of the Qurán, and the other scriptures and revealed doctrines which we have sent our former apostles to preach, shall hereafter know their folly, (73) when the collars shall be on their necks, and the chains by which they shall be dragged into hell; then shall they be burned in the fire. (74) And it shall be said unto them, Where are the gods which ye associated besides GOD? They shall answer, They have withdrawn themselves from us: yea, we called on nothing heretofore. Thus doth GOD lead the unbelievers into error. (75) This hath befallen you for that ye rejoiced insolently on earth in that which was false; and for that ye were elated with immoderate joy. (76) Enter the gates of hell, to remain therein for ever: and wretched shall be the abode of the haughty! (77) Wherefore persevere with patience, O Muhammad; for the promise of GOD is true. Whether we cause thee to see any part of the punishment with which we have threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before thou see it; before us shall they be assembled at the last day. (78) We have sent a great number of apostles before thee; the histories of some of whom we have related unto thee, and the histories of others of them we have not related unto thee: but no apostle had the power to produce a sign unless by the permission of GOD. When the command of GOD, therefore, shall come, judgment shall be given with truth; and then shall they perish who endeavour to render the signs of God of no effect. 9 || (79) It is GOD who hath given you the cattle, that ye R R 1/4 · may ride on some of them, and may eat of others of them; (73) See notes on chaps. xiii. 6 and xxiii. 105. (74) Nothing. "Seeing an idol is nothing in the world."—Sale, Baidhawi. (78) Apostles before thee, &c. See Prelim. Disc., p. 122 seq., and notes on chap. iv. 162. Unless by the permission of God. But Muhammad himself seems not to have been of the favoured few. See notes on chaps. ii. 118, 119, iii. 184, vi. 34–36, 109, 111, X. 21, &c. (79-81) See chap. xvi. 5 seq. (80) (ye also receive other advantages therefrom;) and that on them ye may arrive at the business proposed in your mind; and on them are carried by land, and on ships by sea. (81) And he showeth you his signs; which, therefore, of the signs of GOD will ye deny? (82) Do they not pass through the earth, and see what hath been the end of those who were before them? They were more numerous than these, and more mighty in strength, and left more considerable monuments of their power in the earth; yet that which they had acquired profited them not. (83) And when their apostle came unto them with evident proof of their mission, they rejoiced in the knowledge which was with them; but that which they mocked at encompassed them. (84) And when they beheld our vengeance, they said, We believe in GOD alone, and we renounce the idols which we associated with him; (85) but their faith availed them not, after they had beholden our vengeance. This was the ordinance of GOD, which was formerly observed in respect to his servants, and then did the unbelievers perish. (82) Compare ver. 22 above. See Rodwell's note here, and Prelim. Disc., pp. 26, 27. (83) They rejoiced, &c. "Being prejudiced in favour of their own erroneous doctrines, and despising the instructions of the prophets." -Sale. (85) Then did the unbelievers perish. Here again the Quraish are" warned against unbelief by the fate of former unbelievers, who, like them, had rejected their prophets, and been destroyed in consequence. This is the burden of the histories of the prophets given in chap. xi. 3 PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. t |