Law of God that was observed against their predecessors and all unbelievers shall be damned CHAP. XLI The Chapter of Exposition containing Fifty and Four Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituled this Chapter Of Adoration IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The Alcoran was sent by the gracious and merciful God It explaineth Divine Mysteries in the Arabique Tongue to them that have knowledg to understand them it proclaimeth to the good the delights of Paradise and preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell nevertheless the greatest part of the world depart from the Faith and hear not thy words They say We have obdurate hearts we cannot comprehend what thou preachest our ears are stopped we are too remote to hear what thou sayest Observe thy Law we will live after our own Say unto them I am a man like you your God is one sole God be obedient to him and beg pardon of him for your sins Misery is upon unbelievers that pay not Tythes and believe not in the day of Judgment The believers that shall do good works shall enjoy an infinite reward Say unto them How will ye be wicked towards him that created the Earth in two days how can you say that he hath a Companion equal to him He is sole Lord of the Universe he raised the Mountains blessed the Earth and gave to every Region the particulars thereof in four days for them that shall have need After this he ascended into Heaven that was like unto smoke and said unto Heaven and Earth Ye shall obey me either through force or affection They answered Lord we will be obedient to thy Commandments He created seven Heavens in two days and disposed every Heaven after his own will he adorned them with Stars and preserveth them from the malice of the Devil This is an effect of his Omnipotency he is omnipotent and knoweth all things If the unbelievers depart from the Faith say unto them I have threatened you as heretofore thunder did the people of Aad and Temod when the Prophets taught them the Law of the ancient True-believers to wit To worship but one God They said Were it Gods pleasure to alter our Law he would have sent us Angels to reach unto us we will not beiieve in thy Mission The people of Aad waxed proud on the Earth without reason and said Who is more powerful than we will they not consider that he that created them is more powerful and wealthy than they Nevertheless they despised our Commandments We sent against them a cold and impetuous wind in an unhappy time that made them to suffer on Earth shame and ignominy because of their crimes He shall cause them to feel the pains of Hell that are much greater than those of the Earth and they shall be eternally deprived of protection We instructed the men of Temod in the right way they preferred blindness to light and impiety to Salvation they were surprized by thunder and suffered great afflictions because of their sins We saved none of them but the believers who had our fear before their eyes Be thou mindful of the day that the enemies of God shall be assembled in Hell they shall defend their cause before the Judg until testimony be brought against them their ears their eyes and their skin shall be witnesses of their iniquities They shall say Wherefore do ye witness against us They shall answer He that made us to speak giveth speech to every thing he it is that created you and ye are this day assembled before him to be judged Ye did not well conceal your selves when ye offended him your ears your eyes your skin are witnesses against you ye believed that God should not see your sins this was your opinion Certainly he shall chastise you and you all shall be in the number of the damned Persevere and be thou patient the fire of Hell shall be their habitation they shall not be able to please God in the flames We have given them the Devils for their Companions who caused them to delight in sin The word of God shall be accomplished against them as it was accompllshed against their Predecessors as well men as Devils that are condemned The unbelievers have said Hear not that Alcoran it is full of error peradventure ye shall be seduced I will cause them to suffer grievous pains and will chastise them after their demerits such is the reward of Gods enemies They shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell because they despise his Commandments The wicked shall say at the day of Judgment Lord let us see the Devils and the men that seduced us we will trample them under our feet and precipitate them to the bottom of Hell. Such as shall have professed the Law of God as shall have
obeyed his Commandments shall be visited by the Angels and shall that day be free from fear and affliction They shall say unto them Rejoice ye in Paradise that is prepared for you ye shall there find all the contentments that ye shall desire they have been prepared for you by the gracious and merciful There is nothing better than to pray to God than to do good works and to profess his unity Good and evil are not alike Expel evil with thy good works There is an exceeding great antipathy between Faith and Impiety Faith is given to such as persevere to do well and to them that are endued with the grace of God. The Devil will tempt thee but implore assistance from God he heareth and knoweth all things The night and the day the Sun and the Moon are Signs of his Omnipotency Adore neither the Sun nor the Moon worship God that created them If the Infidels resist the Faith the Angels that are in Paradise desist not notwithstanding to exalt the glory of his Divine Majesty day and night without intermission It is a sign of his Omnipotency to see the barren and dry Earth to change the face and become green when it is watered with rain He that maketh the plants to revive is he that maketh every thing to live and die he is Omnipotent Such as depart from our Commandments cannot hide themselves from us shall he that shall be precipitated into Hell be better lodged than he that shall be saved at the day of Judgment Do what shall please you your Lord beholdeth all your actions I will chastise them that traduce the Alcoran it is a precious Book it is approved by the ancient and modern Scriptures it is sent from the glorious and merciful None other thing shall be spoken to thee than what hath been spoken to the Prophets that preceded thee thy Lord is merciful and just Had we sent the Alcoran in the Persian tongue to a Prophet an Arabian by Nation the wicked would have said That the Divine Mysteries are not well explained Say unto them It is the guide of Believers and a remedy to their ignorance Infidels have deaf ears they are blind and hear not as those that are called too far off Certainly we gave the Book and the Law to Moses Unbelievers doubt but if thy Lord had not said That he would defer their punishment until the day of Judgment he had already chastised them in this world because they doubt of the truth Whosoever shall do good shall find good and the evil that a man committeth shall be against him Thy Lord doth no injustice to his Creatures None but he knoweth the day of Judgment no fruit nor flower springeth out of the Earth and woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but by his permission Be thou mindful of the day that thy Lord shall call Idolaters and demand of them where be their Idols They shall say Lord we acknowledg thy Unity none of us will hereafter adore those false gods They that worshipped one God departed from Idolaters they know that the punishment of their sins is infallible Man never ceaseth to require riches and is troubled when evil befalleth him if we give him good after his affliction he saith that he foresaw it and hath no thought of the coming of the day of Judgment if he be converted thy Lord openeth to him the Gate of Paradise I will make the wicked to know their wickedness and will most severely punish them when we bestow wealth on man he followeth his Idolatry and his sin and when he is touched in affliction he aboundeth in prayer Say unto them know ye not that the Alcoran proceedeth from God nevertheless ye have renounced it who is more impious than he that impugneth the known truth I will cause them to see my Miracles even to the utmost parts of Heaven and Earth and in their own persons to the end they may know the truth of the Alcoran Sufficeth it not them that thy Lord seeth all things nevertheless they are in doubt of the Resurrection and of being assembled before him to be judged certainly God is omniscient CHAP. XLII The Chapter of Counsel containing Fifty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is Prudent Wise Majestick he understandeth all things and is omnipotent God hath sent thee the same inspirations that he sent to them that did precede thee he is omnipotent and wise whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertaineth to him he is omnipotent and knoweth all things the Heavens open at his command the Angels exalt his glory and implore his pardon for them that are on earth he is merciful he beholdeth them that invoke Idols and knoweth them all but thou art not their Tutor We have inspired into thee the Alcoran in the Arabick Tongue to preach to the Inhabitants of Mecca and such as dwell about that City we have sent thee to preach unto them the day of Judgment there is no doubt that one part of men shall be saved and the other shall be damned had it pleased God he had created them of one and the same Religion he giveth his grace to whom he listeth and Infidels shall be deprived of succour because they have required the protection of Idols but God is the true protector of the world he reviveth the dead and is omnipotent he shall one day judg all the difficulties and resolve all your doubts in your Religion he is my Lord I recommend my self to his divine will he created your wife of your selves he created all beasts male and female and caused you to multiply there is not any thing like unto him he keepeth the keys of the Treasures of Heaven and Earth and taketh away and giveth wealth as pleaseth him The Law that I gave to Noah Abraham Moses and Iesus is that which I commanded thee to observe viz. to believe in one God. The Infidels are angry when thou preachest to them the unity of God he teacheth it whom he pleaseth and guideth into the right way them that obey him the wicked approve some points of his Law and reject the rest although they have knowledg of his Unity and that through the envy that is risen among them if thy Lord had not heretofore said that he would defer their punishment until the day of Judgment he had already destroyed them many of those who after them shall have knowledg of the Scriptures shall doubt of his Law but follow thou the way that is appointed thee and follow not their appetites Say unto them I believe in the Book that God hath sent I have received commandment to preach unto you that God is your and our Lord ye shall answer for your actions and we shall answer for ours it is not necessary to dispute against us God will one day assemble us in his presence to judg our differences he is our refuge such as dispute against the faith after
of the Merciful containing eighteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The merciful hath taught the Alcoran he hath created man and given him the use of reason he created the Sun and the Moon to count seasons the Stars and Trees adore him he hath elevated the Heavens established Justice and commanded to weigh with good weights he hath created the Earth for the habitation of men with all sorts of fruits grain and leaves he created the winds and tempests Oh men and Devils what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He created man of Earth like a pot and the Devils of the flame of fire what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He is the Lord of both the Wests and both the Easts what Lord do you blaspheme but your own Lord He maketh the fresh water to mingle with the salt and the one easily mingleth with the other what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord he bringeth Pearls and Coral out of the Sea what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord he hath created the Ships that float uâ—…on the Sea big as Mountains what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord all things shall have end and the majestique and glorious face of thy Lord shall be permanent what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Whatsoeoer is in Heaven and in Earth imploreth his grace he is ever himself what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils I will require an account of your actions what Lord will ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils pass the extremities of Heaven and Earth go beyond them if ye can ye have not the power what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord If he send against you flames without smoak and smoak without fire ye cannot defend your selves what Lord do you blaspheme but your own Lord When the heaven openeth it resembleth a rose or a crimson-coloured skin what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The time will come when an account shall be required from men and Devils of their sins what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The wicked shall be known by their countenance an account shall be required of their readiness and negligence what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Behold hell which the wicked would not believe they shall turn round about and round about in boyling water of which they shall drink what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Such as have had the fear of God before their eyes shall enter into gardens where the trees are covered with branches and leaves adorned with Rivers and fountains with abundance of all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon fair beds lined with Crimson what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall gather the fruits of this garden to their contentment what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall there have wives who shall not cast a look but upon them and whom no person man or Angel shall touch before them what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord They shall resemble Coral and Rubies what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Good deeds are recompenced with good deeds what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be yet other Gardens wherein are herbs exceeding green Rivers Dates Pomegranets and all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be in these Gardens women who have eyes exceeding black and bodies exceeding white they are covered with pavillions and none either men or Angels shall touch them before their husbands what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon green Carpets near rivolets bordered with flowers what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Praised be the name of God thy Lord honour and glory are due to him eternally CHAP. LVI The Chapter of Iudgment containing fourscore and nineteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The day of Judgment will come none can deny it That day shall many be afflicted and humbled and many shall be elated and rejoyced the Earth shall tremble the Mountain open and be dispersed like dust carried away by the wind ye shall he present at that day in a threefold manner Some shall have in their right hand the book wherein shall be written all their actions Others shall have it in their left hand and such as preceded them in well-doing shall be the nearest to his divine Majesty and the highest in Paradise there shall be a great number of the first Ages and few of the latter they shall repose upon beds adorned with Gold and precious stones they shall look upon each other young boys shall go about them with vessels Cups and Goblets full of delicious drink that shall not offend the head neither intoxicate them they shall have all the fruits that they can covet and such viands as they shall desire they shall have women with black eyes and who shall be white as polished pearls for recompence of their good works they shall not hear an evil word spoken they shall not sin and shall hear perpetually the voice of them that bless them They that shall hold their book in their right hand shall be near to an Apple-tree fresh and without thorn and near the Tree of Muse under a pleasant shadow by flowing water with store of fruits of all seasons they shall use them with freedom lying on delicious beds We have created the daughters of Paradise Virgins and affectionate to their husbands for the content of them that shall have in their right hands the book of the account of their actions and of many of those that were in the first Ages and of many of such as shall be in the latter Those that shall have their book of account in the left hand shall be tormented with an exceeding hot wind they shall drink boiling water they shall be in a black hot and salt smoak for that they were luxurious in the world for that they were negligent to observe the Commandments of God and continued in the enormity of their sins The Infidels say what after death we shall be earth and dust and shall we rise again with our fathers and predecessors Say unto them You your Predecessors and posterity shall all be assembled before God to be judged Then oh wicked Impostors shall ye eat of the fruit of the Tree * Zacon ye shall fill your belly ye shall drink boiling water and be daily altered behold your condition at the day of Judgment We created all of you if ye believe it not consider the wealth ye possess did you your selves create it We have appointed that ye shall dye we can if we please put other creatures like unto you in your place and metamorphize you into another
sin in espousing them marry them not after the laws of unbelievers demand of them what dowry they require they shall demand of you what ye are willing to bestow on them continue in accord God so commandeth he shall be your judg at the day of Judgment he knoweth all your actions and is most wise If your wives revolt to the party of unbelievers and ye suffer any damage ye shall repair that damage to him that suffereth out of the booty that ye shall conquer fear God and believe in the Law of his divine Majesty O Prophet when women shall desire to embrace thy Religion with firm purpose to believe in one only God not to steal neither to commit adultery neither to murther their children to lye blaspheme or be disobedient receive them implore pardon of God for them he is gracious and merciful O ye that believe obey not them against whom God is angry they despair of their salvation as the wicked despaired that died heretofore in their impiety CHAP LXI The Chapter of Array containng fourteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Praise God all that is in heaven and earth he is omnipotent and wise O ye that believe say not that ye do that which ye do not God abhorreth them that say they do what they do not and loveth them that fight in rank and file for his Law like to a strong wall Remember thou that Mâ—…ses said to his people Ye shall do me no harm ye shall know in the end that I am the Messenger of God but God seduced them from the right way when they departed from obedience to his Commandments he guideth not the wicked Remember thou that Iesus the son of Mary said to the children of Israel I am the Messenger of God he hath sent me to confirm the old Testament and to declare to you that there shall come a Prophet after me whose name shall be Mahomet When he came with miracles reasons most intelligible and arguments infallible they said that he was a Magician who is more impious than he that blasphemeth against God The Infidels would extinguish with their mouth the light of faith but God shall make it manifest against their will he hath sent his Prophet to guide the people into the way of salvation to teach them the truth of his Law and make it more evident than all other Laws of the world against the will of Infidels O ye that believe Will ye that I teach you one thing that shall deliver you from the pains of hell Believe in God and in his Prophet imploy your wealth and persons in fighting for his Law ye shall do exceeding well if ye have knowledg to understand it God shall pardon your offences he shall cause you to enter into gardens wherein flow many rivers he shall cause you to go into the beautiful Palaces of Eden where is supreme felicity he shall confer upon you yet another grace which ye desire viz. victory over your enemies Oh ye that believâ—… maintain the Law of God Jesus the Son of Mary said to his Apostles Who will maintain the Law of God with me he shall be supported and protected of God. The Apostles answered We will maintain it One part of the Children of Israel believed in Jesus and another rejected his Law we gave succor to them that believed against their enemies and they were victorious CHAP. LXII The Chapter of the Assembly containing eleven Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise God all that is in heaven and earth praise the King holy majestique and omnipotent who hath sent his Prophet an Arabian by Nation to preach his Commandments to the Arabians to purifie them to teach them the Scriptures and mysteries of faith they were before seduced from the right way They that shall come after them shall not see a Prophet equal to him this is a special grace of God the omnipotent and wise he conferreth it on whom he listeth and his graces are immense They that preach the old Testament and perform not what it enjoyneth are like to an Ass charged with books Such are they that disobey the Commandments of God he guideth not the impious Oh ye Jews believe not your selves to be the beloved of God expect death ye shall understand your error they believe not that they shall be chastised for their sins but God beholdeth all the unjust Say unto them Ye shall find one day the death that ye flie ye be sent back before God who knoweth what is present past and to come he shall set before you all that ye have done to be judged Oh ye that believe when ye are called to the assembly of Friday to make your prayers pray and quit your trade this shall be a good act if ye understand it when you shall have finished your Prayers separate your selves go whither you please and beg of God his grace call frequently to mind his divine Majesty and ye shall be happy When the Infidels saw any thing of profit or any divertisement they forsook thee and went out from the Sermon Say unto them how great riches and delights are there with God He is the Rich of the Rich. CHAP. LXIII The Chapter of the Wicked containing Twelve Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful When the wicked shall come to visit thee they will say That they are witnesses that thou art a Prophet sent from God he well knoweth that thou art his Prophet he seeth that they dissemble and sell their Faith to enjoy wealth in the World wherein they commit evil they say with the mouth We believe in the Law of God and are impious in their Souls impiety is imprinted in their hearts and they will not learn the Mysteries of Faith the beauty of their bodies shall not displease thee when thou shalt see them they erect themselves when they speak and resemble a piece of wood set up against a wall they fear all rumors that fly abroad and are your enemies Beware of them doubtless God will destroy them how can they blaspheme against his Law When it was said to them Come to the Prophet he shall beg pardon of God for your sins they shook the head and withdrew with pride misery is upon them whether thou implore pardon for them or dost not implore it God will not pardon them he abhorreth the wicked They say Do no good to them that follow that Prophet of God until they abandon him the treasures of Heaven and Earth are Gods but they comprehend it not they say If we return to the City of Medina we will drive thence shame and infamy and will there establish Greatness and Honour on the contrary Greatness Power and Victory proceed from God his Prophet and them that believe in his Law but Infidels understand it not Oh ye that believe in God! your Riches and your Children ought not to seduce you
is God that hath cursed them by reason of their impiety and few of them will believe the Commandments of his Divine Majesty When God hath sent them any Book confirming the Scriptures which they before approved viz. the Old Testament and the Gospel they demanded succours when they met with the wicked and being succoured they either understood it not or would not receive it â—… The curse of God is upon Infidels especially upon them that have sold their Souls and through Envy disobeyed his Commandments He bestoweth his grace on whom he pleaseth they are returned in the displeasure of his Divine Majesty who hath prepared for them grievous torments because of the Enormity of their Crimes When it was said to them Believe in the Commandments of God they said Do we not believe in what hath been commanded us Nevertheless they have no faith in the truth which God hath sent confirming the Prophecies and the Precepts that they before approved Say unto them had you heretofore slain the Prophets if you had believed in his Law Moses certainly had caused you to see Miracles but ye adored the Calf after his departure wherefore you were greatly to blame We received your Promise to observe the Commandments of the Law and raised a Mountain over you Understand with affection what we teach you and hearken to what is commanded you they answered we have heard and disobeyed and inclined their heart to the adoration of the Calf because of their impiety Say to them doth your faith command you to do it if you believe in God and life eternal Think upon death if you be righteous They regard not their past errours but God knoweth the unjust Thou shalt find them with diligence and desire to live a long time The wicked hope to live a thousand years but they shall be exempt from the Punishment to live long God beholdeth all their Actions Say to them who is an Enemy to Gabriel He by the permission of God hath inspired into thee the Alcoran that confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and guideth the good in the way of their Salvation and declareth to them the joys of Paradise He that is an Enemy to God the Angels his Prophet to Gabriel and Michael shall be rigorously chastised God is an Enemy to Infidels We have sent thee Precepts clear and intelligible none will abjure them but the wicked Some of them have acted against their own Promises and the greatest part is incredulous Many of them that have knowledge in the written Law have forsaken it even when God sent them any Prophet to confirm the Scriptures that they had before received and approved They cast the Book of God behind their Backs as if they knew it not and adhered to what the Devils taught in the Reign of Solomon yet Solomon sinned not but the Devils only that instructed the People in Magick and what was taught by the two Angels Arot and Marot in Babylon Before they taught the people they said We are not sedition neither be you impious The people learned of them what concerneth the Separation of the Man and the Woman and what breedeth hatred betwixt them They did not harm to any by their Magick but through the permission of God the people learned of them what might hurt and not be profitable to them they instructed in Magick them that sold their part in Paradise at the loss of their Souls although they knew their errour that they had before believed in God and feared his Divine Majesty Repentance inspired by God is exceeding profitable if they understood to know it O you that fear God say not honour us say regard us and hearken to what is commanded you To Infidels are prepared dolorous torments the Iews and Christians desired not that God should send you good but God very liberal gratifieth with his mercy whom he pleaseth he will not alter his Commandments neither forget them he will moreover teach others more profitable or of the like nature know you not that God is Omnipotent understand you not that to God appertains the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth who except God will be your Protector Will you question your Prophet as Moses was heretofore questioned He that shall change faithinto impiety shall forsake the good way Many that have knowledge in the Scripture endeavoured to mislead you through impiety and Envy notwithstanding they are not ignorant of the Truth forgive them and beware of them untill God hath otherwise disposed he is Omnipotent Make your Prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes you shall find before God the good that you do for your Souls he beholdeth all your Actions They have said that none but the Iews and Christians shall enter into Paradise it is their false invention say unto them if you be good Men bring your Reasons on the contrary he that resigneth himself to God and is a just Man shall be recompensed by his Divine Majesty there needeth not be any fear for him he shall not be tormented in the fire of Hell. The Iews say the Christians are void of reason and the Christians affirm the Iews to be without reason nevertheless they study the Scripture so speak the ignorant God will determine their difference at the day of the Resurrection Who is more unjust than he that hindred that God be remembred in Temples and that studieth nought but their destruction Such men cannot enter therein but with fear and terrour they shall have on Earth shame upon the Forehead and in the other World shall suffer exceeding great torments The East and West are Gods whithersoever men turn themselves the Face of God doth there meet them his Divinity extendeth through the whole Earth They said believe you that God hath a Son Praised be God on the contrary whatever is either in Earth or Heaven appertaineth to his Divine Majesty and all things obey him he hath created Heaven and Earth and when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is The unbelievers said if God speak not to us or if thou performest no Miracles we will not believe thee their Predecessors have said as much and their words have been like unto their hearts we have caused Miracles to appear to the righteous and have sent thee to preach and instruct the people inquire not why those that shall descend into Hell will not believe thee the Iews and Christians will not be satisfied of thee until thou follow their opinion say unto them there is no better guide in the World than God take heed lest thou follow their Appetites after that thou hast comprehended the knowledge which we inspired into thee who except God will be thy defender They whom we have taught the Scripture that study and read it with truth believe the contents of it and they that do not believe are damned O Children of Israel call to mind the favour that I did you I preferred you before all the World
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
