to them and say they fear a change of times but God shall give advantage and Victory to his Prophet and they shall repent to have concealed in their minds the Miracles of his Divine Majesty What will they alledge for excuse who swore by the name of God exactly to observe their Religion and to be with you Their good works shall be unprofitable and they in the number of the Damned O ye that believe if you abandon your Faith God will put others in your place that shall love him and he them and this to your great ignominy and the advantage of converted Infidels that shall fight without fear for his Law Thus God bestoweth his grace as he seeth good he is liberal and Omniscient You ought certainly to obey God and his Prophet his Apostle they who believe in God that make their Prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and are in the Protection of God and his Prophet shall be beloved of his Divine Majesty and be Victorious O ye true Believers obey not such as scoff at your Religion who have knowledge of the written Law obey not Infidels and if you are good men fear God obey not them that deride your Prayers it is the action of those that are unwise O ye that understand the written Law will you not abhor me if I believe not in God in what he hath inspired into me and into them that preceded me The greatest part of you are wicked Say to them did I instruct you to do evil when I preached to you the effect of Gods mercy Those whom he curseth against whom he is incensed whom he hath Metamorphosed into Apes and Swine and who have adored Idols shall be confined in the fire of Hell they are in a very evil way When they come to thee they will say they believe in the Law of God they will enter thine House with impiety and go forth in the like manner but God knoweth what they conceal in their heart Thou shalt see many of them embrace Paganism follow a lye eat what is forbidden and this to displease their Doctors and Priests who have forbidden them to speak lies and eat meats that are unclean The Iews said The hand of God is shut contrariwise it is their hand that is shut and they shall be accursed by reason of their discourse certainly the hands of God are open and he doth good to whom he pleaseth Many amongst them through impiety and disobedience alter what is in the Scripture but we have cast among them hatred and horror even to the Day of Judgment God hath extinguished the fire which they had kindled to make War against the righteous they endeavour to pollute the Earth but God detesteth such as cause disorder he remitteth their sins that know the Scripture believe in his Law and flie impiety they shall enter Paradise that is full of delights They have read the Old Testament the Gospel and all Scriptures they enjoy abundance of all good things nevertheless many have disobeyed the Commandments of God. O Prophet preach what God hath taught thee whether thou dost preach it or doest not he will defend thee from the malice of men he abhorreth Infidels O ye that know the written Law if you observe not the Old Testament the Gospel and Scriptures which God hath sent you you shall be without merit Many of them through impiety and ignorance pervert what is contained in the Scripture afflict not thy self with the actions of the impious The Jews Samaritans Christians all that shall have believed in God the Resurrection of the Dead and have done good works shall be exempt from affliction there is nothing for them to fear at the day of Judgment We received of the Children of Israel a promise to believe in our Prophets and Apostles Yet have they slandred many and slain such as would not follow their appetites they believed there was no punishment for their crimes and became deaf and blind After this God pardoned them nevertheless they returned in their sin and are again become deaf and blind God beholdeth all their deportments Certainly they who affirm the Messiah the Son of Mary to be God are impious the Messiah commanded the Children of Israel to worship God his and their Lord the entrance into Paradise is forbidden to him that shall say God hath a Companion equal to him Hell shall be his habitation and the unjust shall find none to protect them at the Day of Judgment Such as affirm there are three Gods are impious there is but one God if they desist not from such discourse they shall burn in the fire of Hell if they turn and implore pardon of God he will be to them gracious and merciful The Messiah the Son of Mary is a Prophet and Apostle of God like to the Prophets that came before him his Mother is holy and both of them did eat and drink Consider how I manifest my unity to Infidels how they blaspheme and depart from the Truth say to them Will you worship instead of God what can neither benefit nor hurt you God understandeth and knoweth all things O ye that have knowledge of the written Law speak of your Religion with reverence and follow not the appetites of such as go astray and walk in an evil way The Infidels were accursed by the Tongue of David and of Messiah the Son of Mary because of their disobedience they abstain not from things that are not approved they do them and through obstinacy will continue them Thou shalt see many of the Inhabitants of Mecca adhere to them by reason of the sin they conceal in their hearts God assuredly will be incensed against them and they shall be confined eternally in the torments of Hell. If they had believed in God in his Prophet and the Scriptures they had not obeyed Infidels but many of them are impious Thou shalt find the Iews and Inhabitants of Mecca who believe in many Gods to be very great enemies to the faithful and the Christians to have a great inclination and amity towards the true believers for that they have Priests and Religious that are humble who have eyes full of tears when they hear mention of the Doctrine which God hath inspired into thee because of their knowledge of the Truth and say Lord We believe in thy Law write us in the number of them that prosess thy Unity who hindreth us to believe in God and the Truth wherein we have been instructed We desire with passion O Lord to be in the number of the just God shall hearken to their Prayers and pardon them he shall open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein is the reward of the righteous and the Infidels shall inhabit the abyss of Hell. O ye who are true believers inhibit not the eating of what God hath permitted offend not God he abhorreth them that offend him eat of the meats that are lawful for you and have his fear before your
