Stanley Lane-Poole

NOTE.

The following extracts were all translated by Mr. Lane, with the exception of those to which an obelus (†) is prefixed, for which I alone am responsible. In the text, the words in italics are inserted from the commentary of the JelÁleyn; words in square brackets [] are Mr. Lane’s additions, inserted where the difference between the Arabic and English idioms required them.

In the foot-notes, words in italics are from the commentary of the JelÁleyn; notes followed by the initial S., from Sale’s Koran; the letters B., Z., and A. F., following S. in parenthesis, point to the authorities from which Sale’s note was derived, the great commentaries of El-BeydÁwee and Ez-Zamakhsharee, and Abu-l-FidÁ’s Life of Mo?ammad, respectively. The other notes are Mr. Lane’s, either from the original edition or extracted from his Modern Egyptians (5th 1 vol. ed. 1860), or his notes to the Thousand and One Nights (2d ed. 1859); except those enclosed in square brackets, which are due to myself.

The numbers at the end of each extract refer to the chapter (soorah) and verse in FlÜgel’s text of the ?ur-Án (LipsiÆ, 1869).

S. L. P.

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PART THE FIRST.

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THE OPENING PRAYER.26

EL-FÁTI?AH.

I.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds,27

The Compassionate, the Merciful,

The King of the day of judgment.

Thee do we worship, and of Thee seek we help.28

Guide us in the right way,

The way of those to whom Thou hast been gracious,

Not of those with whom Thou art wroth, nor of the erring.

(i.)

PREMONITION.

II.

A.L.M.29 Respecting this Book there is no doubt;30 it is a guidance for them that fear Him,

Who believe in the unseen,31 and perform the prayer, and of what We have bestowed on them expend,

And who believe in that which hath been sent down to thee,32 and what hath been sent down before thee,33 and have firm assurance of the life to come.

Those follow a right direction from their Lord, and those are they who shall prosper.

As for those who have disbelieved, it will be equal to them whether thou admonish them or admonish them not: they will not believe.

God hath sealed their hearts and their ears, and over their eyes is a covering, and for them is [ordained] a great punishment.

(ii. 1-6.)

GOD.

III.

Say, He is God, One [God];

God, the Eternal.

He begetteth not nor is begotten,

And there is none equal unto Him.

(cxii.)34

IV.

The Throne-Verse.35

God! There is no God but He, the Ever-Living, the Ever-Subsisting. Slumber seizeth Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongeth whatsoever is in the Heavens and whatsoever is in the Earth. Who is he that shall intercede with Him, unless by His permission? He knoweth what [hath been] before them and what [shall be] after them, and they shall not compass aught of His knowledge save what He willeth. His Throne comprehendeth the Heavens and the Earth,36 and the care of them burdeneth Him not. And He is the High, the Great.

(ii. 256.)

V.

†Say, O God, to whom belongeth dominion, Thou givest dominion to whom Thou wilt, and from whom Thou wilt Thou takest it away; Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt, and whom Thou wilt Thou humblest. In Thy hand is good. Verily Thou art all-powerful.

Thou causest the night to pass into the day, and Thou causest the day to pass into the night; and Thou bringest forth the living from the dead, and Thou bringest forth the dead from the living; and thou givest sustenance to whom Thou wilt without measure.

(iii. 25, 26.)

VI.

Blessed be He in whose hand is the dominion and who is all-powerful;37

Who hath created death and life, that He may prove you, which of you [will be] best in works: and He is the Mighty, the Very-Forgiving:

Who hath created seven heavens, one above another. Thou seest not any fault in the creation of the Compassionate. But lift up the eyes again to heaven. Dost thou see any fissures?

Then lift up the eyes again twice; the sight shall return unto thee dull and dim.

(lxvii. 1-4.)

VII.

Verily your Lord is God, who created the heavens and the earth in six days: then He ascended the throne. He causeth the night to cover the day; it followeth it swiftly: and He created the sun and the moon and the stars, made subject utterly to His command. Do not the whole creation and command belong to Him? Blessed be God, the Lord of the Worlds.

(vii. 52.)

VIII.

We have placed in heaven the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and adorned them for the beholders with the constellations;

And We have guarded them (by means of shooting stars) from every accursed devil,38

Excepting him who listeneth by stealth, whom a manifest shooting star pursueth.

We have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon firm mountains,39 and We have caused to spring forth in it every kind [of green thing] weighed.40

And We have provided for you therein necessaries of life, and for him whom ye do not sustain;41

And there is not a thing but the storehouses thereof are with Us, and We send it not down save in determined quantities.

