The Koran
CHAPTER XIV.
ENTITLED, ABRAHAM; REVEALED AT MECCA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
A. L. R. This book have we sent down unto thee, that thou mayest lead men
forth from darkness into light, by the permission of their Lord, into the
glorious and laudable way. God is he unto whom belongeth whatsoever is
in heaven and on earth: and woe be to the infidels, because a grievous
punishment waiteth them; who love the present life above that which is
to come, and turn men aside from the way of God, and seek to render it
crooked: these are in an error far distant from the truth. We have sent
no apostle but with the language of his people, that he might declare their
duty plainly unto them: for God causeth to err whom he pleaseth, and directeth
whom he pleaseth; and he is the mighty, the wise. We formerly sent Moses
with our signs, and commanded him saying, Lead forth thy people from darkness
into light, and remind them of the favors of God: verily therein are signs
unto every patient and grateful person. And call to mind when Moses said
unto his people, Remember the favor of God towards you, when he delivered
you from the people of Pharaoh: they grievously oppressed you; and they
slew your male children, but let your females live: therein was a great
trial from your Lord. And when your Lord declared by the mouth of Moses,
saying, If ye be thankful, I will surely increase my favors towards you;
but if ye be ungrateful, verily my punishment shall be severe. And Moses
said, if ye be ungrateful, and all who are in the earth likewise; verily
God needeth not your thanks, though he deserveth the highest praise. Hath
not the history of the nations your predecessors reached you; namely, of
the people of Noah, and of Ad, and of Thamud, and of those who succeeded
them; whose number none knoweth except God? Their apostles came unto them
with evident miracles; but they clapped their hands to their mouths out
of indignation, and said, We do not believe the message with which ye pretend
to be sent; and we are in a doubt concerning the religion to which ye invite
us, as justly to be suspected. Their apostles answered, Is there any doubt
concerning God, the creator of heaven and earth? He inviteth you to the
true faith that he may forgive you part of your sins, and may respite your
punishment, by granting you space to repent, until an appointed time. They
answered, Ye are but men, like unto us: ye seek to turn us aside from the
gods which our fathers worshipped: wherefore bring us an evident demonstration
by some miracle, that ye speak truth. Their apostles replied unto them,
We are no other than men like unto you; but God is bountiful unto such
of his servants as he pleaseth: and it is not in our power to give you
a miraculous demonstration of our mission, unless by the permission of
God; in God therefore let the faithful trust. And what excuse have we to
allege, that we should not put our trust in God; since he hath directed
us our paths? Wherefore we will certainly suffer with patience the persecution
wherewith ye shall afflict us: in God therefore let those put their confidence
who seek in whom to put their trust. And those who believed not, said unto
their apostles, We will surely expel you out of our land; or ye shall return
unto our religion. And their Lord spake unto them by revelation, saying,
We will surely destroy the wicked doers; and we will cause you to dwell
in the earth, after them. This shall be granted unto him who shall dread
the appearance at my tribunal, and shall fear my threatening. And they
asked assistance of God, and every rebellious perverse person failed of
success. Hell lieth unseen before him, and he shall have filthy water given
him to drink: he shall sup it up by little and little, and he shall not
easily let it pass his throat, because of its nauseousness; death also
shall come upon him from every quarter, yet he shall not die; and before
him shall there stand prepared a grievous torment. This is the likeness
of those who believe not in their Lord. Their works are as ashes, which
the wind violently scattereth in a stormy day: they shall not be able to
obtain any solid advantage from that which they have wrought. This is an
error most distant from truth. Dost thou not see that God hath created
the heavens and the earth in wisdom. If he please, he can destroy you,
and produce a new creature in your stead: neither will this be difficult
with God. And they shall all come forth into the presence of God at the
last day: and the weak among them shall say unto those who behaved themselves
arrogantly, Verily we were your followers on earth; will ye not therefore
avert from us some part of the divine vengeance? They shall answer, If
God had directed us aright, we had certainly directed you. It is equal
unto us whether we bear our torments impatiently, or whether we endure
them with patience: for we have no way to escape. And Satan shall say,
after judgment shall have been given, Verily God promised you a promise
of truth: and I also made you n promise; but I deceived you. Yet I had
not any power over you to compel you; but I called you only, and ye answered
me: wherefore accuse not me, but accuse yourselves. I cannot assist you;
neither can ye assist me. Verily I do now renounce your having associated
me with God heretofore. A grievous punishment is prepared for the unjust.