Theodosius his Favorite his Army was twice overthrown the General slain and the Mahometans pursuing their victories took from the Greeks the Countries of Egypt Syria and other Provinces of Africa where Mahomet encreased his Triumphs and erected his Trophies Being now grown impotent rather through his inordinate life than burthen of years he retired full of glory as a King and Prophet to Mecca where he resolved to end his days having affirmed it in the Alcoran to be the most holy City of the World as that wherein stood the Temple of Abraham built miraculously by Angels to be the Sanctuary of all that repair thither in Pilgrimage And therefore it was that when he had by his Armies taken the City of Antioch he durst not enter into it in person lest by the delightful and fertile situation of it he should have been enticed to desert Mecca and contradict his own Prophecy His life now drawing to a period a Pleuriâ—…ie surprized him On the seventh day for Crisis of his disease he became frantick Haly one of his successors astonisht at his distemper and frenzy not esteeming it one of the rare qualities of a Prophet and Redeemer as he stiled himself of so much People derided him yet willing to continue his Law that he might inherit his Power carefully concealed it and according to his commands yet living watched his Body after his decease For he told his followers that he should rise again the third day and ascend to Heaven They observed this and guarding his Corps four days entire with impatient expectation of his Resurrection were at length compelled by reason of its putrefaction to take him up and bury him at Medina where his Reliques are annually visited by the superstitious Pilgrims of his Religion Earth to crow This Angel recommended him to another he to a third and so one to another until he came to the Heaven where God kept his residence God courteously received him asked him how his People did how they entertained his Law and familiarly laid his Hand upon his Shoulder which was so cold that it pierced to the marrow of his Back-bone God had soon done with him only telling him how often his People should make their Prayers which were so many that as he was returning in the fourth Heaven Moses advised him to go back to God and entreat him that fewer Prayers might serve his turn for his People were not able to make so many which he did and after many returns brought the number to five This done he went back to his Elborach which in a moment brought him to his House in Mecca where he went to bed again to his Wife she not once dreaming her Husband would leave Heaven for her company or thinking he had been there all this he performed in the tenth part of a Night The Turks at this day fondly believe this as a Truth but the Arabians of his time requiring him to do as much in their view he unwilling to take again so long a Journy replied Praised be God I am Man and an Apostle He had other slights which in sight of the People by Art or Sorcery he performed and they stupidly believed and entertained as Miracles as a Pigeon being by him taught to come and pick a Pease out of his Ear he told them it was the Holy Ghost that came to tell him what God would have him do so an Ox brought him a Chapter of the Alcoran upon his Horns in a full Assembly He likewise perswaded them that being at dinner at the House of one that pretended to be his Friend who had an intent to poyson him or he at least was so informed a shoulder of Mutton served in to the Table forewarned him that he should not eat of it and though many were present none but he heard or understood the Language of the Mutton and yet he permitted one of his dearest Friends to eat of it and die impoysoned Such and many of the like nature were his Miracles As the bowing of Trees shaken by some sudden gust of Wind the howling of Wolves and braying of Asses which is their Language desiring Mahomet to pray for them and he Prophetically understanding as religiously performed His custom was often to inculcate into the Ears of his Auditors that God gave him commission to fulfil his own desires in all things and to that purpose introduceth God speaking to him To thee O Prophet It is permitted to lie with all Women that are given thee or thou dost purchase thy Aunts and Kindred and all good Women that freely desire thy company and this is lawful for thee alone His Issue was one onely Son called Cassim who died before him and many Daughters Fatione the eldest in high esteem at this day among the Arabians and honoured as the royal root of Aben Alabecy was Wife to Haly. Zeineb the second was married to Osmen after Son to Mahuvias and perhaps to both successively for they both succeeded in the Empire of Arabia to her is attributed the original of the other Family of Aben Humeia Imiaultim and Naphisse are diversly mentioned by the most faithful Historians some delivering them as his Daughters others as his near Kindred On the Seal which he used were engraven these