We also send the fertilizing winds,42 and We send down water from heaven, and give you to drink thereof; and ye are not the storers of it.

And verily We give life and death, and We are the heirs of all the creation.

We also know those who have gone before you, and We know those who follow after [you].

And verily thy Lord will assemble them together: for He is Wise, Knowing.

(xv. 16-25.)

IX.

And your God is One God: there is no god but He, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Verily in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the varying of night and day, and the ships that course upon the sea laden with what is profitable to mankind, and the water that God hath sent down from heaven, quickening the earth thereby after its death, and scattering about it all kinds of beasts; and in the changing of the winds, and the clouds that are compelled to do service between heaven and earth, are signs unto a people who understand.

Yet among men are those who take to themselves, beside God, idols, which they love as with the love for God: but those who have believed are more loving towards God than these towards their idols.

(ii. 158-160.)

X.

Verily God causeth the grain to come forth, and the date-stone: He bringeth forth the living from the dead,43 and He bringeth forth the dead from the living:44 This is God; then wherefore are ye turned away?

He causeth the dawn to appear, and hath ordained the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for reckoning time: this is the appointment of the Mighty, the Wise.

And it is He who hath ordained for you the stars, that ye may be guided by them in the darknesses of the land and of the sea: We have clearly shown the signs of Our power unto the people who know.45

And it is He who hath produced you from one soul, and there is a place of rest and of storing:46 We have clearly shown the signs to the people who understand.

And it is He who hath sent down water from heaven, and We have produced thereby the germs of everything, and We have caused the green thing to come forth therefrom, from which We draw forth grains massed; and from the palm-tree, from its fruit-branch, clusters of dates heaped together:47 and gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, like one another48 and not like.49 Look ye at their fruits when they bear fruit, and their ripening. Verily therein are signs unto the people who believe.

Yet they have set up the Jinn50 as partners of God, though He hath created them, and without knowledge have they falsely attributed to Him sons and daughters. Extolled be His purity, and high be He exalted above that which they attribute [to Him]!

He is the Author of the heavens and the earth. How then should He have offspring, when He hath no consort, and hath created everything and knoweth everything?

This is God your Lord. There is no God but He, the Creator of everything: therefore worship ye Him;51 and He is guardian over everything.

The eyes see Him not, but He seeth the eyes: and He is the Gracious, the Knowing.

(vi. 95-103.)

XI.

It is He who maketh the lightning to appear unto you, [causing] fear and hope of rain, and formeth the pregnant clouds.

And the thunder proclaimeth His perfection with His praise; and [likewise] the angels, in fear of Him. And He sendeth the thunderbolts, and striketh with them whom He pleaseth, whilst they dispute concerning God; for He is mighty in power.52

(xiii. 13, 14.)

XII.

With Him are the keys of the hidden things: none knoweth them but He: and He knoweth whatsoever is on the land and in the sea, and there falleth not a leaf but He knoweth it, nor a grain in the dark parts of the earth, nor a moist thing nor a dry thing, but [it is noted] in a distinct writing.53

And it is He who taketh your souls at night, and knoweth what ye have gained in the day; then He reviveth you therein,54 that an appointed time55 may be fulfilled. Then unto Him shall ye return: then will He declare unto you what ye have done.

And He is the Supreme56 over His servants, and He sendeth watchers over you,57 until when death cometh unto any one of you, Our messengers take his soul, and they fail not.

Then are they58 returned unto God their Lord, the True.59 Doth not judgment belong to Him? And He is the most quick of reckoners.

Say,60 Who delivereth you from the darknesses of the land and of the sea, when ye supplicate Him humbly and in secret, saying, ‘If Thou deliver us from these dangers, we will assuredly be of [the number of] the thankful’?

Say, God delivereth you from them and from every affliction.

(vi. 59-64.)

XIII.

Verily God will not forgive the associating with Him [any other being as a god], but will forgive other sins unto whom He pleaseth; and whoso associateth [another] with God hath wrought a great wickedness.

(iv. 51.)

XIV.

They61 say, ‘The Compassionate hath gotten offspring:’ Ye have done an impious thing.

It wanteth little but that the heavens be rent thereat, and that the earth cleave asunder, and that the mountains fall down in pieces.62

For that they have attributed offspring to the Compassionate, when it beseemeth not the Compassionate to get offspring.