not cease to fight you until they have if they can accomplish it misâ—…led you from your Religion His good works among you that shall quit his Law and die an Infidel shall be vain in this World and himself be confined in the fire of Hell Such as believe in God that separate themselves from the impious that abandon their Houses for the service of his Divine Majesty and that fight for the Faith hope for his Mercy he is gracious and merciful They will enquire of thee concerning Wine and Games of hazard say unto them that it is in them a very great sin and yet of Utility to Men but the evil that they cause is much greater than the profit they reap They will demand what they ought to expend in good works say unto them what shall remain to you your own Affairs being done So God teacheth you his Commandments peradventure you will call to mind the things of Earth and Heaven They will enquire concerning Orphans say unto them if their substance be intermingled with your own do them no wrong they are your Brethren in God he knoweth them that do good and those that do Evil if it had pleased him he had detained much more from you for he is Omnipotent and just Marry not women that believe in many Gods until they believe in one sole God a Slave that is a true Believer is of more value than a free Infidel notwithstanding she is beautiful Infidels shall be summoned to Hell fire and God calleth men to Paradise and to his mercy through his meer good Pleasure and declareth to them his Commandments perhaps they will remember them They will enquire of thee concerning the Monthly terms of Women answer that they are unclean separate your selves from your Wives when they are menstruous and come not nigh them until they be purified when they shall be clean approach them according to what God hath commanded he loveth them that repent of their Errours that are clean and purified your Wives are your Tillage go to your Tillage at your Pleasure and do good for your Souls you shall one day find it fear God and preach his Commandments to the true Believers Your Religion doth not permit you to swear by God in vain and oftentimes to justifie your selves God understandeth and knoweth all things he will not regard what you shall speak at Random that shall not be hurtful to any but he will see what it shall be in your heart He will be gracious and merciful to such as shall swear not to touch their Wives for the space of four Months if they return to them he is gracious and merciful but if they desire to repudiate them he understandeth and knoweth all things Women divorced shall tarry until their Terms be past four times before they Marry again it is not permitted them to conceal what God hath created in their Womb if they believe in his divine Majesty and the Day of Judgment if they flie from their Husbands they shall be brought again to them which is a thing reasonable They ought to honour them and their Husbands likewise ought to honour them but the Husbands have a degree of advantage above them God is Omnipotent and most wise in what he ordaineth Divorce the first and second time ought to be performed with mildness courtesie and good deeds it is not lawful for you to take any thing from your Wives of what you have given them if you both fear a disability of not satisfying the Commandments of God but if you both fear to transgress the bounds prescribed by God you shall do well to accord together such are the commandments of his Divine Majesty transgress them not such as transgress them are exceedingly to blame He that shall have repudiated his Wife thrice shall not resume her until she hath been married to another that hath divorced her then they may return to each other and marry again without Sin if they think themselves able to continue within the limits prescribed by God which he manifesteth to the wise and prudent When you shall repudiate your Wives appoint them the time they must tarry before they again marry take them with civility and modesty and in the like manner dismiss them give them presents according to your abilities and take them not to abuse nor torment them they that do this offend their own Souls Mock not at the Commandments of God Remember his favours and how he hath taught you Scripture Knowledge and the mysteries of his Law Fear God and know that he understandeth all your actions When you repudiate your Wives appoint them they ought to tarry before they marry again and hinder them not to marry according to the Commandments of God. These things are preached to them among you that believe in God and in the Day of Judgment it is requisite so to make use of them God knoweth what you know not The Women shall give suck to their Children two years entire if they desire to accomplish the time appointed to suckle them the Father shall nourish and cloath the Wife and his Children according to his faculties expend not but according to the measure of your goods the Father and Mother shall not necessitate themselves for their Children the heir shall perform what is above ordained he shall entertain his Father and Mother according to his abilities if the Parents desire to wean their Children before two years be expired they may do it without offending God if they both agree to it If you cause your Children to be nursed by other Women than your own Wives God will not be offended in giving them their sallary according to reason and honesty fear God and know that he seeth what ever you do Widows shall tarry four months and ten nights after the death of their Husbands before they marry again this time being accomplished they shall do what shall seem good to them according to reason and honesty God knoweth all your actions You will not offend God in speaking a word in secret to Women that you research in marriage although you conceal in your mind your design to espouse them he understandeth what ever you think of them know them not secretly until you have pronounced the words appointed by the Law and enter not the bonds of marriage until the time set down in writing be accomplished God knoweth whatever is in your hearts take heed unto your selves he is gentle and gracious to them that fear him It is no sin to repudiate your Wives before you have touched them you shall give them some presents and do good unto them according to the proportion of your wealth or poverty and civilly intreat them as is the custom of honest Men. If you repudiate them before you have touched them and have bestowed on them any presents of garments moveables and other things they shall have the moity if they release it not to you or if the Husband remitting with his own
length of time and behold thine Ass is dead see his bones that are white thou shalt become an example to all the World and to Posterity see the bones of thine Ass I will recollect and revest them with flesh Seeing this Miracle he said I affirm that God is Omnipotent Remember thou that Abraham said Lord shew me how thou revivest the dead God said Doest thou not believe my Omnipotency He answered yea Lord but hear my Prayer for the repose of my heart God said Take four Birds cut them altogether in pieces and carry the pieces upon those Mountains this done call them they shall speedily return to thee God knoweth all things and is most prudent in all his works The action of them that dispend their Goods for his glory is like unto a Grain of Corn that produceth seven ears and every ear an hundred Grains God multiplieth the wealth of whom it pleaseth him he is liberal and omniscient Such as dispend their substance for his glory without repining and reproach shall be recompensed by his Divine Majesty and be delivered from fear and affliction at the day of Judgment Good words and pardon are preferred to Almes followed with repentance God is most rich and merciful Oh ye that believe in God! render not your Alms unprofitable through repining and reproach as do those that give Alms with Ostentation and hypocrisie they believe neither in God nor the day of Judgment their good works are like to a Rock whereon was little Earth there fell great Rain that carried it away and left nothing thereon their Labour shall be in vain and they reap no merit for God loveth neither the Hypocrites nor the impious The action of such as do good to please God or to save their Souls is like to a Grain sown upon an high place whereon fell great and small Rain that caused it's Fruit to multiply God beholdeth all your Actions Is there any one among you that desireth to have a Garden enriched with Palms and Grapes wherein flow many Fountains and Rivolets and that is filled with all manner of Fruits that old Age should overtake him with young and infirm Children and that an hot wind come and burn up his Garden God so teacheth you his Mysteries peradventure you will bear them in mind Oh ye that believe dispend in pious works and give Alms of the wealth you have acquired and of the Fruits of the Earth that God hath given you desire not wealth ill gotten or wherewith to give Alms such are not received but to your shame And know that God is most rich and worthy of praise The Devil will cause you to fear Poverty and will command you filthiness and God promiseth to you his Grace and Mercy he is munificent and omniscient he giveth knowledge to whom it pleaseth him and to whom knowledge is given on him is bestowed an exceeding great Treasure which none but the wise do value God beholdeth your alms and vows and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the day of Judgment If you suffer your alms to appear it shall not be amiss if you conceal them you shall do well that will cover many of your sins God knoweth all your actions You are not obliged to lead Men into the right way God guideth whom he listeth the good and the alms that you perform shall be for your Souls give not alms but for the love of God you shall be rewarded for the good works that you shall do and no injustice shall be done against you Be benefactors to the poor that are not accommodated for the service of God and that cannot labour The ignorant believe them to be rich by reason of their probity and goodness you shall know them by their Physiognomy and in that they demand nothing with importunity God will know the good you shall do towards them They that give alms by day or by night secretly or publickly shall be rewarded of God there needeth be no fear for them they shall be exempt from affliction at the day of Judgment Usurers shall rise again like to Men possessed with Devils because they have said that traffick is like unto Usury God permitteth traffick and prohibiteth usury he to whom the word of God cometh and who hath abandoned Usury what is past is to himself God will pardon his fault but he that shall return to exercise Usury having once abandoned it shall be punished in the fire of Hell God abhorreth Usury he loveth them that are alms-givers and hateth Infidels Such as believe in God that do good works and that make their prayers at the time appointed and pay their Tyths shall be rewarded by his Divine Majesty they shall be delivered from fear and affliction at the day of Judgment O ye that believe in God! have the fear of him before your eyes and forsake Usury if you will obey his Commandments if you do not this God and his Prophet will make War upon you if you be converted your principal remains unto you Do injustice to no Man it shall not be done unto you If your debtors be unable to pay you and are in want you shall do well to stay their conveniency if you give them alms you shall do well fear the day when you shall return before God and that every one shall be payed without injustice of what he shall have gained O ye that believe in God! when you shall charge your selves with any debt cause an act to be drawn the Notary shall write the Contract between you conformable to Justice and shall not refuse to write it as God hath instructed him but the debtor shall entirely satisfie what he shall owe and shall have the fear of his Lord before his eyes if he that is a debtor is a fool or sick and is unable of himself to discharge it his Guardian or he that shall oversee his affairs shall give satisfaction for him Call with you two witnesses if you cannot find two Men one with two Women shall suffice whose testimony you shall accept if the one be wanting to her duty the other shall cause her to remember these witnesses shall not refuse their testimony notwithstanding they be called in a great number Make no difficulty to write your testimony whether it concern little or much and limit the time wherein payment ought to be made such writings are just before God give more efficacy to testimony and are requisite to avoid your complaints one of another If your merchandize be present you shall take it between you at the same time then shall you not sin in not drawing a writing or contract Call witnesses when you sell or buy neither the witnesses nor the Notary shall receive any damage If you shall do that which is forbidden you shall do very ill Fear God he will teach you his Commandments he knoweth all things If you are in a journey and cannot find a Notary you shall give earnest If one trusteth in the
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
gracious to them that worship him Say to them If you love God follow me God shall give you life and pardon your sins he is gracious and merciful Say to them obey God and his Prophet If they return in their sin God will very severely punish them he loveth not Infidels God elected Adam and Noah the Lineage of Abraham and the Lineage of Ioachim the one proceedeth from the other God knoweth and understandeth all things Remember thou how the Wife of Ioachim said Lord I vow unto thee the Fruit that is in my Womb free and exempt from all Affairs to serve thee in thy Temple Accept him from me who offer him to thee with affection thou understandest and knowest all things When she was delivered she said Lord I am delivered of a Daughter thou knowest thou hast given her to me I have named her Mary I will preserve through thine assistance her and her Posterity from the malice of the Devil accept her Lord with a pleasing Acceptation and cause her to produce good Fruits Zachary had the care of the Education of this Daughter and whensoever he went into his Oratory he there found a thousand sorts of different Fruits of divers Seasons He said one day O Mary whence do these good things proceed she answered they proceed from God who enricheth without measure whom he pleaseth Then Zachary prayed to the Lord and said Lord give me a Progeny that may be pleasing to thee and that may observe thy Commandments Lord hear my Prayers The Angels called him and said to him I declare to thee from God that thou shalt have a Son called Iohn he shall affirm the Messias to be the word of God that he shall be a great Person Chaste a Prophet and one of the just Lord answered Zachary how shall I have a Son I am old and my Wife is barren The Angel said to him so God doth as pleaseth him Lord said Zachary give me some sign of the Conception of my Wife The sign that I will give thee answered the Angel shall be that thou shalt not speak in three days but by signs Remember thou thy Lord often praise him evening and morning Remember thou how the Angels said O Mary God hath chosen and purified thee above all Women of the World O Mary obey thy Lord praise him and worship him with them that worship him I relate to thee how the matter past thou wert not with the Ministers of the Temple when they cast in their pens to draw lots and to see which of them should have the care of the education of Mary neither when they entred upon this difficulty Remember thou how the Angels said O Mary God declareth unto thee a word from which shall proceed the Messias named Jesus the Son of Mary full of honour in this World and that shall be in the other of the number of Intercessors with his Divine Majesty he shall speak in the Cradle as a Man betwixt thirty and fifty years and shall be in the number of the just She said Lord how shall I have a Child without the touch of a Man he answered So God doth as pleaseth him when he createth any thing he saith Be thou and it is I will teach him the Scriptures the Mysteries of the Law the Old Testament and the Gospel and he shall be a Prophet sent to the Children of Israel Jesus said to the Children of Israel I come to you with evident signs of my mission from your Lord I will make unto you of the slime of the Earth the figure of a Bird I will blow upon it incontinently it shall be a Bird and by the permission of God shall flie I will heal them that are born blind and the leprous I will raise again the dead I will teach you what you shall eat and what you ought not to eat this shall serve you for instruction if you believe in God I am come to confirm the Old Testament and what hath been taught you heretofore Certainly it is lawful for you to eat things that have been heretofore forbidden I am come to you with signs of my mission that testifie that I am truly sent from your Lord fear God and obey me God is my Lord and your Lord worship him this is the right way When Jesus knew their impiety he said Who shall sustain the Law of God in my absence The Apostles answered him we will substain the Law of God we believe in his unity be thou a witness before God that we resign our selves wholly to the pleasure of his Divine Majesty Lord we believe in what thou hast commanded and we have followed the Prophet thy Apostle write us in the number of them that profess thy Law. The Iews conspired against Jesus and God caused their conspiracy to turn against them he knoweth the designs of Conspirators Remember thou how the Lord said O Jesus I will cause thee to die I will elevate thee to my self and remove thee far from Infidels and prefer those that have obeyed thee to Infidels at the day of Judgment That day shall assemble you all before me I will judge the differences between you and will punish the impious in this World and in the other none among them shall be of power to protect them I will reward them that shall have believed in my Law and have done good works God loveth not the unjust I relate to thee these mysteries and teach thee the Alcoran Jesus is with God as is Adam God created him of the Earth he said Be thou and he was this truth proceedeth from thy Lord be not thou of the number of them that doubt If any one dispute with thee concerning thy Doctrine say to them Come call together your Children and ours your Wives and ours let us assemble and address our prayers to God I will lay the curse of his Divine Majesty upon lyers This Discourse is most true there is no God but God alone the Omnipotent and Wise. If they depart from his Commandments he shall well observe the unbelievers say to them O ye that know Scripture come with words alike true between you and us Do I worship other than God I do not associate him with any one and acknowledge none other Lord but him but if they turn aside from the way of faith God knoweth them that shall pollute the Earth Say to them be ye witnesses that we believe in God. O ye that understand Scripture dispute not the Law of Abraham to wit if he observed the Old Testament or the Gospel they were taught after him perhaps you will acknowledge your error Oh ye that have disputed what you knew not Abraham was no Iew nor Christian he professed the unity of God he was a true believer and not of the number of Infidels The People and particularly those that followed him of his time as also the Prophet Mahomet and all true believers have known the truth of his Law.
Part of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of Scripture desired seduced you from the right way but they themselves erred and they knew it not O ye that know the Scripture do not maliciously conceal the Commandments of God cover not the Truth with a lye neither willingly hide it Many of them that knew the written Law said From the break of day believe in what hath been taught them that believe in the Law of God Nevertheless at evening they were themselves of the number of Infidels peradventure they will be converted Believe not but such as follow your own Law Say to them The true guide is the guide of God. The knowledge that was given to you was not given to any other but to you If the Infidels shall dispute against you before your Lord at the day of Judgment say to them Grace proceedeth from the hand of God He is bountiful and omniscient he pardoneth whom he pleaseth and is altogether merciful If thou intrustest thy wealth to the hands of many of them that know the written Law they will faithfully restore it to thee There be also many of them that will not restore it if thou take not heed because they have said They have no belief in the Arabians they blaspheme against God and know their blasphemies He that shall satisfie what he hath promised and shall fear God shall be beloved of God he loveth such as have fear of him before their eyes such as pervert his Commandments for any profit shall have no part in Paradise he will not protect them neither regard or pardon them at the day of Judgment and they shall be rigorously punished There be of them that alter the Scripture in reading it and will make believe that what they read is in the Scripture although it be not they blaspheme and know it well God gave not to Man the Scripture knowledge and prophecies to say to the People Worship me instead of God but indeed to say Observe exactly what you have learned in Scripture and what you read God doth not command you to adore Angels nor Prophets Will he command you impiety having instructed you in his Law Remember that he received the promise of the Prophets to preach his Commandments without fear and that he hath taught you Scripture and knowledge and that after this came a Prophet that confirmed the Doctrine that was taught you that you might believe his words Have you not approved it Have you not received what was promised unto you We have received it be therefore witnesses against your selves and against them that have followed you and I will be a witness against you and against them Such as go astray from the right way shall be wicked Desire they to observe any other Law than that of God Whatever is in Heaven or Earth obeyeth him either willingly or by force And you shall all one day appear before him to be judged Say to them We believe in God in what he hath inspired into us in what he inspired 〈◊〉 Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob and the Tâ—…e 〈◊〉 what was ordained by Moses by Iesus 〈◊〉 generally all the Prophets from God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are wholly resigned to his pleasure The Sacrifices of them that desire to follow other Law than the Law of Salvation shall not be accepted they shall be in the other World in the number of the damned God guided not those that followed impiety after they had professed his Law and having seen and testified that the Prophet is true by signs clear and evident that appeared to them God guideth not the unjust they shall be for ever cursed of his Divine Majesty of Angels and of all the World they shall find no relaxation of their torments and at the Day of Judgment be deprived of protection except such as shall be converted and do good works God shall be to them gracious and merciful Such as shall be impious towards Jesus having believed the Books of Moses and shall augment their impiety against Mahomet shall never be converted they shall err eternally All the treasures of the Earth shall not be able to save the wicked that die in their impiety great punishments are prepared for them and none of them shall be able to protect them You shall not be justified until you have dispensed in pious works part of the goods you possess God will take notice of the alms you bestow All meats were permitted the Children of Israel except what Israel forbad to himself before the Old Testament Say to them Come and bring the Old Testament and consider it it will appear if you speak the Truth These that shall afterwards blaspheme against God shall be exceedingly to blame Say God hath spoken Truth follow ye the Law of Abraham that is pleasing to him He professed the unity of his Divine Majesty he was not of them that believed in many Gods. The Temple of Mecca is the first that God established on Earth to be therein adored he blessed it and Men shall there find the instructions of the right way with clear and evident signs of his omnipotency to wit Abraham's place He that shall enter into this Temple shall be in a place of safety and priviledge God hath commanded that Pilgrimages be made thither by such as shall be able He that is impious must know that God hath not to do with him O ye that have knowledge of the written Law do not willingly conceal the Commandments of God he knoweth all your actions Say to them O ye that have the knowledge of Scriptures divert not from the way of Salvation them that believe in the Law of God you desire to alter and pervert it but God is not ignorant of what you do O ye that believe if you obey many of them that have the knowledge of the written Law they will mis-lead you into the number of the wicked How can you be of the impious since you are taught the Commandments of God and that his Prophet and his Apostle is among you He that resigneth himself to God is in the right way O ye that fear God die in the profession of his Unity imbrace his Law and remember the favour he hath shewed you you were all enemies of each other he hath united your hearts and through his special Grace you continued united to each other as good Brethren you were upon the brink of a pit of fire from which he withdrew you Thus God manifesteth to you his mercies perhaps you will follow the right way Some there be among you that exhort the People to do good they command to do that which is honest and abstain from what is unreasonable these Men shall be happy Be not like them that have abandoned the Truth and followed lies notwithstanding the Truth was known to them they shall suffer great torment in the day wherein the visage of the good shall be white and that of the wicked shall be black
Hell fire which you have deserved God doth not lead into darkness them that worship him There be that say God hath commanded us not to believe the Prophets until their Sacrifice be consumed by fire Say to them there came to you Prophets heretofore with Miracles that you demanded you had not slain them had you been righteous if they belye thee know they belyed the Prophets that were before thee that came with Miracles the Psalter and the Book of Light. Every man shall taste of death and your reward shall be payed at the Day of Judgment he that shall depart from the fire of Hell and enter into Paradise shall be happy The wealth of this World is but matter of Pride that you may be tryed in your Riches and Persons Hearken not to the Iews and Christians that have known the written Law before you neither to them that believe in many Gods they offend God through their blasphemies if you have patience and fear God you shall make a very good resolution God hath accepted the Speech of them that know his written Law when they promised him to preach to the people his Commandments and not conceal them nevertheless they have contemned them and changed them for profit of little value and have gained nothing but misery think not that such as rejoyce of the evil they have done and affect to be commended for what they have not done have escaped the punishment of their Crimes they shall certainly suffer great torments The Kingdom of Heaven and of the Earth is Gods he is Omnipotent the Creation of Heaven and Earth the difference of day and night are evident signs of his Omnipotency to such as have judgment Such as have remember God standing sitting or lying down and considered the Creation of Heaven and Earth have said Lord thou hast not created these things in vain blessed be thy Name deliver us from the torments of Hell fire thou wilt render miserable him that thou shalt thither precipitate and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the Day of Judgment Lord we have heard them that say Believe in your Lord we believe in thy unity pardon our faults blot out our sins and give us grace to die in the number of the just bestow on us what thou hast promised by the Prophets and suffer us not to be miserable at the Day of Judgment thou dost not contradict what thou dost promise The Lord heard them and said to them I will not suffer your works to be lost as well of Men as of Women I will blot out the sins of them that went out of Mecca to separate themselves from the wicked I will cover the offences of them that forsook their Houses that assembled to fight for the Faith and were slain I will open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers to recompence their good works There is with God great reward envy not the Infidels whom thou shalt see possess a little wealth in the Earth Hell is prepared to be their habitation and such as fear God shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein run many Rivers with all manner of content God is a great rewarder of the just Among them that know the written Law there be that believe in God in what was afore time taught you and in what was preached to them surely they obey God and forsake not his Law They shall receive a great reward from God he is exact in his account O ye that are true believers be patient in your adversities persevere to do well fight for the Faith fear God and you shall be happy CHAP. IV. The Chapter of Women containing one hundred and seventy Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye People fear your Lord that created you of one sole person and created his Wife of his Rib of whom issued many Men and Women Fear God by whom you swear and say the Belly of your Wives God exactly observeth your actions Give unto Orphans what appertaineth to them and render not evil for good devour not their substance it is a very great sin If you fear to do injury to Orphans fear also to do wrong to Women marry those that please you two three or four if you apprehend you shall not be able to entertain them equally marry but one or the slaves that you shall have acquired this is most necessary to the end you offend not God. Give to Women their Dowry with a good will if they give to you any thing that is pleasing to you receive it with affection and civility Bestow not on fools the wealth that God hath given you for subsistence assist Orphans give to them the Garments that shall be necessary for them and entertain them honestly instruct them until they have attained to years of discretion and are capable of marriage if you believe they demean themselves wisely restore to them their faculties and devour them not unjustly before they be of age He that shall be rich shall abstain from their goods and he that is poor shall take with honesty according to the pains he shall undergo for them when you make to them restitution of their goods take witness of your action God loveth good accounts The Children shall have a good part of what their Father and Mother and Parents left after their decease of little or of much there appertaineth to them a portion prefixed and limited When they divide their goods the kindred shall have care of the poor and Orphans do good to them and honestly entertain them Such as fear to leave after them a weak progeny of little Children ought to fear to wrong Orphans they must fear God and courteously entertain them Those that unjustly devour their substance swallow fire into their Bowels and shall burn in a great fire God recommendeth to you your Children the Son shall have as much as two Daughters if there be more than two Daughters they shall have two thirds of the succession of the Dead if there be but one she shall have the moity and her kindred a sixth part of what shall be left by the dead if there be no Children and the kindred be heirs the Mother of the dead shall have a third if there be Brethren the Mother shall have a sixth after satisfaction of the Legacies contained in the Testament and of debts You understand not to whom it is most requisite to do good to your Children or to your Father and Mother give them their Portion ordained of God. The moity of what their Wives shall leave belongeth to you if they have no Children if they have you shall have the fourth part of what they shall leave after payment of the Legacies and debts they shall have the fourth of your succession if you have no Children if you have they shall have the eight portion If a Man or Woman be the heirs of each other and have neither Father nor Mother
World who shall dispute for them against God at the day of Judgment Who shall that day be their protector He that shall implore pardon of God having offended him shall find him gracious and merciful who doth evil shall find evil God is Omniscient and most Wise. He that committeth a venial or a mortal sin and would excuse himself committeth evidently a mortal sin Many of them had endeavoured to seduce thee hadst thou not been directed by the grace and mercy of God. But they seduce only their own Souls and shall do thee no harm God hath sent to thee the Book that containeth his Commandments he hath taught thee what thou didst not understand and his grace is eminently upon thee there is no good in the multiplicity of their secrets or discâ—…se except in such as command aâ—…ms honest â—… and peace among the people with desire tâ—…â—…ase God they shall receive from his Divine Majesty a great reward He that shall contradict the Prophet having had knowledge of the right way and shall follow other paths than that of the true believers shall relapse into his impiety I will cause him to burn in the fire of Hell where is the habitation of the wicked God pardoneth not them that say He hath Companions except this he pardons all things as he seeth good he that affirmeth that God hath a Companion greatly erreth and is estranged from the truth If they invoke other than God they invoke Idols the Devil obstinate and cursed of God when he said to him Thou wilt not give me power over them that worship thee but I will seduce them from the right way I will prolong their wicked life to retard their conversion I will cause them to cut off the ears of Beasts they shall disobey thy commandments and they shall envy thy creatures He that demandeth succours of the Devil is in manifest perdition he will promise to Men long Life and retard their repentance but he promiseth them but a vain glory Hell is the dwelling place of such Men out of which they shall find no issue Such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many Rivers God is most true in what he promiseth who is more than God in his words Your lies and the lies of them that know the written Law do him no harm he that shall do ill shall be punished and shall find no protector he that shall do well and shall believe in the Law of God shall enter into Paradise and shall have no injustice done to him what better Law is there than to resign thy self to God and to be an honest Man Follow the Law of Abraham God chose Abraham to love him whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth belongeth to his Divine Majesty he knoweth all things They will question thee concerning Women say to them God teacheth you in that what you were taught in the Scripture touching Orphans and Women give to them what is appointed by the Law and desire not to espouse them only to possess their wealth God teacheth you likewise to give to Orphans what appertaineth to them and not to injure them he will understand your good actions If a Woman fear to be ill entreated by her Husband and that he will divorce her they shall do well mutually to accord for peace is exceeding good If you be too obstinate and cannot agree together if you do good to your Wives in divorcing them and fear to wrong them God will take notice of your actions If you believe you cannot keep equality and justice among your Wives although you apply your selves to it Incline not altogether to your own appetites and leave not your Wife as a thing left in toleration If you live in a good accord and fear to injure them God will be merciful to you If they separate themselves conformably to the precepts of the Law God will enrich them with his protection he is bountiful and wise and whatever is in Heaven and Earth obeyeth him We have recommended to you the fear of God as we have heretofore to them that had knowledge of the written Law. If you be impious know that whatever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods he hath no need of his Creatures and must be exalted it sufficeth thee he is thy Protector If he will he can cause you to perish and put other Creatures in your place for he is Omnipotent He that loveth the good things of the Earth shall find in God all the wealth of this World and of the other he understandeth and seeth all things O you that believe be true in your Testimonies notwithstanding it be against your selves against your Father and Mother and against your Kindred and consider the rich no more than the poor God is the Protector of the one and the other follow not your Appetites to favour the rich more than the poor pervert not the Truth be not scrupulous to testifie what you know God knoweth all your Actions O ye that believe in God! and his Prophet and the Book that was sent before him know he that blasphemeth against his Divine Majesty against his Angels the Scripture the Prophets and life eternal greatly erreth and departeth from the Truth God pardoneth not them that have embraced his Law and then have forsaken it having believed in his Divine Majesty and are returned again to their impiety declare to such men they shall feel heavy torments Such as obey Infidels to be great in this World extreamly delude themselves greatness proceedeth from God It is written in the Book that was sent to you that the Infidels shall mock you when they shall hear the word of God and you shall obey his Commandments Tarry not in their Company if they change not their Discourse otherwise you will be like to them God will assemble into the fire of Hell all Infidels and wicked Persons Some of them that observe your Actions said they were of your party when any Felicity hapned to you and when the Infidels had advantage over you they said they were with them and that they fought against you God at the Day of Judgment shall judge the difference that is between you and will not give advantage to Infidels over them that observe his Law. The wicked think to deceive God but God deceiveth them they are negligent to make their prayers they are hypocrites before the World and remember not his Divine Majesty except very few of them uncertain whether they should follow the faithful or the Infidels he whom God shall cause to go astray shall not find the right way O ye that believe obey not Infidels to the exclusion of true believers will you give God manifest occasion to chastise you for your sins The wicked shall be in the lowest place of Hell and shall find no relief except such as shall repent that shall do good works resign themselves to God and obey his Commandments they shall
