48. But when there came unto them the Truth from Our presence, they said: Why is he not given the like of what was given unto Moses? Did they not disbelieve in that which was given unto Moses of old? They say: Two magics ' that support each other; and they say: Lo! in both we are disbelievers, 49. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Then bring a Scripture from the presence of Allah that giveth clearer guidance than these two (that) I may follow it, if ye are truthful.
50. And if they answer thee not, then know that what they follow is their lusts. And who goeth farther astray than he who followeth his lust without guidance from Allah. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
' i.e. the Scripture of Moses and the Koran.
THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH 51. And now verily We have caused the Word to reach them, that haply they may give heed.
52. Those unto whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it, 53. And when it is recited unto them, they say: We believe in it. Lo! it is the Truth from our Lord. Lo! even before it we were of those who surrender (unto Him).
54. These will be given their reward twice over, because they are stedfast and repel evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have provided them, 55. And when they hear vanity they withdraw from it and say: Unto us our works and unto you your works. Peace be unto you! We desire not the ignorant.
56. Lo! thou (O Muhammad) guidest not whom thou lovest, but Allah guideth whom He will. And He is best aware of those who walk aright.
57. And they say: If we were to follow the Guidance with thee we should be torn out of our land. Have We not established for them a sure sanctuary,whereunto the produce of all things is brought (in trade), a provision from Our presence? But most of them know not.
58. And how many a community have We destroyed that was thankless for its means of livelihood! And yonder are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them save a little. And We, even We, were the inheritors.
59. And never did thy Lord destroy the townships, till He had raised up in their mother (-town) a messenger reciting unto them Our revelations. And never did We destroy the townships unless the folk thereof were evil-doers.
60. And whatsoever ye have been given is a comfort of the life of the world and an ornament thereof; and that which Allah hath is better and more lasting. Have ye then no sense?
* The sacred territoiy of Mecca.
XXVIII THE STORY 61. Is he whom We have promised a fair promise which he will find (true) like him whom We suffer to enjoy awhile the comfort of the life of the world,, then on the Day of Resurrection he will be of those arraigned?
62. On the Day when He will call unto them and say; Where are My partners whom ye imagined?
63. Those concerning whom the Word will have come true will say: Our Lord! These are they whom we led astray. We led them astray even as we ourselves were astray. We declare our innocence before Thee: us they never worshipped.
64. And it will be said: Cry unto your (so-called) partners (of Allah). And they will cry unto them, and they will give no answer unto them, and they will see the Doom, Ah, if they had but been guided!
65. And on the Day when He will call unto them and say; What answer gave ye to the messengers?
66. On that day (all) tidings will be dimmed for them, nor will they ask one of another, 67. But as for him who shall repent and believe and do right, he haply may be one of the successful.
68. Thy Lord bringeth to pass what He willeth and chooseth. They have never any choice. Glorified be Allah and exalted above all that they associate (with Him)! 69. And thy Lord knoweth what their breasts conceal, and what they publish.
70. And He is Allah; there is no God save Him. His is all praise in the former and the latter (state), and His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back.
71. Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made night everlasting for you till the Day of Resurrection, who is a God beside Allah who could bring you light? Will ye not then hear?
72. Say: Have ye thought, if Allah made day everlasting for you till the Day of Resurrection, who is a God beside DD stfRAH 402 THE GLORIOUS KORAN Allah who could bring you night wherein ye rest?. Will ye not then see?
73. Of His mercy hath He appointed for you night and day, that therein ye may rest, and that ye may seek His bounty, and that haply ye may be thankful.
74. And on the Day when He shall call unto them and say: Where are My partners whom ye pretended?
75. And We shall take out from every nation a witness and We shall say: Bring your proof. Then they will know that Allah hath the Truth, and all that they invented will have failed them. 76. Now Korah was of Moses’ folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant; 77. But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters, 78. He said: I have been given it only on account of knowledge I possess. Knew he not that Allah had destroyed already of the generations before him men who were mightier than him in strength and greater in respect of following? The guilty are not questioned of their sins.
