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CHAPTER LV.

ENTITLED, 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 disposition. 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 palmtrees 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 other: between them is placed a bar which they cannot pass. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? From them are taken forth unions and lesser pearls. Which, therefore, of your 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 benefits 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? O ye 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 ungratefully 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 yourselves therefrom. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? And when the heaven shall be rent in sunder, and shall become red as a rose, and shall melt like oint. K-N.-10.

ment. (Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny?) On that day neither man nor genius shall be asked concern. ing his sin. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungratefully deny? The wicked shall be 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 ungrate fully 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 ungrate fully deny?) Planted with shady trees. Which, 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 frut two kinds. 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 together. 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 than 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. 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 black eyes; and kept in pavilions from public view. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye uugratefully deny? Whom no man shall have deflowered, before their destined spouses, nor any genius. Which, therefore, of your Lord's benefits will ye ungrate fully 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!

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CHAPTER LVI.

ENTITLED, THE INEVITABLE; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

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. 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 lotetrees free from thorns, and trees of mauz loaded regularly with their produce from top to bottom; under an extended shade, near a flow ing water, and amidst fruits in abundance, which shall not fail, nor shall be forbidden to be gathered: and they shall respose 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!) 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 reproduce you by resuscitation? What think ye? The grain which ye sow, do ye cause the same to spring forth, 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 swear 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, depise 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 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 entertainment 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.

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ENTITLED, IRON; REVEALED AT MECCA, OR AT MEDINA.

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, be fore 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 propaga tion of the faith after the above-mentioned 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. On a certain day, thou shalt see the true believers of both sexes their light shall run before them, and on their right hands; and it shall be said unto them, Good tidings unto you this day: gardens through which rivers flow; ye shall remain therein for ever. This will be great felicity. On that day the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women shall say unto those who believe, Stay for us, that we may borrow some of your light. It

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