be with the true believers and receive from God a very great reward He will not send you misery if you give him thanks for his favours and obey him he accepteth the acknowledgment of his benefits and knoweth all things He willeth not that what evil is committed be published he that publisheth the evil he doth is very much to blame if you manifest the good you do or if you conceal it and abstain from doing evil he will be merciful to you he is Omnipotent Such as blaspheme against God and his Prophets his Apostles such as would make a distinction between the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and the precepts of his Prophets such as affirm ' they believe in some of the Prophets and believe not in all and take a middle way between faith and impiety are indeed impious we have prepared for them ignominious torments but they who believe in God and generally in all his Prophets and Apostles shall be recompensed of God gracious and merciful They that know the written Law will require thee to cause to descend from Heaven a Book and written Tables They demanded of Moses greater things and said Cause us to behold God with our eyes then thunder surprized them by reason of their impiety They adored the Calf after having had the knowledge of our Commandments nevertheless we pardoned them and gave to Moses an absolute dominion over them We raised the Mountain over them following our promises and said to them Enter the Gate of the Temple with adoration and humility and no longer transgress the observation of the day of Rest We for this matter received from them a strong promise but they swerved from what they had promised and we cursed them because of their impiety by reason of the Murther they committed without reason on the persons of the Prophets and of the words they uttered viz. Our heart is hardned Contrariwise God imprinted infidelity in their hearts they shall never believe in his Law except very few of them because of their malice and the blasphemies they vomited against Mary they said We have slain the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary the Prophet and Apostle of God Certainly they slew him not neither crucified him they crucified one among them that resembled him such as doubt it are in a manifest error and speak not but through opinion Certainly they slew him not on the contrary God took him up to himself he is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions Such as have the knowledge of Scripture ought to believe in Jesus before his death he shall be a witness against them of their actions at the Day of Judgment We have prohibited them that Judaize by reason of their sin things that were permitted them We have prepared for them great torment because they mis-lead the World from the right way because they take Use that is forbidden them and unjustly eat the substance of their neighbour Such of them as are profound in Learning and all the faithful believe in the Scriptures both ancient and modern I will give great rewards to them that shall make their prayers at the time appointed that shall pay Tyths and believe in the Day of Judgment We have sent thee our inspirations as we sent them to Noah and the Prophets after him as we heretofore sent them to Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob the Tribes to Jesus Iob Ionas Aaron and to Solomon and gave the Psalter to David We have told thee who were the Prophets that preceded thee but we have not spoken to thee concerning the merits of all of them Moses spake to God as his Prophet and Apostle all declared his mercy and preached the torments of Hell to the end Men might have no cause of excuse God is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions He shall be witness that the Alcoran was sent to thee with his Commandments the Angels likewise shall testifie it but it ought to suffice thee that God is witness The Infidels that hinder the People to follow the Law of God were exceedingly erroneous God will not pardon them he will lead them into the path of Hell where they shall remain eternally it is a thing easie to his Divine Majesty O People A Prophet is come to you who preacheth to you the Truth from the Lord believe him you shall do well if you believe him not know that whatever is in Earth and in Heaven is Gods and that God knoweth whatsoever you do O ye that understand the written Law Obey the Commandments of God and speak not of his Divine Majesty but with truth the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary is a Prophet and an Apostle of God his Word and his Spirit which he sent to Mary believe therefore in God and in his Prophets and say not there be three Gods put an end to that discourse you shall do well For there is but one God praised be God he hath no Son whatever is in Heaven and in Earth obeyeth him it is sufficient that he is witness The Messiah esteemeth in no dishonour to be the servant of God neither the Angel nor the Cherubins He that holdeth it a dishonour to be at his service is too proud he shall assemble all the World at the Day of Judgment and every one shall receive the recompence that he shall have merited he shall augment his favours upon them that shall have believed in his Divine Majesty and have done good works he shall chastise them that shall have held it a dishonour to be his servants and have been proud upon the Earth they shall find no safe refuge but in his mercy O People God hath sent you a Protector a most strong argument and a most clear light they that shall trust in God shall enjoy his grace and he shall guide them into the right way They will enquire of thee concerning successions say to them God teacheth you touching successions as followeth if a Man decease without issue and hath a Sister she shall have the moity of what he shall leave and shall inherit it if she have no Children If they be two Sisters they shall have two thirds of what the deceased left if they be many Brothers and many Sisters the Son shall have as much as two Daughters God teacheth you his Commandments depart not from the right way he is Omniscient CHAP. V. The Chapter of the Table containing an hundred and twenty Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye that believe in God! Satisfie what you have promised it is permitted you to eat of the Beasts that be in the World except of what shall be hereafter declared Hunting is forbidden you during the time that you shall go on Pilgrimage to Mecca God ordaineth what he will O ye that believe say not That it is permitted to do what God hath prohibited perform what is commanded you during the Month of Pilgrimage give no impediment to such as carry presents
to Mecca neither to them that assume Collers neither hinder Pilgrims to repair thither to demand the Grace of God and his mercies It is lawful for you to hunt when you shall have finished your Pilgrimage beware lest some persons cause you to sin and hinder your going to Mecca to oblige you to punish them repose your confidence in the justice and fear of God and not in the sin and malice of your neighbour Fear God who is severe in his chastisements It is forbidden you to eat Carrion Blood Swines Flesh and whatsoever is not killed in pronouncing the name of God you are prohibited to eat Animals strangled choakt knockt down precipitated that are slain striking each other and such as beasts shall have slain if you find them not alive to let out their Blood in pronouncing the name of God. You shall not eat of Beasts sacrificed to Idols Consult not with Southsayers or Lots it is a great sin The day shall come when they that have abandoned your Law shall be desperate fear not them and fear me The day will come when I shall accomplish your Law and my Grace shall be abundantly upon you The Law of Salvation is the Law that I desire to give you If any one be in necessity and eateth of what is prohibited without a will to sin God shall be to him gracious and merciful They will demand of thee what is permitted them to eat Say to them it is lawful to eat all sorts of Beasts that are not unclean and whatever hath been taught you from God touching Beasts that have been wounded by Lions or Dogs eat the Beast you shall take and remember God in blooding them fear God he is exact to take account This day it is lawful that you eat what is not unclean and the meats of them that know the written Law their meats are lawful for you and yours for them You are permitted to espouse Maidens and Women of free Condition that are of your Religion and Maidens and Women of free Condition that know the written Law giving them their Dowry with civility commit neither Concubinage nor Adultery with them neither secretly or publickly the good works of him that shall renounce your Law shall be unprofitable he shall be at the Day of Judgment in the number of the Damned O ye that believe in God when you would make your Prayers wash your Faces your Hands to the Elbow and pass your hand over your head and over your feet to the ancles If you be polluted purifie your selves if sick or in a Journey or about to discharge your Belly or have known Women and find no water to wash you lay hand on the Sand pass it over your Visage and wipe therewith your hands God enjoyneth you nothing irksome but willeth you be clean and desireth to accomplish his Grace upon you peradventure you will give him thanks O ye that believe in God! call to mind his Grace and promise he made to you when you said We heard and obeyed fear him he knoweth all that is in your hearts O ye that believe in God! obey his Commandments and be true in your Testimonies take heed that no man move you to offend God in diverting you from what is just render justice to all his fear inviteth you to it have it before your eyes he knoweth all your Actions hath promised his grace and great recompences to the true Believers that shall do good works in this World and hath prepared Hell to punish Infidels O ye that believe in God! remember his favour towards you when some Persons would have extended their hands upon you and how he delivered you from their Malice Fear him all true Believers ought to resign themselves to his Will. God received the Promise of the Children of Israel to observe his Commandments he established among them twelve Captains and said to them I will be with you when you shall make your Prayers pay your Tithes believe in the Prophets deâ—…end them and shall lend to me any Alms I will cover your sins and cause you to enter Paradise wherein flow many Rivers and he among you that shall be an Infidel shall be entirely erroneous from the right path When they swerved from what they had promised we gave them our Curse and hardned their heart they have altered the words of the Scripture and abjured what they had approved Thou shalt not know them that shall be Traytors except very few of them forgive and depart from them God loveth them that do good We likewise received the Promise of those who call themselves Christians but they have forgotten what they promised they have altered what was taught them and we have cast among them Enmity and hatred even until the Day of Judgment That day God shall cause them to know whatever they have done for their punishment O ye that know the written Law our Prophet is come to bring to light many things of the Scripture which you conceal and he likewise leaveth in silence many things that it is not time to make manifest God hath sent you a Book full of light to conduct into the way of Salvation them that love him to bring them out of darkness and by his special Grace to lead them into the way of Salvation Certainly he that saith that the Messiah the Son of Mary is God is impious Say to him who can hinder God to exterminate the Messiah and his Mother with whatsoever is in the Earth when it shall seem good to him God is King of Heaven and Earth he created with them what seemed good to him he is Omnipotent The Iews and Christians have said we are the Children of God his well beloved Say to them shall not God chastise you for your sins Certainly ye are men He that created you pardoneth and punisheth as it pleaseth him he is the King of all that is in Heaven or Earth and of whatever is between them he is the refuge of the righteous O ye that have knowledge in the written Law The Prophet the Apostle of God is come to instruct you in a time that there is none other Prophet but he on the Earth Will you say that no man preached to you the torments of Hell Certainly the word of God is this day preached to you the torment of Hell and the Omnipotency of his Divine Majesty Remember thou what Moses said to his people O people call to mind the grace of God towards you he hath chosen from among you Prophets and Kings hath conferred on you what he hath given to none in the World Enter into the Holy Land as God hath commanded turn not your Backs to your Enemies lest you be in the number of Reprobates They answered O Moses there are Gyants and Tyrants in the Holy Land we will not enter into it until they be gone out of it if they forsake it we will enter into it Then two men of them that
were in the grace of God said to them enter at the Gate and fight against them you shall be Victorious trust in God if you believe in his Law They said O Moses we will not enter so long as those Tyrants dwell therein go and fight against them with thy Lord we will here attend Then said Moses Lord I dispose but of mine own and my Brothers person separate us from this wicked people the Lord said to him the entrance into the Holy Land is prohibited to this people they shall wander forty years upon the Earth in confusion and amazement afflict not thy self with the Deportments of the wicked teach them the History of the Sons of Adam how they offered Sacrifices how the Sacrifice of the one was accepted that of the other was not he through envy menaced his Brother to murther him his Brother said to him God receiveth the Sacrifices and Holocausts of such as have his fear before their eyes assuredly if thou extendest thine hand to slay me I will not stretch forth mine to hurt thee I fear the Lord of the Universe If thou chargest thy self with the murther of my Person with thy past sins thou shalt go to Hell where the unjust shall be punished The murther of his Brother seemed easie and advantagious for him he slew him and is in the number of the Damned God sent a Raven that made a Pit in the Earth and shewed him the manner to bury the Body of his Brother Then said he would to God I had been weak and impotent that I were like to this Raven I must bury the Body of my Brother and he was penitent for his offence by reason of this murther we ordained to the Children of Israel that he who shall slay a Person innocent shall be punished as if he had slain the whole World and he that shall give him his Life shall be recompensed as if he had given Life to the whole World. My Prophets came to the Children of Israel taught them my Commandments and caused them to see Miracles nevertheless many of them were disobedient the punishment of them that oppose the Will of God that of his Prophet and that endeavour to pollute the Earth is to be slain hanged to have the right foot and the left hand or right hand and the left foot cut off and to be extirpated from the Earth they shall have in this World shame on the Forehead and shall feel in the other great torments except such as shall be converted before their death and shall know that God is gracious and merciful O ye that believe fear God fight for his Law you perhaps shall be happy All the Treasures of the World shall not be able to redeem Infidels at the Day of Judgment they shall endure exceeding great torments they shall desire to go out of the fire of Hell but shall dwell there eternally Cut off the hands of those Men and Women that steal they contract upon themselves the wrath of the World and the punishment that God hath prepared for the wicked He that shall turn and do good works shall be pardoned God is gracious and merciful to the penitent Knowest thou not that the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth is Gods that he chastiseth and pardoneth whom it pleaseth him and that he is Omnipotent O Prophet afflict not thy self to behold them running to impiety that say with the mouth we believe and have no Faith in their hearts neither for them that Iudaize and hearken to the lies of their Doctors to relate them to others they pervert the Language of the Old Testament and say If you be instructed in those Precepts you ought to observe them if they instruct you not in them take heed to your selves Such as make use of the name of God to move the people to Sedition are without Faith God will not purifie their hearts they shall have in this World shame upon the Forehead and feel in the other extream torments They listen to blasphemies and eat what is prohibited If they repair to thee and submit themselves to thy Judgment judge their Controversie with Equity converse not with them if thou depart from their Company they shall not hurt thee if thou givest judgment between them judge with Equity God loveth the Just How shall they submit to thy judgment seeing they have the Old Testament which containeth the Commandments of God They will not execute thy Judgment neither believe in the Old Testament wherein is the guide of the right way and a light to the Prophets to judge the differences arising among true Believers among Iews their Doctors and their Priests who study the Scripture and are Witnesses that it containeth the truth fear not the World but dread me sell not neither exchange my Commandments for any price Such as judge not conformably to the Law of God are Infidels We have ordained the Talio man for man an eye for an eye a nose for a nose an ear for an ear a tooth for a tooth a wound for a wound he that shall observe it shall do well and such as shall not judge conformably to the Law of God are unjust We sent after many Prophets Jesus the Son of Mary who confirmed the ancient Scriptures to him we gave the Gospel full of light to conduct the people to the right way with a confirmation of the Old Testament a guide and instruction for the righteous They that follow the Gospel ought to judge as it is commanded in the Gospel such as judge not conformably to what God hath taught them are disobedient to his Divine Majesty To thee have we sent the Book that containeth the truth and confirmeth the ancient Scritures determine the differences that shall arise among the people as I have inspired thee and follow not the Appetite of men that will abjure the truth which I have taught thee We have instructed all of you in a Law and assured means to lead you into the way of Salvation you should all have been of one and the same Religion had it so pleased God he hath done this to prove you Do good and know that you all shall be assembled before him and he shall resolve the doubts that are among you If thou judgest the differences that are among them judge conformably to what hath been inspired into thee and follow not their Appetites be careful they seduce thee not and move thee to doubt many things that God hath taught thee if they disobey his Commandments know he will severely punish them because of the Enormity of their Crimes The greatest part of the World are impious Do they affect the Judgment of the Ignorant What better Judge for the good is there than God O ye that believe obey not the Iews nor the Christians they mutually obey each other in their impiety he that shall obey them shall be like unto them God guideth not the unjust Thou seest such as are unstable in their Faith flock
actions shall be weighed in the Ballance of Equity the Ballance of the blessed shall be ponderous with good works and they whose Ballance shall be light of good works shall be damned for having contemned our Commandments We gave you your habitation on the Earth and there bestowed on you what was necessary for your nourishment but few of you are grateful to me We created and formed you and commanded the Angels to worship Adam which they performed except the Devil to whom we said what hindred thee to worship Adam when we commanded thee He answered I am better than he thou hast created me of fire and hast created Man of the mire of the Earth then said we to him depart out of Paradise it is not the habitation of the Proud thou shalt be in the number of them that shall be laden with Ignominy the Devil answered let me alone until the day of the Resurrection of the dead wherefore hast thou tempted me I will seduce Men from the right way I will hinder them on the right hand and on the left and on all sides to believe in thy Law and the greatest part of them shall be ungrateful we said to him be gone out of Paradise thou shalt be abhorred of all the World and deprived of my mercy I will fill Hell with such as shall follow thee O Adam dwell with thy Wife in Paradise and there eat of whatsoever shall please thee but approach not that Tree lest thou with thy Wife be in the number of the unjust The Devil tempted them and despoyled their Bodies of their Vestments of grace he said to them God bath forbidden you to eat of the Fruit of that Tree that you may not be Angels or eternal he swore that he spake the truth and filled them with Ignominy because of their Pride They knew their Nakedness having eaten of that Fruit and to cover themselves took leaves of Paradise their Lord called them and said Did I not forbid you to approach that Tree I told both of you that the Devil was your open Enemy they said Lord we have offended thee and injured our Souls if thou dost not compassionate us we shall be in the number of the damned he said Depart out of Paradise ye Enemies of each other you shall inhabit the Earth until the time appointed you shall there live and die and go from the Earth to the Day of Judgment O ye Children of Adam we bestowed on you Vestments of Graces signs of our Omnipotency peradventure you will bear it in mind O ye Children of Adam beware lest the Devil seduce you as he did your Father and Mother when he caused their departure out of Paradise he dispoyled them of their Garments and made them know their deformity he shall appear to you with such as follow them and you shall see him when you least think thereon he protecteth the Infidels when they commit any Fault they say we follow the Law of our Fathers God hath so commanded us Say unto them Doth God command you to offend him Will you speak of God what you know not he hath appointed you to do Justice to worship him and embrace his Law. Many shall rise again as you have seen them some shall be in the right way others shall be damned because they have obeyed the Devil and believed they were in the right way O Children of Adam cloath your selves decently when you shall repair to the Temples eat and drink what pleaseth you be not Prodigal God abhorreth them that spend their wealth unprofitably Say unto them who made the prohibition of decent cloathing when men go to the Temple to worship God Who hath forbidden to eat of the Goods that God hath given you This is lawful for true Believers God shall so expound his Commandments at the Day of Judgment Say unto them God hath forbidden you Whoredom private and publick disobedience injustice desire to adore any other God but him and to speak of his Divine Majesty what you know not every one hath his Predestination and none can advance or retard it O ye Children of Adam did not the Prophets teach you my Commandments Such as shall fear me and do good works shall be delivered from affliction at the Day of Judgment and they that disobey my Commandments that arise against the Faith shall dwell eternally in Hell fire Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth against God and his Commandments Such shall be punished conformably to the Scripture When the Angels of Death shall cause them to die they shall say where be the Idols that you adored instead of God they shall answer that those false Gods have forsaken them and shall acknowledge their Idolatry but God shall say to them enter into Hell with the Men and Devils that are condemned they shall execrate the Sects that preceeded them and being assembled they shall say Lord judge them they seduced us augment their Miseries in Hell. God shall say we will add to their and your pains but you understand it not They shall say among themselves we are not the cause that you were unbelievers you were not such to please us suffer with us the torments that you have merited I will not open the gate of Heaven to such as disobey my Commandments until a Camel pass through the eye of a Needle so will I chastise sinners Hell shall be their Bed Fire shall be their covering and such as shall have done good works according to their Power shall dwell eternally in Paradise I will remove Deceit far from their heart Rivers shall flow in their Fields with delights and they shall say praised be God who hath brought us hither otherwise we had been in the number of the erroneous Certainly the Prophets Gods Messengers taught us the truth in saying the observance of the Commandments of his Divine Majesty should render us Heirs of Paradise Such as shall be saved shall tell the damned that they have found the Grace foretold them of God and we will demand of them if they have not met with the punishment that his Divine Majesty did denounce against them they said aloud Yes and that the Curse of God is upon the unjust that mis-led Men from his Law and they shall be eternally in the number of the miserable Between the blessed and the damned there is a separation and a place called Aaraf or Prisons wherein are many Persons who know the blessed and the damned by their Countenances they call to the blessed and salute them yet they go not into Paradise notwithstanding their great desire to enter When they turn their eyes towards the damned Lord say they involve us not in the number of the unjust Such as are in that place call to the damned they know them by their Visages and say to what served your Riches and that ye arose against the Faith and Commandments of God Behold the faithful whom ye contemned you swore they should be deprived of mercy
am innocent of what ye do There be persons among them that have inclination to hear thee but art thou able to cause the deaf to hear Should they not be deaf they would learn nothing Others there be who look toward thee but art thou able to guide the blind should they see clearly they would not follow the right way God doth no injustice to Men they do injury to themselves through the enormity of their offences I will cause them to rise again at the Day of Judgment as if they had remained but one hour of a day in the Grave they shall know each other and the wicked who have not believed in the Resurrection shall be damned I will shew thee many of them whom I will chastise I will cause thee to die before they be chastised and they all shall appear before me to be judged God is witness of their actions he shall punish them according to their demerits every Nation of the World hath had a Prophet sent from God who hath judged with reason and without injustice the differences that were among them touching Religion They have said at what time shall the wrath of God appear Say unto them I of my self can neither procure good nor evil if God doth not permit it every one hath his destiny when the time of their destiny arriveth they can neither retard or advance it one hour Have ye considered the punishment which God heretofore sent by day and by night against the wicked When ye felt it ye believed it and fell into it headlong It shall be said to the wicked at the Day of Judgment taste eternal torments shall you not be punished according to your demerits They will ask of thee if the pains denounced against the wicked and if the Resurrection be matters of Truth Say unto them yes my Lord is most exact in his words and all the Treasures of the World shall not be able to redeem one Soul. They shall repent of their sins when they shall feel the punishment of their offences but shall be condemned without injustice whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertaineth to God he is exact in his Promise yet the greatest part of the World do not know him He it is who causeth to die and giveth life and shall assemble Men at the Day of Judgment O People God hath sent you instructions and remedies for your infirmities he hath sent a guide to conduct true believers into the way of his mercy it shall be to them of more advantage than the treasures that they accumulate Have ye considered the good things which he hath created for you Ye have appointed one part to be eaten and have prohibited to eat of another Hath God permitted you to blaspheme against him The opinion of such as blaspheme against God shall be but misery at the Day of Judgment God is full of goodness for the people but most of them are ingrateful In whatsoever place thou art whether thou teach what is contained in the Alcoran or whether thou labour I am always present nothing is concealed from thy Lord of whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth be it great or little all is written in the intelligible Book that explaineth all things There needeth no fear for such as recommend themselves to God they shall be exempt from the pains of Hell. The true believers who have his fear before their eyes shall suffer no torments in the other World it is declared to them on Earth that they shall have all content the word of God admits of no alteration they shall enjoy perfection of felicity in Paradise Afflict not thy self for the words of the impious vertue proceedeth from God he understandeth and knoweth all things whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertaineth to him They who worship Idols follow but their opinion and are lyars God hath created the night for repose and the day for labour such as hear his Word find therein marks of his Omnipotency They have said Do ye believe that God hath a Son Praised be God he is most rich and hath no need of any person he possesseth whatsoeever is in Heaven and Earth you have no reason in what ye alledge will you speak of God what ye know not God doth not aid in this World them that blaspheme against him he shall cause them to feel after their death great torments because of their impiety Instruct them in the History of Noah how he spâ—…ke to his People and said O People if my abode with you and the preaching of the Commandments of God be irksom to you know that all my support is in God assemble your Doctors with your Idols and conceal not what ye do go whither you will ye shall find none to protect you if ye contemn my instructions I require not of you a reward for my pains I desire to receive of none other than God the Omnipotent and recommend my self to the will of his Divine Majesty They slandered Noah then did we save him in the Ark and them that were with him we prolonged their posterity on Earth and drowned the wicked consider the end of such as heard the Word of God and contemned it We sent to them other Prophets after Noah they made them to see Miracles and gave them most salutary instructions but they did not believe in what they had no will before to believe Thus I harden the heart of the wicked We after them sent Moses to Pharaoh and his Subjects with our miracles they arose against our Commandments when the truth was preached to them and said it was but Magick and Enchantment Moses said to them Will you say that the Truth is Sorcery God doth not assist Magicians and Sorcerers they said Art thou with thy Brother come to divert us from the Religion of our Fathers and to be esteemed on Earth We will believe in thy words Then Pharaoh commanded to summon the most skilful of his Magicians they being assembled Moses said to them cast down what ye have a will to cast down on the ground having cast down their Cords and Staves Moses said to them know ye none other thing but Magick God shall render it vain and unprofitable he abhoreth such as defile the Earth he confirmeth the Truth through his Word although it be against the will of the wicked Few Men believed in Moses because of their fear to displease Pharaoh and his Ministers Pharaoh was powerful on Earth and in the number of the wicked Moses said O People if ye believe in God resign your selves to his will they answered All our confidence is in God Lord do not thou abandon us to the malice of the unjust deliver us through thy mercy from the hands of Infidels We inspired Moses and his Brother to dwell some time in Egypt with their people and to make Oratories in their Houses therein to make their prayers and preach to true believers Lord said Moses thou hast enriched Pharaoh and