words Mahomet Messenger of God. Heaven ordained him to be a scourge for the punishment of Christians who in multitudes at that time had forsaken the Truth to follow the Sects and Heresies of the Arrians Donatists Nestorians and others The day of his death was no less prodigious than the course of his life a Comet resembling a Sword appearing at high noon pointing from South to North when it was beheld the space of thirty days which that age interpreted to portend the fatal rising and splendor of the Arabian Empire A needful Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what use may be made of or if there be danger in reading the Alcoran By Alexander Ross. GOod Reader the great Arabian Impostor now at last after a thousand years is by the way of France arrived in England and his Alcoran or gallimaufry of Errors a Brat as deformed as the Parent and as full of Heresies as his scald head was of scurf hath learned to speak English. I suppose this piece is exposed by the Translator to the publick view no otherwise than some Monster brought out of Africa for people to gaze not to dote upon and as the sight of a Monster or mishapen creature should induce the beholder to praise God who hath not made him such so should the reading of this Alcoran excite us both to bless God's goodness towards us in this Land who enjoy the glorious light of the Gospel and behold the truth in the beauty of holiness as also to admire God's Judgments who suffers so many Countreys to be blinded and inslaved with this mishapen issue of Mahomet's brain being brought forth by the help of no other Midwifry than of a Iew and a Nestorian
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
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
most wise They that esteemed that the Temple built by Unbelievers to seduce the righteous to distinguish the wicked from the good and to observe such as had before fought against God and against his Prophet is the Temple of his Divine Majesty swear that they desire to do well and that their intention is most honest but they are Lyars and God shall be witness of their falshood make not thy Prayers in that Temple make thy Prayers in the Temple founded on the fear of God that is reasonable there be Persons in that Temple who desire to be purified God loveth such as have a clean Soul Who is he that buildeth best he that foundeth his building upon the fear of God or he who layeth the Foundation of his building upon the brink of a Ditch of Sand which falleth and ruineth it self They who esteem the Temple built by Unbelievers to seduce the people to be the Temple of God shall be with that Temple and with the Infidels that built it burnt in the fire of Hell God guideth not the unjust their building shall serve only to torment them God knoweth their design and is most wise he purchaseth of true Believers their Souls and Goods and giveth them Paradise if they be slain or if they slay when they shall fight for the Faith they shall have what he hath promised to them in the Old Testament the Gospel and in the Alcoran Who better satisfieth what he hath promised than God Declare to them that they have made a good purchace they have gained the height of Felicity Such as are firm in their Faith who pray honour and worship God who observe his Commandments and all true Believers shall enjoy the delights of Paradise with all manner of content The Prophet and true Believers ought not to ask pardon of God for Infidels notwithstanding they be their Parents having had knowledge that they are damned because of their infidelity Abraham prayed not for his Father untill he had promised him to adore one God alone when he knew his Father to be an Enemy to God he declared himself an Enemy to his sin he ceased praying for him although he was exceeding charitable and patient in his afflictions God mis-leadeth not them that he hath put into the right way he giveth them to understand what they ought to do he knoweth them that deserve to be seduced and such as merit to be guided through the right way The Kingdom of Heaven and Earth is Gods he giveth life and death to whom he seeth good Who except God shall protect you he hath given his Grace to the Prophet and to such as followed him in his affliction although it wanted but a little that the hearts of many of them inclined not to the party of the Unbelievers but he pardoneth them he hath been gracious and merciful to three Persons who deserted the Prophet and were sorry for their Errour they knew there was no sure refuge but in God he pardoned them when they were converted he is gracious and merciful to such as repent O ye that believe Fear God be righteous the Inhabitants of Medina and the Arabians that dwell about that City ought not to contradict the Will of the Prophet of God neither dislike what he approveth because they have endured neither thirst nor pain nor anguish for the Service of his Divine Majesty they have not been trampled under foot by their Enemies they shall irritate the Infidels and shall receive no displeasure on the contrary they shall acquire merit and perform a good work God doth not deprive them of recompence that do well he shall write down their expence for his Service and the number of the Idols that they shall destroy for reward of their good works It is not necessary that all the faithful go to the War it is sufficient that of every Lineage and of every Nation there go a party while the rest shall learn the Laws and Mysteries of Faith to instruct their Companions when they shall return from their Voyage perhaps they will fear the chastisement of God. O ye that believe in God! fight against them that would cause you to be defiled in impiety be valiant and know that God is with them that have his fear before