There is none of all that are in the heavens and the earth but he shall come unto the Compassionate as a servant.63 He hath known them and numbered them with an exact numbering.

And each of them shall come unto Him on the day of resurrection, alone.64

†Verily those who have believed and have done the things that are right, on them the Compassionate will bestow [His] love.

(xix. 91-96.)

XV.

O men of Mekkeh, a parable is propounded, wherefore hearken unto it. Verily, those idols which ye invoke beside God can never create a fly, although they assembled for it: and if the fly carry off from them aught,65 they cannot recover the same from it. Weak are the seeker and the sought!

(xxii. 72.)

XVI.

The likeness of those who take to themselves Tutelars66 instead of God is as the likeness of the spider, which maketh for herself a dwelling; and the frailest of dwellings surely is the dwelling of the spider! If they knew67——!

Verily God knoweth whatever thing they invoke in His stead; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

And these parables68 we propound unto men; but none understand them except the wise.

God hath created the heavens and the earth in truth: verily therein is a sign unto the believers.

(xxix. 40-43.)

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MO?AMMAD AND THE ?UR-ÁN.

XVII.

XVIII.

†By the morning-brightness,

And by the still of night,72

Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither hath He hated thee.

And surely the Future will be better for thee than the Present,

And thy Lord will give to thee, and thou wilt be well-pleased.

Did He not find thee an orphan, and sheltered thee?

And He found thee erring, and guided thee,

And found thee needy, and enriched thee.

Then, as to the orphan, oppress him not;

And as to him that asketh of thee, chide him not away;

And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell it then [abroad].

And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell it then [abroad].

(xciii.)

XIX.

Say, I do not say unto you, ‘With me73 are the treasures of God,’ nor, ‘I know what is unseen,’ nor do I say unto you, ‘Verily I am an angel.’ I follow not [aught] but what is revealed unto me.

(vi. 50.)

XX.

†Say, I am only a man like unto you. It is only revealed unto me that your God is One God. He then that hopeth to meet his Lord, let him work a righteous work, and in the worship of his Lord let him not associate any [other god].

(xviii. 110.).

XXI.

†Say, If I err, only against myself shall I err, but if I am rightly-guided, it [is] of what my Lord hath revealed to me. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Near-at-hand!

(xxxiv. 49.)

XXII.

Mo?ammad is nought but a Messenger.74 The Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will ye turn round upon your heels?75 But he who turneth round upon his heels will not injure God a whit;76 and God will reward the thankful.

(iii. 138.)

XXIII.

Verily We have revealed unto thee as we revealed unto Noah and the prophets after him, and as We revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and We gave unto David the Psalms.

(iv. 161.)

XXIV. 77 Say unto them, Do ye argue with us concerning God, when He is our Lord and your Lord,78 and when we have our works and ye have your works, and when we are sincere towards Him?

Nay, do ye say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say unto them, Are ye the more knowing, or is God?79 And who is more unrighteous than they who conceal a testimony that they have from God?80 But God is not heedless of that which ye do.

(ii. 133, 134.)

XXV.

Remember, when Jesus the son of Mary said, ‘O children of Israel, Verily I am the Messenger of God unto you, confirming the Law which [was] before me, and giving good tidings of a Messenger who shall come after me, whose name [shall be] A?mad.’81 But when he (A?mad) came unto them with evident proofs, they said, ‘This is manifest magic!’

And who is more unrighteous than he who forgeth falsehood against God, when he is invited unto El-IslÁm? And God directeth not the unrighteous people.

They desire to put out the light of God with their mouths: but God will perfect His light, though the unbelievers be loth thereto.

It is He who hath sent His messenger with the direction and the religion of truth, that He may exalt above every religion, though the polytheists be loth thereto.

(lxi. 6-9.)

XXVI.

Those to whom We have given the Scripture know him (Mo?ammad) as they know their children.82 But a party of them do conceal the truth83 while they know.

(ii. 141.)

XXVII.

The Jews said unto Mo?ammad, ‘Verily God hath enjoined us84 that we should not believe an apostle until he bring us a sacrifice which fire shall devour.’

Say, Apostles have come unto you before me with manifest proofs,85 and with that ye have mentioned:86 then wherefore did ye slay them, if ye be speakers of truth?

(iii. 179, 180.)

XXVIII.

The unbelievers of Mekkeh have sworn by God, with the mightiest of their oaths, that if a sign come unto them they will assuredly believe therein. Say, Signs are only with God. And what will make you to know?87 Verily if they come they will not believe.