his people in this World they go astray from the way of thy Law confound their riches and harden your hearts they will not believe until they see thy judgments and feel the effect of thy wrath he said I have heard the prayers of you both be faithful in your Embassie and follow not the way of the ignorant We gave passage through the Sea to the Children of Israel Pharaoh pursued them with hatred and envy until his people were drowned Then said Pharaoh believe there is none other God but the God of the Children of Israel and I wholly recommend my self to his Will. Thou dost now believe in God O Pharaoh and wert before disobedient to his Commandments filling the Earth with they enormities I have delivered thee from this peril that thou maist be an example to posterity for many among the people are ignorant of my Omnipotency We gave the Children of Israel to dwell in places full of delights and enriched them with the good things of the Earth they knew the differences that arose among them touching Religion thy Lord shall judge them at the Day of Judgment If thou doubtest what we have taught thee repair to them that have read the Scripture before thee what thy Lord hath taught thee is most true be not thou of them that doubt neither of such as derogate from the Commandments of God thou shalt be in the number of the wretched Those whom God will chastise shall not believe in his Divine Majesty should they behold all the miracles of the World until they see the torments of Hell. The faith is exceeding profitable to the Cities that have received it when the Inhabitants of the City of Ionas embraced it we delivered them from our punishment we delivered them from ignominy and enriched them until the time appointed if it pleased thy Lord all the World should believe in him wilt thou abhor the People until they believe in God No Man can embrace the faith without his permission he sendeth his indignation against them that disobey his Commandments Say unto them Consider all that is in Heaven and Earth miracles and preaching are of no use to such as will not believe shall they expect what their Predecessors expected Say unto them expect I will expect with you I will deliver my Prophets and the true believers from the torments of Hell it is reasonable that I deliver them that obey my Commandments O People who causeth you to doubt of the Law which I teach you I will not worship the Idols that you adore I worship one God alone who shall cause you all to dye I will embrace his Law it commandeth to profess his Unity I am not of them that say he hath a Companion equal to him Adore not what can neither benefit nor hurt thee if thou do it thou shalt be in the number of the unjust If God will afflict thee none can deliver thee from affliction if God will do good to thee none can deprive thee of his grace he hath given it to whom seemeth good to himself he is gracious and merciful O people God teacheth you the truth whosoever shall follow the right way shall save his Soul and whosoever shall go astray shall destroy it I am not your Tutor I do but what is inspired into me I have patience in my perseverance I will expect the judgment of God there is no better Judge than he CHAP. XI The Chapter of Hod containing an hundred twenty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. The signs contained in this Book are most true they proceed from the most wise who knoweth all things Worship ye but one God alone I preach to you from him the torments of Hell and declare the Joys of Paradise that ye may implore pardon of his Divine Majesty and be converted he shall give you an happy Life in the World until the time appointed and shall reward every one according to his works I fear lest you should be chastised at the Day of Judgment if you forsake the right way you all shall be assembled before God to be judged The heart of the impious inclined to hatred of the Prophet and they would have concealed themselves for some time from God they are covered with their garments that they may not be known but God knoweth what is in their Souls he understandeth whatsoever they conceal and whatsoever they make manifest All the Creatures of the World live of his grace he knoweth the place of their repair and the place where they must die all is written in an intelligible Book that explaineth all things He it is that created Heaven and Earth in six days his Throne was before upon the Waters the Alcoran exhorteth you to well-doing If thou saist to the wicked that they shall rise again after their Death they will say it is but Witchcraft and Sorcery if we retard some time to chastise them they say there is no punishment for their crimes but they shall not avoid it in the day when it shall appear and they shall feel the rigour of the pains which they contemn If we confer riches and health on the impious and deprive them of them they despair in their impiety if we give them good after their evil they say misery hath forsaken them they rejoyce and become arrogant Such as are humble and patient in their afflictions and do good works shall obtain pardon of their sins and a very great reward Perhaps thou wilt forget to teach something of what I have inspired into thee and be afflicted because they say that what thou speakest shall bring thee no profit Certainly thou art sent only to reprove them of their sin thy Lord is Omnipotent and shall chastise them after their demerits Assuredly they will say thou hast forged the Alcoran and that it is of thy invention Say unto them Come and bring with you ten Chapters of your invention like to the Alcoran in instruction and eloquence and call to your aid the Idols that ye adore if you be righteous if they hear not your prayers neither afford you succours know then that the Alcoran descended from Heaven through Gods permission and that there is but one sole God will ye not trust in him I will bestow the riches and honours of the Earth on many persons that affect them and in the end they shall be confined in the fire of Hell and the good works that they shall do in this World shall be unprofitable in the other They who observe what God hath ordained study the Alcoran and believe that it proceedeth from his Divine Majesty to teach the right way and to obtain his mercy as before it was the Book of Moses Such as shall believe in the Alcoran shall be happy doubtless the fire of Hell is prepared for the Infidels who will not believe therein but the greatest part of the World is incredulous
another people in your place you do him no harm through your impiety he exactly observeth whatsoever is done in the World. When we destroyed that people we by our especial grace delivered Hod from their malice and all the True Believers that were with him we delivered them from great affliction The people of Aad contemned the Commandments of God and disobeyed his Prophets they followed the will of the obstinate were cursed in this World and shall be acccursed at the Day of Judgment because they disobeyed his Divine Majesty with design to extirpate the people of Hod his Brother We sent Salhe to Temod his Brother and his people he said to them O people worship one God alone he it is who hath created you of the dust of the Earth and filled it with many sorts of Fruits that you might inhabit it beg pardon of him and be converted he hearkeneth to his creatures and heareth their prayers they answered O Salhe it was hoped thou wouldst have been our Captain before the prohibition was made to adore the Gods of our Fathers we exceedingly doubt of what thou preachest O People said Salhe know ye not that God taught me what to you I preach and that he hath given me his grace who shall protect me if I disobey him You can but augment my pain should I believe you O People this Camel which God for you hath created shall be to you a miracle and instruction suffer it to feed and do it no harm lest you be suddenly chastised They through contempt wounded the Camel. Then said he unto them ye shall live in your Houses for the space of three Days before ye be destroyed what is foretold to you is no Fiction when we destroyed them we through our especial grace saved Salhe and the true believers that were with him thunder surprized those Infidels and in the Morning they were found in their Houses dead extended as Carkasses Thus did Temod and his people contemn the Commandments of God to their disadvantage Our Messengers that came to Abraham's House declared to him the Birth of Isaac Iacob and their Posterity they mutually saluted when they entred into his House he caused roasted flesh to be brought to them to eat and perceiving that they did not eat contemned them in himself and was terrified with their coming they said unto him fear not we are sent to Lot to extirpate the Inhabitants of his City Abraham's Wife being present began to laugh when they foretold the Birth of Isaac Iacob and their Posterity she said ah God! shall I bear a Son I who am old and have an Husband extreamly aged this would be a Miracle they answered are ye astonished at the power of God O ye of the Family of Abraham God hath given you his Blessing praise and glory are due to him in all places When Abraham was freed from his fear and they having announced the Birth of his Children he disputed with them a long time touching the Inhabitants of the City of Lot he was of a middle disposition and frequently repeated the Praises of God. The Messengers said unto him O Abraham put an end to thy Questions the hour is come wherein God hath commanded to destroy them they shall undergo inevitable torments When they arrived in Lot's House he was grieved in that he was not able to secure them from the insolence of the people he said behold here a day extreamly difficult to pass The Inhabitants of the City having knowledge of their arrival repaired to Lot's house to continue their filthiness Loâ—… said unto them O people I have two Daughters whom I will give you fear God trouble me not abuse not my Guests is there none among you to shew you your Errour They answered thou well knowest that we have nothing to do with thy Daughters thou knowest what we require he said were I of sufficient power I would dwell in a fortified place to avoid the assaults of your Malice Then said the Messengers of God unto him O Lot we are Angels sent from God those Villains shall not approach thee go this Nighâ—… out of the City with thy Family none shalâ—… look back but thy Wife she shall feel the punishment prepared for the wicked they shall be punished early in the Morning be gone speedily the day approacheth when we destroyed them we turned the City upside down and caused it to rain upon them stones marked with fire to confound them Such chastisement is not far from the Infidels that are in Mecca We sent Chaib into the Countrey of Madian he said O people worship one God alone weigh with good Weights and measure with good measure detain nothing from your Neighbour and defile not the Earth if ye believe in God otherwise I fear you may be punished at the Day of Judgment the little that shall remain shall bring you more of content than all that ye can purloin in weighing with false Weights and measuring with false measure I am not sent to be your Tutor but only to declare the word of God they said O Chiab doth thy Law enjoyn us to abandon the Gods of our Fathers and hinder us to make of our Goods what shall seem good to us thou art not of an Humour good enough to be our Director He said O people see ye not that God hath taught me what I preach He hath given me wealth for subsistence I contradict you in nothing but what is forbidden you I will do nothing but what is reasonable and conform the most I shall be able to Justice my whole support is in God I recommend my self to the Will of his Divine Majesty before which I must one day appear O people take heed lest ye become Criminal if ye forsake the Company of the righteous and lest that befal you that hapned to them who would not believe Noah Hod Salhe and Lot the punishment of God is not far from you beg pardon of him and be converted he is merciful and amiable They said O Chaib we understand not all that thou sayest we see thee amongst us without force and power wert thou not accompanied we would stone thee thou shalt have no Dominion over us He said O people esteem ye my Company and fear ye it more than God Have ye turned the back towards him He knoweth all your actions live after your own manner I will live after mine you shall hereafter know your Errour he whom God will chastise shall remain in perpetual misery you shall soon understand who shall be the Lyar you or I expect the issue I will expect with you when we commanded to destroy them we through our especial Grace preserved Chaib and the true Believers that were with him Thunder surprized those wicked ones and they in the Morning remained dead extended as Carkasses in their Houses Thus were the Inhabitants of Madian chastised like the people of Temod We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his Doctors with Miracles with
Arguments and Reasons most clear and intelligible but those Doctors followed his Will and obeyed his Commandments notwithstanding they were contrary to Reason they shall follow him at the Day of Judgment as they followed him upon Earth that day shall they be accursed and shall find none that shall be able to protect them the punishment of Mecca shall be like to that I relate to thee there be of its Inhabitants who subsist and that do not subsist and are no more we have done them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves and their Idols have been of no use to them but to augment their misery when God hath commanded to destroy them Thus hath God surprized the Inhabitants of Mecca he hath chastised them because they were unjust this shall serve for example to them that fear the Day of Judgment all Men shall there be gathered together all the World shall see it I will retard it until the time appointed that day shall no Man speak without my permission there be that shall be miserable and others who shall be happy the miserable shall dwell in the fire of Hell they shall cry and complain so long as the Earth and the Heavens shall endure and so long as it shall please God who doth as seemeth good to himself The happy shall enjoy Paradise where they shall abide eternally so long as Earth and Heaven shall endure and so long as it shall please God. Dount not what the Unbelievers worship they adore but the Idols which their Faâ—… worshipped assuredly I will chastise them as their Fathers were chastised Moses preached the Old Testament yet did the wicked contradict his Precepts had not God said that he will not punish them untill the Day of Judgment he had already destroyed them because they are in an exceeding great Errour thy Lord shall reward every one according to his works he knoweth all their Actions Observe exactly what hath been commanded you with them that are converted transgress not the Law of God he beholdeth whatsoever you do Incline not to the affections of the unjust lest the fire of Hell surprize you and you be deprived of protection Pray to God Evening and Morning and a part of the Night prayers blot out sins it is the Doctrin of Preachers be patient and persevere God will not deprive the righteous of their reward He prohibited your Predecessours and their Posterity to defile the Earth nevertheless there were few among them that abstained the unjust acted whatsoever pleased them and were guilty before God He shall not destroy Mecca if the Inhabitants thereof obey his Commandments and if it pleased him the whole World should be of one Religion they to whom he giveth his Grace transgress not his Will his Word shall be accomplished and Hell shall be filled with Devils and the wicked of all Nations They have recounted to thee and thou understandest whatsoever things are necessary for them and what the Prophets have heretofore taught thiâ—…e heart hath been strengthened they contain the truth and they shall be for a Lesson to true Believers Say unto Infidels do on your part as ye shall understand we will do on our part as we understand and attend the issue we will attend it with you whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertains to God all Men shall be assembled before him worship him resign your selves to his Will he knoweth whatsoever the people doth CHAP. XII The Chapter of Joseph containing an hundred and thirteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. These signs are the signs of the Book which distinguisheth good from evil We have caused to descend from Heaven the Alcoran written in the Arabick Tongue peradventure ye will learn it I deliver unto thee in the Alcoran one of the best things that I have inspired into thee Thou wert before the coming thereof in the number of the ignorant Remember thou that Ioseph said to his Father My Father I saw in a Dream eleven Stars the Sun and the Moon I saw them adoring me My Son said his Father discover not thy Dream to thy Brothers they will conspire against thee the Devil is an open Enemy to Men thou shalt be elected of the Lord in this World he shall teach thee the explication of Dreams he shall accomplish his Grace upon thee and upon the Lineage of Iacob as he did accomplish it upon thy Fathers Abraham and Isaac the Lord knoweth all things and is most wise The History of Ioseph shall serve for example to Posterity remember thou how his Brothers said our Father loveth our Brother Ioseph more than all us together he is in an exceeding great errour let us kill Ioseph and cast him into some secret place remote from us his absence will render the Face of our Father more gentle toward us after his death we will be converted One of them said you shall not do well to kill him but cast him into the Well some Passengers will take him and carry him into an unknown Countrey They said to their Father Father wherefore dost thou not send Ioseph into the Fields with us we will be very careful he shall sport and recreate himself I fear said he that ye will neglect to preserve him dost thou fear said they that a Wolf should devour him in our Presence and that we want strength to defend him In the Morning they led him with them and cast him into a Well We inspired him to Prophesie to them what should befal them for the mischief they acted but they wanted knowledge to comprehend it they in the Evening returned to their Fathers house with eyes full of dissembled tears and said unto him Father we sported and ran who should run the best Ioseph remained with our Baggage a Wolf came that devoured him thou wilt not believe us although we speak the truth then they shewed him his Shirt which they had sprinkled with Blood it is you that hath done it said he you shall answer before God he is my Protector and was patient without lamenting There past that day a Caravan near to that Well who desiring to draw water to drink let down a Bucket on which Ioseph took hold to get out they gave him Cloathes led him away secretly and sold him at a good rate for ready Money they would not kill him in which they were honest Men. He that bought him in Egypt commanded his Wife to have care of him that he might one day be useful for their Service and be to them instead of a Son. Thus did we establish Ioseph in the Countrey of Egypt and taught him the exposition of Dreams thy Lord is Omnipotent but few Men know him when Ioseph came to the Age of Manhood we gave him knowledge and prudence thus do we reward the righteous His Masters Wife became amorous of his Beauty she one day shut him into her Chamber and solicited him with love
God defend me said he to betray my Master and be unchaste he was in the number of the righteous and fled to the Door his Mistress ran after him and to stay him tore his Shirt through the back She met her Husband behind the Door to whom she said what other thing doth he merit who would dishonour thine house than to be imprisoned and severely chastised Lord said Ioseph she sollicited me that Infant which is in the Cradle and of thy Parentage shall be witness Then the Infant in the Cradle said if Ioseph's Shirt be torn before she hath spoken truth and Ioseph is a Lyar if the Shirt be rent behind Ioseph hath delivered the truth and she a lyar then her Husband beheld Ioseph's Shirt torn behind and knew that it was extream malice and said to Ioseph take heed to thy self and beware this act be not divulged do thou speaking to his Wife implore pardon for thy fault thou art truly guilty The Women of the City said among themselves that the rich Man's wife was amorous of his Slave and that she had sollicited his love and had erred from the right way which she understanding made them an exceeding fair Feast and caused Ioseph to enter the Parlour where they sate while they carved their meat they were so surprized and entangled with Iosephs beauty that they instead of carving their meat cut their fingers O God! said they this is not a Man but an Angel then said she unto them behold him whom I loved with so much Passion she another time importuned him to satisfie her desire and perceiving that he would not condescend to her Will menaced him with the Prison and to make him miserable O God! said Ioseph I had rather be a Prisoner than do what she desireth deliver me from her Malice defend me from inclining to her lubricity and from being in the number of the wicked his Lord heard his Prayer he understandeth and knoweth all things This Woman seeing Ioseph's resolution judged it requisite to imprison him for some time he was put Prisoner with two Men one of which told him that he had dreamed that he prest Grapes to make Wine the other said that he dreamed that he carried Bread upon his head which the Birds did eat they demanded of him the interpretation of their Dreams because he seemed to them to be a good Man he said to them before ye Breakfast I will interpret your Dreams I will first tell you what God hath taught me and how I quit and abandon the Law of Infidels and embrace the Law of our Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob we ought not to worship many Gods such as believe in the Unity of God are endued with his Grace but few Men give him thanks O Prisoners who hath more power Idols or one sole God who is Omnipotent The Gods which ye adore are but Idols whom ye and your Fathers call by such a Name as seemeth good to you ye have no reason to worship them God doth not enjoyn you this he commandeth you to worship him alone this is the right way but the greatest part of the World of this are ignorant O Prisoners the one of you shall give Wine to drink to his Master the other shall be hanged the Birds shall feed on his head the interpretation that ye have required shall be accomplished He besought him that should be saved to remember him when he should be near to his Master but the Devil caused him to lose the remembrance of Ioseph who remained Prisoner the space of nine years At that time the King of Egypt saw in a Dream seven fat Kine which seven lean Kine devoured and seven green ears of Corn with seven dry ears of which he required the interpretation of his Doctors they answered that the Dream was very obscure and that they knew not the interpretation the Prisoner that had been set at liberty said that he would forthwith give the interpretation of the Dream remembred Ioseph and calling him unto him said O righteous Man explain unto us what is the signification of seven fat Kine devoured by seven lean and seven green ears of Corn and as many dry peradventure I shall return to the King and his people and they shall understand the interpretation of this Dream Ioseph said to him ye shall sow the Earth seven years following which shall abound in Fruits preserve your Harvest in the ears and take only what shall be necessary for life after this there shall come seven years barren and unfruitful in which the people shall suffer much The King of Egypt having learned the interpetation of this Dream commanded to call Ioseph the Messenger said unto him O Ioseph return to thy Master and require of him the meaning of the Women who did cut their fingers he hath knowledge of their Malice hath caused them to assemble and demanded of them what was their design when they sollicited thee with love they answered they knew no sin in thee and his Wife confessed the truth saying she had importuned thee but that thou art a very just Man. Ioseph answered by this it appears that I am no Traitor to my Master in his absence God guideth not Traitors I will not say I am a Man without sin the Spirit of Man inclineth to evil except such to whom God had given his particular Grace he is gracious and merciful to whom seemeth good to him The King having talked with Ioseph entred him into the number of his Domesticks and made him super-intendent of his revenues because he knew him to be a Man of Spirit faithful and thrifty We by our especial Grace established Ioseph in the Countrey of Egypt where he did what seemed good to him I deprive not the righteous of their reward on Earth the recompence of the other World is yet greater for them that believe in my Law and have my fear before their eyes The Brethren of Ioseph returned to buy Corn he said to them when ye shall come again bring with you your young Brother by the Father you shall find I will make you good measure and lodge well my Guests if you bring him not there shall be no Corn for you approach not this Kingdom without him They answered Lord his Father loveth him exceedingly nevertheless we shall endeavour to perform what thou enjoynest us he commanded his Servants to put their money for Corn in the bottoms of his Brethrens Sacks perhaps said he they will return or acknowledge this favour when they shall come into their Countrey When they arrived at their Father they said Father there is no more Corn for us if our young Brother go not with us if he go thither we shall have good measure and we will be careful of him You will be careful said he as you were heretofore of your Brother Ioseph God will defend him better than you he is the merciful of the merciful When they poured forth their Corn they found their
it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and teacheth True believers the way of Salvation CHAP. XIII The Chapter of Thunder containing forty three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am the most wise and merciful God. These Precepts are the Precepts of the Book sent to thee from thy Lord it is a thing most true but few Men incline to believe it It is sent from God who raised Heaven without a Prop and with a Column that appeareth and sitteth on his Throne disposing all things He causeth the Sun and Moon to move until the day appointed he disposeth all things at his will and manifesteth to Men the signs of his Omnipotency Peradventure you will believe in the Resurrection of the flesh He it is that hath extended the Earth raised the Mountains caused the Rivers to flow who created of all sorts of Fruits the Male and Female and covereth the Day with the obscurity of the Night These things are signs of his unity to such as consider them He hath created many Fields of divers sorts and Gardens filled with Grapes and many different Fruits he created Date Trees thick as Groves and Forests and others that are scattered through the Fields some are moistened with Waters and others have a more pleasing taste These things are signs of his unity to such as consider them Thou art amazed at the lies of Infidels be astonished at their discourses when they deny the Resurrection and say What shall God yet once again create us of the dust of the Earth When we shall be Earth shall we be a new people They are impious they shall have Oaks upon their Necks and shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell they precipitate themselves into eternal pains and contemn the mercy of God so did their predecessors but God is gracious to such as convert Chastise severely the obstinate Infidels They have said We will not believe in the Prophet unless we see some miracle to appear Say unto them I am not sent but to preach the word of God. He hath sent persons to every Nation to teach them the right way nothing is hid from him in the World he knoweth what Women bear in their Womb he knoweth the time and period of every thing the present past and future he is great and Omnipotent He understandeth what you keep secret and what ye make manifest he knoweth where they be who cover themselves with the obscurity of Night and them that travel in the clearness of Day every one hath his guardian by his commandment who observeth what he doth and depriveth none of grace that hath not offended his Divine Majesty and none can hinder him to punish whom it seemeth good to him He it is who giveth you to see the lightning which terrifieth Men and nourisheth his Creatures by the Rain which he causeth to fall he created the Clouds charged with moysture causeth Thunder to make a noise darteth the Thunderbolt and striketh whom it pleaseth him the Angels tremble in his Presence yet do the wicked dispute his Omnipotency He it is who ought to be implored the prayers of them who implore another God are ineffectual they are like to such as are very thirsty and stretch forth the hand towards a Fountain to which they cannot reach the prayers of the wicked are impiety Whatsoever is in Heaven and in the Earth the shadow of the Morning the obscurity of the Evening humble themselves before God through force or affection Say unto them Who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth but God Who except God shall protect you your Idols can neither benefit nor hurt you Is the blind like unto him that seeth clearly Is darkness like unto light Shall they adore the Creatures instead of the Creator God hath created all things and is Omnipotent he causeth Rain to descend from Heaven and Rivers covered with Foam to flow in the Valleys The Gold the Silver and Metals which ye melt to adorn and enrich your selves are like unto Froth Thus doth God teach what is profitable and what unprofitable Froth suddenly vanisheth and is of no utility to Men So falshood vanisheth before Truth Thus doth God speak through a Parable to them that obey him and giveth them Paradise All the riches of the Earth and as much again cannot ransom the Infidels they shall be eternally tormented in the fire of Hell. Who knoweth that the truth contained in this Book was not sent to thee from God He that doubteth is blind Men of Spirit do not doubt They who satisfie what they promise to God who transgress not his Commandments who have his fear before their eyes who apprehend the Day of Judgment who are patient in their afflictions for love of his Divine Majesty who make their prayers at the time appointed who give alms privately and publickly and blot out their offences with good works shall be blessed They shall enter into the Garden of Eden with their Father their Wives and Families the Angels shall visit them shall salute them and say Behold the recompence of your perseverance behold eternal grace Such as shall swerve from their promise and disobey the Commandments of God and pollute the Earth shall be accursed of God and severely chastised he giveth and depriveth of wealth as seemeth good to him The unbelievers rejoyce in the riches of the Earth but those riches are of little value if they consider them of the other World. They say If Mahomet doth not make some miracle to appear from God we will not believe him Say unto them God guideth and mis-leadeth whom it pleaseth him he confirmeth the hearts of them that have faith in his Law the remembrance of God confirmeth the hearts of True Believers Such as shall do good works shall be happy We have sent thee as we did send other Prophets to them that preceded thee Teach the people what we have inspired into thee When they shall disobey thee say unto them God is my Lord there is but one God alone I am wholly resigned to his Divine Will my refuge is in his goodness If the Alcoran should make Mountains to go should it cause the Earth to open and the Dead to arise all would proceed from God. True Believers ought not to despair of any thing God shall guide all the World into the right way when it shall please him and unbelievers shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Thou shalt dwell with them until the word of God be fulfilled He swerveth not from what he promiseth they derided the Prophets that came before thee I prolonged the time of their punishment and in the end rigorously chastised them and with what afflictions Doth not God behold the actions of every Man They have said God hath Companions to whom they have given names after their fancy will you instruct God in any thing The wicked take delight in their wickedness and are gone astray from the right way He whom
