The Koran
CHAPTER XV.
ENTITLED, AL HEJR; REVEALED AT MECCA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
A. L. R. These are the signs of the book, and of the (XIV.) perspicuous
Koran. The time may come when the unbelievers shall wish that they had
been Moslems. Suffer them to eat and to enjoy themselves in this world;
and let hope entertain them, but they shall hereafter know their folly.
We have not destroyed any city, but a fixed term of repentance was appointed
them. No nation shall be punished before their time shall be come; neither
shall they be respited after. The Meccans say, O thou to whom the admonition
hath been sent down, thou art certainly possessed with a devil: wouldest
thou not have come unto us with an attendance of angels, if thou hadst
spoken truth? Answer, we send not down the angels, unless on a just occasion,
nor should they be then respited any longer. We have surely sent down the
Koran; and we will certainly preserve the same from corruption. We have
heretofore sent apostles before thee, among the ancient sects: and there
came no apostle unto them, but they laughed him to scorn. In the same manner
will we put it into the hearts of the wicked Meccans to scoff at their
prophet: they shall not believe on him; and the sentence of the nations
of old hath been executed heretofore. If we should open a gate in the heaven
above them, and they should ascend thereto all the day long, they would
surely say, Our eyes are only dazzled; or rather we are a people deluded
by enchantments. We have placed the twelve signs in the heaven, and have
set them out in various figures, for the observation of spectators; and
we guard them from every devil driven away with stones; except him who
listeneth by stealth, at whom a visible flame is darted. We have also spread
forth the earth, and thrown thereon stable mountains; and we have caused
every kind of vegetables to spring forth in the same, according to a determinate
weight: and we have provided therein necessaries of life for you, and for
him whom ye do not sustain. There is no one thing but the storehouses thereof
are in our hands; and we distribute not the same otherwise than in a determinate
measure. We also send the winds driving the pregnant clouds, and we send
down from heaven water, whereof we give you to drink, and which ye keep
not in store. Verily we give life, and we put to death; and we are the
heirs of all things. We know those among you who go before; and we know
those who stay behind. And thy Lord shall gather them together at the last
day; for he is knowing and wise. We created man of dried clay, of black
mud, formed into shape: and we had before created the devil of subtle fire.
And remember when thy Lord said before the angels, Verily I am about to
create man of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape; when therefore
I shall have completely formed him, and shall have breathed of my spirit
into him; do ye fall down and worship him. And all the angels worshipped
Adam together, except Eblis, who refused to be with those who worshipped
him. And God said unto him, O Eblis, what hindered thee from being with
those who worshipped Adam? He answered, It is not fit that I should worship
man, whom thou hast created of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape.
God said, Get thee therefore hence; for thou shalt be driven away with
stones: and a curse shall be on thee, until the day of judgment. The devil
said, O Lord, give me respite until the day of resurrection. God answered,
Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited until the day of the
appointed time. The devil replied, O Lord, because thou hast seduced me,
I will surely tempt them to disobedience in the earth; and I will seduce
them all, except such of them as shall be thy chosen servants. God said,
This is the right way with me. Verily as to my servants, thou shalt have
no power over them; but over those only who shall be seduced, and who shall
follow thee. And hell is surely denounced unto them all: it hath seven
gates; unto every gate a distinct company of them shall be assigned. But
those who fear God shall dwell in gardens, amidst fountains. The angels
shall say unto them, Enter ye therein in peace and security. And we will
remove all grudges from their breasts; they shall be as brethren, sitting
over against one another on couches: weariness shall not affect them therein,
neither shall they be cast out thence for ever. Declare unto my servants
that I am the gracious, the merciful God; and that my punishment is a grievous
punishment. And relate unto them the history of Abraham’s guests. When
they went in unto him, and said, Peace be unto thee, he answered, Verily
we are afraid of you: and they replied, Fear not; we bring thee the promise
of a wise son. He said, Do ye bring me the promise of a son now old age
hath overtaken me? what is it therefore that ye tell me? They said, We
have told thee the truth; be not therefore one of those who despair. He
answered, And who despaireth of the mercy of God, except those who err?
And he said, What is your errand therefore, O messengers of God? They answered,
Verily we are sent to destroy a wicked people: but as for the family of
Lot, we will save them all, except his wife; we have decreed that she shall
be one of those who remain behind to be destroyed with the infidels. And
when the messengers came to the family of Lot, he said unto them, Verily
ye are people who are unknown to me. They answered, But we are come unto
thee to execute that sentence, concerning which your fellow-citizens doubted:
we tell thee a certain truth; and we are messengers of veracity. Therefore
lead forth thy family, in some time of the night; and do thou follow behind
them, and let none of you turn back; but go whether ye are commanded. And
we gave him this command; because the utmost remnant of those people was
to be cut off in the morning. And the inhabitants of the city came unto
Lot, rejoicing at the news of the arrival of some strangers. And he said
unto them, Verily these are my guests, wherefore do not disgrace me by
abusing them; but fear God, and put me not to shame. They answered, Have
we not forbidden thee from entertaining or protecting any man? Lot replied,
These are my daughters; therefore rather make use of them, if ye be resolved
to do what ye purpose. As thou livest they wander in their folly. Wherefore
a terrible storm from heaven assailed them at sunrise: and we turned the
city upside down; and we rained on them stones of baked clay. Verily herein
are signs unto men of sagacity: and those cities were punished, to point
out a right way for men to walk in. Verily herein is a sign unto the true
believers. The inhabitants of the wood near Midian were also ungodly; wherefore
we took vengeance on them. And both of them were destroyed, to serve as
a manifest rule for men to direct their actions by. And the inhabitants
of Al Hejr likewise heretofore accused the messengers of God of imposture:
and we produced our signs unto them, but they retired afar off from the
same. And they hewed houses out of the mountains, to secure themselves.
But a terrible noise from heaven assailed them in the morning: neither
was what they had wrought of any advantage unto them. We have not created
the heavens and the earth, and whatever is contained between them, otherwise
than in justice: and the hour of judgment shall surely come. Wherefore,
O Mohammed, forgive thy people with a gracious forgiveness. Verily thy
Lord is the creator of thee and of them, and knoweth what is most expedient.
We have already brought unto thee seven verses which are frequently to
be repeated, and the glorious Koran. Cast not thine eyes on the good things
which we have bestowed on several of the unbelievers, so as to covet the
same; neither be thou grieved on their account. Behave thyself with meekness
towards the true believers; and say, I am a public preacher. If they believe
not, we will inflict a like punishment on them, as we have inflicted on
the dividers, who distinguished the Koran into different parts; for by
thy Lord, we will demand an account from them all, of that which they have
wrought. Wherefore publish that which thou hast been commanded, and withdraw
from the idolaters. We will surely take thy part against the scoffers,
who associate with God another god; they shall surely know their folly.
And now we well know that thou art deeply concerned on account of that
which they say: but do thou celebrate the praise of thy Lord; and be one
of those who worship; and serve thy Lord, until death shall overtake thee.
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