79. Then went he forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world said: Ah, would that unto us had been given the like of what hath been given unto Korah! Lo! he is lord of rare good fortune.
80. But those who had been given knowledge said: Woe unto you! The reward of Allah for him who believeth and doeth right is better, and only the stedfast will obtain it.
XXVIII THE STORY 403 81. So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling-place. Then he had no host to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who can save themselves.
82. And morning found those who had coveted his place but yesterday crying; Ah, welladay! Allah enlargeth the provision for whom He will of His slaves and straiteneth it (for whom He will). If Allah had not been gracious unto us He would have caused it to swallow us (also). Ah, welladay! the disbelievers never prosper.
83. As for that Abode of the Hereafter We assign it unto those who seek not oppression in the earth, nor yet corruption. The sequel is for those who ward off (evil).
84. Whoso bringeth a good deed, he will have better than the same; while as for him who bringeth an ill deed, those who do ill deeds will be requited only what they did.
85. Lo! He Who hath given thee the Qur’an for a law will surely bring thee home again.' Say; My Lord is best aware of him who bringeth guidance and him who is in error manifest.
86. Thou hadst no hope that the Scripture would be inspired in thee; but it is a mercy from thy Lord, so never be a helper to the disbelievers. 87. And let them not divert thee from the revelations of Allah after they have been sent down unto thee; but call (mankind) unto thy Lord, and be not of those who ascribe partners (unto Him), 88. And cry not unto any other god along with Allah. There is no God save Him. Everything will perish save His countenance. His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back.
* A tradition says that this verse was revealed during the Prophet's flight from Mecca to Al-Madinah.
SORAH XXIX Al-‘Ankdut, “The Spider,” takes its name from v. 41 where false beliefs are likened to the spider’s web for frailty. Most of this Surah belongs to the middle or last Meccan period. Some authorities consider vv. 7 and 8, others the whole latter portion of the Surah.' to have been revealed at Al-Madmah. It gives comfort to the Muslims in a time of persecution.
A late Meccan Surah.
THE SPIDER Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, 1. Alif. Lam. Mlm,^ 2. Do men imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction?
3. Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign.
4. Or do those who do ill-deeds imagine that they can outstrip Us? Evil (for them) is that which they decide. 5. Whoso looketh forward to the meeting with Allah (let him know that) Allah’s reckoning is surely nigh, and He is the Hearer, the Knower.
6. And whosoever striveth, striveth only for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether Independent of (His) creatures.
7. And as for those who believe and do good works. We shall remit from them their evil deeds and shall repay them the best that they did.
^ An-Nasikh wal-Mamukh by Ibn Salamah.
2 See Sur. II, v. i, footnote.
THE SPIDER s6rAH XXIX 8. We Have enjoined on man kindness to parents; but if they strive to make thee join with Me that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Me is your return and I shall tell you what ye used to do, 9. And as for those who believe and do good works, We verily shall make them enter in among the righteous.
10. Of mankind is he who saith: We believe in Allah, but, if he be made to suffer for the sake of Allah, he mistaketh the persecution of mankind for Allah’s punishment; and then, if victory cometh from thy Lord, will say: Lo! we were with you (all the while). Is not Allah best aware of what is in the bosoms of (His) creatures?
11. Verily Allah knoweth those who believe, and verily He knoweth the hypocrites. 12. Those who disbelieve say unto those who believe: Follow our way (of religion) and we verily will bear your sins (for you). They cannot bear aught of their sins. Lo! they verily are liars.
13. But they verily will bear their own loads and other loads beside their own, and they verily will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection concerning that which they invented.
14. And verily We sent Noah (as Our messenger) unto his folk, and he continued with them for a thousand years save fifty years; and the flood engulfed them, for they were wrongdoers.
15. And We rescued him and those with him in the ship, and made of it a portent for the peoples.
16. And Abraham! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Serve Allah, and keep your duty unto Him; that is better for you if ye did but know.