God shall mis-lead shall find none to guide him he shall be afflicted in this World and yet more in the other None shall be able to save him but God Paradise is promised to them that have his fear before their eyes they shall enjoy eternally all manner of content such is the end of the righteous and Hell is prepared for Infidels They to whom we have given the knowledge of Scriptures rejoyce in the Doctrine which we have sent thee there be that abjure one part say unto them I recommend unto you only the worship of one sole God who is the assured refuge of the righteous We have sent the Alcoran in the Arabick tongue to the end the Arabians may comprehend it If thou dost follow the will of unbelievers having had the knowledge of the unity of God who shall be able to save or protect thee We sent Prophets before thee commanded them to marry and they had Children Prophets cannot perform miracles without the permission of God and the end of every thing is written in his Book he blotteth out and leaveth permanent what seemeth good to him he cannot alter I perceive that some of the wicked have a design to murther thee thou art obliged only to preach to them I will keep an account of their sins to punish them See they not that their Countries and possessions diminish daily through thy Conquests God commandeth what pleaseth him no Man can escape his judgments he is most exact in his account their predecessors used subtilties as they but God is more subtile than they he well knoweth the good and evil which every one doth they shall one day understand who must have Paradise They say thou art no Prophet say unto them It is sufficient that God is witness of the truth between you and me who is he that knoweth what is written in the Book of his Divine Majesty CHAP. XIV The Chapter of Abraham containing fifty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. That Book We have sent it to thee to bring the People out of darkness to guide them to the light and the way of thy Lord always victorious and glorious Whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth is Gods misery is upon unbelievers they shall undergo at the end of the World exceeding great torments They who prefer the wealth of this World to that of Heaven who go astray from the way of the Law and would pervert it are in a great error far from truth The Prophets spake the language of them to whom they were sent to instruct them God guideth and mis-leadeth whom to him seemeth good he is Omnipotent and prudent We sent Moses with prodigies to bring the Children of Israel out of darkness and to conduct them to light he taught them the Commandments of the Law to serve for instruction to such as shall persevere to do well and shall not be ingrateful for the favours they have received Moses spake to his people and said Remember the grace of God towards you he delivered you from the Men of Pharaoh who caused you to suffer great afflictions who murthered your Children abused your Wives and laid upon you great evils sent from God because of your sins The Lord hath said if ye be not ingrateful I will augment my graces upon you if ye be impious you shall be afflicted Moses said to his people if you and all Men be impious know that God will be always glorious and hath no need of you Know ye not what befel before you the people of Noah Aad Temod and their Posterity that none had knowledge of but God because of their great number He sent them his Commandments by his Prophets they bit their fingers for anger and said unto them we renounce and condemn your Doctrine The Prophets said unto them is there any doubt in the belief of the unity of God Creator of Heaven and Earth he calleth you to remit your sins and deferreth your punishment until the day appointed They answered Ye are Men like unto us will you hinder us to adore the Gods of our Fathers Produce arguments of strength sufficient to prove what you preach the Prophet replyed We are Men as you are but God giveth his grace to whom seemeth good to him we are come to you through his permission the true believers ought to trust in him wherefore should we not be resigned to the will of God who hath guided us into the right way we will continue in well-doing the righteous trust in his Divine Majesty Then said the Infidels unto them we will banish you from our Country if you be not of our Religion but God inspired into them that the Infidels should perish and that they should inhabit the Land after them that he would protect such as should have his fear before their eyes and fear the pains that are prepared for the wicked The Prophets were protected of God and the obstinate wicked were destroyed they shall be precipitated into Hell and drink of Water full of Corruption Urine and Blood Death shall appear on all sides before their eyes before they have swallowed that Drink they shall not dye in that misery they shall suffer yet greater pains The good works which the wicked have done are like to Dust carried away by an impetuous Wind they shall be unprofitable to them and they shall be extirpated because they depart from the truth See they not that God hath created Heaven and Earth that he can destroy them and create in their place a new people if it seem good to him This is not difficult to God all things are known to him The more impotent of them that have followed the wicked shall say at the Day of Judgment we obeyed you will you this day deliver us from the punishment of God They shall answer had God guided us into the right way we had conducted you thither we are alike miserable with you we cry and lament in our misery but find neither refuge nor protection The Devil shall say unto them what God hath promised to you is infallible I foretold it to you I caused you to transgress his Commandments through my temptations I had none other power over you but to tempt you you did me no harm when ye hearkened to me you drew mischief on your selves I am not your Tutor neither are you mine I was impious when heretofore I suffered you to adore me Hell is prepared for you and for all unbelievers there shall they endure great torments and the righteous shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of blessedness and content Seest thou not how God speaketh by a Parable A good word is like to a good Tree that hath taken Root in the Earth and hath raised its Branches to Heaven and produceth its Fruit in due time through the permission of his Divine Majesty he teacheth the people
convert and do good works Abraham was obedient to God and professed his unity he adored 〈◊〉 Idols and gave thanks to God for his 〈◊〉 God elected and guided him into the right way he gave him wealth in this World and placed him in the other in the number of the blessed We have inspired thee to follow the Law of Abraham he professed the Unity of God and adored not Idols he established the Sabbath among the Iews of which they dispute God shall judge their difference at the Day of Judgment Call the People to the Law of God with prudence and preachings and dispute against them with good arguments God knoweth them that depart from the right way if they evilly intreat you intreat them as they shall inteat you if ye be patient patience is advantagious to them that take it willingly have patience for the love of God and afflict not your selves with the deportments and malice of the wicked God is with the Righteous who have his fear before their eyes CAAP. XVII The Chapter of the Voyage by Night containing an Hundred and eleven Verses written at Mecca Reader The Turks believe that this Night of the Voyage Mahomet ascended into Heaven with the Angel Gabriel He was mounted on a white Burac which is a beast partly Mule partly Ass and partly Horse He saw all the Prophets that preceded him all the wonders of Paradise and saw God who sate on his Throne See Kitab el tenoir Tefslir anf Giauhoir and the Exposition of Gelaldin The Bedaoi intituled this Chapter The Chapter of the Children of Israel IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to him that caused his servant to go in one night from the Temple of Mecca to the Temple of Ierusalem we have blessed that Temple and whatsoever is about it in token of our Omnipotency We gave to Moses the Old Testament to instruct the Children of Israel and to deter them from the worship of any other God but of me to forbid them to adore the Lineage of Noah or the Lineage of them that we preserved in his Ark. Noah is my creature and my servant acknowledging my benefits we prohibited in Scripture the Children of Israel to defile twice the Earth lest they kindled too great a fire when that befel you we stirred up our servants against you and they entred by force into the midst of your houses this was as soon executed as promised In the end we gave you advantage over your Enemies we gave you Wealth and Children to succour you and ye were more numerons than the Infidels the good and the evil that you shall do shall be for your souls We stirred up the wicked against you because of your sins to afflict you through the Murther and Boâ—…dage of your persons and they destroyed the Temple of Ierusalem as they had ruined it the first time Your Lord shall pardon you if you convert we have established Hell for a perpetual Prison of Infidels The Alcoran guideth the Righteous into the right way it declareth to them a great reward preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell and exhorteth men to well-doing although they are inclining to evil and prompt to sin We created the Day and the Night they are two signs of our Omnipotency We caused the Night to pass away and the Day to appear for labour and to the end ye might know the number of Ages of Months and of Years we explained our Mysteries without obscurity and have enjoyned every one to bear the burden of his iniquities at the Day of Judgment that day will make men to see the account of their sins they shall be recompenced and chastised according to the good and the evil that they shall have committed and none shall bear the burden of his Neighbour We sent to the People Prophets and Apostles to preach to them our Commandments before they were chastised before the destruction of a City we advertised the Principal Inhabitants thereof when they disobeyed us we chastised them according to our word and destroyed them How many Cities have we ruined since Noah's 〈◊〉 The sins of the People are known to their Lord he giveth the riches of this world to them that desire them to cause them to fall headlong into Hell where they shall repent of their iniquites and be deprived of mercy He who shall labour to acquire the riches of Heaven shall be protected of thy Lord in this world and enriched with the Treasures of Heaven in the other Consider how we prefer our Creatures one to another the reward of Heaven is much greater than that of the Earth Believe not that there be two Gods otherwise you shall repent of it and be deprived of protection at the day of judgment Thy Lord hath ordained to worship him alone and to honour your father and mother especially in their old age and say nothing to them that may afflict them neither vex them speak to them with respect do not contemn them pray to God to compassionate them as they have pitied you when they brought you up in your infancy God knoweth whatsoever is in your souls he will be merciful to you if ye obey him Give to your parents what appertaineth to them do good to the poor and to pilgrims be not prodigal the prodigal are brethren of the Devil ingrateful for the favours of their Lord. Contemn not the poor if ye desire to obtain the mercy of God speak to them with mildness and endeavour to content them do not entirely shut your hands neither altogether extend them if ye do otherwise ye shall offend Thy Lord giveth and taketh away his graces as â—…meth good to him he knoweth his people and understandeth all their actions Slay not your children for fear of necessity I will give whatsoever shall be necessary for them the murther of children is an exceeding great sin flie whoredom it is a thing unclean kill no man without reason we have commanded to pursue him that shall have slain his neighbour but let not the heir sin maliciously prosecuting the innocent for the guilty The innocent is in Gods protection take not the goods of Orphans and be careful of them until they be in years of discretion satisfie your promises an account shall be required of you measure with good measure and weigh with just weights Busie your selves not with that which you ought not to know There shall be required of you an account of the sins ye have committed in seeing hearing and thinking Be not proud ye shall never be so long as the Earth neither so high as the Mountains such sins are exceeding great before thy Lord It is one part of what he hath inspired into thee to preach to his people Say not there be two Gods lest thou be confined to the fire of Hell. Your Lord hath elected you with all those men and women that obey his Commandments for his sons and daughters as the Angels yet say
the torments of Hell. Remember Mary whose womb I blessed we inspired into her our Spirit and gave her a Son a Miracle in the VVorld Your Law is one onely Law and I am one onely God worship me and be not impious ye all shall appear before me to be judged I will protect the True believers that shall have done good works and will write what they shall do for their reward Misery is upon the Cities that we have ruined their inhabitants shall not return into the World until the passage be opened to Iagog and Magog and they come running from the eminent places of the Earth then shall the Day of Judgment approach the promised Truth shall not be far off it shall trouble the sight of the wicked who shall say O misery We are miserable we did not foresee this disaster we have been exceeding too blame for having offended God. It shall be said unto them Ye worshipped instead of God the firebrands of Hell into which ye shall be cast headlong Had your Idols been Gods as ye believed they should not have entred Hell they and those that have adored them shall be eternally damned they shall groan complain and shall not be heard Such as shall be in Paradise shall be far remote from them they shall not hear their howlings and shall enjoy eternally what they shall desire the crys of the Damned shall not afflict them the Angels shall meet them when they come out of their graves and shall say Behold now the day that was foretold you in the World a Day wherein we will open the Heavens and the Book of the account of all men as we promised to your predecessors We exactly perform what we promise we have written in the Old Testament and afterwards in the Alcoran That the Righteous shall inherit the Earth This Book shall teach the way of Paradise to them that shall worship me We had not sent thee but in favour of men say unto them God hath always inspired into me that your God is one God will ye not obey him If they go astray I have taught you how they must be intreated Say unto them I know not whether the punishment denounced to you shall be speedy or tardy God knoweth what is known and unknown in the World I know not whether he will try you or defer his punishment until the time appointed He is a most just Judg and most merciful he is not such as ye speak him CHAP. XXII The Chapter of Pilgrimage containing Seventy and Seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful O ye People fear God. The Earthquake that shall happen at the Day of Judgment shall be wonderful ye shall that day see Mothers forget their Children and every one shall bear his own burden ye shall see men drunk not with Wine but amazed and astonished at the great judgments of God. There be who dispute of the Deity with ignorance and follow the will of the Devil voluntary and obstinate It is written he shall seduce them that obey him and shall conduct them into Hell. O ye People if ye doubt of the Resurrection consider how we created you of the dust of the Earth with a little Water sprinkled upon the Dust of the Earth with congealed blood and a little flesh intirely and not intirely formed I form in the wombs of Women what seemeth good to me at the time appointed I cause you to come forth Children then I give you life and make you to arrive to the Age of Virility some die young and others live to extremiry of Age to the end they may learn to live well Consider the Earth dry dead and barren when we shall cause Rain to fall it shall change the face shall produce and nourish its fruits of all sorts fair and pleasing Because God is truth it self he raiseth again the dead and is Omnipotent There is no doubt but the Day of Judgment approacheth and that God will cause the dead to rise again There be men that dispute of God without knowledg without reason without authority and go astray from the way of his Law they shall be full of ignominy and shame in this World and shall feel in the other the pains of Hell. God doth no injustice to his People There be who who adore him with scruple if good befal them they persevere to adore him if evil they return to their impiety and lose the riches of Earth and the riches of Heaven These two losses are exceeding great they invoke Idols instead of God they invoke what can neither benefit nor hurt them Such prayers are by-ways far remote from the Commandments of God they worship that which doth rather mischief nor advantage them Certainly God shall make the True-believers that do good works to enter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers he doth what seemeth good to him He that is angry that God giveth succor and protection to Mahomet in this World and in the other let him tye a Cord to a Beam of his House and hang himself he shall see if his choller will be allayed God hath sent the Alcoran as heretofore he sent the other Scriptures it containeth his Commandments clear and intelligible it guideth into the right way whom it pleaseth him He at the Day of Judgment shall judg the differences that are between the Faithful and Infidels between the Samaritans the Christians and Idolaters he is Omniscient Seest thou not that all that is in Heaven and on Earth the Sun the Moon the Stars the Mountains Trees and Beasts adore him Many worship him with zeal but many likewise merit to be punished None shall esteem him whom God shall despise he doth as seemeth good to him These two contrary parties the Believers and the Infidels have disputed of the Deity but the Infidels shall be encompassed with flames of Hell they shall have Shirts of Fire boyling Water shall flow in upon their Heads the Fire shall burn what is in their Bellies and shall roast their Skin they shall be beaten with Clubs of Iron when they think to go out of this Fire they shall enter further into it and be eternally tormented God shall cause the True-believers that have done good works to go into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers they shall be adorned with Bracelets of Gold and Pearls they shall be clothed with Silk and enjoy Eternal felicity because they have professed his Unity and the Infidels shall suffer great torments for that they have hindred the People to imbrace the Faith and visit the Temple of Mecca which God hath established to be therein adored of all the World He that shall be sollicited to visit it and shall enter it with design to return to his impiety shall be severely punished Remember that we shewed to Abraham the place to build the Temple of Mecca that we commanded him to adore me alone and to purge my Temple from Idols for the satisfaction of them
Seest thou not how he assembleth the clouds how he placeth them one upon another Considerest thou not how the rain falleth through their pores and that God causeth fresh water to descend from the mountains He hath given it to whom seemeth good to him he causeth the brightness of lightning to approach men which blindeth their sight and over whelmeth the day with night These things are signs of his omnipotency to them that consider them He created of a little water all sorts of living Creatures some creep upon the Earth others walk upon two feet and others upon four he created what pleased him he is omnipotent Certainly he hath senâ—… a Law clear and intelligible to conduct into the right way whom it shall seem good to him The Infidels say We believe in God and his Prophet nevertheless a party among them abandon his Law and believe not in his divine Majesty When they are called before God and before the Prophet to judge their differences many among them refuse to come if they come it is with contempt They are greatly afflicted at heart do they fear that God and his Prophet will do them injustice On the contrary they themselves are unjust When the True believers are called before God and the Prophet to be judged they say We have heard and obeyed they are not ignorant Those that shall obey God and his Prophet shall be blessed Many swear to fight gallantly for the Faith when they shall be commanded to march against the enemy say unto them Swear not your obedience to the Prophet shall be preferred to your oaths God knoweth whatsoever ye do say unto them Obey God and his Prophet if they be disobedient they shall bear their burden and ye shall bear your own if ye obey ye shall follow the right way The Prophet is obliged onely to preach intelligibly God promiseth to the True believers that shall do good works that they shall live long upon Earth as he promised to them that were before them that they might establish the Law that he gave them he shall change their fear into assurance he shall deliver them from terror that they may adore him alone without Companion He that is wicked will depart from the obedience which he oweth to God Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and obey the Prophet God shall give you his mercy Believe not that the Infidels are more powerful on Earth than we they shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell. O ye that are True believers your Slaves and your Servants of free-condition shall require leave of you to enter where ye shall be thrice viz. Before the Prayer at break of Day after Noon and after Supper they shall not offend in entring without leave where ye shall be at another time they enter there to serve you In this manner doth God teach you his Commandments he knoweth the humor of his Creatures and is most prudent in all that he ordaineth It is ordained to your Children when they shall be at age of discretion to demand of you permission to do what they shall desire as did your Predecessors Thus doth God teach you his Commandments he is gracious and merciful The old and decrepit Women shall not offend God to quit their vails and discover their faces provided it be without vanity and design to shew their Ornaments If they abstain they shall do well God heareth whatsoever ye say and knoweth all that is in your hearts The Blind the Lame the Sick and you also shall not sin to eat in the House of your Children at the House of your Father and Mother Brothers Sisters Uncles Aunts Friends and in the House of your Servants ye shall not offend God if ye eat together or apart When ye shall enter into any House salute each other from God with blessing and affection Thus doth God teach you his Commandments peradventure you will learn them When those that believed in God and his Prophet repaired to the Prophet they retired not without his permission Such as required leave to depart believe in God and his Prophet if they require leave of thee for any business licence whom shall seem good to thee and pray to God for them he is gracious and merciful Call not the Prophet as ye call one another among you God knoweth such as shamefully depart out of the Temple and the Trench Such as disobey his Commandments ought to take heed lest some mischief befal them and that they suffer not great torments Whatsoever is in the Heavens or on Earth is Gods he knoweth if ye are zealous in your faith or be hypocrites he knoweth the Day wherein all the World shall be assembled before him to be judged In that day shall men see what they have done he knoweth all things CHAP. XXV The Chapter of the Alcoran containing Seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praised be he that sent the Alcoran to his Servant to instruct the World he is King of the Heavens and Earth he hath no Son nor Companion in his Reign he created and ordained every thing The Infidels worship Gods that can create nothing and are things created they can neither do them good nor evil they can give neither Life nor Death neither cause them to rise again They say that the Alcoran is but a fable of thine invention invented with the assistance of some other Person but they lye and blaspheme They say that it is but an old Song and a fable of the Ancients that thou writest and that thou studiest Morning and Evening Say unto them It was sent by him that knoweth all things in Heaven and Earth altogether gracious and merciful They said Who is this Prophet He eateth Bread and Meat and walketh through the streets we will not believe him unless that an Angel descend from Heaven to preach to us with him unless that Angel enrich him and that he have a Garden full of good and savory fruits he is but a Wizard or one possessed of the Devil Consider to what they compare thee certainly they are in error and cannot find the right way Praise and bless him that is able to bestow on thee a greater good when it shall seem good to thee to wit Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and Houses of pleasure They have denyed the certainty of Universal Judgment and we have prepared the Fire of Hell to punish them wrath shall carry them away with terrible crys when they shall behold the place of the assembly of Judgment when they shall there appear they shall be desperate and shall cry O misery Cry not O misery cry O miseries in the Plural Ask of them which is better and more advantageous that or Paradise which is prepared for the recompence of the righteous where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of felicity this is it that God hath promised and that which was impetrated of
History containing Fourscore and Eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is most Pure he understandeth all things and is most Wise. These mysteries are the mysteries of the Book that distinguisheth the Truth from a Lye. I relate to thee the history of Moses and of Pharoah with Truth for the contentment of True believers Pharoah was powerful on Earth he entreated his Subjects as seemed good to him he tormented one party and murthered their Children he abused their Wives and was of them that defiled the Earth I gave my Grace to them that were afflicted on Earth I made them successors of Pharoah's Kingdom I established them in his Dominions I made Pharoah Haman and their Army to see what they most feared we said to the Mother of Moses give suck to thy Child if thou fearest that they will mischief him cast him upon Nile fear not neither afflict thy self I will restore him to thee between thine Arms and place him in the number of Prophets The domestiques of Pharoah found him upon the Water and saved him to be one day their enemy and to torment them because Pharoah Haman and their People were Infidels Pharoah's wife said unto him I entreat thee not to suffer this Infant to be slain mine eyes rejoyce to see him he shall one day be profitable for our service as our Son but they were ignorant of what should befal them the Heart of his Mother was freed from fear when she behold him in the hands of Pharorh's wife and scarce could she refrain to let them know that she was his Mother we caused her to have patience and she had faith in our promises she spake to his sister to follow him step by step she followed afar off without intimation that she was his sister or that she regarded him We had before prohibited Moses to suck the milk of any other nurse than that of his mother his sister said to Pharoah's servant will ye that I provide you a nurse and people that shall carefully nourish him We caused him to be restored to his mother to nurse him she ceased from her sadness when she knew and saw that God was sincere in what he had promised but the greatest part of the people know it not When Moses was aged about thirty three years we gave him knowledg and wisdom thus do I reward the righteous Moses entring one day into the City met two men that fought the one was of the Children of Israel and the other was an Egyptian and of his enemies whom he assaulted and slew after this he said the Devil tempted me he is the open enemy of men Lord I have offended thee pardon me he pardoned him he is gracious and merciful Lord since thou hast been so gracious to me I will never give aid or succour to Infidels He contined in the City with fear and kept himself upon his guard on the morrow he again met him whom the day before he had defended who fought likewise with another Egyptian and required his assistance Moses said unto him Thou art seditious he replyed oh Moses wilt thou slay me as thou didst slay him yesterday Wilt thou be a murtherer of all men or a just man Not long after a man came in hast to him from the utmost part of the City who said unto him oh Moses the Officers of Pharoah have conspired against thee they desire to put thee to death save thy self and follow my counsel He departed from the City with fear keeping himself upon his guard beseeching his Lord to deliver him from the hands of Infidels he went towards Madian and said Lord suffer me not to follow an evil way He met a great number of persons that made their flocks to drink he with them found two maids that could not water their Cattel he said unto them what do ye two do here We have not strength to draw water to give our beasts to drink we tarry for the Shepherd our father is too old to draw it He drew water out of the well to water their Cattel and withdrew to a shade because of the heat of the Sun saying Lord I am deprived of all the graces which heretofore thou didst confer on me I am now poor and necessitous One of those maidens came to seek him and bashfully said unto him My father calleth thee to recompence thee for the pains thou hast taken in watering our cattel When he was in the old mans presence he related what had befaln him The old man said Fear nothing I will deliver thee from the hands of the wicked one of his daughters said to her sister Give to this man to eat and reward his pains he assisted us with affection their Father said unto him I will marry thee to one of my two daughters on condition that thou wilt have a care of my flocks the space of eight years ten years if it please thee said Moses I will not forsake thee thou shalt find me an honest man I will serve thee the two terms either eight or ten years as shall seem good to thee God is witness of what I say After the term expired Moses forsook the house of his father in law withdrawing with his wife he beheld afar off a great fire on the side of the mountain and said to his wife tarry here I see the fire of the Omnipotent I will speedily return I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed when he drew near to this fire they cried unto him from the right side of the valley from an eminent place and from a bush Oh Moses I am God Lord of the Universe cast thy staff on the ground when he beheld his staff to move as it had been alive he fled for fear and returned no more O Moses draw near and fear not thou art in a place of safety put thine hand into thy pocket it shall come out white and shining without harm draw back thine arm into thy sleeve it shall return to its former condition thy staff and thine hand shall be two signs of my Omnipotency to Pharoah and his Ministers who disobey my Commandments Moses said Lord I have slain an Egyptian I am afraid they will take away my life command Aaron who is eloquent to go with me to aid me and to confirm what I shall say I fear they will traduce me I will give thee thy brother for thine assistant I will give to you both strength to defend your selves from their malice go do what is commanded you ye shall be victorious and all those that shall follow you when Moses came to Pharoah he made him to see my miracles and preached my Commandments to his Ministers they said this is but magick and witchcraft we have not heard these things to have been spoken to our predecessors Moses said the Lord knoweth him that teacheth the right way and him that ought to have part in Paradise Infidels shall be