their eyes When God caused to descend from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran some of them said through disdain that will encrease the Faith of this people Certainly it augmenteth the Faith of true Believers it rejoyceth them and enflameth the wrath of his Divine Majesty upon Infidels who persist in their pollutions and dye in their wickedness They know not that God tryeth the good once or twice a year they will not be converted it is lost time to preach to them When God sent from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran they beheld each others and said doth any one see us They returned in their impiety and God turned their heart from the right way for that they would not learn the Truth God hath sent you a Prophet of your own Nation who with Passion desireth to deliver you from your obstinacy and is extreamly affected to instruct you in the way of Salvation God is mild and pitiful towards true Believers If they abandon the Faith say unto them God is my Protector there is but one sole God I recommend my self to the Will of his Divine Majesty he is the Lord of the Majestick Throne CHAP. X. The Chapter of Jonas containing an hundred and nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am God the merciful The Precepts contained in this Book proceed from the Omnipotent Doth the people wonder that we have inspired a Man to preach to the wicked the torments of Hell and to declare to true Believers that they shall find true what their Lord to them hath promised The wicked say that it is but Sorcery and enchantment Certainly God is your Lord who created Heaven and Earth in six days and sitteth on his Thone disposing all things no Man interceedeth for his Neighbour without his permission he is your God and your Lord worship him alone will ye not consider it you all shall be one day assembled before him he promised with truth that he will cause Men to dye and raise them again to recompence such as have believed in his Law and done good works The Unbelievers shall drink a boyling drink and shall endure great torments because of their impiety He it is that gave light to the Sun and brightness to the Moon that created the signs to know the number of years the account of Months and of whatsoever he hath created these things teach with truth the Miracles of his Divine Majesty to such as have knowledge to understand them the difference of Day and of Night and what God hath created in Heaven and in Earth are marks of his Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes They who believe there is no
instead of God He shall be cast headlong into the Fire of Hell thus do I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth was shut up VVe opened them and gave life to every thing through the Rain which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity VVe created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein ways large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling nevertheless they depise our Commandments It is the Lord who created Day and Night the Moon and the Sun all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no Person to dwell for ever on Earth all men shall taste of Death I will prove you with good and evil and ye shall appear before me to give account of your actions The Infidels scoff at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our gods They obey not the Commandments of God he created man of dust and shall shew you the effects of his Omnipotency be not impatient to see the punishment of the wicked who say when shall be the Day of Judgment Did they know it they would remove the Fire from their backs and visages that Day shall surprize them it shall astonish them when they think least of it they cannot retard it and shall be deprived of protection Certainly they scorned the Prophets that were sent before thee but they were punished after their demerits Say unto them who but the merciful God preserveth you Day and Night Nevertheless ye reject his Commandments Have they any other God but me that is able to save them Their gods cannot defend themselves I will not protect them yet will I enrich them as I enriched their fathers and will prolong their life to punish them on Earth Know they not that their estates diminish on all sides through thy Conquests Is it so that they are victorious Say unto them I preach to you what God hath inspired into me but the deaf hear not when they are exhorted VVhen they are a little touched with the chastisements of God they say oh misery We are too blame and are unjust I will weigh their works at the Day of Judgment that I may do injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of Mustard-seed and will most exactly account We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evil and commanded them to preach our Commandments to them that had our fear before their eyes That Book is blessed and was sent from us nevertheless unbelievers reject and condemn it We heretofore instructed Abraham in the right way and knew that he was a Righteous man. Remember thou that he said to his Father and his People What Idols do ye adore They said We find that our Fathers adored them he said unto them your Fathers and you were exceedingly erroneous They said Dost thou speak the truth or dost thou jest He said Certainly your Lord is the Lord of Heaven and Earth I swear to you that he created them Having convinced those Idolaters he said By God I will make war upon your Idols he broke them with an Hatchet in their absence except the greatest Idol on which he hung his Hatchet and said Peraventure they will accuse him to have broken the other Seeing at their return their Idols broken they said who hath in this manner handled our gods He is impious we heard it is a