except the Flesh of Swine and Wine that is at all times forbidden them after this fast they have the feast of great Bairan as the Christians Easter after Lent. They are great founders of Temples and Hospitals and are obliged to give to the poor the first day of the year the tith of what they have gained during the preceding year They believe that after being well washt saying some prayer appropriate to that Ceremony they have also the Soul purified from all Filthiness and Sin which is the cause that they wash and bath often especially before they pray They have no Sacrament but Circumcision they cause their Children to be circumcised at the age of seven or eight years and when they can pronounce these words La ilha illa allha Mehemet rasoul allha that is There is but one God Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle this is their profession of faith nevertheless there is no mention of Circumcision in all the Alcoran they say they observe it in imitation of Abraham whose Law is recommended to them by Mahomet they believe that the Alcoran was brought to him at several times by the Angel Gabriel in the City of Mecca and that of Medina because the Jews and Christians had altered the Holy Scriptures and the Law of God. They are permitted to have four Wives married at the same time and as many Concubines as they are able to maintain They can put away their Wives when they think fit paying them what they promised them in contract of marriage and marry again at their pleasure but the Women are bound to tarry until they are assured that they are not with Child before they marry again and their Husbands are obliged to keep and take the care of the Children The Children which they have by their slaves are indifferently esteemed with those of their Wives and are all held as legitimate They have Temples Colleges and Hospitals well revenued they have covents of Religious that live exemplarily obey their Superiours without contradiction and dance after the sound of Flutes and other instruments when they make their prayers They have moreover another sort of Religious Vagabonds through the World clothed like fools of that Country they often go naked and cut their skin in many places are held to be holy persons and live by alms which are never refused them both the one and the other sort of Religious are called Dervis they are known by their habit and can retire and marry when they please They deny Jesus Christ to be God or the Son of God neither believe they in the Holy Trinity they say that Jesus Christ was a great Prophet born of the Virgin Mary a Virgin both before and after her delivery that he was conceived by divine inspiration or by a divine breath without a father as Adam was created without a Mother that he was not crucified that God took him into Heaven and that he shall come again on earth at the end of the World to confirm the Law of Mahomet they likewise affirm that the Jews thinking to crucifie Jesus Christ crucified a man among them that resembled him They pray to God for the Dead they invoke their Saints of whom they have a large Legend nevertheless they believe not Purgatory and many among them imagine that the Soul and body remain together in the grave until the day of Judgment They have Mecca and Medina that are two Cities of Arabia in great veneration because Mahomet was born at Mecca and buried at Medina they make thither great pilgrimages and believe that Land to be Holy They bear likewise singular respect to the City of Ierusalem for that it hath been the Birth-place and habitation of many Prophets They use no Clocks at the hour of their prayers their Priests ascend the highest part of a Tower that is in a corner of the Temple and with a loud voice call the people to prayer singing prayers composed for that purpose WE the Consuls Governors Protectors and Defenders of the Priviledges Freedoms and Liberties of the City of Marseillis do certifie and attest to all to whom it shall appertain that Mr. Andrew du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the King's Chamber and heretofore Consul to his Majesty in Egypt hath executed the charge for the said Consulship like a Man of honesty and honour no complaint having been made at any time or his administration or deportment during the time of his abode there and that he exercised that office Neither was any complaint ever made of the said Mr. du Ryer during the time he sojourned at Constantinople for the service of his Majesty but all the Captains and Officers of Merchant Vessels and of others that negotiated in the same parts received of him all favour as in matters that concerned them as in affairs that did relate to the service of his Majesty and the advantage of his Subjects traffick in testimony of which We have drawn and signed these Presents and have put and affixed to them the Seal and accustomed Arms of this City At Marseillis the 12. day of Feb. 1633. De Bourgongne Consul I. Savornin Consul Meinardet Consul By the said Consuls Boet. To Mr. du Ryer Lord of Malezair Gentleman in Ordinary of the Kings Chamber at Constantinople SIR HAving heard by the report of many Merchants of this City the good offices that you have daily performed towards them of our Nation and particularly our fellow Citizens who all unanimously much commend your affection and singular care to protect and defend them We thought our duty to return you by these lines a thousand thanks and that the more affection for that your courtesie and not their merits carried you to all those good offices of which they and we shall ever keep a perpetual memory to render you any acknowledgment when occasion shall be offered and give you a testimony by our services that you have not cast your Seed upon barren Ground In the mean time Sir we beseech you be pleased to continue to us the honour of your friendship and effects of your favour as we shall desire in all emergent occasion to testifie that we are really Sir Your most affectionate Servants the Consuls Governors of the City of Marseillis Monthouliau Francis Nappollon Du Pont. From Marseillis this 24. of August 1632. A Translation of the Command of the Grand Seignior concerning Mr. Malezair ILlustrious and Excellent Commanders refuge of the great Triumphant Eminent Glorious and Honourable Lords endued with the special Graces of God Bashaws or Vice-Roys Beys or Governors that are upon the Roads of our most August Port to the Realm of France God. perpetuate your glory just Iudges of the Musulmans Minerals of Vertue and Knowledge that are upon the Road of our most August Port to the Realm of France God increase your Vertues Honourable and trusty Governors Captains of Frontiers and Castles Captains and Patrons of Gallies and Vessels Customers that are
THE ALCORAN OF MAHOMET Translated out of Arabick into French. BY THE Sieur du Ryer Lord of Malezair and Resident for the French King at ALEXANDRIA AND Newly Englished for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish Vanities To which is prefixed the LIFE of MAHOMET THE Prophet of the Turks and Author OF THE ALCORAN With a Needful Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what Use may be made of or if there be danger in Reading the ALCORAN LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall. MDC LXXXVIII THE TRANSLATOR TO THE Christian Reader THERE being so many Sects and Heresies banded together against the Truth finding that of Mahomet wanting to the Muster I thought good to bring it to their Colours that so viewing thine enemies in their full body thou maist the better prepare to encounter and I hope overcome them It may happily startle thee to find him so to speak English as if he had made some Conquest on the Nation but thou wilt soon reject that fear if thou consider that this his Alcoran the Ground-work of the Turkish Religion hath been already translated into almost all Languages in Christendom at least the most general as the Latin Italian French c. yet never gained any Proselyte where the Sword its most forcible and strongest argument hath not prevailed And indeed the greatest Doctors of their Religion have never alledged any thing for the truth thereof but the success of their Wars and greatness of their Empire than which nothing is more fallacious for that which both in former and these latter Ages hath been common to the bad with the good cannot be a certain evidence of the justice of a Cause or the truth of Religion Thou shalt find it of so rude and incongruous a composure so farced with contradictions blasphemies obscene speeches and ridiculous fables that some modest and more rational Mahometans have thus excused it that their Prophet wrote an hundred and twenty thousand sayings whereof three thousand only are good the residue as the impossibility of the Moons falling into his sleeve the Conversion and Salvation of the Devils and the like are false and ridiculous Yet is the whole esteemed so sacred that upon the Cover thereof is inscribed Let none touch it but he who is clean Nor are the vulgar permitted to read it but live and die in an implicite faith of what their Priests deliver which indeed as saith the learned Grotius is a manifest argument of its iniquity For that Merchandise may justly be suspected which will not be sold unless unseen and though all Men are not alike perspicacious in the knowledge and discerning of things some by arrogancy and vain conceit of themselves others by affection Some by custom being drawn into error yet should we believe that the way to eternal life cannot be understood by them who without any respect of profit or preferment seek it submitting themselves with all they have to God imploring his assistance we should sin against his infinite goodness Therefore Christian Reader though some conscious of their own instability in Religion and of theirs too like Turks in this whose prosperity and opinions they follow were unwilling this should see the Press yet am I confident if thou hast been so true a votary to orthodox Religion as to keep thy self untainted of their follies this shall not hurt thee And as for those of that Batch having once abandoned the Sun of the Gospel I believe they will wander as far into utter darkness by following strange lights as by this Ignis Fatuus of the Alcoran Such as it is I present to thee having taken the pains only to translate it out of French not doubting though it hath been a poyson that hath infected a very great but most unsound part of the Universe it may prove an Antidote to confirm in thee the health of Christianity THE FRENCH EPISTLE TO THE READER THE Book is a long conference of God the Angels and Mahomet which that false Prophet very grosly invented sometimes he introduceth God who speaketh to him and teacheth him his Law then an Angel anon the Prophets and frequently maketh God to speak in the plural in a stile that is not ordinary He declaimeth against such as worship Idols particularly against the Inhabitants of the City of Mecca and against the Coreis who were enemies to his design He intituled this Book the Alcoran as one would say the Collection of Precepts He likewise termed it El Forcan that is that distinguisheth good from evil He divided it into many Chapters to which he gave what inscription he thought good he most commonly intituleth them with words that are in their first line without regard to the matter they treat of and speaketh little of their Inscription He divided it into many signs or Verses that contain his ordinances and fables without observation either of the consequence or connexion of the discourse which is the cause that thou shalt find in this Book a multitude of incongruous pieces and divers repetitions of the same things It hath been expounded by many Mahometan Doctors their exposition being as ridiculous as the Text They affirm the original of the Alcoran to be written upon a Table kept in Heaven that the Angel Gabriel brought this Copy to Mahomet who could neither write nor read and stile him Prophet or Apostle in honour Thou shalt find at beginning of some Chapters letters of the Arabick Alphabet which some Men will not expound They fear to utter things that may displease their false Prophet Most of their Doctors affirm those letters to be the first letters of the Names of God. Thou shalt find the exposition in this version Thou wilt wonder that such absurdities have infected the best part of the World and wilt avouch that the knowledge of what is contained in this Book will render that Law contemptible A SUMMARY OF THE Religion of the Turks THE Turks believe one sole God in one sole Person Creator of Heaven and Earth the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked who hath created Paradise for the recompence of the righteous and Hell for the last punishment of crimes They believe that Mahomet was a very great Prophet whom God sent into the World to teach men the way of salvation and call themselves Musulmans that is to say recommended to God or saved They believe the Decalogue of Moses and are obliged to observe it they celebrate Friday as the Christians Sunday that day they assemble in Temples at noon to pray They are obliged to pray five times a day viz. in the morning at noon at the evening when the Sun setteth and an hour within night They fast the Month or Moon which they call Ramazan during this Month they neither drink nor eat all the Day until the Sun be set but in the Night drink and eat according to their appetites Flesh and Fish
an infinite pain by reason of their lying When it was said to them Pollute not the earth they said We are true observers of the Law of God notwithstanding they were they that polluted the earth but they knew it not When it was said to them Believe ye as the world believeth They said Shall we believe as fools believe they themselves are fools and know it not When they met with such as believed in God they said We believe as you do And when they returned towards the Devils their Companions they said We believe as you and mock at those men Certainly God mocketh them and continueth them in their Errours to their confusion They that have purchased Errour for the right way have gained nothing in their commerce and are not well directed they are like to such as kindled fire and when it hath enlightened what is about them God hath deprived them of light and left them in darkness deaf dumb blind and they shall never be converted or as a cloud of Heaven full of darkness thunder and lightning they stop their ears with their fingers by reason of the noise and for fear of death but God seeth the unbelievers he caused lightning to approach that ravished from them their sight they have followed what appeared to them and are detained in darkness But if God had pleased he had deprived them both of hearing and sight for he is Omnipotent O People worship your Lord who created you and all that were before you it may be that you will fear him that hath extended the Earth that raised the Heaven and caused Rain to descend that caused the production of Fruits to enrich you Say not That God hath a Companion equal to him because you know the contrary If you doubt that I have sent my servant come and bring some Chapters like to the Alcoran and call to witness the Idols that you adore if you are good men if you have not done it or cannot perform it Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Infidels and Idolaters and declare to true believers who do good works That they shall enjoy the immense pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers they shall there find all sorts of fair and savoury Fruits which God hath prepared for them they shall consider if they be like to such as they had before in the world They shall there have Wives fair and delicate and shall dwell in eternal felicity God is not ashamed to compare a little Puny to an extream Greatness Now so it is that true believers know that it proceedeth from their Lord. The wicked demand what God doth mean by that comparison He by this means mis-leadeth and directeth many men but mis-leadeth none but the disobedient Such as pervert his Testament and his Promises such as retrench his Commandments and defile the Earth are damned Why will you be impious seeing that God hath given you life after death He will cause you to die he will raise you again and you shall all return before him to be judged He it is that created whatever is upon Earth and ascending to Heaven hath ordained seven Heavens knowing all things Remember to instruct men that thy Lord said to his Angels I would create a Vicar upon Earth and when they answered Wilt thou there place him that shall defile it and shed Blood while we exalt thy Glory and sanctifie thee I know said he what you know not He taught Adam the Names of all things who discovered them to the Angels to whom God said Declare to me the Names of all things that I have created if you know them they replyed Praise is due to thy Divine Majesty we know nothing but what thou hast taught us thou alone art knowing and wise He said to Adam Declare to them the Names of all things that I have created After he had taught them God said Did I not tell you that I knew what is not neither in Earth nor Heaven and that I understand whatever you make manifest and whatever you keep most secret Remember thou that we said to the Angels Humble your selves before Adam they all humbled themselves except the Devil He was already proud and in the number of the wicked We said unto Adam Dwell thou and thy Wife in Paradise and eat there what thou likest but approach not that Tree lest thou be in the number of the unjust The Devil made them to sin and depart from the Grace in which they were then we said to them Descend you enemies one to another you shall have a dwelling upon Earth and goods wherewith to live for a time Adam begged pardon for his fault of his Lord he pardoned him because he is gracious and merciful and said Descend and go all of you out of Paradise there shall hereafter come to you a guide from me Such as shall follow him shall be delivered from fear and affliction at the day of Judgment such as shall be impious and conceal my Commandments shall burn eternally in the fire of Hell. O Children of Israel remember the Grace I have done you I will satisfie my Promises perform yours fear me and believe in what I have sent from Heaven confirming what was before taught you be not the first impious and forsake not my Law at any rate fear me and cover not the Truth with a lye neither willingly conceal it Make your Prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and worship your Lord with them that adore him Will you command people that have no care of their Souls to do good Will you meditate upon Scripture with observing it Entreat for succour with Patience and with Prayers they abound not but in them that are obedient that believe they shall one day behold their Lord and shall return before him to be judged O Children of Israel call to mind my favours I have preferred you to all the world fear the day wherein one Soul shall not be chastised for another when Prayer shall not be heard neither ransom succours nor protection be found for the wicked Remember that we delivered you from the hands of Pharaoh who afflicted you through the violence of torments who murthered your Children abused your Wives and that your Lord encreased your Miseries because of the Enormity of your Crimes Remember that we divided the Seas to save you and that we drowned Pharaoh's men in your view nevertheless you worshipped the Calf when we detained Moses with us forty Nights in which you were extreamly to blame after this we pardoned you it may be that you will give me thanks We gave unto Moses the Book that distinguisheth good from evil perhaps you will be converted Remember that Moses said to his people You were to blame for having adored the Calf repent and be converted to your Creator Slay one another that will be a thing acceptable to God he will pardon your Crime he is gracious and merciful You said O Moses
is God that hath cursed them by reason of their impiety and few of them will believe the Commandments of his Divine Majesty When God hath sent them any Book confirming the Scriptures which they before approved viz. the Old Testament and the Gospel they demanded succours when they met with the wicked and being succoured they either understood it not or would not receive it â—… The curse of God is upon Infidels especially upon them that have sold their Souls and through Envy disobeyed his Commandments He bestoweth his grace on whom he pleaseth they are returned in the displeasure of his Divine Majesty who hath prepared for them grievous torments because of the Enormity of their Crimes When it was said to them Believe in the Commandments of God they said Do we not believe in what hath been commanded us Nevertheless they have no faith in the truth which God hath sent confirming the Prophecies and the Precepts that they before approved Say unto them had you heretofore slain the Prophets if you had believed in his Law Moses certainly had caused you to see Miracles but ye adored the Calf after his departure wherefore you were greatly to blame We received your Promise to observe the Commandments of the Law and raised a Mountain over you Understand with affection what we teach you and hearken to what is commanded you they answered we have heard and disobeyed and inclined their heart to the adoration of the Calf because of their impiety Say to them doth your faith command you to do it if you believe in God and life eternal Think upon death if you be righteous They regard not their past errours but God knoweth the unjust Thou shalt find them with diligence and desire to live a long time The wicked hope to live a thousand years but they shall be exempt from the Punishment to live long God beholdeth all their Actions Say to them who is an Enemy to Gabriel He by the permission of God hath inspired into thee the Alcoran that confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and guideth the good in the way of their Salvation and declareth to them the joys of Paradise He that is an Enemy to God the Angels his Prophet to Gabriel and Michael shall be rigorously chastised God is an Enemy to Infidels We have sent thee Precepts clear and intelligible none will abjure them but the wicked Some of them have acted against their own Promises and the greatest part is incredulous Many of them that have knowledge in the written Law have forsaken it even when God sent them any Prophet to confirm the Scriptures that they had before received and approved They cast the Book of God behind their Backs as if they knew it not and adhered to what the Devils taught in the Reign of Solomon yet Solomon sinned not but the Devils only that instructed the People in Magick and what was taught by the two Angels Arot and Marot in Babylon Before they taught the people they said We are not sedition neither be you impious The people learned of them what concerneth the Separation of the Man and the Woman and what breedeth hatred betwixt them They did not harm to any by their Magick but through the permission of God the people learned of them what might hurt and not be profitable to them they instructed in Magick them that sold their part in Paradise at the loss of their Souls although they knew their errour that they had before believed in God and feared his Divine Majesty Repentance inspired by God is exceeding profitable if they understood to know it O you that fear God say not honour us say regard us and hearken to what is commanded you To Infidels are prepared dolorous torments the Iews and Christians desired not that God should send you good but God very liberal gratifieth with his mercy whom he pleaseth he will not alter his Commandments neither forget them he will moreover teach others more profitable or of the like nature know you not that God is Omnipotent understand you not that to God appertains the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth who except God will be your Protector Will you question your Prophet as Moses was heretofore questioned He that shall change faithinto impiety shall forsake the good way Many that have knowledge in the Scripture endeavoured to mislead you through impiety and Envy notwithstanding they are not ignorant of the Truth forgive them and beware of them untill God hath otherwise disposed he is Omnipotent Make your Prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes you shall find before God the good that you do for your Souls he beholdeth all your Actions They have said that none but the Iews and Christians shall enter into Paradise it is their false invention say unto them if you be good Men bring your Reasons on the contrary he that resigneth himself to God and is a just Man shall be recompensed by his Divine Majesty there needeth not be any fear for him he shall not be tormented in the fire of Hell. The Iews say the Christians are void of reason and the Christians affirm the Iews to be without reason nevertheless they study the Scripture so speak the ignorant God will determine their difference at the day of the Resurrection Who is more unjust than he that hindred that God be remembred in Temples and that studieth nought but their destruction Such men cannot enter therein but with fear and terrour they shall have on Earth shame upon the Forehead and in the other World shall suffer exceeding great torments The East and West are Gods whithersoever men turn themselves the Face of God doth there meet them his Divinity extendeth through the whole Earth They said believe you that God hath a Son Praised be God on the contrary whatever is either in Earth or Heaven appertaineth to his Divine Majesty and all things obey him he hath created Heaven and Earth and when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is The unbelievers said if God speak not to us or if thou performest no Miracles we will not believe thee their Predecessors have said as much and their words have been like unto their hearts we have caused Miracles to appear to the righteous and have sent thee to preach and instruct the people inquire not why those that shall descend into Hell will not believe thee the Iews and Christians will not be satisfied of thee until thou follow their opinion say unto them there is no better guide in the World than God take heed lest thou follow their Appetites after that thou hast comprehended the knowledge which we inspired into thee who except God will be thy defender They whom we have taught the Scripture that study and read it with truth believe the contents of it and they that do not believe are damned O Children of Israel call to mind the favour that I did you I preferred you before all the World
other he that shall be trusted in shall satisfie his promise and fear God his Lord no Man shall conceal his testimony he that shall conceal shall sin in his heart God knoweth all your actions Whatsoever is in Heaven or in Earth belonging unto God whether you conceal or reveal what is in your minds he shall require an account of you he pardoneth and chastiseth whom it pleaseth him he is Omnipotent The Prophet believed in all that God sent to him as likewise all the true believers Such as believe in God the Angels and Scriptures and generally all the Prophets without exception say We have heard and obeyed Pardon us O Lord Thou art our refuge God requireth of no Man more than he is able to perform the good that a Man shall do shall be for himself and the evil that he doth shall be likewise against him Lord excuse us if we have forgotten thee or sinned Lord charge us not with any heavy burthen as thou didst charge them that were before us charge us not with that which we are not able to support blot out our sins and give us thy mercy Thou art our Lord give us victory against the Infidels CHAP. III. The Chapter of the Lineage of Joachim containing two hundred Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the most wise God. God! There is but one only God living and eternal He hath sent to thee the Book that containeth truth and confirmeth the Scriptures that were sent before it He sent the Old Testament and the Gospel that were heretofore guides to the People He hath sent the Alcoran that distinguisheth good from evil they that believe not in the Law of God shall be severely chastised He is Omnipotent and revengeful Nothing is hid from him in Heaven or in Earth It is he that formed you in the Wombs of your Mothers as it pleased him there is no God but the Omnipotent and Wise God. He it is that sent to thee the Book whose precepts are necessary they are the original and foundation of the Law like in purity one to the other and without contradiction Such as in their heart incline to depart from the truth do often follow their inclination desirous of Sedition and to understand the explication of the Alcoran but none understand it's explication but God and such as are profound in learning they say we believe in God all things proceed from his Divine Wisdom nevertheless none remember but the wise Lord cause not our hearts to erre after thou hast guided us into the right way give us thy mercy thou art most bountiful towards thy Creatures Lord thou art he that shalt assemble the World at the Day of Judgment at which day nothing shall be found doubtful when thou wilt not go against thy Promises and when wealth and Children shall not serve to the wicked but to kindle the fire of Hell. The Infidel Lineage of Pharoah and those that preceded him blasphemed and abjured the Law of God but he surprized them in their sin he is grievous in his Chastisements Say to the Infidels they shall be vanquished and shall be gathered together into the fire of Hell that is prepared for them You have an example in the two Troops that fought for the glory of God they beheld with their eyes Infidels become true Believers like unto themselves God strengtheneth with his Aid whom it pleaseth him this shall be for example to such as shall clearly see The love and desire of Women of Children of Riches abundance of Gold and of Silver of Horses Cattel and of Tillage are pleasing to Men such are the Riches of the life of this World but the most assured refuge is in God. Say unto them I will declare unto you things much better for them that shall have the fear of God before their eyes they shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many Rivers with Women beautiful and Lean and all manner of Content God beholdeth them that adore him and that say Lord we believe in thy Law pardon our sins and deliver us from the torments of Fire The Patient the persevering true Believers the obedient the good Men such as beg Pardon of God in the Morning the Angels the Learned that love Justice testifie that there is but one only God. The Law of Salvation is a Law pleasing to his Divine Majesty no man contradicteth this Truth among such as know the written Law but through Envy He that shall not obey the Commandments of God shall find his Divine Majesty very exact to call him to an Account If the impious dispute with thee say to them I am wholly resigned to the Will of God with all such as have followed me Ask of such as know the written Law and them that know it not if they resign themselves to God if they do they will follow the right way if they go astray thou hast none other Obligation but to preach to them God beholdeth them that adore him Declare grievous torments to those that conceal his Commandments that kill the Prophets and injure them that instruct the people in Justice the good Works that they do shall be unprofitable to them on Earth and they shall be in the other World deprived of protection Seest thou not a party of them that know the written Law how they were called to a Lecture of the Book of God to the end they might judge with Equity the differences that are among them but many are returned to their sin they contemned the Scripture in that they said the fire shall not touch us but for a certain number of days They are deceived in their blasphemies what will become of them when we shall assemble them at the day of Judgment when nothing shall be doubtful and every one shall be recompensed as he shall have merited No injustice shall be done unto them Say Lord thou possessest the Kingdoms of the World thou givest Royalty to whom thou seest good from thy hand O Lord proceedeth all good thou art Omnipotent thou causest day to enter the night and night the day thou causest life to come out of death and death out of life thou enrichest without measure whom thou seest good The Believers shall not obey the unbelievers to the exclusion of true Believers he that doth this thing observeth not the law of God but if you fear your Enemies God willeth that you fear him also he is the assured refuge of the righteous say to them whether you conceal what is in your heart or whether you manifest iâ—… God knoweth all things he knoweth all that is either in Heaven or Earth he is Omnipotent think on the day wherein every one shall find the good and the evil that he hath done then shall you desire to be cleansed from your sins and that the number of your good works exceed that of your evil God willeth that you fear him he is
World who shall dispute for them against God at the day of Judgment Who shall that day be their protector He that shall implore pardon of God having offended him shall find him gracious and merciful who doth evil shall find evil God is Omniscient and most Wise. He that committeth a venial or a mortal sin and would excuse himself committeth evidently a mortal sin Many of them had endeavoured to seduce thee hadst thou not been directed by the grace and mercy of God. But they seduce only their own Souls and shall do thee no harm God hath sent to thee the Book that containeth his Commandments he hath taught thee what thou didst not understand and his grace is eminently upon thee there is no good in the multiplicity of their secrets or discâ—…se except in such as command aâ—…ms honest â—… and peace among the people with desire tâ—…â—…ase God they shall receive from his Divine Majesty a great reward He that shall contradict the Prophet having had knowledge of the right way and shall follow other paths than that of the true believers shall relapse into his impiety I will cause him to burn in the fire of Hell where is the habitation of the wicked God pardoneth not them that say He hath Companions except this he pardons all things as he seeth good he that affirmeth that God hath a Companion greatly erreth and is estranged from the truth If they invoke other than God they invoke Idols the Devil obstinate and cursed of God when he said to him Thou wilt not give me power over them that worship thee but I will seduce them from the right way I will prolong their wicked life to retard their conversion I will cause them to cut off the ears of Beasts they shall disobey thy commandments and they shall envy thy creatures He that demandeth succours of the Devil is in manifest perdition he will promise to Men long Life and retard their repentance but he promiseth them but a vain glory Hell is the dwelling place of such Men out of which they shall find no issue Such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell eternally in Paradise where flow many Rivers God is most true in what he promiseth who is more than God in his words Your lies and the lies of them that know the written Law do him no harm he that shall do ill shall be punished and shall find no protector he that shall do well and shall believe in the Law of God shall enter into Paradise and shall have no injustice done to him what better Law is there than to resign thy self to God and to be an honest Man Follow the Law of Abraham God chose Abraham to love him whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth belongeth to his Divine Majesty he knoweth all things They will question thee concerning Women say to them God teacheth you in that what you were taught in the Scripture touching Orphans and Women give to them what is appointed by the Law and desire not to espouse them only to possess their wealth God teacheth you likewise to give to Orphans what appertaineth to them and not to injure them he will understand your good actions If a Woman fear to be ill entreated by her Husband and that he will divorce her they shall do well mutually to accord for peace is exceeding good If you be too obstinate and cannot agree together if you do good to your Wives in divorcing them and fear to wrong them God will take notice of your actions If you believe you cannot keep equality and justice among your Wives although you apply your selves to it Incline not altogether to your own appetites and leave not your Wife as a thing left in toleration If you live in a good accord and fear to injure them God will be merciful to you If they separate themselves conformably to the precepts of the Law God will enrich them with his protection he is bountiful and wise and whatever is in Heaven and Earth obeyeth him We have recommended to you the fear of God as we have heretofore to them that had knowledge of the written Law. If you be impious know that whatever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods he hath no need of his Creatures and must be exalted it sufficeth thee he is thy Protector If he will he can cause you to perish and put other Creatures in your place for he is Omnipotent He that loveth the good things of the Earth shall find in God all the wealth of this World and of the other he understandeth and seeth all things O you that believe be true in your Testimonies notwithstanding it be against your selves against your Father and Mother and against your Kindred and consider the rich no more than the poor God is the Protector of the one and the other follow not your Appetites to favour the rich more than the poor pervert not the Truth be not scrupulous to testifie what you know God knoweth all your Actions O ye that believe in God! and his Prophet and the Book that was sent before him know he that blasphemeth against his Divine Majesty against his Angels the Scripture the Prophets and life eternal greatly erreth and departeth from the Truth God pardoneth not them that have embraced his Law and then have forsaken it having believed in his Divine Majesty and are returned again to their impiety declare to such men they shall feel heavy torments Such as obey Infidels to be great in this World extreamly delude themselves greatness proceedeth from God It is written in the Book that was sent to you that the Infidels shall mock you when they shall hear the word of God and you shall obey his Commandments Tarry not in their Company if they change not their Discourse otherwise you will be like to them God will assemble into the fire of Hell all Infidels and wicked Persons Some of them that observe your Actions said they were of your party when any Felicity hapned to you and when the Infidels had advantage over you they said they were with them and that they fought against you God at the Day of Judgment shall judge the difference that is between you and will not give advantage to Infidels over them that observe his Law. The wicked think to deceive God but God deceiveth them they are negligent to make their prayers they are hypocrites before the World and remember not his Divine Majesty except very few of them uncertain whether they should follow the faithful or the Infidels he whom God shall cause to go astray shall not find the right way O ye that believe obey not Infidels to the exclusion of true believers will you give God manifest occasion to chastise you for your sins The wicked shall be in the lowest place of Hell and shall find no relief except such as shall repent that shall do good works resign themselves to God and obey his Commandments they shall
be with the true believers and receive from God a very great reward He will not send you misery if you give him thanks for his favours and obey him he accepteth the acknowledgment of his benefits and knoweth all things He willeth not that what evil is committed be published he that publisheth the evil he doth is very much to blame if you manifest the good you do or if you conceal it and abstain from doing evil he will be merciful to you he is Omnipotent Such as blaspheme against God and his Prophets his Apostles such as would make a distinction between the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and the precepts of his Prophets such as affirm ' they believe in some of the Prophets and believe not in all and take a middle way between faith and impiety are indeed impious we have prepared for them ignominious torments but they who believe in God and generally in all his Prophets and Apostles shall be recompensed of God gracious and merciful They that know the written Law will require thee to cause to descend from Heaven a Book and written Tables They demanded of Moses greater things and said Cause us to behold God with our eyes then thunder surprized them by reason of their impiety They adored the Calf after having had the knowledge of our Commandments nevertheless we pardoned them and gave to Moses an absolute dominion over them We raised the Mountain over them following our promises and said to them Enter the Gate of the Temple with adoration and humility and no longer transgress the observation of the day of Rest We for this matter received from them a strong promise but they swerved from what they had promised and we cursed them because of their impiety by reason of the Murther they committed without reason on the persons of the Prophets and of the words they uttered viz. Our heart is hardned Contrariwise God imprinted infidelity in their hearts they shall never believe in his Law except very few of them because of their malice and the blasphemies they vomited against Mary they said We have slain the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary the Prophet and Apostle of God Certainly they slew him not neither crucified him they crucified one among them that resembled him such as doubt it are in a manifest error and speak not but through opinion Certainly they slew him not on the contrary God took him up to himself he is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions Such as have the knowledge of Scripture ought to believe in Jesus before his death he shall be a witness against them of their actions at the Day of Judgment We have prohibited them that Judaize by reason of their sin things that were permitted them We have prepared for them great torment because they mis-lead the World from the right way because they take Use that is forbidden them and unjustly eat the substance of their neighbour Such of them as are profound in Learning and all the faithful believe in the Scriptures both ancient and modern I will give great rewards to them that shall make their prayers at the time appointed that shall pay Tyths and believe in the Day of Judgment We have sent thee our inspirations as we sent them to Noah and the Prophets after him as we heretofore sent them to Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob the Tribes to Jesus Iob Ionas Aaron and to Solomon and gave the Psalter to David We have told thee who were the Prophets that preceded thee but we have not spoken to thee concerning the merits of all of them Moses spake to God as his Prophet and Apostle all declared his mercy and preached the torments of Hell to the end Men might have no cause of excuse God is Omnipotent and prudent in all his actions He shall be witness that the Alcoran was sent to thee with his Commandments the Angels likewise shall testifie it but it ought to suffice thee that God is witness The Infidels that hinder the People to follow the Law of God were exceedingly erroneous God will not pardon them he will lead them into the path of Hell where they shall remain eternally it is a thing easie to his Divine Majesty O People A Prophet is come to you who preacheth to you the Truth from the Lord believe him you shall do well if you believe him not know that whatever is in Earth and in Heaven is Gods and that God knoweth whatsoever you do O ye that understand the written Law Obey the Commandments of God and speak not of his Divine Majesty but with truth the Messiah Jesus the Son of Mary is a Prophet and an Apostle of God his Word and his Spirit which he sent to Mary believe therefore in God and in his Prophets and say not there be three Gods put an end to that discourse you shall do well For there is but one God praised be God he hath no Son whatever is in Heaven and in Earth obeyeth him it is sufficient that he is witness The Messiah esteemeth in no dishonour to be the servant of God neither the Angel nor the Cherubins He that holdeth it a dishonour to be at his service is too proud he shall assemble all the World at the Day of Judgment and every one shall receive the recompence that he shall have merited he shall augment his favours upon them that shall have believed in his Divine Majesty and have done good works he shall chastise them that shall have held it a dishonour to be his servants and have been proud upon the Earth they shall find no safe refuge but in his mercy O People God hath sent you a Protector a most strong argument and a most clear light they that shall trust in God shall enjoy his grace and he shall guide them into the right way They will enquire of thee concerning successions say to them God teacheth you touching successions as followeth if a Man decease without issue and hath a Sister she shall have the moity of what he shall leave and shall inherit it if she have no Children If they be two Sisters they shall have two thirds of what the deceased left if they be many Brothers and many Sisters the Son shall have as much as two Daughters God teacheth you his Commandments depart not from the right way he is Omniscient CHAP. V. The Chapter of the Table containing an hundred and twenty Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye that believe in God! Satisfie what you have promised it is permitted you to eat of the Beasts that be in the World except of what shall be hereafter declared Hunting is forbidden you during the time that you shall go on Pilgrimage to Mecca God ordaineth what he will O ye that believe say not That it is permitted to do what God hath prohibited perform what is commanded you during the Month of Pilgrimage give no impediment to such as carry presents
were in the grace of God said to them enter at the Gate and fight against them you shall be Victorious trust in God if you believe in his Law They said O Moses we will not enter so long as those Tyrants dwell therein go and fight against them with thy Lord we will here attend Then said Moses Lord I dispose but of mine own and my Brothers person separate us from this wicked people the Lord said to him the entrance into the Holy Land is prohibited to this people they shall wander forty years upon the Earth in confusion and amazement afflict not thy self with the Deportments of the wicked teach them the History of the Sons of Adam how they offered Sacrifices how the Sacrifice of the one was accepted that of the other was not he through envy menaced his Brother to murther him his Brother said to him God receiveth the Sacrifices and Holocausts of such as have his fear before their eyes assuredly if thou extendest thine hand to slay me I will not stretch forth mine to hurt thee I fear the Lord of the Universe If thou chargest thy self with the murther of my Person with thy past sins thou shalt go to Hell where the unjust shall be punished The murther of his Brother seemed easie and advantagious for him he slew him and is in the number of the Damned God sent a Raven that made a Pit in the Earth and shewed him the manner to bury the Body of his Brother Then said he would to God I had been weak and impotent that I were like to this Raven I must bury the Body of my Brother and he was penitent for his offence by reason of this murther we ordained to the Children of Israel that he who shall slay a Person innocent shall be punished as if he had slain the whole World and he that shall give him his Life shall be recompensed as if he had given Life to the whole World. My Prophets came to the Children of Israel taught them my Commandments and caused them to see Miracles nevertheless many of them were disobedient the punishment of them that oppose the Will of God that of his Prophet and that endeavour to pollute the Earth is to be slain hanged to have the right foot and the left hand or right hand and the left foot cut off and to be extirpated from the Earth they shall have in this World shame on the Forehead and shall feel in the other great torments except such as shall be converted before their death and shall know that God is gracious and merciful O ye that believe fear God fight for his Law you perhaps shall be happy All the Treasures of the World shall not be able to redeem Infidels at the Day of Judgment they shall endure exceeding great torments they shall desire to go out of the fire of Hell but shall dwell there eternally Cut off the hands of those Men and Women that steal they contract upon themselves the wrath of the World and the punishment that God hath prepared for the wicked He that shall turn and do good works shall be pardoned God is gracious and merciful to the penitent Knowest thou not that the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth is Gods that he chastiseth and pardoneth whom it pleaseth him and that he is Omnipotent O Prophet afflict not thy self to behold them running to impiety that say with the mouth we believe and have no Faith in their hearts neither for them that Iudaize and hearken to the lies of their Doctors to relate them to others they pervert the Language of the Old Testament and say If you be instructed in those Precepts you ought to observe them if they instruct you not in them take heed to your selves Such as make use of the name of God to move the people to Sedition are without Faith God will not purifie their hearts they shall have in this World shame upon the Forehead and feel in the other extream torments They listen to blasphemies and eat what is prohibited If they repair to thee and submit themselves to thy Judgment judge their Controversie with Equity converse not with them if thou depart from their Company they shall not hurt thee if thou givest judgment between them judge with Equity God loveth the Just How shall they submit to thy judgment seeing they have the Old Testament which containeth the Commandments of God They will not execute thy Judgment neither believe in the Old Testament wherein is the guide of the right way and a light to the Prophets to judge the differences arising among true Believers among Iews their Doctors and their Priests who study the Scripture and are Witnesses that it containeth the truth fear not the World but dread me sell not neither exchange my Commandments for any price Such as judge not conformably to the Law of God are Infidels We have ordained the Talio man for man an eye for an eye a nose for a nose an ear for an ear a tooth for a tooth a wound for a wound he that shall observe it shall do well and such as shall not judge conformably to the Law of God are unjust We sent after many Prophets Jesus the Son of Mary who confirmed the ancient Scriptures to him we gave the Gospel full of light to conduct the people to the right way with a confirmation of the Old Testament a guide and instruction for the righteous They that follow the Gospel ought to judge as it is commanded in the Gospel such as judge not conformably to what God hath taught them are disobedient to his Divine Majesty To thee have we sent the Book that containeth the truth and confirmeth the ancient Scritures determine the differences that shall arise among the people as I have inspired thee and follow not the Appetite of men that will abjure the truth which I have taught thee We have instructed all of you in a Law and assured means to lead you into the way of Salvation you should all have been of one and the same Religion had it so pleased God he hath done this to prove you Do good and know that you all shall be assembled before him and he shall resolve the doubts that are among you If thou judgest the differences that are among them judge conformably to what hath been inspired into thee and follow not their Appetites be careful they seduce thee not and move thee to doubt many things that God hath taught thee if they disobey his Commandments know he will severely punish them because of the Enormity of their Crimes The greatest part of the World are impious Do they affect the Judgment of the Ignorant What better Judge for the good is there than God O ye that believe obey not the Iews nor the Christians they mutually obey each other in their impiety he that shall obey them shall be like unto them God guideth not the unjust Thou seest such as are unstable in their Faith flock
Food which thou desirest and whosoever shall be â—…mpious shall be punished with torments that no man yet hath suffered He shall say at the Day of Judgment O Jesus Son of Mary didst thou enjoyn the people to worship thee and thy Mother as two Gods Jesus shall answer praised be thy name I will take heed of speaking what is not thou knowest if I have said it thou art Omniscient thou knowest what is in my Soul and I have no knowledge of what is in thee I delivered nothing but what thou didst command me to speak to wit Worship God your Lord and mine I am Witness from the time that I was in the World until thou didst cause me to dye thou didst observe the Deportments of the people thou feest all if thou chastisest Men they are thy Creatures if thou dost pardon them thou art Omnipotent and Wise. Then shall God say this day shall good works be profitable to the righteous they shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many Rivers there shall they dwell eternally with my grace in exceeding great felicity the Kingdom of heaven of Earth is Gods he is Omnipotent CHAP. VI. The Chapter of Gratifications containing an hundred sixty and fifteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to God the Creator of Heaven of Earth of darkness and of light such as believe not in their Lord are in error He it is that created you of the dust of the Earth and appointed a prefixed time for your death and resurrection nevertheless you doubt he is God in Heaven and in Earth he understandeth the secrets of your hearts and whatsoever you make manifest he knoweth the good and evil that you commit that his Commandments have been taught the Inhabitants of Mecca and that they have abjured them they opposed the revealed Truth but shall be chastised for their contempt They consider not how much People we have destroyed in past ages we gave them places to dwell in more strong and spacious than those which you inhabit sent them about of rain caused Fountains flow in the places of their habitation after this did we extirpate them by reason of their sins and established in their place a new People We have sent to thee the Scripture written in Vellum the unbelievers have handled it with their hands yet say it is evident sorcery and inchantment that they will not believe therein unless they see an Angel descend to confirm it Should we have sent an Angel they had perished by his presence unless we had sent him under the figure of a Man like unto them and cloathed as they are They derided the Prophets and Apostles thy Predecessors derision is fallen upon such as contemned them Say to them go through the World and consider the end of them that abjure the Law of God say to them to whom appertaineth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth it is Gods. He will imploy his mercy to save you doubtless he will assemble all of you at the Day of Judgment Nevertheless Infidels believe not in his Unity they consider not that whatsoever moveth by night and by day and whatsoever is in the World belongeth to his Divine Majesty who understandeth and knoweth all things Say to them require you other protection than that of God the Omnipotent Creator of Heaven and Earth who nourisheth all things is nourished by none Say to them I have received a command to embrace the Law of Salvation Be not ye in number of unbelievers I fear to disobey my Lord and fear the torments prepared for the wicked at the day of Judgment he that shall deliver himself shall enjoy the grace of God which is supream felicity If God will punish you none shall deliver you from his punishment if his Will is to do good to you he is Omnipotent always victorious and hath all power over his Creatures he is most wise and Omniscient Say to them What better testimony is there in the World than that of God Say to them He shall testifie between you and me to whom he hath inspired the Alcoran to instruct you Will any among you that shall learn it say there is any other God but God I will not say so there is but one God and I am innocent from the sin you commit in associating him with a companion equal to him many of them that understand the written Law have knowledge of the truth of the Alcoran their Children also know it but such as forsake their own Souls will not believe in God. Who more unjust than he that blasphemeth against God and his Commandments Certainly the wicked shall be miserable I will assemble all of them and say Where are the gods which you did associate with God They shall have none other excuse but to say by God Lord we were of the number of Idolaters Consider how they will lie and disavow their blasphemies some there be among them that hearken to thee we have hardened their hearts they will not learn the Alcoran because their ears are stopped When they shall hear related all the miracles of the World and shall see them with their eyes they will not believe until they have disputed against thee The wicked say the Alcoran is but a lie and â—…able of Antiquity they forbid the People to believe it and contemn it certainly they destroy their Souls and know it not thou shalt see when they shall be detained in the fire of Hell they will say Would to God I might return into the World I would obey the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and be in the number of true believers They knew the truth but concealed it should they return into the World they would return to their impiety they are liars They affirm there is none other life than that of the World neither any resurrection when they shall be before God they shall acknowledge their errors he shall cause them to feel the chastisements due to their blasphemies Such as believe not in the Resurrection are wretched Men they shall be afflicted for their sins at the hour when ever death shall surprize them they shall bear on their back the burthen of their crimes and avouch the life of this world to be but deceit and vanity and the life of the other to be full of felicity for the righteous nevertheless the wicked are not converted I know thou wilt be incensed against such as shall say they desire to obey thee and shall renounce thy Doctrine they that contemn the Commandments of God are impious they have belied the Prophets thy Predecessors the Prophets endured their lies and were patient until we destroyed them God declineth not what he hath promised Thou knowest what the Prophets foretold if Men abandon thee canst thou coveâ—… to continue on earth to instruct them and to be in Heaven at the same time to cause prodigies appear testimonies of thy mission Had it so pleased God he had
him the right way God guideth Men to the way of Salvation I will wholly resign my self to the pleasure of his Divine Majesty Make your prayers at the time appointed and pay Tythes you all shall appear before God at the Day of Judgment to give account of your actions He it is that created Heaven and Earth Remember thou the Day wherein he said Be thou and every thing was he shall reign and at that day command an Angel to sound the Trumpet to call to universal Judgment the living and the dead He knoweth the future present and past is most Wise and nothing is hidden from him Remember thou that Abraham said to his Father Azer wherefore do you worship Idols instead of God I perceive your Family to be in manifest errour God shewed to Abraham the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth and he was in the number of the Blessed Abraham seeing by night a most clear Star asked in himself if it were his God no replyed he to himself my God doth not rise and set seeing the Moon to arise he demanded if that were his God no said he to himself certainly God will not guide me to be of them that are erroneous when he beheld the Sun rising he likewise asked if that were his God and when he saw it set he said to his people I am innocent of the sin which you commit in adoring many Gods I wholly commend my self to his Will who created Heaven and Earth and profess his Unity His people would dispute against him he said to them will you dispute against me concerning the Unity of God who hath instructed me in the right way I fear not your Idols my God doth what pleaseth him and knoweth all things will you not consider it How shall I fear your Idols since you are not afraid to affirm that God hath Companions equal to him which you have no reason to adore If you understand the truth who is more true you or I Such as believe in God and shall not cover the truth with a lie shall be delivered from the torments of Hell and conducted into the way of Salvation We instructed Abraham with reasons to dispute against his people I give knowledge to whom I see good and exalt whom I please Thy Lord O Abraham seeth and knoweth all things we gave to Abraham Isaac and Iacob his Sons we before instructed Noah and his Lineage in the right way we taught it David Solomon Iob Ioseph Moses Aaron Zachary St. Iohn Iesus the Son of Mary Eliah Ismael Ioshua Ionas and Lot we gratified them above the residue of the World we elected their Fathers Brothers and Progeny and guided them in the right way Thus God guideth whom he seeth good Men before adored Idols and believeth there were many Gods nevertheless he blotted out their past Errours when they were converted If they slander them that have knowledge of the Scriptures and of Prophecies will give power over their Persons to Men that shall mis-lead them with the Infidels Those whom God guideth believe in the Unity of his Divine Majesty Say unto them I require no reward for having preached to you the Alcoran he teacheth to all the World the Commandments of God. The Iews have not honoured him as was their Duty they understood not his Graces when they said he hath instructed the people in nothing that is profitable Say unto them who gave the Tables unto Moses who instructed him in the Scripture which they have written in Vellum to guide and illuminate the people They have published what pleased them and have concealed much they shall learn in the Alcoran what they know not and what their Fathers understood not Say to them God after that left them obstinate and amazed in their Errours We have sent from Heaven that Book full of Blessedness it confirmeth the Scriptures that were sent before it to the end thou mayst instruct the people of Mecca them that inhabit about that City and the rest of the World. Such as shall believe in the Day of Judgment believe in what is written in this Book and shall pray to God to deliver them from the torments of Hell Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth against God that saith God hath inspired into him what he uttereth notwithstanding he hath received no inspiration from his Divine Majesty Who more unjust than he that saith he will cause to descend from Heaven things like to those which God inspired into his Prophets When thou shalt see the wicked at the point of death and the Angels stretching forth their hands to take their Souls say unto them This day the torments of Hell shall be the punishment of the blasphemies that ye have vomited against God and your disobedience to his Commandments God shall say to them you are come before us without Riches and Children naked as you were created and have cast behind your Backs the instructions which we gave you I see not with you the Idols you adored you are separated from each other and have forsaken them that you esteemed on Earth should have been your Protectors God separateth the good from the wicked as the Corn from the Ear and the stone from the Date He causeth the Living to spring from the dead and the dead from the living behold the works of God why will you depart from his Law He divideth the Morning from darkness hath established Night for the repose of Men and the Sun and Moon to compute Ages Years Months and Seasons such are the effects of Gods power he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He it is that created the Stars to give you light and guide you in the obscurity of the Earth and Sea he gratifieth with his Grace such as learn his Commandments He it is that created you of one sole Person that gave you the Earth to inhabit and preserveth you in the World he hath conferred his Grace on such as have obeyed his Commandments hath made Rain to descend from Heaven and caused the Earth to produce divers sorts of Herbs Green things and Corn he hath caused the Date to spring forth and the Palm Tree with Gardens enriched with Grapes Olives Pomgranets and many Fruits alike and different Consider how Fruits encrease and multiply this serveth for instruction of Gods Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes the Infidels have adored the Devil with God who created them and said that God hath Sons and Daughters such is their ignorance praised be God he created Heaven and Earth how shall he have a Son who hath no Wives He createth and knoweth all things he is your God and your Lord there is none other God but he worship him he conserveth all things he is seen of no Man and beholdeth all things he is benign and nothing is concealed from him O people there is come to you a light from your Lord to conduct you he that seeth clearly shall receive advantage and he that
God hath spoken to them and hath said enter into Paradise and fear not you shall for ever be exempt from affliction the damned shall cry unto the Blessed Give us of the water which you drink and the meats that you eat they shall answer The drink and bread of Paradise is prohibited to Infidels who sported with their Faith that were proud of the wealth of the Earth and that scoffed at the Commandments of God he hath forgotten them because they forgot the coming of the Day of Judgment and blasphemed against his Precepts We are come to the Inhabitants of Mecca to instruct them in the Alcoran we teach it unto men to give them knowledge of the right way and to acquire the mercy of God if they believe in that Book Shall they expect to believe until they know its explication It s explication shall appear at the Day of Judgment that day such as shall have lived without Faith shall say Certainly the Prophets delivered the Truth shall we partake of their Prayers will they intercede for us until we return to the World to do better than we have done and to obey Gods Commandments But they shall be damned because of their Blasphemies God is your Lord he created the Heaven and the Earth in six days and sitteth on his Throne he causeth the Night incontinently to succeed the day the Sun the Moon and the Stars move at his Command and all the World obeyeth him praised be God Lord of the Uniniverse Pray to God privately and publickly he abhorreth the unjust pollute not the Earth after the Ordure is removed pray to God to avoid his Chastisements and obtain his mercy which is for the righteous It is God that sendeth the Winds to dissipate the Rain when they carry the Clouds we drive them charged with water into places dry dead and ruined and cause the Rain to fall there that they may produce Herbs and Fruits so will we cause the dead to arise again perhaps Men will remember the good Land bringeth forth good Fruits through the permission of its Lord and the bad Land produceth only Darnel I teach my Commandments to such as are not ingrateful Certainly we sent Noah to instruct Men he said O ye people worship one God alone if you adore other then him you shall be punished at the Day of Judgment their Rulers answered O Noah thou art in a great Errour He replyed I erre not I am a Messenger sent from God to preach his Will I give you most wholsome Advice God hath taught me what you know not Is it strange to you that he hath sent you his Commandment by the Tongue of a Man like your selves to declare to you the torments of Hell Fear God he will pardon your sins But they belyed Noah we saved him in the Ark with his Retinue and drowned those that contemned our Law they were altogether blind We sent Hod to his Brother Aâ—…d and to his Retinue he said O ye people worship one God alone whom will ye adore or whom fear but God The Teachers answered thou art in an extream ignorance we believe thee to be in the number of Lyars he replied I am not a Lyar I am a Messenger sent from God to preach his Commandments I give good and salutary Advice wonder not that God teacheth you his Precepts by the Tongue of a Man like you who declareth to you his Pleasure Remember that he left you on Earth after Noah that he encreased you in number force and power Call to mind his grace you shall be happy They answered are we come to this to worship one God alone and to relinquish what our Fathers adored Shew us the truth whereof thou dost preach if thou art true he said the wrath and indignation of God shall fall upon you will you dispute with us of the Names that you and your Fathers imposed on your Idols God did not enjoyn to worship them neither have you reason to do it expect your punishment I will expect it with perseverance Then did we deliver him from their Malice and all the true Believers that were with him and destroyed those Infidels by reason of their impiety We sent Salhe to Temod and his people he said to them O ye people worship but one God he shall shew you a Miracle in this Camel suffer it to feed on the Earth and do to it no harm lest you be chastised Remember how God left you on the Earth after Aad he gave you to dwell in the Valleys in the Plains and Mountains Remember God and pollute not the Earth any more Their Captains who were proud demanded of the poor if they believed that Salhe was indeed the Messenger of God they answered We believe in his words and in his Doctrin Then said those proud Men we abjure what ye believe we condemn him and they slâ—…w the Camel of Salhe in Dâ—…ision disobeyed the Commandments of God and said O Salhe Let us now see the punishment that thou didst preach if thou art of the Prophets at the same time an Earthquake with Thunder surprized them and they remained dead as Carcasses in their Houses Salhe forsook them and said O ye people I declared to you the Will of God with fidelity but ye detest them that affect you and give you good Counsels Remember thou how Lot spake to the People saying will you daily defile your selves with Whoredome and with a filthiness that was never yet seen in the World by any your Predecessors Will you love Men better than Women Will you love sin rather than Piety They said Let us expel Lot and his Family from our City for that they will not contaminate themselves with us but God delivered him out of their hands and those of his House except his Wife who continued with them that were punished We caused a Rain to fall upon them that destroyed all of them Consider the end of the wicked We sent Chaib to the Countrey of Madian he said O ye people worship one God alone weigh with good Weights measure with good Measure and retain nothing from your Neighbour Possess not the high ways to give terrour to the people neither divert true Believers from the Law of God Remember that you were but a small handful of Men and he caused you to multiply consider the end of the wicked If any among you embrace the Faith and others contemn it have patience until God judge your differences there is no better Judge than he Their Teachers said O Chiab we will banish thee from Madian thee and those that are of thy Fath if thou art of our Religion he answered should I not abhor your Religion I should blaspheme against God who hath delivered me I will follow it if it please God he knoweth all things I will commend my self wholly to the Will of his Divine Majesty Lord judge our Controversie thou art the best Judge of the World. Then said their Teachers to the
people if you follow Chaib you are damned not long after an Earthquake and Thunder surprized them and in the Morning they were found dead in their Houses such as belyed Chaib found no safety in their Habitations they were wretched he abandoned them and said O ye people I have preached to you the Will of God with fidelity I will no longer afflict my self with the Malice of the wicked We inflicted Sickness and Poverty on them that disobeyed the Prophets whom we sent to the Inhabitants of Madian peradventure they will be converted We proved them through Diseases and Health and gratified them in many Occurrences yet they said our Fathers were afflicted with Sickness and Poverty we shall be as they but we chastised them for their sin when they least considered it Had the Inhabitants of Mecca had our fear before their eyes and obeyed our Commandments we had opened to them the blessing of Heaven and Earth we will punish them because they are impious Some there be that shall be afflicted in the Night when they sleep and others that shall be toâ—…mented by day when they sport and recreate themselves they believed God to be a dâ—…ceiver and are damned God guideth into the right way true Believers and makes them Heirs of the Earth after their Parents had he so pleased he might have destroyed all the World he might have hardned the hearts of the people and no man had hearkned to his word I recount what things befel that City many Prophets have been sent to its Inhabitants and wrought many Miracles yet would they not relinquish their former impiety thus have we hardned the hearts of Infidels they violated their Promises and we found most of them to be wicked and disobedient We sent Moses to Pharaoh and his people he to them shewed Miracles which through their Malice they contemned but consider the end of those wicked men Moses said unto Pharaoh I am a Messenger sent from God the God of the Universe when I speak of God I deliver the Truth I am come through his Command to tell thee thou must dismiss with me the Children of Israel and no longer detain them in thy Dominions Pharaoh said if thou comest from God and art true in thy sayings let us see some Miracles then he cast upon the ground his Staffe which was changed into a Serpent shewed his hand that appeared exceeding white to the eyes of the Spectators The Doctors of Pharaoh said this Man is a Magician he would have us to abandon our Countrey what is your opinion detain him Prisoner and his Brother and send into your Cities to assemble Magicians The Magicians of Pharaoh appearing before him they said what shall be our reward if we shall be Victorious He replyed to them you shall be well rewarded and shall be of them that approach my Person They said O Moses wilt thou first cast down thy Staffe on the ground or shall we ours Moses bad them cast down theirs which they did enchanting the eyes of the Spectators and terrifying them with an extraordinary enchantment God inspired Moses to cast down his Rod which devoured the Staves of the other and the Truth appeared above falshood and above the Vanity of their Actions they were vanquished to their confusion forsook their Magick and prostrating themselves on the Earth uttered these words We believe in the Lord of the Universe the Lord of Moses and of Aaron Pharaoh said to them Ye believe in the God of Moses without my permission this is a deceit invented by you to drive the people out of my Dominions but you shall soon know the punishment that I will lay upon you I will cut off your feet and hands and command you to be crucified They answered We recommend our selves wholly to the Will of God whatsoever is thy revenge on us thou shalt not hinder us to believe in the Miracles that we see neither to obey the Commandments of his Divine Majesty Lord give us patience and to die in the number of true Believers Then said Pharaoh's Doctors dismiss Moses and his people that they may go whither they see good to pollute the Earth that they may leave thee in quiet with thy Gods He said I will cause their Children to be slain their Wives to be abused and I will inflict upon them a thousand torments Moses said to his people Implore succours of God with patience and Prayers the whole Earth is Gods he giveth it to inherit to whom he seeth good the other World is for the rightâ—…ous They said O Moses We before thy coming desired the death of our Enemies he replyed God will not destroy your Enemies to leave you alone upon the Earth he shall behold your Actions We afflicted Pharaoh and his Subjects with Famine perhaps unbelievers will consider it When any happiness befel them they said they well deserved it and when they fell into Misery they affirmed Moses and his people to be the cause of it It is God that punished them but of this most of them were ignorant They said unto Moses cease to shew us thy Miracles to inchant us we will not obey thee We sent upon them a Deluge Grass-hoppers Lice Frogs and Blood one after another nevertheless they were proud and in the number of the wicked When our wrath fell upon them they said O Moses call upon thy Lord that he give us what to thee he promised remove his displeasure from us we will believe thee and will dismiss with thee the Children of Israel When we delivered them from affliction they sharpned their Tongues murmured and violated their Promises we avenged our selves upon them and drowned them in the Sea for that they contemned our Miracles and we gave the West and East to the Children of Israel who were humble before us we gave them our blessing our word was accomplished upon them because of their perseverance and we destroyed the Armies of Pharaoh The Children of Israel having past the Sea met with Men that adored Idols and said O Moses make unto us Gods like to the Gods of this people he answered ye are ignorant these Men are wretched what they do is but ignorance and Vanity shall I desire that you worship other Gods than God that preferred you to all the World We have delivered you from Pharaoh's people who caused you to endure great torments they murthered your Children abused your Wives and you suffer heavy afflictions for the punishment of your sins We detained Moses on the Mountain thirty Nights and ten other Nights which is in all forty Nights when he went up he said to his Brother Aaron be thou my Lieutenant command this people in mine absence and follow not the path of the wicked When Moses at the time appointed arrived at the top of the Mountain and that his Lord spake to him he said Lord permit me to see thee he said thou shalt not see me behold this Mountain if it continue firm
