AL. R. These are the signs of the wise book. Is it a strange thing unto the men of Mecca, that we have revealed our will unto a man from among them, saying, Denounce threats unto men if they believe not; and bear good tidings unto those who believe, that on the merit of their sincerity they have an interest with their LORD? The unbelievers say, This is manifest sorcery. Verily your LORD is GOD, who hath created the heavens and the earth in six days; and then ascended his throne, to take on himself the government of all things. There is no intercessor, but by his permission. This is GOD, your LORD; therefore serve him. Will ye not consider? Unto him shall ye all return, according to the certain promise of God; for he produceth a creature, and then causeth it to return again; that he may reward those who believe and do that which is right, with equity. But as for the unbelievers, they shall drink boiling water, and they shall suffer a grievous punishment, for that they have dis believed. It is he who hath ordained the sun to shine by day, and the moon for a light by night; and hath appointed her stations, that ye might know the number of years, and the computation of time. God hath not created this, but with truth. He explaineth his signs unto people who understand. Moreover in the vicissitude of night and day, and whatever GOD hath created in heaven and earth, are surely signs unto men who fear him. Verily they who hope not to meet us at the last day, and delight in this present life, and rest securely in the same, and who are negligent of our signs; their dwelling shall be hell fire, for that which they have deserved. But as to those who believe, and work righteousness, their LORD will direct them because of their faith; they shall have rivers flowing through gardens of pleasure. Their prayer therein shall be, Praise be unto thee, O GOD! and their salutation" therein shall be Peace! and the end of

This prophet is mentioned towards the end of the chapter. (After the name, Savary dds, "Peace be with him.")

See the Prelim. Disc. sect. iii. pp. 42, 43.

And not one of the most powerful among them neither; so that the Koreish said it was a wonder God could find out no other messenger than the orphan pupil of Abu Taleb.'

Meaning the Korân. According to the reading of some copies, the words may be rendered, This man (i. e. Mohammed) is no other than a manifest sorcerer,

These words were revealed to refute the foolish opinion of the idolatrous Meccans, who imagined their idols were intercessors with God for them.

Either the inutual salutation of the blessed to one another, or that of the angels to the blessed.

Al Beidâwi.

their prayer shall be, Praise be unto God, the LORD of all creatures! If GOD should cause evil to hasten unto men, according to their desire of hastening good, verily their end had been decreed. Wherefore we suffer those who hope not to meet us at the resurrection, to wander amazedly in their error. When evil befalleth a man, he prayeth unto us lying on his side, or sitting, or standing: but when we deliver him from his affliction, he continueth his former course of life, as though he had not called upon us to defend him against the evil which had befallen him. Thus was that which the transgressors committed prepared for them.* We have formerly destroyed the generations who were before you, O men of Mecca, when they had acted unjustly, and our apostles had come unto them with evident miracles and they would not believe. Thus do we reward the wicked people. Afterwards did we cause you to succeed them in the earth; that we might see how ye would act. When our evident signs are recited unto them, they who hope not to meet us at the resurrection, say, Bring a dif ferent Korân from this; or make some change therein. Answer, It is not fit for me, that I should change it at my pleasure: I follow that only which is revealed unto me. Verily I fear, if I should be disobedient unto my LORD, the punishment of the great day. Say, If GOD had so pleased, I had not read it unto you, neither had I taught you the same. I have already dwelt among you to the age of forty years, before I received it. Do ye not therefore understand? And who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie against GoD, or accuseth his signs of falsehood? Surely the wicked shall not prosper. They worship besides GOD, that which can neither hurt them nor profit them, and they say, These are our intercessors with GOD. Answer, Will ye tell God that which he knoweth not, neither in heaven nor in earth? Praise be unto him! and far be that from him,t which they associate with him! Men were professors of one religion only, but they dissented therefrom; and if a decree had not previously issued from thy LoRD, deferring their punishment, verily the matter had been decided between them, concerning which they disagreed. They say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, we will not believe. Answer, Verily that which is hidden is known only unto God: wait, therefore, the

i. e. In all postures, and at all times.

Thus the ungodly man delighteth in his ingratitude."-Savary.

For so old was Mohammed before he took upon him to be a prophet; during which time his fellow-citizens well knew that he had not applied himself to learning of any sort, nor frequented learned men, nor had ever exercised himself in composing verses or orations, whereby he might acquire the art of rhetoric, or elegance of speech. A flagrant proof, says al Beidawi, that this book could be taught him by none but God.