And We will turn away their hearts and their eyes,88 as they believed not therein the first time; and We will leave them in their transgression, wandering about in perplexity.

And though We had sent down unto them the angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and We had gathered together about them everything in tribes, they had not believed unless God had pleased; but the greater number of them know not.

(vi. 109-111.)

XXIX.

And they have said, ‘O thou unto whom the Admonition89 hath been sent down, thou art certainly possessed by a Jinnee.90

Why dost thou not come unto us with the angels, if thou be of those that speak truth?’

We send not down the angels save with justice,91 nor would they then be respited.

Verily, We have sent down the Admonition, and We will surely preserve it.

And We have sent Messengers before thee among the sects of the former generations;

And there came not unto them any Messenger but they had him in derision:

In like manner will We put it into the hearts of the sinners of Mekkeh to do so;

They shall not believe in him, and the punishment of the former generations hath passed.

And if We should open above them a gate in heaven, and they should pass the day mounting up to it,

They would say, ‘Our eyes are only intoxicated, or rather we are a people enchanted.’

(xv. 6-15.)

XXX.

XXXI.

Say, Verily if mankind and the Jinn assembled together for the purpose of producing the like of this ?ur-Án,94 they could not produce the like thereof, although they helped one another.95

And We have explained unto men in this ?ur-Án every kind of parable,96 but the greater number of men have refused [all else] save unbelief,

And have said, ‘We will by no means believe in thee until thou cause a fountain to gush forth for us from the earth,

Or thou have a garden of palm-trees and grapes, and thou cause rivers to spring forth in the midst thereof in abundance,

Or thou cause heaven to fall down upon us, as thou hast pretended, in pieces, or thou bring God and the angels before us,

Or thou have a house of gold, or thou ascend into heaven, and we will not believe thy ascending until thou cause a book to descend unto us which we may read.’ Say, Extolled be the perfection of my Lord! Am I [aught] save a man, [sent] as a Messenger?

And nothing hath hindered men from believing when the direction hath come unto them, but their saying, ‘Hath God sent a man as a Messenger?’97

Say, If there were upon the earth angels walking at ease,98 We had sent down unto them from heaven an angel as a Messenger.99

Say, God is a sufficient witness between me and you: for He knoweth and seeth His servants.

(xvii. 90-98.)

XXXII.

And this ?ur-Án is not an invention100 of one who is not God, but it hath been sent down as a confirmation of those books which have been before it, and an explanation of the Scripture—there is no doubt thereof—from the Lord of the Worlds.

Do they say, ‘He101 hath forged it?’ Say, Then bring ye a Soorah102 like unto it and call whom ye can,103 other than God, if ye speak truth.

Nay they have charged with falsehood that which they comprehend not, and the explanation thereof104 hath not yet come unto them. In like manner did those who were before them charge their Messengers with falsehood; but see how was the end of the offenders!

(x. 38-40.)

XXXIII.

If ye be in doubt concerning that which We have sent down unto Our servant Mo?ammad,105 bring ye a Soorah like unto it,106 and invoke your witnesses,107 other than God, if ye be speakers of truth.

But if ye do it not (and do it ye shall not), fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones: it is prepared for the unbelievers.

(ii. 21, 22.)

XXXIV.

Whatsoever108 verse We abrogate or cause thee to forget, We will produce one better than it or like unto it. Dost thou not know that God is all-powerful?

Dost thou not know that to God belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and that beside God ye have no protector or defender?

(ii. 100, 101.)

XXXV.

When We substitute a verse in the stead of a verse (and God best knoweth what He revealeth), they say, ‘Thou art but a forger!’—but the greater number of them know not!

Say, The Holy Spirit Gabriel hath brought it down from thy Lord with truth, to stablish those who have believed, and as a direction and good tidings unto the Muslims.

And We well know that they say, ‘Only a man109 teacheth him.’ The tongue of him to whom they incline is foreign, and this is the perspicuous Arabic tongue.

(xvi. 103-105).

XXXVI.

Say, If the sea were ink, for writing the words of my Lord, the sea would be dried up or ever the words of my Lord were exhausted; and [so] if we brought its like in aid.110

(xviii. 109).

THE RESURRECTION, PARADISE, AND HELL.

XXXVII.

(lvi. 1-56.)

XLIV.

Verily We have prepared for the offenders fire, the smoke of which shall encompass them; and if they ask relief, they shall be relieved with water like the dregs of oil, which shall scald their faces. Miserable shall be the drink, and evil shall be the couch.