young man named Abraham who derideth them bring him before the eyes of the People perhaps they shall find witnesses of his action They said unto him Oh Abraham It is thou that hast so abused our gods he said on the contrary it is that great Idol they enquired of each other if those Idols spake and if they had motion afterwards they returned to themselves and said to the People Ye are too blame to adore those Idols he threw them headlong against the ground and they said Oh Abraham Thou well knewest that they spake not at all he answered Why therefore do ye worship what can neither benefit nor hurt you You defile your selves in adoring them instead of God Do ye not know him Then they said Burn Abraham and let us defend our Gods if ye are Righteous men but we commanded the Fire to lose its heat to preserve Abraham they would have tormented him and we destroyed them we saved him as we preserved Lot we conducted him into the Land of Blessing gave him Isaac and Iacob and the Children of their Children Righteous men and True believers to instruct the People in the way of Salvation we inspired them to do good works to pray at the time appointed to pay Tithes and to worship us we gave to Lot prudence and knowledge and delivered him from the Inhabitants of the City who were the most vicious upon Earth we were gracious to him because he was Righteous Remember Noah and that he heretofore invoked us we heard his Prayer and delivered him from great danger and all that were with him in the Ark we delivered him from the hand of the wicked whom we drowned Remember David and Solomon who rendred Justice in the Field whereinto the Flocks of the Village entred by Night without Shepherds we are witness of their Judgments we instructed Solomon in Justice we gave him Prudence and Knowledg the Mountains adored us with David and with him the Birds praised us we were with them when they praised us We taught you the manner of sowing Seed to preserve you from necessity peradventure ye will be thankful to me We commanded the Winds to obey Solomon and know all that he did The Devils obeyd him they dived into the Sea to fish for Gems for him and travelled also in other matters and we hindred them to act mischief against men Remember Iob who prayed to his Lord and said I am in exceeding great affliction thou art the merciful of the merciful We heard him and delivered him from his affliction gave to him our grace and to his family and to them that were with him who had patience and trusted in me Remember Ismael Enoch Delcafel and Zachary they persevered in well doing we gave them our grace because they were Righteous Remember Ionas who forsook his People in displeasure he believed I could do nothing against him but he cryed in the dark and said There is no God besides thee praised be thy Name I am to blame for having offended thee We heard him and delivered him from his disaster Thus do I protect True believers when they invoke me Remember Zachary who made his Prayer and said Lord I know there is no better Heir in the World than thy self yet let me not dye without issue We heard his request gave him a Son named Iohn and rendred his Wife fruitful All these Prophets went on with alacrity to do well and invoked us with humility with desire to obtain our grace and with fear of
ye do your Law is one Law and I alone am your Lord take heed to your selves follow not the Law of the Infidels every one liketh what he doth depart from the wicked and leave them in their errors an account shall be required of them of the riches and of the Children that we have given them but they know it not Such as fear the punishment of their Lord that obey his Commandments profess his Unity give Alms of the substance that he hath given them and fear in their Heart that they are not acceptable to them shall appear in his presence such as shall obey him shall enjoy his grace he requireth not of any man what he is unable to perform We have a Book that declareth the truth no injustice shall be done to him that shall do what he is able certainly the Infidels are in ignorance of the Alcoran they act what is quite contrary to that which is commanded True believers but we have punished the chief among them in their prosperity Be not this Day resolute ye shall not be protected of us Our Commandments are taught you nevertheless ye are returned upon your steps and are risen against the Faith and in discoursing by Night withdrew your selves from the Righteous Consider they not the words of the Alcoran Doth it contain any thing that hath not been ordained to their Predecessors Know they not the Prophet that God hath sent to them Wherefore will they not acknowledg him Will they say that he is possessed of the Devil On the contrary he teacheth them the truth nevertheless the greatest part of them detest him if their will had place Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is betwixt them should be confounded we have instructed them in the Law which they ought to observe but they have renounced it Dost thou require of them any recompence for thy instructions Thy Lord shall reward thee there is none that is of power to recompence thee better than He. Call them to the right way such as shall not believe the Resurrection shall err If we pardon and deliver them from affliction they will still continue in their errors to their confusion we heretofore chastised them nevertheless they humble not themselves neither implored their Lord and when we opened upon them the gate of our Judgments they became desperate God hath given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks he it is that hath created you of earth ye shall one day be assembled before him to be judged he it is that giveth life and death and maketh the difference of day