Quarter of you give them Quarter to the end they may learn the word of God teach them his Commandments for they are ignorant How should they have Truce with God and his Prophet If they believe neither in the one nor the other except them with whom you entred Truce in the Temple of Mecca If they observe their promise to you observe what ye promised to them God loveth such as have his fear before their eyes How shall they have Truce with you If they have advantage over you they will respect neither your alliance nor confederacy They will speak well of you and contemn you in their heart the greatest part of them are impious they have preferred the riches of this World to the Commandments of God and have hindred the People to follow his Law as if they knew not what they did they bear no respect to the True believers wherein they are exceedingly to blame If they turn and make their prayers at the time appointed if they pay Tithes they shall be your Brethren in God. I teach the mysteries of faith to such as have understanding to comprehend them if they break their promise and disturb them of your Religion kill their Captains as persons without faith they will perhaps put an end to their impiety Slay such especially that renounce their faith who have endeavoured to drive the Prophet from Mecca and have begun to slay you will you fear them Will ye be terrified by them It is reasonable that ye fear God if ye believe in his Law fight them God shall chastise them by your hands he shall render them dishonourable and protect you against them he shall fortifie the hearts of True believers and expel melancholy he pardoneth whom he seeth good knoweth all things and is most prudent in what he ordaineth Think ye to be forsaken of God and that he discerneth not them that have fought gallantly for his Law from such as have adored Idols and disobeyed his Prophet The True believers abandon not their Religion another time to profess it God knoweth all your actions Infidels must not enter into the Temple of Mecca knowing that they are Infidels the good works which they shall do in this World shall be unprofitable and they shall dwell eternally in the fire of Hell. They that believe in God and the Day of Judgment that make their prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and worship one God alone shall visit the Temples of his Divine Majesty and such as fear the Creatures more than the Creator err from the right way We have ordained that such as shall bear fresh Water to Pilgrims and them that shall visit the Temple of Mecca shall be in the number of them that believe in God and the Day of Judgment Such as fight for the faith are not all equal in graces and merits before God he guideth not the unjust Such as have believed in God as have departed from the wicked and employed their wealth and persons to fight for his Law shall have a particular degree and a particular place near to his Divine Majesty they shall be the more happy God through his goodness declareth to them that they shall enter into delicious Gardens where they shall remain eternally there is with God a very great reward O ye that believe obey not your Fathers nor your Brothers that love rather to follow impiety than the faith Such as shall obey them shall offend exceedingly if your Father your Children your Brothers your Wives your Parents your friends the wealth that you have gained the fear of losing your riches and apprehension of poverty have more of power over you than God and his Prophet and hinder you to fight for the faith the Commandment of God shall be executed against you he guideth not the wicked and hath protected you in many occasions Remember the day of Battle of Hanin when ye rejoyced in the multitude of your Men it did not advantage you fear made you find the place too narrow for flight and ye turned the Back as vanquished Remember that God at that time put his Prophet and the true Believers in a place of safety and sent invisible Troops to chastise the Infidels he pardoneth sins as seemeth good to him he is gracious and merciful O ye that believe in God! Unbelievers are unclean permit not that they enter into the Temple of Mecca after this year if ye have apprehension of want God shall enrich you with his Grace if it please him he is Omniscient and most prudent Fight against them that believe not in God nor the Day of Judgment that forbid not to act what God hath prohibited and his Prophet hath forbidden and that judge not according to the Law of truth wherein they were instructed who heretofore received the written Law they chuse rather to pay Tribute than to be converted therefore are they contemptible The Iews have said that the Son of God is most powerful the Christians that the Messiah is the Son of God their words are like to the words of the Infidels that preceded them but God shall lay upon them his Curse Consider how they blaspheme they adore their Doctors and Priests and the Messiah also the Son of Mary who commanded them to worship one God alone there is but one 〈◊〉 God praised be God there is nothing equal to him they would extinguish the light of God with their mouth but he shall not suffer them he shall cause it to appear notwithstanding it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Infidels He hath sent his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men into the right way to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law of Truth and to make it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all other Laws of the World 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Will of Idolaters O ye that truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many of the Doctors and Priests eaâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the substance of the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them from the Law of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as â—…reasure up and expend nothing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…s works they shall suffer great torments at the day when the fire of Hell shall be kindled upon them it shall burn their Forehead sides and back it shall be said to them behold the wealth which ye have treasured up for your Souls taste the Fruits of your Treasures which ye have amassed When God created the Heaven and the Earth he ordained the year of twelve Months amongst which four are priviledged Offend not God especially in those Months fight at all times against Unbelievers as they will fight against you and know that God is with them that have his fear before their eyes Sloth and forgetfulness abound in impiety God misâ—…eadeth through negligence the Unbelievers that prefer one Month to another in imitation of what is commanded they permit to do what God hath forbidden and delight in the Malice of their Actions but God is not the guide of the wicked O ye that believe wherefore have ye inclined to the Earth Why did ye prefer the wealth of this World to that of Paradise when you
Resurrection such as place their content in the wealth of this World they that trust in their Riches and that are ignorant of the Commandments of God shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell because of their sins and the true Believers shall be conducted by his Divine Majesty into delicious Gardens wherein flow many Rivers they shall there find whatsoever they shall desire and shall say at the beginning of their Prayers praised be God afterwards they shall say Salvation be to God and at the end of their Prayers praise be to God Lord of the Universe Although God doth sometimes suddenly chastise Men he always attendeth the time of their Destiny I will leave them that shall not believe in the Resurrection in their Errours to their confusion When Man is afflicted he invoketh us standing sitting lying and in all postures and when we have delivered him from his affliction he persisteth in his wickedness It seemeth good to the wicked to do in this manner we destroyed their Predecessours when they believed not in the Prophets neither obeyed the Precepts that we sent them and have established you on the Earth in their place after them to see your Deportments When thou teachest our Commandments to them that believe not in the Resurrection they say that the Precepts of the Alcoran are altogether contrary to what thou preachest and that thou hast altered them Say unto them I have no Will to alter them of my self I do but what is inspired into me of God I fear to be punished at the Day of Judgment should I disobey his Divine Majesty Say unto them Had it pleased God I had neither read nor taught you his Commandments I sojourned a long time with you before I taught you will you not learn them Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth God doth not aid the Infidels that worship what can neither benefit nor hurt them and say their Idols shall intercede for them will you instruct God in any thing that he knoweth not of what is in Heaven or in Earth Praised be God he hath no Companion Men were all of one Religion before Infidelity took place and if God had not said that he would defer the punishment of the wicked until the Day of Judgment he had already destroyed them in this World because of their impiety They say we will not believe in the Prophet if God make not some Miracles to appear in him Say unto them God knoweth what shall be expect I will expect with you When we gave them to taste of content after their affliction they had subtilty upon our Commandments Say unto them God is more subtile than you his Messengers shall write your subtilties he it is that made Men to travel upon the Earth and Sea It is he that sendeth them a favourable wind to rejoyce them in their Ships when Tempest surprizeth them they believe that the Waves will overwhelm them then they invoke God with desire to embrace his Law and say if God doth deliver us from this danger we will believe in his Unity and return him thanks for this mercy and being delivered from peril persist in their wickedness O People you draw mischief on your selves you require nothing but the wealth of this World you all shall appear before us to be judged according to your works the life of the World is like to the Rain which we cause to descend from Heaven it causeth with mixture all sorts of herbage to spring forth for the nourishment of Men and Beasts When the Earth is adorned with Flowers and enriched with its Fruits the Inhabitants oftentimes believe they have the power to cause their production then send we our chastiiements Day and Night upon the Earth and render it as mown and as if the Day before it had brought no Fruit. Thus do I discover Mysteries to such as have knowledge to comprehend them They beg their Salvation of God he saveth and putteth in the way of Salvation whom it pleaseth him He shall not cover the Visage of them that have done good works they shall appear without shame and dwell in Paradise where they shall remain eternally and such as shall have done evil shall be punished after their demerits they shall be covered with shame and none shall be able to protect them they shall be as if a great part of the obscurity of the Night had covered their countenance they shall be condemned to the fire of Hell where they shall dwell eternally Think on the Day wherein we will â—…ssemble all the World and will say to the Infidels Hâ—…ll shall be your habitation where be the â—…dols you adored we have separated you from each other Their Idols shall say to them You have not worshipped us God is witness was there any thing between us and you that rendred us ignorant of your adorations That Day shall every one see what he hath done and know that God is Truth it self their Idols shall be separated far from them and they shall understand their blasphemies Say unto them who enricheth you with the wealth of Heaven and Earth Who causeth life to come out of death and death out of life Who disposeth all things in the World They shall answer it is God Say unto them why have you not therefore his fear before your eyes God is indeed your Lord what is there after the Truth but falshood How will you depart from his Law his Word shall be accomplished against Infidels Say unto them Have your Idols the power to cause Men to die and to make them rise again God causeth them to die and to rise again how shall they be able to blaspheme after these reasons Say unto them Are your Idols able to conduct you into the right way God guideth the People into the way of Salvation who ought rather to be followed he that guideth the People into the right way or he that misleadeth them What reason have ye to follow the evil way The greatest part of them follow but their own opinion but their opinion is not conformable to the Truth God knoweth all their actions there is no falshood in the Alcoran it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and perspicuously explaineth them there is no doubt but it proceedeth from the Lord of the Universe They say Mahomet hath invented this Book say unto them Come and bring any thing that resembleth it in Doctrine and Eloquence and call the Idols which ye adore we shall see if you are sincere on the contrary they have blasphemed and have talked of what they understood not when they heard the exposition of the Alcoran Thus did their Predecessors but consider what is the end of the unjust There be among them who will believe in this Book and others that will not believe Thy Lord knoweth them that defile the Earth if they slander thee say unto them I will answer with my actions and ye shall answer with yours ye are innocent of what I act and I
am innocent of what ye do There be persons among them that have inclination to hear thee but art thou able to cause the deaf to hear Should they not be deaf they would learn nothing Others there be who look toward thee but art thou able to guide the blind should they see clearly they would not follow the right way God doth no injustice to Men they do injury to themselves through the enormity of their offences I will cause them to rise again at the Day of Judgment as if they had remained but one hour of a day in the Grave they shall know each other and the wicked who have not believed in the Resurrection shall be damned I will shew thee many of them whom I will chastise I will cause thee to die before they be chastised and they all shall appear before me to be judged God is witness of their actions he shall punish them according to their demerits every Nation of the World hath had a Prophet sent from God who hath judged with reason and without injustice the differences that were among them touching Religion They have said at what time shall the wrath of God appear Say unto them I of my self can neither procure good nor evil if God doth not permit it every one hath his destiny when the time of their destiny arriveth they can neither retard or advance it one hour Have ye considered the punishment which God heretofore sent by day and by night against the wicked When ye felt it ye believed it and fell into it headlong It shall be said to the wicked at the Day of Judgment taste eternal torments shall you not be punished according to your demerits They will ask of thee if the pains denounced against the wicked and if the Resurrection be matters of Truth Say unto them yes my Lord is most exact in his words and all the Treasures of the World shall not be able to redeem one Soul. They shall repent of their sins when they shall feel the punishment of their offences but shall be condemned without injustice whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertaineth to God he is exact in his Promise yet the greatest part of the World do not know him He it is who causeth to die and giveth life and shall assemble Men at the Day of Judgment O People God hath sent you instructions and remedies for your infirmities he hath sent a guide to conduct true believers into the way of his mercy it shall be to them of more advantage than the treasures that they accumulate Have ye considered the good things which he hath created for you Ye have appointed one part to be eaten and have prohibited to eat of another Hath God permitted you to blaspheme against him The opinion of such as blaspheme against God shall be but misery at the Day of Judgment God is full of goodness for the people but most of them are ingrateful In whatsoever place thou art whether thou teach what is contained in the Alcoran or whether thou labour I am always present nothing is concealed from thy Lord of whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth be it great or little all is written in the intelligible Book that explaineth all things There needeth no fear for such as recommend themselves to God they shall be exempt from the pains of Hell. The true believers who have his fear before their eyes shall suffer no torments in the other World it is declared to them on Earth that they shall have all content the word of God admits of no alteration they shall enjoy perfection of felicity in Paradise Afflict not thy self for the words of the impious vertue proceedeth from God he understandeth and knoweth all things whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertaineth to him They who worship Idols follow but their opinion and are lyars God hath created the night for repose and the day for labour such as hear his Word find therein marks of his Omnipotency They have said Do ye believe that God hath a Son Praised be God he is most rich and hath no need of any person he possesseth whatsoeever is in Heaven and Earth you have no reason in what ye alledge will you speak of God what ye know not God doth not aid in this World them that blaspheme against him he shall cause them to feel after their death great torments because of their impiety Instruct them in the History of Noah how he spâ—…ke to his People and said O People if my abode with you and the preaching of the Commandments of God be irksom to you know that all my support is in God assemble your Doctors with your Idols and conceal not what ye do go whither you will ye shall find none to protect you if ye contemn my instructions I require not of you a reward for my pains I desire to receive of none other than God the Omnipotent and recommend my self to the will of his Divine Majesty They slandered Noah then did we save him in the Ark and them that were with him we prolonged their posterity on Earth and drowned the wicked consider the end of such as heard the Word of God and contemned it We sent to them other Prophets after Noah they made them to see Miracles and gave them most salutary instructions but they did not believe in what they had no will before to believe Thus I harden the heart of the wicked We after them sent Moses to Pharaoh and his Subjects with our miracles they arose against our Commandments when the truth was preached to them and said it was but Magick and Enchantment Moses said to them Will you say that the Truth is Sorcery God doth not assist Magicians and Sorcerers they said Art thou with thy Brother come to divert us from the Religion of our Fathers and to be esteemed on Earth We will believe in thy words Then Pharaoh commanded to summon the most skilful of his Magicians they being assembled Moses said to them cast down what ye have a will to cast down on the ground having cast down their Cords and Staves Moses said to them know ye none other thing but Magick God shall render it vain and unprofitable he abhoreth such as defile the Earth he confirmeth the Truth through his Word although it be against the will of the wicked Few Men believed in Moses because of their fear to displease Pharaoh and his Ministers Pharaoh was powerful on Earth and in the number of the wicked Moses said O People if ye believe in God resign your selves to his will they answered All our confidence is in God Lord do not thou abandon us to the malice of the unjust deliver us through thy mercy from the hands of Infidels We inspired Moses and his Brother to dwell some time in Egypt with their people and to make Oratories in their Houses therein to make their prayers and preach to true believers Lord said Moses thou hast enriched Pharaoh and
his people in this World they go astray from the way of thy Law confound their riches and harden your hearts they will not believe until they see thy judgments and feel the effect of thy wrath he said I have heard the prayers of you both be faithful in your Embassie and follow not the way of the ignorant We gave passage through the Sea to the Children of Israel Pharaoh pursued them with hatred and envy until his people were drowned Then said Pharaoh believe there is none other God but the God of the Children of Israel and I wholly recommend my self to his Will. Thou dost now believe in God O Pharaoh and wert before disobedient to his Commandments filling the Earth with they enormities I have delivered thee from this peril that thou maist be an example to posterity for many among the people are ignorant of my Omnipotency We gave the Children of Israel to dwell in places full of delights and enriched them with the good things of the Earth they knew the differences that arose among them touching Religion thy Lord shall judge them at the Day of Judgment If thou doubtest what we have taught thee repair to them that have read the Scripture before thee what thy Lord hath taught thee is most true be not thou of them that doubt neither of such as derogate from the Commandments of God thou shalt be in the number of the wretched Those whom God will chastise shall not believe in his Divine Majesty should they behold all the miracles of the World until they see the torments of Hell. The faith is exceeding profitable to the Cities that have received it when the Inhabitants of the City of Ionas embraced it we delivered them from our punishment we delivered them from ignominy and enriched them until the time appointed if it pleased thy Lord all the World should believe in him wilt thou abhor the People until they believe in God No Man can embrace the faith without his permission he sendeth his indignation against them that disobey his Commandments Say unto them Consider all that is in Heaven and Earth miracles and preaching are of no use to such as will not believe shall they expect what their Predecessors expected Say unto them expect I will expect with you I will deliver my Prophets and the true believers from the torments of Hell it is reasonable that I deliver them that obey my Commandments O People who causeth you to doubt of the Law which I teach you I will not worship the Idols that you adore I worship one God alone who shall cause you all to dye I will embrace his Law it commandeth to profess his Unity I am not of them that say he hath a Companion equal to him Adore not what can neither benefit nor hurt thee if thou do it thou shalt be in the number of the unjust If God will afflict thee none can deliver thee from affliction if God will do good to thee none can deprive thee of his grace he hath given it to whom seemeth good to himself he is gracious and merciful O people God teacheth you the truth whosoever shall follow the right way shall save his Soul and whosoever shall go astray shall destroy it I am not your Tutor I do but what is inspired into me I have patience in my perseverance I will expect the judgment of God there is no better Judge than he CHAP. XI The Chapter of Hod containing an hundred twenty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. The signs contained in this Book are most true they proceed from the most wise who knoweth all things Worship ye but one God alone I preach to you from him the torments of Hell and declare the Joys of Paradise that ye may implore pardon of his Divine Majesty and be converted he shall give you an happy Life in the World until the time appointed and shall reward every one according to his works I fear lest you should be chastised at the Day of Judgment if you forsake the right way you all shall be assembled before God to be judged The heart of the impious inclined to hatred of the Prophet and they would have concealed themselves for some time from God they are covered with their garments that they may not be known but God knoweth what is in their Souls he understandeth whatsoever they conceal and whatsoever they make manifest All the Creatures of the World live of his grace he knoweth the place of their repair and the place where they must die all is written in an intelligible Book that explaineth all things He it is that created Heaven and Earth in six days his Throne was before upon the Waters the Alcoran exhorteth you to well-doing If thou saist to the wicked that they shall rise again after their Death they will say it is but Witchcraft and Sorcery if we retard some time to chastise them they say there is no punishment for their crimes but they shall not avoid it in the day when it shall appear and they shall feel the rigour of the pains which they contemn If we confer riches and health on the impious and deprive them of them they despair in their impiety if we give them good after their evil they say misery hath forsaken them they rejoyce and become arrogant Such as are humble and patient in their afflictions and do good works shall obtain pardon of their sins and a very great reward Perhaps thou wilt forget to teach something of what I have inspired into thee and be afflicted because they say that what thou speakest shall bring thee no profit Certainly thou art sent only to reprove them of their sin thy Lord is Omnipotent and shall chastise them after their demerits Assuredly they will say thou hast forged the Alcoran and that it is of thy invention Say unto them Come and bring with you ten Chapters of your invention like to the Alcoran in instruction and eloquence and call to your aid the Idols that ye adore if you be righteous if they hear not your prayers neither afford you succours know then that the Alcoran descended from Heaven through Gods permission and that there is but one sole God will ye not trust in him I will bestow the riches and honours of the Earth on many persons that affect them and in the end they shall be confined in the fire of Hell and the good works that they shall do in this World shall be unprofitable in the other They who observe what God hath ordained study the Alcoran and believe that it proceedeth from his Divine Majesty to teach the right way and to obtain his mercy as before it was the Book of Moses Such as shall believe in the Alcoran shall be happy doubtless the fire of Hell is prepared for the Infidels who will not believe therein but the greatest part of the World is incredulous
Arguments and Reasons most clear and intelligible but those Doctors followed his Will and obeyed his Commandments notwithstanding they were contrary to Reason they shall follow him at the Day of Judgment as they followed him upon Earth that day shall they be accursed and shall find none that shall be able to protect them the punishment of Mecca shall be like to that I relate to thee there be of its Inhabitants who subsist and that do not subsist and are no more we have done them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves and their Idols have been of no use to them but to augment their misery when God hath commanded to destroy them Thus hath God surprized the Inhabitants of Mecca he hath chastised them because they were unjust this shall serve for example to them that fear the Day of Judgment all Men shall there be gathered together all the World shall see it I will retard it until the time appointed that day shall no Man speak without my permission there be that shall be miserable and others who shall be happy the miserable shall dwell in the fire of Hell they shall cry and complain so long as the Earth and the Heavens shall endure and so long as it shall please God who doth as seemeth good to himself The happy shall enjoy Paradise where they shall abide eternally so long as Earth and Heaven shall endure and so long as it shall please God. Dount not what the Unbelievers worship they adore but the Idols which their Faâ—… worshipped assuredly I will chastise them as their Fathers were chastised Moses preached the Old Testament yet did the wicked contradict his Precepts had not God said that he will not punish them untill the Day of Judgment he had already destroyed them because they are in an exceeding great Errour thy Lord shall reward every one according to his works he knoweth all their Actions Observe exactly what hath been commanded you with them that are converted transgress not the Law of God he beholdeth whatsoever you do Incline not to the affections of the unjust lest the fire of Hell surprize you and you be deprived of protection Pray to God Evening and Morning and a part of the Night prayers blot out sins it is the Doctrin of Preachers be patient and persevere God will not deprive the righteous of their reward He prohibited your Predecessours and their Posterity to defile the Earth nevertheless there were few among them that abstained the unjust acted whatsoever pleased them and were guilty before God He shall not destroy Mecca if the Inhabitants thereof obey his Commandments and if it pleased him the whole World should be of one Religion they to whom he giveth his Grace transgress not his Will his Word shall be accomplished and Hell shall be filled with Devils and the wicked of all Nations They have recounted to thee and thou understandest whatsoever things are necessary for them and what the Prophets have heretofore taught thiâ—…e heart hath been strengthened they contain the truth and they shall be for a Lesson to true Believers Say unto Infidels do on your part as ye shall understand we will do on our part as we understand and attend the issue we will attend it with you whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertains to God all Men shall be assembled before him worship him resign your selves to his Will he knoweth whatsoever the people doth CHAP. XII The Chapter of Joseph containing an hundred and thirteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. These signs are the signs of the Book which distinguisheth good from evil We have caused to descend from Heaven the Alcoran written in the Arabick Tongue peradventure ye will learn it I deliver unto thee in the Alcoran one of the best things that I have inspired into thee Thou wert before the coming thereof in the number of the ignorant Remember thou that Ioseph said to his Father My Father I saw in a Dream eleven Stars the Sun and the Moon I saw them adoring me My Son said his Father discover not thy Dream to thy Brothers they will conspire against thee the Devil is an open Enemy to Men thou shalt be elected of the Lord in this World he shall teach thee the explication of Dreams he shall accomplish his Grace upon thee and upon the Lineage of Iacob as he did accomplish it upon thy Fathers Abraham and Isaac the Lord knoweth all things and is most wise The History of Ioseph shall serve for example to Posterity remember thou how his Brothers said our Father loveth our Brother Ioseph more than all us together he is in an exceeding great errour let us kill Ioseph and cast him into some secret place remote from us his absence will render the Face of our Father more gentle toward us after his death we will be converted One of them said you shall not do well to kill him but cast him into the Well some Passengers will take him and carry him into an unknown Countrey They said to their Father Father wherefore dost thou not send Ioseph into the Fields with us we will be very careful he shall sport and recreate himself I fear said he that ye will neglect to preserve him dost thou fear said they that a Wolf should devour him in our Presence and that we want strength to defend him In the Morning they led him with them and cast him into a Well We inspired him to Prophesie to them what should befal them for the mischief they acted but they wanted knowledge to comprehend it they in the Evening returned to their Fathers house with eyes full of dissembled tears and said unto him Father we sported and ran who should run the best Ioseph remained with our Baggage a Wolf came that devoured him thou wilt not believe us although we speak the truth then they shewed him his Shirt which they had sprinkled with Blood it is you that hath done it said he you shall answer before God he is my Protector and was patient without lamenting There past that day a Caravan near to that Well who desiring to draw water to drink let down a Bucket on which Ioseph took hold to get out they gave him Cloathes led him away secretly and sold him at a good rate for ready Money they would not kill him in which they were honest Men. He that bought him in Egypt commanded his Wife to have care of him that he might one day be useful for their Service and be to them instead of a Son. Thus did we establish Ioseph in the Countrey of Egypt and taught him the exposition of Dreams thy Lord is Omnipotent but few Men know him when Ioseph came to the Age of Manhood we gave him knowledge and prudence thus do we reward the righteous His Masters Wife became amorous of his Beauty she one day shut him into her Chamber and solicited him with love
it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures and teacheth True believers the way of Salvation CHAP. XIII The Chapter of Thunder containing forty three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am the most wise and merciful God. These Precepts are the Precepts of the Book sent to thee from thy Lord it is a thing most true but few Men incline to believe it It is sent from God who raised Heaven without a Prop and with a Column that appeareth and sitteth on his Throne disposing all things He causeth the Sun and Moon to move until the day appointed he disposeth all things at his will and manifesteth to Men the signs of his Omnipotency Peradventure you will believe in the Resurrection of the flesh He it is that hath extended the Earth raised the Mountains caused the Rivers to flow who created of all sorts of Fruits the Male and Female and covereth the Day with the obscurity of the Night These things are signs of his unity to such as consider them He hath created many Fields of divers sorts and Gardens filled with Grapes and many different Fruits he created Date Trees thick as Groves and Forests and others that are scattered through the Fields some are moistened with Waters and others have a more pleasing taste These things are signs of his unity to such as consider them Thou art amazed at the lies of Infidels be astonished at their discourses when they deny the Resurrection and say What shall God yet once again create us of the dust of the Earth When we shall be Earth shall we be a new people They are impious they shall have Oaks upon their Necks and shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell they precipitate themselves into eternal pains and contemn the mercy of God so did their predecessors but God is gracious to such as convert Chastise severely the obstinate Infidels They have said We will not believe in the Prophet unless we see some miracle to appear Say unto them I am not sent but to preach the word of God. He hath sent persons to every Nation to teach them the right way nothing is hid from him in the World he knoweth what Women bear in their Womb he knoweth the time and period of every thing the present past and future he is great and Omnipotent He understandeth what you keep secret and what ye make manifest he knoweth where they be who cover themselves with the obscurity of Night and them that travel in the clearness of Day every one hath his guardian by his commandment who observeth what he doth and depriveth none of grace that hath not offended his Divine Majesty and none can hinder him to punish whom it seemeth good to him He it is who giveth you to see the lightning which terrifieth Men and nourisheth his Creatures by the Rain which he causeth to fall he created the Clouds charged with moysture causeth Thunder to make a noise darteth the Thunderbolt and striketh whom it pleaseth him the Angels tremble in his Presence yet do the wicked dispute his Omnipotency He it is who ought to be implored the prayers of them who implore another God are ineffectual they are like to such as are very thirsty and stretch forth the hand towards a Fountain to which they cannot reach the prayers of the wicked are impiety Whatsoever is in Heaven and in the Earth the shadow of the Morning the obscurity of the Evening humble themselves before God through force or affection Say unto them Who is the Lord of Heaven and Earth but God Who except God shall protect you your Idols can neither benefit nor hurt you Is the blind like unto him that seeth clearly Is darkness like unto light Shall they adore the Creatures instead of the Creator God hath created all things and is Omnipotent he causeth Rain to descend from Heaven and Rivers covered with Foam to flow in the Valleys The Gold the Silver and Metals which ye melt to adorn and enrich your selves are like unto Froth Thus doth God teach what is profitable and what unprofitable Froth suddenly vanisheth and is of no utility to Men So falshood vanisheth before Truth Thus doth God speak through a Parable to them that obey him and giveth them Paradise All the riches of the Earth and as much again cannot ransom the Infidels they shall be eternally tormented in the fire of Hell. Who knoweth that the truth contained in this Book was not sent to thee from God He that doubteth is blind Men of Spirit do not doubt They who satisfie what they promise to God who transgress not his Commandments who have his fear before their eyes who apprehend the Day of Judgment who are patient in their afflictions for love of his Divine Majesty who make their prayers at the time appointed who give alms privately and publickly and blot out their offences with good works shall be blessed They shall enter into the Garden of Eden with their Father their Wives and Families the Angels shall visit them shall salute them and say Behold the recompence of your perseverance behold eternal grace Such as shall swerve from their promise and disobey the Commandments of God and pollute the Earth shall be accursed of God and severely chastised he giveth and depriveth of wealth as seemeth good to him The unbelievers rejoyce in the riches of the Earth but those riches are of little value if they consider them of the other World. They say If Mahomet doth not make some miracle to appear from God we will not believe him Say unto them God guideth and mis-leadeth whom it pleaseth him he confirmeth the hearts of them that have faith in his Law the remembrance of God confirmeth the hearts of True Believers Such as shall do good works shall be happy We have sent thee as we did send other Prophets to them that preceded thee Teach the people what we have inspired into thee When they shall disobey thee say unto them God is my Lord there is but one God alone I am wholly resigned to his Divine Will my refuge is in his goodness If the Alcoran should make Mountains to go should it cause the Earth to open and the Dead to arise all would proceed from God. True Believers ought not to despair of any thing God shall guide all the World into the right way when it shall please him and unbelievers shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Thou shalt dwell with them until the word of God be fulfilled He swerveth not from what he promiseth they derided the Prophets that came before thee I prolonged the time of their punishment and in the end rigorously chastised them and with what afflictions Doth not God behold the actions of every Man They have said God hath Companions to whom they have given names after their fancy will you instruct God in any thing The wicked take delight in their wickedness and are gone astray from the right way He whom
God shall mis-lead shall find none to guide him he shall be afflicted in this World and yet more in the other None shall be able to save him but God Paradise is promised to them that have his fear before their eyes they shall enjoy eternally all manner of content such is the end of the righteous and Hell is prepared for Infidels They to whom we have given the knowledge of Scriptures rejoyce in the Doctrine which we have sent thee there be that abjure one part say unto them I recommend unto you only the worship of one sole God who is the assured refuge of the righteous We have sent the Alcoran in the Arabick tongue to the end the Arabians may comprehend it If thou dost follow the will of unbelievers having had the knowledge of the unity of God who shall be able to save or protect thee We sent Prophets before thee commanded them to marry and they had Children Prophets cannot perform miracles without the permission of God and the end of every thing is written in his Book he blotteth out and leaveth permanent what seemeth good to him he cannot alter I perceive that some of the wicked have a design to murther thee thou art obliged only to preach to them I will keep an account of their sins to punish them See they not that their Countries and possessions diminish daily through thy Conquests God commandeth what pleaseth him no Man can escape his judgments he is most exact in his account their predecessors used subtilties as they but God is more subtile than they he well knoweth the good and evil which every one doth they shall one day understand who must have Paradise They say thou art no Prophet say unto them It is sufficient that God is witness of the truth between you and me who is he that knoweth what is written in the Book of his Divine Majesty CHAP. XIV The Chapter of Abraham containing fifty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. That Book We have sent it to thee to bring the People out of darkness to guide them to the light and the way of thy Lord always victorious and glorious Whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth is Gods misery is upon unbelievers they shall undergo at the end of the World exceeding great torments They who prefer the wealth of this World to that of Heaven who go astray from the way of the Law and would pervert it are in a great error far from truth The Prophets spake the language of them to whom they were sent to instruct them God guideth and mis-leadeth whom to him seemeth good he is Omnipotent and prudent We sent Moses with prodigies to bring the Children of Israel out of darkness and to conduct them to light he taught them the Commandments of the Law to serve for instruction to such as shall persevere to do well and shall not be ingrateful for the favours they have received Moses spake to his people and said Remember the grace of God towards you he delivered you from the Men of Pharaoh who caused you to suffer great afflictions who murthered your Children abused your Wives and laid upon you great evils sent from God because of your sins The Lord hath said if ye be not ingrateful I will augment my graces upon you if ye be impious you shall be afflicted Moses said to his people if you and all Men be impious know that God will be always glorious and hath no need of you Know ye not what befel before you the people of Noah Aad Temod and their Posterity that none had knowledge of but God because of their great number He sent them his Commandments by his Prophets they bit their fingers for anger and said unto them we renounce and condemn your Doctrine The Prophets said unto them is there any doubt in the belief of the unity of God Creator of Heaven and Earth he calleth you to remit your sins and deferreth your punishment until the day appointed They answered Ye are Men like unto us will you hinder us to adore the Gods of our Fathers Produce arguments of strength sufficient to prove what you preach the Prophet replyed We are Men as you are but God giveth his grace to whom seemeth good to him we are come to you through his permission the true believers ought to trust in him wherefore should we not be resigned to the will of God who hath guided us into the right way we will continue in well-doing the righteous trust in his Divine Majesty Then said the Infidels unto them we will banish you from our Country if you be not of our Religion but God inspired into them that the Infidels should perish and that they should inhabit the Land after them that he would protect such as should have his fear before their eyes and fear the pains that are prepared for the wicked The Prophets were protected of God and the obstinate wicked were destroyed they shall be precipitated into Hell and drink of Water full of Corruption Urine and Blood Death shall appear on all sides before their eyes before they have swallowed that Drink they shall not dye in that misery they shall suffer yet greater pains The good works which the wicked have done are like to Dust carried away by an impetuous Wind they shall be unprofitable to them and they shall be extirpated because they depart from the truth See they not that God hath created Heaven and Earth that he can destroy them and create in their place a new people if it seem good to him This is not difficult to God all things are known to him The more impotent of them that have followed the wicked shall say at the Day of Judgment we obeyed you will you this day deliver us from the punishment of God They shall answer had God guided us into the right way we had conducted you thither we are alike miserable with you we cry and lament in our misery but find neither refuge nor protection The Devil shall say unto them what God hath promised to you is infallible I foretold it to you I caused you to transgress his Commandments through my temptations I had none other power over you but to tempt you you did me no harm when ye hearkened to me you drew mischief on your selves I am not your Tutor neither are you mine I was impious when heretofore I suffered you to adore me Hell is prepared for you and for all unbelievers there shall they endure great torments and the righteous shall enter into Paradise wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of blessedness and content Seest thou not how God speaketh by a Parable A good word is like to a good Tree that hath taken Root in the Earth and hath raised its Branches to Heaven and produceth its Fruit in due time through the permission of his Divine Majesty he teacheth the people
his Parables perhaps they will be mindful An evil word is like to a bad Tree that hath been torn from the Earth there is nothing to sustain it and it is without Root or Fruit God fortifieth the true believers through his word in this World and in the other and causeth the unjust to err he doth what to him seemeth good Seest thou not them that have changed his grace into impiety and have made such as have followed them to dwell in the House of perdition They shall abide eternally in the fire of Hell. They say that God hath a Companion equal to him and err from the way of his Law Say unto them ye shall have wealth in this World but Hell is your Rendezvous Say to the true believers who make their prayers at the time appointed and give alms in private or publick that the day shall come wherein they shall neither buy nor sell and where every one shall be recompensed for his works Say unto them God hath created the Earth and the Heavens he maketh the Rain to descend from Heaven which causeth to spring sorth all sorts of Fruits to enrich you he created the Ship that through his permission saileth on the Sea he created the Rivers the Sun and the Moon which move continually he created the Day and the Night and bestoweth on you whatsoever ye desire his favours towards you can neither be numbred nor recounted nevertheless the inhabitants of Mecca are always impious and wicked Abraham said Lord protect this City and make it to be the refuge of the World Keep me and my Children from the worship of Idols they have seduced a part of the People he that shall follow me and profess thy unity shall be mine if any one disobey me thou art gracious and merciful Lord one part of my Lineage inhabiteth Mecca in a place unfruitful give them the grace to persevere in thy service incline the hearts of Men to affect them enrich them with the Fruits of the Earth peradventure they will thank thee thou knowest whatsoever is in the World I know it not nothing that is in Heaven or in Earth is hid from thee praised be God who hath given me Ismael and Isaac in mine old age he heareth prayers when it pleaseth him Lord give me and my Posterity the grace to persevere in well doing hear my prayers pardon me and pardon my Father and all true believers at the Day of Judgment Think not that God is ignorant of the actions of Infidels he deferreth the punishment of their crimes until the day that all Men shall have their eyes opened that day shall they behold their sins before their eyes and their hearts shall be full of desolation If thou preachest to the people the Day of Judgment hath God will the wicked say preserved us to this present time to do what thou dost appoint us Say unto them have ye not sworn heretofore that there is no Resurrection Ye have dwelt with the unjust ye have seen how they have been chastised and how we have spoken to you in Parables Certainly they conspire but God knoweth their conspiracy their policy is to tempt the prophet to see if he will make the Mountains to move Think not that God will violate what he hath promised to the Prophets he is Omnipotent and avengeful Consider the day wherein the Earth and Heavens shall change their face and all people shall rise again that Day shall one sole God Omnipotent command Men to come out of their Monuments Thou shalt that day see the wicked bound in their Chains their Garments shall be full of Pitch and Guitran their Faces shall be covered with Fire that Day shall he recompence and chastise every one according to his works he is exact to keep account This Book was sent to instruct the People and teach them that there is but one God the wise will remember CHAP. XV. The Chapter of Hegir containing seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the merciful God. The signs are the signs of the Alcoran which distinguish eth good from evil How may the Infidels hope what the True Believers hope for depart from them let them eat the substance of the poor let them become rich and content themselves in their hopes they shall see one day what their end shall be We have destroyed no City until the time destined to its ruine was expired there is no Nation that can advance or retard its destiny The wicked have said O Man who believest that the Alcoran was sent to thee we will affirm that thou art a Sorcerer until the Angels do assure us that thou art true The Angels shall not descend to the Earth unless to chastise them and they shall not be able to retard the time of their punishment we certainly have sent the Alcoran upon Earth and will preserve it without alteration we heretofore sent Prophets one after another the wicked scorned and contemned them thus I imprint impiety in the hearts of the wicked they shall not believe in the Prophet and shall incur the punishment of their predecessors should we open the entrance of Heaven and should they behold the Angels go in and go out at the shadow of the gate they would yet say their eyes were inchanted and that they were bewitched we created signs in Heaven and adorned them with Stars to content the minds of them that consider them we sheltered them from the assaults of the Devil but the Butterfly followeth every thing that shineth and believeth it to be a Star we extended the Earth and raised the Mountains with proportion we have made it to produce all sorts of Fruits to sustain and enrich you we have reserved in our power the Keys of the treasures thereof to distribute to them by measure what shall be necessary we caused a fresh wind to arise and sent Rain to water them it is not you that caused the fruits thereof to spring forth it is we who give life and death and dispose of all things in the World. We know who they were that did precede you and who they shall be that shall succeed you I will assemble all at the end of the World to be judged we created Man of the slime of the Earth and before him the Devil of fire without smoak Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create Man of the slime of the Earth I will breath upon him to give him life prostrate your selves before him the Angels adored him except the Devil God said unto him Wherefore dost thou not adore Man He replied I will not adore him thou hast created me of fire and him of the mire of the Earth He said get thee out of Paradise thou shalt be banished and accursed until the Day of Judgment Lord said the Devil lay not thy curse upon me until the Day of Judgment he said thou shalt be accursed until the Day
Alms secretly and publickly as he seeth good are they both alike Ought they to be put in Parallel Praise be to God Certainly the greatest part of Men know not his Graces he teacheth you a Parable Behold two Men the one was born deaf and dumb and given in charge to his Guardian he knoweth not how to imploy him he is capable neither of doing nor speaking well is he like to him that speaketh that understandeth teacheth Men Justice and followeth the right way Whatsoever is in Heaven or on Earth appertaineth to God when he commandeth any thing it is performed in the twinkling of an eye yea sooner he is Omnipotent He it is that causeth you to come out of the Womb of your Mother that giveth you hearing sight and sense perhaps ye will return him thanks See ye not the Birds that fly in the Air who sustaineth them but God It is an evident sign of his Omnipotency for the true Believers he hath given you Houses to inhabit and the Skins and Furrs of Beasts to cover you he hath given you their Hair and Wooll to furnish your Houses and enrich you he created Trees and Clouds to oveâ—…shadow you made the Mountains and Caves to cover you from rain created Garments to defend you from the heat of the Sun and the rigour of Cold he hath accomplished his Grace upon you peradventure you will resign your selves to the Will of his Divine Majesty and possess his Unity If the Unbelievers depart from the way of the Law thou art obliged only to preach to them intelligibly they know the Grace of God and contemn it for that the greatest part of them are impious preach unto them the Day wherein I will raise again all the Nations of the World and the Prophets and Apostles who have preached to them my Commandments there shall be no excuse for Infidels neither shall they find protection or relaxation of their Miseries When they shall behold their Idols they shall confess that they were mis-led they shall understand the Unity of thy Lord and that their Idols are not able to intercede for them God hath added to the punishment of Infidels hath sent them evil upon evil because they hinder the World to follow his Law Preach unto them the Day wherein I will cause to rise again all the Nations of the World with the Prophet who pâ—…hed to them to be Witness of their Actions I will be Witness against them of thy Nation I have sent thee the Book that unfoldeth the Mysteries of my Law to guide the people into the right way and to declare the Joys of Paradise to such as profess my Unity God commandeth you to do only that which is reasonable he commandeth you to give Alms and to do good to your Parents he forbiddeth Whoredom disobedience and injustice enjoyneth you to do good perhaps you will consider it Perform what ye have Promised to God break not promised Faith ye call God to be Witness of your Promises he knoweth all your Actions Do not like the Woman who spun a Thread folded it and afterwards entangled and spoyled it believe not that there is deceit and errour in your Law If the Unbelievers be more in number than you God permitteth it to prove you he shall clear to you at the Day of Judgment the doubts that be among you had it so pleased him you all had observed one and the same Law he guideth mis-leadeth whom it pleaseth him and will exactly require of you an account of your Actions Believe not that there is deceit in your Law take heed of stumbling having once confirmed your steps ye shall be severely chastised if ye seduce the people from the right way do not violate what ye have promised to God for any price his Grace is of more advantage to you than the wealth of the Earth had ye knowledge to understand it your wealth is perishable and the riches of Heaven are eternal he shall recompence them that persevere in well-doing and whosoever shall do good works shall be blessed in this World and in the other When thou shalt read the Alcoran implore God to deliver thee from the Malice of the Devil abominable to all the Creatures he hath no power over them that trust in his Divine Majesty his power extendeth over such as go astray who obey not him and adore many Gods. When we alter any Precepts God well knoweth what he ordaineth they say thou art a Lyar but the greatest part of them are ignorant Say unto them that assuredly the Holy Ghost hath taught it from thy Lord to confirm Believers in their Faith and to guide into the right way them that profess his Unity and to announce to them the Joys of Paradise I know that they will say that a Man hath taught him the Alcoran He whom they presume to have taught him is a Persian by Nation and speaketh the Language of the Persians and the Alcoran is in the Arabick Tongue full of instruction and eloquence They who will not believe in God shall suffer great torments such as renounce his Commandments blaspheme against his Divine Majesty those that reject his Law after having professed it shall feel the effect of his wrath and be punished for preferring the wealth of the Earth to the riches of Heaven God guideth not unbelievers They in whose hearts he hath imprinted disobedience those whom he hath deprived of hearing and sight are ignorant they doubtless shall be at the end of the World in the number of the damned he is merciful to them that convert and repent to have mislead the People from the right way and persevere in obedience to his Commandments Be thou mindful of the day wherein man shall dispute against himself and every one shall be rewarded according to his works without injustice God teacheth you a Parable behold a free and priviledged City on the which God poureth his graces on all sides with abundance and is ingrateful for his benefits but he sent upon it misery famine and fear because of its ingratitude God hath sent to the Inhabitants thereof a Prophet of their Nation they have standered him and were chastised because of their sin Eat of what God hath given you and give him thanks for his grace if it be he whom ye worship he forbideth you to eat of Carrion of Bloud and Swines-flesh and whatsoever is not slain in pronouncing the Name of God he will be gracious and merciful to them who shall eat through necessity without design to offend him Lie not in saying Behold that which is permitted to be eaten blaspheme not against God such as blaspheme against him shall not prosper in this World and in the other shall suffer grievous torments We did heretofore prohibit the Iews to eat of what we have recounted to thee we did to them no injustice they drew mischief on themselves through their sin thy Lord is gracious and merciful to them that ignorantly offend him who
not that God hath children We made mention in the Alcoran of whatsoever is necessary to be preached to the people say unto them If there be a God with God as ye affirm invoke him that hath his Throne in Heaven praised be God he hath no Companion he is most high and great The seven Heavens praise him and all that is on Earth glorifie him but ye comprehend it not he is gracious and merciful We will separate thee from the wicked we will harden their hearts and stop their ears When thou shalt read the Alcoran and say There is but one God they will turn the back â—…d deride thee I know what they desire to hear they would have the people to hearken to the words of the unjust who say That thou art a Sorcerer and a Magician consider to whom they compare thee they certainly are in error and are not able to find the right way What! we are say they bones and flesh shall we rise again and become new Creatures who shall cause us to rise again Say unto them Although ye be stone iron bones and flesh he who first created you shall raise you again They shall shake the head at thee and ask of thee In what time they shall rise again say unto them Peradventure it shall be suddenly When ye shall be called out of the graves by the Commandment of God ye will believe that ye have remained but very little time in the world then shall the Infidels confess that the Devil hath deceived them and that he is their open enemy Your Lord knoweth you all he will pardon or chastise you as seemeth good to him We have not sent thee to be their guardian thy Lord knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth Certainly we gave graces to some Prophets which we gave not to others and we gave the Psalter to David Say unto the Infidels invoke the Idols which ye adore and see if they are of power to deliver you from affliction They that implore God desire to be nigh unto him who are they that shall nearest approach his divine Majesty they who hope in his mercy or such as fear his punishment Certainly his punishment ought most to be feared We will destroy all the Cities of the world before the day of Judgment and chastise the wicked with rigorous torments this is written upon the Tables kept in heaven nothing hath hindred us to manifest the miracles which the inhabitants of Mecca desire to see but the contempt shewed by their predecessors Temod saw the miracles of the Camel and contemned it I will no more shew miracles but to make the people to apprehend the torments of hell Remember thou that we have said to thee that thy Lord knoweth all that the world doth that which we gave thee to see in the voyage by night is to prove the people as the cursed tree which is spoken of in the Alcoran there be persons that will believe it others that will not believe but I will try them to augment their confusion Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before Adam and that they did humble themselves except the devil who said Shall I adore him whom thou hast created of the earth who is he whom thou hast preferred to me Certainly if thou tarry until the day of Judgment I will destroy his race except that small number that shall be under thy protection Thy Lord said unto him Get thee hence hell shall be thy punishment and the punishment of them that shall follow thee deceive by thy speeches them whom thou shalt be able to deceive seduce whom thou canst seduce with the wealth of the earth cause them to exercise Usury and commit the sin of whoredom tell them there is neither Resurrection nor Judgment whatsoever thou shalt promise them shall be but vanity and falshood thou shalt have no power over them that shall worship me I will protect them against thee It is your Lord who causeth the ship to travel upon the waters for the advantage of traffique when the tempest chargeth you your Idols forsake you he alone is able to protect you nevertheless when he hath caused you to arrive at the Port you deny his Unity and follow your impiety believe ye that he will another time make the sea calm to you and he will send you a favourable wind if ye do not acknowledg him your protector Believe you to return again to the sea He shall send you an impetuous wind that shall overwhelm you with your impiety and ye shall find none to protect you against him We have conferred on men many favours we have conducted them on the earth and sea enriched with all sorts of riches and gratified them above all creatures of the earth preach to them the day wherein I will assemble before me all the Nations of the World with the Prophet that shall have preached to them He to whom shall be given the Book of the Accompt of his works in his right hand shall read his accompt entirely no injustice shall be done to him and he shall be happy He that shall be blind in this world shall be so in the other and shall not see the right way They would divert thee from performing what we have inspired into thee to induce thee to blaspheme against me If thou do it thou shalt be of their friends were it not for the strength that we have given thee they would make thee to incline to their impiety hadst thou done it we had given thee to taste of great afflictions in this world and in the other thou hadst found none to protect thee against us it wanted not much but they had affrighted thee at Medina to cause thee to go out of it had they driven thee thence they had not continued there long after thee We heretofore sent our Prophets to instruct the people in our Law thou shalt find therein nothing to change make thy prayers when the Sun shall set at the beginning and at the end of the night and at the dawning of day the Angels shall be witnesses of thine orisons spend one part of the night in prayer this shall be an augmentation of merit thy Lord shall establish thee in the place of his glory Say Lord into whatsoever place I go make me to enter and go forth with truth give me thy protection Say that truth is come aâ—…d that vanity is vanished this Book shall heal the people of their error it shall bring them into the way of mercy and encreaâ—…e the misery of unbelievers We have exhorted men to abandon their impiety they have not done it and despaired when they were touched with affliction Say unto them Each of us doth after his will and God knoweth him that followeth the right way they shall demand of thee concerning the Soul Say unto them the soul is an effect of God he hath given you very little knowledge assuredly had it so
pleased him he could have deprived you of the knowledge he hath given you you shall find nothing that is able to protect you but his mercy Say unto them If the devils and men were all assembled against me they should not be able to compose a Book like the Alcoran We have taught in the Alcoran whatsoever is necessary for the salvation of men nevertheless the greatest part of the people depart from the Truth and say We will not believe thee unless thou cause fountains to spring out of the Earth and make in this place a garden beautified with Date Trees and Vines with rivers flowing in the midst or unless we see descend from Heaven a part of the pains which thou preachest we will not believe thee unless God and the Angels come to thy assistance unless thy house be of fine gold and that we see the Book of Truth sent from heaven we will not believe in thy Parchment unless we see descend from heaven a Book which we may be able to read Say unto them Praised be my Lord am I any thing but a man sent from him what hindereth men to believe since there hath been sent to them a Pilot to conduct them into the way of salvation They say that thou art a man and not an Angel Say unto them should the Angels have inhabited the earth God would have sent an Angel to instruct them it sufficeth that he is the witness of mine actions between you and me he knoweth and seeth all things he whom God guideth is well guided and such as God shall cause to err shall find none to put them into the right way he will assemble all of them at the day of Judgment they shall be infamous deaf mute and blind and condemned to the flames of hell because they are wicked and have said through derision that they are bones and flesh and that they shall rise again as new creatures see they not that God hath created heaven and earth that he can create yet more and hath established a destiny indubitabe and infallible The unbelievers are exceedingly too blame Say unto them should you possess all the treasures of the world yet would ye fear to make expence for the service of God man is too avaricious We gave to Moses nine marks of our Omnipotency known to the children of Israel Pharaoh told him that he was a Magician Assuredly said Moses the signs and miracles that thou seest proceed from God Lord of heaven and earth I believe O Pharaoh that thou forsakest the truth Then would Pharaoh have driven him out of Egypt but we drowned all those that were with him and commanded the children of Israel to inhabit the land we will assemble them at the end of the world to reward them after their works We have indeed sent thee the Alcoran from heaven to proclaim the joys of Paradise and to preach the torments of hell we have sent it to the end thou maist teach it to the people we have sent it clear and intelligible that it may be understood according to occurrences Say unto them Believe or believe it not when those that have knowledge in the written Law heard it read they prostrated themselves on the ground with humility and said Praised be God what be promiseth is infallible and incontinently is his command executed they wept prostrating the face towards the earth and the reading of the Alcoran augmented their devotion Say unto them Implore God call God merciful all his Attributes are most glorious Make it not appear to the world how often thou shalt pray neither how often thou shalt read the Alcoran and fear not to pray to God and to read the Alcoran follow in this the middle path and say Praised be God he hath no Son he hath no companion neither protector to preserve him from contempt his greatness is perfect and compleat CHAP. XVIII The Chapter of the Cave containing an hundred and ten Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to God who hath sent the Alcoran to his servant There is no contradiction in this Book it teacheth the right way it preacheth to the wicked that they shall suffer great torments and proclaimeth to the righteous that they shall enjoy an eternal felicity he preacheth the torments of Hell principally to such as affirm That God hath a Son they are ignorant like to their predecessors they are ignorant in their discourse and utter nothing but blasphemies Wilt thou destroy thy self in following their footsteps If they believe not in the Alcoran they shall one day have sorrow and shall repent it We adorned the Earth with whatsoever is upon it for the advantage of men One part thereof is happy and plentiful and the other unfruitful and desart Do ye not believe that the sleepers that entred the Cave and the Paper wherein their names were written be our miracles When those men entred the Cave they said Lord give us thy mercy and guide us into the right way Then did we cause them to sleep for the space of some years and awaked them having continued some time in that Cave to make it appear which of the two Religions was the most just I will relate to thee their History with truth they were young men who had the fear of their Lord before their eyes we strengthned them and encreased their faith when they were with the Infidels they said Our God is Lord of heaven and Earth we will never worship but one God otherwise we shall separate our selves from the truth This people have adored Idols without reason who is more unjust than he who blasphemeth against God When they deserted the Infidels they worshipped one God alone Enter into the Cave God shall make his mercy towards you to appear and shall guide you through a path smooth and pleasant When the Sun arose he cast his rayes on the right side of their Cave and on the left at his going down they in the mean time were in the most spacious place of this Cave This is one of Gods miracles he whom he guideth is well guided and whom he misleadeth shall find none to give him succor or to guide him Believe ye that they should be awake Assuredly they slept and turned themselves sometimes to one side sometimes to another Consider how their Dog extended his feet before that old habitation of stone if any one had entred towards them he would have caused them to fly and had affrighted them In the end we awaked them and they mutually enquired of each other in what place they were and how long they had there continued one of them replyed That they had been there a day or two then they all said God knoweth the time that we have abode here send one of us to the City with money to buy bread and meat let him not be fearful neither make himself known to any if we be known they will murther or constrain us
a better way than their Neighbour how many have we destroyed before them in past Ages more Rich than they and Hypocrites like unto them Say unto them God prolongeth the life of the erroneous that they may know their errors and learn the knowledge of the pains prepared for them they shall understand who shall be the most miserable And who shall have been most weak in their Faith and least affectionate to the Service of his Divine Majesty God shall encrease their Faith who shall follow the right way and such as be obedient to him shall enjoy his grace Hast thou considered the action of the wicked They demand if they shall have Riches and Children after their Resurrection Would you know what shall be would you capitulate with the merciful I will not do it I will write all that they say and will add to their miseries I will give to them in this World what they require and they shall rise again naked without Treasure and Children They adored Idols to have their protection Certainly they erred in that adoration they shall renounce them and be their enemies at the Day of Judgment Seest thou not how we have sent the Devils against unbelievers to seduce them Be not impatient to see them punished they shall be judged at the day appointed â—…e thou mindful of the day when I shall assemble all the Righteous in the presence of God and precipitate all the wicked into Hell their prayer shall not be heard except such as have accomplished their promises made to the merciful They have said Do ye believe that God hath a Son You utter a strange thing it wanteth not much but that Heaven and Earth open themselves and that the Mountains fall with their utter destruction They call God God the Son God hath not to do with a Son whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth adore him he knoweth the account and number of all things of the World Men shall appear before him at the Day of Judgment and the True believers that shall do good works shall be beloved of his Divine Majesty We have sent thee the Alcoran written in thine own Language that thou maist proclaim the delights of Paradise to them that fear me and preach the Torments of Hell to such as dispute with obstinacy against the Faith. How many of the wicked have we destroyed in past Ages Hast thou heard speak of them Hast thou heard mention of their Memory CHAP. XX. The Chapter of Beatitude and of Hell containing an hundred and thirty Verses written at Mecca Reader the Mahometans have entituled this Chapter Tthe which is two letters of the Arabique Alphabet to wit Tt and He where in this place Tt signifieth Thouba that is to say Beatitude and He Haoihe that is to say Hell. See the gloss and interpretation of Gelaldin and Bedaoi they have intituled this The Chapter of Beatitude and of Hell. IN the name of God gracious and merciful We have not given thee the Alcoran to torment thee but to instruct therein the righteous It was sent thee by him that created the Heavens and the Earth the merciful sitteth on his Throne whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth whatsoever is between them and beneath the Earth appertaineth to him He knoweth thy thoughts he understandeth what thou keepest secret and what thou makest manifest God! there is but one God all the glorious names of the world are due unto him Knowest thou the History of Moses When he beheld the fire he said to his family Stay ye here I see a great fire I will bring to you a spark and you shall find in it the right way When he approached it was said unto him O Moses I am thy Lord put off thy shooes thou art in the holy Valley of Toi I have elected thee among my people hear my word and receive mine inspirations I am God there is none other God but I worship me alone and make thy prayers as it is ordained The hour unknown to the world approacheth wherein I will recompence and chastise every one after his works Take heed lest the wicked seduce thee from the right way if thou follow their appetite thou shalt be destroyed Is it not what thou hast sworn to me he answered Lord I will apply my self unto thee and will lean upon my staff I will beat the fruits of the Trees to make them fall upon my flocks I have yet another manner to nourish my sheep with this staff I will make use of it to defend and preserve them from mischief God said unto him O Moses cast that staff to the ground behold a Serpent it creepeth take it and be not afraid I will cause it to return to its former condition draw back thine hand and put it under thy arm it shall become white and shining without harm and pain it shall be a most certain sign of my Unity I will give thee to see the miracles of my Omnipotency Go to Pharoab he is in an exceeding great error and seduced from the right way Moses said Lord rejoyce my heart and facilitate my commission unloose the knot of my tongue that they may understand my speech give me Aaron to assist me in this business that I may praise thee and highly exalt thy glory thou only art our protector God said Thy prayer is heard we were favourable to thee another time when we inspired thy mother to put thee into a coffer and expose thee to the river of Nile the water drove thee to the shore whence Pharoah took thee I caused thee to be beloved of him to have care of my people when thy sister sought tidings of what was become of thee she said Who will guide us where he is who will conduct us to him that keepeth him we sent thee back to thy mother to stop her tears and put an end to her affliction Thou slewest a man we have deliver'd thee from the hands of thine enemies and have approved thy perseverance thou hast continued some time with the inhabitants of Madian after this we sent thee to preach our Commandments I have made choice of thee go with thy brother to Pharoah and lie not in speaking of me he is gone astray from the right way speak to him both of you with mildness peradventure he will hearken to you and will fear the fire of hell they answered Lord We fear that he may torment and rise up against us he said Fear nothing I will be with you hear what he will say consider his actions address your selves to him and say We are the Messengers of the Omnipotent God dismiss with us the children of Israel and no more torment them we are come hither by the Commandment of God thy Lord. Salvation is for such as follow the right way damnation for them that blaspheme against his Law and depart from his Commandments Pharoah said unto them Who is your God Moses said My God is he that created the world and
that should there make processions Men shall come thither to visit thee from all parts on foot and on Horse-back they shall receive profit they shall there make their prayers at the times appointed and the days nominated they shall thank the Lord for his benefits towards them and the Riches which he hath given them and shall make likewise processions at the old Temple He that shall reverence it shall do exceeding well and shall be recompenced of his Lord. It is lawful for you to eat of all clean Beasts except of such as have been heretofore prohibited Depart from the pollution of Idols beware of bearing false witness and be obedient to God. He that saith God hath a Companion is like to him that fell headlong from Heaven whom the Birds devoured and the wind cast into a remote place full of miseries He that shall reverence the signs of the power of God will not doubt of his Law and shall be rewarded for his good works at the time appointed if he visit the old Temple of Mecca We have given to all Nations of the World a Law to offer their Sacrifices and to return thanks to their Lord for having given them advantage above all sorts of Beasts Your God is one God obey his Commandments proclaim a great reward to them that are obedient to him to them that tremble with fear when they hear mention of his name that are patient in their adversity that pray at the time appointed and dispence in alms some part of the wealth that we have given them We have created the female Camel for a sign of our unity she shall be profitable to you in this World. Remember to pronounce the Name of God when ye shall sacrifice her standing on her feet when she shall fall dead on the ground eat of her flesh if it like you and give to eat to such as shall require it We have made her subject to you peradventure ye will be thankful to me for this grace God promoteth before him neither the flesh of this Beast nor the blood but onely the good works that ye perform He hath thus subjected it That ye may exalt it and give him thanks for having guided you into the right way Proclaim to the righteous That God will remove far from them the malice of the wicked he abhorreth Traytors and the ingrateful Declare to such as fight against Infidels to repair the injury they have done them that God is sufficiently powerful to protect them When they were driven from their houses without reason they said God is our Lord Had not God stirred up the people against each other the Covents of the Religious the Churches of the Christians the Synagogues of the Jews and the Temples of the Believers had been ruined through the multitude of the wicked and their malice The name of God is exalted in the Temples of believers and therein is his Law defended and protected God is most strong he hath all power over his people Those whom God hath established on Earth with victory over their enemies make their prayers in the manner ordained pay Tithes and enjoin to do what is honest and civil forbid to do what is prohibited of God who knoweth the end of all things If the Infidels traduce thee their predecessors traduced Noah Aad Chaib Abraham and Lot they also slandered Moses God for a time deferred their punishment but in the end most severely chastised them How many Cities have we destroyed because of their impiety We have overthrown and made them desart through the death of their inhabitants Shall those of Mecca walk for ever upon Earth with an hard heart without reflecting upon what hath heretofore befaln the Infidels Their eyes are not blind but their hearts are blind and hardned They will require thee to cause the wicked to be speedily chastised God will not go against what he hath promised One day before thy Lord is as a thousand years before men How often hath the punishments of impâ—…ous Cities been deferred that in the end were destroyed The whole world shall one day be assembled before me to be recompenced after their merits Say unto them O people I preach unto you publickly the torments of Hell such as shall believe and do good works shall receive pardon of their sins and a precious treasure they that shall endeavour to make void the faith shall be damned We sent our Prophet to read only our Commandments to the people the unbelievers read many things that are not in the Alcoran but God hath made vain what the Devil had there inserted and confirmed the precepts of his Law What the Devil there inserted serveth for sâ—…dition to them that are weak in their faith and have an hard heart The Infidels are in an exceeding great error and are far from the Truth Such as have the knowledge of Scripture know that the Alcoran is truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord They believe in it and humble their heart in reading it God guideth into the right way such as believe in the truth The Infidels shall be in doubt until they be surprized of the day of Judgment That day shall they be rigorously chastised that day shall God command and judg the good and the bad the righteous that shall have believed and done good works shall enter into delicious Gardens and the Infidels that shall have disobeyed his Commandments shall suffer exceeding great torments They that departed from Mecca and went to Medina to abandon the society of unbelievers and were slain or died of sickness shall be rewarded of his divine Majesty God is the greatest benefactor in the world he shall give them to enter where they shall desire he is omniscient and most merciful The believers that shall take revenge of the injury that the unbelievers have done them shall be protected of God He is gracious and merciful towards his people he maketh day to enter into night and night into day he heareth the prayers of True believers and seeth whatsoever they do and will protect them because he is truth it self Idols are but vanity and God is most high and omnipotent Dost thou not consider that God sendeth the rain from Heaven and that the Earth becometh green He is benign to his people and knoweth all things whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is his he hath no need of his people and ought to be exalted Seest thou not that God hath subjected to you all the beasts that are upon the earth Seest thou not that the ship runneth upon the sea through his command to transport you and your substance Seest thou not that he hindreth Heaven to fall upon the Earth certainly he is benign and merciful He it is that hath given you life and death he shall make you to die and shall raise you again nevertheless man is ingrateful for his favours We have given a law to all the Nations of the World to guide them into the right