As for those who have believed and done the things that are right, verily We will not suffer the reward of him that hath done well to perish:

For these are gardens of perpetual abode, beneath them133 shall rivers run; they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and shall wear green garments of fine brocade and of thick brocade, reclining therein on the thrones. Excellent shall be the reward, and pleasant shall be the couch.

(xviii. 28-30.)

XLV.

Call to mind the day when We will cause the mountains to pass away and thou shalt see the earth plain; and We will assemble them134 and not leave of them any one.

And they shall be set before thy Lord in ranks: ‘Now are ye come unto Us as We created you the first time.135 Nay, ye thought that We would not perform [Our] promise to you.’136

And the book shall be put [in every man’s hand], and thou shalt see the sinners fearful because of that which is [written] therein, and they shall say, ‘O woe is us! what meaneth this book? It leaveth neither a small sin nor a great sin, but it enumerateth it!’ And they shall find that which they shall have wrought present;137 and thy Lord will not deal unjustly with any one.

(xviii. 45-47.)

XLVI.

They have not esteemed God with the estimation due unto Him, since the whole earth [shall be] His handful on the day of resurrection, and the heavens [shall be] folded together by His right hand. Extolled be His perfection and high be He exalted above the [things] they associate with Him!

And the trumpet shall be blown, and they that are in the heavens and they that are in the earth shall die, except those whom God shall please. Then it shall be blown another time; and lo, they shall arise, waiting.

And the earth shall shine with the light of its Lord. And the book shall be placed, and the prophets shall be brought and the witnesses, and judgment shall be given between them with truth, and they shall not be treated unjustly.

And every soul shall be fully paid the reward of what it hath done, and He well knoweth what they do.

And those who have disbelieved shall be driven in troops unto hell, until when they come to it, its gates shall be opened, and its guardians shall say unto them, ‘Did not Messengers from among you come unto you rehearsing the signs of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this your day?’ They shall answer, ‘Yea:’ (But the sentence of punishment138 hath been justly pronounced against the unbelievers:)

It shall be said, ‘Enter ye the gates of hell to remain therein for ever:’ and evil shall be the abode of the proud.

And those who have feared their Lord shall be urged on in troops unto paradise, until when they come unto it, its gates are already opened, and its guardians say unto them: ‘Peace be on you! Ye have been good: therefore enter it to abide therein for ever.’

And they shall say, ‘Praise be to God, who hath performed unto us His promise, and hath made us to inherit the land, that we may dwell in Paradise wheresoever we please; and how excellent is the reward of the workers!’139

And thou shalt see the angels encompassing the throne, extolling the perfection with the praise of their Lord. And judgment shall be given between them140 with truth: and it shall be said,‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the Worlds!’

(xxxix. 67-75.)

XLVII.

Paradise shall be brought near unto the pious, to a place not distant from them, so that they shall see it.

And it shall be said unto them, ‘This is what ye have been promised, unto every one who hath earnestly turned himself unto God and kept His laws,

Who hath feared the Compassionate in secret, and come with a penitent heart:

Enter it in peace: this is the Day of Eternity.’

(l. 30-33.)

XLVIII.

†Fairseeming to men is the love of pleasures from women and children, and hoarded riches of gold and silver, and pastured141 horses, and flocks, and corn-fields. Such is the enjoyment of this world’s life! But God, goodly is the home with Him!

Say, Shall I tell you of better things than these prepared in the presence of their Lord for those that fear [God]? Theirs shall be gardens beneath which rivers run, and in which they shall abide for ever, and stainless wives, and acceptance with God: for God regardeth His servants,

—Who say, ‘O our Lord, verily we have believed; forgive us then our sins, and keep us from the torment of the fire,’—

The patient, and the truthful, and the lowly, and the charitable, and they who seek pardon at each daybreak.

(iii. 12-15.)

XLIX.

†And repute not those slain in God’s cause142 to be dead: nay, alive with their Lord, they are provided for;

Joyful in what God of His bounty hath vouchsafed them, and rejoicing for those that follow after them, but have not yet overtaken them, that on them no fear shall come, neither shall they grieve;

Rejoicing at the favour of God and His bounty, and that God suffereth not the reward of the faithful to perish.

(iii. 163-165.)

L.

Whosoever doeth the things that are right, whether male or female, being a believer,—these shall enter paradise, and shall not be wronged in the least degree.

(iv. 123.)

LI.