and night will you not honor him neither consider On the contrary they have said as did their predecessors wherefore shall we die our bones shall be dust and shall we rise again This was heretofore promised to our fathers and to us certainly it is but an old song Say unto them to whom appertaineth the earth and whatsoever is in the earth if ye know its Creator and King They will say it is God's Say unto them know ye not then that he that created you can raise you again Who is Lord of the seven heavens who possesseth the throne of heaven They will say it is God say unto them will ye not fear then to worship any other God but him Say unto them who is King of all things who sustaineth them and is sustained of none They will say that it is God Say unto them why then do ye deceive your selves we have taught them the truth but they have rejected it and said that God had a son were there another God with God the one would undo what the other hath done and they would rise the one against the other Praised be God what they affirm is not true God knoweth that is past the present and the future he hath no companion Say Lord give me to see the effect of all that thou hast promised to them and put me not among the unjust deliver us from evil and do good to us I know their impiety Lord deliver me from the temptations of the devil deliver me from their malice when any one among them dieth he saith Lord permit me to return into the world I will do better than I have done there is no return it is to speak in vain there is an obstacle behind them that detaineth them until the day of Judgment when the Trumpet shall sound nothing shall retard them they shall not glory nor discourse with each other the ballance of the blessed shall be heavy with good works and the ballance of the cursed shall be light of good works Have not my Commandments been preached unto you wherefore did ye contemn them They shall say Lord our misery prevailed over us we are mislead Lord deliver us from this misery the contrary was promised to us truly we are exceedingly too blame It shall be said unto them depart into the fire and never speak to come out Many of them that worship me say Lord we believe in thee pardon our sins thou art merciful Ye have derided them O ye wicked and have despised my Commandments but I will reward them for their perseverance and they shall be blessed It shall be said to those that rise again how many years have ye remained in the earth they shall answer we have been there a day or some days ask of the Angels appointed to keep the account ye have been there but a litte time did ye know it do ye believe that I have created and assembled you before me in vain Praise and exalt God King of Truth there is no God but he he is King of heaven he is void of reason that invoketh another god with Him he shall give account of his actions and the Infidels shall be miserable Say Lord pardon the sins of the righteous thou art the great merciful CHAP. XXIV The Chapter of Light containing Seventy and four Verses written at MEDINA IN the name of God gracious and merciful We have sent this Chapter containing our Commandments clear and intelligible peradventure ye will learn them The Catamite and the Concubine shall be whipt with an hundred stripes take heed left clemency cause you to forget the precepts of the Law of God believe in his divine Majesty and the day of Judgment Some of the True believers shall be witnesses of their punishment The Catamite lying with a Concubine or an Infidel the Concubine lying with a Catamite or Infidel these things are forbidden the True believers He that shall accuse an honest woman of adultery shall be whipt with twenty four stripes unless he prove his accusation by four witnesses and shall never be credited in testimony They that do such things are without the obedience of God except those that repent and satisfie what they owe God shall be to them gracious and merciful They that shall accuse their wives of adultery and have no witnesses shall swear four times that they speak the truth and
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
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
into many parts Certainly he that saith that there are many Gods is impious hath he appointed you to say that the Angels which he hath created are his daughters seeing that he giveth you Sons When it is declared to some Infidels that a daughter is born to him he is not satisfied he desireth to have a son will they say that God adorneth himself and taketh Ornaments to beautifie him like their Idols It is a manifest error they say that the Angels that worship God are the daughters of his divine Majesty I will write what they say and will require of them an account of their discourse at the day of Judgement They have said had it pleased God we had not adored the Angels They know not what they say and ignorantly blaspheme do they observe any Scripture that hath been taught them heretofore On the contrary they say that their fathers lived in like manner and that they follow their steps they have said as much to all the Prophets that were sent unto them When thou spakest to them to observe what is contained in the Alcoran and to abandon the Idols which their fathers worshipped they answered that they believed neither in thee nor in thy mission but we avenged our selves upon them Consider what is the end of blasphemers Remember thou that Abraham said to his father and his people I am innocent of the sin that you commit in adoring Idols I worship him alone that created me he shall guide me into the way of Salvation and hath left his words to posterity perhaps the Infidels shall be converted I deferred heretofore the punishment of Idolaters untill they had learned the truth and that