way if they observe it they will not dispute against thee Invoke thy Lord thou art in the right way if they dispute against thee say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shall judge your differences at the day of Judgment knowest thou not that God knoweth whatsoever is in heaven or in earth All is written and this is most easie to his divine Majesty Idolaters adore without reason Idols that understand not whether they be gods or no that shall be without protection at the day of Judgement when they preach to men my Commandments they know by their countenance those that are impious and ingrateful for my graces they would with wrath fall upon them that instruct them Say unto them I declare unto you things more grievous God hath prepared the fire of hell to chastise Infidels O people A parable is related to you hear it All the Idols that ye adore cannot create a flie when they shall be assembled to do it if the flies corrupt any thing that is offered to them they have not the power to drive them away because of their impotency and the weakness of them that adore them They praise not God in that manner as is just and reasonable he is most strong and most powerful he hath chosen messengers to bear and execute his Commandments among Angels and men he heareth whatsoever they say beholdeth whatsoever they do he knoweth whatsoever they have done and all things obey him O ye that believe honor and worship your Lord and do good perhaps you shall be blessed Fight for the establishment of his Law with affection he hath chosen you to follow it he hath not given you a Law heavy and troublesom It is the Law of Abraham your Father he hath stiled you the Resigned to God before the coming of the Alcoran the Prophet shall testifie against you at the day of Judgment and ye shall testifie against the people that the Prophet hath preached to them the right way persevere in your prayers pay tithes and trust in God he is your Lord and your Protector CHAP. XXIII The Chapter of True believers containing an Hundred and Eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mericiful Certainly the true believers shall be blessed that make their prayers with humility they abstain from reviling they pay tithes they commit not whoredom they touch not other women than their own and their slaves such as covet other transgress the bounds of reason they that faithfully preserve what hath been entrusted to them they that effect what they have promised and that make their prayers at the time appointed shall be heirs of Paradise where they shall dwell eternally We formed man of the dust of the Earth with mire blood congealed with a little flesh and bones which we invested with skin we another time created him when we breathed to him the Soul into the Body and blessed him as one of our fairest Ornaments O men ye all shall die and shall rise again at the Day of Judgment we created above you Seven Heavens and have care of the conservation of all People that are beneath we send Water from Heaven to satisfie your necessities we make it to fall upon the Earth and have power to cause to pass away and deprive you of it We have created and made gardens to bring forth Date-trees Grapes and many other fruits by which ye live we created trees in the Mountain of Sinai that produce Oyl and tincture ye receive great advantage by beasts they sustain you with Milk and afford you many other profits ye mount them and Ships also to carry you whither ye desire to go We sent Noah who spake to the People and said worship one God alone what other god will ye implore but him Will ye not fear to worship another The chief among the People that were Idolaters said to their adherents This man is a man like your selves he would appear and be esteemed more than you if God would be adored alone as he saith he would cause an Angel to descend that should bring his Commandments we have not heard spoken to our Predecessors what he saith he is a man possessed of the Devil tarry and ye shall see what will become of him Then Noah said Lord protect me against them and defend me from their Blasphemies we commanded him to build an Ark when our Commandment was given to destroy the wicked and when the Water of his Caldron boyled we commanded him to enter into the Ark with two beasts of every kind and species all men we destroyed except them of whom we have before spoken we said unto him speak not to me for Infidels they shall be drowned when thou shalt have taken order for every thing that must enter into the Ark with thee Say praise be to God who hath delivered us from the malice of the wicked Lord give us to descend in a blessed place thou art the best Pilot in the World. It was a sign of my Omnipotency to prove the People of Noah We created after them another People to whom we sent an Apostle to instruct them to worship one God and he said What God will ye adore other than God Will ye not fear his wrath Their Doctors that were impious who denied the Resurrection of the flesh and on whom we had conferred the Wealth of the Earth said he is a man he eateth and drinketh like you if ye obey not a man like to your selves shall ye be destroyed Doth he promise you to return into the World after having been bones and dust O abuse O abuse ye are abused in what he promiseth he is a man like others he is a lyar we will not believe him That Apostle said Lord preserve me from their Blasphemies they shall repent suddenly of their impiety then thunder surprised them and destroyed them as they deserved we made the Land dry and barren without fruit and created other persons in their place Man cannot die before his hour and none can retard it we sent our Apostles and our Prophets to instruct the People but they were slain one after another every Nation traduced the Prophet that we sent them and we made them serve for examples to Posterity and destroyed the wicked We sent Moses and his Brother Aaron to Pharoah and his Doctors with our Miracles and with most intelligible reasons they arose against the Faith they tormented the Children of Israel and said shall we believe in a man like to our selves of them that obey us They slandred both of them and were in number of the damned We gave to Moses the Book of the Law peradventure it will guide the Children of Israel into the right way we created Iesus and Mary his Mother they are signs of our Unity we established them in an eminent place where they stayed near a Fountain O Apostles and Prophets eat of the Fruits of the Earth and do good I know whatsoever
shall the fifth time call for the curse of God to be upon them if they be lyars The wife shall be exempt from punishment if she swear four times that her husband is a lyar and if the fifth time she pray that the wrath and indignation of God may be upon her if what her husband hath said be true in this manner doth God gratifie you that ye may understand the truth he is most gracious and most wise That Troup that made defection from the True believers with a lye and false testimony did you no harm on the contrary they did advantage you every one shall bear the burden of his sins the most malicious among them shall be thrown headlong into the torments of Hell It was an happiness that ye heard the sense of the Believers from their own mouth when they said that those men lyed impudently if they had not presented those four witnesses they had found none other they are lyars without the grace and mercy of God they should have already felt great torments in this world and in the other because of that imposture When they spake of what they were ignorant ye deemed it to be nothing but it is an exceeding great sin before God if when ye heard it ye said that to speak of those things did not concern you ye knew it to be an imposture God forbiddeth you to relapse if ye believe in his Law he thus declareth to you his pleasure he is Omniscient and most Prudent such as desire to cast obloquy among the True-believers shall be rigorously chastised in this World and in the other God knoweth that of which ye are ignorant Had not God been favourable to you he had chastised you in burning fury he is gracious and merciful Oh ye that are True-believers follow not the foot-steps of the Devil he will enjoyn you vice and sin had not God gratified you with his Mercy not any among you should have been purged from that imposture but God purifieth whom he seeth good he heareth all and knoweth all your intentions The most rich and powerful among you have not sworn to do no good to their Parents the Poor or to them that fight for the Law of God nevertheless they do it not to them and flie them desire they not that God should pardon them He is neither gentle nor pitiful but towards True-believers They that accuse of immodesty Women chaste innocent and faithful shall be accursed in this World and shall suffer great torments at the day when their Tongues their Hands and their Feet shall testifie against them at the same time shall God pay to them what shall be due unto them without injustice and they shall know that God is truth it self The wicked Women shall speak as the wicked men and the wicked men as the wicked Women The good Women shall speak as the good men and the good men as the good Women the good are innocent of the imposture of the wicked they shall enjoy the Grace of God and the Treasures of Paradise Oh ye that are True-believers enter not into anothers House without permission if ye salute them that dwell there ye shall do well peradventure ye will be mindful it ye find none of the House enter not without permission if they speak to you to return ye shall return it is better than to stay at the door God beholdeth all that ye do ye shall not offend God to enter into houses inhabited if ye have affairs there God knoweth all your intentions Speak unto the True-believers that they contain their sight that they be chaste that they do good and that God knoweth all their actions Speak unto the True-believing Women that they contain their sight and that they be chaste that they suffer nothing of their beauty to be seen but what ought to be seen that they cover their bosom and their visage that they permit them not to be be seen but by their Husbands their Children the Children of their Husbands their Brothers their Nephews their Sisters their Women and their Daughters Maid-servants and Slaves by their Domestiques that are not capable of Marriage by Children that regard not the beauty of Women and that they move not their feet to shew they are well shod Implore pardon of God peradventure ye shall be happy many Maidens of your own Religion the Daughters of the Righteous or your Slaves if they be poor God shall enrich them with his Grace he is most liberal and Omniscient Such as have not Means to Marry shall live chastly until God hath given them means Such as have desire to marry their Slaves shall have power to pass a Contract of Marriage if they know them to be wise and shall give them part of the wealth that God hath bestowed on them Despise not your Wives that are chaste to commit Whoredom if ye desire good in this World if ye contemn them God shall be to them propitious and merciful we have sent to you these Precepts clear and intelligible like to them that were taught your Predecessors to be preached to the Righteous God illuminateth the Heaven and the Earth as the Lamp that is in the Lanthorn of Chrystal fed with Oyl of the blessed Olive it seemeth to be a Star full of Light which goeth neither to the West nor to the East and yeildeth brightness upon brightness God guideth by his light whom it pleaseth him he teacheth his People Parables and is Omniscient he permitteth you to praise him in your Houses there to be mindful of his name and to exalt him evening and morning Oh ye men your affairs ought not to hinder your remembrance of his divine Majesty to make your prayers at the time appointed neither to pay Tithes Fear the day when the hearts of men shall be perplexed and their sight troubled when God shall reward and chastise every one after his works and shall augment his grace upon the good he enricheth with his innumerable benefits whom to him seemeth good The good works of the wicked are like to mists in a spacious plain they seem to be water when afar off and being approached nothing is to be there found They shall find before God the Book wherein is written whatsoever they have done he shall punish them according to their demerits he is exact to keep account Their actions are moreover like to the darkness that is in the bottom of the sea that is covered with wave upon wave obscurity and darkness upon one another he that is in this darkness cannot see his hand he that shall not be illuminated by God shall not see a jot Seest thou not that whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth exalteth the glory of God the Birds extend their wings before him to praise him he heareth the prayers of all his creatures and understandeth the praises that they give him he knoweth all that they do he is King of Heaven and earth the refuge of all the world
Seest thou not how he assembleth the clouds how he placeth them one upon another Considerest thou not how the rain falleth through their pores and that God causeth fresh water to descend from the mountains He hath given it to whom seemeth good to him he causeth the brightness of lightning to approach men which blindeth their sight and over whelmeth the day with night These things are signs of his omnipotency to them that consider them He created of a little water all sorts of living Creatures some creep upon the Earth others walk upon two feet and others upon four he created what pleased him he is omnipotent Certainly he hath senâ—… a Law clear and intelligible to conduct into the right way whom it shall seem good to him The Infidels say We believe in God and his Prophet nevertheless a party among them abandon his Law and believe not in his divine Majesty When they are called before God and before the Prophet to judge their differences many among them refuse to come if they come it is with contempt They are greatly afflicted at heart do they fear that God and his Prophet will do them injustice On the contrary they themselves are unjust When the True believers are called before God and the Prophet to be judged they say We have heard and obeyed they are not ignorant Those that shall obey God and his Prophet shall be blessed Many swear to fight gallantly for the Faith when they shall be commanded to march against the enemy say unto them Swear not your obedience to the Prophet shall be preferred to your oaths God knoweth whatsoever ye do say unto them Obey God and his Prophet if they be disobedient they shall bear their burden and ye shall bear your own if ye obey ye shall follow the right way The Prophet is obliged onely to preach intelligibly God promiseth to the True believers that shall do good works that they shall live long upon Earth as he promised to them that were before them that they might establish the Law that he gave them he shall change their fear into assurance he shall deliver them from terror that they may adore him alone without Companion He that is wicked will depart from the obedience which he oweth to God Make your prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and obey the Prophet God shall give you his mercy Believe not that the Infidels are more powerful on Earth than we they shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell. O ye that are True believers your Slaves and your Servants of free-condition shall require leave of you to enter where ye shall be thrice viz. Before the Prayer at break of Day after Noon and after Supper they shall not offend in entring without leave where ye shall be at another time they enter there to serve you In this manner doth God teach you his Commandments he knoweth the humor of his Creatures and is most prudent in all that he ordaineth It is ordained to your Children when they shall be at age of discretion to demand of you permission to do what they shall desire as did your Predecessors Thus doth God teach you his Commandments he is gracious and merciful The old and decrepit Women shall not offend God to quit their vails and discover their faces provided it be without vanity and design to shew their Ornaments If they abstain they shall do well God heareth whatsoever ye say and knoweth all that is in your hearts The Blind the Lame the Sick and you also shall not sin to eat in the House of your Children at the House of your Father and Mother Brothers Sisters Uncles Aunts Friends and in the House of your Servants ye shall not offend God if ye eat together or apart When ye shall enter into any House salute each other from God with blessing and affection Thus doth God teach you his Commandments peradventure you will learn them When those that believed in God and his Prophet repaired to the Prophet they retired not without his permission Such as required leave to depart believe in God and his Prophet if they require leave of thee for any business licence whom shall seem good to thee and pray to God for them he is gracious and merciful Call not the Prophet as ye call one another among you God knoweth such as shamefully depart out of the Temple and the Trench Such as disobey his Commandments ought to take heed lest some mischief befal them and that they suffer not great torments Whatsoever is in the Heavens or on Earth is Gods he knoweth if ye are zealous in your faith or be hypocrites he knoweth the Day wherein all the World shall be assembled before him to be judged In that day shall men see what they have done he knoweth all things CHAP. XXV The Chapter of the Alcoran containing Seventy and seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praised be he that sent the Alcoran to his Servant to instruct the World he is King of the Heavens and Earth he hath no Son nor Companion in his Reign he created and ordained every thing The Infidels worship Gods that can create nothing and are things created they can neither do them good nor evil they can give neither Life nor Death neither cause them to rise again They say that the Alcoran is but a fable of thine invention invented with the assistance of some other Person but they lye and blaspheme They say that it is but an old Song and a fable of the Ancients that thou writest and that thou studiest Morning and Evening Say unto them It was sent by him that knoweth all things in Heaven and Earth altogether gracious and merciful They said Who is this Prophet He eateth Bread and Meat and walketh through the streets we will not believe him unless that an Angel descend from Heaven to preach to us with him unless that Angel enrich him and that he have a Garden full of good and savory fruits he is but a Wizard or one possessed of the Devil Consider to what they compare thee certainly they are in error and cannot find the right way Praise and bless him that is able to bestow on thee a greater good when it shall seem good to thee to wit Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and Houses of pleasure They have denyed the certainty of Universal Judgment and we have prepared the Fire of Hell to punish them wrath shall carry them away with terrible crys when they shall behold the place of the assembly of Judgment when they shall there appear they shall be desperate and shall cry O misery Cry not O misery cry O miseries in the Plural Ask of them which is better and more advantageous that or Paradise which is prepared for the recompence of the righteous where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of felicity this is it that God hath promised and that which was impetrated of
At her arrival they shewed it her and asked if it resembled her own she replyed It resembleth it as if it were the same She had knowledg of the right way but that which the People and the 〈◊〉 instead of God had seduced them from the obedience of his divine Majesty They spake to her to enter into a gallery when she beheld the pavement she believed it to be Water and in lifting up her Robe fearing to wet it discovered her Leg. Solomon told her that the pavement was of pollished glass and exhorted her to embrace the Law of God. Then she said Lord I am too blame in having offended thee I am obedient with Solomon to the Commandments of the God of the Universe We sent Salhe to Temod and his People to exhort them to worship one God He said unto them O People flie to the Mercy of God if ye implore pardon of him ye shall be pardoned They said Wouldst thou draw us into thine error And into the error of them that are with thee He said God shall chastise you ye are Seditious They were Nine persons in the City that defiled the Earth and did no good they said among them Let us this Night kill the Prophet and his adherents We will say to them that seek him That we saw him not neither them that slew him and will swear that we speak truth They were cunning but we were more subtil than they and they knew it not Consider what was the issue of their stratagems we destroyed them with their followers and their Houses are become desart because of their impiety This shall serve for example to them that have knowledg of our Omnipotency We served the Prophet and all the True believers that were with him Remember thou the History of Lot who said to his Citizens Will ye alway defile your selves in uncleanness in each others view Will ye love men more than women Ye are ignorant They replyed Let us drive Lot and his Family out of our City they defile not themselves like us We preserved him with all his Family except his Wife she remained among them that were chastised We caused it to Rain upon them a Rain that gave them to know the severity of our chastisements Say unto them Praised be God that destroyeth the wicked and Salvation to all those who he hath chosen are they not more happy than such as believe there are many Gods Who created the Heavens and the Earth Who caused Rain to fall from Heaven Who hath made many delicious Gardens to bring forth You have not the power to cause the plants to spring forth without the assistance of God. Certainly unbelievers do err from the right way Who hath established the Earth and made the Rivers to flow Who hath made heavy the Mountains Who but God hath put separation that is between Seas The greatest part of the World know it not Who rendreth men miserable Who delivereth them from affliction when they invoke him Who hath caused you to multiply and leave your Posterity on Earth but God Nevertheless few men give him thanks Who guideth in the darkness of the Earth and Sea Who but God sendeth the Winds the forerunners of Rain He is most high and most powerful but the wicked will not consider the effects of his Omnipotency Who formeth men Who maketh them to live die and rise again Who enricheth them with the Wealth of Heaven and of Earth but God Say unto them produce your reasons bring your arguments if what ye alledg be true say unto them None but God knoweth what is in Heaven and Earth no man knoweth the future present and past do men know the day of the Resurrection Contrariwise they doubt and are blind The wicked have said What we shall be dust as are our Fathers and shall come forth out of our Graves This was heretofore promised to our Fathers and to us this is but a Fable of old men Tell them that they consider not what was heretofore the end of the wicked afflict not thy self for that they conspire against thee and that they demand at what time they shall see the punishment that is foretold them Say unto them it is not far from you ye throw your selves headlong into it but God is pitiful towards his People nevertheless the greatest part give him no thanks for his Grace thy Lord knoweth what is in their Heart and whatsoever they speak there is nothing in Heaven or Earth that is not written in a most intelligible Book the Alcoran explaineth to the Children of Israel the greatest part of their difficulties it will guide them in the right way and deliver from Hell them that shall believe thee thy Lord shall judge them at the day of Judgment he is Omnipotent and wise trust thou in God thou art in the way of truth the Dead and Deaf shall not hear thee and unbelievers shall depart from thee pensive and astonished thou oughtest not to guide the blind neither to make the deaf to hear except such as shall believe in the Alcoran and be obedient when the time of the punishment that is denounced against them shall be come we will cause a Beast to come from under the Earth that shall speak unto them and shall say The People believe not in the Law of God they know not his wondrous works Be thou mindful of the Day when I will assemble a Multitude of all Nations that have disobeyed my Commandments to give account of their actions I will say unto them Ye have traduced my Prophets ye know â—…ot what ye said What have ye done Then shall they be punished for their sins and be inexcusable they shall not speak a word Do not Infidels see that we have created the Night for rest and the Day for travel This is a sign of my Omnipotency be thou mindful of the Day wherein the Angel shall sound the Trumpet and whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth shall tremble with fear except such as shall be in the favour of God that Day shalt thou see the Mountains suspended to move like the Clouds this shall be a work of God who created all things and knoweth their end he that shall have done good works shall be rewarded he shall be without fear and they that had done evil shall remain in the Fire of Hell it shall be said unto them Are ye not chastised according to your demerits Say unto the People I command you to worship the Lord of this priviledged City all things appertain to him I command you to believe in the Unity of his Divinâ—… Majesty and to study the Alcoran who so doth good shall find good Say unto them that shall be seduced I am sent only to preach the Torments of Hell say to True believers Praised be God that hath given you to see his Miracles and hath given you knowledg of the right way thy Lord is not ignorant of what they do CHAP. XXVIII The Chapter of
one God fear the day of Judgment and defile not the Earth They impudently traduced him but were surprized by an Earthquake and remained dead in their houses as carkasses We destroyed Aad and Temod their ruine is yet apparent in the places of their habitations the Devil tempted and seduced them from the right way notwithstanding they knew their error We destroyed Caron Pbaroah and Haman Moses preached to them my Commandments they contemned them and became proâ—…d in the Earth but escaped not the punishment of their crimes We chastised some by an impetuous wind and others were surprized by thunder we deprived them of their riches and they were drowned God was not unjust towards them they drew mischief on themselves through their impiety They that worship Idols are like to the Spider she buildeth her house of her â—…ob-web that cannot defend from heat or cold They would not adore Idols did they understand what they do God seeth what they worship he is omnipotent and wise I teach the people these parables and none but the wise understand them Truly God created Heaven and Earth it is a sign of his Omnipotency to True believers Instruct them in the book that is inspired into thee make thy prayers at the time appointed prayers divert men from sin to be mindful of God is the best work thou canst perform he knoweth all the actions of men Dispute with mildness against them that have knowledg of the written Law except against the wicked that are among them Say unto them We believe in what hath been taught you and in what hath been taught us Your God and our God is one God we are resigned to his divine will. We have sent thee the Alcoran as we sent to them the Old Testament Such as understand the Old Testament believe in the Truth of the Alcoran Thou hast not written it with thine own hand hadst thou written it thou hadst caused them to doubt who desire to make it void Certainly it containeth and teacheth intelligibly the Commandments of the Law none but Infidels reject it They have said We will not believe in this Book unless God work in it some miracle Say unto them Miracles proceed from God I am sent only to preach the torments of Hell. Is it not sufficient that we have sent thee the Alcoran to instruct them It containeth the effects of my mercy and precepts necessary for their salvation Say unto them it sufficeth that God is witness of mine actions betwixt you and me he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth They that believe in Idols and have not faith in God are damned They urge thee to make them see the punishment of their crimes if the time were come they should soon feel it they shall rescent it when they least think of it but they know it not they shall press thee to make them see it Say unto them Hell is prepared for Infidels When they shall be plunged in torments over their heads and under their feet it shall be said unto them Taste the punishment which ye have deserved O ye people that believe The Earth is sufficiently large and spacious for you to separate your selves from the wicked worship me alone all Creatures shall die and be assembled before me to be judged The True believers that shall have done good works shall inhabit Paradise wherein flow many rivers wherein is the reward of the righteous of them that persevere to do good and are patient in their affliction and trust in their Lord. How many beasts be there that have not wherewith to live God nourisheth them and you also he understandeth and knoweth all things If thou ask of the Infidels who created Heaven and Earth the Sun and the Moon they will say It is God. Wherefore then do they deny his Unity God enricheth and impoverisheth whom â—… leaseth him he is omniscient If thou demand of them who causeth the rain to fall from Heaven to give life to the Earth after the death thereof they will say It is God. Say unto them Praised be God that ye avouch it nevertheless the greatest part of men understand it not The life of this world is but sport and vanity life is in Paradise had they knowledge to comprehend it When they enter into a ship and see the tempest they call upon God and protest to profess his Law And when he hath preserved them on the Land they are ingrateful for his grace and return to their Idolatry they shall too late understand their error Know they not that we have established in Mecca all safety and freedom and that men are taken away by violence to be slain and made slaves believe they in things unprofitable shall they be ingrateful for the graces of God who is more impious than he that blasphemeth against God and impugneth the known Truth is there no place in Hell for the wicked I will guide into the right way them that shall fight for the Faith God is with them that do good CHAP. XXX The Chapter of the Grecians containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am the most wise God. The Grecians were vanquished upon the frontier of the Persians but shall be victorious before the end of seven years God disposeth all things from the beginning to the end When they shall be victorious the True believers shall rejoyce in the victory that God shall give them he protecteth whom to him seemeth good he is omnipotent and merciful He hath promised them victory and departeth not from his promises of which the greatest part of men are ignorant they affect the life of this world and consider not their end Will they not consider that God hath created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and hath appointed to every thing a limited and prefixed time Certainly the greatest part of the people believe not in the Resurrection Will they not consider the end of their predecessors who were more powerful and wealthy than they God hath sent to all an Apostle to teach them his Law he hath done to them no injustice they have drawn mischief on themselves through their iniquity the end of the wicked shall be like to their works they despise the Commandments of God and deride them but God shall cause them to die and rise again and all shall be assembled before him at the day of Judgment that day shall they be desperate their Idols shall not intercede for them they shall forsake them and they shall be separated from the true believers Such as believe in God and do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise and the wicked shall be chastised according to their demerits Praise God pray unto him evening and morning praise is due to him in heaven and earth pray unto him before the Sun set and at the hour of noon he maketh the dead to come out of the living and the living out of the dead he
up the Mountains upon the Earth to fasten and hinder it to move he hath thereon dispersed many Beasts and sent Rain from Heaven which causeth Plants to spring forth and Herbs of divers sorts Behold here what God hath created shew me what your Idols have created assuredly Idolaters are manifestly seduced from the right way We inspired knowledg into Locman and spake unto him to give God thanks he that returneth thanks to God for his Graces doth good for his Soul. God rejecteth the ingrateful and praise is due to him in all places Remember thou that Locman said unto his Son O my Son believe not thou that God hath a companion it is an exceeding great Sin We have commanded man to honour his Father and Mother his Mother beareth him with grief upon grief and weaneth him at the age of Two years be thou not ingrateful for God's benefits honour Father and Mother thou shalt be one day before God to be judged If thy Parents press thee to believe that God hath companions obey them not follow the way of them that obey him all men shall be one day assembled before him to be rewarded according to their works O my Son if thou dost evil of the weight of a Grâ—…n of Mustardseed or of the weight of a Rock or of the greatness of Heaven and Earth God will know it and put it in account he is exact and Omniscient O my Son make thy prayers at the time appointed do what is honest and civil fly what is not approved and be patient in thy adversities regard not the World disordered through pride converse not with the proud God detesteth the haughty observe thy steps walk with modesty speak gently they be persons that bray like Asses when they speak seest thou not that God hath created for men all that is in Heaven and Earth and conferreth on them his Graces in general and particular There be ignorant persons that dispute of the Deity without reason when it is said unto them Do what God hath appointed they answer We will do what we saw done by our Fathers They consider not that the Devil calleth them and their Fathers to the pains of Hell. He that obeyeth God and doth good works fastneth him to the strongest Knot and will have a care of him at the Hour of his end The impiety of the wicked ought not to afflict thee they shall be one day assembled in our presence to be chastised I will shew them all that they have done I know what is in the hearts of men I will prolong awhile their punishment upon Earth and precipitate them in the other World into the Fire of Hell. Hast thou not demanded of them who created Heaven and Earth They said It is God say unto them therefore praised be God nevertheless the greatest part of them are ignorant Whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods he hath no want of the World praise is due unto him in all that he doth if all the Trees of the World were Pens and the Sea Ink they could not comprehend the effect of his Omnipotency he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He created and shall make you to rise again with one word he understandeth and seeth all things Consider they not that God causeth the Night to enter into the Day and the Day into the Night that he created the Sun and the Moon that move in the Heaven until the day appointed he knoweth whatsoever ye do because he is truly God they that invoke other than him invoke things vain and unprofitable God alone is most high and most mighty Seest thou not how the Ship runneth upon the Water for a token of his Omnipotency to such as acknowledg his Graces When the Wars arose against the Infidels many called upon God with resolution to follow his Law when he saved them on the Land some persevered to do well and others returned to their impiety none but deceivers and ingrateful persons despise his Commandments O People fear God and the day when the Father shall not be able to succour his Child neither the Child serve his Father God's promises are infallible be not proud of your Riches neither that God tolerateth and suffereth you he knoweth the time when ye shall be chastised the hour that the Rain shall fall upon the Earth he knoweth what is in the wombs of women whether it be Male or Female none but God knoweth what thou wilt do to morrow none but he knoweth the place where thou shalt die he knoweth all he knoweth all CHAP. XXXII The Chapter of Worship containing an Hundred and Thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I am the most Wise God. Doubtless this Book was sent by the Lord of the Universe will the wicked say that thou hast invented it On the contrary it is the truth it self which proceedeth from thy Lord to preach to them that heretofore had none to instruct them peradventure they will follow the right way God created Heaven and Earth and all that is between them in Six days and sitteth on his Throne Who shall protect you Who shall hear your prayers but he Will you never consider it He disposeth all things in Heaven and Earth all men shall one day be assembled before him to be judged a Thousand years are but one day before his Divine Majesty he knoweth what is past present and future he is Omnipotent and Merciful he hath created every thing for his People he formed man of the Dirt and Dust of the Earth he inspired the Soul into his Body he giveth you hearing sight and sense but few men return him thanks for his Graces They say What shall we die and return to be a new People Certainly they believe not in the Resurrection Say unto them The Angel of Death shall cause you to die and ye shall return before God to be judged Thou shalt then see how the Infidel will hang down the Head before their Lord and say Lord we now see the certainty of the Resurrection we this day know the truth of thy words permit us to return into the World we will be Righteous we now understand what is profitable and necessary for us we could have given a guide to every Person my word is most true I will fill Hell with the wicked and Paradise with the Righteous thus shall men be rewarded and chastised according to their works Taste O ye wicked the pains that ye have deserved in refusing to believe in this day which ye have found we leave you in the miseries due to your incredulity taste the eternal torments that ye have merited through your impiety Such as believe in the mysteries of my Law are humble they worship me alone and praise me when they hear mention of me they are not proud rebel not against my Commandments They arise from their Bed to make their prayers with fear and hope and imploy in pious works some part of
true believers They shall say had God guided me into the right way I had had his fear before mine eyes When they shall see hell they shall say could I return into the world I would be in the number of the righteous on the contrary my Commandments were taught you but ye became proud and despised them Thou shalt see that day how the visages of Infidels shall be blackned is there not a place in hell prepared for the proud God loveth and putteth into a place of felicitie them that fear him they shall not be touched either with displeasure or affliction God hath created all things and disposeth all at his pleasure he hath in his power the keyes of heaven and earth such as disobey him are damned Say unto them oh ignorant men will ye enjoyn me to worship another god besides God It hath been preached to you and your predecessors that all your good works shall be unprofitable if ye adore many gods and that you shall be in the number of the damned there is but one God worship him and be mindful of his graces The Infidels have not praised God as he ought to be praised they have no knowledg of his power he shall make the earth to tremble and gather together the heavens by rhe strength of his right hand at the day of Judgment praised be God he hath no companion When the Trumpet shall sound the first time he shall cause to die whom he will have to die in the heavens and earth the second time all the world shall rise again and attend his Commandments the earth shall be full of the light of the Lord thereof he shall bring his book wherein shall be written what the Prophets and Martyrs have taught he shall judge the world with equity and shall not do injustice to any every one shall be rewarded and chastised for his works he knoweth all that they have done he shall send the Infidels into the fire of hell in troops when they shall be arrived at the gate it shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold Hell which ye have merited were there not Prophets and Apostles to teach you the Commandments of God and to preach unto you on Earth the coming of this rigorous day They shall say yes but the word of God shall be accomplished against the wicked It shall be said unto them go enter into Hell ye shall abide there eternally it is the habitation of the proud Such as shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be conducted in troops to the gate of Paradise the gate shall open before their eyes it shall be said unto them behold what ye have gained the peace of God is with you ye have not been ignorant enter into Paradise ye shall dwell therein eternally They shall say praised be God for that we believed in his Law and because we are heirs of his grace we will go into Paradise into what place shall seem good to us God giveth his blessing to the righteous Thou shalt see the Angels about the Throne of thy Lord who shall praise and exalt his glory they shall say God hath judged his creatures with equity praise is due to the Lord of the Universe CHAP. XL. The Chapter of the True believer containing Eighty five Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituleth this Chapter Of the Pitiful IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful God is prudent and wise This Book is sent by the Omnipotent who knoweth all things who pardoneth sins and accepteth the conversion of his creatures he is severe in his chastisements and indulgent to his People there is no God but he and all the World shall one day be assembled before his Divine Majesty to be judged No man disputeth against the Precepts of the Alcoran but the wicked be not thou discontented if they live on Earth with some felicity the People of Noah's time contemned his instructions their Posterity did like them and every Nation hath conspired the death of them whom God sent to instruct them they disputed to obscure the truth through their lyes but they were punished and after what manner So is the Word of God accomplished against the wicked they all shall be damned The Angels that are about the Throne of God and those that bear him praise and exalt his Divine Majesty they believe in his Unity and beg pardon of him for the True believers Lord thy mercy extendeth through the whole World nothing is hid from thee either in Heaven or Earth pardon their sins that convert and embrace thy holy Law deliver them from the Fire of Hell open to them the gate of the Gardens of Eden which thou hast prepared for them their Fathers Wives and Children and them of their Lineage that shall do good works thou art Omnipotent and wise Depart from sin he that shall depart from it shall resent the effect of God's mercy at the Day of Judgment and shall enjoy eternal felicity the Infidels shall be hated of God his hatred is infinitely more dangerous than yours will ye be Infidels after being called to the observation of the Law of Salvation They said Lord wilt thou cause us to die twice And shall we twice rise again But they shall say at the day of Judgment Lord we confess we have offended thee we acknowledg our sin in having renounced the belief of thine Unity shall we never go out of Hell to observe thy Law and follow the way of Salvation No ye shall suffer in the Fire of Hell because that ye have believed them that adored Idols and because ye have said that God hath companions equal to him All things obey one sole God Omnipotent he it is that made you to see his Miracles and sendeth you the riches of Heaven and Earth none consider it but such as are converted Pray to God and observe his Law although it be against the will of the wicked he elevateth his Creatures to what degree he listeth he hath created his Throne and sent his inspirations to whom he seeth good to preach the Day of Judgment that Day shall the People come out of their Monuments and none shall be able to hide himself from his Divine Majesty Who shall command that day It shall be God alone victorious that day shall he recompence every one after his works without injustice he is exact to make account If thou preach to the wicked the Day of Judgment their heart will lift them up and they shall be full of affliction their prayers shall not be heard and none shall intercede for them God knoweth them that have eyes of treachery and seeth all that is in the hearts of men he judgeth of every thing with truth the Idols which they worship are without power God alone understandeth all things and is Omnipotent Consider they not what was the end of their predecessors Who were more powerful and more wealthy than they God surprised them in
knowledg of the truth are without reason their arguments shall be vain with God they shall be the object of his wrath and shall suffer exceeding great pains God hath sent the Alcoran with truth and ballance he will not instruct thee when the day of Judgment shall be Such as have no faith in him ask when it shall come and they that believe him fear the coming thereof and know it to be infallible such as doubt are erroneous from the right way God is merciful to his people and enricheth whom he pleaseth he is strong and omnipotent he increaseth the graces of him that desireth the riches of Heaven he giveth the wealth of the Earth to them that affect it and depriveth them of the riches of Heaven Are there wicked ones among men that teach them a false Religion prohibited of God God hath not revealed it to them had he not deferred their punishment until the day of Judgment he had already destroyed them they shall in the end feel grievous torments ye shall see them fear their own deportments ye shall see them chastised after their demerits and the believers that do good works shall enjoy the delights of Paradise where they shall find whatsoever they shall desire this is the great grace of God this is that which he hath proclaimed to the faithful that believed and have done good works Say unto them I require none other recompence for the pains that I take in preaching to you than to love my kindred he that shall do any good work shall be rewarded God is merciful and good works are pleasing to him Will they say that thou hast blasphemed against God If it please God he shall hinder thee to hear this discourse or will imprint patience in thine heart he abolisheth lyes and confirmeth the truth through his words he knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men he accepteth the conversion of his Creatures he pardoneth their sins and knoweth all their actions he heareth the prayers of the faithful that do good works and augmenteth his grace upon them but Infidels shall undergo the rigors of eternal pains Had God equally enriched all his Creatures they had been in confusion upon earth he enricheth whom he pleaseth he seeth and knoweth all he sendeth rain when men despair of his grace he is the Protector of believers and praise is due to him eternally the Creation of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that moveth between them is a sign of thine Omnipotency If evil befal you believe that ye have deserved it nevertheless he pardoneth you many things ye cannot escape his punishment on earth and none is able to protect you against him the vessel that runneth upon the water big as a mountain is a token of his Omnipotency to them that persevere in his Law and acknowledg his graces He shall reprove the wicked for their sins and shall pardon many They that dispute against his Commandments cannot escape their punishment the riches that we possess are the riches of the earth the riches that God bestoweth on them that trust in him are eternal They that depart from mortal sins that repent to have committed them that beg of God to be heard and persevere in their supplications they that take counsel and consult among them what they ought to do that employ in good works part of the wealth that God hath given them that implore his help in their afflictions such as do good and such as commit evil shall be recompensed and punished according to their works God abhorreth Infidels ye have no power over them that implore his assistance in their affliction and repent your power extendeth over them that do injustice to the people and disobey on earth the Commandments of his divine Majesty they shall suffer great torments Such as persevere in well-doing and pardon their neighbour do what God hath Commanded He whom God shall mislead shall find none to guide him Thou shalt see that the Infidels shall ask if they may return into the world when they shall behold the fire of hell thou shalt see them flie with extream fear of external ignominy they shall look awry upon hell and the believers shall see that the wicked that have lost their souls that have mislead their family and all the impious shall be eternally damned none shall be able to save them and he that God shall mislead shall not find the right way Say unto them beg pardon of God before the day come that ye shall find no way to return into the world nor excuse for your sins If they disobey thee we have not sent thee to be their Tutor thou art sent only to preach unto them When we give to man any prosperity he rejoyceth and when affliction befalleth him he is ingrateful for the graâ—…e of his Lord King of the heavens and 〈◊〉 God giveth children sons and daughrers to whom he pleaseth he knoweth all things and is omnipotent he speaketh not to man but by inspiration and parable without being seen he sendeth his Prophets and Apostles into whom he inspireth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things and is omnipotent Thus have we sent thee our spirit to teach thee our Commandments thou knowest not before what was written in the Alcoran neither thy mysteries of faith we have sent it to thee to be a light to the world I will guide into the way of Salvation whom I please I will guide him into the way of the Lord to whom belongeth all that is in Heaven and Earth and who disposeth of all things CHAP. XLIII The Chapter of Ornament containng Eighty and nine Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituled this Chapter The Chapter of Gold. IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is prudent and wise I swear by the Book that teacheth to do well that we have sent it in the Arabique tongue peradventure ye shall understand the Alcoran it is written in our original Book majestique and mysterious Shall I conceal from you the Book of Salvation if ye be wicked How many Prophets and Apostles have we sent in past Ages whom unbelievers have despised We destroyed the most powerful among them and all have incurred the pain of their predecessors If thou ask of them who created Heaven and Earth they will say that it is the Omnipotent who knoweth all things Who hath extended the Earth under you Who established the wayes to guide you It is God he causeth the rain to descend from Heaven in your necessity he maketh the dead dry and barren fields to revive in like manner shall the dead come out of their Sepulchers He it is that created whatsoever is in the world of divers kinds and species and created the Ships and beast to carry you Remember the grace of your Lord say praised be he that created for us these things we had not the power to create them They also shall return before the Lord to be judged The Infidels have divided God
conspired against them think they that I know not their secrets and whatsoever they utter The Angels our Messengers keep account say unto them If God have a Son who shall we first adore Praised be God King of the Heavens and of the Earth the matter is not as the Infidels deliever it Leave them implunged in their impiety let them laugh and rejoyce until the day of their punishment arrive One God alone ought to be worshipped in Heaven and Earth he is most wise and Omniscient Praised be he to whom appertaineth the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is between them He knoweth the hour and the day that all the World shall be assembled before him to be judged The Idols that the Infidels adore shall not be able to intercede for them the good intercede for them that have knowledge of the truth if thou ask of men Who created them They will say It is God How can they then depart from his Commandments Lord this People is incredulous Depart thou far from their company they shall in the end too late acknowledg their errors CHAP. XLIV The Chapter of Smoke containing Fifty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is Prudent and Wise. I swear by the Book that distinguisheth good from evil that we sent it the Night of blessing to teach the People the torments of Hell this Book explaineth our Commandments and all that we heretofore commanded the Prophets this is a special grace of thy Lord he heareth and knoweth all things he is Lord of Heaven and Earth and of all that is between them believe in his Omnipotency There is no God but he he giveth life and death to whom he listeth he is your Lord the Lord of your fathers and predecessors the wicked deride this discourse but the Day of Judgment attends them that day the Heaven shall resemble Smoak that shall cover the World that day shall the People say Behold here grievous torments Lord deliver us from this misery we will believe in thy Law Their conversion shall be in vain because when the Prophet preached to them they scorned his words and said That he was a foolish Teacher and when they were comforted on Earth they returned to their impiety Remember thou the day when they were vanquished and taken by force and that we were revenged on their impiety We heretofore tryed the People of Pharoah my beloved Prophet preached to them my Commandments and said Come follow me Oh ye servants of God! I am a faithful â—…essenger of his divine Majesty resist not his law will teach you his Commandments he shall defend me from your malice he shall preserve me from being stoned but if he will not believe me depart far from me He prayed to his Lord when he knew that that people was unbelieving â—…nd impious God said unto him Go forth by night out of the City with my servants if the men of Pharoah pursue thee enter into the Sea through a path large and spacious thine enemies that shall follow thee shall be drowned How many Gardens Fountains and places of Pleasure wherein they took delight did â—…hey forsake They fell into the power of anoâ—…her with all their treasures and none lamented â—…hem either in Heaven or Earth they expected â—…ot that punishment We delivered the Children of Israel from Pharoahs tyranny he was â—…owerful and a great sinner We elected them through our certain knowledg among all the world â—…nd tryed them through our Miracles and Commandments The wicked say we shall dye and not rise again if the Resurrection be true cause our fathers to revive to evidence the truth of thy words Are they more powerful than their predecessors whom we destroyed because of their â—…mpiety We have not created in vain the Heaven and the Earth and whatsoever is between them we created them for certain signs of our â—…nity the greatest part of the world understand â—…t not the day of Judgment is the time appointed for their punishment that day none shall be able to save his neighbour or parent or friend nor shall any be saved but those to whom God shall give his mercy he is omnipotent and merciful The fruit of the Tree of Hell called Zacon shall serve for food to the wicked it shall boyl in their bellies like pitch or water They shall cry Take the wicked drag them into the fire of Hell pour upon their heads all manner of torments It shall be said unto them taste the pains oâ—… Hell ye believed your selves to be thâ—… omnipotent and precious on Earth behold thâ—… punishment of which ye doubted The righteouâ—… shall be in delicious places in Gardens adorneâ—… with Fountains they shall be clothed with purple they shall behold each other face to face wâ—… will assemble them with women pure and cleaâ—… who shall have most beautiful eyes they shall havâ—… fruits savoury and delicious of all seasons the shall never dye and shall be delivered from thâ—… torments of Hell through the special grace 〈◊〉 thy Lord behold supreme felicity Certainly we have sent the Alcoran in thy tongue peradveâ—… ture the Arabians will learn it they covet thy 〈◊〉 ine but persevere thou and expect the time of 〈◊〉 punishment of their crimes CHAP. XLV The Chapter of Genuflexion or Knee-bowinâ—… containing fifty nine Verses 〈◊〉 at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and mercifâ—… God is most prudent and Wise. This Book sent by the Omnipotent and Wise. The Heaveâ—… and the Earth are most certain signs of his Uniâ—… to such as believe in his Law your Creation aâ—… â—…he Creation of all Creatures are markâ—… of his greatness to them that have his fear before their eyes the difference of the night and the day the rain that he sendeth from Heaven to cause fruits to spring out of the Earth and to revive it after its death and the diversity of winds are signs of his Omnipotency to them that have knowledg to comprehend it I relate to thee the wonders of God with truth in what will 〈◊〉 believe if they believe not in the word of his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that hear the Commandments of God and become proud as if they had not heard them Preach unto such men that they shall suffer the rigors of infinite pains They deride the Faith when they are spoken to Certainly they shall be punished in the fire of Hell their riches shall not be able to save them neither the Idols which they adore they shall be eternally damned This Book guideth men into the way of salvation they that shall not believe in the Law of God shall feel the effects of his fury He created the Seas that bear the Ships for the advantage of your commerce peradventure ye will acknowlged this grace He hath created for you all that is in Heaven and on Earth it is a sign of his goodness to such as consider it Speak unto them that believe
Earth and return into the World Behold a very strong return we know assuredly what the Earth will do with us we have a Book wherein all is written they impugn the known truth and are in a great confusion See they not Heaven above them how we have built it how we have adorned it and how there is no defect We have extended the Earth raised the Mountains and caused all sorts of fruits to spring forth for a sign of our Omnipotency We have sent the blessed Rain from Heaven made Gardens to produce Grain pleasing to the Reapers and Date-trees exceeding each other in height to enrich our creatures We have given life to the dead dry and barren Earth so shall the dead come out of their sepulchres The People of Noah's time those that inhabited near the Well Temod Pharaoh the fellow-citizens of Lot they that dwelt in the Forest and People of King Teba did heretofore traduce our Prophets and felt the punishment denounced against Infidels Was it a trouble to us to create men at first Nevertheless they are in doubt if they shall rise again We created man without difficulty we know the motions of his Soul and penetrate into his heart as the blood into the veins of his Body O man think upon the day that thou shalt see thy good and evil Angel near thee at the right hand and on thy left they have observed and written all that thou hast done represent to thy self death before thine eyes it is inevitable Think on the Angel that shall sound the Trumpet at the Day of the Resurrection that day shall the wicked behold what was promised them and all men shall come before God to be judged Their guardian Angels shall conduct them and be the witnesses of their deportments It shall be said to the Infidels Behold the day of which ye would have no thoughts we have now opened your eyes ye shall see this day more hard than Iron their guardian Angels shall say unto them Behold here before your eyes all that ye have done cast into Hell those obstinate Infidels that have hindred their Neighbour to do good that have offended in doubting of God's Law and have affirmed there was another God with God cast them into the most grievous torments Then shall the Devil say to them Lord I did not seduce them they seduced themselves God shall say Dispute not before me what was heretofore promised you is infallible my Word admitteth no alteration and I will do injustice to none God shall ask at the Day of Judgment If Hell be full It shall answer Is there any more Paradise is prepared for the Righteous who shall have the fear of God before their eyes it is promised to them that shall be converted that shall obey the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and persevere in their obedience It shall be said to them Enter ye into Paradise exempt from all evil behold the eternal day ye shall have all that ye shall desire and more How rich and powerful Cities have we in times past destroyed Their inhabitants sought in their Countries places of retreat and escaped not the puishment of their crimes this ought to serve for example to them that comprehend it to them that hear it and to such that saw it Certainly we created in Six days without difficulty the Heaven and Earth and all that is betweem them Persevere be not impatient for the words of unbelievers exalt the glory of thy Lord before the Sun go down and before it rise pray to thy Lord at the entrance of the Night the last of all shall be worship Hearken when the Angel shall call thee to general Judgment that day shall all the World hear the Trumpet the people shall come out of their sepulchres and Earth shall open before the eyes of men I give life and death and all the World shall be assembled before me to be judged This assembly is easie for me to accomplish I know what the wicked say thou shalt not cause them by force to embrace my Law Teach it those that fear the torments prepared for Infidels CHAP. LI. The Chapter of Things dispersed containing Sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Winds that disperse the dust by the Clouds charged with Rain by the Ship that runneth upon the Waters and by them that divide the Wealth of the Earth that what hath been promised to you is true and that the Day of Judgment is infallible I swear by Heaven and the Stars thereof that ye are in an exceeding great error God expelleth lyars far from him he curseth them that blaspheme and such as believe not in the Resurrection They ask When shall be the Day of Judgment That day shall they be punished in the Fire of Hell. It shall be said unto them Taste the torments that ye have with impatience demanded They who had the fear of God before their eyes shall be in Gardens adorned with Fountains they shall enjoy the pleasures prepared for them by God because they are Righteous they sleep very little by Night implore pardon of God at the dawning of the Day and give alms to the poor that beg and the poor that are bashful God manifesteth on the Earth and in your persons the signs of his Omnipotency consider ye not that what is promised to you is written in Heaven God is Lord of Heaven and Earth he is truth it self will ye not confess him Did the Angels convey to thee the books of Abraham When they entred into his House they saluted him he likewise saluted them made signs to his servants to bring a fat Calf roasted which he presented to them he said unto them Wherefore do ye not eat And was afraid in his mind of their coming They said Fear not we are the Messengers of God they declared to him that he should have a Son that should be a great personage Then his wife drew near crying with a loud voice and smiting her Face said One that is barren beareth no Child they said The thing shall come to pass as we have spoken thy Lord ordaineth what pleaseth him and knoweth all Abraham said unto them O ye Messengers of God! what is your design They replied We are sent from God to destroy the Cities inhabited by the wicked and cast upon them stones of Fire whereon are inscribed the names of them that they shall strike We will cause all the Righteous to depart from among them if we find there but one Family of Righteous we will there leave an example to Posterity for them that fear the torments of Hell. Moses is a sign of our omnipotency we sent him to Pharaoh with reasons clear and intelligible he despised my Commandments and said That Moses was a Magician and possessed of the Devil but we surprised him and drowned his People to his great displeasure Aad is an example of our Omnipotency We sent an
impetuous Wind against those wicked people that destroyed them Temod is an example of our Omnipotency with his Nation they waxed proud and resisted the Commandments of their Lord when it was said to them that the punishment of the wicked was deferred to another time but Thunder surprised them they saw it they had not the power to stand on their feet and were deprived of protection The People of Noah's time are an example of our Omnipotency we destroyed them because they were impious We built Heaven with strength and virtue I am he that giveth power and strength we extended the Earth and created of every thing Male and Female perhaps ye will consider it Say unto them Turn ye to God I am sent from him to preach to you the pains of Hell Believe not that God hath another God with him the wicked said heretofore that the Prophets and Apostles whom he sent were Magicians and possessed of the Devil Have they recommended to their Posterity to do the like Certainly they are in a great error Separate thy self far from their company and be not troubled at what they say preach the Alcoran it is profitable to the Righteous I did not create the Devils and men but to worship me Say unto them I require nothing of unbelievers for instructing them I require not that they nourish me God enricheth whom he pleaseth he is omnipotent the wicked shall be chastised as heretofore have been their predecessors in their malice their time shall come and misery shall befal them at the day of Judgment CHAP. LII The Chapter of the Mountain containing thirty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Mountain upon which God spake to Moses by what is contained in the book written in parchment by the first Temple of Mecca by the arches of the heavens and by the sea full of water that God is one sole God and the punishment promised to unbelievers is infallible they shall not be able to escape it in the day when the heaven shall tremble and the mountains shall walk that day shall be unhappy to the incredulous they shall be precipitated in the fire of hell it shall be said to them behold the flames that ye despised is this Magick See ye it not enter have patience or ye will despair ye shall be chastised after your demerits They that shall have the fear of God before their eyes shall be in delicious gardens which God hath prepared for them and shall be delivered from the pains of hell It shall be said unto them Drink and eat at your pleasure for recompence of your good works they shall repose upon beds well ordered we will marry them to wives that shall have fair eyes they shall be attended of their family and be largely rewarded for their good works every good action shall be to them a degree of happiness We will give them such fruits and Vines as they shall desire they shall present to each other the cup to drink they shall not speak an evil word and shall not sin they shall have Pages about them for their service beautiful as polished pearls they shall discourse among them concerning what they did before on Earth and say We were in the world we and our families with a great apprehension of the pains of hell but God hath gratified us he hath delivered us from eternal flames They shall say moreover we worshipped in the world but one God most just and most merciful Remember thou to preach the Alcoran thou art not ingrateful for the grace of God thou art not possessed of the Devil will they say that thou art a Poet a Rimer that nothing must be expected from thee but fables of past Ages Say unto them ye expect the time of my destruction but I with you expect the time of your ruine Do their Superiors command them to speak in this manner Will they be obstinate in their errors Will they say that Mahomet hath invented the Alcoran Certainly they are incredulous let them bring any discourse like to this book in Doctrine and Eloquence if what they affirm be true Were they created of any thing have they created any thing have they created themselves have they created the Heavens and the Earth Certainly they are incredulous Have they in their power the treasures of thy Lord are they Giants Have they a ladder that may raise them to hear what is spoken in Heaven let them produce some reason of their opinion Believe ye that God hath daughters and that ye have sons Will ye require of him a Salary for obeying his Law Is he your debtor The wicked are lyars do they know what shall be do they write it Desire they to conspire against thee The wicked often conspire against the righteous that worship but one God Praised be God he hath no companion If the Infidels should see a piece of the heaven to fall they would say It is a cloud driven by the winds leave them in their obstinacy until they come to the day of their death that day shall their conspiracy be vain and they deprived of protection They likewise shall be punished before their death but the greatest part know it not Have patience and expect the Judgment of God thou shalt soon see it I will protect thee and thou shalt not want help Praise thy Lord exalt his glory when thou shalt rise praise him in the night and before the Stars disappear CHAP. LIII The Chapter of the Star containing sixty Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I sweat by the Star that disappeareth that your friend Mahomet erreth not he speaketh nothing of his own he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent and most bountiful God. The Angel approached him in the highest place of Heaven within the length of two bowes and somewhat nearer God hath inspired into him what he hath inspired into his servant who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him He hath spoken what he hath seen and in what form the Angel was Dispute not against him concerning what he saw he another time saw the Angel in heaven near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne and although that tree was covered with that which covered him his sight was not dazled and he is not in error Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord Have ye considered Alat Az and Menat those three Idols Will ye swear that God hath daughters and that ye have sons Ye will make a false oath and shall be in a manifest error Those Idols have nothing but the names which your fathers and you have given them God hath not commanded you to worship them Ye follow only your passions remote from the truth God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them God is
of God gracious and merciful What do the wicked enquire of each other touching the great news of which they are in different Opinion They shall learn it they shall learn it Have not I created and extended the Earth Have not I raised the Mountains to establish it Have not we created you Male and Female Have not we created Sleep and the Night for repose and the Day of Labour Have we not built over you Seven heavens and the Sun full of light Have we not caused Rain to descend from the Clouds to cause the Earth to produce its Plants and Gardens of divers fashions The day of Judgment shall be a day of Joy and Sorrow When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet all the World shall come in Troops to Universal Judgment Heaven shall open its Gates the Mountains shall walk and Hell is the place prepared for the seduced there shall they remain eternally They shall find there no rest neither drink but of boyling and most stinking Water a reward conformed to their works the Infidels believe not that they must render an account of their actions and blaspheme but we keep account and write exactly what they do It will be said to them at the Day of Judgment Taste this day the punishment that ye have merited your pains shall be augmented and pains upon pains They who shall have had the fear of God before their eyes shall be in a place of felicity in the Gardens of a most fertile Land enriched with Grapes and Pomegranats they shall drink in Cups full of a delicious Liquor and shall hear no vain speeches nor lying such is the recompence of them that obey the Commandments of God He is Lord of the Heavens and Earth none shall dare to speak when the Spirits and Angels shall be assembled before him none shall be able to speak or pray for another without his permission This day shall be the day of truth they that shall be acceptable to him shall retire towards his Divine Majesty We have preached unto you that the punishment of God shall speedily come upon you every one shall see all that he shall have done and the wicked shall say at the Day of Judgment Would to God that I had been earth and dust CHAP. LXXXIX The Chapter of Them that take away containing Forty six Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Angels that take away the Souls from the Bodies of Infidels and the wicked by the Angels that accompany the Souls of Believers by the Angels that exalt the glory of God By the Angels that guide the Souls of the Righteous when they go into Paradise and by the Angels that are appointed for the affairs of the World That all People shall rise again at the Day of Judgment that Day the Earth shall tremble and the hearts of men shall tremble at the first time that the Trumpet shall sound at the second their sight shall be troubled with fear and they shall say Behold we we are returned upon Earth to the place whence we departed our bones were rotten and our return to the World shall bring upon us only misery this second sound of the Trumpet is a sign of the wrath of God then shall they be out of their Sepulchres revived upon the Earth Hast thou learned the History of Moses and how God his Lord called him in the Holy Valley called Toi and how he said Go towards Pharaoh he is seduced from the right way and is in a great error say unto him I called thee to the way of Salvation I will purifie and guide thee into the way of the Law of God to the end thou maist have his fear before thine eyes Moses made Pharaoh to see one of his great Miracles nevertheless he contemned Moses disobeyed him and departed from the right way he caused his People to assemble and made Proclamation that he was their God but God rigorously chastised him because of his Blasphemies this is an example of his Omnipotency to them that are Righteous Oh ye wicked were ye more difficult to create than Heaven God hath raised the roof thereof and proportioned it he hath made the Night obscure and the day full of splendor he hath stretched forth the Earth hath made Fountains to spring forth to water the Plants and to give drink to Beasts he hath elevated and established the Mountains for you and for your Flocks Men shall call to mind the good and the evil that they have done at the second sound of the Trumpet and Hell shall appear open before their eyes The wicked that have followed their own appetites on Earth shall be precipitated into Hell and such as have had the fear of God before their eyes and have subdued their passions in this World shall go into Paradise The wicked will ask of thee when the Day of Judgment shall be None knoweth it but thy â—…ord Thou art not sent but to preach the pains of Hell to them that fear that day as if they saw it present before their eyes they shall imagine that they have not remained in the Tomb but from Evening until Morning when they rise again CHAP. LXXX The Chapter of the Blind containing Forty two Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The Prophet frowned had a surly countenance and withdrew himself when the blind came towards him He will not tell thee if he will believe in God and if he will profess thy preaching depart thou from him that shall depart from the Law of God thou art obliged only to preach to him and not to make him to believe but forsake not them that shall come to see thee to be instructed and shall fear God. The Alcoran is sent for the instruction of men it was copied upon the Book that is kept in Heaven to which Honour and praise is due eternally Wherefore is man impious 〈◊〉 because he is created of a little Water retaâ—…d in tâ—… womb of his Mother until the timâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And because he found the way to come forth Is it for that God caused him to dye and to revive when it seems good to him He performeth not what God commandeth neither considereth the good things that nourish him We have sent rain we opened the treasures of the earth we have made all sorts of grain to spring forth Blites Olives Dates Gardens and fields full of Fruits and herbs to nourish you and your flocks When the Angel shall sound the Trumpet the second time Man shall fly his brother his mother wife and children every one shall take thought for himself that day shall the wicked have countenances covered with affliction the countenance of the good shall be joyful and such as have sought the way between faith and impiety shall have their countenance covered with earth and dust CHAP. LXXXI The Chapter of Roundness containing Twenty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of