17. Ye serve instead of Allah only idols, and ye only invent a lie. Lo! those whom ye serve instead of Allah own no provision for you. So seek your provision from Allah, and 4o6 the glorious KORAN surah serve Him, and give thanks unto Him, (for) unto Him ye will be brought back.
18. But if ye deny, then nations have denied before you. The messenger is only to convey (the Message) plainly.
19. See they not how Allah produceth creation, then reproduceth it? Lo! for Allah that is easy. 20. Say (O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah bringeth forth the later growth. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
21. He punisheth whom He will and showeth mercy unto whom He will, and unto Him ye will be turned.
22. Ye cannot escape (from Him) in the earth or in the sky, and beside Allah there is for you no friend nor helper.
23. Those who disbelieve in the revelations of Allah and in (their) Meeting with Him, such have no hope of My mercy. For such there is a painful doom.
24. But the answer of his folk was only, that they said: “Kill him” or “Burn him.” Then Allah saved him from the fire. Lo! herein verily are portents for folk who believe.
25. He said: Ye have chosen idols instead of Allah. The love between you is only in the life of the world. Then on the Day of Resurrection ye will deny each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and ye will have no helpers.
26. And Lot believed him, and said: Lo! I am a fugitive unto my Lord. Lo! He, only He, is the Mighty, the Wise. 27. And We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and We established the Prophethood and the Scripture among his seed, and We gave him his reward in the world, and lo! in the Hereafter he verily is among the righteous.
28. And Lot! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Lo! ye commit lewdness such as no creature did before you.
29. For come ye not in unto males, and cut ye not the road XXIX THE SPIDER (for travellers), and commit ye not abomination in your meetings? But the answer of his folk was only that they said: Bring Allah’s doom upon us if thou art a truth-teller!
30. He said: My Lord! Give me victory over folk who work corruption.
31. And when Our messengers brought Abraham the good news', they said: Lo! we are about to destroy the people of that township, for its people are wrong-doers.
32. He said: Lo! Lot is there. They said: We are best aware of who is there. We are to deliver him and his household, all save his wife, who is of those who stay behind.
33. And when Our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled upon their account, for he could not protect them; but they said: Fear not, nor grieve! Lo! we are to deliver thee and thy household, (all) save thy wife, who is of those who stay behind.
34. Lo! we are about to bring down upon the folk of this township a fury from the sky because they are evil-livers. 35. And verily of that We have left a clear sign for people who have sense.
36. And unto Midian We sent Shu'eyb, their brother. He said: O my people! Serve Allah, and look forward to the Last Day, and do not evil, making mischief, in the earth.
37. But they denied him, and the dreadful earthquake took them,.and morning found them prostrate in their dwelling- place.
38. And (the tribes of) A‘M and Thamud! (Their fate) is manifest unto you from their (ruined and deserted) dwellings. Satan made their deeds seem fair unto them and so debarred them from the Way, though they were keen observers.
39. And Korah, Pharaoh and Haman! Moses came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah’s sovereignty), but they ' That he was to have a son.
4o8 the glorious KORAN s<jrah were boastful in the land. And they were not winners (in the race).
40. So We took each one in his sin; of them was he on whom We sent a hurricane, and of them was he who was overtaken by the (Awful) Cry, and of them was he whom We caused the earth to swallow, and of them was he whom We drowned. It was not for Allah to wrong them, but they wronged themselves.
41. The likeness of those who choose other patrons than Allah is as the likeness of the spider when she taketh unto herself a house, and lo! the frailest of all houses is the spider’s house, if they but knew. 42. Lo! Allah knoweth what thing they invoke instead of Him. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
43. As for these similtudes. We coin them for mankind, but none will grasp their meaning save the wise.
44. Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth. Lo! therein is indeed a portent for believers.
45. Recite that which hath been inspired in thee of the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! worship preserveth from lewdness and iniquity, but verily remembrance of Allah is more important. And Allah knoweth what ye do.