most miserable Pharoah said to his Ministers do ye know any other God but me O Hâ—…min let me offer sacrifices and build a Temple shall I deceive my self with the God of Mâ—…ses I believe him to be in the number of lyars He became proud on earth with his Ministers and they believed that they should never be assembled 〈◊〉 me to be judged we surprized him with his people and caused him to perish in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of unbelievers we abandoned them and they are in the number of the condemned to the fire of hell They shall find none to protect them at the day of Judgment we cursed them on earth and at the day of the Resurrection they shall be abominable to all the world We taught Moses our Commandments after the destruction of many Infidels before his coming We gave him the Book to be a light to the people to conduct them into the right way and acquire our grace peradventure they will remember Thou wert not with Moses when we spake to him to him we created another age after him thou didst not at that time dwell with the Inhabitants of Madian neither didst thou teach them our Commandments it is we that have instructed thee in the History of past ages thou wert not on the mountain when we spake to Moses we sent thee through our special grace to preach to men the torments of hell they have not yet had a preacher like unto thee perhaps they will consider it when they felt any punishment for their sins they said Lord hadst thou sent us an Apostle to instruct us we should have obeyed thy Commandments and have believed in thy Law and when on our part they were instructed in the Truth they said doth Mahomet work miracles like Moses Do they not traduce what Moses did when they say that Moses and Mahomet are two apparent Sorcerers and when they said that they believed neither Prophet nor Scripture Say unto them bring any book from God that better teacheth the right way than the Old Testament and more savingly than the Alcoran I will follow it if ye speak the truth If they be not heard when they shall require this book know that they follow only their own appetites and their impiety who is more erroneous than he that followeth but his own passion and is not guided of God He guideth not Infidels Certainly we have sent them the Alcoran peradventure they will believe in it they to whom we heretofore sent this Book believe in the contents thereof when they hear it read they say we believe in those words it is the very Truth that proceedeth from God we believe in the Unity of his Divine Majesty they shall be doubly rewarded because they have persevered in well-doing they have overcome evil through their good deeds and have expended in good works part of the Wealth that we gave them When they heard the Faith evil spoken of they withdrew themselves took leave of the company and said Ye shall answer for your selves and we for our actions Regard not the ignorant thou shalt not convert all them that thou shalt desire to convert God converteth and guideth into the right way whom he pleaseth and knoweth such as serve him They said if I follow with thee the right way I must forsake my Country Shall not I establish them in a place of safety where they shall find all sorts of fruits to enrich them But the greatest part of the People know it not How many Cities have we destroyed that took pleasure in their evil life No man inhabited them any more except very few and we became heirs of their riches God shall not destroy Mecca until he have sent an Apostle to instruct the Inhabitants thereof in the right way God destroyeth not a City if the Inhabitants be not unjust and disobey not his Commandments the Wealth of this World which ye possess pleaseth you but the Riches of Heaven are much better and eternal will ye not understand it Have we not kept promise with them to whom we promised Paradise And with them to whom we promised the Riches of this World and in the end were in the number of the damned Be thou mindful of the day when thy Lord shall call them and say unto them where are your Idols which ye believed to be my Companions The chief of them shall say Lord behold those that were seduced like us we are innocent of their Idolatry they adored not us they shall speak that day to the Idolaters to invoke their Idols but they shall not hear them they shall be visibly chastised on Earth Be thou mindful of the day when thy Lord shall call them and say unto them Wherefore have ye not believed my Apostles and my Prophets They shall be confounded and remain dumb He that shall be converted and do good works shall be happy Thy Lord createth what pleaseth him and maketh choice of what seemeth to him good Praised be God he hath no Companion he knoweth what is in the hearts of men and what they make manifest he is God there is no God but he praise is due to him in the beginning and in the end he commandeth over all things and all People shall one day be assembled before him to be judged say unto them Had God given a continual Night even until the Day of Judgment what other God is there that is able to give you light Will ye not hear me Had God given you a continual Day until the Day of Judgment what other God could have given the Night to refresh you Will ye not consider his benefits and his grace He hath created the Night for repose and the Day for Labour peradventure ye will give him thanks Be thou mindful of the Day when thy Lord shall call the Infidels and shall say unto them where are the Idols that ye worshipped We will call a witness of every Nation and will say to the Idolaters Bring your arguments that may prove the Plurality of Gods Ye shall this day know your Blasphemies and that there is but one God. Caron was of the People of Moses he was proud because of his riches we gave so great treasures that many men were burthened when they conveyed away the Keyes Remember how his People said unto him Rejoyce not above measure in thy great wealth God abhorreth them that rejoyce without reason beg of him Paradise with thy Riches forget not to do good in this World give alms of the substance which God hath given thee be not disobedient to him on Earth he abhorreth those that disobey him these Riches were given thee because thou didst instruct the People in the Old Testament knowest thou not that God destroyed in times past many rich and opulent persons Who is more strong more powerful more rich than God He will not enquire of the wicked the number of their sins he knoweth all and the accompt Caron one daâ—… went forth
into publick with all his 〈◊〉 they that affected the wealth of this World said Would to God we had as much wealth as 〈◊〉 he is happy but the more knowing among them said Ye are unhappy the grace of God is more advantageous to them that believe in his Law and do good works than all the Treasures of â—…ron none shall receive his grace but such as shall obey him and persevere in 〈◊〉 to his Commandments We deprived Caron of all his Treasures and none was able to 〈◊〉 him against us then they that had 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 said oh Miracle God giveth to and 〈◊〉 of wealth whom to him seemeth good 〈◊〉 not God given us his Grace we had been 〈◊〉 cerâ—… the wicked shall be miserable I will bestow Paradise on them that hate Vanity and disorder upon the Earth and shall have my fear before their eyes whosoever shall do good shall find good who doth evil shall be chastised after his demerits He that hath taught thee the Alcoran shall cause thee to return to the place that thou desirest Tell the inhabitants of that place that God knoweth them that teach the right way and such as go astray Thou didst not expect the Alcoran it is a special grace of thy Lord assist not the Infidels and take heed lest they seduce thee after having learnt what hath been taught thee preach to the People the Unity of God be not in the number of them that believe many Deities adore God alone there is no God but he all things shall have an end except his Face he commandeth over every thing and all men shall one day appear before him to be judged CHAP. XXIX The Chapter of the Spider containing Sixty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am God most Wise. Men have believed that it is sufficient to say We believe in God and that they be not proved Certainly God proved their Predecessors and knew such as were zealous in his Law and them that were Infidels Do they who have done evil think to escape the punishment of their Crimes and not to be judged Such as hope to see God shall behold him at the time appointed by his divine Majesty he understandeth and knoweth all things He that fighteth for the faith fighteth for his soul certainly God hath no need of men their sins shall be pardoned who shall believe in his divine Majesty and shall do good works We enjoyned the children of Israel to honour their father and mother and to do good to them if they press thee to worship many Gods thou shalt be damned if thou give ear to them obey them not in this matter ye shall be assembled before me I will set before you all that ye have done I will reward you according to your works and place such as shall have observed my Law in the number of the blessed There be men who affirm that they believe in God and are impatient when evil befalleth them from God to prove them If God give victory to the True believers they say that they are on their side but doth not God know what is in their heart He knoweth them that believe in his Law and those that are impious The Infidels said to the True believers do like us follow our way we will bear your sins They will not bear them they are lyars they shall bear their own burdens shall not an account of their sins be required of them at the day of Judgment We sent Noah to instruct men he lived upon the Earth nine hundred and fifty years The Flood surprized and destroyed the people of his time because they were unjust and we saved Noah and those that were with him in the Ark this ought to serve for example to all the world Remember Abraham who said to his people Adore one God and fear him ye shall do well if ye have knowledge to comprehend it ye worship but Idols and are but lyars those whom ye worship cannot benefit you implore succor of God worship him and give him thanks for his graces ye shall one day appear before him if ye traduce me those that were before you traduced the Prophets Gods Messengers Messengers are obliged only to discharge their message are ye ignorant that God causeth men to dye and shall raise them again it is a thing easie to God Walk through the Earth and consider how God hath extirpated your predecessors and created after them another people certainly he is omnipotent He punisheth and pardoneth as he seeth good you all shall one day be assembled before him to be judged you shall not render him impotent either in Earth or in the Heavens ye shall find none of power to protect or defend you against his divine Majesty such as obey not his Commandments who believe not the resurrection and despair of his mercy shall suffer great torments The people answered kill Abraham and burn him but God delivered him from the fire that they had kindled which shall serve for example to True believers He said unto them ye adore only Idols because of your love to the wealth of the world ye shall despise and curse each other at the day of Judgment Hell shall be your habitation and ye shall be deprived of protection Lot believed in his words and said I will retire to the place which my Lord shall appoint me he alone is omnipotent and most wise We gave to Abraham two sons Isaac and Iacob we caused Prophets to be be born of his race and taught his progeny the Scripture we rewarded him in this world and he shall be at the day of judgment in the number of the blessed Remember Lot who said to his people Ye defile your selves with filthiness unknown to any before you ye incline to the love of men ye rob upon the high ways and defile one another This people answered Let us see the judgments of God if what thou speakest be true Then he said Lord protect me against unbelievers When our Messengers came towards Abraham to declare to him that he should have children they said unto him We will ruine Lots City and destroy all the inhabitants thereof because they are impious Abraham answered Lot dwelleth in that City they said We know all that is within it and we will preserve him with all his family except his wife she shall be in the number of them that shall be punished When our Messengers arived at Lots house he was troubled in that he had not strength sufficient to defend them from the malice of the people they said unto him Fear nothing neither afflict thy self We will preserve thee and all thy family except thy wife she shall abide among them that shall be destroyed we will cause the indignation of God to fall upon this City because of their impiety it shall serve for example to posterity We sent Chaib ro his brethren the inhabitants of Madian he said unto them Worship
causeth the barren earth to revive and grow green after its death in like manner will he cause you to arise again and come out of your sepulchres it is a sign of his Omnipotency to have created you of earth to have given you flesh and bones and to have created the woman of the rib of the man to dwell with him he hath commanded you to love mutually and to exercise charity among you these things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that consider his graces The creation of heaven and earth the diversity of tongues the differences of your visages and of your colour the night created for repose and the day for travel the lightning that terrifieth the people and which through raâ—…n causeth the earth again to flourish are signs of his Omnipotency It is a token of his Omnipotency to sustain the heaven and the earth ye shall come out of your sepulchers when he shall call you whatsoever is in heaven and earth obey him he causeth men to die and to rise again he alone is God in heaven and earth he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He speaketh to you in a parable drawn from your selves your slaves are they your companions do they equally partake with you in the goods which God hath given you How then will ye say that God hath a companion equal to him Thus do I unfold his mysteries to persons that have knowledg to 〈◊〉 them certainly the wicked have followed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with ignorance who shall guide him whom God 〈◊〉 cause to err he shall find no protector embrace the law of Salvation God hath established it that men may observe it It admitteth no alteration but the greatest part of the world are ignorant of it Fear God make your prayers at the time appointed be not like to them that say God hath a companion neither like to them that are at present in the number of Heretiques and were before as ye are every Sect is pleased in its opinions when any evil befalleth them that call upon God and are converted nevertheless some of them return to their Idolatry after the reception of his grace they are ingrateful They shall awhile be tolertaed and in the end they shall too late understand their error Have we taught them reasons and arguments that prove that I have a companion The People rejoyced when we enlarged to them our Graces and became desperate when evil befel them see they not that I give and take away Wealth as to me seemeth good This is a token of my Unity to such as obey my Commandments Give to your Neighbour what appertaineth to him and particularly to the poor and true believers if ye desire to see the Face of God such as shall do it shall be blessed The Money which ye put to Usury encreaseth in the hands of men God shall not suffer it to prosper the Alms which ye give shall make you to see the Face of his Divine Majesty and shall be doubly restored to you God hath created you he enricheth you and causeth you to die and rise again can your Idols do as much Praised be God he hath no companion disorder appeared in the Earth and in the Sea because of the iniquities of men peradventure they will be converted when they shall feel the punishment of their Crimes say unto them Go throughout the Earth and consider the end of your Predecessors the greatest part of them were Idolaters embrace the true Law before the Day cometh when none shall be heard that Day shall the wicked be separated from the good the impious shall give an account of their impiety and such as shall have lived well shall enjoy the joys of Paradise the Grace of God shall be their recompence God abhorreth Infidels It is a sign of his Omnipotency to send the Winds to bring you Rain and make you to taste the Fruits of his Grace the Ship runneth upon the Water through his permission for the advantage of your commerce will ye not be thankful to him for his benefits We sent to every Nation Prophets and Apostles before thee they came with most intelligible Precepts and with many Miracles we chastised those that slandred them and protected the faithful God sendeth the winds that elevate the Clouds and extendeth them in the Air in many pieces at his pleasure he causeth the Rain to fall where he listeth and rejoyceth whom to him seemeth good of them that expect it with impatience consider the effects of his bounty he causeth the dry and barren Earth to flourish again and restoreth the Dead to Life he is Omnipotent We sent the Winds to assemble the Clouds that covered Men with their shadow nevertheless they are returned to their impiety the dead shall not understand thee neither likewise the dumb thou art not obliged to lead the Blind none shall hearken to thee but such as shall believe in my Law and be obedient Say unto them God created you impotent he hath given you strength and after having reduced you to the weakness of Old age doth what to him seemeth good he knoweth mens secrets and doth what pleaseth him the wicked shall swear at the Day of Judgment that they have remained but an hour in their sepulchres they lye in like manner when they deny the Resurrection the True Believers that know the Truth shall say unto them Ye have remained there the time appointed in the Book of God to wit until the Day of Resurrection behold the Day of Resurrection ye knew not at what time it should arrive this day excuses shall be unprofitable to Infidels they shall be deprived of protection We have taught in the Alcoran all that is profitable for the Salvation of Men if thou teachest them my Commandments unbelievers will say Thou bringest nothing but disorder thus God hardneth the hearts of the ignorant Be patient and persevere what God promiseth is infallible beware lest unbelievers shake thy perseverance CHAP. XXXI The Chapter of Locman containing Thirty Four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful I am the most Wise God. These Precepts are the Precepts of the Book filled with Doctrine it guideth into the way of Salvation the Righteous who make their prayers at the time appointed that pay Tithes and believe in the Day of Judgment they are guided by their Lord and shall be blessed There be who deride this Book they ignorantly depart from the Law of God and have despised it but shall one day be severely punished When they are taught the Commandments of God they turn the back with disdain they will not hear and have Ears stopped say unto them You shall in the end suffer infinite pains Such as believe in the Law of God and do good works shall eternally enjoy the Delights of Paradise what God promiseth is infallible he is Omnipotent and altogether wise he created the Heaven and sustaineth it without a Pillar appearing to your Eyes he lifted
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
Companions equal to him they shall repent of their sins when they shall see their punishment we will lay Chains upon their Necks and they shall be chastised after their demerits The chief Inhahitants of the Cities said to the Prophets that we sent to them to preach the torments of Hell that they believe not their words We have said they more riches and more Children than those that believe in their discourse we shall not be damned as they affirm say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away Riches as seemeth good to him but the greatest part of the People know it not your wealth and your children shall not give you access to God such as shall perform good works shall be rewarded and shall live eternally in the delights of Paradise they that shall endeavour to suppress our Law shall be cast headlong into the Fire of Hell Say unto them My Lord giveth and taketh away Wealth as to him seemeth good he maketh vain the alms which ye shall give if ye observe not his Law he is the Rich of the Rich Be thou mindful of the day when I shall assemble the Idolaters and shall say to the Angels Behold them who have adored you they shall say praised be God thou alone art our master and protector they adored not us they worshipped the Devil the greatest part of them believed in his word this day they are not able to benefit or hurt one another they will say to the unjust taste the torments of Hell Fire which ye would not believe They said when thou didst preach unto them our Commandments this man would hinder us to worship the gods of our fathers he is a Blasphemer They have said That the Alcoran is but Sorcery and Magick and read not the books that we have sent unto them Their predecessors did like them they traduced our Apostles and hindred them to preach the tenth part of what we had inspired into them they traduced them but how were they chastised Say unto them I preach to you to pray to God two by two or alone or in company ye shall know one day that your friend Mahomet is not possessed of the Devil and that he preacheth to you the pains of Hell I require no reward of you for mine exhortations God shall reward me he seeth all Say unto them God teacheth his Prophet the Truth and what is to come the truth appeared and falshood was discovered and the lyars were deprived of his mercy if I wilfully go astray or if I act what God hath enjoyned me this shall be for my Soul God heareth and is present at all things Thou shalt see the Infidels filled with fear and affrighted when they shall come out of their sepulchres they shall not escape the punishment of their incredulity they shall then say That they believe in the Alcoran but I will shew to them from far the Law which they have despised in the World they shall be precipitated with their ignorance into a place remote from mercy and pardon They shall be separated from the True believers because they have doubted the Commandments of the Law of God. CHAP. XXXV The Chapter of the Creator containing Forty and five Verses written at Mecca This Chapter is intituled the Chapter of Angels in the Book Tefsir anf Joahir which treateth of the Exposition of the Alcoran in Turkish IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to God Creator of Heaven and Earth who created the Angels the Messengers of his Commandments they have wings two three and four he maketh of his Creature what seemeth good to him he is Omnipotent none can comprehend the Grace that he hath given to his People it is incomprehensible he is Omnipotent and most Wise. Oh People remember the grace of God Is there a Creator beside him He enricheth you with the riches of Heaven and Earth there is no God beside him How can the wicked Blaspheme against his Divine Majesty If they traduce thee certainly they traduced the Prophets that were sent before thee they shall be one day assembled before God to be judged Oh ye People what God hath promised is infallible glory not in the wealth of the Earth beware lest the Devil seduce you and render you proud because that God doth a while defer the punishment of your crimes The Devil is your Enemy be ye his Enemies he leadeth them that follow him into the Fire of Hell where they shall suffer the rigors of infinite pains their sins shall be remitted that believe in God and do good works Oftentimes he that delighteth â—…o what he doth doth believeth he doth well God misleadeth and guideth whom it pleaseth him be not unwilling to depart from the wicked God knoweth all their actions He sendeth the Winds that drive the Clâ—…uds unto barren and drie places to refreâ—…h thâ—… 〈◊〉 and cause it to revive after its death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manner will he raise again the Dead He thaâ—… 〈◊〉 greatness shall find in God all manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good speeches ascend even to his 〈◊〉 Majesty and our good works are â—…ptable to him Such as conspire against the 〈◊〉 shall endure great torments and their 〈◊〉 become vain and unprofitable God hath created you of dust and mire he created 〈◊〉 men and women the Woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but through his permission no man can either prolong or shorten his life but following what is written in the Book kept in Heaven these things are easie to God. Those two Seas are not like to Euphrates whose water is sweet and pleasant to drink the Water of the Sea is cold and salt nevertheless ye eat of the Fish of the one and the other Ye Fish out of the Sea Gems to adom you you see the Ship to run upon the Waters and cleave the waves for the advantage of your commerce peradventure you will return thanks to God for his graces He causeth the Night to enter into the Day and the Day into the Night he created the Sun and the Moon that run in the Heaven till the Day appointed That God who created these things is your Lord the Empire of the World is his the Idols that ye worship have no more power than the skin of an Almand if ye invoke them they shall not hear you they shall deny you at the Day of Judgment and are not of power to let you know either the joys of Paradise or the torments of Hell. Oh ye People ye are poor and necessitous ye have need of Gods assistance and God hath no want of you praise is due to him in every place he will destroy you if it seem good to him and create another new People in your place none shall bear the burden of another be it never so light or heavy no not when they are near of kin Preach thou the torments of Hell to such as fear their Lord without seeing him and make their prayers at the time appoâ—…d He that
Apostles of God obey them that require no reward from you for the pains which they take in teaching you and who are in the right way Wherefore shall not I worship him that created me and before whom ye all shall be assembled to be judged Will ye worship another beside him If it be his will to chastise me your Idols cannot save me I should be extremely erroneous should I believe in your Gods hear and understand what I say unto you Nevertheless they slew him and said unto him Go enter into Paradise He said in dying would to God this people knew the graces that his Divine Majesty hath conferred on me he placed me in the number of the blessed After his death we did not send Angels from Heaven to chastise the wicked I will send them but once to destroy them they shall one day be dumb for shame that they have not followed the True-believers and of being mocked by them that I sent to preach unto them my Commandments Will they not consider how much people we have destroyed in times past who are not returned and that shall be one day assembled before me to be judged The Earth dry dead and barren as a sign of my omnipotency for the wicked we made it revive and become green again and to bring forth fruits with which they were satiate we there created Gardens Date-trees and Vines we caused Fountains to flow they eat of the fruits which are not the works of their hands will they not acknowledg the works of their Lord Praise is due to him that created the male and the female of all Plants that the Earth produceth who created man and woman and many other things of which they have no knowledg It is a sign of my omnipotency to separate the day from the night and to make the Sun to run to his appointed place We have appointed to the Moon her Signs she goeth and cometh always through her old way the Sun neither hastneth nor retardeth his course at any time neither doth joyn himself by night to the Moon the night cometh not until the end of the day And all to wit the Moon the Sun and the Stars exalt my glory in the Heaven It is a mark of mine omnipotency to have born their fathers upon the waters in the Ark and to have given them vessels like the Ark to bear them had it pleased me I had caused them to be drowned without succor and salvation I saved them through my special grace until the time appointed The wicked despise the signs of Gods omnipotency and scoffed when they were required to fear the wrath of his Divine Majesty present and to come and that their iniquities shall be forgiven them When it was said unto them Give alms of the wealth that God hath given you they answered shall I give him to eat to whom God shall give bread when it shall please him They are in a very great error They will enquire of you when the day of Judgment shall be and if ye believe it tell them that they must expect but one sole voice that shall surprize them they shall quarrel they shall not be able to make their Testament neither return to see their Parents in the end they shall go out of their Sepulchres and present themselves before God when the Trumpet shall sound Then shall they say we are most miserable to have departed from our graves behold what God hath promised us The Prophets spake to us the Truth viz. That the world ought to expect but one voice This day shall all men be assembled before their Lord no injustice shall be done to any person and every one shall be rewarded and chastised after his works Such as shall go into Paradise shall be in exceeding great repose with all manner of contentment they and their wives shall be safe from all evils lying on delicious beds they shall have all sorts of fruits and whatsoever they shall desire they shall be saluted on the behalf of the Lord gracious and merciful God shall say to the wicked at the day of Judgment Depart ye this day from the company of the good did I not forbid you to worship the Devil your open enemy but to worship me alone and that it was the right way Did I not tell you that the Devil seduced a multitude of the people Ye would not believe it behold Hell that is prepared for you through your incredulity I will shut their mouth their hand shall speak and their feet shall be witnesses of their crimes If we will we can make the Infidels blind they shall find no way they shall not be able to go or come and shall be succoured of none had it been our pleasure we could have transformed them in their houses and they had not been able to go forth I will cast their head against the ground and will render them infamous whose life I shall prolong and they shall not know their errors We have not made them to understand the Mysteries of the Alcoran but that was not necessary it is but to preach to the living who comprehend what is spoken to them it is most true that the wicked shall be punished See they not that we alone have created all the Beasts of the Earth over which they command We have made them subject to them Some serve them to ride on and others for their nourishment will they be ingrateful Nevertheless they have worshipped Idols they adored what could not deliver them from the pains of Hell. Afflict not thy self at their discourse I know whatsoever they say and all that they keep secret in their souls Doth not man consider 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him of dust And that he is too arrogant God hath taught us how he formed his Creatures nevertheless the wicked have said who is he that can give life to bones that are rotten Say unto them he it is that created you at first and that knoweth what he created he maketh fire to come out of the green woods which ye burn and created the Heaven and the Earth cannot he create other creatures like unto you Yes without doubt he createth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is praised be he to whom all things appertain and before whom you all shall return to be judged CHAP. XXXVII The Chapter of Orders containing Fourscore Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Orders of Angels that worship God and attend his commands by them that hinder men to obey the Devil and by them that read and meditate on the Alcoran that your God is one sole God Lord of the Heaven and the Earth and of all that is between them he is Lord of the West and of the East We adorned the Heaven and the Earth with Planets and have kept them safe from the malice of the Devils they cannot hear what is
true believers They shall say had God guided me into the right way I had had his fear before mine eyes When they shall see hell they shall say could I return into the world I would be in the number of the righteous on the contrary my Commandments were taught you but ye became proud and despised them Thou shalt see that day how the visages of Infidels shall be blackned is there not a place in hell prepared for the proud God loveth and putteth into a place of felicitie them that fear him they shall not be touched either with displeasure or affliction God hath created all things and disposeth all at his pleasure he hath in his power the keyes of heaven and earth such as disobey him are damned Say unto them oh ignorant men will ye enjoyn me to worship another god besides God It hath been preached to you and your predecessors that all your good works shall be unprofitable if ye adore many gods and that you shall be in the number of the damned there is but one God worship him and be mindful of his graces The Infidels have not praised God as he ought to be praised they have no knowledg of his power he shall make the earth to tremble and gather together the heavens by rhe strength of his right hand at the day of Judgment praised be God he hath no companion When the Trumpet shall sound the first time he shall cause to die whom he will have to die in the heavens and earth the second time all the world shall rise again and attend his Commandments the earth shall be full of the light of the Lord thereof he shall bring his book wherein shall be written what the Prophets and Martyrs have taught he shall judge the world with equity and shall not do injustice to any every one shall be rewarded and chastised for his works he knoweth all that they have done he shall send the Infidels into the fire of hell in troops when they shall be arrived at the gate it shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold Hell which ye have merited were there not Prophets and Apostles to teach you the Commandments of God and to preach unto you on Earth the coming of this rigorous day They shall say yes but the word of God shall be accomplished against the wicked It shall be said unto them go enter into Hell ye shall abide there eternally it is the habitation of the proud Such as shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be conducted in troops to the gate of Paradise the gate shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold what ye have gained the peace of God is with you ye have not been ignorant enter into Paradise ye shall dwell therein eternally They shall say praised be God for that we believed in his Law and because we are heirs of his grace we will go into Paradise into what place shall seem good to us God giveth his blessing to the righteous Thou shalt see the Angels about the Throne of thy Lord who shall praise and exalt his glory they shall say God hath judged his creatures with equity praise is due to the Lord of the Universe CHAP. XL. The Chapter of the True believer containing Eighty five Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituleth this Chapter Of the Pitiful IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful God is prudent and wise This Book is sent by the Omnipotent who knoweth all things who pardoneth sins and accepteth the conversion of his creatures he is severe in his chastisements and indulgent to his People there is no God but he and all the World shall one day be assembled before his Divine Majesty to be judged No man disputeth against the Precepts of the Alcoran but the wicked be not thou discontented if they live on Earth with some felicity the People of Noah's time contemned his instructions their Posterity did like them and every Nation hath conspired the death of them whom God sent to instruct them they disputed to obscure the truth through their lyes but they were punished and after what manner So is the Word of God accomplished against the wicked they all shall be damned The Angels that are about the Throne of God and those that bear him praise and exalt his Divine Majesty they believe in his Unity and beg pardon of him for the True believers Lord thy mercy extendeth through the whole World nothing is hid from thee either in Heaven or Earth pardon their sins that convert and embrace thy holy Law deliver them from the Fire of Hell open to them the gate of the Gardens of Eden which thou hast prepared for them their Fathers Wives and Children and them of their Lineage that shall do good works thou art Omnipotent and wise Depart from sin he that shall depart from it shall resent the effect of God's mercy at the Day of Judgment and shall enjoy eternal felicity the Infidels shall be hated of God his hatred is infinitely more dangerous than yours will ye be Infidels after being called to the observation of the Law of Salvation They said Lord wilt thou cause us to die twice And shall we twice rise again But they shall say at the day of Judgment Lord we confess we have offended thee we acknowledg our sin in having renounced the belief of thine Unity shall we never go out of Hell to observe thy Law and follow the way of Salvation No ye shall suffer in the Fire of Hell because that ye have believed them that adored Idols and because ye have said that God hath companions equal to him All things obey one sole God Omnipotent he it is that made you to see his Miracles and sendeth you the riches of Heaven and Earth none consider it but such as are converted Pray to God and observe his Law although it be against the will of the wicked he elevateth his Creatures to what degree he listeth he hath created his Throne and sent his inspirations to whom he seeth good to preach the Day of Judgment that Day shall the People come out of their Monuments and none shall be able to hide himself from his Divine Majesty Who shall command that day It shall be God alone victorious that day shall he recompence every one after his works without injustice he is exact to make account If thou preach to the wicked the Day of Judgment their heart will lift them up and they shall be full of affliction their prayers shall not be heard and none shall intercede for them God knoweth them that have eyes of treachery and seeth all that is in the hearts of men he judgeth of every thing with truth the Idols which they worship are without power God alone understandeth all things and is Omnipotent Consider they not what was the end of their predecessors Who were more powerful and more wealthy than they God surprised them in
