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you warned by their example? Every thing which they do is recorded in the bocks kept by the guardian angels: and every action both small and great, is written down in the preserved table. Moreover the pious shall awell among gardens and rivers, in the assembly of truth, in the presence of a most potent king.

CHAPTER LV.

INTITLED, THE MERCIFUL; REVEALED AT MECCA.'

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE Merciful hath taught his servant the Korân. He created man: he hath taught him distinct speech.* The sun and the moon run their courses according to a certain rule: and the vegetables which creep on the ground, and the trees submit to his hisposition. He also raised the heaven; and he appointed the balance," that ye should not transgress in respect to the balance: wherefore observe a just weight; and diminish not the balance. And the earth hath he prepared for living creatures: therein are various fruits, and palm-trees bearing sheaths of flowers; and grain having chaff, and leaves. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? He created man of dried clay like an earthen vessel: but he created the genii of fire clear from smoke. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? He is the LORD of the east, and the LORD of the west.* Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? He hath let loose the two seas,† that they meet each another between them is placed a bar which they cannot pa s. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? From them are taken forth unions and lesser pearls.‡ Which, therefore, of your

Most of the commentators doubt whether this chapter was revealed at Mecca or at Medina; or partly at the one place, and partly at the other.

* 66 He endowed them with understanding."-Savary.

"Or justice and equity in mutual dealings.

The words are directed to the two species of rational creatures, men and geuii; the verb and the pronoun being in the dual number.

This verse is intercalated, or repeated by way of burden, throughout the whole chapter, no less than thirty-one times, which was done, as Marracci guesses, in imitation of David. (With respect to this verse, Jaber tells the following story. The envoy of the Lord read to us the chapter intituled The Merciful. When he had ended, perceiving that none of us spoke, he addressed this reproach to us. Why do you remain silent? The genii know better how to answer than you do. Whenever I have read this verse to them, they have exclaimed, Lord, we deny not any of thy benefits. Blessed be the name of the Lord.-Savary.)

The original words are both in the dual number, and signify the different points of the horizon at which the sun rises and sets at the summer and winter solstice. See chap 37 p. 366, note i.

Of salt water and fresh; or the Persian and Mediterranean seas."

"He hath balanced the waters of the two neighbouring seas."-Savary. Both of them furnish pearls and coral.”—Savary.

See Psalm cxxxvi.

'See chap. 25, p. 299.

2 Al Bidâw.

LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? His also are the ships, carrying their sails aloft in the sea like mountains. Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Every creature which liveth on the earth is subject to decay: but the glorious and honourable countenance of thy LORD shall remain for ever. Which, therefore, of your LORD'S lenefits will ye ungratefully deny? Unto him do all creatures which are in heaven and earth make petition: every day is he employed in some new work. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? We will surely attend to judge you, O men and genii, at the last day. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Oye collective body of genii and men, if ye be able to pass out of the confines of heaven and earth, pass forth :* ye shall not pass forth but by absolute power. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungrate fully deny? A flame of fire without smoke, and a smoke without flame shall be sent down upon you; and ye shall not be able to defend your selves therefrom. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? And when the heaven shall be rent in snnder, and shall become red as a rose, and shall melt like ointment: † (Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) man nor genius shall be asked concerning his sin. your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? known by their marks; and they shall be taken by the forelocks, and the feet, and shall be cast into hell. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? This is hell, which the wicked deny as a falsehood: they shall pass to and fro between the same and hot boiling water. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? But for him who dreadeth the tribunal of his LORD are prepared two gardens: (Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) planted with shady trees. Which,

On that day neither Which, therefore, of The wicked shall be

In executing those things which he hath decreed from eternity, by giving life and death, raising one and abasing another, hearing prayers and granting petitions, &c.' To fly from the power, and to avoid the decree of God.

* 66 O ye! men and genii, our vigilant eyes watch all your actions."-Savary.

Or, as the word also signifies, molten brass, which shall be poured on the heads of the damned.

• Or, shall appear like red leather; according to a different signification of the original word.