But they who shall have believed and wrought righteousness, shall be introduced
into gardens, wherein rivers flow; they shall remain therein for ever,
by the permission of their Lord; and their salutation therein shall be,
Peace! Dost thou not see how God putteth forth a parable; representing
a good word, as a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed in the earth, and
whose branches reach unto heaven; which bringeth forth its fruit in all
seasons, by the will of its Lord? God propoundeth parables unto men, that
they may be instructed. And the likeness of an evil world is as an evil
tree; which is torn up from the face of the earth, and hath no stability.
God shall confirm them who believe, by the steadfast word of faith, both
in this life and in that which is to come: but God shall lead the wicked
into error; for God doth that which he pleaseth. Hast thou not considered
those who have changed the grace of God to infidelity, and cause their
people to descend into the house of perdition, namely, into hell? They
shall be thrown to burn therein; and an unhappy dwelling shall it be. They
also set up idols as copartners with God, that they might cause men to
stray from his path. Say unto them, Enjoy the pleasures of this life for
a time; but your departure hence shall be into hell fire. Speak unto my
servants who have believed, that they be assiduous at prayer, and give
alms out of that which we have bestowed on them, both privately and in
public; before the day cometh, wherein there shall be no buying nor selling,
neither any friendship. It is God who hath created the heavens and the
earth; and causeth water to descend from heaven, and by means thereof produceth
fruits for your sustenance: and by his command he obligeth the ships to
sail in the sea for your service; and he also forceth the rivers to supply
your uses: he likewise compelleth the sun and the moon, which diligently
perform their courses, to serve you; and hath subjected the day and the
night to your service. He giveth you of everything which ye ask him; and
if ye attempt to reckon up the favors of God, ye shall not be able to compute
the same. Surely man is unjust and ungrateful. Remember when Abraham said,
O Lord, make this land a place of security; and grant that I and my children
may avoid the worship of idols; for they, O Lord, have seduced a great
number of men. Whoever therefore shall follow me, he shall be of me; and
whosoever shall disobey me; verily thou wilt be gracious and merciful.
O Lord, I have caused some of my offspring to settle in an unfruitful valley,
near thy holy house, O Lord, that they may be constant at prayer. Grant,
therefore, that the hearts of some men may be affected with kindness toward
them; and do thou bestow on them all sorts of fruits; that they may give
thanks. O Lord, thou knowest whatsoever we conceal, and whatsoever we publish;
for nothing is hidden from God, either on earth, or in heaven. Praise be
unto God, who hath given me, in my old age, Ismael and Isaac: for my Lord
is the hearer of supplication. O Lord, grant that I may be an observer
of prayer, and a part of my posterity also, O Lord; and receive my supplication.
O Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and the faithful, on the day whereon
an account shall be taken. Think not, O prophet, that God is regardless
of what the ungodly do. He only deferreth their punishment unto the day
whereon men’s eyes shall be fixed: they shall hasten forward, at the voice
of the angel calling to judgment, and shall lift up their heads; they shall
not be able to turn their sight from the object whereon it shall be fixed,
and their hearts shall be void of sense, through excessive terror. Wherefore
do thou threaten men with the day, whereon their punishment shall be inflicted
on them, and whereon those who have acted unjustly shall say, O Lord, give
us respite unto a term near at hand; and we will obey thy call, and we
will follow thy apostles. But it shall be answered unto them, Did ye not
swear heretofore, that no reverse should befall you? yet ye dwelt in the
dwellings of those who had treated their own souls unjustly; and it appeared
plainly unto you how we had dwelt with them; and we propounded their destruction
as examples unto you. They employ their utmost subtlety to oppose the truth;
but their subtlety is apparent unto God, who is able to frustrate their
designs; although their subtlety were so great, that the mountains might
be moved thereby. Think not therefore, O prophet, that God will be contrary
to his promise of assistance, made unto his apostles; for God is mighty,
able to avenge. The day will come, when the earth shall he changed into
another earth, and the heavens into other heavens; and men shall come forth
from their graves to appear before the only, the mighty God. And thou shalt
see the wicked on that day bound together in fetters: their inner garments
shall be of pitch, and fire shall cover their faces; that God may reward
every soul, according to what it shall have deserved; for God is swift
in taking an account. This is a sufficient admonition unto men, that they
may be warned thereby, and that they may know that there is but one God;
and that those who are endued with understanding may consider.
  |