46. And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our God and your God is One, and unto Him we surrender.
47. In like manner We have revealed unto thee the Scripture, and those unto whom We gave the Scripture aforetime will believe therein; and of these (also)' there are some who believe therein. And none deny our revelations save the disbelievers.
' i.e. the people of Mecca.
XXIX THE SPIDER 409 48. And thou (O Muhammad) wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nor didst thou write it with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted, who follow falsehood. 49. But it is clear revelations in the hearts of those who have been given knowledge, and none deny our revelations save wrong-doers.
50. And they say: Why are not portents sent down upon him from his Lord? Say: Portents are with Allah only, and I am but a plain warner.
51. Is it not enough for them that We have sent down unto thee the Scripture which is read unto them? Lo! herein verily is mercy, and a reminder for folk who believe.
52. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Allah sufficeth for witness between me and you. He knoweth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. And chose who believe in vanity and disbelieve in Allah, they it is who are the losers.
53. They bid thee hasten on the doom (of Allah). And if a term had not been appointed, the doom would assuredly have come unto them (ere now). And verily it will come upon them suddenly when they perceive not.
54. They bid thee hasten on the doom, when lo! hell verily will encompass the disbelievers 55. On the day when the doom will overwhelm them from above them and from underneath their feet, and He will say; Taste what ye used to do!
56. O my bondmen who believe! Lo! My earth is spacious. Therefor serve Me only.
57. Every soul will taste of death. Then unto Us ye will be returned. 58. Those who believe and do good works, them verily We shall house in lofty dwellings of the Garden underneath which rivers flow. There they will dwell secure. How sweet the guerdon of the toilers.
410 THE GLORIOUS KORAN s^>rah xxix 59. Who persevere, and put their trust in their LordI 60. And how many an animal there is that beareth not its own provision! Allah provideth for it and for you. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
61. And if thou were to ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, and constrained the sun and the moon (to their appointed work)? they would say: Allah. How then are they turned away?
62. Allah maketh the provision wide for whom He will of His bondmen, and straiteneth it for whom (He will). Lo! Allah is Aware of all things.
63. And if thou were to ask them: Who causeth water to come down from the sky, and therewith reviveth the earth after its death? they verily would say: Allah. Say: Praise be to Allah! But most of them have no sense.
64. This life of the world is but a pastime and a game. Lo! the home of the Hereafter—that is Life, if they but knew. 65. And when they mount upon the ships they pray to Allah, making their faith pure for Him only, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold! they ascribe partners (unto Him), 66. That they may disbelieve in that which We have given them, and that they may take their ease. But they will come to know.
67. Have they not seen that We have appointed a sanctuary immune (from violence),' while mankind are ravaged all around them? Do they then believe in falsehood and disbelieve in the bounty of Allah?
6 8. Who doeth greater wrong than he who inventeth a lie concerning Allah, or denieth the truth when it cometh unto him? Is not there a home in hell for disbelievers?
69. As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good.
' The territory of Mecca.
sORAH XXX Ar-Rum, “The Romans,” takes its name from a word in the first verse. The armies of the Eastern Roman Empire had been defeated by the Persians in all the territories near Arabia. In the year a.d. 613 Jerusalem and Damascus fell, and in the following year Egypt. A Persian army invaded Anatolia and was threatening Constantinople itself in the year A.D. 615 or 616 (the sixth or seventh year before the Hijrah) when, according to the best authorities, this Surah was revealed at Mecca. The pagan Arabs triumphed in the news of Persian victories over the Prophet and his little band of followers, because the Christian Romans were believers in the One God, whereas the Persians were not. They argued that the power of Allah could not be supreme and absolute, as the Prophet kept proclaiming it to be, since the forces of a pagan empire had been able to defeat His worshippers.
The Prophet’s answer was provided for him in this grand assertion of Theocracy, which shows the folly of all those who think of Allah as a partisan. It opens with two prophecies: that the Romans would be victorious over the Persians, and that the little persecuted company of Muslims in Arabia would have reason to rejoice, “within ten years.”' In fact, in A.D. 624 the Roman armies entered purely Persian territory, and in the same year a little army of Muslims, led by the Prophet, overthrew the flower of Arab chivalry upon the field of Badr.