Chapter of the Star or of the North Star containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by Heaven and the Star that teacheth men the way I will not tell thee by what star by the star full of brightness that every person hath a guardian which observeth the good and the evil that it acteth Doth not man consider of what he is created he is made of a little sprinkled water that issueth out of the body of man and woman God shall make him to rise again at the day of Judgment and none shall be able to protect or defend him from the wrath of his divine Majesty I swear by heaven that returneth the rain by the earth that openeth it self and receiveth it to produce its fruits that the Alcoran distinguisheth good from evil and that it was not sent in vain The unbelievers conspire against the Prophet but God shall turn their conspiracy against them and they shall not know it Be thou patient and awhile endure the Infidels CHAP. LXXXVII The Chapter of the High and Mighty containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Exalt the name of thy Lord high and mighty who hath proportioned all that he hath created he ordaineth what he listeth and guideth into the right way them that are pleasing to him he causeth herbs to spring out of the earth createth them green rendreth them dry and altereth them as to him seems good I will read to thee the Alcoran forget nothing of what thou shalt read but that which God shall will thee to forget he knoweth whatsoever is kept secret in the world and whatsoever is made manifest I will instruct thee in his Law preach the Alcoran it shall be profitable to him that shall have the fear of God before his eyes such as shall despise it shall be miserable they shall be precipitated into the fire of hell where they shall not be able either to live or die and he that shall embrace the Law of God and shall be mindful of his name shall be blessed Pray to God at the time appointed Certainly the righteous shall be heirs of the good things of the earth and those of heaven that are exceeding great and eternal this is written in the ancient books of Abraham and Moses CHAP. LXXXVIII The Chapter of the Covering containing twenty six verses written at Mecca Gelaldin intituleth this The Chapter of Iudgment because that day the damned shall be covered with fire and fear See Exteri IN the name of God gracious and merciful Hast thou heard mention of the covering That day shall the countenance of the wicked be covered with affliction they shall enter into fire that is extreamly hot they shall drink of boyling water they shall eat nothing but bryers and thorns they shall be extreamly lean and famine shall not deliver them from an infinite number of other miseries That day shall the good be filled with content they shall be recompenced or their labours in Paradise they shall hear nothing spoken that may displease them they shall see fountains flow lying upon high beds they shall drink in fair glasses fixed on diamonds upon pillows well disposed and upon pallets well adorned will not the wicked consider the Miracle of the she-Camel How it was created How Heaven was elevated How the Mountains were disposed how the Earth was extended Preach to the wicked the pains of Hell thou art sent to preach to them and not to constrain them God will chastise with his great chastisement him that shall abandon his Law and traduce the Alcoran all men shall be one day assembled before his Divine Majesty to give account of their actions CHAP. LXXXIX The Chapter of the Morning containing Thirty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Morning by the tenth Night of the Month by even and odd and by the coming of Night That the wicked shall be chastised Is there any thing in consideration of this Oath that can move men to fly uncleanness Considerest thou not how God entreated Aad the Son of Arem that dwelt in Pavillions supported by Columns so big that there were none like to them in his Countrey Knowest thou not how he used Temod who hewed Stones and Rocks to inhabit the Valley Knowest thou not how he entreated Pharaoh who pierced with Pins the feet and hands of such as he gave up to punishment Knowest thou not how he entreateth them that heretofore erred from the right way in their own Countreys and that increased their pollution He poured upon them divers torments he observeth all that men do he giveth store of goods to them that he doth not try and taketh them away from such as he proveth The wicked will not give Honour to Orphans they will not abstain from eating the Bread of the Poor they shall give an account they too much affect riches when the. Earth shall tremble and shall over throw all the buildings when the Angels shall descend in order by the command of thy Lord then shall Hell be open to the wicked they shall call to mind what was preached to them in the World and say Why did not I observe the Commandments of God during my life They shall be punished more than ever any hath been and shall be more straitly bound than ever any hath been bound It shall be said to the blessed O thou Soul that hast observed with courage and without fear the Commandments of God return to thy Lord with content enter into the Society of the blessed enter into Paradise CHAP. XC The Chapter of the City containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca Many have entituled this The Chapter of Night IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by that City which is permitted thee to conquer I swear by the Father and the Child that we created man in misery thinketh he that there is none stronger than he He saith That he hath expended great wealth doth he think that none hath seen what he hath done Have we not given him two eyes a tongue two lips Have we not given him to see the way of good and of evil He shall be severely chastised but I will not tell thee with what kind of chastisement Wherefore doth he not deliver Slaves Wherefore doth he not give to eat to them that are hungry to Orphans and his Kindred that are in necessity and to the poor Patience and Charity are recommended among True believers they shall be seated at the right hand and such as impugn the Mysteries of our Law shall be at the left hand they shall be shut up in the Fire of Hell. CHAP. XCI The Chapter of the Sun containging Fifteen Verses writteen at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Sun and his light by the Moon and her splendour by the Fire and its elevation by the
Theodosius his Favorite his Army was twice overthrown the General slain and the Mahometans pursuing their victories took from the Greeks the Countries of Egypt Syria and other Provinces of Africa where Mahomet encreased his Triumphs and erected his Trophies Being now grown impotent rather through his inordinate life than burthen of years he retired full of glory as a King and Prophet to Mecca where he resolved to end his days having affirmed it in the Alcoran to be the most holy City of the World as that wherein stood the Temple of Abraham built miraculously by Angels to be the Sanctuary of all that repair thither in Pilgrimage And therefore it was that when he had by his Armies taken the City of Antioch he durst not enter into it in person lest by the delightful and fertile situation of it he should have been enticed to desert Mecca and contradict his own Prophecy His life now drawing to a period a Pleuriâ—…ie surprized him On the seventh day for Crisis of his disease he became frantick Haly one of his successors astonisht at his distemper and frenzy not esteeming it one of the rare qualities of a Prophet and Redeemer as he stiled himself of so much People derided him yet willing to continue his Law that he might inherit his Power carefully concealed it and according to his commands yet living watched his Body after his decease For he told his followers that he should rise again the third day and ascend to Heaven They observed this and guarding his Corps four days entire with impatient expectation of his Resurrection were at length compelled by reason of its putrefaction to take him up and bury him at Medina where his Reliques are annually visited by the superstitious Pilgrims of his Religion Earth to crow This Angel recommended him to another he to a third and so one to another until he came to the Heaven where God kept his residence God courteously received him asked him how his People did how they entertained his Law and familiarly laid his Hand upon his Shoulder which was so cold that it pierced to the marrow of his Back-bone God had soon done with him only telling him how often his People should make their Prayers which were so many that as he was returning in the fourth Heaven Moses advised him to go back to God and entreat him that fewer Prayers might serve his turn for his People were not able to make so many which he did and after many returns brought the number to five This done he went back to his Elborach which in a moment brought him to his House in Mecca where he went to bed again to his Wife she not once dreaming her Husband would leave Heaven for her company or thinking he had been there all this he performed in the tenth part of a Night The Turks at this day fondly believe this as a Truth but the Arabians of his time requiring him to do as much in their view he unwilling to take again so long a Journy replied Praised be God I am Man and an Apostle He had other slights which in sight of the People by Art or Sorcery he performed and they stupidly believed and entertained as Miracles as a Pigeon being by him taught to come and pick a Pease out of his Ear he told them it was the Holy Ghost that came to tell him what God would have him do so an Ox brought him a Chapter of the Alcoran upon his Horns in a full Assembly He likewise perswaded them that being at dinner at the House of one that pretended to be his Friend who had an intent to poyson him or he at least was so informed a shoulder of Mutton served in to the Table forewarned him that he should not eat of it and though many were present none but he heard or understood the Language of the Mutton and yet he permitted one of his dearest Friends to eat of it and die impoysoned Such and many of the like nature were his Miracles As the bowing of Trees shaken by some sudden gust of Wind the howling of Wolves and braying of Asses which is their Language desiring Mahomet to pray for them and he Prophetically understanding as religiously performed His custom was often to inculcate into the Ears of his Auditors that God gave him commission to fulfil his own desires in all things and to that purpose introduceth God speaking to him To thee O Prophet It is permitted to lie with all Women that are given thee or thou dost purchase thy Aunts and Kindred and all good Women that freely desire thy company and this is lawful for thee alone His Issue was one onely Son called Cassim who died before him and many Daughters Fatione the eldest in high esteem at this day among the Arabians and honoured as the royal root of Aben Alabecy was Wife to Haly. Zeineb the second was married to Osmen after Son to Mahuvias and perhaps to both successively for they both succeeded in the Empire of Arabia to her is attributed the original of the other Family of Aben Humeia Imiaultim and Naphisse are diversly mentioned by the most faithful Historians some delivering them as his Daughters others as his near Kindred On the Seal which he used were engraven these words Mahomet Messenger of God. Heaven ordained him to be a scourge for the punishment of Christians who in multitudes at that time had forsaken the Truth to follow the Sects and Heresies of the Arrians Donatists Nestorians and others The day of his death was no less prodigious than the course of his life a Comet resembling a Sword appearing at high noon pointing from South to North when it was beheld the space of thirty days which that age interpreted to portend the fatal rising and splendor of the Arabian Empire A needful Caveat or Admonition for them who desire to know what use may be made of or if there be danger in reading the Alcoran By Alexander Ross. GOod Reader the great Arabian Impostor now at last after a thousand years is by the way of France arrived in England and his Alcoran or gallimaufry of Errors a Brat as deformed as the Parent and as full of Heresies as his scald head was of scurf hath learned to speak English. I suppose this piece is exposed by the Translator to the publick view no otherwise than some Monster brought out of Africa for people to gaze not to dote upon and as the sight of a Monster or mishapen creature should induce the beholder to praise God who hath not made him such so should the reading of this Alcoran excite us both to bless God's goodness towards us in this Land who enjoy the glorious light of the Gospel and behold the truth in the beauty of holiness as also to admire God's Judgments who suffers so many Countreys to be blinded and inslaved with this mishapen issue of Mahomet's brain being brought forth by the help of no other Midwifry than of a Iew and a Nestorian
we will not believe thee for that we see not God then you were smitten with thunder you saw your Misery with your own eyes nevertheless we raised you after your death perhaps you will give me thanks We covered you with the shadow of Clouds we caused Manna and Quails to fall upon you and said Eat the good things we have given you They did us no harm when they murmured they afflicted themselves We said Enter into that City and eat therein what shall content you enter in at the gate with humility and say Remove our sins from us I will pardon your offences and encrease the Graces of those that are righteous then the wicked altered their words that were taught them but I sent my indignation from Heaven upon them according to their demerits When Moses demanded drink for his people we said Smite the Rock with thy Rod incontinently there sprung forth twelve Fountains and every man knew his place where to drink Eat and drink the good things of God and defile not the Earth any more You said unto Moses we are not satisfied with one sort of meat entreat thy Lord that he give us what the Earth produceth Beets Cucumbers Garlick Lentils and Onions he said Desire you to change good for evil Go down into Aegypt you will there find what you require They were beaten with disgrace and poverty and returned into the wrath of God for that they disobeyed his Commandments and unjustly slew his Prophets for which they were greatly to blame All those that shall believe Christians Iews or Samaritans such as shall believe in God at the day of Judgment and do good works shall be recompensed by their Lord and be free from fear and affliction at the day of the Resurrection When we received your promise to believe in the Old Testament we raised a Mountain over you to over-shadow you and said Comprehend with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will fear the fire of Hell and disobedience nevertheless you have gone astray without the mercy of your Lord you shall be in the number of the damned You know what befel those that observed not the Sabbath we said unto them Be ye abhorred and despised as Apes We left this punishment as an Advertisement to their Temporaries and Posterity and particularly to be for an example to the true Believers Remember thou that Moses said unto the people God commandeth you to sacrifice a Cow. They answered doest thou mock us He replyed God defend me from being in the number of the ignorant They said Call upon thy Lord that he instruct us what Cow that ought to be He said it must be a Cow of a middle age neither young nor old and do what is commanded you They said pray unto thy Lord that he shew us of what colour it ought to be It must said he be of a bright yellow colour that it may delight the eyes of the beholders They said invoke thy Lord that he instruct us what it ought to resemble and we shall if it please him be obedient to his Commandments He said God answereth you that it must be a Cow that never bare the yoke to till the earth neither water the fields round and that hath never laboured neither hath spot upon her Body They said thou hast now spoken truth they then sacrificed her and it wanted not much but they had not done it When you have slain any one you are then full of wrath and become proud God bringeth to light whatever you conceal We said smite that dead Body with a piece of that Cow so God raiseth again the dead and manifesteth to you his Miracles it may be you will comprehend them yet your hearts are hardned more obdurate than Rocks for Rivers flow from Rocks when they cleave and appear or when they fall and overturn by the permission of his Divine Majesty God is not ignorant of your actions Do you desire the Iews should believe you because many among them write the word of God and alter it at pleasure after they have comprized it When they meet with true Believers they say we believe in God and being assembled they say among themselves have you entertained those true Believers for that God hath instructed you that they may find no excuse against you at the day of Judgment before his Divine Majesty Understand you not that they would excuse themselves upon what you have said to them Know they not that God knoweth whatever they conceal and what they bring to light There be some that know neither to read nor write that understand nothing of Scripture but what they have learned from the lies of their Doctors yet they think to be knowing Men. Misery is upon them that conceal the Scripture in their hands that alter it and say that what they read proceedeth from God to profit any thing thereby Misery is upon them because of what their hands have written Misery is upon them and upon what they have gained in blaspheming against God. They have said we shall continue in Fire but a certain number of days Say unto them have you capitulated with God He will not act against his Promises Will you speak of God what you know not Such as have gained ought and were entangled in the sin of their gain shall for ever remain in the flames of Hell and they 〈◊〉 have faith in God and do good works shall â—…nally enjoy the delights of Paradise â—…ber thou that we taught the Commandâ—… of the Law and how we said to the 〈◊〉 of Israel worship one only God do good unto your Farher and Mother to your Allies Orphans and the Poor speak mildly unto the People make your Prayers at the time appointed and pay your Tithes nevertheless they were disobedient except some very few among them When we received the Commandments of God and that we said shed not your Blood neither forsake your Houses you approved it your selves are Witnesses Nevertheless you slew many and constrained a great number to desert their habitation you assisted each other in injustice and impiety If Slaves have recourse to you you shall redeem them their deliverance is appointed you Do you believe one part of the Scripture to abjure the other The reward of any of you that shall do this thing is ignominy in this World and to be precipitated into the most grievous torments of Hell at the day of Judgment God is not ignorant of your actions Such as purchase the Life of the World to quit Paradise shall not be eased in their Miseries and be utterly deprived of succours Certainly we gave the Law to Moses and after him sent many Prophets We inspired knowledge into Jesus the Son of Mary and strengthned him by the Holy Ghost but you arose against the Prophets that came contrary to your affections you belyed one part and slew another The unbelievers said our heart is hardned It
them and they shall not erre Safa and Meroa are Tokens of his power He that shall go on Pilgrimage to Mecca shall not do amiss to visit those two places he that obeyeth shall do well God rewardeth them that do good works and knoweth all things I will lay my Curse upon such as conceal my Commandments they shall be accursed above whatever is in this world except them that shall be converted that shall do good works and bring to light what they concealed I will give them my Grace I am gracious and merciful The wicked that died in their impiety shall be eternally accursed of God of Angels and of all the World they shall never be eased in their torments and shall be without end deprived of protection Your God is one sole God there is none other God but God gracious and merciful The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth the difference of the day and the night the Ship that saileth on the Sea for the advantage of Commerce the Rain that falleth from Heaven to give Life to the Earth after it's death the diversity of Winds and the Clouds that move between Heaven and Earth are Signs of the Unity of God to those that can understand it There be that adore Idols and love them the True believers love but one sole God. When thou shalt see the wicked know they shall one day see the punishment of other Crimes All strength and Vertue proceedeth from God most severe in his Chastisements When that a part of them that had embraced the true Law separated themselves from the Company of True believers and that any mischief befel them they could not re-unite themselves Then they said in their affliction If we another time meet our Companions we will separate our selves from them as they have separated themselves from us Thus shall God give them to understand their Errour with exceeding sorrow and they shall be eternally confined in the fire of Hell. O ye people eat what is good and savoury in the Earth and follow not the steps of the Devil he is your open enemy he will command you that which is evil and filthy and to speak of God what you know not When it was said to the Infidels obey the Commandments of God they said We will follow the steps of our Fathers we will observe what they observed surely their Fathers were unwise and mis led they are like to him that cryeth and understandeth nothing of what is spoken but the voice they are deaf dumb blind and without judgment O ye that believe in God eat the good things that he hath given you and give him thanks if it be him that you worship He forbiddeth you to eat Carrion Blood Swines flesh and whatever is not killed in pronouncing the name of his Divine Majesty except it be in extreme necessity and in this case it shall not be reputed disobedience nor sin God is benigne and merciful what they eat that conceal the Word of God for any profit or advantage shall be nothing but matter of fire in their bowels God shall not speak to them at the day of judgment but with fury he will not purifie them and they shall suffer rigorous torments They that have purchased Errour for the right way and punishment for pardon shall burn in the fire of Hell for that God hath sent the most true Book that containeth his Commandments they that impugne what is contained in that Book are in an exceeding great Errour far from the truth It is not justification to turn the Face making your Prayers towards the East or West he shall be justified that shall believe in God the day of judgment the Angels the Scriptures and the Prophets and that in Charity shall impart some part of his Goods to his Parents to Orphans to the Poor to Pilgrims and to Slaves Such as believe in God and have his fear before their Eyes persevere in their Prayers pay Tithes they satisfie their Promises and are patient in their adversities O ye that believe the Talio is commanded you in murther the free for the free the Slave for the Slave the Woman for the Woman But if any one pardon the blood of his Brother he shall prosecute the Malefactor according to what he shall see most advantagious through damages and interests It is a facility which God hath given you through his mercy He that shall do injury to the Malefactor having received satisfaction of him shall suffer grievous torments at the day of Judgment you shall find life in the Talio O you that are wise it may be you will fear God He commandeth you to make your Testament when you approach unto death give Legacies of your substance to your Father and Mother your near Kindred and bestow Alms on the poor If any man alter your Testament the sin shall be upon him and upon all them that shall alter it God understandeth and knoweth all things If any one feareth that there is an Errour in the Testament that opposeth Reason he shall do well to reconcile the parties with affection God is gracious and bountiful O ye that believe Fasting is commanded you as it was them that were before you you shall fear God and Fast particularly a certain number of days but if any one among you is sick or in travel at the time of Fasting he shall count the days that he fasted not and shall fulfil them at another time Such as are not of strength to Fast shall satisfie for Fasting through Alms he that shall obey shall do well If you Fast you shall do well Fast the month of Ramazan in which the Alcoran descended from Heaven to guide men into the right way it containeth Precepts of Divine Right and distinguisheth good from evil all those that live to this Month ought to Fast. He that is sick or in a Voyage shall accomplish the days that he Fasted not another time at his Conveniency God willeth that his Law should be light unto you and not a Burthen his Will is that you observe the days of Fasting and that you return him thanks for that he hath guided you in the right way perhaps you will give him thanks I will be near unto my Servants when they shall enquire of thee concerning the Mysteries of my Law I will hear their Supplications when they invoke me that they may persevere in obedience to my Commandments peradventure they will follow the right way It is lawful for you to know your Wives the night of Fasting they are necessary to you as your Cloaths and you are to them as necessary as their Garments God knoweth that otherwise you should have betrayed your Souls he is bountiful to you and hath pardoned you know them and perform what God hath appointed you Eat and drink until you may distinguish a white thread from a black by the light of the morning then begin to fast until night Know not your wives
hand the tie of marriage doth not leave to them the whole of courtesie it is requisite to gratifie them and to forget nothing of the benefits between you God beholdeth all your actions stand upon your guard when you make your prayers especially that at noon and be obedient unto God. If you fear your enemies and cannot place your selves on your knees neither perform the Ceremonies that are appointed you omit not to say your prayers on foot or on horseback and being freed from fear remember God and how he hath taught you what you know not Such as die shall be good to their Wives by their Testament they shall bestow on them wherewith to live during the time they must tarry before they marry again drive them not from your houses If they willingly depart the sin of what they shall do in their own persons shall not be upon you God is Omnipotent and just you shall likewise do good to your Wives that you have divorced according to your power it is a thing reasonable among such as fear God Thus God teacheth you his Commandments perhaps you will learn them See you not them that departed their houses for the fear they had of death they are thousands in number God hath said to them die after this he raised them again God is the Benefactor of the People but the greatest part return him no thanks for his favours Fight for his Law and know that he understandeth and knoweth all things Who is he that will afford him a good turn He will augment him with multiplicity of increase he giveth good and taketh it away from whom it pleaseth him you shall all return before him to be judged Knowest thou not that a company of the Children of Israel after the death of Moses said to their Prophet send us a King we with him will fight for the Law of God He answereth them have you disobeyed the Commandments of God If they enjoyn you to fight you will not do it They said we have no greater desire than to fight for the glory of his Divine Majesty we for this Cause have abandoned our houses and those of our Parents nevertheless when they were commanded to fight they all except some few of them retired but God knoweth them that sin against him Their Prophet said to them God hath sent Saul to be your King they answered why shall he be our King we rather deserve the Royalty than he he is not rich enough he replied God hath chosen him to command you he hath encreased his knowledge and Stature he giveth Royalty to whom he listeth he is liberal and prudent in all his Actions Their Prophet said to them the sign of his Reign shall be that the Ark shall appear to you from God to confirm your hearts wherein shall be contained the remainder of what the people of Moses and Aaron left and it shall be born by Angels this shall be to you the sign of his Reign if you believe in God. When Saul went forth with his Troops to fight his Enemies he said God shall try you by a River he that shall drink of that River shall not be mine unless he drink with his hand they all except some few of them drank at their Pleasure and having past that River with the true Believers they said we have not this day strength sufficient to resist Goliah and his Troops but such as believed in God and feared his Divine Majesty said how often through the permission of God hath a small Troop defeated a great Army He is with them that are patient when they saw Goliah with his Troops appear they said Lord give us patience confirm our steps and give us Victory over the Infidels They through the permission of God vanquished their Enemies David slew Goliah and God gave him the Royalty and knowledge of future things Had not God raised the people one against the other the whole Earth had been full of disorders such are the Miracles of God as I declare to thee with truth thou art indeed one of the Prophets of his Divine Majesty We have conferred our graces on the Prophets on some more than on others many have spoken to their Lord and some have been more elevated than others We gave knowledge to Jesus the Son of Mary and fortified him through the Holy Spirit Had it pleased God the Prophets that came heretofore had not been slain after they had taught his Commandments Men were of different Opinions some believed in God others were impious had it pleased God they had not been slain but he doth what pleaseth him O ye that are true Believers dispense in Alms some part of your wealth that we have given you before the day arrive wherein you shall find no Ransom Alms Protection nor Prayers that can succour you Certainly Infidels are greatly to blame God! There is but one only God living and eternal think not that he slumbereth or sleepeth whatever is in Heaven or in Earth is his who shall intercede for thee with his Divine Majesty unless by his permission He knoweth all the Actions of men and whatever they have done they know nothing but what it hath pleased him â—…o teach them The largeness of his Throne containeth Heaven and Earth and the Conservation of both is not troublesome to him he is Omnipotent and glorious The Law ought not to be abjured it manifesteth the difference of Faith and Impiety He that believeth not in Tagot or the Devil and hath Faith in God layeth hold on the strongest knot that cannot be dissolved broken or cut asunder God understandeth and knoweth all things he aideth and assisteth them that believe in his Unity he will cause them to come out of darkness and will guide them into light the wicked shall have Tagot and the Devil for their Protector he shall cause them to forsake the light and shall lead them into darkness such men shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell. Consider you not his Action to whom God had given the Royalty When he disputed concerning God with Abraham Abraham said to him My Lord is he that giveth life and death He said I even I give life and death to my Subject when I see good Abraham answered God causeth the Sun to rise in the East make thou it to arise in the West then the Infidel was confuted God is not a guide to unjust Persons Hast thou considered the action of him that came into a Village desolate and ruined and said How is it that God can be able to give life unto this Village after it's death and re-establish it after so great a ruine Then God caused him to die after the space of an hundred years raised him again and said to him How long hast thou continued here he answered I have sojourned here a day and a half On the contrary thou hast been here an hundred years consider thy Meat and Drink that they are not altered through
Part of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of Scripture desired seduced you from the right way but they themselves erred and they knew it not O ye that know the Scripture do not maliciously conceal the Commandments of God cover not the Truth with a lye neither willingly hide it Many of them that knew the written Law said From the break of day believe in what hath been taught them that believe in the Law of God Nevertheless at evening they were themselves of the number of Infidels peradventure they will be converted Believe not but such as follow your own Law Say to them The true guide is the guide of God. The knowledge that was given to you was not given to any other but to you If the Infidels shall dispute against you before your Lord at the day of Judgment say to them Grace proceedeth from the hand of God He is bountiful and omniscient he pardoneth whom he pleaseth and is altogether merciful If thou intrustest thy wealth to the hands of many of them that know the written Law they will faithfully restore it to thee There be also many of them that will not restore it if thou take not heed because they have said They have no belief in the Arabians they blaspheme against God and know their blasphemies He that shall satisfie what he hath promised and shall fear God shall be beloved of God he loveth such as have fear of him before their eyes such as pervert his Commandments for any profit shall have no part in Paradise he will not protect them neither regard or pardon them at the day of Judgment and they shall be rigorously punished There be of them that alter the Scripture in reading it and will make believe that what they read is in the Scripture although it be not they blaspheme and know it well God gave not to Man the Scripture knowledge and prophecies to say to the People Worship me instead of God but indeed to say Observe exactly what you have learned in Scripture and what you read God doth not command you to adore Angels nor Prophets Will he command you impiety having instructed you in his Law Remember that he received the promise of the Prophets to preach his Commandments without fear and that he hath taught you Scripture and knowledge and that after this came a Prophet that confirmed the Doctrine that was taught you that you might believe his words Have you not approved it Have you not received what was promised unto you We have received it be therefore witnesses against your selves and against them that have followed you and I will be a witness against you and against them Such as go astray from the right way shall be wicked Desire they to observe any other Law than that of God Whatever is in Heaven or Earth obeyeth him either willingly or by force And you shall all one day appear before him to be judged Say to them We believe in God in what he hath inspired into us in what he inspired 〈◊〉 Abraham Ismael Isaac Iacob and the Tâ—…e 〈◊〉 what was ordained by Moses by Iesus 〈◊〉 generally all the Prophets from God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are wholly resigned to his pleasure The Sacrifices of them that desire to follow other Law than the Law of Salvation shall not be accepted they shall be in the other World in the number of the damned God guided not those that followed impiety after they had professed his Law and having seen and testified that the Prophet is true by signs clear and evident that appeared to them God guideth not the unjust they shall be for ever cursed of his Divine Majesty of Angels and of all the World they shall find no relaxation of their torments and at the Day of Judgment be deprived of protection except such as shall be converted and do good works God shall be to them gracious and merciful Such as shall be impious towards Jesus having believed the Books of Moses and shall augment their impiety against Mahomet shall never be converted they shall err eternally All the treasures of the Earth shall not be able to save the wicked that die in their impiety great punishments are prepared for them and none of them shall be able to protect them You shall not be justified until you have dispensed in pious works part of the goods you possess God will take notice of the alms you bestow All meats were permitted the Children of Israel except what Israel forbad to himself before the Old Testament Say to them Come and bring the Old Testament and consider it it will appear if you speak the Truth These that shall afterwards blaspheme against God shall be exceedingly to blame Say God hath spoken Truth follow ye the Law of Abraham that is pleasing to him He professed the unity of his Divine Majesty he was not of them that believed in many Gods. The Temple of Mecca is the first that God established on Earth to be therein adored he blessed it and Men shall there find the instructions of the right way with clear and evident signs of his omnipotency to wit Abraham's place He that shall enter into this Temple shall be in a place of safety and priviledge God hath commanded that Pilgrimages be made thither by such as shall be able He that is impious must know that God hath not to do with him O ye that have knowledge of the written Law do not willingly conceal the Commandments of God he knoweth all your actions Say to them O ye that have the knowledge of Scriptures divert not from the way of Salvation them that believe in the Law of God you desire to alter and pervert it but God is not ignorant of what you do O ye that believe if you obey many of them that have the knowledge of the written Law they will mis-lead you into the number of the wicked How can you be of the impious since you are taught the Commandments of God and that his Prophet and his Apostle is among you He that resigneth himself to God is in the right way O ye that fear God die in the profession of his Unity imbrace his Law and remember the favour he hath shewed you you were all enemies of each other he hath united your hearts and through his special Grace you continued united to each other as good Brethren you were upon the brink of a pit of fire from which he withdrew you Thus God manifesteth to you his mercies perhaps you will follow the right way Some there be among you that exhort the People to do good they command to do that which is honest and abstain from what is unreasonable these Men shall be happy Be not like them that have abandoned the Truth and followed lies notwithstanding the Truth was known to them they shall suffer great torment in the day wherein the visage of the good shall be white and that of the wicked shall be black
It shall be said to them that have black visages Have you followed impiety after you made profession of the Faith Taste this day the torment due to your sin Such as shall have white visages shall be in the favour of God in which they shall eternally continue See there the Mysteries of the Law of God which instructeth thee with Truth God willeth that no injustice be done to his People whatever is in Heaven or in Earth appertaineth to him he disposeth all things There hath appeared no Nation on the Earth that hath followed a better way than you forbid ye to do that which is not reasonable and believe in one only God If those that heretofore had knowledge of the written Law had believed in God they had done very well there be among them that believe what is veritable but the greatest part are impious They shall not hurt you but with their tongue and shall find no protection against you if they fight you they shall turn their backs they were beaten with shame and ignominy where they made a stand except when they embraced the Law of God and observed the precepts that were taught the faithful When they returned in the wrath of God they were beaten with poverty because they believed not the word of his Divine Majesty but slew his Prophets without reason and disobeyed his Commandments They that heretofore had knowledge of the written Law are not all alike there be among them that persevered in obedience and in the night meditate on the miracles of God worship him and believe in his Divine Majesty and the Day of Judgment preach honesty prohibit to do things dishonest and apply themselves to good works certainly they are good Men. Hide not the good works which you perform God knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Riches and Children shall be unprofitable to Infidels with God they shall eternally dwell in the fire of Hell The Alms that they give in this World are like to a Wind exceeding hot or extreamly cold that fell upon the Tillage of them that did injury to their own Souls and wholly destroyed it God did no injustice to them they were mischievous to themselves through their sins O ye that believe in God esteem no man to be elected of God that is not of your Religion The wicked endeavoured to bring you into their disorders malice appeared in their mouth and that which their heart cherisheth is yet greater We have taught you the Commandments of God if you observe them you shall protect your selves from the malice of Infidels O ye you love them and they love not you you believe generally in the Scriptures and they believe not what you believe When they met you they said We believe in God and when they were gone from you they bit for anger their Fingers ends Say to them Die with your Choler God knoweth what is in your hearts If good happen to you they are displeased and when evil befalleth you they rejoyce If you have patience and fear God their malice shall not hurt you God knoweth all their Actions Remember the morning when some of thy people deserted the true Believers in the Field of battel and when two of thy Companions forsook the fight God was their Protector All true Believers ought to trust in him He protected you at Beder where you were a few Men ill armed perhaps you will fear him and give him thanks for that favour Say to the true Believers sufficeth it not that God succoureth you with three thousand of his Angels Truly if you have patience and fear God he will come to succour you at need and your Lord will assist you with five thousand of his Angels sent from Heaven he will not send you this assistance but to declare to you his Protection and to confirm your hearts Victory proceedeth from his Divine Majesty He is Omnipotent and prudent in all his works he will extirpate in this World one part of the wicked or will so sharply reprehend them that they shall become desperate Thou hast nothing to do whether he shall pardon or chastise them because they are wicked Whatever is in the Earth and in Heaven is his he pardoneth as he seeth good he is gracious and merciful to the righteous O ye that believe be not Usurers and fear God peradventure you will obey his Commandments Fear the fire of Hell prepared for Infidels Obey God and the Prophets his Apostles your sins shall be forgiven you beg pardon speedily of your Lord. The extent of Paradise containeth Heaven and Earth it is prepared for the good God loveth them that give Alms in joy and in affliction that subdue their Passion and forgive such as offend them he loveth them that do good and that after the Commission of any sin remember his Divine Majesty and implore his Pardon Who but God forgiveth sins Such as persist not in their Errours and acknowledge their sins shall be recompensed with the mercy of God and enjoy his favour in Paradise There were heretofore Laws and Means to conduct men into the right way but consider what hath been the end of Infidels The Alcoran was sent to instruct the World to guide men in the right way and to preach to the good Dishearten not neither afflict your selves in fighting you shall be Victorious if you believe in God if you have been wounded the like hurts have befaln the impious God so diversifieth days among men to the end he may know them that are truly zealous in his Law and that among you Witnesses be taken against the malice of Infidels God loveth not the unjust he forgiveth sins to those that believe and extirpate Infidels Do you believe to enter Paradise and that God knoweth not them that fought gallantly He knoweth them that were patient in adveâ—…sity and persevered in obedience to his Commandments You expected death before you met it you saw it with your Eyes and were Victorious Certainly Mahomet is the Prophet and Apostle of God there were many Prophets before him when they died or were slain you returned upon your steps to impiety They that return upon their steps do no harm to God he will reward only such as acknowledge his favours and men cannot die without his permission and that in a time prescribed and predestinate I will give the good things of this World to whom it pleaseth me and will abundantly recompence them that praise me How many Prophets and men with them that were not dejected through their afflictions that befel them in fighting for the Law of God They were not weakned neither humbled to the Infidels God affecteth them that are patient in their adversities and such as persevere in his Law. They said in their afflictions Lord pardon our sins confirm our steps and protect us against the Infidels God giveth them the Riches of the Earth and the Treasures of Heaven he loveth them that do good O ye
that believe in God if you obey the wicked they will cause you to return upon your steps you shall return to the number of the damned truly God is your Lord he is the best Protector I will put fear into the hearts of Infidels because they have without reason adored many Gods and the fire of Hell shall be their habitation God hath made the truth of his Promises to appear to you when by his permission you slew the Infidels until you were weary of fighting nevertheless you contradicted what the Prophet ordained you disobeyed him after he had caused you to see what you desired with affection There be among you that covet the Goods of this World and others that love the good things of Heaven God hath withdrawn you from the Infidels to try you he hath pardoned your sins he is bountiful to them that observe his Commandments When you retreated from the Combat and yielded without reason the Prophet recalled you and gave you to know your Errour with a thousand pains afflict not your selves with the loss of the spoil that escaped you at the day of Victory neither with the mischief that befel you when you were vanquished God knoweth all your Actions After your Labour he sent you great repose part of you slept in all safety and the residue suffered themselves to be carried away at their Pleasures they had thoughts of God contrary to the truth Think on the ignorant that say Have we seen any of the succour that God hath promised Say to them all things proceed from God. They conceal in their Souls what they publish not and say had we been free of our own Wills we had not been slain say to them although you had stayed in your Houses and in your Bâ—…ds death would have taken away them that were arrived at the hour of their Destiny God approveth what is in your hearts and knoweth what you have in your Souls Certainly the Devil seduced them that fled when the two Armies were in Battel and that because of some sin they had committed nevertheless God pardoned them he is gracious and merciful to his people O ye that believe be not like the Infidels that said speaking of their Brethren that were slain in the Army that had they continued in their Houses they had not dyed God putteth this sorrow in their heart because of their impiety he giveth life and death and beholdeth all your Actions if you be slain for his Law or die in his favour it shall be more advantagious to you than all the Treasures of the World and if you dye or be slain fighting for the Faith you shall appear before his Divine Majesty to be rewarded Through the grace of God thou hast rendred them docile although thou be severe to them they will not depart from thee pardon them pray for them Take their Advice in occasions offered and being resolved to do any thing trust thou in God he loveth them that trust in him he protecteth you none shall obtain Victory over you if he abandon you who shall protect you All the faithful ought to resign themselves to the Will of his Divine Majesty It is not Lawful for the Prophet to deceive he that shall be a deceiver shall appear at the Day of Judgment with his deceit to be judged then shall men be payed with what they have gained no injustice shall be done to them that shall have loved God and Hell shall be the habitation of them that through deceit shall return in the displeasure of his Divine Majesty They shall not be all equally entreated God shall appoint them their Rank and place he beholdeth all their Actions he assuredly rewarded the true Believers when he sent them a Prophet of their own Nation to preach to them his Commandments and instruct them in the Alcoran they before his coming were in a manifest Errour When any mischief befel you it also befel the Infidels you have demanded when doth this mischief come it proceedeth from your selves certainly God is Omnipotent What befel you when the two Camps encountred hapned through the permission of God to distinguish the true Believers that dispense their Goods with affection for the glory of his Divine Majesty from them that abandoned the fight when it was said to them Come fight for the Faith and answered had we thought of fighting we had not followed you then were they nearer to impiety than to the Faith nevertheless they had not all of them that in their heart that was in their mouth God knoweth what they keep secret There be of them that said to their Brethren Stay and go not to the Combat your Companions had not been slain had they obeyed us say to them Deliver your selves from death if you can avoid it continuing in your Houses Believe not that those that were slain for the Faith are dead on the contrary they are alive with God they rejoyce for that such as ran to hinder them to fight did not meet them fear not for them they shall rejoyce eternally in the favour of God he will abundantly reward them that fight for his Law. Those that obeyed God and the Prophet after being overcome that did good works and feared his Divine Majesty shall receive great rewards When it was told them the people have conspired against you take heed to your selves this Discourse increased their Faith and they said it sufficeth that God is our Protector they were filled with the grace of God no more evil befel them and they observed the Commandments of his Divine Majesty He is gracious to them that obey him The Devil will cause in you a fear of the Infidels fear them not but if you be good men fear me Afflict not your selves to see the wicked run to impiety they hurt not God he will not give them rest in the other World where they shall be severely chastised I increase the wealth of Infidels to augment their pain they shall in the end feel grievous torments God will not leave the faithful in the state that you are in he will one day separate the good from the evil he doth not teach you what is to come he for that effect chuseth among the Prophets whom he seeth good Believe therefore in God and his Prophets if you believe in God fear to offend him you shall be rewarded Believe that such as are too sparing and avaritious of the wealth that God hath given them do well on the contrary they do very ill what they spare without reason shall strangle them at the day of Judgment The inheritance of Heaven and Earth is Gods he knoweth all things Certainly God heard the Speech of them that said God is poor and we are rich he hath said I will write what they have spoken and keep an exact account of the Murther they have unjustly committed on the Persons of the Prophets I will say to them at the day of Judgment taste of the torments of
Hell fire which you have deserved God doth not lead into darkness them that worship him There be that say God hath commanded us not to believe the Prophets until their Sacrifice be consumed by fire Say to them there came to you Prophets heretofore with Miracles that you demanded you had not slain them had you been righteous if they belye thee know they belyed the Prophets that were before thee that came with Miracles the Psalter and the Book of Light. Every man shall taste of death and your reward shall be payed at the Day of Judgment he that shall depart from the fire of Hell and enter into Paradise shall be happy The wealth of this World is but matter of Pride that you may be tryed in your Riches and Persons Hearken not to the Iews and Christians that have known the written Law before you neither to them that believe in many Gods they offend God through their blasphemies if you have patience and fear God you shall make a very good resolution God hath accepted the Speech of them that know his written Law when they promised him to preach to the people his Commandments and not conceal them nevertheless they have contemned them and changed them for profit of little value and have gained nothing but misery think not that such as rejoyce of the evil they have done and affect to be commended for what they have not done have escaped the punishment of their Crimes they shall certainly suffer great torments The Kingdom of Heaven and of the Earth is Gods he is Omnipotent the Creation of Heaven and Earth the difference of day and night are evident signs of his Omnipotency to such as have judgment Such as have remember God standing sitting or lying down and considered the Creation of Heaven and Earth have said Lord thou hast not created these things in vain blessed be thy Name deliver us from the torments of Hell fire thou wilt render miserable him that thou shalt thither precipitate and the wicked shall be deprived of protection at the Day of Judgment Lord we have heard them that say Believe in your Lord we believe in thy unity pardon our faults blot out our sins and give us grace to die in the number of the just bestow on us what thou hast promised by the Prophets and suffer us not to be miserable at the Day of Judgment thou dost not contradict what thou dost promise The Lord heard them and said to them I will not suffer your works to be lost as well of Men as of Women I will blot out the sins of them that went out of Mecca to separate themselves from the wicked I will cover the offences of them that forsook their Houses that assembled to fight for the Faith and were slain I will open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers to recompence their good works There is with God great reward envy not the Infidels whom thou shalt see possess a little wealth in the Earth Hell is prepared to be their habitation and such as fear God shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein run many Rivers with all manner of content God is a great rewarder of the just Among them that know the written Law there be that believe in God in what was afore time taught you and in what was preached to them surely they obey God and forsake not his Law They shall receive a great reward from God he is exact in his account O ye that are true believers be patient in your adversities persevere to do well fight for the Faith fear God and you shall be happy CHAP. IV. The Chapter of Women containing one hundred and seventy Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful O ye People fear your Lord that created you of one sole person and created his Wife of his Rib of whom issued many Men and Women Fear God by whom you swear and say the Belly of your Wives God exactly observeth your actions Give unto Orphans what appertaineth to them and render not evil for good devour not their substance it is a very great sin If you fear to do injury to Orphans fear also to do wrong to Women marry those that please you two three or four if you apprehend you shall not be able to entertain them equally marry but one or the slaves that you shall have acquired this is most necessary to the end you offend not God. Give to Women their Dowry with a good will if they give to you any thing that is pleasing to you receive it with affection and civility Bestow not on fools the wealth that God hath given you for subsistence assist Orphans give to them the Garments that shall be necessary for them and entertain them honestly instruct them until they have attained to years of discretion and are capable of marriage if you believe they demean themselves wisely restore to them their faculties and devour them not unjustly before they be of age He that shall be rich shall abstain from their goods and he that is poor shall take with honesty according to the pains he shall undergo for them when you make to them restitution of their goods take witness of your action God loveth good accounts The Children shall have a good part of what their Father and Mother and Parents left after their decease of little or of much there appertaineth to them a portion prefixed and limited When they divide their goods the kindred shall have care of the poor and Orphans do good to them and honestly entertain them Such as fear to leave after them a weak progeny of little Children ought to fear to wrong Orphans they must fear God and courteously entertain them Those that unjustly devour their substance swallow fire into their Bowels and shall burn in a great fire God recommendeth to you your Children the Son shall have as much as two Daughters if there be more than two Daughters they shall have two thirds of the succession of the Dead if there be but one she shall have the moity and her kindred a sixth part of what shall be left by the dead if there be no Children and the kindred be heirs the Mother of the dead shall have a third if there be Brethren the Mother shall have a sixth after satisfaction of the Legacies contained in the Testament and of debts You understand not to whom it is most requisite to do good to your Children or to your Father and Mother give them their Portion ordained of God. The moity of what their Wives shall leave belongeth to you if they have no Children if they have you shall have the fourth part of what they shall leave after payment of the Legacies and debts they shall have the fourth of your succession if you have no Children if you have they shall have the eight portion If a Man or Woman be the heirs of each other and have neither Father nor Mother
shall lay hand upon the Sand and wipe your Face and Hands God is gracious and merciful to his Creatures Seest thou not how those that know the written Law purchase Errour how they desire to mis-lead you through their Riches and divert you from the right way God knoweth your Enemies it is enough that he is your defender and Protector Such as Iudaize alter the word of God and say to the Prophet we have heard and disobeyed thee they heard without hearing they say preserve us have care of us nevertheless do they pervert the word of God in reading it and alter his Commandments they should do better to say Lord we have heard and obeyed hearken only to us and regard us But God hath cursed them and few of them will believe in his Divine Majesty O you that have knowledge of the Scriptures believe in the Alcoran that confirmeth the Old and New Testament before that I deface your Visages and cause them to turn behind your Backs I will curse Infidels as I have cursed them of the Sabbath the Commandment of God is incontinently executed he pardoneth not them that associate him with Companions equal to him except this he forgiveth sins to whom it pleaseth him He that saith God hath Companions blasphemeth and mortally sinneth Consider not such as affirm themselves to be good Men contrariwise God maketh those good Men that please him no injustice shall befal them at the Day of Judgment Consider how they blaspheme it is sufficient that God manifestly beholdeth their sin Seest thou not them that have knowledge of the written Law that believe in Habot and Tagot Idols that say to the Infidels Behold the way of them that believe in God Certainly God hath cursed them he whom he curseth shall find none to protect him Shall they alone have part in the Kingdom of Heaven without giving Alms They will envy their Neighbour for the favours God hath conferred on him Certainly we gave to the posterity of Abraham the knowledge of the Scriptures and Prophecies we bestowed on them great abundance of wealth There were of them that believed in the Scripture and others that contemned it but they shall be punished in the fire of Hell. I will cause them to burn and change their burned skin into a new skin that they may suffer the more God is Omnipotent and prudent in what he ordaineth I will cause those that have believed in God and have performed good works to enter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with most beautiful Women I will give them to enter the shade of Paradise God recommendeth to you Fidelity among your selves to render faithfully what hath been intrusted to you and when you shall judge differences that shall happen among the people judge with Equity It is a good work that he commandeth you he beholdeth and knoweth all things O ye that believe obey God and the Prophets and such as command over you if you be in Controversie concerning any point refer it to God and his Prophet to understand the Exposition if you believe in God and the Day of Judgment you shall do well this will be the best Interpretation that you can attain to Seest thou not that they who think to believe in what hath been inspired into thee and what hath been inspired into thy Predecessors incline to dispute before Tagot Nevertheless they have commanded not to believe in that Idol the Devil laboureth to seduce and withdraw them from the Truth When it was said to them Obey the Commandment of God and his Prophet they departed from thee What will they do when there shall happen to them any punishment of their past sins They will return to thee and swear by the name of God That they desire Peace and to do good Works but God knoweth what is in their hearts and hath abandoned them Cease not to preach to them and to declare to them the Word of God the Prophets and Apostles were not sent but to preach and to be heard through the permission of his Divine goodness If when they have hurt their Souls they come to thee and demand pardon of God thou shalt beg pardon for them they shall find God gracious and merciful They will not believe in his Divine Majesty until they have disputed the difference with thee that is among them and when they shall no more doubt of what thou shalt have done they will without contradiction obey thee We have ordained them to kill each other and to forsake their Houses they have not done it except very few of them and although they did it they did it not to obey what should have been to them a great benefit and exceeding merit we had given them very great reward and guided them to the right way He that shall obey God and his Prophet shall be with them whom God hath endued with his Grace He that knoweth it resigneth himself to his Divine Majesty O you that are true Believers be upon your Guard assembled to fight stoutly for the Law of God. There be among you that be Cowardly when any discomfiture hath befaln you they have said God protected me that I was not with them And when God gave you Victory they spake as if there had been no understanding between them and you Would to God I had been with them I should have acquired exceeding great merit Fight for the glory of God against them that prefer the life of this World to that of Heaven I will give an exceeding great reward to such as shall fight that shall be Victorious and to them that shall be slain fighting for the Faith. Wherefore fight you not for the Law of God for the liberty of Women and Children weak and afflicted that cry Lord deliver us out of this place the people thereof are unjust give us a Protector give us an assured refuge They that believe in God fight for his Law and Infidels fight for the Devil Fight against them that serve the Devil his Policies are weak Consider those to whom it was said Cease to imbrue your hands in the Blood of Infidels persevere in your Prayers and pay Tithes When they were commanded to fight part of them were afraid of the multitude as of God yea more afraid of the multitude than of God and said Lord thou hast not enjoyned us to fight unless thou hast differed us to a near end Say to them The wealth of the Earth is but a small thing there be great Riches in the other World for him that shall have the fear of God before his eyes No injustice shall be done to you wheresoever you are death will meet you notwithstanding you may be in strong Citadels If good happen to the Infidels they say it proceedeth from God if evil befal them they say that cometh from thee Say to them All proceedeth from God what then is the Will of those Men they cannot comprehend this
to Mecca neither to them that assume Collers neither hinder Pilgrims to repair thither to demand the Grace of God and his mercies It is lawful for you to hunt when you shall have finished your Pilgrimage beware lest some persons cause you to sin and hinder your going to Mecca to oblige you to punish them repose your confidence in the justice and fear of God and not in the sin and malice of your neighbour Fear God who is severe in his chastisements It is forbidden you to eat Carrion Blood Swines Flesh and whatsoever is not killed in pronouncing the name of God you are prohibited to eat Animals strangled choakt knockt down precipitated that are slain striking each other and such as beasts shall have slain if you find them not alive to let out their Blood in pronouncing the name of God. You shall not eat of Beasts sacrificed to Idols Consult not with Southsayers or Lots it is a great sin The day shall come when they that have abandoned your Law shall be desperate fear not them and fear me The day will come when I shall accomplish your Law and my Grace shall be abundantly upon you The Law of Salvation is the Law that I desire to give you If any one be in necessity and eateth of what is prohibited without a will to sin God shall be to him gracious and merciful They will demand of thee what is permitted them to eat Say to them it is lawful to eat all sorts of Beasts that are not unclean and whatever hath been taught you from God touching Beasts that have been wounded by Lions or Dogs eat the Beast you shall take and remember God in blooding them fear God he is exact to take account This day it is lawful that you eat what is not unclean and the meats of them that know the written Law their meats are lawful for you and yours for them You are permitted to espouse Maidens and Women of free Condition that are of your Religion and Maidens and Women of free Condition that know the written Law giving them their Dowry with civility commit neither Concubinage nor Adultery with them neither secretly or publickly the good works of him that shall renounce your Law shall be unprofitable he shall be at the Day of Judgment in the number of the Damned O ye that believe in God when you would make your Prayers wash your Faces your Hands to the Elbow and pass your hand over your head and over your feet to the ancles If you be polluted purifie your selves if sick or in a Journey or about to discharge your Belly or have known Women and find no water to wash you lay hand on the Sand pass it over your Visage and wipe therewith your hands God enjoyneth you nothing irksome but willeth you be clean and desireth to accomplish his Grace upon you peradventure you will give him thanks O ye that believe in God! call to mind his Grace and promise he made to you when you said We heard and obeyed fear him he knoweth all that is in your hearts O ye that believe in God! obey his Commandments and be true in your Testimonies take heed that no man move you to offend God in diverting you from what is just render justice to all his fear inviteth you to it have it before your eyes he knoweth all your Actions hath promised his grace and great recompences to the true Believers that shall do good works in this World and hath prepared Hell to punish Infidels O ye that believe in God! remember his favour towards you when some Persons would have extended their hands upon you and how he delivered you from their Malice Fear him all true Believers ought to resign themselves to his Will. God received the Promise of the Children of Israel to observe his Commandments he established among them twelve Captains and said to them I will be with you when you shall make your Prayers pay your Tithes believe in the Prophets deâ—…end them and shall lend to me any Alms I will cover your sins and cause you to enter Paradise wherein flow many Rivers and he among you that shall be an Infidel shall be entirely erroneous from the right path When they swerved from what they had promised we gave them our Curse and hardned their heart they have altered the words of the Scripture and abjured what they had approved Thou shalt not know them that shall be Traytors except very few of them forgive and depart from them God loveth them that do good We likewise received the Promise of those who call themselves Christians but they have forgotten what they promised they have altered what was taught them and we have cast among them Enmity and hatred even until the Day of Judgment That day God shall cause them to know whatever they have done for their punishment O ye that know the written Law our Prophet is come to bring to light many things of the Scripture which you conceal and he likewise leaveth in silence many things that it is not time to make manifest God hath sent you a Book full of light to conduct into the way of Salvation them that love him to bring them out of darkness and by his special Grace to lead them into the way of Salvation Certainly he that saith that the Messiah the Son of Mary is God is impious Say to him who can hinder God to exterminate the Messiah and his Mother with whatsoever is in the Earth when it shall seem good to him God is King of Heaven and Earth he created with them what seemed good to him he is Omnipotent The Iews and Christians have said we are the Children of God his well beloved Say to them shall not God chastise you for your sins Certainly ye are men He that created you pardoneth and punisheth as it pleaseth him he is the King of all that is in Heaven or Earth and of whatever is between them he is the refuge of the righteous O ye that have knowledge in the written Law The Prophet the Apostle of God is come to instruct you in a time that there is none other Prophet but he on the Earth Will you say that no man preached to you the torments of Hell Certainly the word of God is this day preached to you the torment of Hell and the Omnipotency of his Divine Majesty Remember thou what Moses said to his people O people call to mind the grace of God towards you he hath chosen from among you Prophets and Kings hath conferred on you what he hath given to none in the World Enter into the Holy Land as God hath commanded turn not your Backs to your Enemies lest you be in the number of Reprobates They answered O Moses there are Gyants and Tyrants in the Holy Land we will not enter into it until they be gone out of it if they forsake it we will enter into it Then two men of them that
eyes he will not chastise you for what you have spoken at random contrary to your faith without design of offending him but he shall punish you for your Oaths if you observe them not the satisfaction of an Oath not accomplished is to give food to ten poor of your Religion and to cloath them or to enfranchise a Slave that is a true believer he thâ—…t is destitute of means to perform this shall fast three days immediately succeeding such is the satisfaction of a not accomplished Oath keep exactly your faith so doth God teach you his Commandments you will peradventure give him thanks O ye that believe in God! Wine Games of hazard Idols Lots and divinations are abominations and filthy practises of the Devil depart from him perhaps you will be righteous The Devil desireth to sow among you dissention and horror through Wine and Games of hazard to choak your remembrance of God and of praying to him abandon Wine and Games of hazard be obedient to God and the Prophet his Apostle and take heed to your selves If you disobey God know that the Prophet is obliged only to preach publickly the word of his Divine Majesty the true Believers and the righteous have not provoked God in drinking Wine and playing at Games of Hazard before they were prohibited they will abstain for the future and perform good works God loveth them that do good O ye that believe God proveth you by one thing to wit by hunting whether you take the Game with your hands or coursing on Horse-back to discern them among you that fear him and believe in his Law whosoever shall offend him shall be severely punished O ye that believe kill not your Game during the time of your Pilgrimage to Mecca whosoever shall kill of deliberate purpose shall be judged as if he had slain his Neighbours beast he shall be judged by one among you and be condemned to offer a Present at the Temple of Mecca or to give Food to the Poor or to fast or to perform somewhat of like Nature for the expiation of his Errour if he have repentance in his mind God will pardon what is past if he return in his sin God will be avenged on him he is Omnipotent and avengeful It is permitted that you fish and eat of fish during your Pilgrimage but hunting by Land is absolutely forbidden in this Voyage fear God you shall all one day be assembled before him to be judged he hath appointed the month of Pilgrimage he hath established the Temple of Mecca for the Devotion of the people and hath forbidden to give impediment to such as bring thither oblations and those that assume Collers to the end you may learn to understand that he knoweth all things both in Heaven and Earth and that he is Omnipotent Know ye that he is grievous in his Chastisements and gracious and merciful The Prophet is obliged but to preach his Commandments he knoweth all that you conceal in your hearts and whatever you make manifest Evil must not be equal to good notwithstanding it be pleasing to you O ye that are wise have the fear of God before your eyes peradventure you shall be happy O ye Believers desire not the knowledge of all things you will afflict your selves be not curious to know at what time the Alcoran was sent from Heaven God pardoneth your former curiosity your Predecessours were alike curious and in the number of unbelievers God hath commanded nothing touching the she Camel whose ear is slit neither that which is at liberty in the Field neither concerning the Ewe that hath brought forth seven Lambs neither the Camel of whom have issued ten Camels but the wicked invent blasphemies against his Divine Majesty and are unwise When it was said to them come and observe what God hath taught his Prophet they replyed it sufficed them to follow what their Fathers had observed notwithstanding their Fathers were ignorant and erroneous O ye Believers be careful of your selves such as be in errour shall not hurt you if you follow the right way all of you shall one day be assembled before God who shall discover all your works and reward you according to your merits O ye Believers make your Testament when your death approacheth and take two Witnesses of your own Religion that are honest men If you are in a journey and sickness surprize you you shall take two witnesses such as you shall meet with to serve your Testament and having prayed shall deliver to them your Will. If you doubt their integrity cause them to swear to be faithful in their testimonies and not give themselves to be corrupted by your Kindred Conceal not your testimony lest you be in the numof sinners If you discover those two witnesses to have erred in their testimony substitute two other in their place although they partake in your succession and take Oath of them to be more veritable in their dispositions than the two others otherwise they will offend God and be numbred with the unjust It is better to speak Truth than to be in fear lest your fashood be detected fear God and hearken to his Commandments he guideth not them that disobey him He shall one day assemble his Prophets and Apostles and say unto them what did you answer being questioned concerning my unity they shall reply Lord we are ignorant thou alone knowest all things He shall say to Jesus O Jesus Son of Mary remember thou my grace towards thee and thy Mother I strengthned thee with the Holy Ghost Thou spakest in thy Cradle as a Man of forty or fifty years thee did I instruct in Scripture and knowledge the Old Testament and the Gospel Thou didst form of Earth the figure of a Bird didst breath upon it and it did flie thou didst cure the Born blind and the leprous didst revive the Dead I delivered thee from the Iews when thou didst preach to them my Commandments and wroughtest Miracles which the wicked affirmed to be Magick and inchantment Remember how thou didst command thy Apostles to believe in me and obey my Prophet and how they said we believe in one sole God be thou Witness that we entirely resign our selves to the Will of God. Remember thou that the Apostles said O Jesus Son of Mary can thy Lord send us from Heaven a Table covered with meats to satisfie us Jesus answered them Fear God if you believe in his Law they said we have an Appetite and desire to eat of the Food of Heaven for the repose of our hearts and to know if thou speakest the truth of which we shall be Witnesses Then said he O God my Lord cause to descend upon us from Heaven a Table covered with meat this day shall be celebrated by us and them that shall succeed this shall be a sign of thy Omnipotency enrich us with thy grace thou possessest all Treasure God said to him I will cause to descend from Heaven the
in this place thou shalt be able to see me when the Lord appeared upon the Mountain with his light it was reduced to ashes and Moses amazed fell on the ground as dead When he arose again he said Blessed be the name of God I desire to obey him and believe that no Man living is able to behold him He said to Moses I have chosen and preferred thee to all the World I have made thee a Prophet thou hast talked with me receive the Grace which I have bestowed on thee and be not ingrateful We gave to him the Tables whereon was written what was necessary for the Salvation of Men and we said to him receive with affection what I give thee and command thy people to observe the Contents of those Tables I will precipitate into Hell such as transgress my Commandments I will deprive the proud of my Graces they will not believe in my Law although they see all the Miracles in the World if they see the right way they will not follow it they see the way of Errour and pursue it because they have abjured my Commandments and rejected my Grace the good works of them that disobey me and that believe not in the Resurrection are unprofitable they shall be chastised after their Demerits The people of Moses after his departure adored the Calf a bellowing God saw they not that it spake not to them neither could conduct them into the right way Nevertheless they adored it for which they were greatly to blame When this Calf fell to the ground and they found their errour they said if God have not pity on us we shall be miserable When Moses returned he said to them whom did ye obey after my departure You were too hasty to worship that Idol he in displeasure cast against the ground the Tables that God had given him took his Brother by the head and dragging him to him said Son of my Mother how hast thou governed this people I wanted power replyed he and could not divert them from their evil It wanted little but they had slain me do me no harm rejoyce not my Enemies with my misery and account me not with those that adored Idols Moses said Lord pardon me and my Brother give us thy mercy thou art the merciful of the merciful The wrath of God and the infamy of the World shall fall upon them that worshipped the Calf and blasphemed against God he will be pitiful to such as shall repent and believe in his Divine Majesty The displeasure of Moses being allayed he again took the Tables whereon was written the way of Salvation for such as have the fear of their Lord before their eyes he caused to be separated from his people at a time appointed threescore and ten Persons who were surprized with an Earthquake and with Thunder and said Lord thou couldest have destroyed them before they adored the Calf wilt thou destroy us all because of the sin of the ignorant that are amongst us Thou hast desired to prove this people thou guidest and causest to erre whom thou pleasest thou art our Protector pardon our sins for thou art altogether merciful give us thy Grace in this World and guide us to the Day of Judgment near to thy Divine Majesty He said I will punish as I see good my mercy embraceth the whole World it is for such as have my fear before their eyes that pay Tithes obey my Commandments follow the right way believe in the Prophet who can neither write nor read and what is written in the Old Testament and the Gospel he shall command them things honest he shall prohibit things uncivil he shall teach them what meats are clean and forbid them to eat what is unclean he shall deliver them from Ceremonies weighty and troublesome and from the Chains that strictly bind them Such as shall believe in him that shall honour him that shall defend him from his Enemies and follow the light that we shall send him shall be happy Say unto the people I am indeed a Messenger sent from God to whom appertaineth the Kingdom of the Heavens and of Earth there is but one God alone he giveth Life and Death as seemeth good to him Believe in God and in his Prophet who can neither read nor write Such as shall believe in God in his word and follow the Prophet shall not erre they shall follow a very good way There are some of the Children of Israel that knew the truth and judge with equity We divided them into twelve Tribes when Moses required drink for his People we inspired him to strike the Rock with his Rod whence flowed twelve Fountains and every one knew the place where he should drink we covered them with the shadow of Clouds we caused Manna and Quails to descend upon them and commanded them to eat of the good things which we gave them They did not hurt us when they murmured but afflicted themselves It was said to them Dwell in this City and eat therein what shall please you enter at the gate with adoration and beg pardon of your sins I will pardon you and will augment the graces of the righteous nevertheless the wicked that were among them altered the words that were spoken to them and perverted them and we sent upon them our indignation from Heaven because of their impiety Ask of them concerning a Village that was upon the shore of the Sea whose inhabitants observed not the Sabbath and fished on the day of rest they saw in that day Serpents appear upon the water and other days they saw none Thus were they tryed because of their disobedience A party of them said Fish not O People it is lost labour God shall destroy and chastise them with grievous torments then their Doctors said They shall implore pardon of the Lord perhaps they will fear to offend him another time When they rejected what we taught them we saved such among them as abstained from evil-doing and grievously afflicted the wicked because of their disobedience when they gloried in their sin we said to them Be ye contemned and abhorred as Apes thy Lord shall send to them at the Day of Judgment persons to torment them he is exact in punishing the wicked and merciful to the righteous We sent upon them good and evil to prove them peradventure they will be converted Their posterity left a progeny heirs of their Doctrine nevertheless they returned to their sins and say the Lord shall pardon them they beg pardon of him and return daily to their sin Shall not account be required from them of what is ordained in the Scripture To wit not to speak of God but with truth They have read the Truth but have not comprehended it Paradise is only for the righteous I will not deprive them of recompence who make their prayers at the time appointed and observe what is contained in the Scriptures Remember thou how we raised a Mountain over
