your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny In each of them shall there be of every fruit two kinds.h* Which, therefore, of your LORD'S benefits will ye ungratefully deny? They shall repose on couches, the linings whereof shall be of thick silk interwoven with gold: and the fruit of the two gardens shall be near at hand to gather.it 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 good 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: (Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) Of a dark green. gratefully deny plenty of water. Which, therefore, of your LORD's benefits will ye unIn each of them shall be two fountains pouring forth 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 black 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 the name of thy LORD, possessed of glory and honour! Blessed be 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. J 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 LVL INTITLED, THE INEVITABLE; REVEALED AT MECCA. IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. m WHEN the inevitable1 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."* 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 mauz9 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 followers of Mohammed himself,5 P See chap. 15, p. 212, note 1. "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. • Iidem. • Iidem. • See p. 370. ↑ Vide J. Leon. Descript. Africa, lib. 9. tom;* 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: and we have made them 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 1) 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. 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. 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.9 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.1 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, yet there may be few of one sort, comparatively speaking, in respect to the other. Which shall penetrate into the passages of their bodies. • Al Beidâwi. See the Prelim. Disc. sect. 4, p. 69, &c. 1 See ibid. p. 73. C or do we cause it to spring forth? If we pleased, verily we could render the same dry and fruitless, so that ye would not cease to wonder, saying, Verily, we have contracted debts for seed and labour, but we are not permitted to reap the fruit thereof. What think ye? The water which ye drink, do ye send down the same from the clouds, or are we the senders thereof? If we pleased, we could render the same brackish will ye not therefore give thanks? What think ye? The fire which ye strike, do ye produce the tree whence ye obtain the same, or are we the producers thereof? We have ordained the same for an admonition, and an advantage unto those who travel through the deserts. Wherefore praise the name of thy LORD, the great God. Moreover I sweard by the setting of the stars; (and it is surely a great oath, if ye knew it;) that this is the excellent Korân, the original whereof is written in the preserved book: none shall touch the same, except those who are clean. It is a revelation from the LORD of all creatures. Will ye, therefore, despise this new revelation } And do ye make this return for your food which ye receive from God, that ye deny yourselves to be obliged to him for the same? When the soul of a dying person cometh up to his throat, and ye at the same time are looking on; (and we are nigher unto him than ye, but ye see not his true condition; *) would ye not, if ye are not to be rewarded for your actions hereafter, cause the same to return into the body, if ye speak the truth? And whether he be of those who shall approach near unto God, his reward shall be rest, and mercy, and a garden of delights: or whether he be of the companions of the right hand, he shall be saluted with the salutation, Peace be unto thee! by the companions of the right hand, his brethren: or whether he be of those who have rejected the true faith, and gone astray, his enter ▾ Or to repent of your time and labour bestowed to little purpose, &c. Or, We are unfortunate wretches, who are denied the necessaries of life. To put men in mind of the resurrection; which the production of fire in some sort resembles: or, of the fire of hell.3 The particle la is generally supposed to be intensive in this place; but if it be taken for a negative, the words must be translated, I will not or do not swear, because what is here asserted is too manifest to need the confirmation of an oath.* (Savary adopts the latter reading.) Or, Let none touch the same, &c. Parity both of body and mind being requisite in him who would use this book with the respect he ought, and hopes to edify by it: for which reason these words are usually written on the cover. By ascribing the rains which fertilize your lands, to the influence of the stars. Some copies, instead of rizkacom, i. e. your food, read shocracom, i. e. your grati tude; and then the passage may be rendered thus, And do ye make this return of gratitude for God's revealing the Korân, that ye reject the same as a fiction? "When some one among you is about to expire, and that you see him struggling against death, we are nigher unto them than ye are, but ye perceive us not.”. Savary. The meaning of this obscure passage is, If ye shall not be obliged to give an account of your actions at the last day, as by your denying the resurrection ye seem to believe, cause the soul of the dying person to return into his body; for ye may as easily do that as avoid the general judgment.7 That is, of the leaders, or the first professors of the faith. 2 See chap. 36, p. 365. Disc. sect. 3, p. 49. Al Beidâwi. • Idem. See the Prelim. Jallalo'ddin, Al Beidâwi, tainment shall consist of boiling water, and the burning of hell fire. Verily this is a certain truth. Wherefore praise the name of thy LORD, the great God. CHAPTER LVII. INTITLED, IRON;' REVEALED AT MECCA, OR AT MEDINA.J IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. WHATEVER is in heaven and earth, singeth praise unto God; and he is mighty and wise. His is the kingdom of heaven and earth; he giveth life, and he putteth to death; and he is almighty. He is the first, and the last; the manifest, and the hidden: and he knoweth all things. It is he who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then ascended his throne. He knoweth that which entereth into the earth, and that which issueth out of the same, and that which descendeth from heaven, and that which ascendeth thereto : and he is with you, wheresoever ye be for GOD seeth that which ye do. His is the kingdom of heaven and earth; and unto GoD shall all things return. He causeth the night to succeed the day, and he causeth the day to succeed the night; and he knoweth the innermost part of men's breasts. Believe in GOD and his apostle, and lay out in alms a part of the wealth whereof GOD hath made you inheritors: for unto such of you as believe, and bestow alms, shall be given a great reward. And what aileth you, that ye believe not in GOD, when the apostle inviteth you to believe in your LORD; and he hath received your covenant concerning this matter, if ye believe any proposition?* It is he who hath sent down unto his servant evident signs, that he may lead you out of darkness into light; for GOD is compassionate and merciful unto you. And what aileth you, that ye contribute not of your substance for the defence of God's true religion? Since unto GoD appertaineth the inheritance of heaven and earth. Those among you who shall have contributed and fought in defence of the faith, before the taking of Mecca, shall not be held equal with those who shall contribute and fight for the same afterwards. These shall be superior in degree unto those who shall contribute and fight for the propagation of the faith, after the abovementioned success; but unto all hath GoD promised a most excellent reward; and GOD well knoweth that which ye do. Who is he that will lend unto God an acceptable loan? for he will double the same unto him, and he shall receive moreover an honourable reward.t On a certain day, thou shalt see the true believers of both sexes: their light shall run before The word occurs towards the end of the chapter. J It is uncertain which of the two places was the scene of revelation of this chapter. That is, ye are obliged to believe in him by the strongest arguments and motives. "If your hearts are sincere."-Savary. 1 Because afterwards there was not so great necessity for either; the Mohammedan religion being firmly established by that great success. "Who is he who will enter into the glorious covenant of God? He shall prosper. An inestimable reward shall crown his devotedness."-Savary. |