"When the heaven shall open, it shall shine like unto a rose, or a skin dyed red."— Savary.

d For their crimes will be known by their different marks; as it follows in the text. This, says al Beidawi, is to be understood of the time when they shall be raised to life, and shall be led towards the tribunal: for when they come to trial, they will then undergo an examination, as is declared in several places of the Korân.

See the Prelim. Disc. sect. iv. p. 60, &c.

For the only respite they shall have from the flames of hell will be when they are suffered to go to drink this scalding liquor. See chap. 37, p. 367.

ie. One distinct paradise for men, and another for genii; or, as some imagine, twe gardens for each person; one as a reward due to his works, and the other as a free and superabundant gift, &c.

• Al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin.

therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? In each of them shall be two fountains flowing. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? In each of them shall there be of every fruit two kinds. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? They shall repose on couches, the linings where of shall be of thick silk interwoven with gold: and the fruit of the two gardens shall be near at hand to gather.' Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Therein shall receive them beauteous damsels, refraining their eyes from beholding any besides their spouses: whom no man shall have deflowered before them, neither any genius: (Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny ?) Having complexions like rubies and pearls. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Shall the reward of goou works be any other good? Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? And besides these there shall be two other gardens:J (Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) Of a dark green. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? In each of them shall be two fountains pouring forth plenty of water. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? In each of them shall be fruits, and palm-trees, and pomegranates. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Therein shall be agreeable and beauteous damsels: Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Having fine olack eyes, and kept in pavilions from public view: Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Whom no man shall have deflowered before their destined spouses, nor any genius. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Therein shall they delight themselves, lying on green cushions and beautiful carpets. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? Blessed be the name of thy LORD, possessed of glory and honour!

Some being known, and like the fruits of the earth, and others of new and unknown species: or, fruits both green and ripe.

"In each of them shall grow divers fruits in abundance."—Savary.

So that a man may reach them as he sits or lies down.

"The guests of this abode, reposing on silken beds, enriched with gold, shall enjoy all these blessings at their pleasure."-Savary.

For the inferior classes of the inhabitants of paradise.

From hence, says al Beidâwi, it may be inferred that these gardens will chiefly produce herbs, or the inferior sorts of vegetables; whereas the former will be planted chiefly with fruit-trees. The following part of this description also falls short of that of the other gardens, prepared for the superior classes.

"That shall be dressed in eternal verdure."--Savary.

CHAPTER LVI.

INTITLED, THE INEVITABLE; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

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WHEN the inevitable' day of judgment shall suddenly come, no soul shall charge the prediction of its coming with falsehood: it will abase some, and exalt others. When the earth shall be shaken with a violent shock; and the mountains shall be dashed in pieces, and shall become as dust scattered abroad; and ye shall be separated into three distinct classes: the companions of the right hand; (how happy shall the companions of the right hand be!) and the companions of the left hand: (how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be!) and those who have preceded others in the faith shall precede them to paradise." These are they who shall approach near unto God: they shall dwell in gardens of delight: (There shall be many of the former religions; and few of the last.") Reposing on couches adorned with gold and precious stones; sitting opposite to one another thereon. P Youths which shall continue in their bloom for ever, shall go round about to attend them, with goblets, and beakers, and a cup of flowing wine their heads shall not ache by drinking the same, neither shall their reason be disturbed: and with fruits of the sorts which they shall choose, and the flesh of birds of the kind which they shall desire. And there shall accompany them fair damsels having large black eyes; resembling pearls hidden in their shells: as a reward for that which they shall have wrought. They shall not hear therein any vain discourse, or any charge of sin; but only the salutation, Peace! Peace! And the companions of the right hand (how happy shall the companions of the right hand be!) shall have their abode among lote trees free from thorns, and trees of mauz loaded regularly with their produce from top to bot

The original word, the force whereof cannot well be expressed by a single one in English, signifies a calamitous accident, which falls surely, and with sudden violence; and is therefore made use of here to design the day of judgment.

That is, the blessed, and the damned: who may be thus distinguished here, because the books wherein their actions are registered will be delivered into the right hands of the former, and into the left hands of the latter: though the words translated right hand and left hand, do also signify happiness, and misery.