them to shelter them and how they believed it would fall upon their heads we said to them Learn with affection what we teach you and remember perhaps you will fear disobedience Thy Lord caused to come out of Adams Reins all his Posterity and asked them saying Am not I your Lord they answered yes thou art our Lord we know it well They cannot therefore say at the Day of Judgment That they knew not his unity they shall say for excuse Our Fathers adored many gods before us we are their Posterity wilt thou destroy us because of their iniquity Thus do I discover my mysteries to Men it may be they will be converted Relate to them the History of him that saw our miracles he was dispoiled of his understanding the Devil followed it and he was in the number of the wretched Had we so pleased we had exalted him through the knowledge of our wonders among the Doctors but he crouched to the ground and followed his own appetite like to a chafed Dog if thou chase him with Choler he putteth forth his Tongue if thou leave him at rest he will still put forth his Tongue like to the Infidels that contemn our instructions if thou recount to them our miracles or do not recount perhaps they will be converted perhaps they will not be converted and shall be like such as have abjured our Commandments and injured their own Souls He whom God guideth is well guided and he whom God mis-leadeth is in the number of the miserable We have created Hell to punish Devils and Men they have hearts and comprehend not the truth they have eyes and see it not ears have they and hear it not they are like to Beasts and worse than Beasts they are altogether ignorant The most beautiful names of the World appertain to God Beseech him by the beauty of his name and depart from them that depart from the truth through the names that they impose on their Idols they shall be chastised after their demerits Some there be that follow the truth and judge with equity I will by degrees punish them that shall reject our Commandments when they shall think thereon I will defer their punishment some time because my wrath is violent Remember they not that they said Mahomet is possest of the Devil On the contrary he declareth the joys of Paradise and preacheth the torments of Hell. Consider they not the Kingdom of Heaven and of Earth which God hath created of nothing The fear of Death shall arrive before they have acknowledged their sins in what will they believe if they have no Faith in the Alcoran He whom God shall mis-lead shall find none to guide him he shall leave Infidels confounded in their disobedience They shall enquire of thee concerning the Hour and Day of Judgment Say unto them No Man knoweth it but God but the greatest part of the World believe it not I have not power to do either good or evil of my self if God do not permit it if I knew the future I should provide wealth to preserve me from poverty I am sent only to declare the joyes of Paradise and preach the torments of Hell to them that believe in God he it is that created you of one sole person and created his spouse of his Rib to dwell with her When she doubted of being with Child she ceased not to travel as she was wont but when her conception rendred her heavy they both besought God their Lord and said Lord give an happy progeny to the end we may be in the number of them that return thee thanks for thy favours When God gave them a Son a righteous Man they associated him in what he had given them and all of them exalted the glory of his Divine Majesty above the Idols of the Infidels that adored things which could create nothing that are things created and can do neither good nor harm If you call Idolaters to the right way they will not follow you if ye invoke Idols misery shall be upon you will you be mute to profess the unity of God Will you worship the Creatures instead of the Creator Go adore your Idols and may they hear your prayers if you believe them to be Gods Have they Feet to walk Hands to touch Eyes to see and Ears to hear Say unto them If ye invoke your Idols and conspire against me you shall find none to protect you God is my protector he hath caused the Alcoran to descend from Heaven he is the defendor of the righteous what ye adore can neither benefit nor hurt you If thou invokest Idols they shall not hear thee they shall look upon thee and shall not see thee do what is lawful to be done command things honest and depart from the ignorant if the Devil would seduce thee trust in God he heareth and knoweth all things such as fear him remember his mercies and chastisements when they are tempted of the Devil Although Infidels know the Truth the Devil ceaseth not to continue them in their sin they always follow their impiety If thou goest to them to instruct them they say thou singest an old Song say unto them I do what my Lord inspired into me what I teach you is the light of Faith the right way and the grace of God for them that believe in his Divine Majesty for such as hear the Alcoran and study it perhaps God will give you his mercy Remember thou God in thy Soul worship in publick and private pray unto him evening and morning and be not in the number of the ignorant The Angels that are near to thy Lord neglect not to worship him they praise and adore him with humility CHAP. VIII The Chapter of the Spoil containing seventy and five Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful They will demand of thee to whom appertaineth the spoyl Say unto them the spoyl appertaineth to God and his Prophet Fear God live with mutual amity and obey his Divine Majesty and his Prophet if you believe in his Law Such as fear when they hear mention of God who augment their faith when they have heard relation of his miracles who trust in him who persevere in their prayers and dispend in pious works some part of their wealth believe in the unity of his Divine Majesty they have the degree of their habitation in Paradise shall receive from their Lord pardon of their sins and exceeding great treasure When thy Lord caused thee to go out of thine House to go against the Infidels a party of the true believers had a great aversion to sighting they disputed with thee the necessity of Combates having seen and known that their Enemies led them to a certain Death Call to mind that God promised you that a party of the Army of the Enemies should obey you Desire you other thing thâ—… the glory and honour of Victory God confirmeth the Truth by his words and destroyeth the wicked
nevertheless they have detracted and uttered words full of impiety they have denied to have been enriched through the grace of God and of his Prophet if they turn they shall do well if they abandon the Faith God shall punish them in this World and in the other with grievous torments and on Earth they shall find no Protector there be of them who have inclined to capitulate with God and have said if God doth good to us we will believe in him when he did good to them they were Niggards and avaritious they have erred and disobeyed his Commandments but he chastised them because of their impiety he hath imprinted it in their hearts until the Day of Judgment for that they have disobeyed him because they violated their Promises and by reason of their Lies know they not that God understandeth what they conceal in their hearts and that he knoweth what is present past and future There be of them who deride the true Believers that give Alms according to their power God shall deride them and they shall feel the rigour of eternal pains implore pardon for them or implore it not when thou shalt beg sixty and ten times pardon for them God shall not pardon them because they are ingrateful towards him and his Prophet God doth not guide them that disobey him they rejoyced to be left behind the Prophet when he went to fight for the Service of God they had an aversion to sight and employ their Persons and Goods for the Service of his Divine Majesty they said we will not go out of our Houses with this heat say to them Hell is much more hot could you comprehend they shall laugh a little in this World and shall weep much in the other for a punishment of their sins If thou meet them and they demand permission to go out with thee to fight for the Faith say unto them you shall not go out neither shall ye ever fight against the Enemy with me ye were slothful and Cowards the first time remain with the Unbelievers pray not for them after their Death and stay not at their Tombs because they believed neither in God nor his Prophet and died in their wickedness Be thou not astonished neither at the abundance of their wealth nor the number of their Children God will make use of them to chastise them in this World and will destroy them in their impiety When command was sent to them to believe in God and fight with his Prophet the most powerful among them desired thee to excuse them and said leave us with them that continue in their Houses and desire to remain with the sick the Women and little Children God hardened their hearts and they shall never learn the truth The Prophet and true Believers that were with them and fought and employed their Persons and goods for the Service of God shall be blessed he hath prepared for them Gardens wherein flow many Rivers with perfection of felicity Some of the Arabians came to excuse themselves of going to the War and such as renounced God and the Prophet remained in their Houses but they shall resent grievous torments because of their wickedness the sick the impotent and those that want means to be present at the War offend not God in abiding in their Houses provided they be faithful to his Divine Majesty and his Prophet The righteous are not obliged to do but what is in their power God shall be to them gracious and merciful Such as repaired to thee to fight and whom thou didst dismiss for want of occasion did not offend God they returned to their Houses with tears in their eyes with discontent to have wanted means to employ in the Service of his Divine Majesty the War is appointed to such as intreat thee to exempt them that are rich and have wealth to subsist they require leave to remain with their Wives and Children God hath hardned their hearts and they know it not they shall come to excuse themselves when thou shalt meet them Say unto them excuse not your selves I do not believe you God hath given us to understand your News he and his Prophet likewise hath rendred your good works vain and unprofitable ye shall one day appear before him that knoweth what is past present and future he shall cause you to remember whatsoever you have done and shall punish you according to your demerits They shall conjure you by the Name of God when you approach them to depart from them depart from them they are full of uncleanness Hell shall be their Habitation where they shall be tormented for their Crimes They shall beseech you to love them if you love them know that God abhorreth them that disobey him The Arabians who observe not the Precepts which God hath sent to his Prophet are ye more impious and ingrateful God knoweth all things and is most prudent There be Persons among the Arabians who account it lost Money that they expend for the Service of God and protract their departure to retard yours and make you to attend the Wheel of misery is upon them God understandeth whatever they say and knoweth all their Actions there be among them who believe in God and the Day of Judgment they esteem that their expence for the Service of God draweth them nigh to his Divine Majesty and they invite the Prophet to pray for them God shall give them his mercy he is gracious and merciful to them that obey him They that first arrived at Medina the first of them that went out of Mecca to depart from the wicked such as were at the Battel of Beder and such as imitated them in well doing shall injoy the Grace of God he hath prepared for them Gardens wherein flow many Rivers with supreme felicity There be Arabians about you and in Medina they affect impiety you know them not but I know them all I will chastise them twice on Earth to wit through Ignominy and death and they shall feel in the other World exceeding great torments Others there be that confess their sins and who do good and evil works peradventure God will pardon them he is altogether gracious and merciful take of their substance for Alms thou shalt render them righteous and shalt purifie them pray for them thy Prayers shall procure them the mercy of God he understandeth and knoweth all things Know they not that God accepteth the conversion of his Creatures that their Alms are pleasing to him and that he is gracious and merciful Say unto them do what shall please you God his Prophet and the true Believers shall see what you do you shall one day appear before him who knoweth the present past and future he shall make you to know whatsoever ye have done and shall chastise you after your demerits There be others that attend the pleasure of God either his grace or his wrath his punishment or his mercy God understandeth what is in their Souls and is
most wise They that esteemed that the Temple built by Unbelievers to seduce the righteous to distinguish the wicked from the good and to observe such as had before fought against God and against his Prophet is the Temple of his Divine Majesty swear that they desire to do well and that their intention is most honest but they are Lyars and God shall be witness of their falshood make not thy Prayers in that Temple make thy Prayers in the Temple founded on the fear of God that is reasonable there be Persons in that Temple who desire to be purified God loveth such as have a clean Soul Who is he that buildeth best he that foundeth his building upon the fear of God or he who layeth the Foundation of his building upon the brink of a Ditch of Sand which falleth and ruineth it self They who esteem the Temple built by Unbelievers to seduce the people to be the Temple of God shall be with that Temple and with the Infidels that built it burnt in the fire of Hell God guideth not the unjust their building shall serve only to torment them God knoweth their design and is most wise he purchaseth of true Believers their Souls and Goods and giveth them Paradise if they be slain or if they slay when they shall fight for the Faith they shall have what he hath promised to them in the Old Testament the Gospel and in the Alcoran Who better satisfieth what he hath promised than God Declare to them that they have made a good purchace they have gained the height of Felicity Such as are firm in their Faith who pray honour and worship God who observe his Commandments and all true Believers shall enjoy the delights of Paradise with all manner of content The Prophet and true Believers ought not to ask pardon of God for Infidels notwithstanding they be their Parents having had knowledge that they are damned because of their infidelity Abraham prayed not for his Father untill he had promised him to adore one God alone when he knew his Father to be an Enemy to God he declared himself an Enemy to his sin he ceased praying for him although he was exceeding charitable and patient in his afflictions God mis-leadeth not them that he hath put into the right way he giveth them to understand what they ought to do he knoweth them that deserve to be seduced and such as merit to be guided through the right way The Kingdom of Heaven and Earth is Gods he giveth life and death to whom he seeth good Who except God shall protect you he hath given his Grace to the Prophet and to such as followed him in his affliction although it wanted but a little that the hearts of many of them inclined not to the party of the Unbelievers but he pardoneth them he hath been gracious and merciful to three Persons who deserted the Prophet and were sorry for their Errour they knew there was no sure refuge but in God he pardoned them when they were converted he is gracious and merciful to such as repent O ye that believe Fear God be righteous the Inhabitants of Medina and the Arabians that dwell about that City ought not to contradict the Will of the Prophet of God neither dislike what he approveth because they have endured neither thirst nor pain nor anguish for the Service of his Divine Majesty they have not been trampled under foot by their Enemies they shall irritate the Infidels and shall receive no displeasure on the contrary they shall acquire merit and perform a good work God doth not deprive them of recompence that do well he shall write down their expence for his Service and the number of the Idols that they shall destroy for reward of their good works It is not necessary that all the faithful go to the War it is sufficient that of every Lineage and of every Nation there go a party while the rest shall learn the Laws and Mysteries of Faith to instruct their Companions when they shall return from their Voyage perhaps they will fear the chastisement of God. O ye that believe in God! fight against them that would cause you to be defiled in impiety be valiant and know that God is with them that have his fear before their eyes When God caused to descend from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran some of them said through disdain that will encrease the Faith of this people Certainly it augmenteth the Faith of true Believers it rejoyceth them and enflameth the wrath of his Divine Majesty upon Infidels who persist in their pollutions and dye in their wickedness They know not that God tryeth the good once or twice a year they will not be converted it is lost time to preach to them When God sent from Heaven any Chapter of the Alcoran they beheld each others and said doth any one see us They returned in their impiety and God turned their heart from the right way for that they would not learn the Truth God hath sent you a Prophet of your own Nation who with Passion desireth to deliver you from your obstinacy and is extreamly affected to instruct you in the way of Salvation God is mild and pitiful towards true Believers If they abandon the Faith say unto them God is my Protector there is but one sole God I recommend my self to the Will of his Divine Majesty he is the Lord of the Majestick Throne CHAP. X. The Chapter of Jonas containing an hundred and nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am God the merciful The Precepts contained in this Book proceed from the Omnipotent Doth the people wonder that we have inspired a Man to preach to the wicked the torments of Hell and to declare to true Believers that they shall find true what their Lord to them hath promised The wicked say that it is but Sorcery and enchantment Certainly God is your Lord who created Heaven and Earth in six days and sitteth on his Thone disposing all things no Man interceedeth for his Neighbour without his permission he is your God and your Lord worship him alone will ye not consider it you all shall be one day assembled before him he promised with truth that he will cause Men to dye and raise them again to recompence such as have believed in his Law and done good works The Unbelievers shall drink a boyling drink and shall endure great torments because of their impiety He it is that gave light to the Sun and brightness to the Moon that created the signs to know the number of years the account of Months and of whatsoever he hath created these things teach with truth the Miracles of his Divine Majesty to such as have knowledge to understand them the difference of Day and of Night and what God hath created in Heaven and in Earth are marks of his Unity to them that have his fear before their eyes They who believe there is no
who is more impious than they that blaspheme against God Such Men shall not see his face the Angels shall say at the Day of Judgment behold them that have been impious a curse is upon them and upon the unjust that have mis-led the people from the right way they were indeed Infidels Such Men shall not escape the punishment of their crimes on Earth they shall find none that is able to protect them but God he shall augment their pains because they would not abandon their wickedness neither receive the light of faith Such are miserable Men their Idols shall not afford them succors they doubtless shall be eternally damned and such as shall believe in God do good works and be converted shall dwell for ever in Paradise The wicked are as deaf and blind and the True Believers are like those who have good sight and perfect hearing shall they be in parallel to each other will ye never consider it We sent Noah to reprove Men for their sins he said to them worship but one God alone otherwise I fear ye shall be chastised at the Day of Judgment The Doctors of the Infidels answered him we see thee to be a Man like us and that such as follow thee are Poor People blind and without counsel we perceive not that thou hast any grace that ought to prefer thee to us contrariwise we believe thee to be a lyar he said O people know ye not that God hath taught me what I preach to you that he hath given me the grace of Prophecy and deprived you of it Shall I exhort you to acknowledge his grace seeing you abhor him O People I require no recompence of you for my pains God will reward me largely I desire not to banish True Believers from my company they shall one day appear before their Lord but I perceive that ye are ignorant O People who shall hinder God to punish me if I abuse True Believers Will ye not consider it I say not that I possess the treasures of God I know not what shall be I say not that I am an Angel I say not to them whom you contemn that God shall enrich them God knoweth what is in their Souls should I maintain such discourse I should have great blame They said O Noah we have a long time disputed together if thou art sincere let us see the pains which thou preachest to us God said he when it shall please him shall cause you to see them you shall not escape them my instructions shall be to you unprofitable if God will prove you he is your Lord and you shall one day be assembled before him to be judged Will the unbelievers say that thou hast forged the Alcoran and that it is of thine invention Say unto them if I have invented it sin will be upon me and I am innocent of your blasphemies God inspired into Noah that none should believe in his words but such as had already believed in him He said unto him Build an Ark conformable to the inspiration that we have sent thee but speak no more to me of the unjust they shall be drowned the passengers derided him and his Ark he said to them ye scoff at me I will laugh at you and we shall see them that shall best understand he whom God shall chastise shall be covered with shame and perpetually tormented When our will was to destroy that People and the light of the morning appeared and the Water boyled in Noah's Pot we commanded him to charge his Ark with two Beasts of every kind and Species all creatures were destroyed except those of which we before made mention as well such as believed as them that did not believe and that but a few Noah said unto them ascend the Ark in the name of God who shall cause it to swim and to Anchor the Lord is gracious and merciful towards us When the Ark began to float like to a Mountain Noah called to one of his Sons who stayed on the Earth and said my Son come up into the Ark with us and remain not with the Infidels he answered I will ascend an high Mountain that shall save me from the Waters Noah said to him none is able this day to deliver thee from the punishment of God if it be not through his mercy The Waters being risen he was in the number of them that were drowned God commanded the Earth to drink its Water and the Heavens to pour down no more Rain the Water diminished upon the Earth after the People were drowned and the Ark rested upon the Mountain called Gioudy thus were the unjust extirpated Noah prayed to his Lord and said Lord my Son that remained in the Waters was of my Lineage thou didst promise me to save my Family thou dost exactly perform thy promise thou art true in thy words and most just in thine actions O Noah answered God that Son is not of thy Linage he hath offended me and disobeyed my Commandments do not enquire of me concerning that which thou oughtest not to know otherwise thou shalt be in the number of the ignorant Lord said Noah I will take heed through thine assistance to enquire of thee what I ought not to know if thou hast not pity on me I shall be in the number of the miserable God said O Noah descend from the Ark with Salvation and blessing upon thee and upon a part of them that are with thee I will enrich the other part with the wealth of this World to punish them most severely at the day of Judgment I teach what shall be what neither thou nor thy people have not yet known be patient in thine afflictions Paradise is for them that have my fear before their eyes We sent Hod to the People of Aad his Brother ye said unto them O People adore but one God alone otherwise ye shall be in the number of Infidels I require of you no recompence for the pains I take in preaching to you he that created me shall reward me will ye never be wise implore pardon of God be converted and obey his Divine will he shall send you Rain from Heaven and shall encrease your strength and riches be not in the number of the wicked they answered O Hod thou shewest us no reasons to prove thy sayings thy words shall not make us to quit our Gods we give no credit to thy discourse and tell thee that some one of our Gods shall severely chastise thee He said take God and your selves to witness that I am innocent of the sin that you commit in adoring Idols if you conspire against me none shall be able to protect you at the Day of Judgment I recommend my self to the will of God mine and your Lord he conserveth all the creatures of the Earth and loveth them that follow the right way I have discharged my duty and commission I have taught you what God commanded me if you go astray he shall establish
God defend me said he to betray my Master and be unchaste he was in the number of the righteous and fled to the Door his Mistress ran after him and to stay him tore his Shirt through the back She met her Husband behind the Door to whom she said what other thing doth he merit who would dishonour thine house than to be imprisoned and severely chastised Lord said Ioseph she sollicited me that Infant which is in the Cradle and of thy Parentage shall be witness Then the Infant in the Cradle said if Ioseph's Shirt be torn before she hath spoken truth and Ioseph is a Lyar if the Shirt be rent behind Ioseph hath delivered the truth and she a lyar then her Husband beheld Ioseph's Shirt torn behind and knew that it was extream malice and said to Ioseph take heed to thy self and beware this act be not divulged do thou speaking to his Wife implore pardon for thy fault thou art truly guilty The Women of the City said among themselves that the rich Man's wife was amorous of his Slave and that she had sollicited his love and had erred from the right way which she understanding made them an exceeding fair Feast and caused Ioseph to enter the Parlour where they sate while they carved their meat they were so surprized and entangled with Iosephs beauty that they instead of carving their meat cut their fingers O God! said they this is not a Man but an Angel then said she unto them behold him whom I loved with so much Passion she another time importuned him to satisfie her desire and perceiving that he would not condescend to her Will menaced him with the Prison and to make him miserable O God! said Ioseph I had rather be a Prisoner than do what she desireth deliver me from her Malice defend me from inclining to her lubricity and from being in the number of the wicked his Lord heard his Prayer he understandeth and knoweth all things This Woman seeing Ioseph's resolution judged it requisite to imprison him for some time he was put Prisoner with two Men one of which told him that he had dreamed that he prest Grapes to make Wine the other said that he dreamed that he carried Bread upon his head which the Birds did eat they demanded of him the interpretation of their Dreams because he seemed to them to be a good Man he said to them before ye Breakfast I will interpret your Dreams I will first tell you what God hath taught me and how I quit and abandon the Law of Infidels and embrace the Law of our Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob we ought not to worship many Gods such as believe in the Unity of God are endued with his Grace but few Men give him thanks O Prisoners who hath more power Idols or one sole God who is Omnipotent The Gods which ye adore are but Idols whom ye and your Fathers call by such a Name as seemeth good to you ye have no reason to worship them God doth not enjoyn you this he commandeth you to worship him alone this is the right way but the greatest part of the World of this are ignorant O Prisoners the one of you shall give Wine to drink to his Master the other shall be hanged the Birds shall feed on his head the interpretation that ye have required shall be accomplished He besought him that should be saved to remember him when he should be near to his Master but the Devil caused him to lose the remembrance of Ioseph who remained Prisoner the space of nine years At that time the King of Egypt saw in a Dream seven fat Kine which seven lean Kine devoured and seven green ears of Corn with seven dry ears of which he required the interpretation of his Doctors they answered that the Dream was very obscure and that they knew not the interpretation the Prisoner that had been set at liberty said that he would forthwith give the interpretation of the Dream remembred Ioseph and calling him unto him said O righteous Man explain unto us what is the signification of seven fat Kine devoured by seven lean and seven green ears of Corn and as many dry peradventure I shall return to the King and his people and they shall understand the interpretation of this Dream Ioseph said to him ye shall sow the Earth seven years following which shall abound in Fruits preserve your Harvest in the ears and take only what shall be necessary for life after this there shall come seven years barren and unfruitful in which the people shall suffer much The King of Egypt having learned the interpetation of this Dream commanded to call Ioseph the Messenger said unto him O Ioseph return to thy Master and require of him the meaning of the Women who did cut their fingers he hath knowledge of their Malice hath caused them to assemble and demanded of them what was their design when they sollicited thee with love they answered they knew no sin in thee and his Wife confessed the truth saying she had importuned thee but that thou art a very just Man. Ioseph answered by this it appears that I am no Traitor to my Master in his absence God guideth not Traitors I will not say I am a Man without sin the Spirit of Man inclineth to evil except such to whom God had given his particular Grace he is gracious and merciful to whom seemeth good to him The King having talked with Ioseph entred him into the number of his Domesticks and made him super-intendent of his revenues because he knew him to be a Man of Spirit faithful and thrifty We by our especial Grace established Ioseph in the Countrey of Egypt where he did what seemed good to him I deprive not the righteous of their reward on Earth the recompence of the other World is yet greater for them that believe in my Law and have my fear before their eyes The Brethren of Ioseph returned to buy Corn he said to them when ye shall come again bring with you your young Brother by the Father you shall find I will make you good measure and lodge well my Guests if you bring him not there shall be no Corn for you approach not this Kingdom without him They answered Lord his Father loveth him exceedingly nevertheless we shall endeavour to perform what thou enjoynest us he commanded his Servants to put their money for Corn in the bottoms of his Brethrens Sacks perhaps said he they will return or acknowledge this favour when they shall come into their Countrey When they arrived at their Father they said Father there is no more Corn for us if our young Brother go not with us if he go thither we shall have good measure and we will be careful of him You will be careful said he as you were heretofore of your Brother Ioseph God will defend him better than you he is the merciful of the merciful When they poured forth their Corn they found their
Money at the bottoms of their Sacks and said our Father what shall we desire more our money is restored to us and we have Bread for our Family permit that our Brother go with us we shall have better measure that is a small thing to the King of Egypt I will not send him with you unless ye all swear before God to bring him back again if there be no great impediment They swore to fulfil his Will then said he I take God to be witness of your Oath O my Sons enter not all together into the City but go in at several Gates to the end the people may not be jealous of you God commandeth what to him seemeth good I relye on him all true Believers ought to resign themselves to his Divine Will they entred the City as their Father enjoyned them to content him being arrived before Ioseph he took his little Brother by the hand and said to him trouble not thy self for what shall become of thy Brethren having filled their Sacks he caused a Cup adorned with precious stones to be put into the Sack of his little Brother caused it to be given out that they of the Caravan had stoln the Kings Cup and sent Men after them to search those strangers protested they saw it not and that they came not into Egypt to steal that they were Sureties for each other and that he who had stoln it deserved punishment The Cup was found in the Sack of his young Brother he caused him to be apprehended and accused them all of Theft Lord said they his Father is old he will be extreamly afflicted for his absence take one of us in his place thou shalt in the end find us to be honest Men God forbid said he that I should detain other than him who was found guilty of Theft that would be injustice finding themselves out of hope to free their Brother they saved themselves in a secret place remote from the City where the eldest said to his Brethren you know the Oath we took at our departure and how heretofore we intreated Ioseph I will not go out of Egypt without my Fathers permission God is most just he shall dispose of me and my Brother as shall please him return to your Father and say unto him thy Son was taken in Theft we saw him and endeavoured to our power to deliver him they of the Caravan shall be Witnesses Iacob said at their return they were the cause of that accident that did not displease you and he took patience saying God perhaps will favour my Sons to return in health he knoweth in what condition I am he is most prudent in what he ordaineth He retired from among his Sons extreamly afflicted and bewailed the loss of his Son Ioseph had his eyes continually covered with tears and he bore in his heart great sorrow His Sons said unto him Dost thou yet remember Ioseph to add to thy grief and hasten thine end I am said he extreamly desolate I leave all to the Will of God he hath taught me what ye know not My Sons return into Egypt and enquire tidings of your two Brethren despair not of the Spirit of God none despair of Gods Spirit but the wicked When they came unto Ioseph they said unto him The Famine that is in our Countrey hath extreamly afflicted us it hath often constrained us to come to buy Corn thou of thy favour hast made us good measure thou hast caused our Money to be restored for Alms God will reward thee he recompenceth such as are Alms-givers He said unto them Ye remember what ye did unto your Brother Ioseph They replyed Certainly thou art not Ioseph I am Ioseph said he and behold my Brother Benjamin God hath given us his Grace he rewardeth him that hath his fear before his eyes and is patient in his afflictions he depriveth not the righteous of recompence God said they hath poured his favours upon us in saving thee whom we have exceedingly offended Be not said he ashamed God this day pardoneth you that sin he is gracious and merciful return to your Father and bear to him this Shirt cast it upon his face he shall recover sight and return hither with him and with your whole Family The Caravan was then half way upon return when Iacob said to them that attended him I smell the odour of my Son Ioseph you deride me but what I speak is most true They told him that he was still in his old Errour some days following one of his Sons arrived with tidings of Ioseph and cast the Shirt that he had given him upon him and incontinently he recovered his sight and said Did I not always tell you that I knew what ye knew not they said Our Father pardon us and ask the forgiveness of God for us who have exceedingly offended him He answered I will beg pardon of God for you he is gracious and merciful When they arrived before Ioseph he took his Father by the hand saying Enter without fear into Egypt caused him to sit down and his Brethren fell prostrate before him My Father said he behold there the interpretation of mine old Dream God hath rendred it true he hath favoured me in delivering me from Prison and conducting you hither he hath put an end to the jealousie wich the Devil had procured between me and my Brethren The Lord is liberal to whom seemeth good to him he knoweth what is necessary for his people and is most prudent in what he ordaineth Lord thou hast given me wealth and knowledge to interpret Dreams Creator of Heaven and Earth thou art my Protector give me the Grace to die in thy Law and place me in the number of the righteous This History of Ioseph is an ancient History which I relate to thee Thou wert not with his Brethren when they conspired against him nevertheless the greatest part of the people are incredulous Demand no reward of them for having preached the Alcoran it instructeth only the wise How many signs be there in Heaven and Earth of the Unity of God yet the people believe not therein and most of them adore Idols assuredly God shall punish them at an unexpected hour and in a time which they know not Say unto them Behold the right way I call to the way of Salvation and Light such as follow me I return thanks to God for that I am not in the number of Unbelievers We sent aforetime none but Men to instruct the people will not Men consider what hath been the end of the wicked that were before them Paradise is for them that are righteous will ye not be converted They caused the Prophets to lose all hopes of their Conversion and believed them to be Lyars but we protected them and delivered from their Malice such as seemed good to us Nothing shall exempt the wicked from the punishment of their pains they shall serve for example to Men of Spirit The Alcoran containeth no blasphemies
nominated Lord said the Devil I will tempt all the Creatures because thou hast tempted me I will cause them to disobey thy Commandments except such as shall trust in thee and recommend themselves to thy Divine Will. God said this is the right way thou hast no power over the righteous who follow my Law but only over the Infidels for whom Hell is prepared Hell hath seven Gates and every Gate hath its particular work the righteous shall dwell in Gardens adorned with fair Fountains we will free them from all rancour they shall repose upon Beds like Brethren with respect and affection and shall be in eternal felicity Declare to them that worship me that I am gracious and merciful and my chastisements are severe and rigorous Preach unto them the History of the Guests of Abraham they saluted him when they entred his House Abraham was terrified at their coming they said to him fear not us we are the Messengers of God we declare to thee that thou shalt have a Son who shall be a great personage Do you tell me said he that I shall have a Son in my old age why speak ye in that manner We tell thee the truth despair not of the grace of God none but the wicked despair O Messengers of God! said Abraham what do ye require We are sent to destroy the Infidels and to preserve the whole Family of Lot except his Wife she shall remain with them that shall be punished When these Messengers came to Lot's House he told them he knew them not they said to him we are come to thee to clear this people of their doubt of God's Omnipotency what we speak unto thee is most true cause thy Family this night to go out of the City and follow their steps that none among you look behind him and go whither you shall be commanded the wicked shall in the morning be destroyed The Inhabitants of the City came to Lot's House to see those strangers Lot said unto them I beseech you defile not your selves with my Guests fear God and dishonour not your selves behold my Daughters take them They said We do not hinder thee to lodge thy Guests and remained confounded in their drunkenness In the morning Thunder surprised them we overthrew the City upside down and caused it to rain Stones with Fire that utterly destroyed it This shall serve for example to Passengers that shall see those Ruines and for a mark of the Omnipotency of God to them that shall believe in his Divine Majesty They that inhabited the Wood near to Medina were impious but we avenged us on them they served for example to posterity as did the People of the City of Lot. They that dwell in the Vally of Hegir have defamed the Prophets we gave them to see our Miracles and taught them our Commandments they contemned them but they reposed in the morning in their Houses built upon the Mountains and in their Fortresses when Thunder surprised them their treasures did not save them and they were all destroyed We created the Heavens and the Earth to be signs of the Truth and of our Unity The hour of Judgment approacheth absent thy self from thy People with mildness thy Lord who created all things knoweth all We taught thee seven signs and the most precious Alcoran Tarry not to consider the divers sorts of riches which the wicked possess afflict not thy self if they persist in their impiety Say unto them I preach none other thing but the Word of God and the pains of Hell. We will chastise the wicked as we chastised them that divided the Alcoran who approved one part and rejected the other I am thy Lord I will require of them an account of their actions preach what hath been commanded thee and depart from Infidels we will preserve thee from them that shall scorn thee as likewise from such as adore Idols I know that thou wilt be grieved at their discourse but praise and adore the Lord until Death CHAP. XVI The Chapter of the Bee containing an hundred and eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful The chastisement of God is not far remote desire it not before its time praised be God he hath no Companion he causeth the Angels to descend and sendeth his inspirations to whom it pleaseth him preach his power and the pains of Hell to unbelievers there is no God but he fear him he created the Earth and the Heavens he is more powerful than your Idols and created Man of the Mire of the Earth nevertheless he is obstinate in his pride he created clean Beasts for your use you draw from them great emolument and advantage to cloth and nourish your selves ye see their beauty when they feed and when they lead them to pasture they bear the burthen and whatsoever ye will send into Cities what ye cannot carry without them but with exceeding great travel God is gracious and merciful towards you he created Horses and Mules and Asses to bear you he created many glorious things of which you have not knowledge He teacheth them the right way who observe his Commandments had it pleased him he had guided all into the way of his Law. He sendeth you water from Heaven to take away thirst and causeth plants to bring forth and Trees that nourish your flocks he maketh the Olive Trees to produce the Date Trees Vines and all sorts of Fruits These things are Arguments of his Unity to such as consider them he created the Night the Day the Sun the Moon and the Stars that move at his Pleasure these things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that are wise He created whatsoever is on Earth of divers Colours kind and Species he created the Sea which affordeth you Fish Pearls and other precious stones to adorn you thou seest how the Ships sail upon the Waters and divide the Waves for the advantage of Commerce peradventure you will give God thanks for his Favours He raised the mountains to make firm the Earth and to hinder it to move he created the Rivers and established ways to guide you he made the Stars to conduct you by Night upon the Sea and the mountains to direct you in your way by Day who but he could have created what he hath made will you never consider it It is not in your power to keep account of his Mercies he is altogether gracious and merciful and knoweth the secret of your Souls the Idols that ye adore can create nothing but are things dead without motion and know not in what time the World shall rise again your God is one sole God such as believe not the end of the World such as deny his Unity and boast of their false belief are abhorred of his Divine Majesty when they are interrogated concerning what God hath inspired into Mahomet they answered that he preacheth Fables of Antiquity but they shall bear their Burthen at the Day of Judgment who
have seduced them from the right way and have not known it They that were before them were deceivers God overthrew their Habitations the Ruins fell upon them and he chastised them when they least thought of it he shall make them ashamed at the Day of Judgment and shall demand of them where be the Idols for which they disputed against true Believers Such as have knowledge of Gods Commandments assure that shame shall be upon the Foreheads of Infidels and that the Angels shall cause them to die because of the enormity of their sins They will say at the hour of death that they believe in God and are penitent for their faults God knoweth what they have done he shall command them to enter into Hell where is the abode of the proud He shall command them who have his fear before their eyes to enter the house of Eternity and the Gardens of Eden wherein flow many Rivers there shall they dwell eternally with the height of their desire Shall the wicked continue in their sin until the Angels cause them to die or until the Day of Judgment Thus did their Predecessours God was not unjust towards them they drew mischief on themselves through their iniquity they were chastised and felt the punishment which they had despised they have said had it so pleased God our Fathers and we had adored him alone so spake their Predecessours The Prophets are not obliged but to preach and instruct the people We sent a Prophet to every Nation to instruct it and to command the worship of one sole God and to quit the Adoration of Tagot and of Idols God guided some into the right way and others were seduced consider what is the end of the wicked if thou endeavourest to put them into the right path thou shalt lose thy time God guideth not them that desire to erre they shall be deprived of Protection at the Day of Judgment they have sworn by their Faith that God will not make the dead to rise again but he shall cause them to rise again to chastise them according to his Promises but the greatest part of Men do not know it did they know it they would acknowledge their Errours and the impious would acknowledge their blasphemies When we willed any thing we said be thou and it was They that depart from the wicked for the love of their Lord and shall convert themselves shall be rewarded in this World and yet more in the other had they knowledge to understand it Such as patiently endure the injuries of Unbelievers and trust in their Lord shall be recompenced when they least think of it We heretofore sent but Men to preach our Law ask of them that have knowledge of the written Law if it be not true We have sent to them the Alcoran to the end thou mayst instruct Men in our Commandments peradventure they will consider it The Earth shall produce nothing to them that shall conspire against the Prophet they shall be chastised when they least think of it God shall afflict them in their commerce they shall not escape his punishment and their substance shall diminish by little and little before their eyes God is gracious and merciful to them only that honour him See they not the shadow of that which God hath created sometimes at the right hand sometimes at the left to adore his Divine Majesty they certainly are contemptible whatsoever is on the Earth and in the Heavens Beast and Angels worship God with Humility fear their Lord and obey his Commandments God hath commanded them to worship and to fear one God alone to whom obedience is due eternally whom will ye fear but God who but God shall protect you when evil befalleth you you have recourse to his Divine goodness being delivered some of you give him thanks and yet believe not in his Law You seek only the riches of the Earth but you shall see what shall be your end they say that their wealth proceedeth from their Idols by God! an account of their blasphemies shall be required of them they affirm that God hath Daughters assuredly they deceive themselves and are not well satisfied when it is said to them that a Daughter is born to them they fly such as declare to them the punishment of their sins God shall leave them in ignominy and they shall be contemned as the Earth which they trample under their Feet because they believe not in the Day of Judgment misery shall perpetually pursue them God shall command for ever and be eternally powerful and Victorious Should God chastise Men when they offend he should leave no living Creature upon the Earth he deferreth their punishment until the time appointed they can neither advance nor retard it they affirm God to have that which themselves are not satisfied to have they lye when they say that Paradise is for them doubtless they are erroneous and shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell. By God! we have sent heretofore Prophets to the people the Devil seduced Men and was Master of the wicked in this World but in the other they shall resent great torments We have sent thee the Alcoran to clear to Men the doubts touching Religion and to guide true Believers into the right way God sendeth rain from Heaven to refresh the Earth this is an evident sign of his Omnipotency to them that hear his word ye have yet a token of his Omnipotency in the Beasts that give you Milk to nourish you and another mark in the Fruits of the Earth in the Fruits of Date Trees and the Vines from which you extract Wine and receive profit These things are signs of his Omnipotency to such as comprehend them The Lord inspired the Bee to dwell in the Fields to lodge in Trees in Hives and to eat of all sorts of Fruits it produceth Honey of divers colours that serveth for a remedy to the diseases of Men these things are signs of Gods Omnipotency to them that consider them God hath created you and shall cause you to dye There be Persons among you that shall be full of ignominy in their life to the end they may understand that God is Omnipotent conferreth benefits on some more than on others Slaves have no part in the faculties of their Masters neither are they associate with them nevertheless they associate to God another God equal to him and blaspheme against his Grace God hath created you Men and Women and hath given you Children and Children to your Children he hath enriched you with the riches of the Earth Will you after this Grace believe in your Idols which are things inanimate vain and unprofitable Will ye be ingrateful for the benefits of God Will ye worship what can neither benefit nor hurt you Believe not that there is another God Companion and associate with God He knoweth what ye know not he teacheth you a Parable A Slave that is poor cannot give Alms and he who is rich giveth
convert and do good works Abraham was obedient to God and professed his unity he adored 〈◊〉 Idols and gave thanks to God for his 〈◊〉 God elected and guided him into the right way he gave him wealth in this World and placed him in the other in the number of the blessed We have inspired thee to follow the Law of Abraham he professed the Unity of God and adored not Idols he established the Sabbath among the Iews of which they dispute God shall judge their difference at the Day of Judgment Call the People to the Law of God with prudence and preachings and dispute against them with good arguments God knoweth them that depart from the right way if they evilly intreat you intreat them as they shall inteat you if ye be patient patience is advantagious to them that take it willingly have patience for the love of God and afflict not your selves with the deportments and malice of the wicked God is with the Righteous who have his fear before their eyes CAAP. XVII The Chapter of the Voyage by Night containing an Hundred and eleven Verses written at Mecca Reader The Turks believe that this Night of the Voyage Mahomet ascended into Heaven with the Angel Gabriel He was mounted on a white Burac which is a beast partly Mule partly Ass and partly Horse He saw all the Prophets that preceded him all the wonders of Paradise and saw God who sate on his Throne See Kitab el tenoir Tefslir anf Giauhoir and the Exposition of Gelaldin The Bedaoi intituled this Chapter The Chapter of the Children of Israel IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to him that caused his servant to go in one night from the Temple of Mecca to the Temple of Ierusalem we have blessed that Temple and whatsoever is about it in token of our Omnipotency We gave to Moses the Old Testament to instruct the Children of Israel and to deter them from the worship of any other God but of me to forbid them to adore the Lineage of Noah or the Lineage of them that we preserved in his Ark. Noah is my creature and my servant acknowledging my benefits we prohibited in Scripture the Children of Israel to defile twice the Earth lest they kindled too great a fire when that befel you we stirred up our servants against you and they entred by force into the midst of your houses this was as soon executed as promised In the end we gave you advantage over your Enemies we gave you Wealth and Children to succour you and ye were more numerons than the Infidels the good and the evil that you shall do shall be for your souls We stirred up the wicked against you because of your sins to afflict you through the Murther and Boâ—…dage of your persons and they destroyed the Temple of Ierusalem as they had ruined it the first time Your Lord shall pardon you if you convert we have established Hell for a perpetual Prison of Infidels The Alcoran guideth the Righteous into the right way it declareth to them a great reward preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell and exhorteth men to well-doing although they are inclining to evil and prompt to sin We created the Day and the Night they are two signs of our Omnipotency We caused the Night to pass away and the Day to appear for labour and to the end ye might know the number of Ages of Months and of Years we explained our Mysteries without obscurity and have enjoyned every one to bear the burden of his iniquities at the Day of Judgment that day will make men to see the account of their sins they shall be recompenced and chastised according to the good and the evil that they shall have committed and none shall bear the burden of his Neighbour We sent to the People Prophets and Apostles to preach to them our Commandments before they were chastised before the destruction of a City we advertised the Principal Inhabitants thereof when they disobeyed us we chastised them according to our word and destroyed them How many Cities have we ruined since Noah's 〈◊〉 The sins of the People are known to their Lord he giveth the riches of this world to them that desire them to cause them to fall headlong into Hell where they shall repent of their iniquites and be deprived of mercy He who shall labour to acquire the riches of Heaven shall be protected of thy Lord in this world and enriched with the Treasures of Heaven in the other Consider how we prefer our Creatures one to another the reward of Heaven is much greater than that of the Earth Believe not that there be two Gods otherwise you shall repent of it and be deprived of protection at the day of judgment Thy Lord hath ordained to worship him alone and to honour your father and mother especially in their old age and say nothing to them that may afflict them neither vex them speak to them with respect do not contemn them pray to God to compassionate them as they have pitied you when they brought you up in your infancy God knoweth whatsoever is in your souls he will be merciful to you if ye obey him Give to your parents what appertaineth to them do good to the poor and to pilgrims be not prodigal the prodigal are brethren of the Devil ingrateful for the favours of their Lord. Contemn not the poor if ye desire to obtain the mercy of God speak to them with mildness and endeavour to content them do not entirely shut your hands neither altogether extend them if ye do otherwise ye shall offend Thy Lord giveth and taketh away his graces as â—…meth good to him he knoweth his people and understandeth all their actions Slay not your children for fear of necessity I will give whatsoever shall be necessary for them the murther of children is an exceeding great sin flie whoredom it is a thing unclean kill no man without reason we have commanded to pursue him that shall have slain his neighbour but let not the heir sin maliciously prosecuting the innocent for the guilty The innocent is in Gods protection take not the goods of Orphans and be careful of them until they be in years of discretion satisfie your promises an account shall be required of you measure with good measure and weigh with just weights Busie your selves not with that which you ought not to know There shall be required of you an account of the sins ye have committed in seeing hearing and thinking Be not proud ye shall never be so long as the Earth neither so high as the Mountains such sins are exceeding great before thy Lord It is one part of what he hath inspired into thee to preach to his people Say not there be two Gods lest thou be confined to the fire of Hell. Your Lord hath elected you with all those men and women that obey his Commandments for his sons and daughters as the Angels yet say
to follow their Religion in which we shall be eternally miserable Thus did we stir up the people against them to the end they might know that thy Lord is true when he said He will cause the dead to arise again the Resurrection is indubitable nevertheless unbelievers dispute among them concerning the History of the Sleepers and say That they built a secret place to retire themselves God knoweth the Truth The True believers believe that they made no building the Infidels say they were five and that their dog was the sixth they speak by opinion but the True believers affirm them to be seven and their dog to be the eighth Say unto them My Lord knoweth how many they were few persons except God know their number Doubt no more the History of the Sleepers the matter is averred and known dispute no more with the Jews and say not I will do this to morrow without saying If it pleaâ—…e God. Call God to mind after thou hast forgot him and say The Lord shall guide me and teach me the History of the Sleepers who remained in Cave three hundred years there be who affirm they continued there nine hundred years Say unto them God knoweth the time of their abode there he knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth and seeth all things he alone disposeth every thing and hath no companion Preach what thy Lord hath inspired into thee his word admitteth of no alteration there is no safer refuge than in him dwell with those that invoke him morning and evening and desire to see his face depart not from their company if thou desirest to have content of life in this world obey not those whose heart we have hardned and are unmindful of us follow not their impiety whatsoever they do is but offence and sin Say unto them the truth proceedeth from your Lord who shall desire it shall be True believers and who shall not desire it shall be an Infidel we have prepared Hell to chastise the impious and prisons wherein to detain them They shall implore succors against the melting pit into which they shall be plunged as into waters it shall rost their faces and shall be their drink I will not frustrate of reward them that shall have done well they shall enjoy the delights of the gardens of Eden wherein flow many rivers they shall have bracelets of fine Gold they shall be cloathed with green with Scarlet with shining colours and shall sit on thrones with an eternal felicity Declare to them this parable there were two men I gave to the one of them gardens wherein are store of fruits he in contempt told his companion that he was more wealthy and powerful than he and entred into his gardens being an Infidel and an Idolater and said I do not think these shall ever have an end they shall endure a long time without withering His companion said to him If thou dost not ackowledge this to proceed from God and if thou be ingrateful towards him that created thee of dust and made thee a man thou shalt soon find thy gardens ruined this cometh from God my Lord who hath no companion all strength and truth proceedeth from his divine Majesty If I have less of substance than thou God can give me fruits more fair than those of thy gardens or send thunder that shall destroy them he shall fill them with water of rain that shall encompass them and hinder thee to approach them In the morning this Infidel found his gardens destroyed to the very roots he was extreamly perplexed by reason of the expence he had made to plant them evenly and he said Would to God I had not adored Idols He shall find none that is able to protect him at the day of Judgment but God all protection and grace issueth from his divine bounty and the end of the righteous shall be happy Speak unto them this parable The life of the world is like unto rain fallen from Heaven that refreshed and revived the herbs of the Earth and in the morning were dry as chaff carried away by the wind God is omnipotent Riches and Children are the ornaments of this life but good works are eternal they are acceptable to God and give us hope of his grace Be thou mindful of the day when the mountains shall walk and thou shalt see the Earth to be plain that day we assemble the good and the wicked and will not fail of my word to any person that day shall the Infidels beseech the Lord to save them he shall say unto them You came unto us naked as when we at first created you and ye believed on Earth that there was no resurrection Then shall he give to every one the Book wherein shall be written the accompt of their sins Thou shalt see the wicked trembling with fear saying behold here our destruction What is there in this Book It containeth their venial and mortal sins and detecteth their offences they shall find the number of their crimes before their eyes Thy Lord is unjust to none Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to prostrate themselves before Adam and that they humbled themselves except the Devil who was in the number of Angels he disobeyed his Lord nevertheless Adam and his posterity have obeyed him although he is their open enemy and particularly of the Infidels Consider ye not that God created Heaven and Earth and he made you and hath no need to be aided of you Be thou mindful of the day when it shall be said to Idolaters Call upon your Idols that ye have worshipped for remission of your sins they shall implore them but none shall hear their prayers we have ruined them the wicked shall behold the fire into which they shall fall and find none to save them We taught men in the Alcoran many parables yet do the wicked abound in question and dispute too much What hindreth men to believe since there is come to them a guide to conduct them into the right way If they beg not pardon of God what hapned to their predecessors and at Beder shall befall them they shall be visibly punished I send Prophets only to anounce the joys of Paradise and to preach the torments of Hell the unbelievers dispute vainly to obscure the truth they deride my Commandments and the fire of Hell who is more unjust than he who knoweth the Commandments of his Lord and disobeyeth him and forgetteth his past sins We have hardned their hearts they shall not understand the Scripture we have stopped their ears they shall hear nothing if thou callest them to the right way they shall not follow thee thy Lord is gracious and merciful should he chastise them after their demerits he should forthwith destroy them he tarrieth until the time that he hath promised to punish them and they shall find none of power to protect them We have destroyed Cities when their inhabitants have offended and we prefixed the day
of their ruine Remember thou that Moses said to his servant I will travel incessantly until I see a place where two seas meet although I travel an Age. When he came to that place he and his servant forgot their fish he had taken his way through the Sea Having continued their voyage some time Moses was an hungry and demanded somewhat to eat of his servant who said to him Sawest thou what hapned at the Rock I have forgotten our fish the Devil made me to forget it he 〈◊〉 â—…ook his way through the Sea that Rock is the place which we seek they both returned on then steps discoursing together until they came to that Rock where they found one of our servants on whom we had conferred our graces and inspired knowledge Moses said unto him Permit me to follow thee that thou mayst teach me knowledge and instruct me He replied Thou wilt not be able to abide patiently with me How wilt thou patiently endure to hear a thing which none in the world ever knew Moses said Thou shalt find me exceeding patient and I will not disobey thee He answered If thou follow me enquire nothing of me and hear only what I shall say to thee They went together and they being in a boat he brake a plank Moses said to him Thou hast broken this vessel to drown us it is a strange thing He answered Did not I tell thee that thou wilt not be able patiently to abide with me Moses replied Excuse me and afflict me not I had forgotten what thou didst enjoyn me They went on together until they met with a child whom he slew Moses said to him Thou hast slain an innocent that hath not slain any one thou hast done a thing without reason and that ought not to be approved He answered Did I not say thou wilt not be able patiently to abide with me Moses said to him Excuse me this time also if I demand ought else of thee abandon me They continued their way unto a Village where the inhabitants refused them bread at that time they found a wall ruined which he raised again Moses said to him Thou shouldst have been payed for repairing this wall if thou wouldst He answered Now behold the place of our separation nevertheless I will explain to thee what thou wert impatient to learn. That boat belongeth to two poor men who labour on the sea to gain their subsistence I would have pierced it to preserve it to those poor men because there was an Infidel Prince who by force seized on the good vessels for his service That Infant which I slew was an Idolater the son of a true believer a righteous man we feared he might cause his father to sin and seduce him into his error and infidelity the Lord through his goodness would have him to be destroyed to deliver his father from his malice The wall appertaineth to two infant Orphans of this City there is under it a treasure that belongeth to them their father was a righteous man God through his goodness willeth that the treasure be preserved for them until they attain to years of Discretioni he likewise willed me to do what I have done behold the exposition of what thou wert impatient to learn. If any one enquire of thee concerning Alexander the great relate to them his History we gave him on earth what he desired he went as far as the West where he found a fountain guarded by a man who said to him O Alexander chastise men through the murther of their persons Bondage and Ransom he answered I will put to death unbelievers in this world and the Lord shall punish them in Hell and 〈◊〉 righteous shall enjoy the glory of â—…aradise I will tell the wicked that God hath given us what we have desired After this he continued his way until he came to a place where the Sun riseth he found that it riseth in a Countrey where they have nothing to shelter them from its heat the thing is so we taught Alexander how to shelter himself he followed his way until he arrived between two Mountains inhabited of a Nation that spake a Language which he could hardly understand they said to him O Alexander Iagog and Magog defile the Earth canst thou put between them and us an obstacle to hinder that they may not come to us God said Alexander hath not given me means to do it but assist me with your power I will put between them and you a strong separation give me Iron that can cut Stones that I may build betwixt the two Mountains and that I may fortifie the way that divideth them blow when the Iron striketh the Stones to kindle fire and pour on molten Brass to joyn the Stones and Iron together if they come they cannot pierce through the Mountains neither find a way to come to you this is a favour which God conferreth on you his promises are infallible when the hour arriveth he is true in what he promiseth we will permit them to mix each with others we will assemble all of them when the Trumpet shall sound then we will open Hell to the wicked and to such as would neither see nor hear the Alcoran Do they imagin them that worship me to be their gods We have prepared Hell to punish them Say unto them shall I relate unto thee what shall befal the damned Their works shall be unprofitable in this World although they think to do well good works are unprofitable to them that contemn the Commandments of their Lord and believe not in the Resurrection they shall not want ballance at the Day of Judgment Hell shall be their habitation because they deride our Commandments and our Apostles and Prophets The Righteous shall enjoy eternally the delight of Paradise without discontinuation If the Sea were Ink to write the wondrous works of my Lord it will sooner have an end than his Miracles Say unto the Infidels I am a man like you God hath taught me that there is but one God he that believeth in the Resurrection studieth to do good works worship but one God who is without a companion CHAP. XIX The Chapter of Mary containing Fourscore and Eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is the rewarder conductor of the Righteous liberal wise true Zachary the Servant of thy Lord remembred his Grace when he in secret prayed to his Lord and said Lord my bones are become feeble and mine Head is White with Old age Lord I was never rejected in my prayers hear my Petition give me a Son to succeed me that may be mine Heir Heir of the Lineage of Iacob and be pleasing to thee O Zachary I declare unto thee that thou shalt have a Son named Iohn no man hath yet been called by that name he said Lord how shall I have a Son my Wife is barren and I am too old It was answered him the thing shall be as I have said
unto thee it is easie to thy Lord who created thee he said Lord give me some sign of the Conception of my Wife he said to him Thou shalt not speak for Three nights Then went he out of his Oratory and made signs to the People to make their prayers Evening and Morning Oh Iohn learn the Scripture with affection we from his Infancy gave him knowledg clemency charity piety affection towards his Father and Mother and not violence and disobedience We blessed the day of his Nativity the day that he shall die and the day that he shall rise again Remember thou what is written of Mary she retired towards the East into a place far remote from her Kindâ—…ed and took a Vail to cover her we sent her our Spirit in form of a man she was afraid and said God will preserve me from thee if thou have his fear before thine eyes he said Oh Mary I am the Messenger of God thy Lord who shall give thee a Son active and prudent She answered How shall I have a Son without the touch of man I desire not to be unchaste he said The thing shall be as I have told thee it is facile to thy Lord thy Son shall be a token of the Omnipotency of God and of his special grace towards such as shall believe in his Divine Majesty she became with Child and retired some time into a place remote from People where she sustained the dolours of Child-birth at the foot of a Date-tree and said Why am I not dead Wherefore am I not in the number of persons forgotten The Angel said to her Afflict not thy self God hath placed a brook under thee shake the foot of this Palm and the Dates shall fall gather them up eat and drink and wash thine eyes say unto them that thou shall meet that thou fastest and hast made a Vow not to speak to any one until the fast be accomplished Her Parents met her while she bare her Infant and said unto her Oh Mary behold a strange thing Oh Sister of Aaron thy Father did not command thee to do evil neither was thy Mother unchaste she made signs to her Infant to answer them they said How shall the Infant in the Cradle speak Then her infant spake and said I am the Servant of God he hath taught me the Scripture hath made me a Prophet blessed me in all places and commanded me to pray unto him he hath recommended to me purity through the whole course of my life and to honour my Father and Mother he hath not made me either violent or malicious praised shall be the day of my birth the day that I shall die and the day of my resurrection Thus spake Jesus the Son of Mary with truth of which ye doubt God approveth not the discourse of them that say he hath a Son praised be God when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is he is mine and your Lord worship him this is the right way there be persons who in this regard have been of different opinion but misery is upon the incredulous They shall be miserable at the Day of Judgment The Infidels are manifestly erroneous from the right way if thou preach to them the â—…orments of Hell and their ignorance they will not hear thee We are Lords of whatsoever is on Earth and dispose of every thing at our pleasure they shall be one day assembled before us to be judged Remember thou what is written of Abraham he was a Righteous man and a Prophet he said to his Father Adore not what neither seeth nor understandeth any thing and that cannot be profitable I know what ye know not follow me and I will conduct you into the right way worship not the Devil he is disobedient unto God otherwise I fear that God may chastise you and you may be in the number of the damned He answered Oh Abraham dost thou abhor my Gods Unless thou change thy discourse I will stone thee depart from me for a long time he said May God inspire you I will pray for yoâ—… he is exceeding good and will hear my prayers Whom will ye adore when I shall be gone from you Worship God my Lord and your prayers shall be heard he departed from them and worshipped one God We gave him two Sons Isaac and Iacob both Prophets we conferred our grace upon him with an eloquent and true Tongue Remember thou what is written of Moses he was a Righteous man our Prophet and Messenger we called him on the right side of the Mount Sinai drew him near unto us and taught him our secrets we through special grace gave him a Brother named Aaron Remember thou what is written of Ismael he exactly observed what he promised was a Prophet and an Apostle of the Lord preached Purity and recommended to men to make their prayers often and was pleasing to his Lord. Remember thou what is written of Enoch he was a just man and a Prophet and we took him up to an exceeding high place God gave his grace to these men among the Prophets of the Lineage of Adam among them whom we caused to embark with Noah among those of the Lineage of Abraham and Israel and among those that we assembled and guided into the right way When the miracles of the merciful were related to them they fell prostrate and adored him with tears in their eyes their Posterity forsook their footsteps abandoned the Law and followed their own Appetites but they shall be precipitated into Hell except such as shall be converted and do good works they shall enter into Paradise and no injustice shall be done to them they shall enter into the Garden of Eden what the merciful God doth promise is infallible they shall hear nothing spoken in Paradise that shall displease them they shall hear the salutation of Angels and Morning and Evening shall have what they desire such is Paradise which God giveth to his Creatures that have his fear before their eyes I descend not from Heaven but by the permission of thy Lord he is master of our actions in Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them he hath not forgot thee worship him and pâ—…rsevere in thy adoâ—…ation knowest thou any person that is named like him Man saith What shall I dye and rise again He considereth not that God hath created him of nothing I will one day assemble the Infidels and Devils I will cause them to appear at the Gate of Hell upon their Knees and will cast upon them all manner of misery because they have encreased their impiety towards their Lord. I know such as deserve to burn in Hell they shall be thrown thither headlong this is a most just Sentence pronounced by the Lord. I will save the Righteous and forbid Infidels to fall on their Knees before Idols when the unbelievers and many of the Faithful heard my Commandments preached they said among themselves that they were in
