CHAPTER XCI.

ENTITLED, THE SUN; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the sun, and its rising brightness; by the moon, when she followeth him; by the day, when it showeth his splendour; by the night, when it covereth him with darkness; by the heaven, and him who built it; by the earth, and him who spread it forth; by the soul, and him who completely formed it, and inspired into the same its faculty of distinguishing, and power of choosing, wickedness and piety: now is he who hath purified the same, happy; but he who hath corrupted the same, is miserable. Thamud accused their prophet Saleh of imposture, through the excess of their wickedness: when the wretch among them was sent to slay the camel; and the apostle of God said unto them, Let alone the camel of God; and hinder not her drinking. But they charged him with imposture; and they slew her. Wherefore their Lord destroyed them, for their crime, and made their punishment equal unto them all: and he feareth not the issue thereof.

CHAPTER XCII.

ENTITLED, THE NIGHT; REVEALED AT MECCA,

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the night, when it covereth all things with darkness; by the day, when it shineth forth; by him who hath created the male and the female: verily your endeavour is different. Now whoso is

obedient, and feareth God, and professeth the truth of that faith which is most excellent; unto him will we facilitate the way to happiness. but whoso shall be covetous, and shall be wholly taken up with this world, and shall deny the truth of that which is most excellent; unto him will we facilitate the way to misery; and his riches shall not profit him, when he shall fall headlong into hell. Verily unto us appertaineth the direction of mankind: and ours is the life to come and the present life. Wherefore I threaten you with fire which burneth fiercely, which none shall enter to be burned except the most wretched; who shall have disbelieved, and turned back. But he who strictly bewareth idolatry and rebellion, shall be removed far from the same; who giveth his substance in alms, and by whom no benefit is bestowed on any, that may be recompensed, but who bestoweth the same for the sake of his Lord, the most High: and hereafter he shall be well satisfied with his reward.

CHAPTER XCIII.

ENTITLED, THE BRIGHTNESS; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the brightness of the morning; and by the night, when it groweth dark: thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither doth he hate thee. Verily the life to come shall be better for thee than this present life: and thy Lord shall give thee a reward wherewith thou shalt be well pleased. Did he not find thee an orphan, and hath he not taken care of thee? And did he not find thee wandering in error, and hath he not guided thee into the truth? And did he not find thee needy, and hath he not enriched thee? Wherefore oppress not the orphan; neither repulse the beggar: but declare the goodness of thy Lord.

CHAPTER XCIV.

ENTITLED, HAVE WE NOT OPENED;

REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

HAVE we not opened thy breast; and eased thee of thy burden, which galled thy back; and raised thy reputation for thee? Verily a difficulty shall be attended with ease. Verily a difficulty shall be attended with ease. When thou shalt have ended thy preaching, labour to serve God in return for his favours; and make thy supplication unto thy Lord.

CHAPTER XCV.

ENTITLED, THE FIG; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the fig, and the olive; and by Mount Sinai, and this territory of security: verily we created man of a most excellent fabric; afterwards we rendered him the vilest of the vile: except those who believe and work righteousness; for they shall receive an endless reward. What therefore shall cause thee to deny the day of judgment after this? Is not God the most wise judge?

ENTITLED,

CHAPTER XCVI.

CONGEALED BLOOD; REVEALED AT MEDINA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

READ, in the name of thy Lord, who hath created all things; who hath created man of congealed blood. Read, by thy most beneficent Lord; who taught the use of the pen; who teacheth man that which he knoweth not. Assuredly. Verily man becometh insolent, because he seeth himself abound in riches. Verily unto thy Lord shall be the return of all. What thinkest thou as to him who forbiddeth our servant, when he prayeth? What thinkest thou; if he follow the right direction; or command piety? What thinkest thou; if he accuse the divine revelations of falsehood, and turn his back? Doth he not know that God seeth? Assuredly. Verily, if he forbear not, we will drag him by the forelock, the lying, sinful forelock. And let him call his council to his assistance: we also will call the infernal guards to cast him into hell. Assuredly. Obey him not: but continue to adore God; and draw nigh unto him.

CHAPTER XCVII.

ENTITLED, AL KADR; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

And what

VERILY we sent down the Koran in the night of al Kadr. shall make thee understand how excellent the night of al Kadr is? The night of al Kadr is better than a thousand months. Therein do the angels descend, and the spirit Gabriel also, by the permission of their Lord, with his decrees concerning every matter. It is peace, until the rising of the morn.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

ENTITLED, THE EVIDENCE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED. IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE unbelievers among those to whom the scriptures were given, and among the idolaters, did not stagger, until the clear evidence had come unto them an apostle from God, rehearsing unto them pure books of revelations, wherein are contained right discourses. Neither

were they unto whom the scriptures were given divided among themselves, until after the clear evidence had come unto them. And they were commanded no other in the scriptures than to worship God, exhibiting unto him the pure religion, and being orthodox; and to be constant at prayer, and to give alms: and this is the right religion. Verily those who believe not, among those who have received the scriptures, and among the idolaters, shall be cast into the fire of hell, to remain there for ever. These are the worst of creatures. But they who believe, and do good works; these are the best of creatures: their reward with their Lord shall be gardens of perpetual abode, through which rivers flow; they shall remain there for ever. God will be well pleased in them; and they shall be well pleased in him. This is prepared for him who shall fear his Lord.

CHAPTER XCIX.

ENTITLED, THE EARTHQUAKE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS

DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

WHEN the earth shall be shaken by an earthquake; and the earth shall cast forth her burdens; and a man shall say, What aileth her? On that day the earth shall declare her tidings, for that thy Lord will inspire her. On that day men shall go forward in distinct classes, that they may behold their works. And whoever shall have wrought good of the weight of an ant, shall behold the same. And whoever shall have wrought evil of the weight of an ant, shall behold the

same.

CHAPTER C.

ENTITLED, THE WAR-HORSES WHICH RUN SWIFTLY; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the war-horses which run swiftly to the battle, with a panting noise; and by those which strike fire, by dashing their hoofs against the stones; and by those which make a sudden incursion on the enemy early in the morning, and therein raise the dust, and therein pass through the midst of the adverse troops: verily man is ungrateful unto his Lord; and he is witness thereof: and he is immoderate in the love of worldly good. Doth he not know, therefore, when that which is in the graves shall be taken forth, and that which is in men's breasts shall be brought to light, that their Lord will, on that day, be fully informed concerning them?

CHAPTER CI.

ENTITLED, THE STRIKING; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE striking! What is the striking? And what shall make thee to understand how terrible the striking will be? On that day men shall be like moths scattered abroad, and the mountains shall become like carded wool of various colours driven by the wind. Moreover he whose balance shall be heavy with good works, shall lead a pleasing life: but as to him whose balance shall be light, his dwelling shall be the pit of hell. What shall make thee to understand how frightful the pit of hell is? It is a burning fire.

CHAPTER CII.

ENTITLED, THE EMULOUS DESIRE OF MULTIPLYING; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE emulous desire of multiplying riches and children employeth you, until ye visit the graves. By no means should ye thus employ your time: hereafter shall ye know your folly. Again, By no means: hereafter shall ye know your folly. By no means: if ye knew the consequence hereof with certainty of knowledge, ye would not act thus. Verily ye shall see hell: again, ye shall surely see it with the eye of certainty, Then shall ye be examined, on that day, concerning the pleasures with which ye have amused yourselves in this life.

CHAPTER CIII.

ENTITLED, THE AFTERNOON; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the afternoon; verily man employeth himself in that which will prove of loss: except those who believe, and do that which is right; and who mutually recommend the truth, and mutually recommend perseverance unto each other.