Either the first converts to Mohammedism, or the prophets, who were the respective leaders of their people, or any persons who have been eminent examples of piety and virtue, may be here intended. The original words literally rendered are, The leaders, the leaders; which repetition, as some suppose, was designed to express the dignity of these persons, and the certainty of their future glory and happiness."

i. e. There should be more leaders, who have preceded others in faith and good works, among the followers of the several prophets from Adam down to Mohammed, than of the tollowers of Mohammed himself.

See chap. 15, p. 212, note h.

"They shall look upon each other benevolently."-Savary.

The original word Talh is the name, not only of the mauz, but also of a very tall and thorny tree, which bears abundance of flowers of an agreeable smell,' and seems to be the Acacia.

Jallalo'ddin, al Beidâwi. Leon. Descript. Africa, lib. 9.

• Iidem.

• Iidem.

• See p. 370.

' Vide 3.

and we have made them

*om;* under an extended shade, near a flowing water,' and amidst fruits in abundance, which shall not fail, nor shall be forbidden to be gathered: and they shall repose themselves on lofty beds. Verily we have created the damsels of paradise by a peculiar creation: virgins," beloved by their husbands, of equal age with them; for the delight of the companions of the right hand. There shall be many of the former religions, and many of the latter. And the companions of the left hand (how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be !) shall dwell amidst burning winds, and scalding water, under the shade of a black smoke, neither cool nor agreeable. For they enjoyed the pleasures of life before this, while on earth; and obstinately persisted in a heinous wickedness : and they said, After we shall have died, and become dust and bones, shall we surely be raised to life? Shall our forefathers also be raised with us? Say, Verily both the first and the last shall surely be gathered together to judgment, at the prefixed time of a known day. Then ye, O men, who have erred, and denied the resurrection as a falsehood, shall surely eat of the fruit of the tree of al Zakkum, and shall fill your bellies therewith: and ye shall drink thereon boiling water; and ye shall drink as a thirsty camel drinketh. This shall be their entertainment on the day of judgment. We have created you: will ye not therefore believe that we can raise you from the dead? What think ye? The seed which ye emit, do ye create the same, or are we the creators thereof? We have decreed death unto you all: and we shall not be prevented. We are able to substitute others like unto you in your stead, and to produce you again in the condition or form which ye know not. Ye know the original production by creation; will ye not therefore consider that we are able to produce you by resuscitation? What think ye? The grain which ye sow, do ye cause the same to spring forth,

"They shall walk among trees of Nabe, which are devoid of thorns, and in the midst of Banana trees, arranged in a pleasing order."-Savary.

Which shall be conveyed in channels to such places, and in such manner, as every one shall desire. Al Beidâwi observes that the condition of the few who have preceded others in faith and good works is represented by whatever may render a city life agreeable; and that the condition of the companions of the right hand, or the generality of the blessed. is represented by those things which make the principal pleasure of a country life; and that this is done to show the difference of the two conditions.

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The word translated beds signifies also, by way of metaphor, wives or concubines; and if the latter sense be preferred, the passage may be rendered thus, And they shall enjoy damsels raised on lofty couches, whom we have created, &c.

t Having created them purposely of finer materials than the females of this world, and subject to none of those inconveniences which are natural to the sex. Some understand this passage of the beatified women; who, though they die old and ugly, shall yet be restored to their youth and beauty in paradise.'

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For how often soever their husbands shall go in unto them, they shall always find them virgins.

"Father Marracci thinks this to be a manifest contradiction to what is said above, There shall be many of the former, and few of the latter: but al Beidâwi obviates such an objection, by observing that the preceding passage speaks of the leaders only, and those who have preceded others in faith and good works, and the passage before us speaks of the righteous of inferior merit and degree; so that though there be many of both sorts, ye there may be few of one sort, comparatively speaking, in respect to the other. Which shall penetrate into the passages of their bodies.

A' Beidâ wi.

See the Prelim. Disc. sect. 4, p. 69, &c.

See ibid. p. 73,

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