guideth men into the right way Pharoah said what law did your predecessors observe what is become of them Moses answered God knoweth in what condition they are nothing is concealed from God he extended the earth and established the ways he causeth rain to descend from heaven and maketh to spring forth the plants herbs and fruits which ye eat and that nourish your flocks These things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that understand them We created you of earth and to earth will we make you to return and will cause you to come out of it once again we shewed miracles to Pharoah but he was incredulous contemned them and said O Moses Art thou come to drive us out of our Dominions with thy Magick I will shew thee Magick like to thine let us meet at a place and day prefixed between thee and me to come together Moses said unto him Let us make choice of the day of your feast if it seem good to you the people may assemble at the Sun rising After this discourse Pharoab withdrew recollected all his subtilties and at the day and hour prefixed came with his people to the place appointed where Moses was who said unto them Misery is upon you blaspeme not against God he will punish you and destroy them that blaspheme against him The people of Pharoah differed in opinion what they should do kept their design secret and said to Pharoah These two men are Magicians they would chase you from your Country through their Magick and seduce your subjects from your Religion recollect your subtilties and power and chuse persons capable to dispute against them this day shall be happy to him that shall be victorious They said to Moses Wilt thou first cast thy staff on the ground or shall we ours Their cords and staves arose against Moses through their Magick and crawled Moses spake low between his teeth we said unto him Fear nothing thou shalt be victorious cast thy staff in thy right hand on the ground it shall devour what they have done it is but witchcraft and magick that produceth neither Profit nor Content Then fell the Magicians of Pharoah prostrate on the ground and said We believe in the God of Aaron and Moses Pharoah said unto them believe ye in him without my permission Moses is your master I will cut off your right feet and your left hands or your left feet and your right hands and cause you to be hanged on Palm-trees that ye may know who is the more severe in his chastisements I or the God of Moses they said the miracles that thou hast seen have they not touched thee He that created us doth things which are not in thy power to perform thy power extendeth only in this World we believe in God our Lord who will pardon our sins thou art the cause that he abhorreth us with our magick he is more powerful than thou and Eternal Hell is prepared for Infidels they shall find repose neither in their life nor death and the righteous that shall do good works shall eternally enjoy the pleasures of the gardens of Eden wherein flow many delicious Rivers such is the reward of them that are purged from their sins We said unto Moses Go out by Night with my People and make them a drie Path through the Sea fear not that thine Enemies may overtake thee neither be afraid of being drowned Pharoah shall follow them with his Troops I will overwhelm in the Sea and will mislead him with his People he shall not follow the right way O Children of Israel We delivered you from your Enemies and conducted you towards the mountains of Sinai We caused Manna and Quailes to descend upon you and said Eat ye of the good things that we have given you and be not ungrateful otherwise my wrath shall fall upon you he upon whom mine indignation shall fall shall be thrown headlong into the Fire of Hell I will be merciful to such as shall convert do good works and follow the right way O Moses who pressed thee to absent thy self from thy People He answered behold he that followeth my steps I am come up to receive thy Commandments We after thy departure estranged thy People from thee and Samery seduced them from the right way he returned upon his steps to his People in great displeasure and said O ye People did not God promise to you all manner of content He protracted the effect of his promises because of your sins will you that his wrath fall upon you Wherefore have ye trangressed what ye promised to me They said we have not transgressed our promises of our own accord we took the most weighty ornaments of the People and cast them into the Fire Samery himself did cast them in he made the body of a bellowing Calf and said with his followers Behold there your God the God of Moses whom he hath forgotten Saw they not that this Calf spake not to them and that it had not power to do good or evil Aaron had said unto them before the coming of Moses O ye People you have been seduced by this Calf the merciful is your God and your Lord Follow and obey me They said Shall we abide here until Moses return Moses at his return said unto Aaron What hindred thee to follow me when thou sawest them to turn aside from the Law of God Wherefore hast thou disobeyed me O Son of my Mother said Aaron drag me not by the Beard and Hair I feared to displease thee if I forsook the Children of Israel and disobey thy Commandments Moses said unto Samery what was thy design He answered I saw what this People seeth not I took an handful of the Earth of the footsteps of the Messenger of God and made the Figure of a Calf the fairest that I could Moses said unto him Go get thee from among us thou shalt fly the presence of men all the days of thy life thou shalt say unto them Come not nigh me touch me not the time of thy punishment is appointed thou shalt not escape it behold thy false god behold the Calf which thou hast adored I will cause it to burn and will cast the ashes thereof into the Sea your God is one God and there is none other God but the God that knoweth all things Thus do I relate to thee things past we have sent thee the Alcoran such as shall abjure it shall bear their burthen at the Day of Judgment and be eternally tormented I will one day require an account of their burden and will assemble them with all their subtilties when the Trumpet shall sound they shall demand of each other how long they have continued in the World They shall say That they have remained there but Ten days and Ten nights I know all that they will say the most prudent among them shall say that they have been but one day They shall enquire of thee concerning the Mountains Say unto them God
shall tear them up and level them with the Earth thou shalt see them levelled and beaten down Then shall men without retardment follow him that shall summon them to universal Judgment they shall humble themselves before God thou shalt that Day hear low and humble voices that day shall prayers be ineffectual except of them that shall be pleasing to God whom he will permit to speak He knoweth whatsoever men do in this World and what must befull them in the other and they know it not they shall humble themselves and hang down the Head before the Living and Eternal Lord all Infidels shall be damned and the Righteous of True-believers that have done good works shall not fear injustice We have sent the Alcoran in the Arabique Tongue it teacheth men our Commandments peradventure they will fear impiety it teacheth them what they ought to know Exalt the glory of God King of the World he is truth it self press not thy self to read the Alcoran until thou hast well understood it Say Lord encrease my knowledge We heretofore prohibited Adam to eat of the forbidden fruit he was unmindful of our Commandment I found in him no perseverance Remember thou that we commanded the Angels to humble themselves before him they humbled themselves except the Devil who refused to do it Remember that we said Adam the Devil is thine enemy and the enemy of thy Wife he will endeavour to make you miserable to cause you both to go out of Paradise where thou sufferest neither hunger nor thirst nor cold nor heat the Devil tempted them and said oh Adam I will conduct thee to the Tree of Eternity a treasure that shall never perish they did both eat of the fruit of that Tree then knew they their filthiness and took the leaves of Trees to cover their nakedness Adam disobeyed his Lord and became miserable nevertheless he heard and pardoned him and shewed him the right he said descend from Paradice ye Enemies of each other I will hereafter send you a guide he that shall follow him shall not err and shall be blessed he that shall go astray and will not believe in me shall be miserable in the World and blind at the Day of Judgment that Day shall he say Lord wherefore hast thou made me blind I had good sight when I was in the World I did this day forget thee as thou didst forget my Commandments thus do I intreat Infidels The torments of the other World are more grievous than those of the Earth and of longer continuance do not unbelievers tremble when they consider how many men upon Earth we have destroyed in past Ages Their misery shall serve for example to them that are wise had not thy Lord said that he will defer the punishment of the wicked until the time appointed he had already destroyed them Be patient and endure their Discourse praise thy Lord before the Sun arise before it setteth an hour before Night and at the end of Day thou shalt do a thing acceptable to him The life of the World is sweet to tempt you but the Riches of thy Lord are better and Eternal Command the People to make their prayers at the time appointed and be not impatient towards them I require no Riches of thee I will enrich thee and in the end Paradise shall be for the Righteous The unbelievers have said if Mahomet sheweth not some Miracle from God and knoweth not the exposition of the Books of our Predecessors we will not believe in him we before his coming destroyed many wicked persons who said Lord hadst thou sent us a Prophet we had observed thy Commandments before we became infamous and laden with ignominy Say unto them every one expecteth his end expect ye and ye shall one day know them that follow the right way and have not erred CHAP. XXI The Chapter of the Prophets containing an Hundred and Twelve Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and merciful The Day approacheth wherein the People shall render an account of their actions but they consider it not and depart from the Commandments of God if they hear them they laugh they understand them not and keep secret their evil intentions Is not Mahomet a man like to you Will ye say that he is a Magician You see the contrary God heareth whatsoever is spoken both in Heaven and Earth and knoweth all things They say certainly Mahomet hath dreamed what he speaketh he hath invented it and is a Poet we will not believe him unless he shew some Miracle as did the Prophets that were before him We have layed waste many Cities because their inhabitants were incredulous we sent before thee but men who were inspired of us Enquire of them to whom heretofore was given the knowledge of the written Law if ye know it not they were men that did eat and drink and were mortal we effected what we promised to them we preserved them with such as believed and destroyed the incredulous we have sent you a Book to instruct you will ye understand it How many Infidel Cities have we made desolate How many new People have we established in their place When they felt our punishment they fled fly not and return to what hath delighted you return into your houses peradventure ye will yet covet the Riches of the Earth they said Misery is upon us we are too blame thus did they talk until they were destroyed We have not created Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is between them to sport with had it been our will that they should have scoffed on Earth they should scoff likewise in Heaven On the contrary I oppose the truth to falsehood to confound it and in effect it doth confound it Misery shall be upon you because of your blasphemies whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth is Gods the Angels are not ashamed to worship him they praise him Day and Night and exalt his glory without blasphemy The Infidels worship Gods made of Earth have they power to create any thing Were there in Heaven and on Earth another God they would not accord praised be God Lord of the Universe what the Infidels relate is untrue He asketh no counsel when he will do any thing as do men will they worship any other God but him Say unto them produce your arguments behold what we have to speak unto you behold our reasons and those of our predecessors Certainly the greatest part of them are ignorant of the Truth and go astray We inspired into all the Prophets which we sent that there was but one God that ought to be worshipped They said believe ye that the Angels are the Sons of God Praised be God on the contrary they are his Creatures he loveth them they speak not but after him and obey what he commandeth them he knoweth all their actions past and future they pray for no man but through his permission and fear to displease him Who among them will say I am God
instead of God He shall be cast headlong into the Fire of Hell thus do I intreat unbelievers Know they not that the Heavens and the Earth was shut up VVe opened them and gave life to every thing through the Rain which we made to descend will they not believe in my unity VVe created the Mountains to hinder the Earth to move we made therein ways large and spacious for our Creatures we covered it with the Heaven and have exempted it from falling nevertheless they depise our Commandments It is the Lord who created Day and Night the Moon and the Sun all things praise and exalt him in Heaven we created no Person to dwell for ever on Earth all men shall taste of Death I will prove you with good and evil and ye shall appear before me to give account of your actions The Infidels scoff at you when they see you and say behold them that deride our gods They obey not the Commandments of God he created man of dust and shall shew you the effects of his Omnipotency be not impatient to see the punishment of the wicked who say when shall be the Day of Judgment Did they know it they would remove the Fire from their backs and visages that Day shall surprize them it shall astonish them when they think least of it they cannot retard it and shall be deprived of protection Certainly they scorned the Prophets that were sent before thee but they were punished after their demerits Say unto them who but the merciful God preserveth you Day and Night Nevertheless ye reject his Commandments Have they any other God but me that is able to save them Their gods cannot defend themselves I will not protect them yet will I enrich them as I enriched their fathers and will prolong their life to punish them on Earth Know they not that their estates diminish on all sides through thy Conquests Is it so that they are victorious Say unto them I preach to you what God hath inspired into me but the deaf hear not when they are exhorted VVhen they are a little touched with the chastisements of God they say oh misery We are too blame and are unjust I will weigh their works at the Day of Judgment that I may do injustice to no person of the weight of a grain of Mustard-seed and will most exactly account We gave to Moses and Aaron the Book that distinguisheth good from evil and commanded them to preach our Commandments to them that had our fear before their eyes That Book is blessed and was sent from us nevertheless unbelievers reject and condemn it We heretofore instructed Abraham in the right way and knew that he was a Righteous man. Remember thou that he said to his Father and his People What Idols do ye adore They said We find that our Fathers adored them he said unto them your Fathers and you were exceedingly erroneous They said Dost thou speak the truth or dost thou jest He said Certainly your Lord is the Lord of Heaven and Earth I swear to you that he created them Having convinced those Idolaters he said By God I will make war upon your Idols he broke them with an Hatchet in their absence except the greatest Idol on which he hung his Hatchet and said Peraventure they will accuse him to have broken the other Seeing at their return their Idols broken they said who hath in this manner handled our gods He is impious we heard it is a young man named Abraham who derideth them bring him before the eyes of the People perhaps they shall find witnesses of his action They said unto him Oh Abraham It is thou that hast so abused our gods he said on the contrary it is that great Idol they enquired of each other if those Idols spake and if they had motion afterwards they returned to themselves and said to the People Ye are too blame to adore those Idols he threw them headlong against the ground and they said Oh Abraham Thou well knewest that they spake not at all he answered Why therefore do ye worship what can neither benefit nor hurt you You defile your selves in adoring them instead of God Do ye not know him Then they said Burn Abraham and let us defend our Gods if ye are Righteous men but we commanded the Fire to lose its heat to preserve Abraham they would have tormented him and we destroyed them we saved him as we preserved Lot we conducted him into the Land of Blessing gave him Isaac and Iacob and the Children of their Children Righteous men and True believers to instruct the People in the way of Salvation we inspired them to do good works to pray at the time appointed to pay Tithes and to worship us we gave to Lot prudence and knowledge and delivered him from the Inhabitants of the City who were the most vicious upon Earth we were gracious to him because he was Righteous Remember Noah and that he heretofore invoked us we heard his Prayer and delivered him from great danger and all that were with him in the Ark we delivered him from the hand of the wicked whom we drowned Remember David and Solomon who rendred Justice in the Field whereinto the Flocks of the Village entred by Night without Shepherds we are witness of their Judgments we instructed Solomon in Justice we gave him Prudence and Knowledg the Mountains adored us with David and with him the Birds praised us we were with them when they praised us We taught you the manner of sowing Seed to preserve you from necessity peradventure ye will be thankful to me We commanded the Winds to obey Solomon and know all that he did The Devils obeyd him they dived into the Sea to fish for Gems for him and travelled also in other matters and we hindred them to act mischief against men Remember Iob who prayed to his Lord and said I am in exceeding great affliction thou art the merciful of the merciful We heard him and delivered him from his affliction gave to him our grace and to his family and to them that were with him who had patience and trusted in me Remember Ismael Enoch Delcafel and Zachary they persevered in well doing we gave them our grace because they were Righteous Remember Ionas who forsook his People in displeasure he believed I could do nothing against him but he cryed in the dark and said There is no God besides thee praised be thy Name I am to blame for having offended thee We heard him and delivered him from his disaster Thus do I protect True believers when they invoke me Remember Zachary who made his Prayer and said Lord I know there is no better Heir in the World than thy self yet let me not dye without issue We heard his request gave him a Son named Iohn and rendred his Wife fruitful All these Prophets went on with alacrity to do well and invoked us with humility with desire to obtain our grace and with fear of
the torments of Hell. Remember Mary whose womb I blessed we inspired into her our Spirit and gave her a Son a Miracle in the VVorld Your Law is one onely Law and I am one onely God worship me and be not impious ye all shall appear before me to be judged I will protect the True believers that shall have done good works and will write what they shall do for their reward Misery is upon the Cities that we have ruined their inhabitants shall not return into the World until the passage be opened to Iagog and Magog and they come running from the eminent places of the Earth then shall the Day of Judgment approach the promised Truth shall not be far off it shall trouble the sight of the wicked who shall say O misery We are miserable we did not foresee this disaster we have been exceeding too blame for having offended God. It shall be said unto them Ye worshipped instead of God the firebrands of Hell into which ye shall be cast headlong Had your Idols been Gods as ye believed they should not have entred Hell they and those that have adored them shall be eternally damned they shall groan complain and shall not be heard Such as shall be in Paradise shall be far remote from them they shall not hear their howlings and shall enjoy eternally what they shall desire the crys of the Damned shall not afflict them the Angels shall meet them when they come out of their graves and shall say Behold now the day that was foretold you in the World a Day wherein we will open the Heavens and the Book of the account of all men as we promised to your predecessors We exactly perform what we promise we have written in the Old Testament and afterwards in the Alcoran That the Righteous shall inherit the Earth This Book shall teach the way of Paradise to them that shall worship me We had not sent thee but in favour of men say unto them God hath always inspired into me that your God is one God will ye not obey him If they go astray I have taught you how they must be intreated Say unto them I know not whether the punishment denounced to you shall be speedy or tardy God knoweth what is known and unknown in the World I know not whether he will try you or defer his punishment until the time appointed He is a most just Judg and most merciful he is not such as ye speak him CHAP. XXII The Chapter of Pilgrimage containing Seventy and Seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful O ye People fear God. The Earthquake that shall happen at the Day of Judgment shall be wonderful ye shall that day see Mothers forget their Children and every one shall bear his own burden ye shall see men drunk not with Wine but amazed and astonished at the great judgments of God. There be who dispute of the Deity with ignorance and follow the will of the Devil voluntary and obstinate It is written he shall seduce them that obey him and shall conduct them into Hell. O ye People if ye doubt of the Resurrection consider how we created you of the dust of the Earth with a little Water sprinkled upon the Dust of the Earth with congealed blood and a little flesh intirely and not intirely formed I form in the wombs of Women what seemeth good to me at the time appointed I cause you to come forth Children then I give you life and make you to arrive to the Age of Virility some die young and others live to extremiry of Age to the end they may learn to live well Consider the Earth dry dead and barren when we shall cause Rain to fall it shall change the face shall produce and nourish its fruits of all sorts fair and pleasing Because God is truth it self he raiseth again the dead and is Omnipotent There is no doubt but the Day of Judgment approacheth and that God will cause the dead to rise again There be men that dispute of God without knowledg without reason without authority and go astray from the way of his Law they shall be full of ignominy and shame in this World and shall feel in the other the pains of Hell. God doth no injustice to his People There be who who adore him with scruple if good befal them they persevere to adore him if evil they return to their impiety and lose the riches of Earth and the riches of Heaven These two losses are exceeding great they invoke Idols instead of God they invoke what can neither benefit nor hurt them Such prayers are by-ways far remote from the Commandments of God they worship that which doth rather mischief nor advantage them Certainly God shall make the True-believers that do good works to enter into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers he doth what seemeth good to him He that is angry that God giveth succor and protection to Mahomet in this World and in the other let him tye a Cord to a Beam of his House and hang himself he shall see if his choller will be allayed God hath sent the Alcoran as heretofore he sent the other Scriptures it containeth his Commandments clear and intelligible it guideth into the right way whom it pleaseth him He at the Day of Judgment shall judg the differences that are between the Faithful and Infidels between the Samaritans the Christians and Idolaters he is Omniscient Seest thou not that all that is in Heaven and on Earth the Sun the Moon the Stars the Mountains Trees and Beasts adore him Many worship him with zeal but many likewise merit to be punished None shall esteem him whom God shall despise he doth as seemeth good to him These two contrary parties the Believers and the Infidels have disputed of the Deity but the Infidels shall be encompassed with flames of Hell they shall have Shirts of Fire boyling Water shall flow in upon their Heads the Fire shall burn what is in their Bellies and shall roast their Skin they shall be beaten with Clubs of Iron when they think to go out of this Fire they shall enter further into it and be eternally tormented God shall cause the True-believers that have done good works to go into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers they shall be adorned with Bracelets of Gold and Pearls they shall be clothed with Silk and enjoy Eternal felicity because they have professed his Unity and the Infidels shall suffer great torments for that they have hindred the People to imbrace the Faith and visit the Temple of Mecca which God hath established to be therein adored of all the World He that shall be sollicited to visit it and shall enter it with design to return to his impiety shall be severely punished Remember that we shewed to Abraham the place to build the Temple of Mecca that we commanded him to adore me alone and to purge my Temple from Idols for the satisfaction of them
ye do your Law is one Law and I alone am your Lord take heed to your selves follow not the Law of the Infidels every one liketh what he doth depart from the wicked and leave them in their errors an account shall be required of them of the riches and of the Children that we have given them but they know it not Such as fear the punishment of their Lord that obey his Commandments profess his Unity give Alms of the substance that he hath given them and fear in their Heart that they are not acceptable to them shall appear in his presence such as shall obey him shall enjoy his grace he requireth not of any man what he is unable to perform We have a Book that declareth the truth no injustice shall be done to him that shall do what he is able certainly the Infidels are in ignorance of the Alcoran they act what is quite contrary to that which is commanded True believers but we have punished the chief among them in their prosperity Be not this Day resolute ye shall not be protected of us Our Commandments are taught you nevertheless ye are returned upon your steps and are risen against the Faith and in discoursing by Night withdrew your selves from the Righteous Consider they not the words of the Alcoran Doth it contain any thing that hath not been ordained to their Predecessors Know they not the Prophet that God hath sent to them Wherefore will they not acknowledg him Will they say that he is possessed of the Devil On the contrary he teacheth them the truth nevertheless the greatest part of them detest him if their will had place Heaven and Earth and whatsoever is betwixt them should be confounded we have instructed them in the Law which they ought to observe but they have renounced it Dost thou require of them any recompence for thy instructions Thy Lord shall reward thee there is none that is of power to recompence thee better than He. Call them to the right way such as shall not believe the Resurrection shall err If we pardon and deliver them from affliction they will still continue in their errors to their confusion we heretofore chastised them nevertheless they humble not themselves neither implored their Lord and when we opened upon them the gate of our Judgments they became desperate God hath given you sight hearing and sense but few among you return him thanks he it is that hath created you of earth ye shall one day be assembled before him to be judged he it is that giveth life and death and maketh the difference of day and night will you not honor him neither consider On the contrary they have said as did their predecessors wherefore shall we die our bones shall be dust and shall we rise again This was heretofore promised to our fathers and to us certainly it is but an old song Say unto them to whom appertaineth the earth and whatsoever is in the earth if ye know its Creator and King They will say it is God's Say unto them know ye not then that he that created you can raise you again Who is Lord of the seven heavens who possesseth the throne of heaven They will say it is God say unto them will ye not fear then to worship any other God but him Say unto them who is King of all things who sustaineth them and is sustained of none They will say that it is God Say unto them why then do ye deceive your selves we have taught them the truth but they have rejected it and said that God had a son were there another God with God the one would undo what the other hath done and they would rise the one against the other Praised be God what they affirm is not true God knoweth that is past the present and the future he hath no companion Say Lord give me to see the effect of all that thou hast promised to them and put me not among the unjust deliver us from evil and do good to us I know their impiety Lord deliver me from the temptations of the devil deliver me from their malice when any one among them dieth he saith Lord permit me to return into the world I will do better than I have done there is no return it is to speak in vain there is an obstacle behind them that detaineth them until the day of Judgment when the Trumpet shall sound nothing shall retard them they shall not glory nor discourse with each other the ballance of the blessed shall be heavy with good works and the ballance of the cursed shall be light of good works Have not my Commandments been preached unto you wherefore did ye contemn them They shall say Lord our misery prevailed over us we are mislead Lord deliver us from this misery the contrary was promised to us truly we are exceedingly too blame It shall be said unto them depart into the fire and never speak to come out Many of them that worship me say Lord we believe in thee pardon our sins thou art merciful Ye have derided them O ye wicked and have despised my Commandments but I will reward them for their perseverance and they shall be blessed It shall be said to those that rise again how many years have ye remained in the earth they shall answer we have been there a day or some days ask of the Angels appointed to keep the account ye have been there but a litte time did ye know it do ye believe that I have created and assembled you before me in vain Praise and exalt God King of Truth there is no God but he he is King of heaven he is void of reason that invoketh another god with Him he shall give account of his actions and the Infidels shall be miserable Say Lord pardon the sins of the righteous thou art the great merciful CHAP. XXIV The Chapter of Light containing Seventy and four Verses written at MEDINA IN the name of God gracious and merciful We have sent this Chapter containing our Commandments clear and intelligible peradventure ye will learn them The Catamite and the Concubine shall be whipt with an hundred stripes take heed left clemency cause you to forget the precepts of the Law of God believe in his divine Majesty and the day of Judgment Some of the True believers shall be witnesses of their punishment The Catamite lying with a Concubine or an Infidel the Concubine lying with a Catamite or Infidel these things are forbidden the True believers He that shall accuse an honest woman of adultery shall be whipt with twenty four stripes unless he prove his accusation by four witnesses and shall never be credited in testimony They that do such things are without the obedience of God except those that repent and satisfie what they owe God shall be to them gracious and merciful They that shall accuse their wives of adultery and have no witnesses shall swear four times that they speak the truth and
his Divine Majesty for them that have his fear before their eyes I will one day assemble Idolaters with their Idols God shall say unto them you are they who have seduced my creatures from the right way they shall say praised be thy Name we ought to have worshipped none but thy Divine Majesty but the wealth that thou gavest to our Magistrates and their life which thou didst prolong caused them to forget thy Commandments they were pernicious men in that they abjured thy Law they cannot this day be exempt from the punishment of our crimes neither protect us against thy wrath The Idolaters shall be rigorously punished the Prophets that we sent before thee did eat Bread and Meat and walked through the streets we prove them one after another Persevere God beholdeth them that are patient Those that believe not in the Resurrection have said The Angels are not descended from Heaven we have not seen God they are become proud and are fallen into an exceeding great error but the wicked shall one day be without comfort when they see the Angels they shall cry help help We will set before their eyes all the sins that they have committed the good works which they shall think to have done shall be like to dust which the wind carryeth away and the blessed shall enjoy a most certain good they shall hear of nothing but what contenteth them When the Heaven and the Air shall divide themselves and the Angels shall descend then shall the truth appear and the merciful shall Reign that day shall be tedious to Infidels they shall bite their fingers and say would to God I had followed the Prophet and his Apostle Oh misery would to God I had not contracted amity with such an Infidel he seduced me from the right way he hindred me to believe in the Alcoran which God sent certainly the Devil hath tempted men Then shall the Prophet say Lord such as have followed me have obeyed what is written in the Alcoran and the Infidels have rejected it We have appointed an enemy among the wicked to every Prophet of them that were before thee but it sufficeth thee that God guideth and protecteth thee The Infidels have demanded if the Alcoran was sent all at once I have so done to confirm the truth in thy heart I have sent it piece by piece they shall not shew thee any thing like unto it I have instructed thee in the Truth clear and intelligible the incredulous shall be confined in the Fire of Hell and be most miserable Certainly We gave to Moses the Book of the Law we sent with him his Brother Aaron to assist him and said unto them Go both of you preach unto Infidels we will destroy them unless they be converted When the People of Noah despised our Commandment we drowned them and made them serve for example to Posterity and prepared great torments for the impious Remember Aad Temod and those that dwelt nigh unto the Well a long time after them we spake to them in Parables and destroyed them Oh ye wicked consider the misery of the City upon which fell that mischievous Rain that destroyed them because the Inhabitants believed not in the Resurrection When the Infidels saw thee appear they derided thee and said This Prophet would seduce us and make us to abandon our God we had patience and deferred our punishment They shall know at the Day of Judgment them that have been seduced Hast thou considered the action of him that spake of his God after his fantasie Wert thou his Tutor to hinder him to speak Dost thou believe that the greatest part of the wicked hear and understand what thou speakest to them They are like Beasts and worse Seest thou how thy Lord sheddeth the Rose Were it his will it should be permanent the Sun hath caused it to melt and attracteth it gently to himself He it is that created the Night for repose and the Day for labour He it is that sendeth the Winds by his special grace he maketh Rain to descend from Heaven to refresh the Earth to give it life to water the beasts and for the contentment of men we have divided it among them that they may be mindful of our grace nevertheless the greatest part of them are ungrateful Had we so pleased we had sent to every City a preacher to preach unto the Inhabitants the Torments of Hell obey not Infidels preach to them frequently what is written in the Alcoran It is God that hath sweetned the water of Euphrates that joyned the two Seas that made them Salt and put between them a separation to hinder them to mix He created Man and Woman of a little water to increase and multiply together thy Lord can do whatsoever him pleaseth yet do the Infidels adore what can neither benefit nor hurt them and assist the devil their master to tempt the world We sent thee only to preach the torments of hell and to proclaim the joys of Paradise Say unto them I require not of you reward for my preaching he that shall be acceptable to God will follow the way of his Law Praise and exalt thy Lord trust in him he knoweth all the sins of men he created the heavens and the â—…arth in six days and sitteth on his Throne learn this of him that knoweth it When it was said to the Infidels worship the merciful God they said what merciful shall we worship what ye appoint us and they added to their impiety Blessed be he that created the signs of heaven that created the Sun and the Moon full of Brightness and light and hath made the dayes to succeed each other to return him thanks for his graces The servants of the merciful that walk with humility that salute the ignorant when they speak to them Such as pray to and worship God day and night such as say Lord deliver us from the torments of hell those that fear God that are not prodigal nor covetous that follow the middle way betwixt prodigality and avarice those that worship one God that kill no man but with reason and following the Commandments of God and that are not luxurious shall enjoy eternally the grace of God such as do the contrary shall be chastised their punishment shall be augmented at the day of Judgment and they shall be damned for ever except him that shall be converted and shall have done good works God shall give him pardon of his sins he is gracious and merciful They who do good works and repent who make no false oath who are humble and are not wilfully deaf and dumb when they hear the Alcoran read and say Lord give us and our posterity children that may be the light of our eyes and be obedient to thee work in us a fear to disobey thy Commandments such persons shall enjoy eternally the delights of Paradise for reward of their perseverance they shall there find salutations and benedictions with immense graces Say unto the
wicked God will not enlighten you neither hearken to your prayers because ye have traduced his Prophet the time of the punishment of your crimes shall suddenly arrive CHAP. XXVI The Chapter of Poets containing an hundred and twenty seven Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful God is most pure he understandeth all things he is most wise These signs are the signs of the book that distinguisheth truth from falshood wilt thou destroy thy self because men are impious If I will I can cause my judgments to descend upon them that shall humble them they despise my Commandments they scoff but shall be rigorously punished See they not how many fruits we have made to spring out of the earth It is a token of our Omnipotency nevertheless the greatest part of them believe not that thy Lord is the omnipotent and the merciful Instruct them how thy Lord said unto Moses thou shalt be my messenger to the Infidels and the people of Pharoah that they may have my fear before their eyes Moses said Lord I fear they may traduce me and that my tongue cannot be loosed send with me my brother Aaron they know the fault I have committed and will put me to death The Lord said to him they shall not put thee to death go both whither I command you I will be with you and will hear what they say say to Pharoah that ye are the Messengers of the Lord of the World and let him dismiss with you the Children of Israel Pharoah said unto Moses have I not seen thee within this house a little Child Didst thou not dwell with us many years Dist thou not kill a man Thou art impious Moses said I did what I did I was in the number of the seduced I fled when I feared you since that time God hath given me knowledg and placed me in the number of his Prophets and Apostles he hath sent me his grace to set before thee the evil that thou dost commit in causing thy self to be adored of the Children of Israel Pharoah said unto him who is that God of the World He answered it is the Lord of Heaven and Earth and of whatsoever is between them Pharoah said to them that were about him Hear ye not what he saith Moses continued his speech and said my Lord is your God the God of your Fathers and of your Predecessors Pharoah said this Prophet that is sent to you is a fool Moses said I am indeed the Messenger of the Lord of the West and East if ye had understanding to know him Pharoah said if thou worship any other God but me I will cause thee to be put unto the bottom of a Pit Moses said to him Wilt thou do it seeing I am come to thee with reasons so strong and arguments so infallible Pharaoh said unto him Bring thy reasons if thou art true Then he cast his staff on the ground and it was changed into a Serpent he drew his Hand out of his bosom it appeared white and shining to the Eyes of the spectators Then said Pharoah to them that were about him Certainly behold here a skilful Magician he would drive you from your Country through his Magick what say ye They answered He with his Brother must be terrified and men must be sent into all thy Cities to assemble the most knowing Magicians of all thy Dominions when they came together at the day appointed it was demanded of them if they were called to follow the magick of Moses and of Aaron They said what shall be our reward if we be victorious Pharoah said unto them Yes ye shall be rewarded and be among them that approach my Person Moses said unto them will you cast your staves on the ground or shall I first cast mine They cast their cords and their staves first saying With the assistance of Pharoah we shall be victorious then Moses cast his Rod on the ground which devoured their cords and staves when they beheld this miracle they fell prostrate and said We believe in the Lord of the World God of Moses and Aaron Pbaroah said to them If ye believe in Moses without my permission ye shall see what shall 〈◊〉 you he is your Master he understandeth Magick better than you I will cause your right feet and left hands or your right hands and left feet to be cut off and cause you all to be hanged they said This shall do us none harm we shall return before God our Lord we hope that he will remit our sins because we shall be the first Converts We said unto Moses go with the Children of Israel my servants and fear not the People of Pharoah that shall follow thee Pharoah sent his Commissioners through his Dominions to assemble the People and said speaking of the Children of Israel those men are few in number they have displeased me but I will well awake them We moved Pharoah and his People to depart out of Egypt to pursue the Children of Israel we caused them to quit their Gardens Fountains and Houses of pleasure and made the Children of Israel heirs of their treasure they surpriz'd them at the rising of the Sun when the Children of Israel beheld them they said we are overtaken Moses answered No my Lord is with me he shall guide me then we inspired Moses to strike the Sea with his Rod incontinently it divided it self on both sides like two Mountains we saved him and all that were wiâ—…h him and drowned the men of Pharoah which shall serve for an example to the incredulous and obstinate thy Lord is Omnipotent and merciful Relate to unbelievers the History of Abraham when he said to his Father and his People whom do ye adore they answered We adore our Idols he said unto them Do they hear you when ye invoke them Do they good unto you when ye worship them or mischief when ye neglect them they answered We find that our Fathers worshipped them as we do Abraham said unto them you and your Fathers worship vain things ye adore only Idols mine Enemies I will not worship them I will worship the Lord of the World who created guideth and nourisheth me who giveth me health when I am sick who maketh me to live and will cause me to die and from whom I hope for pardon of my Sins at the Day of Judgment Lord give me the knowledg of thy will grant that my Tongue and Words may be credited as true by Posterity put me into the number of the Heirs of Paradise pardon my Father who hath been in the number of the erroneous and make me not ashamed at the Day of the Resurrection at the Day when riches and Children shall be unprofitable except to such as shall have an heart estranged from Impiety God shall make the righteous to approach to Paradise and the wicked to see Hell They shall say Can the Idols that ye adore save you Can they save themselves They shall be
it they are remote from the Angels and cannot hear their speech say not there is another God with God if thou say it thou shalt be chastised preach the torments of Hell to them that shall follow thee be humble and civil to True believers if they disobey thee say unto them I am innocent of what ye do and am resigned to the Will of God 〈◊〉 potent and merciful He beholdeth thee when thou dost pray and worship him he heareth and knoweth all things Shall I tell ye to whom the Devils address themselves They apply themselves to Lyars they tell to them what they have heard spoken but they all lye The erronous imitate the Poets they are confuted in their Discourse and say they have done what they have not except those that believe in God that do good works who often think of his Divine Majesty and that have been protected against the injustice of Infidels the unjust shall know that they shall one day rise again CHAP. XXVII The Chapter of the Pismire containing Fourscore and thirteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful God is most pure he understandeth all These mysteries are the mysteries of the Alcoran which distinguisheth the Truth from a Lye it conducteth men into the right way and proclaimeth the Joys of Paradise to such as believe in the Law of God who make their prayers at the time appointed pay Tithes and have knowledg of their end They that believe not in the Day of Judgment like well of what they do and are in confusion they shall in the end be in the number of the damned The Alcoran was conveyed to thee from the most prudent that knoweth all things Remember thou that Moses said to his Family I see a Fire I go to it I will bring you tidings I will bring you a spark peradventure you shall be warmed when he drew near to the Fire he heard a voice that said to him oh Moses that which is in this Fire and whatsoever is about it is blessed praise is due to God Lord of the Universe I am God Omnipotent and Eternal Cast thy staff on the ground When Moses beheld his staff to move as it had been alive he went back very sorrowful and returned no more Fear not that staff my Messenger and my Prophets have no fear in my presence he that shall be converted shall find me gracious and merciful Put thine Hand into thy Pocket it shall come forth white without harm it shall be one of the Nine marks of my Omnipotency Pharoah and his Ministers were altogether erroneous when they saw my Miracles they said that they were but Sorcery they despised them and encreased their impiety Consider what is the end of the wicked and how they have been destroyed We gave knowledg to David and to Solomon they said God hath gratified us above many of his Servants that have believed in his Omnipotency Solomon was David's Hâ—…ir and and said to the People we understand the Language of Birds we know whatsoever can be known it is an exceeding great Grace Solomon's Army being one day assembled before him composed of Men Devils and Birds â—…e lead them to the Valleâ—… of Pismires a 〈◊〉 their Queen cryed out Oh Pismires â—… enter into your Houses leâ—…t Solomon and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trample you under foot withâ—… knowledg 〈◊〉 it Solomon hearing these words 〈◊〉 some time without speaking and 〈◊〉 end began to laugh saying Lord assist me that I may give thee thanks for the benefits and graces which thou didst confer upon my Father if I do well thou wilt accept it place me through thy Mercy in number of them that exalt thy glory he called for the Whoop and said Wherefore see I not the Whoop Is she in the number of the absent I will punish and put her to death if she have not a lawful excuse not long after she humbled her self before Solomon who asked her whence she came She answered I come from seeing what thou seest not I come from the Kingdom of Saba whence I bring certain tidings I have found a woman their Queen who hath whatsoever is necessary for a King she hath a great and magnificent Throne I have found that she with her Subjects adore the Sun the Devil caused them to delight in this their action he hath seduced them from the right way and they shall be in error until they worship one God who sendeth Rain from Heaven and maketh the Earth to produce Plants and Fruits who knoweth whatsoever is in the hearts of men and what they utter God! There is but one God Lord of the Universe Solomon said I shall soon see if thou speak truth or whether thou be in the number of the Lyars Go bear to her this Letter and observe what she and her People shall answer at her arrival the Queen said to her Ministers Oh ye that are raised to dignity in my dominions a Letter is given me from Solomon of this tenour In the Name of God gracious and merciful rise not up against me and obey me Give me counsel what I ought to do I will do nothing without your advice and what you see not with your eyes They answered Our welfare and misery depend on thee command whatsoever shall seem good to thee and we will obey thee She said When Kings enter a City they introduce many disorders they abase and humble the chief of the Inhabitants and the most eminent if Solomon and his People come hither they will use us in the like manner I think it requisite to send to him an Ambassador with some presents perhaps he will take a resolution to return When the Ambassador arrived in Solomon's presence he said unto him Do ye bring me presents God hath bestowed on me more riches then on you presents rejoyce you because ye love them Return to them that sent you I will go visit them with Forces so great that they shall not be able to resist I will drive them out of their Dominions and they shall be miserable if they obey me not Then he said to his People Sirs who will bring to me the Royal Seat of that Woman before she and her subjects obey me One of the Devils said unto him I I will bring it before thou arise from thy place I am strong enough to bear it I will carry it carefully One of them that attended Solomon who knew the Scriptures said I will bring it to thee in the twinkling of an eye When Solomon beheld this Throne before him he said Behold here a favour of God to try if I would acknowledg his benefits He that returneth thanks to God for his graces performeth his duty he rejecteth him that is ungrateful I will try if she followeth the right way or whether she be in the number of the seduced They changed something in her Royal seat to try if she would know it when she arrived in Solomon's presence
most miserable Pharoah said to his Ministers do ye know any other God but me O Hâ—…min let me offer sacrifices and build a Temple shall I deceive my self with the God of Mâ—…ses I believe him to be in the number of lyars He became proud on earth with his Ministers and they believed that they should never be assembled 〈◊〉 me to be judged we surprized him with his people and caused him to perish in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of unbelievers we abandoned them and they are in the number of the condemned to the fire of hell They shall find none to protect them at the day of Judgment we cursed them on earth and at the day of the Resurrection they shall be abominable to all the world We taught Moses our Commandments after the destruction of many Infidels before his coming We gave him the Book to be a light to the people to conduct them into the right way and acquire our grace peradventure they will remember Thou wert not with Moses when we spake to him to him we created another age after him thou didst not at that time dwell with the Inhabitants of Madian neither didst thou teach them our Commandments it is we that have instructed thee in the History of past ages thou wert not on the mountain when we spake to Moses we sent thee through our special grace to preach to men the torments of hell they have not yet had a preacher like unto thee perhaps they will consider it when they felt any punishment for their sins they said Lord hadst thou sent us an Apostle to instruct us we should have obeyed thy Commandments and have believed in thy Law and when on our part they were instructed in the Truth they said doth Mahomet work miracles like Moses Do they not traduce what Moses did when they say that Moses and Mahomet are two apparent Sorcerers and when they said that they believed neither Prophet nor Scripture Say unto them bring any book from God that better teacheth the right way than the Old Testament and more savingly than the Alcoran I will follow it if ye speak the truth If they be not heard when they shall require this book know that they follow only their own appetites and their impiety who is more erroneous than he that followeth but his own passion and is not guided of God He guideth not Infidels Certainly we have sent them the Alcoran peradventure they will believe in it they to whom we heretofore sent this Book believe in the contents thereof when they hear it read they say we believe in those words it is the very Truth that proceedeth from God we believe in the Unity of his Divine Majesty they shall be doubly rewarded because they have persevered in well-doing they have overcome evil through their good deeds and have expended in good works part of the Wealth that we gave them When they heard the Faith evil spoken of they withdrew themselves took leave of the company and said Ye shall answer for your selves and we for our actions Regard not the ignorant thou shalt not convert all them that thou shalt desire to convert God converteth and guideth into the right way whom he pleaseth and knoweth such as serve him They said if I follow with thee the right way I must forsake my Country Shall not I establish them in a place of safety where they shall find all sorts of fruits to enrich them But the greatest part of the People know it not How many Cities have we destroyed that took pleasure in their evil life No man inhabited them any more except very few and we became heirs of their riches God shall not destroy Mecca until he have sent an Apostle to instruct the Inhabitants thereof in the right way God destroyeth not a City if the Inhabitants be not unjust and disobey not his Commandments the Wealth of this World which ye possess pleaseth you but the Riches of Heaven are much better and eternal will ye not understand it Have we not kept promise with them to whom we promised Paradise And with them to whom we promised the Riches of this World and in the end were in the number of the damned Be thou mindful of the day when thy Lord shall call them and say unto them where are your Idols which ye believed to be my Companions The chief of them shall say Lord behold those that were seduced like us we are innocent of their Idolatry they adored not us they shall speak that day to the Idolaters to invoke their Idols but they shall not hear them they shall be visibly chastised on Earth Be thou mindful of the day when thy Lord shall call them and say unto them Wherefore have ye not believed my Apostles and my Prophets They shall be confounded and remain dumb He that shall be converted and do good works shall be happy Thy Lord createth what pleaseth him and maketh choice of what seemeth to him good Praised be God he hath no Companion he knoweth what is in the hearts of men and what they make manifest he is God there is no God but he praise is due to him in the beginning and in the end he commandeth over all things and all People shall one day be assembled before him to be judged say unto them Had God given a continual Night even until the Day of Judgment what other God is there that is able to give you light Will ye not hear me Had God given you a continual Day until the Day of Judgment what other God could have given the Night to refresh you Will ye not consider his benefits and his grace He hath created the Night for repose and the Day for Labour peradventure ye will give him thanks Be thou mindful of the Day when thy Lord shall call the Infidels and shall say unto them where are the Idols that ye worshipped We will call a witness of every Nation and will say to the Idolaters Bring your arguments that may prove the Plurality of Gods Ye shall this day know your Blasphemies and that there is but one God. Caron was of the People of Moses he was proud because of his riches we gave so great treasures that many men were burthened when they conveyed away the Keyes Remember how his People said unto him Rejoyce not above measure in thy great wealth God abhorreth them that rejoyce without reason beg of him Paradise with thy Riches forget not to do good in this World give alms of the substance which God hath given thee be not disobedient to him on Earth he abhorreth those that disobey him these Riches were given thee because thou didst instruct the People in the Old Testament knowest thou not that God destroyed in times past many rich and opulent persons Who is more strong more powerful more rich than God He will not enquire of the wicked the number of their sins he knoweth all and the accompt Caron one daâ—… went forth
into publick with all his 〈◊〉 they that affected the wealth of this World said Would to God we had as much wealth as 〈◊〉 he is happy but the more knowing among them said Ye are unhappy the grace of God is more advantageous to them that believe in his Law and do good works than all the Treasures of â—…ron none shall receive his grace but such as shall obey him and persevere in 〈◊〉 to his Commandments We deprived Caron of all his Treasures and none was able to 〈◊〉 him against us then they that had 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 said oh Miracle God giveth to and 〈◊〉 of wealth whom to him seemeth good 〈◊〉 not God given us his Grace we had been 〈◊〉 cerâ—… the wicked shall be miserable I will bestow Paradise on them that hate Vanity and disorder upon the Earth and shall have my fear before their eyes whosoever shall do good shall find good who doth evil shall be chastised after his demerits He that hath taught thee the Alcoran shall cause thee to return to the place that thou desirest Tell the inhabitants of that place that God knoweth them that teach the right way and such as go astray Thou didst not expect the Alcoran it is a special grace of thy Lord assist not the Infidels and take heed lest they seduce thee after having learnt what hath been taught thee preach to the People the Unity of God be not in the number of them that believe many Deities adore God alone there is no God but he all things shall have an end except his Face he commandeth over every thing and all men shall one day appear before him to be judged CHAP. XXIX The Chapter of the Spider containing Sixty nine Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I am God most Wise. Men have believed that it is sufficient to say We believe in God and that they be not proved Certainly God proved their Predecessors and knew such as were zealous in his Law and them that were Infidels Do they who have done evil think to escape the punishment of their Crimes and not to be judged Such as hope to see God shall behold him at the time appointed by his divine Majesty he understandeth and knoweth all things He that fighteth for the faith fighteth for his soul certainly God hath no need of men their sins shall be pardoned who shall believe in his divine Majesty and shall do good works We enjoyned the children of Israel to honour their father and mother and to do good to them if they press thee to worship many Gods thou shalt be damned if thou give ear to them obey them not in this matter ye shall be assembled before me I will set before you all that ye have done I will reward you according to your works and place such as shall have observed my Law in the number of the blessed There be men who affirm that they believe in God and are impatient when evil befalleth them from God to prove them If God give victory to the True believers they say that they are on their side but doth not God know what is in their heart He knoweth them that believe in his Law and those that are impious The Infidels said to the True believers do like us follow our way we will bear your sins They will not bear them they are lyars they shall bear their own burdens shall not an account of their sins be required of them at the day of Judgment We sent Noah to instruct men he lived upon the Earth nine hundred and fifty years The Flood surprized and destroyed the people of his time because they were unjust and we saved Noah and those that were with him in the Ark this ought to serve for example to all the world Remember Abraham who said to his people Adore one God and fear him ye shall do well if ye have knowledge to comprehend it ye worship but Idols and are but lyars those whom ye worship cannot benefit you implore succor of God worship him and give him thanks for his graces ye shall one day appear before him if ye traduce me those that were before you traduced the Prophets Gods Messengers Messengers are obliged only to discharge their message are ye ignorant that God causeth men to dye and shall raise them again it is a thing easie to God Walk through the Earth and consider how God hath extirpated your predecessors and created after them another people certainly he is omnipotent He punisheth and pardoneth as he seeth good you all shall one day be assembled before him to be judged you shall not render him impotent either in Earth or in the Heavens ye shall find none of power to protect or defend you against his divine Majesty such as obey not his Commandments who believe not the resurrection and despair of his mercy shall suffer great torments The people answered kill Abraham and burn him but God delivered him from the fire that they had kindled which shall serve for example to True believers He said unto them ye adore only Idols because of your love to the wealth of the world ye shall despise and curse each other at the day of Judgment Hell shall be your habitation and ye shall be deprived of protection Lot believed in his words and said I will retire to the place which my Lord shall appoint me he alone is omnipotent and most wise We gave to Abraham two sons Isaac and Iacob we caused Prophets to be be born of his race and taught his progeny the Scripture we rewarded him in this world and he shall be at the day of judgment in the number of the blessed Remember Lot who said to his people Ye defile your selves with filthiness unknown to any before you ye incline to the love of men ye rob upon the high ways and defile one another This people answered Let us see the judgments of God if what thou speakest be true Then he said Lord protect me against unbelievers When our Messengers came towards Abraham to declare to him that he should have children they said unto him We will ruine Lots City and destroy all the inhabitants thereof because they are impious Abraham answered Lot dwelleth in that City they said We know all that is within it and we will preserve him with all his family except his wife she shall be in the number of them that shall be punished When our Messengers arived at Lots house he was troubled in that he had not strength sufficient to defend them from the malice of the people they said unto him Fear nothing neither afflict thy self We will preserve thee and all thy family except thy wife she shall abide among them that shall be destroyed we will cause the indignation of God to fall upon this City because of their impiety it shall serve for example to posterity We sent Chaib ro his brethren the inhabitants of Madian he said unto them Worship
causeth the barren earth to revive and grow green after its death in like manner will he cause you to arise again and come out of your sepulchres it is a sign of his Omnipotency to have created you of earth to have given you flesh and bones and to have created the woman of the rib of the man to dwell with him he hath commanded you to love mutually and to exercise charity among you these things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that consider his graces The creation of heaven and earth the diversity of tongues the differences of your visages and of your colour the night created for repose and the day for travel the lightning that terrifieth the people and which through raâ—…n causeth the earth again to flourish are signs of his Omnipotency It is a token of his Omnipotency to sustain the heaven and the earth ye shall come out of your sepulchers when he shall call you whatsoever is in heaven and earth obey him he causeth men to die and to rise again he alone is God in heaven and earth he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things He speaketh to you in a parable drawn from your selves your slaves are they your companions do they equally partake with you in the goods which God hath given you How then will ye say that God hath a companion equal to him Thus do I unfold his mysteries to persons that have knowledg to 〈◊〉 them certainly the wicked have followed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with ignorance who shall guide him whom God 〈◊〉 cause to err he shall find no protector embrace the law of Salvation God hath established it that men may observe it It admitteth no alteration but the greatest part of the world are ignorant of it Fear God make your prayers at the time appointed be not like to them that say God hath a companion neither like to them that are at present in the number of Heretiques and were before as ye are every Sect is pleased in its opinions when any evil befalleth them that call upon God and are converted nevertheless some of them return to their Idolatry after the reception of his grace they are ingrateful They shall awhile be tolertaed and in the end they shall too late understand their error Have we taught them reasons and arguments that prove that I have a companion The People rejoyced when we enlarged to them our Graces and became desperate when evil befel them see they not that I give and take away Wealth as to me seemeth good This is a token of my Unity to such as obey my Commandments Give to your Neighbour what appertaineth to him and particularly to the poor and true believers if ye desire to see the Face of God such as shall do it shall be blessed The Money which ye put to Usury encreaseth in the hands of men God shall not suffer it to prosper the Alms which ye give shall make you to see the Face of his Divine Majesty and shall be doubly restored to you God hath created you he enricheth you and causeth you to die and rise again can your Idols do as much Praised be God he hath no companion disorder appeared in the Earth and in the Sea because of the iniquities of men peradventure they will be converted when they shall feel the punishment of their Crimes say unto them Go throughout the Earth and consider the end of your Predecessors the greatest part of them were Idolaters embrace the true Law before the Day cometh when none shall be heard that Day shall the wicked be separated from the good the impious shall give an account of their impiety and such as shall have lived well shall enjoy the joys of Paradise the Grace of God shall be their recompence God abhorreth Infidels It is a sign of his Omnipotency to send the Winds to bring you Rain and make you to taste the Fruits of his Grace the Ship runneth upon the Water through his permission for the advantage of your commerce will ye not be thankful to him for his benefits We sent to every Nation Prophets and Apostles before thee they came with most intelligible Precepts and with many Miracles we chastised those that slandred them and protected the faithful God sendeth the winds that elevate the Clouds and extendeth them in the Air in many pieces at his pleasure he causeth the Rain to fall where he listeth and rejoyceth whom to him seemeth good of them that expect it with impatience consider the effects of his bounty he causeth the dry and barren Earth to flourish again and restoreth the Dead to Life he is Omnipotent We sent the Winds to assemble the Clouds that covered Men with their shadow nevertheless they are returned to their impiety the dead shall not understand thee neither likewise the dumb thou art not obliged to lead the Blind none shall hearken to thee but such as shall believe in my Law and be obedient Say unto them God created you impotent he hath given you strength and after having reduced you to the weakness of Old age doth what to him seemeth good he knoweth mens secrets and doth what pleaseth him the wicked shall swear at the Day of Judgment that they have remained but an hour in their sepulchres they lye in like manner when they deny the Resurrection the True Believers that know the Truth shall say unto them Ye have remained there the time appointed in the Book of God to wit until the Day of Resurrection behold the Day of Resurrection ye knew not at what time it should arrive this day excuses shall be unprofitable to Infidels they shall be deprived of protection We have taught in the Alcoran all that is profitable for the Salvation of Men if thou teachest them my Commandments unbelievers will say Thou bringest nothing but disorder thus God hardneth the hearts of the ignorant Be patient and persevere what God promiseth is infallible beware lest unbelievers shake thy perseverance CHAP. XXXI The Chapter of Locman containing Thirty Four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God Gracious and Merciful I am the most Wise God. These Precepts are the Precepts of the Book filled with Doctrine it guideth into the way of Salvation the Righteous who make their prayers at the time appointed that pay Tithes and believe in the Day of Judgment they are guided by their Lord and shall be blessed There be who deride this Book they ignorantly depart from the Law of God and have despised it but shall one day be severely punished When they are taught the Commandments of God they turn the back with disdain they will not hear and have Ears stopped say unto them You shall in the end suffer infinite pains Such as believe in the Law of God and do good works shall eternally enjoy the Delights of Paradise what God promiseth is infallible he is Omnipotent and altogether wise he created the Heaven and sustaineth it without a Pillar appearing to your Eyes he lifted
〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 they shall say Lord we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Superiors they seduced us 〈◊〉 the right way Lord chastise them douâ—… and give them thy curse O ye that believe be not like them that displeased Moses he was innnocent of the crimes that they laid upon him he was inspired of God fear God and speak with civility your works shall be acceptable to him and he shall pardon your sins he that shall obey God and his Apostle shall be happy fidelity and obedience are pleasing to him in Heaven and in Earth and upon the Mountains Such as depart far from him as did Adam do injury to themselves and are ignorant he shall chastise those men and women that shall be disobedient and impious he will give his grace to those men and women that shall believe in his Law he is gracious and merciful to them that obey him CHAP. XXXIV The Chapter of †Saba containing Fifty four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praised be God whatsoever is in Heaven and in the Earth appertaineth to him praise is due unto him he is most Wise and Omniscient he knoweth whatsoever entreth into the Earth and cometh out of it whatsoever ascendeth to Heaven and descendeth he is gracious and merciful to his creatures The wicked demand if they shall see the Day of Judgment say unto them yes and that thy Lord knoweth the time he knoweth what is past present and future and all that is in Heaven and in the Earth even to the weight of an Atome what is yet less and what is yet greater than an Atome is written in a Book that discovereth every thing he shall reward the True believers that have done good works he shall give them his Mercy and enrich them with precious treasures Such as have endeavoured to suppress his Law shall feel the effects of his indignation They that understand the Scripture know that God hath taught thee the very truth to guide the People into the right way into the path of honour and vertue but the wicked said among them will ye believe a man who affirmeth that after your death ye shall rise again and be new creatures He lyeth impudently he is possessed of the Devil Certainly they that believe not in the Resurrection are in an exceeding great error and shall suffer most grievous pains see they not what is above and what is below them Consider they not the Heaven and the Earth If I will I can render it barren and cause a piece of the Heaven to fall upon them for a sign of my Omnipotency We gave our grace to David and spake to the Mountains Birds and Metals with him to praise me we commanded him to make Cuirasses and Iron was soft in his hand as Wax O Lineage of David be not ingrateful I see whatsoever ye do We made the Winds subject to Solomon he commanded them Evening and Morning from the East to the West we gave him a Fountain and a Brook of dissolved Brass the Devils through our permission wrought it to his mind and we punished in the Fire of Hell such as refused to obey him They built for him lofty Palaces and spacious houses they formed Basons for Water Channels and Pools We said unto him O Lineage of David be not ingrateful for my graces for that few persons do acknowledge them When he dyed through our Commandment nothing discovered his death to the Devils but the worms that had eaten the end of his staff whereon he leaned when the Devils saw him fall they perceived that had they known the future and what was hid from them they should not have laboured so long a time in his Service The Inhabitants of Saba have a mark of my Omnipotency in their Countrey viz. two Gardens the one on the North side and the other towards the South it was said unto them eat of the good things that your Lord hath given you and return him thanks their Country is delicious God hath been merciful towards them nevertheless they are ingrateful and impious we sent the River of Arem that overflowed their Gardens we changed them into two Gardens of Thorns of Cyprus and a little Tamarinde thus did we punish them because of their impiety We established a way with many Cities for facility of commerce among them and the City which we blessed and spake unto the People to follow that way Night and Day with safety and withou fear They said God destroyeth us through the length of this way they returned to their impiety and we dispersed them upon the Earth to serve for example to Posterity and instruction to such as persevere in my Law and acknowledg my graces The Devil caused them to believe his Opinion they followed him except some of the True believers that were among them he had no power over them but to know them that believed in the Resurrection and such as doubt Thy Lord observeth and regardeth all Say unto them invoke your Idols they have not power of the bigness of an Atome neither in Heaven nor Earth God hath no Companion they shall find none to protect them at the Day of Judgment none shall intercede for them without the permission of his Divine Majesty if they receive any relaxation in their â—…ear they enquire of each other what God spaâ—…e and anâ—…wer that he spake 〈◊〉 truth that he is most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most mighty say unto them who enricheth you with the good things of Heaven and Earth They will say that it is God. Say unto them Who of you or of us followeth the right way Or who of you or of us is seduced Enquire not after our sins we are not curious to know what ye do God shall assemble us at the Day of Judgment and shall judg our differences with equity he is an exceeding great Judg say unto them Let us see the Idols that ye have worshipped certainly there is but One God Omnipotent and Wise. We have not sent thee but to declare to men the joys of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of Hell but the greatest part knoweth it not they ask in what time they shall see the punishment that is preached to them and if thou speakest the truth say unto them when the time thereof is come ye shall not be able to retard or advance an hour They have said That they will not believe in the Alcoran but thou shalt see them one day assembled in the presence of thy Lord thou shalt see that they shall accuse one another the Poor shall say unto the Rich you have hindred us to obey the Commandments of God they shall answer have we seduced you from the way that was taught you On the contrary you were wicked and malicious They shall say on the contrary you employed Night and Day your Artifices to render us ingrateful for the graces of God and to induce us to believe that he hath
Companions equal to him they shall repent of their sins when they shall see their punishment we will lay Chains upon their Necks and they shall be chastised after their demerits The chief Inhahitants of the Cities said to the Prophets that we sent to them to preach the torments of Hell that they believe not their words We have said they more riches and more Children than those that believe in their discourse we shall not be damned as they affirm say unto them my Lord giveth and taketh away Riches as seemeth good to him but the greatest part of the People know it not your wealth and your children shall not give you access to God such as shall perform good works shall be rewarded and shall live eternally in the delights of Paradise they that shall endeavour to suppress our Law shall be cast headlong into the Fire of Hell Say unto them My Lord giveth and taketh away Wealth as to him seemeth good he maketh vain the alms which ye shall give if ye observe not his Law he is the Rich of the Rich Be thou mindful of the day when I shall assemble the Idolaters and shall say to the Angels Behold them who have adored you they shall say praised be God thou alone art our master and protector they adored not us they worshipped the Devil the greatest part of them believed in his word this day they are not able to benefit or hurt one another they will say to the unjust taste the torments of Hell Fire which ye would not believe They said when thou didst preach unto them our Commandments this man would hinder us to worship the gods of our fathers he is a Blasphemer They have said That the Alcoran is but Sorcery and Magick and read not the books that we have sent unto them Their predecessors did like them they traduced our Apostles and hindred them to preach the tenth part of what we had inspired into them they traduced them but how were they chastised Say unto them I preach to you to pray to God two by two or alone or in company ye shall know one day that your friend Mahomet is not possessed of the Devil and that he preacheth to you the pains of Hell I require no reward of you for mine exhortations God shall reward me he seeth all Say unto them God teacheth his Prophet the Truth and what is to come the truth appeared and falshood was discovered and the lyars were deprived of his mercy if I wilfully go astray or if I act what God hath enjoyned me this shall be for my Soul God heareth and is present at all things Thou shalt see the Infidels filled with fear and affrighted when they shall come out of their sepulchres they shall not escape the punishment of their incredulity they shall then say That they believe in the Alcoran but I will shew to them from far the Law which they have despised in the World they shall be precipitated with their ignorance into a place remote from mercy and pardon They shall be separated from the True believers because they have doubted the Commandments of the Law of God. CHAP. XXXV The Chapter of the Creator containing Forty and five Verses written at Mecca This Chapter is intituled the Chapter of Angels in the Book Tefsir anf Joahir which treateth of the Exposition of the Alcoran in Turkish IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise be to God Creator of Heaven and Earth who created the Angels the Messengers of his Commandments they have wings two three and four he maketh of his Creature what seemeth good to him he is Omnipotent none can comprehend the Grace that he hath given to his People it is incomprehensible he is Omnipotent and most Wise. Oh People remember the grace of God Is there a Creator beside him He enricheth you with the riches of Heaven and Earth there is no God beside him How can the wicked Blaspheme against his Divine Majesty If they traduce thee certainly they traduced the Prophets that were sent before thee they shall be one day assembled before God to be judged Oh ye People what God hath promised is infallible glory not in the wealth of the Earth beware lest the Devil seduce you and render you proud because that God doth a while defer the punishment of your crimes The Devil is your Enemy be ye his Enemies he leadeth them that follow him into the Fire of Hell where they shall suffer the rigors of infinite pains their sins shall be remitted that believe in God and do good works Oftentimes he that delighteth â—…o what he doth doth believeth he doth well God misleadeth and guideth whom it pleaseth him be not unwilling to depart from the wicked God knoweth all their actions He sendeth the Winds that drive the Clâ—…uds unto barren and drie places to refreâ—…h thâ—… 〈◊〉 and cause it to revive after its death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manner will he raise again the Dead He thaâ—… 〈◊〉 greatness shall find in God all manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good speeches ascend even to his 〈◊〉 Majesty and our good works are â—…ptable to him Such as conspire against the 〈◊〉 shall endure great torments and their 〈◊〉 become vain and unprofitable God hath created you of dust and mire he created 〈◊〉 men and women the Woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but through his permission no man can either prolong or shorten his life but following what is written in the Book kept in Heaven these things are easie to God. Those two Seas are not like to Euphrates whose water is sweet and pleasant to drink the Water of the Sea is cold and salt nevertheless ye eat of the Fish of the one and the other Ye Fish out of the Sea Gems to adom you you see the Ship to run upon the Waters and cleave the waves for the advantage of your commerce peradventure you will return thanks to God for his graces He causeth the Night to enter into the Day and the Day into the Night he created the Sun and the Moon that run in the Heaven till the Day appointed That God who created these things is your Lord the Empire of the World is his the Idols that ye worship have no more power than the skin of an Almand if ye invoke them they shall not hear you they shall deny you at the Day of Judgment and are not of power to let you know either the joys of Paradise or the torments of Hell. Oh ye People ye are poor and necessitous ye have need of Gods assistance and God hath no want of you praise is due to him in every place he will destroy you if it seem good to him and create another new People in your place none shall bear the burden of another be it never so light or heavy no not when they are near of kin Preach thou the torments of Hell to such as fear their Lord without seeing him and make their prayers at the time appoâ—…d He that