a Prophet came to instruct them When he preached unto them the truth they said that it is but witchcraft and that they would give no faith to it Had the Alcoran been sent to a man Master and Lord of two Cities or Villages they had esteemed and approved it Would they dispose of the graces of God He hath divided the riches of the world among men Some there be that are more eminent and scorn each other but the mercy of God is more advantageous than the riches of the Earth which they accumulate Although all the people be not of the same Religion we cease not to bestow on the wicked houses adorned with seelings enchased with silver stairs doors and beds of silver and gold These things are the riches of the Earth and Paradise is for them that are righteous I will cause to fall headlong with the Devils such as shall reject the Law of the merciful the Devils shall be their companions they shall seduce them from the way of Salvation and they shall not know it When we shall come to judg the Universe they shall say Would to God we had been as remote from you as the West is from the East Oh what company for you This day your repentance and your hopes shall be vain ye were Infidels for company ye shall be companions in the Fire of Hell. Wilt thou make the blind to see and the deaf to hear Wilt thou guide them that wilfully err If they dye before being punished on Earth I will be avenged on them in the other World. Shall I shew thee during thy life the punishment that we have prepared for them We can do it but do thou only what hath been commanded thee thou art in the way of Salvation instruct men therein an account of thy mission shall be required of thee I will require an account of their mission that we sent heretofore to instruct the People we will demand of them if we appointed them to worship any other God but us We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his Ministers he caused them to see our Miracles and preached to them our Commandments he told them that he was the Messenger of the God of the Universe nevertheless they scoffed I shewed them no greater Miracle than that of Moses his sister and we chastised them because of their incredulity They said unto Moses Oh Magician pray unto thy Lord that he deliver us from these evils and we will be converted when they were delivered they violated their promises and Pharaoh said to his people Am not I King of Aegypt doth not the River Nilus flow under my obedience Know ye not that I am more powerful than that poor wretch Moses that knows not what he says Give him Bracelets of Gold we will see if the Angels and those that follow his Doctrine will testifie the truth of his words He terrified his Subjects they obeyed him for they were Infidels but we were avenged on them when they provoked us we drowned them and made them serve for example to Posterity like those that preceded them in impiety The people would not hearken to the Son of Mary when he spake by Parable they said Our Gods are more profitable to us than his lyes and questions On the contrary they were refractory he is our Servant we conferred on him our grace and made him like to the other Prophets of the Children of Israel Had it pleased me I had created Angels on Earth in your place the coming of Jesus the Son of Mary shall be a sign of the certainty of the day of Judgment doubt not concerning that day He said unto men Follow me it is the right way beware lest the Devil seduce you he is your open Enemy I come to teach you the Commandments of God to resolve the doubts and judge the differences that are among you fear God and obey him he is your Lord and mine worship him it is the right way the people doubted his Doctrine but misery shall be upon the wicked they shall suffer great torments at the Day of Judgment will they expect that day for their conversion It shall surprize them and they know it not that day shall they be enemies one of another God shall say to the righteous fear not ye shall not this Day resent any affliction the believers that have obeyed my Commandments shall enter into Paradise you and your wives shall there rejoyce ye shall drink in cups of fine Gold ye shall there find whatsoever ye shall desire and all that can content the mind and delight the eyes and ye shall dwell eternally in supreme felicity behold the Paradise that ye have gained by your good life it is enriched with abundance of fruits which ye shall eat with contentment and the wicked shall remain eternally in the Fire of Hell they shall not be eased in their miseries and shall be dumb with dispair we do no injustice to them they draw mischief on themselves through their disobedience they shall demand of the Keeper of the Fire will thy Lord never deliver us from these pains He shall answer them Ye shall abide there eternally We have taught men the truth but the greatest part of them would not believe it The wicked have conspired against thee and we
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