See the Prelim. Disc. sect. i. p. 11, &c.

viz. That he hath equals or companions either in heaven, or on earth; since he acknowledgeth none?

↑ "Accursed be their chimerical deities."

That is to say, the true religion, or Islâm, which was generally professed, as some say till Abel was murdered, or, as others, till the days of Noah. Some suppose the first ages after the flood are here intended; others, the state of religion in Arabia, from the time of Abraham to that of Amru Ebn Lohai, the great introducer of idolatry into that country.

See the Prelim. Disc. p. 30. Abulfed. Vit. Moh. c 7. Disc p. 19, &c.

See the Prelim.

pleasure of God; and I also will wait with you. And when we caused the men of Mecca to taste mercy, after an affliction which had befallen them, behold, they devised a stratagem against our signs. Say unto them, GOD is more swift in executing a stratagem, than ye. Verily our messengers write down that which ye deceitfully devise. It is he who hath given you conveniences for travelling by land and by sea; so that ye be in ships, which sail with them, with a favourable wind, and they rejoice therein. And when a tempestuous wind overtaketh them, and waves come upon them from every side, and they think themselves to be encompassed with inevitable dangers; they call upon GoD, exhibiting the pure religion unto him, and saying, Verily, if thou' deliver us from this peril, we will be of those who give thanks. But when he hath delivered them, behold, they behave themselves insolently in the earth, without justice. O men, verily the violence which ye commit against your own souls, is for the enjoyment of this present life only; afterwards unto us shall ye return, and we will declare unto you that which ye have done. Verily the likeness of this present life is no other than as water, which we send down from heaven, and wherewith the productions of the earth are mixed, of which men eat, and cattle also, until the earth receive its vesture, and be adorned with various plants: the inhabitants thereof imagine that they have power over the same; but our command cometh unto it by night, or by day, and we render it as though it had been mowen, as though it had not yesterday abounded with fruits. Thus do we explain our signs unto people who consider. GoD inviteth unto the dwelling of peace, and directeth whom he pleaseth into the right way. They who do right shall receive a most excellent reward, and a superabundant addition; neither blackness nor shame shall cover their faces. These shall be the inhabitants of paradise; they shall continue therein for ever. But they who commit evil shall receive the reward of evil, equal thereunto," and they shall be covered with shame, (for they shall have no protector against GoD); as though their faces were covered with the profound darkness of the night. These shall be the inhabitants of hell fire; they shall remain therein for ever. day of the resurrection we will gather them altogether; then will we say unto the idolaters, Get ye to your place, ye and your companions: and we will separate them from one another; and their companions will

On the

For it is said that they were afflicted with a dearth for seven years, so that they were very near perishing; but no sooner relieved by God's sending them plenty, than they began again to charge Mohammed with imposture, and to ridicule his revelations.1 i. e. The guardian angels.

That is, applying themselves to God only, and neglecting their idols; their fears directing them in such an extremity to ask help of him only who could give it.

• Viz. Paradise.

For their reward will vastly exceed the merit of their good works. Al Ghazâli supposes this additional recompense will be the beatific vision.

See the Prelim. Disc. p. 62, &c.

i. e. Though the blessed will be rewarded beyond their deserts, yet God will not pun ish any beyond their demerits, but treat them with the exactest justice.

That is, your idols, or the companions which ye attributed unto God.

'Al Beidâwi.

See the Prelim. Disc. p. 71.

say unto them, Ye do not worship us; and GOD is a sufficient witness between us and you; neither did we mind your worshipping of us. There snall every soul experience that which it shall have sent before it and they shall be brought before God their true LORD; and the false deities which they vainly imagined, shall disappear from before them. Say, Who provideth you food from heaven and earth? or who hath the absolute power over the hearing and the sight? and who bringeth forth the living from the dead, and bringeth forth the dead from the living? and who governeth all things? They will surely answer, GOD. Say, Will ye not therefore fear him? This is therefore God, your true LORD: and what remaineth there after truth, except error? How therefore are ye turned aside from the truth? Thus is the word of thy LoRD verified upon them who do wickedly; that they believe not. Say, Is there any of your companions who produceth a creature, and then causeth it to return unto himself? Say, GoD produceth a creature, and then causeth it to return unto himself. How therefore are ye turned aside from his worship? Say, Is there any of your companions who directeth unto the truth? Say, Gon directeth unto the truth. Whether is he, therefore, who directeth unto the truth, more worthy to be followed; or he who directeth not, unless he be directed? What aileth you therefore, that ye judge as ye do? And the greater part of them follow an uncertain opinion only; but a mere opinion attaineth not unto any truth.* Verily God knoweth that which they do. This Korân could not have been composed by any except God; but it is a confirmation of that which was revealed before it, and an explanation of the scripture; there is no doubt thereof; sent down from the LORD of al! creatures. Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Answer, Bring therefore a chapter like unto it; and call whom you may to your assistance, besides God, if ye speak truth. But they have charged that with falsehood, the knowledge whereof they do not comprehend, neither hath the interpretation thereof come unto them. In the same manner did those who were before them accuse their prophets of imposture; but behold, what was the end of the unjust! There are some of them who believe therein; and there are some of them who believe not therein:" and thy LORD well knoweth the corrupt doers. If they accuse thee of imposture, say, I have my work, and ye have your work; ye shall be clear of that which I de,

