The Koran
CHAPTER LIII.
ENTITLED, THE STAR; REVEALED AT MECCA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
By the star, when it setteth; your companion Mohammed erreth not, nor is
he led astray: neither doth he speak of his own will. It is no other than
a revelation, which hath been revealed unto him. One mighty in power, endued
with understanding, taught it him: and he appeared in the highest part
of the horizon. Afterwards he approached the prophet, and drew near unto
him; until he was at the distance of two bows’ length from him, or yet
nearer: and he revealed unto his servant that which he revealed. The heart
of Mohammed did not falsely represent that which he saw. Will ye therefore
dispute with him concerning that which he saw? He also saw him another
time, by the lote-tree beyond which there is no passing: near it is the
garden of eternal abode. When the lote-tree covered that which it covered,
his eyesight turned not aside, neither did it wander: and he really beheld
some of the greatest signs of his Lord. What think ye of Allat, and al
Uzza, and Manah, that other third goddess? Have ye male children, and God
female? This, therefore, is an unjust partition. They are no other than
empty names, which ye and your fathers have named goddesses. God hath not
revealed concerning them anything to authorize their worship. They follow
no other than a vain opinion, and what their souls desire: yet hath the
true direction come unto them from their Lord. Shall man have whatever
he wisheth for? The life to come and the present life are God’s: and how
many angels soever there be in the heavens, their intercession shall be
of no avail, until after God shall have granted permission unto whom he
shall please and shall accept. Verily they who believe not in the life
to come give unto the angels a female appellation. But they have no knowledge
herein: they follow no other than a bare opinion; and a bare opinion attaineth
not anything of truth. Wherefore withdraw from him who turneth away from
our admonition, and seeketh only the present. life. This is their highest
pitch of knowledge. Verily thy Lord well knoweth him who erreth from his
way; and he well knoweth him who is rightly directed. Unto God belongeth
whatever is in heaven and earth: that he may reward those who do evil,
according to that which they shall have wrought: and may reward those who
do well, with the most excellent reward. As to those who avoid great crimes
and heinous sins, and are guilty only of lighter faults; verily thy Lord
will be extensive in mercy towards them. He well knew you when he produced
you out of the earth, and when ye were embryos in your mothers’ wombs:
wherefore justify not yourselves: he best knoweth the man who feareth him.
What thinkest thou of him who turneth aside from following the truth, and
giveth little, and covetously stoppeth his hand? Is the knowledge of futurity
with him, so that he seeth the same? Hath he not been informed of that
which is contained in the books of Moses, and of Abraham who faithfully
performed his engagements? To wit: that a burdened soul shall not bear
the burden of another; and that nothing shall be imputed to a man for righteousness,
except his own labor; and that his reward shall surely be made manifest
hereafter, and that he shall be rewarded for the same with a most abundant
reward; and that unto thy Lord will be the end of all things; and that
he causeth to laugh, and causeth to weep; and that he putteth to death,
and giveth life; and that he createth the two sexes, the male and the female,
of seed when it is emitted; and that unto him appertaineth another production,
namely, the raising of the dead again to life hereafter; and that he enricheth,
and causeth to acquire possession; and that he is the Lord of the dog-star;
and that he destroyed the ancient tribe of Ad and Thamud, and left not
any of them alive, and also the people of Noah, before them; for they were
most unjust and wicked: and he overthrew the cities which were turned upside
down; and that which covered them, covered them. Which, therefore, of thy
Lord’s benefits, O man, wilt thou call in question? This our apostle is
a preacher like the preachers who preceded him. The approaching day of
judgment draweth near: there is none who can reveal the exact time of the
same, besides God. Do ye, therefore, wonder at this new revelation; and
do ye laugh, and not weep, spending your time in idle diversions? But rather
worship God, and serve him.
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