But the prophecies are only the prelude to a proclamation of God’s universal kingdom, which is shown to be an actual Sovereignty. The laws of nature are expounded as the laws of Allah in the physical sphere, and in the moral and political spheres mankind is informed that there are similar laws of life and death, of good and evil, action and inaction, and their consequences—^laws which no one can escape by wisdom or by cunning. His mercy, like His law, surrounds all things, and the standard of His judgment is the same for all. He is * The word in the Arabic (in'Id*) implies a space of not less than three, and not more than nine, years.
4II THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH not remote or indifferent, partial or capricious. Those who do good earn His favour, and those who do ill earn His wrath, no matter what may be their creed or race; and no one, by the lip profession of a creed, is able to escape His law of consequences. It belongs to the nriddle group of Meccan Surahs.
THE ROMANS Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent.
1. Alif. Lam. Mim.'
2. The Romans have been defeated 3. In the nearer land, and they, after their defeat will be victorious 4. Within ten years—Allah’s is the command in the former case and in the latter—and in that day believers will rejoice 5. In Allah’s help to victory. He helpeth to victory whom He will. He is the Mighty, the Merciful.
6. It is a promise of Allah. Allah faileth not His promise, but most of mankind know not.
7. They know only some appearance of the life of the world, and are heedless of the Hereafter.
8. Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end. But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.
9. Have they not travelled in the land and seen the nature I See Sur. II, v. i, footnote.
XXX THE ROMANS of the consequence for those who were before them?' They were stronger than these in power, and they dug the earth and built upon it more than these have built. Messengers of their own came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah’s Sovereignty). Surely Allah wronged them not, but they did wrong themselves.
10. Then evil was the consequence to those who dealt in evil, because they denied the revelations of Allah and made a mock of them.
11. Allah produceth creation, then He reproduceth it, then unto Him ye will be returned.
12. And in the day when the Hour riseth the unrighteous will despair.
13. There will be none to intercede for them of those whom they made equal with Allah. And they will reject their partners (whom they ascribed unto Him).
14. In the day when the Hour cometh, in that day they will be sundered.
15. As for those who believed and did good works, they will be made happy in a Garden.
16. But as for those who disbelieved and denied Our revelations, and denied the meeting of the Hereafter, such will be brought to doom.
17. So glory be to Allah when ye enter the night and when ye enter the morning— 18. Unto Him be praise in the heavens and the earth!—and at the sun’s decline and in the noonday. 19. He bringeth forth the living from the dead, and He bringeth forth the dead from the living, and He reviveth the earth after her death. And even so will ye be brought forth.
'To those who journeyed out from Mecca, northward into Mesopotamia and Syria, or southward to the Yaman and Hadramaut, appeared the ruins of old civilisations which, tradition said, had been destroyed on account of their corruption and disobedience to the will of God.
SURAH 414 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 20. And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you human beings, ranging widely!
21. And of His signs is this: He created for you helpmeets from yourselves that ye might find rest in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are portents for folk who reflect, 22. And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difierence of your languages and colours. Lo! herein indeed are portents for men of knowledge.
23. And of His signs is your slumber by night and by day, and your seeking of His bounty. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who heed. 24. And of His signs is this: He showeth you the lightning for a fear and for a hope, and sendeth down water from the sky, and thereby quickeneth the earth after her death. Lo! herein indeed are portents for folk who understand.
25. And of His signs is this; The heavens and the earth stand fast by His command, and afterward, when He calleth you, lo! from the earth ye will emerge.
26. Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and in the earth. All are obedient unto Him.
27. He it is who produceth creation, then reproduceth it, and it is easier for Him. His is the Sublime Similitude in the heavens and in the earth. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
28. He coineth for you a similitude of yourselves. Have ye, from among rhose whom your right hands possess," partners in the wealth We have bestowed upon you, equal with you in respect thereof, so that ye fear them as ye fear each other (that ye ascribe unto Us partners out of that which We created)? Thus We display the revelations for people who have sense.