taketh heed of offending him laboureth for himself all the World shall be one day assembled before him to be judged the blind are not like to such as see clear darkness is not like to light the shade and coolness are not like to the heat of the Sun the Living are not like the Dead God causeth himself to be understood of whom he pleaseth thou canst not make the Commandments of God to be understood by them that are in their Sepulchers we have sent only to preach the pains of Hell and the joys of Paradise there is no place in the World where they have not been preached if the Infidels traduce thee their predecessors likewise traduced them whom we sent heretofore to preach to them the Mysteries of Faith and the Scriptures they were surprised in their sins were rigorusly chastised Seest thou not how thy Lord caused Rain to fall from Heaven to make the Earth produce many fruits of sundry sorts and to nourish in the Mountains the Goats the Stags and Hinds To nourish the Crows and Ravens the men and beasts of divers kinds and form God gratifieth his Creatures that acknowledg his benefits he is Omnipotent and merciful They who devoutly read the Book of God who make their prayers at the time appointed and bestow in pious works secretly or publickly part of the wealth that we have given them have hope of a recompence that shall never perish God shall recompence and augment his graces upon them he is merciful towards the good and accepteth the acknowledgment of his graces The Book that we have sent thee containeth the Truth it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures God knoweth and seeth all things We have given the understanding of the Alcoran to such as we have chosen among our creatures there be some who have ill discharged what we have taught them some have perfromed what was enjoyned them and others have taught it with affection and diligence through Gods permission This is a great grace they shall enter into the Garden of Eden where they shall remain eternally they shall be adorned with Collars of Gold enriched with precious stones they shall be cloathed with fine silk and shall say praised be God who hath delivered us from affliction he is most merciful and accepteth the thanks of his creatures such as through his special grace shall enjoy the house of eternity shall be free from all pain and the Infidels shall be cast headlong into the fire of Hell. They shall not die in those torments and their torture shall never be asswaged thus shall the wicked be chastised they shall in vain implore succour of God and say Lord deliver us from these pains we will do better than we have done heretofore I will no more prolong your life on Earth I have sent you my Prophets and Apostles They preached unto you my Commandments you would not hear them taste now the pains of Hell which ye have merited the wicked shall this day be deprived of protection Certainly God knoweth whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he knoweth all that is in the hearts of men He it is that hath made you to multiply on Earth impiety shall rise against the impious it shall render them abominable before God and put them into the number of the damned Say unto them have ye well considered the Idols that ye have worshipped Tell me What have they created on Earth Were they Gods companions in the Creation of the Heavens Hath God sent to them a Book and reasons to authorize their impiety Certainly the wicked instruct one another only in pride and arrogancy God sustaineth the Heavens and the Earth he alone is able to sustain them he is gracious and merciful The wicked swore to fight for the encrease of the faith if there should come to them a Preacher to instruct them and when he came they augmented their wickedness became proud in the Earth and conspired against the true believers their conspiracy fell upon themselves and they can expect none other things than what was ordained against their predecessors the Law of God admitteth none alteration Consider they not what was the end of their Predecessors who were more wealthy and powerful than they Nothing is impossible to God he knoweth all things and is omnipotent Should God punish the people when they offend him he should leave no living creature on the Earth he deferreth the chastisement of the wicked until the time appointed when their time shall be come he will punish them according to their demerits he seeth all CHAP. XXXVI The Chapter intituled O Man containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca Reader the Mahometans have entituled this Chapter with two Letters of the Arabique Alphabet i. s. The Bedaoi saith that i signifieth ia that is to say O particula voâ—…ativa and s is an abreviation that signifieth insan i. e. Man and that the Angel speaking to Mahomet began this Chapter in this manner O man I swear by the Alcoran c. See Tefsir Kitab el tenoir IN the name of God gracious and merciful Oh man I swear by the Alcoran full of Doctrine that thou art a Prophet sent to teach the people the right way This Book was sent by the Omnipotent and merciful that thou maist instruct men in that which was not taught their Predecessors Certainly what was said is true viz. That the greatest part of them is incredulous We will put a chain upon their neck and bind their hands to the very chin they shall lift up the head to complain but we will place before and behind them a great obstacle we will cover their sight with darkness and they shall not see a jot Misery is upon them whether thou dost reprove or not reprove them they shall not be converted If thou preachest to them that believe in the Alcoran and to such as believe in what they have seen proclaim to them a general pardon of their sins and a very great reward I make the dead to arise again and write exactly in a Book the good and the evil that men commit Relate to them the â—…ble of those of the City whither thy Lord sent his Prophets we sent unto them two Prophets â—… they slandered both of them we succored them by 〈◊〉 third they all three said to the Inhabitants of this City we are sent from God to preach to you his Commandments They answered ye are but men like us God hath not sent us a sign to make you known ye are lyars They said certainly God knoweth that he sent us to you we are obliged only to preach to you his Commandments They answered would ye make us Infidels like your selves If ye end not this discourse we will â—…one you and make you to suffer heavy torments They said be your evil with you Who hath heretofore so ill instructed you Certainly you are wicked Then a man came running from the utmost part of the City who said unto them Oh people obey the
Apostles of God obey them that require no reward from you for the pains which they take in teaching you and who are in the right way Wherefore shall not I worship him that created me and before whom ye all shall be assembled to be judged Will ye worship another beside him If it be his will to chastise me your Idols cannot save me I should be extremely erroneous should I believe in your Gods hear and understand what I say unto you Nevertheless they slew him and said unto him Go enter into Paradise He said in dying would to God this people knew the graces that his Divine Majesty hath conferred on me he placed me in the number of the blessed After his death we did not send Angels from Heaven to chastise the wicked I will send them but once to destroy them they shall one day be dumb for shame that they have not followed the True-believers and of being mocked by them that I sent to preach unto them my Commandments Will they not consider how much people we have destroyed in times past who are not returned and that shall be one day assembled before me to be judged The Earth dry dead and barren as a sign of my omnipotency for the wicked we made it revive and become green again and to bring forth fruits with which they were satiate we there created Gardens Date-trees and Vines we caused Fountains to flow they eat of the fruits which are not the works of their hands will they not acknowledg the works of their Lord Praise is due to him that created the male and the female of all Plants that the Earth produceth who created man and woman and many other things of which they have no knowledg It is a sign of my omnipotency to separate the day from the night and to make the Sun to run to his appointed place We have appointed to the Moon her Signs she goeth and cometh always through her old way the Sun neither hastneth nor retardeth his course at any time neither doth joyn himself by night to the Moon the night cometh not until the end of the day And all to wit the Moon the Sun and the Stars exalt my glory in the Heaven It is a mark of mine omnipotency to have born their fathers upon the waters in the Ark and to have given them vessels like the Ark to bear them had it pleased me I had caused them to be drowned without succor and salvation I saved them through my special grace until the time appointed The wicked despise the signs of Gods omnipotency and scoffed when they were required to fear the wrath of his Divine Majesty present and to come and that their iniquities shall be forgiven them When it was said unto them Give alms of the wealth that God hath given you they answered shall I give him to eat to whom God shall give bread when it shall please him They are in a very great error They will enquire of you when the day of Judgment shall be and if ye believe it tell them that they must expect but one sole voice that shall surprize them they shall quarrel they shall not be able to make their Testament neither return to see their Parents in the end they shall go out of their Sepulchres and present themselves before God when the Trumpet shall sound Then shall they say we are most miserable to have departed from our graves behold what God hath promised us The Prophets spake to us the Truth viz. That the world ought to expect but one voice This day shall all men be assembled before their Lord no injustice shall be done to any person and every one shall be rewarded and chastised after his works Such as shall go into Paradise shall be in exceeding great repose with all manner of contentment they and their wives shall be safe from all evils lying on delicious beds they shall have all sorts of fruits and whatsoever they shall desire they shall be saluted on the behalf of the Lord gracious and merciful God shall say to the wicked at the day of Judgment Depart ye this day from the company of the good did I not forbid you to worship the Devil your open enemy but to worship me alone and that it was the right way Did I not tell you that the Devil seduced a multitude of the people Ye would not believe it behold Hell that is prepared for you through your incredulity I will shut their mouth their hand shall speak and their feet shall be witnesses of their crimes If we will we can make the Infidels blind they shall find no way they shall not be able to go or come and shall be succoured of none had it been our pleasure we could have transformed them in their houses and they had not been able to go forth I will cast their head against the ground and will render them infamous whose life I shall prolong and they shall not know their errors We have not made them to understand the Mysteries of the Alcoran but that was not necessary it is but to preach to the living who comprehend what is spoken to them it is most true that the wicked shall be punished See they not that we alone have created all the Beasts of the Earth over which they command We have made them subject to them Some serve them to ride on and others for their nourishment will they be ingrateful Nevertheless they have worshipped Idols they adored what could not deliver them from the pains of Hell. Afflict not thy self at their discourse I know whatsoever they say and all that they keep secret in their souls Doth not man consider 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him of dust And that he is too arrogant God hath taught us how he formed his Creatures nevertheless the wicked have said who is he that can give life to bones that are rotten Say unto them he it is that created you at first and that knoweth what he created he maketh fire to come out of the green woods which ye burn and created the Heaven and the Earth cannot he create other creatures like unto you Yes without doubt he createth what pleaseth him he knoweth all things when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is praised be he to whom all things appertain and before whom you all shall return to be judged CHAP. XXXVII The Chapter of Orders containing Fourscore Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Orders of Angels that worship God and attend his commands by them that hinder men to obey the Devil and by them that read and meditate on the Alcoran that your God is one sole God Lord of the Heaven and the Earth and of all that is between them he is Lord of the West and of the East We adorned the Heaven and the Earth with Planets and have kept them safe from the malice of the Devils they cannot hear what is
spoken in the Firmament they are shamefully driven away on all sides and shall be eternally tormented if they hear any thing spoken they hear it greedly and follow it speedily but the shining Planet pursueth them and detecteth their malice The wicked have demanded if we created any thing more illustrious than they Certainly we created them all of the dust of the Earth Thou art amazed at their blasphemies they deride thy amazement and shall never be converted When they shall see Miracles they shall scoff and say that it is but evident Magick to believe that they shall dye and after being earth bones and dust they shall rise again with their fathers and predecessors Say unto them that they shall rise again and that they are seduced from the right way that the world shall be but once destroyed and they shall see what will befall them at the day of Judgment They shall that day say they are wretched and the Angel shall say unto them behold the day of Judgment behold the day that the godly shall be separated from the wicked behold the day which ye would not believe It shall be said to the Angels gather them together assemble their wives and their Idols put them into the way of Hell and stay them to give account of their deportments and why their Idols do not succour them Certainly they shall desire to be in the number of them that have obeyed Gods Commandments They shall quarrel among them and shall say it is you that have seduced us from the right way through your Oaths ye swore that ye followed the Law of God and observed his Commandments They shall answer on the contrary We have no power over you you your selves were in manifest error the word of God shall be accomplished against us and we shall for company suffer the tormens of Hell if we seduced you we were likewise seduced and we shall this day be your companions in punishment That day shall the wicked be in this manner afflicted they become insolent on earth when it is told them there is but one God and say shall we abandon our gods for a foolish and lying Poet On the contrary he teacheth you the truth as did the Prophets that were before him ye shall be chastised and intreated according to your demerits Such as shall obey Gods Commandments shall have a place of safety wherein to rest with all sorts of fruits in pleasant gardens sitting orderly on delicious beds with glasses full of a drink pleasing to the taste which shall not make them drunk Their wives white as fresh Eggs shall not cast an eye upon any but upon them they shall talk together and one among them shall say I had on earth a companion who asked me if I believed in the Resurrection and if after being reduced to earth bones and dust we shall rise again come with me let us go see what he doth he shall see him in the bottom of Hell and shall say unto him by God it wanted little but that thou hadst seduced me without the grace of God I had been damned as thou art we are not in the number of the dead we shall not suffer any pain on the contrary we are in exceeding great happiness thus are the righteous rewarded who are the more happy they who are in our felicity or such as are near to Zacon the tree of hell This tree cometh out of the bottom of hell it riseth high and the branches themselves resemble the heads of Devils the damned shall eat of the fruit thereof they shall drink boiling water and Hell shall be the place of their habitation their fathers were Infidels they followed their footsteps and the way of them that were seduced before them we sent unto them Preachers whom they refused to hear but consider what is the end of the righteous and that of the wicked We saved Noah and gave grace to such as obeyed him we delivered him with his family from a great danger and perpetuated his progeny he shall be praised of all them that shall come after him because we gave him our blessing thus do I recompence the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments we saved him and them that followed him and drowned the Infidels Remember Abraham God gave him an heart free from impiety and malice he said to his father and his people wherefore worship ye false gods instead of the true God think ye to escape the punishment of your crimes Then he had a vision in heaven and said I am sick of your Idolatry they departed from him with purpose to be converted and empty the Temples of Idols of their Treasures he said to the Idols wherefore eat ye not the sacrifices that are before you wherefore speak ye not and gave them a great blow with his right hand the people came together with wrath because he had stricken their gods he said unto them Will ye worship the works of your hands know ye not that it is God that created you Then they said among them let us build a great pile and put fire to it and cast Abraham into the fire they conspired against him but we rendred them ashamed and confounded Abraham said unto them I go towards my Lord he shall guide me into the way of salvation Lord give me a son that may be in the number of the righteous we declared to him that he should have a son exceeding wise when he arrived to years of discretion he said unto him my son I dreamed this night that I must sacrifice thee what wilt thou that I do He replied my father do what is commanded you ye shall find me full of patience when his father laid him on the ground and put the knife nigh unto his throat we said unto him O Abraham it is enough thou hast satisfied thy dream thus do I intreat the righteous thus were we wont to prove them We redeemed his son with a fair Ram he shall be praised of posterity and those that shall come after him shall bless his memory Thus do I reward the righteous he was in the number of them that obey my Commandments We declared to him that he should have a son called Isaac from whom should issue many believers and unbelievers Certainly we gave our grace to Moses and Aaron we delivered them with their followers from an evident peril we protected them and they were in the number of the victorious we gave them the Book full of light and conducted them into the right way they shall be praised in ages to come and posterity shall bless their memory Thus do I recompence the righteous they were in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Elias is in the number of my Prophets and Apostles he said unto the people wherefore fear ye not God wherefore worship ye the Idol Balan and forsake the Creator of the world God is your Lord and the Lord of your predecessors they
traduced him and were condemned to the fire of hell except such among them as obeyed my Commandments We left his memory happy to posterity thus I reward the righteous he was in the number of them that obeyed my Commandments Lot was in the number of my Prophets and Apostles Remember thou how we delivered him and his family from evident peril except his wife who remained among them that were chastised having saved him we destroyed the wicked they saw in the morning the footsteps of the ruin that befell them the night before will ye not understand this miracle Ionas was in the number of the Prophets Remember thou that he fled in a Ship and was the cause of evil to the Sailors he was swallowed of a Whale had he not repented of his fault he should have continued in the belly of that Fish until the day of Judgment we cast him on the shore extremely feeble we covered him with leaves of Filbert and sent him to preach to more than an hundred thousand persons that we reconverted whose decease we deferred until the time appointed The Infidels have demanded if thy Lord hath daughters as they have sons did we create the Angels male and female in their presence They lye when they say that God hath a son hath he desired to have daughters rather than sons how can you thus blaspheme Consider ye not that he is God alone without children have ye any reason or authority to speak in this manner bring your arguments produce your reason if ye are true The Infidels have said that the Angels were of the lineage of God but the Angels well know that the Infidels shall be damned because of their blasphemies Praised be God he hath neither son nor daughter other than the righteous that worship him and obey his Commandments You with your Idols cannot escape the punishment of your sins ye shall be condemned to the fire of hell There is none among the Angels that knoweth not his place and his order in Paradise to praise and worship his Divine Majesty If the Infidels say we observe the Religion of our Predecessors we are in the right way Say unto them that if they believe not in the Alcoran they shall in fine know their incredulity We have promised protection to believers and Prophets they shall be protected and victorious depart for a time from the wicked consider how God punisheth them they shall feel the punishment of their impiety will they cast themselves headlong into the torments of hell assuredly they will be astonished when they shall feel them depart from their company and consider that they shall not be able to escape the punishment of their crimes Praise thy Lord the Lord of power and greatness above the wicked salvation be to the Prophets and eternal praise to the God of the Universe CHAP. XXXVIII The Chapter of Truth containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca Reader Mahomet intituled this Chapter with the Letter named in the Arabique Alphabet Ssad which signifieth in this place Ssidk that is to say Truth See the Gloss of Gelaldin Kitab el tenoir They have intituled it the Chapter of Truth IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Alcoran that this Book teacheth the way of Salvation nevertheless the Infidels resist the Faith and are among themselves of a different opinion How many have we destroyed in times past that were like unto them They cried and required succors but they were no longer to be succored The Infidels wonder that a man like themselves should be sent to instruct them they say That he is a Magician and a lyar to preach one sole God. It is a strange thing Their Doctors forsook their Assemblies they went to preach through the City and said Persist to adore your Gods we abjure the belief of the unity of God the last Sect did not preach it it is an evident lye Was Mahomet chosen among us to receive alone the Alcoran descended from Heaven Certainly they doubt the Alcoran they shall know the truth when they shall be in the fire of Hell. Have they in their power the Treasures of the mercy of thy Lord omnipotent and bountiful Possess they the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth and whatsoever is betwixt them If it be so let them ascend into Heaven with their forces assuredly they shall be shamefully beaten in all places The wicked heretofore defamed Noah Aad Pharoah the maker of Charmes and Temod the Inhabitants of the City of Lot those that dwelt in the Forest and their companions traduced the Prophets and were punished after their demerits nevertheless the Infidels consider not that they shall be chastised when the trumpet shall sound at the day of Judgment and that they shall no more return on earth to be converted They say in scorn Lord give us to see the Book of the Accompt of our sins before the day of Judgment Persevere and be patient be not troubled at their discourse and call to mind our servant David stout and zealous in my Law the Mountains and the Birds praised me with him they assembled in his presence and obeyed him we gave force to his reign and endued him with knowledg and eloquence Hast thou learnt Davids quarrel when they hindred him to enter into the Temple and how he feared his enemies When they entred towards him they said unto him Be not afraid we have a dispute among us judg our difference with equity and teach us the right way This man is my brother he hath fourscore and nineteen sheep I had but one which he hath ravished from me because he was stronger than I. David said He hath done thee wrong art thou troubled for one Ew The greatest part of men arose against their neighbour except such as believe in the Law of God and observe his Commandments which are few in number Then David knew that we had tried him he implored pardon of his sin he humbled himself worshipped us and was converted We gave him pardon of his fault we drew him near unto us and lodged him in a place of content I said unto him O David we have established thee on Earth to determine the differences that shall arise among the people follow not thine own appetite it will seduce thee from the way of Salvation such as shall err from my Law shall suffer grievous pains at the day of Judgment We have not in vain created the Heaven and the Earth as the wicked affirm misery shall befal them they shall be cast headlong and burnt in the fire of Hell. Shall I alike entreat the believers and unbelievers the righteous and the wicked This Book we have sent it to thee and blessed it to the end the people may meditate the mysteries thereof and the wise reap advantage for their salvation We gave Solomon to our servant David he was extreamly zealous in our service Remember that horses ready and vigorous were presented to him about
evening that he forgot to make his prayer at the hour of Vespers and said What Have I preferred the love of the wealth of the Earth to the remembrance of God even until the Sunset He caused them to be led back again and sacrificed some of them for expiation of his fault He caused their legs and necks to be cut off We tried Solomon we caused a supposititious person to sit on his Throne and afterwards restored him to his dominions He said Lord give me thy mercy give me so happy a reign that the like hath not been seen thou art liberal towards thy creatures We made subject to him the winds which blowed at his command where it pleased him We made the Devils subject to him some built his Palaces others dived into the Seas to bring him Pearls and others were bound and chained to attend his commands he retained and dismissed whom he listed with rendring an accompt We drew him near unto us and lodged him in a place of content Remember our servant Iob that he prayed to his Lord and said That the Devil had heaped misery and affliction upon him It was said unto him Strike the Earth with thy foot thou shalt see water spring forth to wash thee and to drink We restored to him his children and his riches through our special grace to be an example to posterity It was said unto him when his wife would have made him to murmur Take rods in thine hand strike thy wife and swerve not from what thou hast promised We found him patient and zealous in obedience to our Commandments Remember our servant Abraham Isaac Iacob affectionate and zealous in our Law we saved and chose them among the righteous Such as have my fear before their eyes shall enjoy the delights of the Garden of Eden where they shall repose upon most glorious beds they shall there have all sorts of fruits and delicious drink and their wives shall not look on any but on them Behold what is promised to them at the day of Judgment and these pleasures shall never end The wicked and Infidels shall be precipitated into the fire of Hell they shall drink boiling water in abundance and water extreamly cold full of all manner of noysom smells they shall be precipitated into the flames and shall say to them that have obeyed them upon Earth May ye be perpetually tormented you have seduced and mis-led us On the contrary may yout selves be tormented you have been the cause of our misery and shall be damned with us Then shall they say Lord encrease the punishment of him that is the cause of our misery Shall we not be able to see them whom we believed on Earth to be Infidels and whom we derided cannot our eyes see Thus shall the damned quarrel Say to the people I am sent only to preach unto you the Unity of God the Omnipotent Creator of Heaven and Earth and of all that is between them Behold the best Sermon that I can make unto you nevertheless you despise it I know not what happened in Heaven when the Angels quarrelled God hath inspired it into me and I am sent but to instruct you and to preach publikely the pains of Hell. Remember thou that God said to his Angels I will create man of the mire of the Earth when I have formed him I will breathe against him and inspire my Spirit into his body prostrate your selves before him with humility The Angels there prostrated themselves except the Devil he was proud and already in the number of the wicked Thy Lord said unto him Wherefore dost thou not humble thy self before the work of my hands Thou art in the number of the proud he replied I am better than man thou hast made me of fire and hast created him of the dust of the Earth Then thy Lord said unto him Get thee hence thou shalt be chastised on all sides and my curse be upon thee until the day of Judgment He answered Lord defer my punishment until the day of the Resurrection he said I will defer it until the day appointed He replied through thy permission I will tempt all the world except such as shall be zealous in thy Law and shall obey thy Commandments He said I telâ—… thee true I tell thee true I will fill Hell with thee and those that shall follow thee Say unto the people I require of you no recompence for my instructions I am not importunate Certainly this Book iâ—… sent only to instruct men you shall one day know the truth of what it containeth CHAP. XXXIX The Chapter of Troops containing seventy five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful This book was sent by God the Omnipotent and wise We sent it to thee the contents thereof are most true worship one God alone and obey hiâ—… Commandments faith proceedeth from him alone Such as worship any other but him worship Idols They have said we would not invoke our Idols had they not power to draw uâ—… near to God Certainly God shall judg one day thâ—… difference that is between the believers and unbelievers he guideth not him that is a lyar anâ—… impious If he would have a son he would make choice of one of his creatures that should be pleasing to him praised be God there is buâ—… one God always victorious he created the heavens and the earth with proportion he maketâ—… the night to enter into the day and the day intâ—… the night he created the Sun and the Moon which perform their course in heaven until the daâ—… appointed he is omnipotent and merciful He hatâ—… created all of you of one sole man of whom he created his wife he hath given you clean beasts male and female he formed you in the wombs of your mothers form upon form he brought you out of three obscurities he alone is your God and your Lord the kingdom of the world appertaineth to him there is no God but he How can the Infidel depart from his service If ye will not worship him he hath nothing to do with you he desireth not that his creatures should be impious his Will is that they praise him this is his pleasure and none shall bear the burthen of his neighbour â—…e all shall be assembled before him he will shew ye what you have done he knoweth what is in the hearts of men When man is touched with any affliction he invoketh God and turneth and when he is in prosperity he forgetteth his vows he hath said that God hath a companion equal to him and erreth from the way of his Law. Say unto him thou shalt be awhile tolerated in the end thou shalt be cast headlong into the fire of hell and he that shall pray to God day and night erect prostrate or on the knee with fear of the torments of hell shall enjoy the mercy of his divine Majesty Are such as labour to be compared to them that are
idle They that have judgment will understand this discourse Say unto them oh ye people that believe in your Lord have his fear before your eyes such as shall do good works in this world shall enjoy abundantly the riches of the earth God will innumerably reward them that persevere in obedience to his Commandments Say unto them I am commanded to worship one God to profess his Unity and to be obedient to him Say unto them I apprehend the day of Judgment if I disobey God my Lord. Say unto them I will worship but one God worship ye others whom ye will. Such as shall despise the Law of God shall lose their souls and families at the day of Judgment These are two great losses and most certain they be involved in eternal fire Thus God preacheth to true believers O my creature speak unto them that have my fear before their eyes that they adore not Idols and that if they turn to their Lord they shall enjoy the delights of Paradise Proclaim to them that hear my Word and obey my Commandments that they are in the right way and well advised canst thou deliver from the fire of hell him that shall be condemned Certainly such as obey God shall enjoy the pleasures of Paradise wherein flow many rivers and there shall they dwell eternally This is the promise of God he swerveth not from that which he promiseth Seest thou not that God sendeth rain from heaven and maketh the rivers to run upon the earth he causeth plants to spring forth and herbs of divers colours thou seest them become yellow and then altogether drie this is a sign of his omnipotency Hath not he to whom God hath given the light of faith received a great grace from his divine Majesty Misery is upon them that have an heart hardned and forget his Law they are manifestly seduced he hath sent an excellent book for the instruction of men his precepts are alike in purity and without contradiction They that fear God tremble when they hear mention of this book and find their rest in the word of his divine Majesty This book is the guide of the righteous God by it guideth whom pleaseth him He whom God shall seduce shall find none to guide him he shall be precipitated into the fire of hell at the day of Judgment It shall be said that day to the wicked taste the torments that ye have merited their predecessors defamed the Prophets and were punished when they least thought of it God rendred them ignominious in this world and they shall feel in the other torments much more grievous and they know it not We have taught in this book what is necessary for the salvation of the people peradventure they will learn it it is in the Arabique tongue without falshood and contradiction perhaps the people will fly from impiety God teacheth you a parable Two men are associates in their traffique the one is wicked the other an honest man are they alike Praise is due to one sole God the greatest part of the Infidels understand it not Thou shalt die all men shall die and ye shall be assembled at the day of Judgment when ye shall dispute together Who is more unjust than he that blasphemeth against God and against the known truth Shall not the wicked be damned Such as shall believe the Prophet and fly impiety shall obtain from God what they desire such is the recompence of the righteous God shall pardon their sins and reward them for their good works doth not he protect his servant They will terrifie thee with the Idols which they adore but he whom God shall mislead shall find none able to guide him and none shall be able to seduce him whom he shall guide is not he the omnipotent and revenging If thou ask of the Infidels who created heaven and earth they will say it is God Say unto them have ye therefore considered the Idols which ye adore can they exempt you from the wrath of God when it shall be his pleasure to chastise you Shall they be able to hinder his grace when it shall be his will to pardon you Say unto them my refuge is God I am resigned to his Will the wise trust in his divine Majesty Say unto them oh people do as you understand him I will do as I understand him ye shall know in the end that whosoever shall be condemned shall be ashamed and be precipitated into eternall torments We have sent unto thee the most true Book to instruct the people He that shall follow the right way shall meet with nothing but good and he that shall go astray shall meet with nothing but evill thou art not the guardian of the wicked God causeth men to die when the hour of their death is arrived he deferreth the death of many during their sleep and remitteth that of others to the time appointed this is a sign of his Omnipotencie to such as consider it Will ye worship any but God Say unto them how shall your Idols be able to intercede for you since they want power know you not this Say unto them we ought to invoke one God alone King of the heaven and earth you all shall one day be assembled before him to be judged The Infidels tremble with fear when they hear mention of one sole God and rejoyce when they hear speak of their Idols Say unto them God is Creator of the heavens and the earth he knoweth the past present and future Lord thou shalt one day judge the differences of thy creatures Should the Infidels possess all the riches of the earth and yet as much more they would not be able to escape the fire of hell at the day of Judgment they shall be punished more grievously than they imagine their sins shall be set before them and they shall feel the rigors of the torments which they despise Man calleth upon us when he is in affliction and when we give him our grace he saith he meriteth it on the contrary this is to prove him but most of them are ignorant of it their predecessors spake as they the good that they have done hath profited them nothing and the misery that they have merited is faln upon them they shall not escape the punishment of their crimes Know they not that God giveth and taketh away wealth from whom pleaseth him This is a sign of his omnipotency for the righteous Say unto them oh people they who have offended God ought not to despair of his grace he is gracious and merciful be ye converted and recommend your selves to his will before ye be condemned otherwise ye shall remain without protection follow the instruction that God hath sent to you before ye be 〈◊〉 the punishment of your crimes shall surprise you ye know not the time the wicked shall be afflicted for that they have not obeyed Gods Commandments they shall know their damnation and the sin that they have committed in scorning the
their sins there was none of power to save them for that they despised the Prophets of his Divine Majesty they contemned his Law and were impious but he severely chastised them he is Omnipotent and most severe We sent Moses with Miracles with Reasons clear and intelligible to Pharaoh to Haman and Caron they said that Moses was a Sorcerer and a lyar and when he preached to them the truth on our behalf they said kill him with all those that believe him and make their wives infamous but their conspiracy was but impiety Pharaoh said hinder me not to kill Moses let him invoke his God to save him I fear that he may alter your Law and introduce some disorder in the Land Moses said God mine and your Lord shall defend me from the malice of the proud that believe not the Day of Judgment Then a man of the domestiques of Pharaoh that secretly professed the true Law said will ye slay a man that declareth that God is his Lord And that hath made you to see Miracles If he be a Lyar his lye shall be against him but if he speak the truth something of what he hath preached shall befal you God guideth neither the wicked nor lyars Oh People you this day command on Earth with splendor who shall defend us from the wrath of God if it fall upon us Pharaoh said I speak nothing to you but what I have told you heretofore and I will guide you all into the right way he of his Domestiques that secretly professed the true Law said Oh people I fear lest ye be chastised as have been your predecessors as were the people of Noah Aad Temod and those that were after them God will not do injustice to men I fear for you the Day of Judgment a day when ye shall rise again with terror to render account of your actions he whom God shall seduce shall find none to guide him Certainly Ioseph came heretofore with instructions clear and intelligible Nevertheless ye doubted even until his death and said that after him God shall not send a Prophet like unto him thus doth God seduce the wicked that doubt of his Law he hateth such as dispute without reason they are abhorred of them that believe in his Divine Majesty thus God hardneth the heart of the proud and Tyrants Pharaoh said to * Haman build me an high Palace peradventure I shall arrive at the Heavens and as high as the God of Moses I believe him to be a Lyar. Thus Pharaoh delighted in his wicked actions he erred from the right way and his conspiracy was but his destruction He of his Family that was a True believer said Oh people follow me I will guide you into the right way the riches of the Earth pass away lightly and the riches of Heaven are Eternal he that doth evil shall find evil who doth good man or woman believing in God shall enter into Paradise where he shall be enriched innumerably with all manner of riches Wherefore invite you me to precipitate my self into the Fire of Hell since I exhort you to your Salvation Ye invite me to be wicked and to believe that God hath companions and I know it is not so I call you to the Omnipotent and merciful God doubtless I will not worship your Idols they cannot hear you either in this World or in the other we all shall be one day assembled before God who will condemn Infidels to the Fire of Hell consider hereafter what to you I have preached I am resigned to the will of God he beholdeth all the actions of his creatures he shall chastise them for the evil that they shall commit and for their wicked designs He sent his punishment upon the Lineage of Pharaoh they deserved to be precipitated into the Fire of Hell they shall burn Evening and Morning It shall be said to them at the Day of Judgment oh People of Pharaoh go enter into the Fire of Hell. The Infidels shall quarrel in Hell the poor shall say unto the rich We followed you are ye able this day to deliver us from Eternal flames They shall answer we all are damned with you God is a most just Judg. The damned shall say to the Ministers of Hell Pray to your Lord that he may asswage these torments for one day they shall answer had ye not on Earth the Prophets and Apostles of God to instruct you They shall say Yes pray therefore to God your selves the wicked love nothing but impiety I will protect on Earth my Prophets and them that observe my Law and particularly at the Day of Judgment that day the wicked shall have no excuse that shall advantage them my curse shall fall upon them and they all shall be damned We taught Moses the way of Salvation and made the Children of Israel heirs of his instructions to instruct them that shall understand them Persevere and be patient the promise of God is infallible implore pardon of thy sins and exalt the praise of thy Lord Evening and Morning They that dispute against the Commandments of God are without reason and have nought in their Souls but pride and ignorance Implore succor of God he understandeth and seeth all things the Creation of the Heavens and of the Earth is greater than the Creation of men but the greatest part of men know it not the Blind is not like to him that seeth clearly he that doth good is not like to him that doth evil neither is obscurity such as the light but few men consider it Doubtless the Day of Judgment shall come nevertheless the greatest part of men will not believe it Your Lord hath said Call upon me I will hear you such as shall resist my Law shall go into Hell and be Eternally seduced God hath created the Night for repose and the day for travel he is bountiful towards his creatures but the greatest part of the people are ingrateful God is your Lord Creator of all things there is no God but he How can the wicked Blaspheme So do they blaspheme that are ingrateful for the graces of God he hath established you on Earth he hath covered you with the Heavens he hath formed you enriched you he is your God your Lord blessed be God Lord of the Universe he it is that giveth and depriveth you of life there is no God but he be obedient to him and observe his Law praised be God Lord of the Universe who hath created you of mire Say unto the Infidels I am forbidden to worship the Idols that ye adore God hath taught me his unity I have received command to worship none but the Lord of the Universe he created you of dust and mire and congealed Blood he causeth you to be born little Infants he maketh you to arrive to the age of discretion to virility and old age many die before that age and all attain to the time of their destiny peradventure ye shall understand his Unity he it
is that maketh you to live and to die and when he willeth any thing he saith Be thou and it is See ye not that they that dispute against his Commandments depart from his Law Such as reject our Commandments and what we enjoyned our Prophets to preach to men shall find their errors when they shall see Chains on their Necks and Fetters on their feet they shall be dragged and burned in Hell then shall it be said unto them where are those Idols that ye adored upon Earth They shall answer they are departed from us certainly they are without power thus God seduceth Infidels to their confusion It shall be said unto them These pains befal you for that ye were proud and insolent without reason enter within the gates of Hell which is the habitation of the proud ye shall dwell there Eternally Be patient and and persevere the word of God is infallible I will make thee to see a part of what I have promised to men I will cause thee to die and thou shalt behold them all assembled to be judged Certainly we sent Prophets before thee we have spoken to thee of one part of our Apostles and the rest are concealed from thee neither Prophet nor Apostles can preach any thing without God's permission he chastiseth the wicked when he pleaseth he shall judg the differences that are between them and the Prophets and shall destroy the unbelievers God hath created the beasts for your use some ye eat and others serve you to ride on from them ye reap profit they bear the burden as likewise do the Ships for the advantage of your commerce God manifesteth to you his graces And what graces Will ye despise them Do not unbelivers consider the end of them that were before them who were more powerful and rich than they Their Treasures did not save them they derided the Prophets and Apostles that preached to them and in the end felt the pains that they had despised When they shall fear the torments of Hell they shall say We believe in One God alone and renounce Idols This profession of Faith shall be unprofitable to them in Hell they shall incur the rigor of the Law of God that was observed against their predecessors and all unbelievers shall be damned CHAP. XLI The Chapter of Exposition containing Fifty and Four Verses written at Mecca Reader Gelaldin entituled this Chapter Of Adoration IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The Alcoran was sent by the gracious and merciful God It explaineth Divine Mysteries in the Arabique Tongue to them that have knowledg to understand them it proclaimeth to the good the delights of Paradise and preacheth to the wicked the torments of Hell nevertheless the greatest part of the world depart from the Faith and hear not thy words They say We have obdurate hearts we cannot comprehend what thou preachest our ears are stopped we are too remote to hear what thou sayest Observe thy Law we will live after our own Say unto them I am a man like you your God is one sole God be obedient to him and beg pardon of him for your sins Misery is upon unbelievers that pay not Tythes and believe not in the day of Judgment The believers that shall do good works shall enjoy an infinite reward Say unto them How will ye be wicked towards him that created the Earth in two days how can you say that he hath a Companion equal to him He is sole Lord of the Universe he raised the Mountains blessed the Earth and gave to every Region the particulars thereof in four days for them that shall have need After this he ascended into Heaven that was like unto smoke and said unto Heaven and Earth Ye shall obey me either through force or affection They answered Lord we will be obedient to thy Commandments He created seven Heavens in two days and disposed every Heaven after his own will he adorned them with Stars and preserveth them from the malice of the Devil This is an effect of his Omnipotency he is omnipotent and knoweth all things If the unbelievers depart from the Faith say unto them I have threatened you as heretofore thunder did the people of Aad and Temod when the Prophets taught them the Law of the ancient True-believers to wit To worship but one God They said Were it Gods pleasure to alter our Law he would have sent us Angels to reach unto us we will not beiieve in thy Mission The people of Aad waxed proud on the Earth without reason and said Who is more powerful than we will they not consider that he that created them is more powerful and wealthy than they Nevertheless they despised our Commandments We sent against them a cold and impetuous wind in an unhappy time that made them to suffer on Earth shame and ignominy because of their crimes He shall cause them to feel the pains of Hell that are much greater than those of the Earth and they shall be eternally deprived of protection We instructed the men of Temod in the right way they preferred blindness to light and impiety to Salvation they were surprized by thunder and suffered great afflictions because of their sins We saved none of them but the believers who had our fear before their eyes Be thou mindful of the day that the enemies of God shall be assembled in Hell they shall defend their cause before the Judg until testimony be brought against them their ears their eyes and their skin shall be witnesses of their iniquities They shall say Wherefore do ye witness against us They shall answer He that made us to speak giveth speech to every thing he it is that created you and ye are this day assembled before him to be judged Ye did not well conceal your selves when ye offended him your ears your eyes your skin are witnesses against you ye believed that God should not see your sins this was your opinion Certainly he shall chastise you and you all shall be in the number of the damned Persevere and be thou patient the fire of Hell shall be their habitation they shall not be able to please God in the flames We have given them the Devils for their Companions who caused them to delight in sin The word of God shall be accomplished against them as it was accompllshed against their Predecessors as well men as Devils that are condemned The unbelievers have said Hear not that Alcoran it is full of error peradventure ye shall be seduced I will cause them to suffer grievous pains and will chastise them after their demerits such is the reward of Gods enemies They shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell because they despise his Commandments The wicked shall say at the day of Judgment Lord let us see the Devils and the men that seduced us we will trample them under our feet and precipitate them to the bottom of Hell. Such as shall have professed the Law of God as shall have
obeyed his Commandments shall be visited by the Angels and shall that day be free from fear and affliction They shall say unto them Rejoice ye in Paradise that is prepared for you ye shall there find all the contentments that ye shall desire they have been prepared for you by the gracious and merciful There is nothing better than to pray to God than to do good works and to profess his unity Good and evil are not alike Expel evil with thy good works There is an exceeding great antipathy between Faith and Impiety Faith is given to such as persevere to do well and to them that are endued with the grace of God. The Devil will tempt thee but implore assistance from God he heareth and knoweth all things The night and the day the Sun and the Moon are Signs of his Omnipotency Adore neither the Sun nor the Moon worship God that created them If the Infidels resist the Faith the Angels that are in Paradise desist not notwithstanding to exalt the glory of his Divine Majesty day and night without intermission It is a sign of his Omnipotency to see the barren and dry Earth to change the face and become green when it is watered with rain He that maketh the plants to revive is he that maketh every thing to live and die he is Omnipotent Such as depart from our Commandments cannot hide themselves from us shall he that shall be precipitated into Hell be better lodged than he that shall be saved at the day of Judgment Do what shall please you your Lord beholdeth all your actions I will chastise them that traduce the Alcoran it is a precious Book it is approved by the ancient and modern Scriptures it is sent from the glorious and merciful None other thing shall be spoken to thee than what hath been spoken to the Prophets that preceded thee thy Lord is merciful and just Had we sent the Alcoran in the Persian tongue to a Prophet an Arabian by Nation the wicked would have said That the Divine Mysteries are not well explained Say unto them It is the guide of Believers and a remedy to their ignorance Infidels have deaf ears they are blind and hear not as those that are called too far off Certainly we gave the Book and the Law to Moses Unbelievers doubt but if thy Lord had not said That he would defer their punishment until the day of Judgment he had already chastised them in this world because they doubt of the truth Whosoever shall do good shall find good and the evil that a man committeth shall be against him Thy Lord doth no injustice to his Creatures None but he knoweth the day of Judgment no fruit nor flower springeth out of the Earth and woman neither conceiveth nor bringeth forth but by his permission Be thou mindful of the day that thy Lord shall call Idolaters and demand of them where be their Idols They shall say Lord we acknowledg thy Unity none of us will hereafter adore those false gods They that worshipped one God departed from Idolaters they know that the punishment of their sins is infallible Man never ceaseth to require riches and is troubled when evil befalleth him if we give him good after his affliction he saith that he foresaw it and hath no thought of the coming of the day of Judgment if he be converted thy Lord openeth to him the Gate of Paradise I will make the wicked to know their wickedness and will most severely punish them when we bestow wealth on man he followeth his Idolatry and his sin and when he is touched in affliction he aboundeth in prayer Say unto them know ye not that the Alcoran proceedeth from God nevertheless ye have renounced it who is more impious than he that impugneth the known truth I will cause them to see my Miracles even to the utmost parts of Heaven and Earth and in their own persons to the end they may know the truth of the Alcoran Sufficeth it not them that thy Lord seeth all things nevertheless they are in doubt of the Resurrection and of being assembled before him to be judged certainly God is omniscient CHAP. XLII The Chapter of Counsel containing Fifty and three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is Prudent Wise Majestick he understandeth all things and is omnipotent God hath sent thee the same inspirations that he sent to them that did precede thee he is omnipotent and wise whatsoever is in Heaven and in Earth appertaineth to him he is omnipotent and knoweth all things the Heavens open at his command the Angels exalt his glory and implore his pardon for them that are on earth he is merciful he beholdeth them that invoke Idols and knoweth them all but thou art not their Tutor We have inspired into thee the Alcoran in the Arabick Tongue to preach to the Inhabitants of Mecca and such as dwell about that City we have sent thee to preach unto them the day of Judgment there is no doubt that one part of men shall be saved and the other shall be damned had it pleased God he had created them of one and the same Religion he giveth his grace to whom he listeth and Infidels shall be deprived of succour because they have required the protection of Idols but God is the true protector of the world he reviveth the dead and is omnipotent he shall one day judg all the difficulties and resolve all your doubts in your Religion he is my Lord I recommend my self to his divine will he created your wife of your selves he created all beasts male and female and caused you to multiply there is not any thing like unto him he keepeth the keys of the Treasures of Heaven and Earth and taketh away and giveth wealth as pleaseth him The Law that I gave to Noah Abraham Moses and Iesus is that which I commanded thee to observe viz. to believe in one God. The Infidels are angry when thou preachest to them the unity of God he teacheth it whom he pleaseth and guideth into the right way them that obey him the wicked approve some points of his Law and reject the rest although they have knowledg of his Unity and that through the envy that is risen among them if thy Lord had not heretofore said that he would defer their punishment until the day of Judgment he had already destroyed them many of those who after them shall have knowledg of the Scriptures shall doubt of his Law but follow thou the way that is appointed thee and follow not their appetites Say unto them I believe in the Book that God hath sent I have received commandment to preach unto you that God is your and our Lord ye shall answer for your actions and we shall answer for ours it is not necessary to dispute against us God will one day assemble us in his presence to judg our differences he is our refuge such as dispute against the faith after
in the Law of Salvation that they pardon those that have not the fear of God before their eyes God shall chastise them after their demerits Whosoever shall do good shall find good and ye shall be assembled before his dâ—…vine Majesty to be judged Certainly we instructed the children of Israel in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Commandments we taught 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…nd gave them the grace of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them with all sorts of riches anâ—… 〈◊〉 them to all the world We taught 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none disputed against our Commandments but sucâ—… as had knowledg and that through the envy thaâ—… arose among them but thy Lord shall judge 〈◊〉 differences at the day of Judgment We havâ—… sent thee our Law observe it and follow not thâ—… appetites of the ignorant they shall not be able 〈◊〉 deliver thee from eternal pains The Infidels 〈◊〉 each other and the true believers obey Goâ—… This book is the light of the world it guideth iâ—… to the way of salvation and the mercy of Goâ—… them that believe in his divine Majesty Do 〈◊〉 wicked imagine they shall be entreated like the 〈◊〉 ly in their life and death and that they shall not 〈◊〉 judged God hath created heaven and earth 〈◊〉 a mark of his power he shall judge every oâ—… according to their works and shall do injustice 〈◊〉 none Consider how they worship what comeâ—… into their fancy God hath seduced them from hâ—… certain knowledg he hath rendred them 〈◊〉 hath hardned their heart and blinded them whâ—… shall guide if God seduce them Do they 〈◊〉 consider it They say our Resurrection shall 〈◊〉 like the life of this world some die others 〈◊〉 born length of years cause us to die they knoâ—… not what they say and speak but by opinioâ—… When they are preached unto they have no 〈◊〉 discourse to utter But make our fathers to revive what ye say be true Say unto them God causeâ—… you to live and die and shall assemble you at thâ—… day of Judgment there is no doubt in this bâ—… the greatest part of the people know it not Goâ—… is the King 〈◊〉 the heavens and earth and of thâ—… day of 〈◊〉 that day shall he assemble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see all Sects and all Religioâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon their knees eveâ—… Sect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their sins written in a particular booâ—… and 〈◊〉 all â—…hastifed after their demeriâ—… â—…t shall be said unto them Behold the Book that speaketh against you we have exactly written what you have done God shall give his mercy to the Righteous that is Supream felicity It shall be said to the wicked have not the Commandments of God been preached to you Ye became proud and were incredulous when it was â—…old you that the promises of God and the Day of Judgment were indubitable ye said that it was but an opinion and that ye believe it not in the end ye shall acknowledg your offence and shall suffer the pains that ye despised God shall say unto them at the Day of Judgment I have this day forgotten you as ye forgot the coming of this day the â—…ire of Hell shall be your Habitation none shall deâ—…iver you because ye derided my Law and waxed â—…roud with the Riches of the Earth They shall neâ—…er get out of this Fire neither be able to repent â—…raise be to God Lord of the Heavens and Earth â—…lory is due to him in all places he is Omnipoâ—…ent and wise CHAP. XLVI The Chapter of Hecaf containing Thirty five Verses written at Mecca Hecaf is a Valley in the Countrey of Licmen â—…pon the frontiers of Arabia See Gelaldin and â—…he Book entituled Kitab el Tenoir IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God is most Prudent and Wise. This Book was sent by the Omnipotent and Wise. We created the Heavens and the Earth and all that is between them for a sign of our Omnipotency and Unity and appointed to every thing a prefixed and limited time If the Infidels depart from that which hath been preached to them say unto them Have ye considered the Idols that ye adore Shew me what they have created on earth are they God's companions in â—…he Creation of the Heavens Bring me a Book sent from Heaven before the Alcoran that containeth like it what remained of the Doctrine of our Predecessors we shall see if ye be true Who is more seduced than he that worshippeth things that can neither hear his prayers nor protect him at the Day of Judgment That day shall the Infidels be enemies to each other and the Idols shall not acknowledg them that have worshipped them When they heard the Alcoran read they affirmed it to contain the truth and when they were commanded to observe it they said That it is but Magick Will they say That thou hast invented it Say unto them If I have invented it ye cannot deliver me from the punishment of God he knoweth all that is in this Book it is sufficient that he is witness between you and me he is gracious and merciful Say unto them I am not the first Prophet nor the first Apostle that God hath sent I know not what God shall determine of you and me I do but what he hath inspired into me and am sent to preach the torments of Hell have ye considered in what condition ye shall be if the Alcoran be sent from God Ye have renounced it but one of the Children of Israel is witness that it is sent from God and hath believed in his Divine Majesty 〈◊〉 ye are become proud God guideth nor 〈◊〉 â—…roud The Infidels say to the Belieâ—…ers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were any good thing you should not exceed us in observing it it guideth not into the way of Salvation it is but an old Fable the Book of Moses that came before it teacheth the right way and the Will of God Say unto them the Alcoran confirmeth the Scriptures sent heretofore to them that preceded us it is in the Arabique Tongue he preacheth the pains of Hell to unbelievers and declareth the joys of Paradise to the Righteous Such as shall believe that God is their Lord and shall obey him ought to fear nothing they shall suffer none affliction at the Day of Judgment they shall enjoy Paradise for the reward of their good works We have recommended to man to honour Father and Mother and to do good to them his Mother beareth him with pain she bringeth forth with dolour she giveth him suck and weaneth him at the end of Thirty months she hath care of him until he be in a condition to govern himself and hath attained to Age of discretion Then he saith Lord inspire me to be grateful for the grace that thou hast given to my Father and Mother if I do well thou wilt accept it take care of my Posterity I trust in thee and desire to obey thy Commandments Their prayer shall be heard their sins shall be pardoned and they shall enjoy the
joys of Paradise prepared for the Righteous He that shall speak to his Father and Mother in civility and shall say unto them in derision will ye bring me yet once more into the World after my death will ye revive me from my grave Many are dead heretofore that are not return'd He shall be punish'd of God his Father and Mother shall require help of his Divine Majesty and shall say unto him My Son misery is with thee believe in God and in the Resurrection the Word of God is infallible if he reply that it is an old Fable he shall feel the punishment of God the Word of his Divine Majesty shall be accomplished against him as it hath been accomplished against them that did precede him in impiety as well Devils as men they shall be damned they shall be in sundry degrees of pains he shall chastise them after their demerits and no injustice shall be done to them It shall be said to the wicked that would depart out of Hell fire Ye expelled your felicity when ye lived in the World your punishment was deferred until this present ye shall this day be punished in this Fire because of your pride and crimes Remember thou the Brother of Aad who preached the torments of Hell in the Valley of Hecaf his words was heard in his time and are come to Posterity viz. worship but one God alone if you do otherwise I apprehend for you the Day of Judgment They answered him Art thou come to hinder us to adore our gods Let us see the torments that thou preachest to us if thou art true He said God knoweth in what time he will chastise you I preach to you what hath been appointed me to preach but I see that ye are obstinate When they beheld a black cloud appear which approached the place of their habitation they said Behold a Cloud that shall give us Rain on the contrary it is the punishment that ye have demanded it is full of an impetuous wind that shall destroy you through the Commandment of God in the Morning their houses were found empty of inhabitants Thus God chastiseth the wicked ye dwell in the places which they inhabited they had hearts eyes and ears but their hearts eyes and ears were to them unprofitable the evil which they despised befel them when they neglected to observe the Commandments of God. We have destroyed whatsoever is round about Mecca and have made the effects of our Omnipotency to appear peradventure the inhabitants thereof will be converted The Idols that they worshipped and those to whom they sacrificed did not save them on the contrary they forsook them because of their blasphemies Remember thou that we sent to thee Devils that desired to hear a Lecture of the Alcoran when they heard thee they said Hark he begins and when thou madest an end they returned with exceeding great fear and said to their companions We have heard a Lecture of a Book sent from Heaven after the Book of Moses it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures teacheth the truth and guideth the people into the way of salvation O people hear him that calleth you to the Law of God and to the observance of his Commandments believe him God shall pardon your sins and deliver you from the pains of Hell such as shall not hearken to him shall not escape the punishment of their crimes and shall be deprived of protection at the day of Judgment such men are seduced from the way of salvation Consider they not that God who created Heaven and Earth did not labour in creating them that he is able to give life and death and is omnipotent Be thou mindful of the day that the Infidels shall desire to get out of the fire of Hell it shall be said unto them Are not the pains that were preached to you true they shall say yes Lord it shall be said to them Taste then the torments which ye have merited through your impiety Persevere thou as the Prophets thy Predecessors persevered Be not impatient till thou see the punishment of Infidels they shall see it when they shall rise again and shall believe that they have been but an hour in their Sepulchres This is that which God hath commanded to preach he shall destroy those only that disobey his Commandments CHAP. XLVII The Chapter of the Combat containing fourscore and eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Good works are vain and unprofitable to the wicked and to them that hinder their neighbour to follow the Law of God he pardoneth their sins who believe in what Mahomet hath preached it is the very truth that proceedeth from his Divine Majesty but the Infidels have followed vanity and the believers have embraced the truth sent from their Lord Thus God speaketh to the people in Parables When ye shall meet the Infidels in time of war cut their necks pursue them until ye take them prisoners then bind them after this ye shall either give them liberty or put them to ransome until their party shall lay down arms If God pleased he could give you victory without fighting but his will is to prove you he guideth into Paradise them that are slain for the defence of his Law and giveth them his grace Oh ye that believe in God! If ye protect the Law of God God will protect you he will confirm your steps and destroy the Infidels because they have contemned his Commandments and their good works shall be to them unprofitable consider they not what hath been the end of the impious that were before them and that God hath destroyed them He shall destroy them in like manner because he protecteth the Believers and Infidels are deprived of his protection he maketh the righteous to enter into Paradise into Gardens wherein flow many Rivers The punishment of the wicked is sometimes deferred in this world they live like beasts but the fire of Hell is prepared for their punishment How many Cities stronger and more opulent than that which they caused thee to abandon have we destroyed They found no protection Are such as embrace the Law of God like to them that follow their own appetites God hath promised Paradise to them that have his fear before their eyes there be in Paradise rivers of water that receiveth no alteration there be rivers of milk that never corrupteth rivers of wine savoury and delicious to the taste rivers of honey pure and clean fruits of all sorts and the grace of God for them that shall obey his Commandments the wicked shall remain eternally in the fire of Hell where they shall drink a boiling liquor that shall burn their entrails There be persons among the Insidels that hear what thou dost preach when they are gone from thee their Doctors demand of them what thou hast said concerning the day of Judgment God hath hardned the hearts of such men and they shall never follow but their own passions God encreaseth the
graces of them that obey his Commandments and fortifieth them in their perseverance Shall the Infidels tarry until the day of Judgment surprizeth them The signs of that day hath already appeared that day shall repentance be in vain There is no God but God implore from him parden of thy sin and for these men and women that believe in his Law he knoweth what they do day and night If the Chapter of the place where Justice is rendred had not been sent and had not made mention of Combats thou hadst not seen them that doubt of the Law look upon thee with eyes troubled because of their fears of dying Teach them obedience and speak to them with civility Had they believed and obeyed when they were appointed to fight they had performed a good work Have ye disobeyed Have ye abandoned the Law of God to defile the Earth and to deprive your selves of his mercy God rendreth them whom he curseth and who comprehend not the truth of the Alcoran deaf and blind Have they a firm heart Such as have returned to their impiety after having known the right way were tempted of the Devil and particularly when they told the Infidels that they would obey them in any thing God knoweth all their secrets what will become of them when the Angels shall cause them to die they shall beat them before and behind because they have incurred the wrath of God and despised his Commandments their good works shall be unprofitable think they that God will never make manifest their malice If thou wilt I will make it appear thou shalt know them by their countenance thou shalt discover them by their voice and speech Say unto them God knoweth all your actions he shall prove you to discover the believers and the unbelievers The wicked who hinder the people to follow the way of Salvation that contradict the Prophet after they have had knowledg of the Law of God hurt not his Divine Majesty their actions are vain and unprofitable Oh ye that believe obey God and his Prophet and render not your good works ineffectual through disobedience he pardoneth not the wicked who seduce the people from the way of Salvation and die in their impiety Be not faint-hearted and flothful ye shall be victorious God is with you He will not deprive you of reward the life of this world is but foolish pastime and delusion if ye believe in God and have his fear before your eyes he will recompence you for your good works he requireth not an account of your riches if he do require it of you it is to hinder you to be avaricious and to banish usury from among them that believe in his Law Oh people ye are commanded to make some expence for the love of God He that shall be a niggard and avaricious in this occurrence shall be avaricious and a niggard to himself God is rich and ye are poor if ye despise his Law he will create in your place other persons that shall not do like you CHAP. XLVIII The Chapter of Conquest containing twenty nine Verses written at Mecca This is the Chapter Of the taking of the City of Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful We have given thee a manifest victory God pardoneth the sin that thou didst commit when thou wert too prompt and when thou wert too tardy to fight for his Law he shall accomplish his grace upon thee he shall guide thee into the right way and shall powerfully protect thee he hath delivered the hearts of the believers from fear to augment their faith he disposeth the forces of the Heavens and Earth he knoweth all and is most prudent He shall make them that shall obey his Commandments to dwell in Gardens wherein flow many rivers and shall remit to them their offences this is supreme felicity The Infidels the wicked the disobedient and unjust that have evil thoughts of God shall be accursed of his Divine Majesty misery shall always pursue them and his wrath be eternally upon them he hath prepared for them the pains of Hell. God disposeth the powers of the Heavens and Earth he is omnipotent and wise We have sent thee to be witness of the deportments of those of thy Nation to proclaim to them the joys of Paradise and to preach to them the pains of Hell to the end they may believe in God and in his Prophet that they may praise him honour him and exalt his glory evening and morning Such as shall obey thee obey God the hand of God is stronger than the hand of men he that shall sin shall offend against his own soul and he that performed what he hath promised to God shall have an exceeding great reward Such of the Arabians as have no inclination to follow thee say thou imployest our wealth and persons to go with thee implore therefore pardon of God for us but they speak not with the mouth what they have in the heart Say unto them who but God is able to do ought for you if it be his will to bring good or evil upon you he is omnipotent and knoweth all that you do Ye believed that the Prophet and True believers should be slain when they fought for the Law of God ye believed that they should never return to their houses This opinion rejoiced your heart but you were deceived and were your selves destroyed with them that believed not in God nor his Prophets God hath prepared the fire of Hell for Infidels the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth appertaineth to him he punisheth and chastiseth whom he listeth he is gracious and merciful When ye shall go to the spoil such as refused before to follow you to the fight will say Permit us to go with you they would pervert the Word of God. Say unto them Ye shall not follow us in this occasion God hath not heretofore ordained it they will reply Certainly ye are envious against us on the contrary they understand not the Law of God except very few among them Say to the Arabians that refused to follow thee Ye shall be called to fight against miserable men ye shall fight them nevertheless they shall still be obedient to God if ye obey and fight for the Faith he will largely reward you if ye desert his service as heretofore ye have done he shall severely chastise you The blind the lame and the sick are not obliged to go to the war. He that shall obey God and his Prophet shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many rivers and he that shall disobey Gods Commandments shall be punished for his disobedience God accepted their action that repaired to thee under the tree he knew what they had in their hearts he confirmed their steps and gave them victory he is omnipotent and wise God had promised you great spoil he gave it you and delivered you from the hands of the people this shall serve for a sign of his omnipotency to the true believers