knowledg of the truth are without reason their arguments shall be vain with God they shall be the object of his wrath and shall suffer exceeding great pains God hath sent the Alcoran with truth and ballance he will not instruct thee when the day of Judgment shall be Such as have no faith in him ask when it shall come and they that believe him fear the coming thereof and know it to be infallible such as doubt are erroneous from the right way God is merciful to his people and enricheth whom he pleaseth he is strong and omnipotent he increaseth the graces of him that desireth the riches of Heaven he giveth the wealth of the Earth to them that affect it and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Religion prohibited of God God hath not revealed it to them had he not deferred their punishment until the day of Judgment he had already destroyed them they shall in the end feel grievous torments ye shall see them fear their own deportments ye shall see them chastised after their demerits and the believers that do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise where they shall find whatsoever they shall desire this is the great grace of God this is that which he hath proclaimed to the faithful that believed and have done good works Say unto them I require none other recompence for the pains that I take in preaching to you than to love my kindred he that shall do any good work shall be rewarded God is merciful and good works are pleasing to him Will they say that thou hast blasphemed against God If it please God he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse or will imprint patience in thine heart he abolisheth lyes and confirmeth the truth through his words he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men he accepteth the conversion of his Creatures he pardoneth their sins and knoweth all their actions he heareth the prayers of the faithful that do good works and augmenteth his grace upon them but Infidels shall undergo the rigors of eternal pains Had God equally enriched all his Creatures they had been in confusion upon earth he enricheth whom he pleaseth he seeth and knoweth all he sendeth rain when men despair of his grace he is the Protector of believers and praise is due to him eternally the Creation of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that moveth between them is a sign of thine Omnipotency If evil befal you believe that ye have deserved it nevertheless he pardoneth you many things ye cannot escape his punishment on earth and none is able to protect you against him the vessel that runneth upon the water big as a mountain is a token of his Omnipotency to them that persevere in his Law and acknowledg his graces He shall reprove the wicked for their sins and shall pardon many They that dispute against his Commandments cannot escape their punishment the riches that we possess are the riches of the earth the riches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him are eternal They that depart from mortal sins that repent to have committed them that beg of God to be heard and persevere in their supplications they that take counsel and consult among them what they ought to do that employ in good works part of the wealth that God hath given them that implore his help in their afflictions such as do good and such as commit evil shall be recompensed and punished according to their works God abhorreth Infidels ye have no power over them that implore his assistance in their affliction and repent your power extendeth over them that do injustice to the people and disobey on earth the Commandments of his divine Majesty they shall suffer great torments Such as persevere in well-doing and pardon their neighbour do what God hath Commanded He whom God shall mislead shall find none to guide him Thou shalt see that the Infidels shall ask if they may return into the world when they shall behold the fire of hell thou shalt see them flie with extream fear of external ignominy they shall look awry upon hell and the believers shall see that the wicked that have lost their souls that have mislead their family and all the impious shall be eternally damned none shall be able to save them and he that God shall mislead shall not find the right way Say unto them beg pardon of God before the day come that ye shall find no way to return into the world nor excuse for your sins If they disobey thee we have not sent thee to be their Tutor thou art sent only to preach unto them When we give to man any prosperity he rejoyceth and when affliction befalleth him he is ingrateful for the graâ—…e of his Lord King of the heavens and 〈◊〉 God giveth children sons and daughrers to whom he pleaseth he knoweth all things and is omnipotent he speaketh not to man but by inspiration and parable without being seen he sendeth his Prophets and Apostles into whom he inspireth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things and is omnipotent Thus have we sent thee our spirit to teach thee our Commandments thou knowest not before what was written in the Alcoran neither thy mysteries of faith we have sent it to thee to be a light to the world I will guide into the way of Salvation whom I please I will guide him into the way of the Lord to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth and who disposeth of all things CHAP. XLIII The Chapter of Ornament containng Eighty and nine Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituled this Chapter The Chapter of Gold. IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is prudent and wise I swear by the Book that teacheth to do well that we have sent it in the Arabique tongue peradventure ye shall understand the Alcoran it is written in our original Book majestique and mysterious Shall I conceal from you the Book of Salvation if ye be wicked How many Prophets and Apostles have we sent in past Ages whom unbelievers have despised We destroyed the most powerful among them and all have incurred the pain of their predecessors If thou ask of them who created Heaven and Earth they will say that it is the Omnipotent who knoweth all things Who hath extended the Earth under you Who established the wayes to guide you It is God he causeth the rain to descend from Heaven in your necessity he maketh the dead dry and barren fields to revive in like manner shall the dead come out of their Sepulchers He it is that created whatsoever is in the world of divers kinds and species and created the Ships and beast to carry you Remember the grace of your Lord say praised be he that created for us these things we had not the power to create them They also shall return before the Lord to be judged The Infidels have divided God
graces of them that obey his Commandments and fortifieth them in their perseverance Shall the Infidels tarry until the day of Judgment surprizeth them The signs of that day hath already appeared that day shall repentance be in vain There is no God but God implore from him parden of thy sin and for these men and women that believe in his Law he knoweth what they do day and night If the Chapter of the place where Justice is rendred had not been sent and had not made mention of Combats thou hadst not seen them that doubt of the Law look upon thee with eyes troubled because of their fears of dying Teach them obedience and speak to them with civility Had they believed and obeyed when they were appointed to fight they had performed a good work Have ye disobeyed Have ye abandoned the Law of God to defile the Earth and to deprive your selves of his mercy God rendreth them whom he curseth and who comprehend not the truth of the Alcoran deaf and blind Have they a firm heart Such as have returned to their impiety after having known the right way were tempted of the Devil and particularly when they told the Infidels that they would obey them in any thing God knoweth all their secrets what will become of them when the Angels shall cause them to die they shall beat them before and behind because they have incurred the wrath of God and despised his Commandments their good works shall be unprofitable think they that God will never make manifest their malice If thou wilt I will make it appear thou shalt know them by their countenance thou shalt discover them by their voice and speech Say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shall prove you to discover the believers and the unbelievers The wicked who hinder the people to follow the way of Salvation that contradict the Prophet after they have had knowledg of the Law of God hurt not his Divine Majesty their actions are vain and unprofitable Oh ye that believe obey God and his Prophet and render not your good works ineffectual through disobedience he pardoneth not the wicked who seduce the people from the way of Salvation and die in their impiety Be not faint-hearted and flothful ye shall be victorious God is with you He will not deprive you of reward the life of this world is but foolish pastime and delusion if ye believe in God and have his fear before your eyes he will recompence you for your good works he requireth not an account of your riches if he do require it of you it is to hinder you to be avaricious and to banish usury from among them that believe in his Law Oh people ye are commanded to make some expence for the love of God He that shall be a niggard and avaricious in this occurrence shall be avaricious and a niggard to himself God is rich and ye are poor if ye despise his Law he will create in your place other persons that shall not do like you CHAP. XLVIII The Chapter of Conquest containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca This is the Chapter Of the taking of the City of Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful We have given thee a manifest victory God pardoneth the sin that thou didst commit when thou wert too prompt and when thou wert too tardy to fight for his Law he shall accomplish his grace upon thee he shall guide thee into the right way and shall powerfully protect thee he hath delivered the hearts of the believers from fear to augment their faith he disposeth the forces of the Heavens and Earth he knoweth all and is most prudent He shall make them that shall obey his Commandments to dwell in Gardens wherein flow many rivers and shall remit to them their offences this is supreme felicity The Infidels the wicked the disobedient and unjust that have evil thoughts of God shall be accursed of his Divine Majesty misery shall always pursue them and his wrath be eternally upon them he hath prepared for them the pains of Hell. God disposeth the powers of the Heavens and Earth he is omnipotent and wise We have sent thee to be witness of the deportments of those of thy Nation to proclaim to them the joys of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of Hell to the end they may believe in God and in his Prophet that they may praise him honour him and exalt his glory evening and morning Such as shall obey thee obey God the hand of God is stronger than the hand of men he that shall sin shall offend against his own soul and he that performed what he hath promised to God shall have an exceeding great reward Such of the Arabians as have no inclination to follow thee say thou imployest our wealth and persons to go with thee implore therefore pardon of God for us but they speak not with the mouth what they have in the heart Say unto them who but God is able to do ought for you if it be his will to bring good or evil upon you he is omnipotent and knoweth all that you do Ye believed that the Prophet and True believers should be slain when they fought for the Law of God ye believed that they should never return to their houses This opinion rejoiced your heart but you were deceived and were your selves destroyed with them that believed not in God nor his Prophets God hath prepared the fire of Hell for Infidels the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth appertaineth to him he punisheth and chastiseth whom he listeth he is gracious and merciful When ye shall go to the spoil such as refused before to follow you to the fight will say Permit us to go with you they would pervert the Word of God. Say unto them Ye shall not follow us in this occasion God hath not heretofore ordained it they will reply Certainly ye are envious against us on the contrary they understand not the Law of God except very few among them Say to the Arabians that refused to follow thee Ye shall be called to fight against miserable men ye shall fight them nevertheless they shall still be obedient to God if ye obey and fight for the Faith he will largely reward you if ye desert his service as heretofore ye have done he shall severely chastise you The blind the lame and the sick are not obliged to go to the war. He that shall obey God and his Prophet shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many rivers and he that shall disobey Gods Commandments shall be punished for his disobedience God accepted their action that repaired to thee under the tree he knew what they had in their hearts he confirmed their steps and gave them victory he is omnipotent and wise God had promised you great spoil he gave it you and delivered you from the hands of the people this shall serve for a sign of his omnipotency to the true believers
form which ye know not we caused the soul to enter into the body if ye consider not this think upon your tillage do ye make the earth to bring forth fruits or do I cause them to spring forth If I will I can render your fields drie as straw without grain nevertheless are ye proud Ye say what shall our grain that we have sown be lost No we will preserve it Consider the water that ye drink have ye made it to fall from the Clouds or did we cause it to descend if we please we can render it so salt that ye shall not be able to drink it if ye acknowledg not this grace consider the fire that ye kindle did ye create the wood that burneth We created it to put you in mind of the fire of Hell and for the profit of the people Exalt the name of God most mighty I swear by him that maketh the Stars to fall this is a great oath if ye understand it that the Alcoran is a book worthy of praise all therein is written in good order no person shall handle it that is not clean and purified it is sent from God Lord of the Universe If ye renounce what is written in this book ye shall be in the number of Infidels and shall know the truth when the soul shall forsake your body I know this better than you but ye do not consider it if ye believe not to rise again cause your soul to return into your body when it shall be upon your lips when a righteous man dyeth he shall find rest and all manner of contentment in the delights of Paradise if he be of them that hold the book of the account of their works in the right hand and shall be free from eternal pains If he be in the number of Infidels and seduced he shall be precipitated into hell this is a most certain truth Exalt the name of thy Lord Omnipotent CHAP. LVII The Chapter of Iron containing twenty nine Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful All that is in the heavens and earth exalteth the glory of God he is omnipotent and wise the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth is his he giveth life and death to whom he pleaseth he is without beginning and without end he knoweth all that men make manifest and whatsoever they keep secret he knoweth all things He it is that created the earth and the heavens in six days and â—…itteth on his throne he knoweth whatsoever entreth into the earth and all that cometh out he knoweth whatsoever descendeth from heaven and whatsoever ascendeth he is with you in whatsoever place ye are and seeth all your actions the Kingdom of the heavens and earth is his and all things obey him He maketh the night to enter the day and knoweth what is in the heart of men Believe in God and his Prophet expend in pious works some part of the wealth that he hath given you he shall give you more Do good abundantly to them that believe in his Law wherefore will ye not believe in God and his Apostle who teacheth you the Commandments of your Lord Ye have promised him to embrace his Law he hath inspired his Commandments into his servant to bring you out of darkness and guide you into light he is gracious and merciful Who hindreth you to make any expence for his glory The inheritance of the heavens and earth is his Such as for his service have expended any thing before the taking of Mecca are not equal in merit to them that fought to conquer that City they are far above them that fought not and shall be protected of his divine Majesty he promiseth Paradise to the righteous and knoweth all your actions Who is he that shall lend to him any alms he shall encrease his substance and give a great reward Be thou mindful of the day when thou shalt see those men and women that have obeyed my Commandments with a light that shall go before them it shall be said to them this day it is declared to you that you shall enter into and dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and where ye shall find supreme felicity Be thou mindful of the day that the wicked shall say to the True believers Behold us cast your eye to our side that we may partake a little of your light They shall say unto them Return upon your steps to demand light There is a place betwixt them that hath a secret gate full of grace and repâ—…se for the righteous and without environed with misery for the wicked they shall call upon the righteous and say Were not we of your Religion they shall reply Yes but ye betrayed your souls through disobedience ye doubted of the Law of God your blasphemies rendred you insolent until the hour of your death the Devil made you proud and moved you to rise against the Commandments of his divine Majesty this day there is neither ransome nor favour for you the fire of hell is the habitation of the wicked Oh what an habitation Such as believe in God think it no trouble to humble their hearts at the remembrance of the Alcoran and the truth that it containeth they are not like them that heretofore had the knowledg of the written Law they have been a long time without Prophets their hearts are hardned and the greatest part of them have been impious Know that God restoreth life to the earth after the death thereof we have taught you the mysteries of faith peradventure ye will comprehend them God shall multiply the benefits that the righteous shall lend to him and shall return them a great reward Such as believe in God and his Prophet are righteous Martyrs shall be recompenced of God they shall be covered with light and the wicked that disobey his Commandments shall be damned eternally the life of this world is but vanity sport and delusion it is but pride the abundance of wealth and children is like to the rain the wicked wonder at the plants that it produceth in the end they wither become yellow and then are altogether dry the impious shall suffer great torments and the good shall enjoy the mercy of God the life of this world is but matter of pride implore pardon of God Paradise large as heaven and earth is prepared for them that shall believe in his divine Majesty and his Prophet this is an immense grace which he conferreth on whom he pleaseth All the evil that ye suffer on earth in your goods and persons is written in a Book before it befal you it is an easie thing to God to the end that ye afflict not your selves extraordinarily in your displeasures and that ye rejoyce not over-much in your contentments God loveth not the proud he hath not to do with the covetous who recommend avarice to the People and who neglect their duty Praise is due to him praise is due to him in all places certainly
from his Service such as shall forsake it shall be in the number of the damned give alms of the Wealth that he hath given you before the Hour of your Death arrive then shall the wicked say Lord if thou hadst not so soon caused me to die I had embraced thy Law God retardeth not the day of any one when the Hour is come he knoweth all that ye do CHAP. LXIV The Chapter of Deceit containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise God whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he is King of all things Praise is due to him he is Omnipotent he it is that hath created you some observe his Commandments and others are unbelievers he beholdeth all your actions He created the Heavens and the Earth he formed you and ye shall be one day assembled before him to be judged he knoweth all that is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth your secrets and what ye publish he is not ignorant of what is in the hearts of men Have ye not heard what did heretofore befal the wicked They were punished they died in their misery and in the end shall suffer grievous torments because God hath sent them Prophets to instruct them and they said What! shall a man like our selves teach us the right way They despised them and forsook the Law of God he hath not to do with them neither hath he need of the World praise is due to him in all places do the wicked believe that they shall not rise again Contrariwise God shall make them to revive and shall declare to them all that they have done this thing is easie to his Divine Majesty Believe in God his Prophet and the light that he hath sent you he knoweth all your actions Remember thou the day when he shall Summon all to Judgment this shall be the Day of Deceit they shall be known that have deceived themselves and those that have deluded their Neighbours That day their sins shall be pardoned that shall have believed in his unity and have done good works they shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many Rivers the Infidels that despise his Commandments shall be precipitated into Hell where they shall burn eternally No evil befalleth you but through God's permission he giveth patience to him that believeth in his Divine Majesty and knoweth all Obey God and his Prophet if ye obey him not know that the Prophet of God is obliged only to preach the truth of Faith there is but one God all True believers resign themselves to his Divine Will. O ye that believe ye have Children and Wives that are your enemies beware of their malice if ye pardon them if ye depart from them God shall be to you gracious and merciful Wealth and Children do often hinder you to obey God but know that he rewardeth abundantly the Righteous fear him with all your power hearken to his Commandments obey him give alms he that is not avaricious shall be blessed if ye lend any thing to God he shall cause it to multiply he shall pardon your sins he accepteth the acknowledgment of his benefits and is most merciful He knoweth what is present past and future he is Omnipotent and Wise. CHAP. LXV The Chapter of Divorce containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Oh Prophet when you repudiate them following the Ordinances and Laws and reckon the time that they ought to tarry before they marry again Fear God your Lord cause them not to depart their houses neither expel them before the time appointed if they be not taken in Adultery such are the Ordinances of God he that shall trangress them shall do injury to himself peradventure God will enjoyn something concerning them of which ye are ignorant When the time that they ought to tarry shall be finished retain or dismiss them with civility ye shall take persons of your Religion honest men that shall be witnesses of your Actions depose with truth what ye have seen it is so appointed to them that believe in God and the day of Judgment God shall deliver from affliction him that shall have his fear before his eyes and shall enrich him when he least thinks of it he that shall trust in him shall not be deceived he doth what he pleaseth and hath appointed a prefixed time to every thing If the Women hope no more to have their three months and doubt that they are misreckoned they shall tarry three months before they marry again if they be not Nurses if they be with Child ye shall abstain till their delivery whosoever feareth God rejoiceth in the observance of his Commandments What is above is ordained of God he shall pardon their sins that have his fear before their eyes and give them an exceeding great reward Cause them that ye repudiate to dwell in your houses or near to you abuse them not if they be with Child allow them what shall be necessary for them until they shall be delivered if they desire to nurse their Children ye shall give them an honest salary and entreat them with civility and curtesie if ye like not this ye shall cause them to be nursed by another whose pains ye shall reward If ye be not wealthy you shall allow according to your power God doth not enjoyn any one to expend more than his ability permitteth he shall give you good after evil how many have been the Cities that have heretofore disobeyed the Commandments of God and of his Prophets We have kept an exact account of their sins their Inhabitants have been chastised and shall be in the end in the number of the damned God hath prepared for them grievous torments Oh ye that are wise fear God he hath sent you the Alcoran he hath sent you a Prophet to teach you the mysteries of his Law to lead you out of darkness and to guide into light them that shall believe in him and do good works He shall open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of content God! He it is that created the seven Heavens and as much of Earth and ordaineth among them what pleaseth him to the end ye may know that he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things CHAP. LXVI The Chapter of Prohibition containing Twelve Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Oh Prophet prohibit not for the contentment of thy wives to do that which God hath permitted thee he is gracions and merciful he hath appointed to do what is permitted by your Law he is your Lord is Omniscient and most Wise. When the Prophet went to visit one of his wives God revealed to him what she desired to say to him he approved one part and rejected the other when he told his Wife what was in her will to speak to him she demanded of him who had revealed it to him he that
will put upon their noses a mark of shame and igâ—…ominy we have tried them as Gardeners when â—…hey have resolved in the evening to cut off the morâ—…ing followng some fruits of their garden for â—…heir refection and have not said if it please God By night while they slept God sent fire â—…nto their gardens that consumed them in the morning they called each other and said Come â—…o put order to your garden if ye desire to gaâ—…her the fruits they believed the poor would enâ—…er they ran to drive them away and found their â—…ruits black and their gardens blasted Then they â—…aid We are seduced we are sinners one of them â—…aid that it was requisite to praise God then they â—…aid Praised be God we are great sinners they â—…pproached each other and complained among â—…hemselves they said misery is upon us we were â—…n a great error peradventure God will give us â—…ereafter more than the value of what we have lost we must beg his grace thus God chastiseth on earth whom he pleaseth but the torments of the other world are much more grievous They that have â—…his fear before their eyes shall dwell in gardens full of delights Shall I entreat the good like the wicked How can ye judg it have ye a book wherein you read what pleaseth you have we promised to you any content at the day of Judgment Shall you have that day what ye have promised to your selves Ask of them who will be surety for their belief will their Idols and companions be their surety Let them cause them to come if they be true Be thou mindful of the day when sins shall be detected and the wicked shall be commanded to worship God but they shall not be able to behold him their eyes shall be troubled with fear and their sight covered with shame They are enjoyned in the world to worship his divine Majesty but they refuse to perform it I will punish them by little and little when they shall least think of it I will defer the punishments of their crimes because my wrath is strong Dosâ—… thou demand of men any reeompence for thy preaching are they charged with any expence Have they in their power the book wherein is the future to write therein what they affirm Attend the Judgment of thy Lord and be not like him that was swallowed of the Whale He invoked his Lord in his affliction if his Lord had not sent him his grace he should never have come upon earth when he repented of his sin his Lord pardoned and placed him in the number of the righteous The unbelievers labour to shake thee througâ—… their looks and that through envy they affirm that thou art possessed of the Devil when the hear thee read the Alcoran It was not sent but tâ—… instruct the world CHAP. LXIX The Chapter of Verification containing Fifty two Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituleth this The Chapter of Iudgment because that day all shall be verified IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Verification approacheth Verification approacheth God hath not told thee in what time shall be the day of Verification Temod and Aad would not believe him that preached to them the day of affliction and sorrow but Temod was destroyed by an extraordinary noise and Aad by an impetuous wind that God sent against them Seven nights and eight days together they were overthrown stretched out like Palms faln upon the Earth Did any one among them save himself Pharaoh and his predecessors with the Inhabitants of the Cities that were overthrown because of their sins disobeyed the Prophets and Apostles of God and were rudely chastised We preserved you in Noah's Ark when the waters swelled to serve for example of our Omnipotency to them that saw it and to such as shall hear it mentioned Be thou mindful of the day when the Angel shall sound the Trumpet when the Earth shall lift it self up and the Mountains tremble then what must come to pass shall come to pass Heaven with Weakness shall open and the Angel that shall bear the Throne of God shall be upon the border of the Heaven Then shall Eight Angels present the books wherein shall be written the sins of Men and nothing shall be concealed Such as shall take in the right hand the Book of the account of their actions shall say We find what we believed to be true we know with certain knowledg the coming of this day and the felicity of Life is in Paradise It shall be said to them Eat and drink of the good things of Paradise at your pleasure They that shall take the Book of account of their actions in their left Hand shall say Would to God that this Book had been lost I know not what is this account would to God that I had been eternally buried in the Earth the Riches Authority and Treasures of the World are to me unprofitable It shall be said to the Devils Take them bind them and throw them headlong in to Hell put Chains seventy Cubits long upon their arms and cast them into fire they would not believe in the Unity of God the Omnipotent they have eaten the Bread of the Poor they are this day without protection and want Bread and shall find nothing but the pains of Hell prepared for the wicked I swear Although ye see and although ye do not see the Alcoran it is the word of the Prophet the Apostle of God it is not the word of a Poet but few persons will believe it It is not the word of one that is wicked but few men remember it it is sent from God Lord of the Universe The Infidels say Oh Prophet if thou speak we will not hear thee thy speech shall not enter into our hearts Say unto them There is none among you able to deliver you from the punishment of your crimes the Alcoran instructeth in the way of Salvation them that believe in his Divine Majesty I know that there are Lyars among you whom God shall put into the number of Infidels The Alcoran is truth it self Praised be the Name of God Omnipotent and Majestick CHAP. LXX The Chapter of the Ascent containing Forty four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Some persons have demanded when shall be the Day of Judgment and in what time the wicked shall be chastised None but God is able to deliver men from the torments of Hell he is Lord of the way that ascendeth to Heaven the Angels and Spirits shall ascend towards him at the Day of Judgment that day shall seem to the wicked to endure Fifty thousand years expect with patience the wicked imagine they are far from that day but thou shalt see it speedily that day shall the Heaven resemble dissolved Metal the Mountains shall be like to carded Wool which bendeth downwards none shall ask his Neighbour who he is and they shall look one upon another the unbelievers shall desire to redeem