29. Nay, but those who do wrong follow their own lusts * i.e. the slaves.
XXX THE ROMANS without knowledge. Who is able to guide him whom Allah hath sent astray? For such there are no helpers. 30. So set thy purpose (O Muhammad) for religion as a man by nature upright—the nature (framed) of Allah, in which He hath created man. There is no altering (the laws of) Allah’s creation. That is the right religion, but most men know not— 31. Turning unto Him (only); and be careful of your duty unto Him, and establish worship, and be not of those who ascribe partners (unto Him); 32. Of those who split up their religion and became schismatics, each sect exulting in its tenets.
33. And when harm toucheth men they cry unto their Lord, turning to Him in repentance; then, when they have tasted of His mercy, behold! some of them attribute partners to their Lord 34. So as to disbelieve in that which We have given them. (Unto such it is said): Enjoy yourselves awhile, but ye will come to know.
35. Or have We revealed unto them any warrant which speaketh of that which they associate with Him?
36. And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy they rejoice therein; but if an evil thing befall them as the consequence of their own deeds, lo! they are in despair!
37. See they not that Allah enlargeth the provision for whom He will, and straiteneth (it for whom He wi 11 ). Lo! ■herein indeed are portents for folk who believe. 38. So give to the kinsman his due, and to the needy, and to the wayfarer. That is best for those who seek Allah’s countenance. And such are they who are successful.
39. That which ye give in usury in order that it may increase on (other) people’s property hath no increase with St^RAH 416 THE GLORIOUS KORAN Allah; but that which ye give in charity, seeking Allah’s countenance, hath increase manifold.
40. Allah is He Who created you and then sustained you, then causeth you to die, then giveth life to you again. Is there any of your (so called) partners (of Allah) that doeth aught of that? Praised and exalted be He above what they associate (with Him)!
41. Corruption doth appear on land and sea because of (the evil) which men’s hands have done, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return.
42. Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): Travel in the land, and see the nature of the consequence for those who were before you! Most of them were idolaters.
43. So set thy purpose resolutely for the right religion, before the inevitable day cometh from Allah. On that day mankind will be sundered— 44. Whoso disbelieveth must (then) bear the consequences of his disbelief, while those who do right make provision for themselves— 45. That He may reward out of His bounty those who believe and do good works. Lo! He loveth not the disbelievers (in His guidance).
46. And of His signs is this: He sendeth herald winds to make you taste His mercy, and that the ships may sail at His command, and that ye may seek His favour, and that haply ye may be thankful.
47. Verily We sent before thee (Muhammad) messengers to their own folk. They brought them clear proofs (of Allah’s Sovereignty). Then We took vengeance upon those who were guilty (in regard to them). To help believers is incumbent upon Us.
48. Allah is He who sendeth the winds so that they raise XXX THE ROMANS clouds, and spreadeth them along the sky as pleaseth Him, and causeth them to break and thou seest the rain down- pouring from within them. And when He maketh it to fall on whom He will of His bondmen, lo! they rejoice; 49. Though before that, even before it was sent down upon them, they were in despair.
50. Look, therefor, at the prints of Allah’s mercy (in creation): how He quickeneth the earth after her death. Lo! He verily is the Quickener of the Dead, and He is Able to do all things. 51. And if We sent a wind and they beheld it yellow, they verily would still continue in their disbelief.
52. For verily thou (Muhammad) canst not make the dead to hear, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear the call when they have turned to flee.
53. Nor canst thou guide the blind out of their error. Thou canst make none to hear save those who believe in Our revelations so that they surrender (unto Him).
54. Allah is He who shaped you out of weakness, then appointed after weakness strength, then, after strength, appointed weakness and grey hair. He createth what He will. He is the Knower, the Mighty.
55. And on the day when the Hour riseth the guilty will vow that they did tarry but an hour—thus were they ever deceived.