Earth and return into the World Behold a very strong return we know assuredly what the Earth will do with us we have a Book wherein all is written they impugn the known truth and are in a great confusion See they not Heaven above them how we have built it how we have adorned it and how there is no defect We have extended the Earth raised the Mountains and caused all sorts of fruits to spring forth for a sign of our Omnipotency We have sent the blessed Rain from Heaven made Gardens to produce Grain pleasing to the Reapers and Date-trees exceeding each other in height to enrich our creatures We have given life to the dead dry and barren Earth so shall the dead come out of their sepulchres The People of Noah's time those that inhabited near the Well Temod Pharaoh the fellow-citizens of Lot they that dwelt in the Forest and People of King Teba did heretofore traduce our Prophets and felt the punishment denounced against Infidels Was it a trouble to us to create men at first Nevertheless they are in doubt if they shall rise again We created man without difficulty we know the motions of his Soul and penetrate into his heart as the blood into the veins of his Body O man think upon the day that thou shalt see thy good and evil Angel near thee at the right hand and on thy left they have observed and written all that thou hast done represent to thy self death before thine eyes it is inevitable Think on the Angel that shall sound the Trumpet at the Day of the Resurrection that day shall the wicked behold what was promised them and all men shall come before God to be judged Their guardian Angels shall conduct them and be the witnesses of their deportments It shall be said to the Infidels Behold the day of which ye would have no thoughts we have now opened your eyes ye shall see this day more hard than Iron their guardian Angels shall say unto them Behold here before your eyes all that ye have done cast into Hell those obstinate Infidels that have hindred their Neighbour to do good that have offended in doubting of God's Law and have affirmed there was another God with God cast them into the most grievous torments Then shall the Devil say to them Lord I did not seduce them they seduced themselves God shall say Dispute not before me what was heretofore promised you is infallible my Word admitteth no alteration and I will do injustice to none God shall ask at the Day of Judgment If Hell be full It shall answer Is there any more Paradise is prepared for the Righteous who shall have the fear of God before their eyes it is promised to them that shall be converted that shall obey the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and persevere in their obedience It shall be said to them Enter ye into Paradise exempt from all evil behold the eternal day ye shall have all that ye shall desire and more How rich and powerful Cities have we in times past destroyed Their inhabitants sought in their Countries places of retreat and escaped not the puishment of their crimes this ought to serve for example to them that comprehend it to them that hear it and to such that saw it Certainly we created in Six days without difficulty the Heaven and Earth and all that is betweem them Persevere be not impatient for the words of unbelievers exalt the glory of thy Lord before the Sun go down and before it rise pray to thy Lord at the entrance of the Night the last of all shall be worship Hearken when the Angel shall call thee to general Judgment that day shall all the World hear the Trumpet the people shall come out of their sepulchres and Earth shall open before the eyes of men I give life and death and all the World shall be assembled before me to be judged This assembly is easie for me to accomplish I know what the wicked say thou shalt not cause them by force to embrace my Law Teach it those that fear the torments prepared for Infidels CHAP. LI. The Chapter of Things dispersed containing Sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Winds that disperse the dust by the Clouds charged with Rain by the Ship that runneth upon the Waters and by them that divide the Wealth of the Earth that what hath been promised to you is true and that the Day of Judgment is infallible I swear by Heaven and the Stars thereof that ye are in an exceeding great error God expelleth lyars far from him he curseth them that blaspheme and such as believe not in the Resurrection They ask When shall be the Day of Judgment That day shall they be punished in the Fire of Hell. It shall be said unto them Taste the torments that ye have with impatience demanded They who had the fear of God before their eyes shall be in Gardens adorned with Fountains they shall enjoy the pleasures prepared for them by God because they are Righteous they sleep very little by Night implore pardon of God at the dawning of the Day and give alms to the poor that beg and the poor that are bashful God manifesteth on the Earth and in your persons the signs of his Omnipotency consider ye not that what is promised to you is written in Heaven God is Lord of Heaven and Earth he is truth it self will ye not confess him Did the Angels convey to thee the books of Abraham When they entred into his House they saluted him he likewise saluted them made signs to his servants to bring a fat Calf roasted which he presented to them he said unto them Wherefore do ye not eat And was afraid in his mind of their coming They said Fear not we are the Messengers of God they declared to him that he should have a Son that should be a great personage Then his wife drew near crying with a loud voice and smiting her Face said One that is barren beareth no Child they said The thing shall come to pass as we have spoken thy Lord ordaineth what pleaseth him and knoweth all Abraham said unto them O ye Messengers of God! what is your design They replied We are sent from God to destroy the Cities inhabited by the wicked and cast upon them stones of Fire whereon are inscribed the names of them that they shall strike We will cause all the Righteous to depart from among them if we find there but one Family of Righteous we will there leave an example to Posterity for them that fear the torments of Hell. Moses is a sign of our omnipotency we sent him to Pharaoh with reasons clear and intelligible he despised my Commandments and said That Moses was a Magician and possessed of the Devil but we surprised him and drowned his People to his great displeasure Aad is an example of our Omnipotency We sent an
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