he will conduct you into the right way none but you could have atchieved that conquest he well knew that that was for none other he is omnipotent if the wicked fight you they shall fly they shall turn the back and find none to protect them Observe the Law of God against them do as was heretofore commanded you the Law of God admits no alteration God hath delivered you from their hands and delivered them into yours in the midst of Mecca having given you victory over them he beholdeth all their actions they have despised the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and hindred you heretofore to go to the Temple of Mecca they are at present prisoners without the assistance of the True believers that were within the City with you ye had not known them ye had trampled them under foot without distinction and had offended God without knowledg of your sin God bestoweth his mercy on whom he pleaseth had ye been separated from the unbelievers we had severely punished them When they were succoured of the ignorant and had some advantage God put his Prophet and all the believers in a place of safety they had recourse to the word of force and virtue wherein they did better than the Infidels God knoweth all Assuredly the Dream of the Prophet of God was true when he dreamed that ye were in the Temple of Mecca without fear your hair shaven and beards trimed fear nothing God knoweth what you know not in lieu of this Dream he hath given you a great victory he it is that hath sent you his Prophet to teach you his Law more salutary than all other Laws of the world It is sufficient that God is witness that Mahomet is his Prophet and Apostle it sufficeth that the True-believers who are with him bear testimony God encreaseth his mercy towards those Infidels that convert thou shalt see them worship God humble themselves before his Divine Majesty and implore his grace thou shalt know them by their aspect they shall have in their countenance the marks of their zeal it is so written in the Old Testament and the Gospel they are like a Plant that produceth its leaves that grows strong by little and little and becometh big afterwards it taketh strength upon its roots becometh a great Tree and the wood thereof serveth to make war against Infidels God hath promised his mercy and an exceeding great reward to the Infidels that shall be converted that shall believe in his Law and do good works CHAP. XLIX The Chapter of Inclosures containing Eighteen Verses written at Medina Exteri entituleth this Chapter The Chapter of Walls IN the Name of God gracious and merciful O ye that believe prefer not what ye have done to what God and his Prophet hath performed and fear God he heareth whatsoever ye say and seeth all that you do O ye that believe when ye shall speak to the Prophet speak not louder than he cry not as when ye talk among your selves lest ye render your good works vam and unprofitable and know it not God hath tried the vertue of them that speak low in the presence of the Prophet he shall pardon their sins and give them an exceeding great reward They that call thee behind the Inclosures know not what they do had they attended until thou hadst been towards them they had done very well God is gracious and merciful O ye that believe if any Infidel desireth to â—…reach to you distinguish the truth from a lye if ye give credit to the ignerant ye shall repent you Know that the Apostle of God is among you ye shall offend God if ye obey unbelievers in many things God willeth that ye embrace his Law it shall rejoyce your hearts and make you to abhor disobedience and impiety Such as abhor it are stedfast in their faith through his special grace he knoweth them and is most wise If two Nations or two Provinces of such as believe in God are at odds reconcile them if the one do injury to the other fight against him that is unjust until he repair what God hath ordained if he make reparation reconcile them with equity be just God loveth them that do justice to his people All those that believe in his Law are brethren make peace among your brethren and fear God he shall give you his mercy O ye that believe scorn not your neighbour peradventure that he shall one day be of better value than you O ye women scorn not others perhaps they shall one day be more worth than you Utter no reproaches and give no name to your neighbour that may displease him call him by his name otherwise ye will disobey God Such as repent not are exceedingly too blame O ye that believe in God! take heed of evil thoughts these are oftentimes in the number of sins do no displeasure to your Neighbour and speak to each other nothing that may displease Who among you would eat the flesh of his dead Brother ye shall abhor it fear therefore God who is gracious and merciful to such as have his fear before their eyes O people we created you Male and Female we have caused to issue out of your Loyns People and Nations ye know each other but your greatest honour is to fear God he knoweth you and understandeth all your secrets Some among the Arabians have said We believe say unto them Say not we believe but say We are obedient otherwise faith shall not enter into your hearts if ye obey God and his Prophet ye shall be recompenced for your good works God is gracious and merciful to them that obey his Commandments Such as are beloved of God believe in his Unity and in his Prophet they doubt not of his Law and imploy their persons and wealth for the propagation of the faith Say unto them Know ye not that your Law proceedeth from God He knoweth whatsoever is in the Heavens and Earth he knoweth all They think to do thee a pleasure in saving them Say unto them Believe not that ye pleasure me for it is God that guideth you into the way of Salvation ye ought so to believe it God knoweth all that is in the Heavens and Earth and beholdeth whatsoever ye do CHAP. L. The Chapter of the Thing Iudged containing Forty five Verses written at Mecca Mahomet hath intituled this Chapter with the Letter Kaf of the Arabique Alphabet which signifieth in this place Kada el mer that is to say the thing judged See Gelaldin and Bedaoi who have intituled this The Chapter of Iudgment or the thing judged Many Mahometans say likewise that Kaf is a Mountain that environeth the World and that Mahomet swâ—…re by that Mountain IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Alcoran worthy of praise that the inhabitants of Mecca wonder that a man of their Nation teacheth them the torments of Hell they say that he speaketh strange things What say they Shall we die Shall we be
God in the beginning and the end How many Angels be there in Heaven whose prayers are unprofitable if God doth not accept them They that believe not in the day of Judgment say that Angels are Maidens they understand not what they say they speak through opinion and that opinion is not conformed to truth Depart thou far from them that reject our Law and desire only the goods of the Earth and are ignorant of all other things Thy Lord knoweth them that go astray from the right way and such as follow the path of Salvation all that is in the Heavens and Earth is Gods he shall chastise the wicked and reward the just He pardoneth their venial sins who flie sins mortal he is exceeding merciful He knoweth that he hath created you of Earth and that he formed you in your Mothers womb Extol not your selves he knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes Hast thou seen him that abandoneth the faith A little wealth was given him and nothing more doth he know what must befal him Hath he knowledg of what is to come Will he not learn what is written in the books of Moses and Abraham To wit that none shall bear the burden of another man shall have but what he shall have gained he shall in the end see his labour be rewarded after his works and all shall appear in the presence of thy Lord. He it is that causeth to laugh and mourn to live and to die he created the Male and Female of every thing he giveth and taketh away mans soul when he listeth he is most Rich and hath no want of any person He is the Lord of the Planet which men adored He destroyed Aad and Temod drowned the People of Noab who were most erroneous and unjust overthrew the City of Lot and covered it with burning stone In whom will they believe if they believe not in thy Lord This Prophet is sent to preach to you the pains of Hell as did the other Prophets that were before you the Day of Judgment approacheth and none but God knoweth when it will come wonder ye at this discourse Ye scoff and lament not when ye are spoken to but ye shall be surprized in your sin if ye humble not your selves before God neither worship him CHAP. LIV. The Chapter of the Moon containing Fifty five Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The Day of Judgment approacheth the Moon was divided into two parts nevertheless Infidels believe not Miracles when they see them they say that this is Magick they lye and follow but their passion but all is written The History of past Ages full of salutary Counsels was preached to them nevertheless Preachers were to them unprofitable depart thou far from them when they shall be called to the Universal Judgment which they will not believe that Day shall their eyes be troubled with fear they shall come out of the Earth dispersed like frighted Grass-hoppers they shall flock to him that shall summon them to Judgment and shall say Behold here a Day unhappy for the wicked The People heretofore belyed Noah and said That he was possessed of the Devil Noah exhorted them and invoked his Lord in the end he said That his strength was gone and that he was overcome through the malice of men then was he powerfully succoured we opened the gates of the Heavens and caused an extraordinary Rain to fall we caused Fountains to issue forth from under the Earth the water of Heaven and Earth were gathered together and overwhelmed the Infidels because of their sins We saved Noah in the Ark well pinned and chaulked it floated upon the waters through our permission to serve for a token of our Omnipotency will any of the unbelievers of this time consider this Will they consider the punishment of their crimes and the pains of Hell We have made the Alcoran easie to be understood will there be any that study it The wicked that traduced Aad were chastised but with what chastisement We sent against them an impetuous wind in a day to them unfortunate that caused men to fall like Palms rooted up consider what was their punishment we have rendred the Alcoran intelligible will there be any one that will study it Temod and his People traduced the Prophets and contemned their exhortations they said There is a man among us who would seduce us from the right way if ye follow him he will lead you into Hell was he alone elected among us to receive the inspirations of God No he is an Impostor but in the end they knew them that were wicked and lyars We sent the Camel to prove the Infidels their Prophet observed what they did and was patient the water was divided for them and for the Camel and each at his day found to drink nevertheless they called their companions and slew the Camel of Salhe but in what manner were they chastised I darted Thunder against them which made them dry as Chaff we have made the Alcoran easie to be understood Will there be any to study it Lot's Citizens traduced him and despised his instructions we sent against them an hot wind with burning stones that destroyed them and we in the Morning saved Lot with his Family through our special grace thus do I recompence them that acknowledge my benefits Lot had preached to them the pains of Hell we surprized them when they disputed against his exhortations they saw his guests enter into the City in the figure of men we blinded their sight and said Taste oh ye wicked the punishment of your crimes in the Morning they were chastised with a perpetual chastisement because they despised the words of Lot. We have made the Alcoran intelligible will there be any that will study it Certainly the men of Pharaoh were preached unto they would not obey my Law and despised my Miracles but we surprized them in their sins Are the Infidels that are among you of more value than those that preceded them Find ye any Salvation for them in the Scripture Will they say they shall obtain victory over the believers On the contrary they are vanquished and turn the back Certainly the hour of their punishment shall speedily come their time approacheth and their pain in Hell shall be greater than that of the Earth they are wholly seduced from the way of Salvation and shall be dragged and cast headlong into Eternal flames We have created all things by our sole power we spake but one word and in the twinkling of an eye the thing was we heretofore destroyed a great number of Infidels like unto them will there be any that considereth it All the good and the evil that they have done is exactly written The Righteous shall dwell in pleasant Gardens they shall drink in Eternal Rivers they shall not speak a Lye in their Assemblies and shall dwell eternally near to the most Majestique and Omnipotent God. CHAP LV. The Chapter
of the Merciful containing eighteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The merciful hath taught the Alcoran he hath created man and given him the use of reason he created the Sun and the Moon to count seasons the Stars and Trees adore him he hath elevated the Heavens established Justice and commanded to weigh with good weights he hath created the Earth for the habitation of men with all sorts of fruits grain and leaves he created the winds and tempests Oh men and Devils what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He created man of Earth like a pot and the Devils of the flame of fire what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord He is the Lord of both the Wests and both the Easts what Lord do you blaspheme but your own Lord He maketh the fresh water to mingle with the salt and the one easily mingleth with the other what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord he bringeth Pearls and Coral out of the Sea what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord he hath created the Ships that float uâ—…on the Sea big as Mountains what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord all things shall have end and the majestique and glorious face of thy Lord shall be permanent what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Whatsoeoer is in Heaven and in Earth imploreth his grace he is ever himself what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils I will require an account of your actions what Lord will ye blaspheme but your own Lord Oh ye men and Devils pass the extremities of Heaven and Earth go beyond them if ye can ye have not the power what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord If he send against you flames without smoak and smoak without fire ye cannot defend your selves what Lord do you blaspheme but your own Lord When the heaven openeth it resembleth a rose or a crimson-coloured skin what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The time will come when an account shall be required from men and Devils of their sins what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord The wicked shall be known by their countenance an account shall be required of their readiness and negligence what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Behold hell which the wicked would not believe they shall turn round about and round about in boyling water of which they shall drink what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Such as have had the fear of God before their eyes shall enter into gardens where the trees are covered with branches and leaves adorned with Rivers and fountains with abundance of all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon fair beds lined with Crimson what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall gather the fruits of this garden to their contentment what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall there have wives who shall not cast a look but upon them and whom no person man or Angel shall touch before them what Lord do ye blaspheme but your Lord They shall resemble Coral and Rubies what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Good deeds are recompenced with good deeds what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be yet other Gardens wherein are herbs exceeding green Rivers Dates Pomegranets and all sorts of fruits what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord There be in these Gardens women who have eyes exceeding black and bodies exceeding white they are covered with pavillions and none either men or Angels shall touch them before their husbands what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord They shall repose upon green Carpets near rivolets bordered with flowers what Lord do ye blaspheme but your own Lord Praised be the name of God thy Lord honour and glory are due to him eternally CHAP. LVI The Chapter of Iudgment containing fourscore and nineteen Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful The day of Judgment will come none can deny it That day shall many be afflicted and humbled and many shall be elated and rejoyced the Earth shall tremble the Mountain open and be dispersed like dust carried away by the wind ye shall he present at that day in a threefold manner Some shall have in their right hand the book wherein shall be written all their actions Others shall have it in their left hand and such as preceded them in well-doing shall be the nearest to his divine Majesty and the highest in Paradise there shall be a great number of the first Ages and few of the latter they shall repose upon beds adorned with Gold and precious stones they shall look upon each other young boys shall go about them with vessels Cups and Goblets full of delicious drink that shall not offend the head neither intoxicate them they shall have all the fruits that they can covet and such viands as they shall desire they shall have women with black eyes and who shall be white as polished pearls for recompence of their good works they shall not hear an evil word spoken they shall not sin and shall hear perpetually the voice of them that bless them They that shall hold their book in their right hand shall be near to an Apple-tree fresh and without thorn and near the Tree of Muse under a pleasant shadow by flowing water with store of fruits of all seasons they shall use them with freedom lying on delicious beds We have created the daughters of Paradise Virgins and affectionate to their husbands for the content of them that shall have in their right hands the book of the account of their actions and of many of those that were in the first Ages and of many of such as shall be in the latter Those that shall have their book of account in the left hand shall be tormented with an exceeding hot wind they shall drink boiling water they shall be in a black hot and salt smoak for that they were luxurious in the world for that they were negligent to observe the Commandments of God and continued in the enormity of their sins The Infidels say what after death we shall be earth and dust and shall we rise again with our fathers and predecessors Say unto them You your Predecessors and posterity shall all be assembled before God to be judged Then oh wicked Impostors shall ye eat of the fruit of the Tree * Zacon ye shall fill your belly ye shall drink boiling water and be daily altered behold your condition at the day of Judgment We created all of you if ye believe it not consider the wealth ye possess did you your selves create it We have appointed that ye shall dye we can if we please put other creatures like unto you in your place and metamorphize you into another
form which ye know not we caused the soul to enter into the body if ye consider not this think upon your tillage do ye make the earth to bring forth fruits or do I cause them to spring forth If I will I can render your fields drie as straw without grain nevertheless are ye proud Ye say what shall our grain that we have sown be lost No we will preserve it Consider the water that ye drink have ye made it to fall from the Clouds or did we cause it to descend if we please we can render it so salt that ye shall not be able to drink it if ye acknowledg not this grace consider the fire that ye kindle did ye create the wood that burneth We created it to put you in mind of the fire of Hell and for the profit of the people Exalt the name of God most mighty I swear by him that maketh the Stars to fall this is a great oath if ye understand it that the Alcoran is a book worthy of praise all therein is written in good order no person shall handle it that is not clean and purified it is sent from God Lord of the Universe If ye renounce what is written in this book ye shall be in the number of Infidels and shall know the truth when the soul shall forsake your body I know this better than you but ye do not consider it if ye believe not to rise again cause your soul to return into your body when it shall be upon your lips when a righteous man dyeth he shall find rest and all manner of contentment in the delights of Paradise if he be of them that hold the book of the account of their works in the right hand and shall be free from eternal pains If he be in the number of Infidels and seduced he shall be precipitated into hell this is a most certain truth Exalt the name of thy Lord Omnipotent CHAP. LVII The Chapter of Iron containing twenty nine Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful All that is in the heavens and earth exalteth the glory of God he is omnipotent and wise the Kingdom of the Heavens and Earth is his he giveth life and death to whom he pleaseth he is without beginning and without end he knoweth all that men make manifest and whatsoever they keep secret he knoweth all things He it is that created the earth and the heavens in six days and â—…itteth on his throne he knoweth whatsoever entreth into the earth and all that cometh out he knoweth whatsoever descendeth from heaven and whatsoever ascendeth he is with you in whatsoever place ye are and seeth all your actions the Kingdom of the heavens and earth is his and all things obey him He maketh the night to enter the day and knoweth what is in the heart of men Believe in God and his Prophet expend in pious works some part of the wealth that he hath given you he shall give you more Do good abundantly to them that believe in his Law wherefore will ye not believe in God and his Apostle who teacheth you the Commandments of your Lord Ye have promised him to embrace his Law he hath inspired his Commandments into his servant to bring you out of darkness and guide you into light he is gracious and merciful Who hindreth you to make any expence for his glory The inheritance of the heavens and earth is his Such as for his service have expended any thing before the taking of Mecca are not equal in merit to them that fought to conquer that City they are far above them that fought not and shall be protected of his divine Majesty he promiseth Paradise to the righteous and knoweth all your actions Who is he that shall lend to him any alms he shall encrease his substance and give a great reward Be thou mindful of the day when thou shalt see those men and women that have obeyed my Commandments with a light that shall go before them it shall be said to them this day it is declared to you that you shall enter into and dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many Rivers and where ye shall find supreme felicity Be thou mindful of the day that the wicked shall say to the True believers Behold us cast your eye to our side that we may partake a little of your light They shall say unto them Return upon your steps to demand light There is a place betwixt them that hath a secret gate full of grace and repâ—…se for the righteous and without environed with misery for the wicked they shall call upon the righteous and say Were not we of your Religion they shall reply Yes but ye betrayed your souls through disobedience ye doubted of the Law of God your blasphemies rendred you insolent until the hour of your death the Devil made you proud and moved you to rise against the Commandments of his divine Majesty this day there is neither ransome nor favour for you the fire of hell is the habitation of the wicked Oh what an habitation Such as believe in God think it no trouble to humble their hearts at the remembrance of the Alcoran and the truth that it containeth they are not like them that heretofore had the knowledg of the written Law they have been a long time without Prophets their hearts are hardned and the greatest part of them have been impious Know that God restoreth life to the earth after the death thereof we have taught you the mysteries of faith peradventure ye will comprehend them God shall multiply the benefits that the righteous shall lend to him and shall return them a great reward Such as believe in God and his Prophet are righteous Martyrs shall be recompenced of God they shall be covered with light and the wicked that disobey his Commandments shall be damned eternally the life of this world is but vanity sport and delusion it is but pride the abundance of wealth and children is like to the rain the wicked wonder at the plants that it produceth in the end they wither become yellow and then are altogether dry the impious shall suffer great torments and the good shall enjoy the mercy of God the life of this world is but matter of pride implore pardon of God Paradise large as heaven and earth is prepared for them that shall believe in his divine Majesty and his Prophet this is an immense grace which he conferreth on whom he pleaseth All the evil that ye suffer on earth in your goods and persons is written in a Book before it befal you it is an easie thing to God to the end that ye afflict not your selves extraordinarily in your displeasures and that ye rejoyce not over-much in your contentments God loveth not the proud he hath not to do with the covetous who recommend avarice to the People and who neglect their duty Praise is due to him praise is due to him in all places certainly
we sent our Messengers with our Commandments we sent with them their Scriptures and Ballance that People might weigh with good weights We gave Iron to men it causeth great evils and great good in the World God knoweth them that fight with zeal for his Law and his Prophet without seeing him he is Strong and Omnipotent We sent Noah and Abraham to instruct the People we instructed their Progeny in the Scripture some followed the right way and many disobeyed our Commandments we sent after them our Prophets and Apostles we sent Iesus the Son of Mary we taught him the Gospel we put civility clemency and chastity into the hearts of them that followed him we did not command them to keep Virginity they kept it of their own accord because of their desire they had to please God they have not observed their Law as they ought many have been disobedient but we have rewarded those among them that believed O ye that believe in Iesus fear God and believe in his Prophet ye shall have double the reward of God's mercy he shall pardon your sins he is gracious and merciful I teach you these things to the end that such as have heretofore received the written Law may know that they have no power over the grace of God he giveth it to whom he listeth certainly it is immense CHAP. LVIII The Chapter of the Dispute containing Twenty two Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful God hath heard the speech of her that disputed with thee concerning the action of her Husband she exhibited to him her complaints he heareth all your discourses he heareth and seeth all No person among you shall swear never to touch his Wife no more than his Mother your wives are not your mothers your Mothers are those that conceiyed and brought you forth they that speak in that manner speak uncivilly but God is gracious and merciful He that shall have sworn to touch no more his Wife and shall desire afterwards to know her shall give liberty to a Slave for satisfaction of his Oath before he touch her this is commanded you God knoweth all your actions if he have not the power to free a Slave he shall fast two Months together before touching her if he cannot fast he shall give to Fifty poor Thus ought ye to do if ye believe in God and his Prophet God so appointed it and hath prepared great torments for them that transgress his Commandments They that shall disobey him and the Prophet shall be covered with shame and ignominy as were their Predecessors in impiety God hath sent his Commandments on Earth those who shall reject them shall be severely tormented at the day that he shall revive them he shall declare to them all that they have done he hath kept account and they have forgotten it he seeth all Seest thou not that all that is in the Heaven and Earth is Gods If ye be Three secretly met together he is the Fourth if ye be Five he is the Sixth if ye be more or less he is always with you wheresoever you are He shall relate to men at the Day of Judgment all that they have done he knoweth all things Seest thou not the actions of them to whom private meetings were prohibited They return to their sin and do what was forbidden them they assemble secretly with malice to conspire against thee and to disobey thee and when they come towards thee they say that thou hast spoken things that God hath not inspired thee to utter they know in their Souls that God will chastise them for their discourse and that they all shall go into Hell where their Rendezvous is Oh ye that believe make no private meetings to offend God to conspire against his Prophet and to disobey him assemble ye to perform acts of Virtue and to serve God have his fear before your eyes ye shall once appear before his Divine Majesty to be judged Private assemblies proceed from the Devil for the affliction of the Righteous He bringeth no evil upon them but through God's permission and all believers ought to resign themselves to his Divine Will. O ye that believe when ye shall be assembled with your Prophet and are entreated to inlarge your selves inlarge ye your selves God shall inlarge to you his grace When ye are bid to rise rise God shall raise up all the True believers that are among you and place the learned some degrees above others he knoweth your actions O ye that believe when ye shall be disposed to deliver any secret to the prophet speak to him with truth good shall befal you and he shall purifie you If ye fear to impart to him your secret God will not give you his grace Make your prayers at the time appointed distribute Tithes obey God and his Prophet God knoweth what ye do Seest thou not them that have abandoned his Law The wrath of his Divine Majesty is faln upon them they are of different opinion in their lye and know not that they lye but he hath prepared for them a great punishment because of their blasphemies they have concealed their Faith and are seduced certainly he hath prepared for them grievous pains their Wealth and their Children shall not be able to deliver them from his Indignation they shall be precipitated into the Fire of Hell where they shall abide eternally Be thou mindful of the day when he will cause them to revive they shall swear as they swear before thee that they believed in his Law they affirm they do good and are Lyars the Devil hath prepossessed them and hath made them forget the word of God such as follow him are damned They that transgress the will of God and that of his Prophet are overcome of the Devil God hath said in the Scriptures thou shalt not obtain victory over me neither over my Prophet he is Omnipotent and alway victorious thou shalt find none of them that believe in his Law and the Day of Judgment that doth not exactly observe the Commandments of his Divine Majesty and those of his Prophet although their Fathers their Children their Brethren and companions oppose them God hath imprinted Faith in their hearts he hath strengthened them through his Spirit and shall cause them to enter into gardens wherein flow many Rivers where they shall abide eternally He shall be satisfied with their obedience and they shall be content with his grace Such as shall obey his Commandments shall be happy CHAP. LIX The Chapter of Exile containing Twenty four Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Whatsoever is in the Heavens and Earth exalteth the glory of God he is Omnipotent and Wise he it is that hath exiled the wicked from among them that have knowledge of the written Law when he the first time exiled them ye believed not that they should depart from their Houses ye believed that their Cittadels would defend them from his
punishment but he surprized them and did cast terror into their hearts and they destroyed their dwelling places with their own hands to assist the True believers O ye that are wise consider their end If God had not appointed them to quit their Countrey he had chastised them in some other manner they in the end shall suffer the pains of Hell fire because they have disobeyed his Commandments and his Prophet he that shall disobey him shall be severely chastised ye cut not Palm-trees and leave none standing but through Gods permission he covereth with shame and infamy them that disobey him He commandeth you to give to the Prophet a part of the spoil that ye shall gain from your enemies as well of Horses and Camels as of other spoils he endueth him with power and authority over whom he pleaseth he is Omnipotent He enjoineth you to give to the Prophet a part of what ye shall conquer over them of the City of Mecca he commandeth what pleaseth him Give a share to God to the Prophet his Parents Orphaus the poor and Pilgrims that no disorder may arise among you that are rich perform what the Prophet shall command you abstain from what he shall prohibit you and fear God he is severe in his chastisements Do good to the poor that have forsaken their faculties and houses and separated themselves from the wicked for the Service of God and to defend his Law and Prophet They that before them forsook their houses for the Service of God affect those that have followed them they bear them no malice for the wealth they possess although themselves are necessitous They that are not avaricious shall be happy such as shall succeed them shall pray for them and say Lord pardon our sins and our brethren that were our Predecessors in the observance of thy Commandments infuse no malice into our hearts against them that follow thy Law thou art gracious and merciful Seest thou not that the wicked say to their brethren wicked as themselves Had ye not so soon left Medina we had gone out with you and had never obeyed him whom ye have obeyed had ye fought we had defended you God seeth that they are impious had they delayed to go forth they should not have gone forth with them had they fought they would not have succoured them they had turned the back and had found no protection they fear men more than God because they are ignorant The Iews shall not fight against you together unless in their Fortresâ—…es and behind Walls the War among them is cruel but think not that they may assemble and unite themselves their hearts are divided because they are ignorant they are like their Predecessors who were chastised and slain and shall suffer great torments at the Day of Judgment they are like to him whom the Devil hath seduced and said to him I am innocent of thine impiety I fear God Lord of the Universe the end of both is to be cast headlong into the fire of Hell where they shall abide Eternally such is the reward of the wicked O ye that believe fear God and consider what ye shall do at the Day of Judgment fear God he knoweth whatsoever ye do be not like to those that forget his Commandments he forgetteth them and they continue in the number of the damned they shall be most miserable and such as shall go into Paradise shall be blessed If we should make the Alcoran to descend upon a Mountain it will open it self with the fear it will have of the Word of God. Thus do I speak in Parables to the People peradventure they will be converted There is but One only God who knoweth what is present future and past he is gracious and merciful there is but one God King of all things He is holy the delieverer true the punisher strong powerful glorious Praised be God he bath no companion he is God the Creator who hath formed whatsoever is in the World all glorious Attributes are due to him whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth exalt his glory he is Omnipotent and Wise. CHAP. LX. The Chapter of Tryal containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometan Doctors have intituled this the Chapter of Vocation because it entreateth of Women that forsook thrir Husbands to follow the Law of Mahomet who appointed to try their hearts intention and to know their Vocation IN the Name of God gracious and merciful O ye that believe obey not mine nor your enemies ye shew kindness to them when ye meet them nevertheless they reject the truth that hath been sent unto them and chase away the Prophet and you also and that because ye believe in God your Lord seek not their friendship when ye fight against them for my Law I know what ye ought to fear and ye know it not he that shall do what is here above prohibited followeth an evil way if they have advantage over you they will be your enemies they will stretch forth their hands and Tongues against you they will revile you and desire that you may renounce your faith if ye do it ye shall have no content in your Wives or Children at the Day of Judgment ye shall be separated from them and God shall behold all your actions Ye have a fair example in Abraham and them that were with him when they said to the People we are innocent of the sin that ye commit in worshipping any other God but God Abraham said to his Father I will not implore pardon of God for thee I am not able to deliver thee from his punishment if thou art an Idolater Lord all our confidence is in thee our refuge is in thy mercy protect not unbelievers against us pardon our sins thou art merciful and wise ye have in them a fair example for them that fear God and apprehend the day of Judgment God hath not to do with them that obey Infidels neither hath he need of any person and praise is due to him in all places peradventure he will establish for the future great amity between you and them that ye hate he is omnipotent gracious and merciful he doth prohibit you the conversation of them that fight not against you for his faith and that expel you not from your houses he doth not forbid you to do them justice he loveth the just He forbiddeth you to converse with them that fight against your faith that drive you from your houses and aid to expel you he prohibiteth you to obey them and to contract amity with them such as obey them shall be exceedingly too blame O ye that believe in God! when the wives of your enemies shall throw themselves into your party try their conscience if ye know them to be faithful and to believe in the Law of God restore them not to the incredulous Infidels it is not lawful for them to know them neither for the women to teach them give them subsistence ye shall not
sin in espousing them marry them not after the laws of unbelievers demand of them what dowry they require they shall demand of you what ye are willing to bestow on them continue in accord God so commandeth he shall be your judg at the day of Judgment he knoweth all your actions and is most wise If your wives revolt to the party of unbelievers and ye suffer any damage ye shall repair that damage to him that suffereth out of the booty that ye shall conquer fear God and believe in the Law of his divine Majesty O Prophet when women shall desire to embrace thy Religion with firm purpose to believe in one only God not to steal neither to commit adultery neither to murther their children to lye blaspheme or be disobedient receive them implore pardon of God for them he is gracious and merciful O ye that believe obey not them against whom God is angry they despair of their salvation as the wicked despaired that died heretofore in their impiety CHAP LXI The Chapter of Array containng fourteen Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Praise God all that is in heaven and earth he is omnipotent and wise O ye that believe say not that ye do that which ye do not God abhorreth them that say they do what they do not and loveth them that fight in rank and file for his Law like to a strong wall Remember thou that Mâ—…ses said to his people Ye shall do me no harm ye shall know in the end that I am the Messenger of God but God seduced them from the right way when they departed from obedience to his Commandments he guideth not the wicked Remember thou that Iesus the son of Mary said to the children of Israel I am the Messenger of God he hath sent me to confirm the old Testament and to declare to you that there shall come a Prophet after me whose name shall be Mahomet When he came with miracles reasons most intelligible and arguments infallible they said that he was a Magician who is more impious than he that blasphemeth against God The Infidels would extinguish with their mouth the light of faith but God shall make it manifest against their will he hath sent his Prophet to guide the people into the way of salvation to teach them the truth of his Law and make it more evident than all other Laws of the world against the will of Infidels O ye that believe Will ye that I teach you one thing that shall deliver you from the pains of hell Believe in God and in his Prophet imploy your wealth and persons in fighting for his Law ye shall do exceeding well if ye have knowledg to understand it God shall pardon your offences he shall cause you to enter into gardens wherein flow many rivers he shall cause you to go into the beautiful Palaces of Eden where is supreme felicity he shall confer upon you yet another grace which ye desire viz. victory over your enemies Oh ye that believâ—… maintain the Law of God Jesus the Son of Mary said to his Apostles Who will maintain the Law of God with me he shall be supported and protected of God. The Apostles answered We will maintain it One part of the Children of Israel believed in Jesus and another rejected his Law we gave succor to them that believed against their enemies and they were victorious CHAP. LXII The Chapter of the Assembly containing eleven Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise God all that is in heaven and earth praise the King holy majestique and omnipotent who hath sent his Prophet an Arabian by Nation to preach his Commandments to the Arabians to purifie them to teach them the Scriptures and mysteries of faith they were before seduced from the right way They that shall come after them shall not see a Prophet equal to him this is a special grace of God the omnipotent and wise he conferreth it on whom he listeth and his graces are immense They that preach the old Testament and perform not what it enjoyneth are like to an Ass charged with books Such are they that disobey the Commandments of God he guideth not the impious Oh ye Jews believe not your selves to be the beloved of God expect death ye shall understand your error they believe not that they shall be chastised for their sins but God beholdeth all the unjust Say unto them Ye shall find one day the death that ye flie ye be sent back before God who knoweth what is present past and to come he shall set before you all that ye have done to be judged Oh ye that believe when ye are called to the assembly of Friday to make your prayers pray and quit your trade this shall be a good act if ye understand it when you shall have finished your Prayers separate your selves go whither you please and beg of God his grace call frequently to mind his divine Majesty and ye shall be happy When the Infidels saw any thing of profit or any divertisement they forsook thee and went out from the Sermon Say unto them how great riches and delights are there with God He is the Rich of the Rich. CHAP. LXIII The Chapter of the Wicked containing Twelve Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful When the wicked shall come to visit thee they will say That they are witnesses that thou art a Prophet sent from God he well knoweth that thou art his Prophet he seeth that they dissemble and sell their Faith to enjoy wealth in the World wherein they commit evil they say with the mouth We believe in the Law of God and are impious in their Souls impiety is imprinted in their hearts and they will not learn the Mysteries of Faith the beauty of their bodies shall not displease thee when thou shalt see them they erect themselves when they speak and resemble a piece of wood set up against a wall they fear all rumors that fly abroad and are your enemies Beware of them doubtless God will destroy them how can they blaspheme against his Law When it was said to them Come to the Prophet he shall beg pardon of God for your sins they shook the head and withdrew with pride misery is upon them whether thou implore pardon for them or dost not implore it God will not pardon them he abhorreth the wicked They say Do no good to them that follow that Prophet of God until they abandon him the treasures of Heaven and Earth are Gods but they comprehend it not they say If we return to the City of Medina we will drive thence shame and infamy and will there establish Greatness and Honour on the contrary Greatness Power and Victory proceed from God his Prophet and them that believe in his Law but Infidels understand it not Oh ye that believe in God! your Riches and your Children ought not to seduce you
from his Service such as shall forsake it shall be in the number of the damned give alms of the Wealth that he hath given you before the Hour of your Death arrive then shall the wicked say Lord if thou hadst not so soon caused me to die I had embraced thy Law God retardeth not the day of any one when the Hour is come he knoweth all that ye do CHAP. LXIV The Chapter of Deceit containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Praise God whatsoever is in Heaven and Earth he is King of all things Praise is due to him he is Omnipotent he it is that hath created you some observe his Commandments and others are unbelievers he beholdeth all your actions He created the Heavens and the Earth he formed you and ye shall be one day assembled before him to be judged he knoweth all that is in Heaven and Earth he understandeth your secrets and what ye publish he is not ignorant of what is in the hearts of men Have ye not heard what did heretofore befal the wicked They were punished they died in their misery and in the end shall suffer grievous torments because God hath sent them Prophets to instruct them and they said What! shall a man like our selves teach us the right way They despised them and forsook the Law of God he hath not to do with them neither hath he need of the World praise is due to him in all places do the wicked believe that they shall not rise again Contrariwise God shall make them to revive and shall declare to them all that they have done this thing is easie to his Divine Majesty Believe in God his Prophet and the light that he hath sent you he knoweth all your actions Remember thou the day when he shall Summon all to Judgment this shall be the Day of Deceit they shall be known that have deceived themselves and those that have deluded their Neighbours That day their sins shall be pardoned that shall have believed in his unity and have done good works they shall dwell eternally in Gardens wherein flow many Rivers the Infidels that despise his Commandments shall be precipitated into Hell where they shall burn eternally No evil befalleth you but through God's permission he giveth patience to him that believeth in his Divine Majesty and knoweth all Obey God and his Prophet if ye obey him not know that the Prophet of God is obliged only to preach the truth of Faith there is but one God all True believers resign themselves to his Divine Will. O ye that believe ye have Children and Wives that are your enemies beware of their malice if ye pardon them if ye depart from them God shall be to you gracious and merciful Wealth and Children do often hinder you to obey God but know that he rewardeth abundantly the Righteous fear him with all your power hearken to his Commandments obey him give alms he that is not avaricious shall be blessed if ye lend any thing to God he shall cause it to multiply he shall pardon your sins he accepteth the acknowledgment of his benefits and is most merciful He knoweth what is present past and future he is Omnipotent and Wise. CHAP. LXV The Chapter of Divorce containing Eighteen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Oh Prophet when you repudiate them following the Ordinances and Laws and reckon the time that they ought to tarry before they marry again Fear God your Lord cause them not to depart their houses neither expel them before the time appointed if they be not taken in Adultery such are the Ordinances of God he that shall trangress them shall do injury to himself peradventure God will enjoyn something concerning them of which ye are ignorant When the time that they ought to tarry shall be finished retain or dismiss them with civility ye shall take persons of your Religion honest men that shall be witnesses of your Actions depose with truth what ye have seen it is so appointed to them that believe in God and the day of Judgment God shall deliver from affliction him that shall have his fear before his eyes and shall enrich him when he least thinks of it he that shall trust in him shall not be deceived he doth what he pleaseth and hath appointed a prefixed time to every thing If the Women hope no more to have their three months and doubt that they are misreckoned they shall tarry three months before they marry again if they be not Nurses if they be with Child ye shall abstain till their delivery whosoever feareth God rejoiceth in the observance of his Commandments What is above is ordained of God he shall pardon their sins that have his fear before their eyes and give them an exceeding great reward Cause them that ye repudiate to dwell in your houses or near to you abuse them not if they be with Child allow them what shall be necessary for them until they shall be delivered if they desire to nurse their Children ye shall give them an honest salary and entreat them with civility and curtesie if ye like not this ye shall cause them to be nursed by another whose pains ye shall reward If ye be not wealthy you shall allow according to your power God doth not enjoyn any one to expend more than his ability permitteth he shall give you good after evil how many have been the Cities that have heretofore disobeyed the Commandments of God and of his Prophets We have kept an exact account of their sins their Inhabitants have been chastised and shall be in the end in the number of the damned God hath prepared for them grievous torments Oh ye that are wise fear God he hath sent you the Alcoran he hath sent you a Prophet to teach you the mysteries of his Law to lead you out of darkness and to guide into light them that shall believe in him and do good works He shall open to them the Gate of Paradise wherein flow many Rivers where they shall dwell eternally with all manner of content God! He it is that created the seven Heavens and as much of Earth and ordaineth among them what pleaseth him to the end ye may know that he is Omnipotent and knoweth all things CHAP. LXVI The Chapter of Prohibition containing Twelve Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Oh Prophet prohibit not for the contentment of thy wives to do that which God hath permitted thee he is gracions and merciful he hath appointed to do what is permitted by your Law he is your Lord is Omniscient and most Wise. When the Prophet went to visit one of his wives God revealed to him what she desired to say to him he approved one part and rejected the other when he told his Wife what was in her will to speak to him she demanded of him who had revealed it to him he that
will put upon their noses a mark of shame and igâ—…ominy we have tried them as Gardeners when â—…hey have resolved in the evening to cut off the morâ—…ing followng some fruits of their garden for â—…heir refection and have not said if it please God By night while they slept God sent fire â—…nto their gardens that consumed them in the morning they called each other and said Come â—…o put order to your garden if ye desire to gaâ—…her the fruits they believed the poor would enâ—…er they ran to drive them away and found their â—…ruits black and their gardens blasted Then they â—…aid We are seduced we are sinners one of them â—…aid that it was requisite to praise God then they â—…aid Praised be God we are great sinners they â—…pproached each other and complained among â—…hemselves they said misery is upon us we were â—…n a great error peradventure God will give us â—…ereafter more than the value of what we have lost we must beg his grace thus God chastiseth on earth whom he pleaseth but the torments of the other world are much more grievous They that have â—…his fear before their eyes shall dwell in gardens full of delights Shall I entreat the good like the wicked How can ye judg it have ye a book wherein you read what pleaseth you have we promised to you any content at the day of Judgment Shall you have that day what ye have promised to your selves Ask of them who will be surety for their belief will their Idols and companions be their surety Let them cause them to come if they be true Be thou mindful of the day when sins shall be detected and the wicked shall be commanded to worship God but they shall not be able to behold him their eyes shall be troubled with fear and their sight covered with shame They are enjoyned in the world to worship his divine Majesty but they refuse to perform it I will punish them by little and little when they shall least think of it I will defer the punishments of their crimes because my wrath is strong Dosâ—… thou demand of men any reeompence for thy preaching are they charged with any expence Have they in their power the book wherein is the future to write therein what they affirm Attend the Judgment of thy Lord and be not like him that was swallowed of the Whale He invoked his Lord in his affliction if his Lord had not sent him his grace he should never have come upon earth when he repented of his sin his Lord pardoned and placed him in the number of the righteous The unbelievers labour to shake thee througâ—… their looks and that through envy they affirm that thou art possessed of the Devil when the hear thee read the Alcoran It was not sent but tâ—… instruct the world CHAP. LXIX The Chapter of Verification containing Fifty two Verses written at Mecca Exteri intituleth this The Chapter of Iudgment because that day all shall be verified IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Verification approacheth Verification approacheth God hath not told thee in what time shall be the day of Verification Temod and Aad would not believe him that preached to them the day of affliction and sorrow but Temod was destroyed by an extraordinary noise and Aad by an impetuous wind that God sent against them Seven nights and eight days together they were overthrown stretched out like Palms faln upon the Earth Did any one among them save himself Pharaoh and his predecessors with the Inhabitants of the Cities that were overthrown because of their sins disobeyed the Prophets and Apostles of God and were rudely chastised We preserved you in Noah's Ark when the waters swelled to serve for example of our Omnipotency to them that saw it and to such as shall hear it mentioned Be thou mindful of the day when the Angel shall sound the Trumpet when the Earth shall lift it self up and the Mountains tremble then what must come to pass shall come to pass Heaven with Weakness shall open and the Angel that shall bear the Throne of God shall be upon the border of the Heaven Then shall Eight Angels present the books wherein shall be written the sins of Men and nothing shall be concealed Such as shall take in the right hand the Book of the account of their actions shall say We find what we believed to be true we know with certain knowledg the coming of this day and the felicity of Life is in Paradise It shall be said to them Eat and drink of the good things of Paradise at your pleasure They that shall take the Book of account of their actions in their left Hand shall say Would to God that this Book had been lost I know not what is this account would to God that I had been eternally buried in the Earth the Riches Authority and Treasures of the World are to me unprofitable It shall be said to the Devils Take them bind them and throw them headlong in to Hell put Chains seventy Cubits long upon their arms and cast them into fire they would not believe in the Unity of God the Omnipotent they have eaten the Bread of the Poor they are this day without protection and want Bread and shall find nothing but the pains of Hell prepared for the wicked I swear Although ye see and although ye do not see the Alcoran it is the word of the Prophet the Apostle of God it is not the word of a Poet but few persons will believe it It is not the word of one that is wicked but few men remember it it is sent from God Lord of the Universe The Infidels say Oh Prophet if thou speak we will not hear thee thy speech shall not enter into our hearts Say unto them There is none among you able to deliver you from the punishment of your crimes the Alcoran instructeth in the way of Salvation them that believe in his Divine Majesty I know that there are Lyars among you whom God shall put into the number of Infidels The Alcoran is truth it self Praised be the Name of God Omnipotent and Majestick CHAP. LXX The Chapter of the Ascent containing Forty four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Some persons have demanded when shall be the Day of Judgment and in what time the wicked shall be chastised None but God is able to deliver men from the torments of Hell he is Lord of the way that ascendeth to Heaven the Angels and Spirits shall ascend towards him at the Day of Judgment that day shall seem to the wicked to endure Fifty thousand years expect with patience the wicked imagine they are far from that day but thou shalt see it speedily that day shall the Heaven resemble dissolved Metal the Mountains shall be like to carded Wool which bendeth downwards none shall ask his Neighbour who he is and they shall look one upon another the unbelievers shall desire to redeem
themselves from these pains through the loss of their Children their Wives their Brethren their Companions their Neighbours and the loss of all that is on Earth The flame of Fire shall rise upon them and shall burn the skin of their head they shall call upon those that are behind them that have like themselves abandoned the Law of God and the covetous that shall have heaped up Treasures Man was created timerous he is afraid when evil befalleth him and is arrogant when good hapneth to him except the believers who are stable in their Faith that persevere in their prayers that give alms to the poor that beg and those that are bashful that believe in the Day of Judgment fear the punishment of God and know none other Women but their own and their Slaves they shall be exempt from affliction at the Day of Judgment those that shall act the contrary shall be in the number of the unjust They who effect what they have promised and preserve faithfully what to them hath been entrusted who speak the truth in testimony and who make their prayers at the time appointed shall be honoured in Paradise Wherefore is it that the Infidels who are about thee cast their eyes to the right Hand and to the left with pride Do they require to enter into Paradise and be saved We have created them as other men I swear by the Lord of the East and West That we are able to change them into a People better than they and that it is a thing easie for us to perform leave them in their errors until they be come to the day when they are promised to be chastised and that they shall come out of their Sepulchres to repair to Universal Judgment they shall repair thither terrified and their sight shall be covered with shame this is the day that hath been heretofore preached to them CHAP. LXXI The Chapter of Noah containing Twenty eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Before men were chastised we sent Noah to preach to them the pains of hell he said unto them O ye people I preach to you the pains of hell worship one only God and fear him obey me he shall pardon your sins â—…e deferreth your punishment until the day appointed and shall not retard it when his hour shall be come did he know it ye would be converted Afterward he said Lord I have exhorted this people night and day but mine exhortations have been very much in vain they have strengthned themselves in their impiety and when I preached to them they put their fingers into their ears and covered their heads with their garments that they might not hear they continue in their impiety and become proud I have preached to them publickly I lifted up my voice I have expounded to them the mysteries of thy Law I said unto them Implore pardon of God he is most merciful he shall send you abundance of rain to water the earth he shall give you store of wealth and many children he shall give you gardens embellished with fountains and rivers who hindereth you to honour God He it is that hath created you in the condition wherein you are consider ye not that he hath created seven heavens the one upon the other that he created the Moon with her brightness and the Sun with his light he hath caused the earth to bring forth all sorts of plants he will cause you all to return to earth and to revive he hath extended it to the end ye may walk in the ways thereof large and spacious Lord said Noah this people hath disobeyed me they have followed that which can give them neither posterity nor profit but rather a most certain damage they have conspired against me and said among themselves Forsake not your gods forsake not Od Soa Igout Iaoc and Nesar they err from the right way Lord add to their confusion Then were they drowned because of their sins they shall be cast headlong into the fire whence none but God is able to deliver them Noah said Lord leave not a wicked man upon the earth they will seduce thy creatures from the right way they will leave children lyars and impious like themselves pardon my sins pardon the sins of my father my lineage and those that shall believe in thy Law and destroy the unjust CHAP. LXXII The Chapter of Devils containing twenty eight Verses written at Mecca Some Mahometans intitle this The Chapter of Spirits IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say to the people I have received an inspiration which some devils heard of me when I read the Alcoran and that they said We have heard the miraculous Alcoran read it teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains we believe not that God hath companions we believe there is but one God we believe not that he hath wives or children our ignorant persons blaspheme against his divine Majesty nevertheless we imagine that they could not do it There are who require aid of the devils and augment their confusion because they say that God will not cause any to rise again some devils have said We have been as high as heaven and found it furnished with guards and stars we stayed in a place a little distant to hear there is one star that watcheth them that hearken and drives them away we know not if God hateth the men that are upon earth or if he will teach them the right way but we are now in the number of them that believe in the unity of his divine Majesty they said Oh ye people we were before in the way of error we heretofore believed that God did not operate on earth but no person in whatsoever place he be can avoid obeying his Will we heard the book read that teacheth the right way we believe in what it contains he that believeth in God will not fear any misery or injustice there be of us that are good and that trust in God others there are who are wicked and impious such as obey the Commandments of God follow the right way and the wicked shall be precipitated into the fire of hell Had the Infidels followed the right way we had sent them from heaven abundance of rain and given them our grace I will try them and such as shall despise the Alcoran shall be punished The Temples belong to God invoke one sole God in the Temples when his servant riseth he worshippeth his divine Majesty it wanteth not much but these devils had published the plurality of Deities Say unto the people worship God my Lord I believe in one God who hath no companion I can neither guide nor seduce you but through his permission If I disobey him none shall be able to save me and I shall want protection at the day of Judgment I can do no more for you than to preach to you his Law this is the subject of my Embassie He who shall disobey God
God gracious and merciful When the Roundness of the Sun shall appear the Stars fall the Mountains walk the Camel be without burden and without keeper when 〈◊〉 beast shall be gathered together the Sea 〈◊〉 with fire Souls return into Bodies the â—…ter demand why they put her to death 〈◊〉 the book of good and evil shall open when â—…ven shall cast off its ornaments the fire of 〈◊〉 appear and Paradise be opened then shall 〈◊〉 know the good and the evil that they have â—…mitted I swear by the Planets by the 〈◊〉 of night and by the brightness of day that the words of the Alcoran are the words of the Prophet beloved of God powerful with his divine Majesty ye ought to obey him he is a faithful observer of what is commanded him he is not possessed of the Devil as ye have imagined he hath seen the Angel clearly and without riddle and is not perplexed for what is to come the words of the Alcoran are not the words of the Devil on whatsoever side ye turn you it is only for the instruction of men and such among you as will follow the right way but ye shall have no inclination to follow it if it please God the Lord of the Universe CHAP. LXXXII The Chapter of the opening of Heaven containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The souls shall know the good and the evil that they have done when the heavens shall open the stars fall the seas be gathered together and the sepulchres be opened O man what maketh thee so proud as to rise against God who hath created thee who hath formed and proportioned thee after what manner he pleased O ye wicked ye will not believe the day of Judgment there are Angels that observe your actions and are obedient to God. The just shall go into Paradise and the unjust be precipitated into the fire of hell whence they shall never return I will not tell when the day of Judgment shall be that day none shall be able to succour his neighbour and God alone shall command CHAP. LXXXIII The Chapter of Them that weigh with false weights containing Thirty six Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful They that weigh with false weights and measure with false measures believe not to rise again at the day when all the World shall appear before God to be judged Certainly the book wherein the sins of the wicked are written is kept in hell Misery shall be upon Infidels at the day of Judgment none doubteth the coming of this day but the wicked when they hear the Commandments of God preached they say that it is but an old fable impiety retaineth them in this error and induceth them to abandon the Law of his divine Majesty but they shall be cast headlong into the flames of hell It shall be said unto them Behold the punishment which ye would not believe The book wherein the good works of the righteous are written is reserved in heaven the Angels are witnesses how the just shall enjoy the delights of Paradise they shall see the immense graces of God reposed on delicious beds their countenance shall be covered with joy and content they shall drink of purified wine most savory that shall have the odour of Musk preserved in bottles that none but themselves shall open and it shall be mixt with the water of the fountain of Paradise where the Cherubins do drink The Infidels deride the true believers that would instruct them nevertheless when they return to their companions they admire their doctrine and say when they see them behold the seduced but they are not sent to be their tutors The Infidels that shall be converted and believe in the day of Judgment shall go into Paradise they shall enjoy the grace of God they shall behold the grievous torments of the damned that shall be punished after their demerits and shall find in the other world what they have done on earth CHAP. LXXXIV The Chapter of the Cleft containing Twenty five Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful The day of Judgment shall appear when the heaven shall cleave asunder and the earth cast men out of their sepulchres by the commandment of God. O man thou goest daily towards death and shalt find in the end the good and evil that thou shalt have done he to whom shall be given the book of accompt of his actions in the right hand shall be blessed he shall go with his companions into Paradise where he shall enjoy eternal felicity He to whom shall be given the account of his actions in the left hand shall be damned he shall be cast headlong into the fire of hell because of the unlawful pleasures that he hath taken in the world and for that he believed not in the Resurrection God beholdeth all that he doth and keepeth account I swear by the redness that appeareth in the Air when the Sun setteth by the obscurity of the night and the brightness of the Moon That you all shall change being and posture and shall revive after your death Wherefore is it that the wicked believe not in God why do they not humble themselves when they hear the Alcoran read They blaspheme against God but he knows all their actions declare to them that they shall be chastised and that such as believe in his Unity and do good works shall receive an infinite reward CHAP. LXXXV The Chapter of Signs Celestial containing twenty Verses written at Mecca Many Mahometan Doctors entitle this The Chapter of Castles IN the name of God gracious and merciful It swear by heaven adorned with signs and by the day of Judgment by the Angels and men that they who have made pits filled with fire to burn the true believers shall be witness of their own malice and shall avouâ—… that the fire burned themselves to make them know the unity of God and the truth of his Law. God is Omnipotent and always victorious he is the King of the heavens and earth he beholdeth all They that torment true believers and shall not repent shall be damned they shall burn eternally in the fire of hell and such as shall believe in God and do good works shall dwell in pleasant gardens wherein flow many rivers where they shall for ever enjoy supream felicity The wrath of God is strong he maketh his creatures to die and rise again when he pleaseth he is merciful towards them that repent of their sins and loveth them that serve him He hath created his throne to which praise is due eternally he raiseth up whom he listeth and nothing is to him impossible Hast thou heard the History of the people of Pharaoh and Temod God shall chastise in like manner them that shall not believe in his Law he knoweth them all Certainly the precious Alcoran is written in the book that is reserved in heaven CHAP. LXXXVI The
Night and its obscurity by Heaven and the Stars thereof by the Earth and its plains by the creation of the Soul by the knowledg of Virtue and Vice That he that shall be purified from his sins shall be most happy and that he who defileth himself with Vice shall be most miserable The People of Temod traduced their Prophet because of their obstinacy but certainly they were chastised The Apostle and Prophet of God said unto them Behold the Camel of God suffer it to drink they derided him and slew that Camel. God severely punished them he spared not his chastisement against them CHAP. XCII The Chapter of Night containing Twenty Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the obscurity of Night by the brightness of Day by the creation of man and woman That your actions are very different He that shall yield to God the obedience that is due to him and believeth in his Unity shall go into Paradise and whosoever shall not praise his Divine Majesty and will not be converted shall go into hell his riches shall not save him and he shall be cast headlong into eternal flames It is we that guide the people we dispose the beginning and end of every thing I preach to you the torments of hell none shall enter there but the wretches that have blasphemed and departed far from the way of salvation he that hath the fear of God before his eyes and giveth alms shall be delivered from the fire of hell every one shall be recompenced for what he hath done for the love of God he shall be satisfied and contented CHAP. XCIII The Chapter of the Sun rising containing ten Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the brightness of the rising of the Sun and by the darkness of Night That thy Lord hath not forsaken thee He doth not hate thee his delay shall be to thee advantage and in the end thou shalt be content Did he not well lodge thee when thou wert an Orphan Did he not well guide thee when thou wert seduced Did not he enrich thee when thou wert poor Do no injury to Orphans devour not the poor and recount the graces that God hath conferred on thee CHAP. XCIV The Chapter of Ioy containing Eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Have not I rejoyced thine heart have not we delivered thee from the burden that was heavy on thy shoulders we have raised thy name and reputation affliction is followed of content when thou shalt have finished thy prayers labour and love thy Lord. CHAP. XCV The Chapter of the Fig containing eight Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Figs and Olives by Mount Sinai and by the safety and freedom that is in this City of Mecca that we created man with proportion afterwards we rendred him contemptible except the true believers that do good works they shall receive an infinite reward After this O wicked man what maketh thee to blaspheme against the Faith is not God the Judg of Judges CHAP. XCVI The Chapter of Blood congealed containing seventeen Verses written at Mecca Bedaoi and Gelaldin call this The Chapter of Reading IN the name of God gracious and mercifuâ—… Read the Alcoran and begin through thâ—… name of God who created all who made maâ—… of a little congealed blood Read the Alcoran and exalt the glory of thy Lord who hath instructed man in the Scriptures who taught him whaâ—… he knew not nevertheless he is in a great errorâ—… he will not consider that he shall return before God. Hast thou considered him that would have hindred one of the servants of God to make his prayers hast thou understood if he were in the way of salvation hast thou seen if he blasphemed if he hath abandoned the faith knoweth he not that God forsaketh him If he desist not hâ—… shall be dragged by the hair into the fire of hell with the wicked he shall quit the place where they assemble to dispute against the faith and the devils shall cast cast them headlong into flames eternal Disobey not the commandments of God persevere in thy prayers worship God always obedience to his commandments shall draw theâ—… near to his divine Majesty CHAP. XCVII The Chapter of Glory or Power containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful We sent the Alcoran in the night of Glory and Power I have not taught thee the graces of this night of glory and vertue The prayers and good works that are done that night have more of merit and efficacy than those that have been performed in a thousand months The Angels descended that night to the earth thorough the permission of their Lord and salute the true believers until the dawning of the day CHAP. XCVIII The Chapter of Instruction containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the name of God gracious and merciful They that understand the Scripture and believe in many gods will not relinquish their idolatry until they have heard the instruction of the Prophet of God he shall read unto them a book clean and pure wherein are written the precepts of the right way They that know the Scripture are not divided until they have learned this instruction It commandeth to worship one only God to make their prayers at the time appointed and to pay tithes this is the right way The unbelievers that know the Scriptures and adore many Gods shall remain eternally in the fire of hell and shall be most miserable They that believe in one God and perform good works shall be most happy they shall be recompenced of their Lord in the garden of Eden wherein flow many rivers where they shall dwell eternally God shall be satisfied with their obedience and shall give them his blessing prepared for them that fear him CHAP. XCIX The Chapter of the Earthquake containing eight Verses written at Medina IN the Name of God gracious and merciful when the earth shall tremble and shall cast bodies out of their sepulchres man shall demand what it will do they shall tell him news to wit that God hath commanded it to do so That day shall men come out of sepulchres from divers places and shall see the good and the evil that they have done he that hath committed evil of the weight of an atome shall be chastised and he that shall have done good of the weight of an atome shall be rewarded CHAP. C. The Chapter of Horses containing eleven Verses written at Mecca and Medina Some Arabians have called this The Chapter 〈◊〉 Return or of them that return IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the Horses and the noise that they make with their feet when they return to war and by the fire which they make to arise when they strike their feet against stones that run lightly through
jealousie and raise the dust in the midst of enemies That man is ingrateful for the graces of his Lord he himself is witness of his ingratitude and too much affecteth the riches of the Earth knoweth he not that God will make all the world to revive that he wlll bring to light whatsoever is most secret in the hearts of men and that he knoweth all that they have done CHAP. CI. The Chapter of Affliction containing eleven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful When the extreme affliction shall appear I will not tell thee in what time this shall be then shall all men be assembled stretched out like Quilts and the mountains shall be like carded wool Such whose ballance shall be weighty with good works shall go into Paradise and they whose ballance shall be light of good works shall go into hell they shall go into a fire so hot that I am not able to express the heat CHAP. CII The Chapter of Abundance containing eight Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Certainly all your care even to the grave is in the abundance of your wealth but ye shall hereafter learn ye shall hereafter learn the truth If ye had knowledge ye would meditate on the torments of hell you shall see one day that they are indubitable then shall ye ask where is Paradise CHAP. CIII The Chapter of the Evening IN the Name of God gracious and merciful I swear by the hour of the Evening That men are inclined to their destruction except such as believe in God that do good works and have in esteem truth and perseverance CHAP. CIV The Chapter of Persecution containing seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Misery is upon him that persecuteth his Neighbour Persecution hath its Counter-Persecution He that heapeth up treasures and is busied to count them thinketh they will make him immortal but they shall precipitate him into his misery I will not tell thee into what misery but the fire of hell is always kindled to burn the heart of the wicked they shall be overwhelmed in flames and bound to great pillars CHAP. CV The Chapter of Elephants containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the name of God gracious and merciful Considerest thou not how thy Lord entreated them that came mounted upon Elephants to ruin the Temple of Mecca Was not their Conspiracy their own destructiom God sent against them flying Troops that threw upon them Stones whereon were imprinted their names he made them like to Corn sown in Fields devoured by Beasts CHAP. CVI. The Chapter of Coreis containing four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Coreis had no humanity for them the People come every Winter and every Summer to worship the God of the Temple of Mecca which nourisheth and delivereth them from famine and fear CHAP. CVII The Chapter of the Law containing seven Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Sawest thou him that blasphemed against the Law He it is that devoureth the substance of Orphans and the bread of the Poor Misery is upon them that are not attentive to their Prayers that are Hypocrites and hinder men to do well CHAP. CVIII The Chapter of Affluence containing three Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful We have given thee a great Affluence of our Graces Pray to thy Lord lift up thine hands he that hateth thee shall be accursed CHAP. CIX The Chapter of Infidels containing six Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Oh Infidels Idolaters I worship not what ye worship and ye worship not what I worship I will not worship that which ye worship and ye will not worship that which I worship you observe your Law and I mine CHAP. CX The Chapter of Protection containing four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful A great number of People embrace the Law of God when he protecteth the true Believers and giveth them victory Exalt his Glory and implore pardon of him he is most merciful CHAP. CXI The Chapter of the Cord of Palm containing eleven Verses written at Mecca Galaldin entituleth this The Chapter of Loss IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Ablheb lost his hand God chastised him his Riches shall not save him he shall burn in eternal Flames with his Wife that carrieth Wood upon her Neck bound with a Cord of Palm CHAP. CXII The Chapter of Salvation containing four Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say unto unbelievers God is eternal he neither begetteth nor is begotten and hath no companion CHAP. CXIII The Chapter of Separation containing five Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say unto them God who hath separated light from darkness shall defend me from all the evils that he hath created from danger darkness from them that blow against the knot of the string from Sorcerers and the Envious CHAP. CXIV The Chapter of the People containing six Verses written at Mecca IN the Name of God gracious and merciful Say unto them I will beware of the temptations of the Devil and the malice of the people through the assistance of the Lord and King of the people FINIS Grotius de ver Rel. Christ. * The Coreis were â—… powerful family in Arabia in Mahomet â—… time A great question among Mahometans * Now a City called Medina-talnabi i e. the Town of the Prophet †Some will have him to be his Grand father * Sarra signifies in their tongue a Desart and Sahen to inhabit See Sands his Travel Euseâ—… in vit Coast. l. 9. c. 9. Hist. Theâ—…d l. 5. c. 24. Socrat l. c. â—… 18. Aug. l. 5. de civit dei c. 23. Psal. 10. 4 Vt iugulent hâ—…mines surgunt de nocte latronâ—…s Mat. 13. Rev. 20. Rev. 9. See Eâ—…pennius his Grammar See the Explication of Gelaldin See Gelaldin * The Puny is a stinking Worm frequently growing in Beds in hot Countries See Kitab el tenoir The Alcoran in the old and new Testament Gelaldin saith the innocent slay the wicked We have pardoned you see Gelaldin Gelaldin saith it is Ierusalem See Kitab el tenoir See Gelaldin See Kitab el tenoir * The Turks believe that a man shall rise again being smitten with the tongue of that Cow. See Bedaci See Gelaldin See Kitab el tenoir * The Turks believe that God raised a Mountain over the Israelites to overshadow them * Mahomet Arot and Marot Magicians The Iews and Christians who have the written Law See Gelaldin * Abraham's place is an Oratory in the Temple of Mecca See Gelaldin These are the Iews and Christians that follow the written Law. * So the Turks stile themselves * Safa and Meroa are Mountains near Mecca See Kitâ—… el teâ—…oir