56. But those to whom knowledge and faith are given will say: The truth is, ye have tarried, by Allah’s decree, until the Day of Resurrection. This is the Day of Resurrection, but ye used not to know.
57. In that day their excuses will not profit those who did injustice, nor will they be allowed to make amends.
58. Verily We have coined for mankind in this Qur’an all kinds of similitudes; and indeed if thou earnest unto them with 4i8 the glorious KORAN surah xxx a miracle, those who disbelieve would verily exclaim: Ye are but tricksters!
59. Thus doth Allah seal the hearts of those who know not.
6 0, So have patience (O Muhammad)! Allah’s promise is the very truth, and let not those who have no certainty make thee impatient.
sORAH XXXI Luqman takes its name from v. 12 IF., which contain mention of the wisdom of LuqmSn, a sage whose memory the Arabs reverenced, but who is unknown to Jewish Scripture. He is said to have been a negro slave and the fables associated with his name are so like those of Aesop that the usual identification seems justified. The Surah conveys assurance of success to the Muslims at a time of persecution.
It belongs to the middle or last group of Meccan Surahs; except vv. 27 and 28 which were revealed at Al-Madinah.
luqmAn Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lam. Mini.'
2. These are revelations of the wise Scripture, 3. A guidance and a mercy for the good, 4. Those who establish worship and pay the poor-due and have sure faith in the Hereafter.
5. Such have guidance from their Lord. Such are the successful. 6. And of mankind is he who payeth for mere pastime of discourse, that he may mislead from Allah’s way without knowledge, and maketh it the butt of mockery. For such there is a shameful doom.
7. And when Our revelations are recited unto him he turneth away in his pride as if he heard them not, as if there ' See Sur. II, V. i, footnote.
sOrah 420 THE GLORIOUS KORAN were a deafness in Kis ears. So give him tidings of a painful doom.
8. Lo! those who believe and do good works, for them are gardens of delight, 9. Wherein they will abide. It is a promise of Allah in truth. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
10. He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed therein all kinds of beasts. And We send down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.
n. This is the Creation of Allah. Now show me that which those (ye worship) beside Him have created. Nay, but the wrong-doers are in error manifest! 12. And verily We gave Luqman wisdom, saying: Give thanks unto Allah; and whosoever giveth thanks, he giveth thanks for (the good of) his soul. And whosoever refuseth— Lo! Allah is Absolute, Owner of Praise.
13. And (remember) when Luqman said unto his son, when he was exhorting him: O my dear son! Ascribe no partners unto Allah, Lo! to ascribe partners (unto Him) is a tremendous wrong— 14. And We have enjoined upon man concerning his parents—His mother beareth him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years—Give thanks unto Me and unto thy parents. Unto Me is the journeying.
15. But if they strive with thee to make thee ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge, then obey them not. Consort with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who repenteth unto Me. Then unto Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what ye used to do— 16. O my dear son! Lo! though it be but the weight of a XXXI LUQMAN 421 grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah ivill bring it forth. Lo Allah is Subtile, Aware.
17. O my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall thee. Lo! that is of the steadfast heart of things. 18. Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster.
19. Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice. Lo! the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass.
20. See ye not how Allah hath made serviceable unto you whatsoever is in the skies and whatsoever is in the earth and hath loaded you with His favours both without and within? Yet of mankind is he who disputeth concerning Allah, without knowledge or guidance or a Scripture giving light.
21. And if it be said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though the devil were inviting them unto the doom of flame?
22. Whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, he verily hath grasped the firm hand-hold. Unto Allah belongeth the sequel of all things.
23. And whosoever disbelieveth, let not his disbelief afllict thee (O Muhammad). Unto Us is their return, and We shall tell them what they did. Lo! Allah is Aware of what is in the breasts (of men).
24. We give them comfort for a little, and then We drive them to a heavy doom.
25. If thou shouldst ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth? they would answer: Allah. Say: Praise be to Allah! But most of them know not.