But ye really worshipped your own lusts, and were seduced to idolatry, not by us, but by your own superstitious fancies. It is pretended that God will, at the last day, enable the idols to speak, and that they will thus reproach their worshippers, instead of interceding for them, as they hoped. Some suppose the angels, who were also objects of the worship of the pagan Arabs, are particularly intended in this place.

Some copies, instead of tablu, read tatlu, i. e. shall follow, or meditate upon.

See chap. 2, p. 13, note r.

"Their only rule is their opinion, and it has no conformity with truth."-Savary.

* i. e. There are some of them who are inwardly well satisfied of the truth of thy doctrine, though they are so wicked as to oppose it; and there are others of them who believe it not, through prejudice and want of consideration. Or the passage may be understood in the future tense, of some who should afterwards believe, and repent, and of others who hould die infidels."

Al Beidâwi.

There are some of them who deaf to hear, although they do

and I will be clear of that which ye do. hearken unto thee; but wiit thou make the not understand? And there are some of them who look at thee; but wilt thou direct the blind, although they see not? Verily God will not deal unjustly with men in any respect: but men deal unjustly with their own souls. On a certain day he will gather them together, as though they had not tarried above an hour of a day: they shall know one another. Then shall they perish who have denied the meeting of GOD; and were not rightly directed. Whether we cause thee to see a part of the punishment wherewith we have threatened them, or whether we cause thee to die before thou see it; unto us shall they return: then shall God be witness of 'hat which they do. Unto every nation hath an apostle been sent; and when their apostle came, the matter was decided between them with equity; and they were not treated unjustly. The unbelievers say, When will this threatening be made good, if ye speak truth? Answer, I am able neither to procure advantage unto myself, nor to avert mischief from me, but as Gon pleaseth. Unto every nation is a fixed term decreed; when their term therefore is expired, they shall not have respite for an hour, neither shal their punishment be anticipated. Say, Tell me, if the punishment of GOD overtake you by night, or by day, what part thereof will the ungodly wish to be hastened? When it falleth on you, do ye then believe it? Now do ye believe, and wish it far from you, when as ye formerly desired it should be hastened? Then shall it be said unto the wicked, Taste the punishment of eternity; would ye receive other than the reward of th which ye have wrought? They will desire to know of thee, whether this be true. Answer, Yea, by my LORD, it is certainly true; neither shall ye weaken God's power so as to escape it. Verily, if every soul which hath acted wickedly had whatever is on the earth, it would willingly redeem itself therewith at the last day. Yet they will conceal their repentance, after they shall have seen the punishment; and the matter shall be decided between them with equity, and they shall not be unjustly treated. Doth not whatsoever is in heaven and on earth belong unto God? Is not the promise of God true? But the greater part of them know it not. He

These words were revealed on account of certain Meccans, who seemed to attend while Mohammed read the Korân to them, or instructed them in any point of religion, but yet were as far from being convinced or edified, as if they had not heard him at all. For God deprives them not of their senses, or understanding; but they corrupt and make an ill use of them.

Either in the world, or in the grave.

As if it were but a little while since they parted. But this will happen during the first moments only of the resurrection; for afterwards the terror of the day will disturb and take from them all knowledge of one another.'

By delivering the prophet and those who believed on him, and destroying the obstinate infidels.

Should the divine vengeance fall on you unawares, either by day or by night, think you that it can have been rastened by the wicked?"-Savary.

To hide their shame and regret; or because their surprise and astonishment wil. deprive them of the use of speech. Some, however understand the verb which is here endered will conceal, in the contrary signification, which it sometimes bears; and then it must be translated, They will openly declare their repentance, &c.