For those who have disbelieved in their Lord [is prepared] the punishment of hell; and evil [shall be] the journey.143

When they shall be cast into it they shall hear it braying,144 while it boileth, well-nigh bursting with fury.

(lxvii. 6-8.)

LII.

If thou shouldst see145 those who have offended146 when they see the punishment!147—for power belongeth altogether unto God, and God is severe in punishing:

When those who have been followed will declare themselves clear of those who have followed [them],148 when they have seen the punishment, and the ties [that bound them together] shall be severed from them:

And those who have followed shall say, ‘O that there were for us a return to the world! then would we declare ourselves clear of them, like as they have now declared themselves clear of us!’ After this manner will God show them their evil works, for which [they shall pour forth] lamentations; and they shall not come forth from the fire.

(ii. 160-162.)

LIII.

And the Devil149 shall say, when the matter shall have been determined,150 ‘Verily God promised you the promise of truth;151 and I promised you,152 but I deceived you: yet had I no power over you;

But I only called you and ye answered me. Therefore blame not me, but blame your own selves. I am not a helper of you, neither are ye helpers of me. Verily I renounce your having associated me with God heretofore.’

(xiv. 26, 27).

LIV.

Verily the hypocrites shall be in the lowest abyss of the fire, and thou shalt not find for them any defender.

(iv. 144.)

LV.

They153 will ask thee respecting the Hour,154 at what time is its coming fixed. Say, The knowledge of it is only with my Lord: none shall manifest it in its time but He. It is grievous in the heavens and in the earth. It shall not come upon you otherwise than suddenly.

They will ask thee as though thou wert well acquainted therewith. Say, The knowledge of it is only with God: but the greater number of men know not!

Say, I possess not for myself power to procure advantage nor to avert mischief, save as God pleaseth: and if I knew things unseen, I should obtain abundance of good, and evil should not happen unto me. I am only a denouncer of threats unto the unbelievers, and an announcer of good tidings unto the people who believe.

(vii. 186-188.)

PREDESTINATION.

LVI.

A soul cannot die unless by permission of God, according to a writing of God, definite as to time.

(iii. 139.)

LVII.

They say [whose companions were slain at the battle of O?od], ‘If aught of the affair had been submitted to us we had not been slain here.’155 Say, Had ye been in your houses, those of you who were decreed to be slain had gone forth to the places where they lie.

(iii. 148.)

LVIII.

Wheresoever ye be, death will overtake you, although you be in lofty towers. If good fortune betide them,156 they say, ‘This is from God!’ But if evil betide them, they say, ‘This is from thee, O Mo?ammad!’ Say, All is from God. And what aileth this people that they are not near to understanding what is said unto them?

Whatsoever good betideth thee, O man, it is from God; and whatsoever evil betideth thee, from thyself is it.

(iv. 80, 81.)

LIX.

†No soul can believe but by the permission of God.

(x. 100.)

LX.

†And whoso willeth taketh the way to his Lord: But ye shall not will it, unless God will it.

(lxxvi. 29, 30.)

LXI.

†Expend in the way of God, and throw not yourselves into destruction.157

(ii. 191.)

ANGELS AND JINN.158

LXII.

They say, ‘The Compassionate hath gotten offspring.’159 Extolled be His purity! Nay, they are honoured servants.

They prevent Him not in speech,160 and according to His command they act.

He knoweth what is before them and what is behind them, and they shall not intercede

Save for whom He shall please, and they fear in dread of Him.

And him161 among them who saith, ‘I am a god beside Him,’ that [angel] We will recompense with Hell.

(xxi. 26-30.)

LXIII.

†Say, It hath been revealed to me that a company of the Jinn listened [to me] and said, ‘Verily we have heard a wonderful discourse162

Which guideth unto right: wherefore we believed in it, and we will by no means associate any one with our Lord....

We tried the heaven, but we found it filled with a mighty garrison and darting flames;

We sat on some of its seats to listen, but whosoever listeneth now findeth a darting flame in ambush for him.

We know not whether evil be meant for them that are on the earth, or whether their Lord intendeth for them a right guidance.

There are among us the good, and among us those who are not so,—we are of various ways.

(lxxii. 1, 2, 8-11.)

TRUE RELIGION AND FALSE.

LXIV.

Verily God commandeth justice and the doing of good and the giving unto the relation: and He forbiddeth wickedness and iniquity and oppression. He admonisheth you that ye may reflect.

(xvi. 92.)163

LXV.

LXVI.