of God gracious and merciful What do the wicked enquire of each other touching the great news of which they are in different Opinion They shall learn it they shall learn it Have not I created and extended the Earth Have not I raised the Mountains to establish it Have not we created you Male and Female Have not we created Sleep and the Night for repose and the Day of Labour Have we not built over you Seven heavens and the Sun full of light Have we not caused Rain to descend from the Clouds to cause the Earth to produce its Plants and Gardens of divers fashions The day of Judgment shall be a day of Joy and Sorrow When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet all the World shall come in Troops to Universal Judgment Heaven shall open its Gates the Mountains shall walk and Hell is the place prepared for the seduced there shall they remain eternally They shall find there no rest neither drink but of boyling and most stinking Water a reward conformed to their works the Infidels believe not that they must render an account of their actions and blaspheme but we keep account and write exactly what they do It will be said to them at the Day of Judgment Taste this day the punishment that ye have merited your pains shall be augmented and pains upon pains They who shall have had the fear of God before their eyes shall be in a place of felicity in the Gardens of a most fertile Land enriched with Grapes and Pomegranats they shall drink in Cups full of a delicious Liquor and shall hear no vain speeches nor lying such is the recompence of them that obey the Commandments of God He is Lord of the Heavens and Earth none shall dare to speak when the Spirits and Angels shall be assembled before him none shall be able to speak or pray for another without his permission This day shall be the day of truth they that shall be acceptable to him shall retire towards his Divine Majesty We have preached unto you that the punishment of God shall speedily come upon you every one shall see all that he shall have done and the wicked shall say at the Day of Judgment Would to God that I had been earth and dust CHAP. LXXXIX The Chapter of Them that take away containing Forty six Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Angels that take away the Souls from the Bodies of Infidels and the wicked by the Angels that accompany the Souls of Believers by the Angels that exalt the glory of God By the Angels that guide the Souls of the Righteous when they go into Paradise and by the Angels that are appointed for the affairs of the World That all People shall rise again at the Day of Judgment that Day the Earth shall tremble and the hearts of men shall tremble at the first time that the Trumpet shall sound at the second their sight shall be troubled with fear and they shall say Behold we we are returned upon Earth to the place whence we departed our bones were rotten and our return to the World shall bring upon us only misery this second sound of the Trumpet is a sign of the wrath of God then shall they be out of their Sepulchres revived upon the Earth Hast thou learned the History of Moses and how God his Lord called him in the Holy Valley called Toi and how he said Go towards Pharaoh he is seduced from the right way and is in a great error say unto him I called thee to the way of Salvation I will purifie and guide thee into the way of the Law of God to the end thou maist have his fear before thine eyes Moses made Pharaoh to see one of his great Miracles nevertheless he contemned Moses disobeyed him and departed from the right way he caused his People to assemble and made Proclamation that he was their God but God rigorously chastised him because of his Blasphemies this is an example of his Omnipotency to them that are Righteous Oh ye wicked were ye more difficult to create than Heaven God hath raised the roof thereof and proportioned it he hath made the Night obscure and the day full of splendor he hath stretched forth the Earth hath made Fountains to spring forth to water the Plants and to give drink to Beasts he hath elevated and established the Mountains for you and for your Flocks Men shall call to mind the good and the evil that they have done at the second sound of the Trumpet and Hell shall appear open before their eyes The wicked that have followed their own appetites on Earth shall be precipitated into Hell and such as have had the fear of God before their eyes and have subdued their passions in this World shall go into Paradise The wicked will ask of thee when the Day of Judgment shall be None knoweth it but thy â—…ord Thou art not sent but to preach the pains of Hell to them that fear that day as if they saw it present before their eyes they shall imagine that they have not remained in the Tomb but from Evening until Morning when they rise again CHAP. LXXX The Chapter of the Blind containing Forty two Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The Prophet frowned had a surly countenance and withdrew himself when the blind came towards him He will not tell thee if he will believe in God and if he will profess thy preaching depart thou from him that shall depart from the Law of God thou art obliged only to preach to him and not to make him to believe but forsake not them that shall come to see thee to be instructed and shall fear God. The Alcoran is sent for the instruction of men it was copied upon the Book that is kept in Heaven to which Honour and praise is due eternally Wherefore is man impious 〈◊〉 because he is created of a little Water retaâ—…d in tâ—… womb of his Mother until the timâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And because he found the way to come forth Is it for that God caused him to dye and to revive when it seems good to him He performeth not what God commandeth neither considereth the good things that nourish him We have sent rain we opened the treasures of the earth we have made all sorts of grain to spring forth Blites Olives Dates Gardens and fields full of Fruits and herbs to nourish you and your flocks When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet the second time Man shall fly his brother his mother wife and children every one shall take thought for himself that day shall the wicked have countenances covered with affliction the countenance of the good shall be joyful and such as have sought the way between faith and impiety shall have their countenance covered with earth and dust CHAP. LXXXI The Chapter of Roundness containing Twenty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of
Chapter of the Star or of the North Star containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by Heaven and the Star that teacheth men the way I will not tell thee by what star by the star full of brightness that every person hath a guardian which observeth the good and the evil that it acteth Doth not man consider of what he is created he is made of a little sprinkled water that issueth out of the body of man and woman God shall make him to rise again at the day of Judgment and none shall be able to protect or defend him from the wrath of his divine Majesty I swear by heaven that returneth the rain by the earth that openeth it self and receiveth it to produce its fruits that the Alcoran distinguisheth good from evil and that it was not sent in vain The unbelievers conspire against the Prophet but God shall turn their conspiracy against them and they shall not know it Be thou patient and awhile endure the Infidels CHAP. LXXXVII The Chapter of the High and Mighty containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Exalt the name of thy Lord high and mighty who hath proportioned all that he hath created he ordaineth what he listeth and guideth into the right way them that are pleasing to him he causeth herbs to spring out of the earth createth them green rendreth them dry and altereth them as to him seems good I will read to thee the Alcoran forget nothing of what thou shalt read but that which God shall will thee to forget he knoweth whatsoever is kept secret in the world and whatsoever is made manifest I will instruct thee in his Law preach the Alcoran it shall be profitable to him that shall have the fear of God before his eyes such as shall despise it shall be miserable they shall be precipitated into the fire of hell where they shall not be able either to live or die and he that shall embrace the Law of God and shall be mindful of his name shall be blessed Pray to God at the time appointed Certainly the righteous shall be heirs of the good things of the earth and those of heaven that are exceeding great and eternal this is written in the ancient books of Abraham and Moses CHAP. LXXXVIII The Chapter of the Covering containing twenty six verses written at Mecca Gelaldin intituleth this The Chapter of Iudgment because that day the damned shall be covered with fire and fear See Exteri IN the name of God gracious and merciful Hast thou heard mention of the covering That day shall the countenance of the wicked be covered with affliction they shall enter into fire that is extreamly hot they shall drink of boyling water they shall eat nothing but bryers and thorns they shall be extreamly lean and famine shall not deliver them from an infinite number of other miseries That day shall the good be filled with content they shall be recompenced or their labours in Paradise they shall hear nothing spoken that may displease them they shall see fountains flow lying upon high beds they shall drink in fair glasses fixed on diamonds upon pillows well disposed and upon pallets well adorned will not the wicked consider the Miracle of the she-Camel How it was created How Heaven was elevated How the Mountains were disposed how the Earth was extended Preach to the wicked the pains of Hell thou art sent to preach to them and not to constrain them God will chastise with his great chastisement him that shall abandon his Law and traduce the Alcoran all men shall be one day assembled before his Divine Majesty to give account of their actions CHAP. LXXXIX The Chapter of the Morning containing Thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Morning by the tenth Night of the Month by even and odd and by the coming of Night That the wicked shall be chastised Is there any thing in consideration of this Oath that can move men to fly uncleanness Considerest thou not how God entreated Aad the Son of Arem that dwelt in Pavillions supported by Columns so big that there were none like to them in his Countrey Knowest thou not how he used Temod who hewed Stones and Rocks to inhabit the Valley Knowest thou not how he entreated Pharaoh who pierced with Pins the feet and hands of such as he gave up to punishment Knowest thou not how he entreateth them that heretofore erred from the right way in their own Countreys and that increased their pollution He poured upon them divers torments he observeth all that men do he giveth store of goods to them that he doth not try and taketh them away from such as he proveth The wicked will not give Honour to Orphans they will not abstain from eating the Bread of the Poor they shall give an account they too much affect riches when the. Earth shall tremble and shall over throw all the buildings when the Angels shall descend in order by the command of thy Lord then shall Hell be open to the wicked they shall call to mind what was preached to them in the World and say Why did not I observe the Commandments of God during my life They shall be punished more than ever any hath been and shall be more straitly bound than ever any hath been bound It shall be said to the blessed O thou Soul that hast observed with courage and without fear the Commandments of God return to thy Lord with content enter into the Society of the blessed enter into Paradise CHAP. XC The Chapter of the City containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca Many have entituled this The Chapter of Night IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by that City which is permitted thee to conquer I swear by the Father and the Child that we created man in misery thinketh he that there is none stronger than he He saith That he hath expended great wealth doth he think that none hath seen what he hath done Have we not given him two eyes a tongue two lips Have we not given him to see the way of good and of evil He shall be severely chastised but I will not tell thee with what kind of chastisement Wherefore doth he not deliver Slaves Wherefore doth he not give to eat to them that are hungry to Orphans and his Kindred that are in necessity and to the poor Patience and Charity are recommended among True believers they shall be seated at the right hand and such as impugn the Mysteries of our Law shall be at the left hand they shall be shut up in the Fire of Hell. CHAP. XCI The Chapter of the Sun containging Fifteen Verses writteen at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Sun and his light by the Moon and her splendour by the Fire and its elevation by the
Night and its obscurity by Heaven and the Stars thereof by the Earth and its plains by the creation of the Soul by the knowledg of Virtue and Vice That he that shall be purified from his sins shall be most happy and that he who defileth himself with Vice shall be most miserable The People of Temod traduced their Prophet because of their obstinacy but certainly they were chastised The Apostle and Prophet of God said unto them Behold the Camel of God suffer it to drink they derided him and slew that Camel. God severely punished them he spared not his chastisement against them CHAP. XCII The Chapter of Night containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the obscurity of Night by the brightness of Day by the creation of man and woman That your actions are very different He that shall yield to God the obedience that is due to him and believeth in his Unity shall go into Paradise and whosoever shall not praise his Divine Majesty and will not be converted shall go into hell his riches shall not save him and he shall be cast headlong into eternal flames It is we that guide the people we dispose the beginning and end of every thing I preach to you the torments of hell none shall enter there but the wretches that have blasphemed and departed far from the way of salvation he that hath the fear of God before his eyes and giveth alms shall be delivered from the fire of hell every one shall be recompenced for what he hath done for the love of God he shall be satisfied and contented CHAP. XCIII The Chapter of the Sun rising containing ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the brightness of the rising of the Sun and by the darkness of Night That thy Lord hath not forsaken thee He doth not hate thee his delay shall be to thee advantage and in the end thou shalt be content Did he not well lodge thee when thou wert an Orphan Did he not well guide thee when thou wert seduced Did not he enrich thee when thou wert poor Do no injury to Orphans devour not the poor and recount the graces that God hath conferred on thee CHAP. XCIV The Chapter of Ioy containing Eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Have not I rejoyced thine heart have not we delivered thee from the burden that was heavy on thy shoulders we have raised thy name and reputation affliction is followed of content when thou shalt have finished thy prayers labour and love thy Lord. CHAP. XCV The Chapter of the Fig containing eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Figs and Olives by Mount Sinai and by the safety and freedom that is in this City of Mecca that we created man with proportion afterwards we rendred him contemptible except the true believers that do good works they shall receive an infinite reward After this O wicked man what maketh thee to blaspheme against the Faith is not God the Judg of Judges CHAP. XCVI The Chapter of Blood congealed containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca Bedaoi and Gelaldin call this The Chapter of Reading IN the name of God gracious and mercifuâ—… Read the Alcoran and begin through thâ—… name of God who created all who made maâ—… of a little congealed blood Read the Alcoran and exalt the glory of thy Lord who hath instructed man in the Scriptures who taught him whaâ—… he knew not nevertheless he is in a great errorâ—… he will not consider that he shall return before God. Hast thou considered him that would have hindred one of the servants of God to make his prayers hast thou understood if he were in the way of salvation hast thou seen if he blasphemed if he hath abandoned the faith knoweth he not that God forsaketh him If he desist not hâ—… shall be dragged by the hair into the fire of hell with the wicked he shall quit the place where they assemble to dispute against the faith and the devils shall cast cast them headlong into flames eternal Disobey not the commandments of God persevere in thy prayers worship God always obedience to his commandments shall draw theâ—… near to his divine Majesty CHAP. XCVII The Chapter of Glory or Power containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful We sent the Alcoran in the night of Glory and Power I have not taught thee the graces of this night of glory and vertue The prayers and good works that are done that night have more of merit and efficacy than those that have been performed in a thousand months The Angels descended that night to the earth thorough the permission of their Lord and salute the true believers until the dawning of the day CHAP. XCVIII The Chapter of Instruction containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful They that understand the Scripture and believe in many gods will not relinquish their idolatry until they have heard the instruction of the Prophet of God he shall read unto them a book clean and pure wherein are written the precepts of the right way They that know the Scripture are not divided until they have learned this instruction It commandeth to worship one only God to make their prayers at the time appointed and to pay tithes this is the right way The unbelievers that know the Scriptures and adore many Gods shall remain eternally in the fire of hell and shall be most miserable They that believe in one God and perform good works shall be most happy they shall be recompenced of their Lord in the garden of Eden wherein flow many rivers where they shall dwell eternally God shall be satisfied with their obedience and shall give them his blessing prepared for them that fear him CHAP. XCIX The Chapter of the Earthquake containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful when the earth shall tremble and shall cast bodies out of their sepulchres man shall demand what it will do they shall tell him news to wit that God hath commanded it to do so That day shall men come out of sepulchres from divers places and shall see the good and the evil that they have done he that hath committed evil of the weight of an atome shall be chastised and he that shall have done good of the weight of an atome shall be rewarded CHAP. C. The Chapter of Horses containing eleven Verses written at Mecca and Medina Some Arabians have called this The Chapter 〈◊〉 Return or of them that return IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Horses and the noise that they make with their feet when they return to war and by the fire which they make to arise when they strike their feet against stones that run lightly through
shall be blind shall continue his Misery I am your Tutor neither observe I what you do Thus do I declare the Mysteries of my Law the wicked shall in the end confess that thou hast taught my Commandments to such as inclined to learn them Act what thy Lord hath inspired into thee there is no God but he separate thy self from the Society of unbelievers Had it pleased God they had not disobeyed his Commandments thou art not their Tutor injure not them that worship Idols they injure God through Malice and Ignorance every Man esteemeth what he hath done and pleaseth himself in his opinion Certainly they shall all be assembled at the Judgment and be chastised after their Demerits They have sworn by the name of God to fight for the Faith if some Miracle appear to instruct them Miracles proceed from God they know not the time wherein he will make them to appear although they should see Miracles they will not be converted I will overturn their hearts blind their sight and they shall never be converted I will leave them in their Errours and disobedience with contempt and confusion If we should send to them Angels should the dead come and speak to them and should we bring about them all the Witnesses of the World they shall not believe if it so please God most of them are ignorant we have allotted an Enemy to each Prophet as the Devil is an Enemy to Men he tempteth them with the Ornament of his Discourses to render them proud If it had pleased thy Lord they had wanted that power depart thou from unbelievers and their blasphemies and incline not to their will they shall find no advantage in their impiety Do you desire another Judge than God who hath sent to you the Book that distinguisheth good from evil Such as know the Scripture are not ignorant that this Book was sent from God and containeth the Truth Be not thou in the number of them that doubt the word of God exactly cometh to pass no Man can hinder its effects God understandeth and knoweth all things If thou incline to the will of most Men they will seduce thee they believe but their own opinions and are lyars Thy Lord knoweth them that err and such as follow the right way Eat what shall be slain in pronouncing the name of God they taught you what was forbidden eat not unless constrained through necessity Many err from the right way and pursue their own appetites and ignorance God beholdeth them that offend him flie publick and secret sin sinners shall be severely chastised eat not of what is not let Blood in pronouncing the name of God lest you disobey his Commandments The Devils will tempt them that serve them they will perswade unbelievers to dispute against you if you incline to them you shall be Infidels as they are I raised again many of them that were dead through their sins I converted them and gave them a light to illuminate them in the darkness wherein Infidels shall dwell for ever because they delight in their disobedience Thus will I place in every City leaders that shall seduce the wicked and themselves but shall not understand it When they beheld any sign of the truth of the Prophet appear they said they will not believe in him unless he were accompanied with the vertues and merits of other Prophets God maketh choice of them on whom he conferreth the grace of prophecy he shall chastise such as discourse in that manner with ignominie in this World and they shall feel in the other great torments by reason of their impiety God rejoyceth the hearts of them that he inclineth to lead into the way of Salvation and punisheth them that digress from the right path his wrath fell upon the Infidels so soon as he ascended into Heaven The way thou followest is the right way we have recompensed such as have understanding to profit they shall be happy God shall be their protector because of their good works Remember thou the day wherein we shall assemble the People and when it shall be said to the Devils O ye bands of Devils wherefore are you risen against Men The chief of those Men that shall have obeyed them shall answer Lord suffer us to be revenged on each other and let each command in his turn O Lord teach us the prefixed time that thou hast appointed to our miseries The Angels shall answer Hell shall be your habitation you shall there remain eternally and so long as it shall please God Your Lord is most wise and Omniscient the wicked shall obey the wicked because of their sins O ye Bands of Men and Devils have you not seen my Prophets and Apostles of your own Nation who have given you to see Miracles Who have preached my Commandments and the Day of Judgment They shall answer they have seen the Prophets and Apostles but that the life of the World rendered them proud and shall confess themselves to have been wicked God shall not destroy Mecca for the unjustice therein committed until he hath sent an Apostle to the Inhabitants to teach them his Commandments every one shall be punished according to his works thy Lord knoweth whatsoever is done in the World. He hath no need of his People he is altogether merciful he can destroy you if it please him and establish in your place another People as he hath established you in the place of your predecessors If you be not converted you shall not escape the torments of Hell Say unto them do as you understand him I will comport my self as I shall apprehend him you shall in the end understand who shall have the good part in the other World. None shall give succour to Idolaters they offer to their Idols of the fruits that God hath created and say following their thoughts behold our God! Such sacrifices ascend not to God their Idolatry hath induced many of them to sacrifice their own Children to their false Gods they have destroyed them and were ensnared in their Religion which they had not done had it so pleased God Separate thy self from them and their blasphemies they have said that the fruits of the Earth and the benefits of God were unclean and would not eat of them God giveth food but to those whom he is pleased to gratifie They have prohibited to ride on some beasts that God gave them and slew them for food without pronouncing the name of his Divine Majesty which is a great sin but they shall be punished according to their demerits They have said it is lawful for Men to eat what is in the Bellies of Beasts and that it is unlawful for their Wives and when they had slain them they did eat for company but God shall chastise them for their discourse he is most wise and Omniscient Such as slay their Children are wretched Men Fools and ignorant they have forbidden to eat the good things that God hath given them to blaspheme
and are gone astray from the right way It is God who created the Gardens full of Fruits and herbs of divers colours with Olives Pomegranets and other fruits alike and different Eat of the fruits of the Earth Pay the dues appointed when you reap and dispense not your substance lightly God abhorreth prodigals Of clean beasts some there be that have born the burthen and others that are young and have not born it Eat what God hath given you and follow not the footsteps of the Devil he is your open Enemy Say unto them behold eight pair of Beasts viz. two pair of Wethers two of Ewes two of Camels and two pair of Cowes of which is it permitted or forbidden you to eat Is it lawful for you to eat the Males or Females Which are those that God hath forbidden you Who is more wicked than he that blasphemeth to seduce from the right way the People that are ignorant God guideth not the unjust Say unto them In all that God hath inspired into me I find not that it is prohibited to eat of those beasts except they die of some Disease and if they be slain without pronouncing the name of God. The Flesh of Swine is forbidden you if you eat of it you incur the wrath of God If any one be in necessity and eateth without design to provoke God he shall find God gracious and merciful We forbad the Iews to eat of Beasts whose Feet were cloven and of the fat of Beasts except of such as is interlarded in the flesh the Entrails and the Bones We enjoyned this prohibition by reason of their sin and we are veritable in our words and exact in our promises If they slander thee say unto them The mercy of God is great and the wicked shall not avoid the punishment of their crimes The Infidels have said Had it pleased God we had not been unbelievers neither our Fathers also and nothing had been prohibited Their predecessors spake as they until they felt the punishment of their sin Say unto them Are you assured that God is content with your proceeding Tell us whence ariseth this assurance You in this follow but your opinion you are but lyers Gods providence is great he had guided all of you in the right way had it so pleased him Cause them come before us who said It is unlawful to eat of clean Beasts were they present when God made the Prohibition If they say they were present say not as they neither follow the appetites of blasphemous Infidels who believe not in the end of the word and worship many Gods. Say unto them Come I will instruct you what is by God forbidden to be eaten there is but one sole God say not he hath Companions equal to him do good to your Father and Mother and slay not your Children in fear of dying with Famine God shall bestow on you and them also what shall be necessary commit not whoredom either privately or publickly kill no Man if justice do not command it God requireth you to observe what is above ordained perhaps you will consider it Take not the goods of Orphans but to succour them until they be of age of discretion measure and weight with good weight and just measure I enjoyn no Man any thing but what is in his power to perform Judge with equity although it be against your Parents and Allies satisfie what is above ordained God commandeth it peradventure you will consider it it is the right way which you ought to pursue go not aside God commandeth it perhaps you will fear his Divine Majesty We taught Moses our Commandments it is a peculiar grace to instruct the righteous and guide the People in the right way it may be you will believe in the Resurrection O ye Inhabitants of Mecca We have sent to you the Alcoran full of benediction perform what is ordained flie impiety your sins shall be forgiven you say not That God hath sent his Law to the two Nations that preceded you and that it is hid from you Will you say That had God taught you the Scripture you had been more obedient than they Certainly he hath taught you his Commandments it is a special grace to guide you into the right way Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth against his Divine Majesty and departeth from his Commandments Such Men shall be rigorously chastised in the fire of Hell. Will they expect that the Angels came to visit them That God should punish and declare to them his miracles Will they look for the Day of Judgment wherein repentance and conversion shall be unprofitable Such as believe in one part of the Law and reject the other have no foundation in their belief God shall make them to know their errors and shall punish them after the enormity of their crimes He that shall do a good work shall have a reward tenfold Whosoever acteth any wickedness shall be punished in like manner neither shall he receive injustice Say unto them God hath guided me in the way of his Law such as profess the Law of Abraham profess the unity of God Abraham was not in the number of unbelievers my prayers my vows my life my death shall be consecrated to God he hath no Companion I wholly commend my self to his Divine pleasure Say unto them Do I desire to worship other Gods than the Lord of the Universe The good that a Man doth is for himself and the evil that he committeth is against them you all shall one day appear in the presence of God he shall resolve your disputes He it is that prolongeth your Posterity and exalteth some above others to prove you your Lord is exact to chastise the wicked and gracious and merciful to the righteous CHAP. VII The Chapter of Prisons containing an hundred and six Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet entituled this Chapter the Chapter of Aaraf which is a place between Paradise and Hell where Men suffer no punishment See Mokari Bedaoi and Kitab el tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am God the most wise the most true This Book was sent to thee to preach to the True believers doubt not the Contents of it Say unto them Believe in what was sent to you from your Lord and worship none other God but him few there be among you that consider it How many Cities have we destroyed How often have we inflicted our punishment on their Inhabitants by day and by night when they reposed Nevertheless they said nothing but that they were greatly afflicted We will examine the People to whom we have sent our Prophets and require account of what they have learned and of what they have done We will examine our Prophets and demand an account of such as have followed and obeyed them I will cause them to remember what they have done worthy of reward We forsook not our Prophets when they preached to them the Truth their