The Koran
CHAPTER LXXII.
ENTITLED, THE GENII; REVEALED AT MECCA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
SAY, It hath been revealed unto me that a company of genii attentively
heard me reading the Koran, and said, Verily we have heard an admirable
discourse; which directeth unto the right institution: wherefore we believe
therein, and we will by no means associate any other with our Lord. He
(may the majesty of our Lord be exalted!) hath taken no wife, nor hath
he begotten any issue. Yet the foolish among us hath spoken that which
is extremely false of God; but we verily thought that neither man nor genius
would by any means have uttered a lie concerning God. And there are certain
men who fly for refuge unto certain of the genii: but they increase their
folly and transgression: and they also thought, as ye thought, that God
would not raise any one to life. And we formerly attempted to pry into
what was transacting in heaven; but we found the same filled with a strong
guard of angels, and with flaming darts: and we sat on some of the seats
thereof to hear the discourse of its inhabitants; but whoever listeneth
now findeth a flame laid in ambush for him, to guard the celestial confines.
And we know not whether evil be hereby intended against those who are in
the earth, or whether their Lord intendeth to direct them aright. There
are some among us who are upright; and there are some among us who are
otherwise: we are of different ways. And we verily thought that we could
by no means frustrate God in the earth, neither could we escape him by
flight: wherefore, when we had heard the direction contained in the Koran,
we believed therein. And whoever believeth in his Lord, need not fear any
diminution of his reward, nor any injustice. There are some Moslems among
us; and there are others of us who swerve from righteousness. And whoso
embraceth Islam, they earnestly seek true direction; but those who swerve
from righteousness shall be fuel for hell. If they tread in the way of
truth, we will surely water them with abundant rain: that we may prove
them thereby; but whoso turneth aside from the admonition of his Lord,
him will he send into a severe torment. Verily the places of worship are
set apart unto God: wherefore invoke not any other therein together with
God. When the servant of God stood up to invoke him, it wanted little but
that the genii had pressed on him in crowds, to hear him rehearse the Koran.
Say, Verily I call upon my Lord only, and I associate no other god with
him. Say, Verily I am not able, of myself, to procure you either hurt or
a right institution. Say, Verily none can protect me against God; neither
shall I find any refuge besides him. I can do no more than publish what
hath been revealed unto me from God, and his messages. And whosoever shall
be disobedient unto God and his apostle, for him is the fire of hell prepared;
they shall remain therein for ever. Until they see the vengeance with which
they are threatened, they will not cease their opposition: but then shall
they know who were the weaker in a protector, and the fewer in number.
Say, I know not whether the punishment with which ye are threatened be
nigh, or whether my Lord will appoint for it a distant term. He knoweth
the secrets of futurity; and he doth not communicate his secrets unto any,
except an apostle in whom he is well pleased: and he causeth a guard of
angels to march before him and behind him, that he may know that they have
executed the commissions of their Lord: he comprehendeth whatever is with
them, and counteth all things by number.
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