26. Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and 422 THE GLORIOUS KORAN surah xxxi the earth. Lo! Allah, He is the Absolute, the Owner of Praise.
27. And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it, (were ink), the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.
28. Your creation and your raising (from the dead) are only as (the creation and the raising of) a single soul. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.
29. Hast thou not seen how Allah causeth the night to pass into the day and causeth the day to pass into the night, and hath subdued the sun and the moon (to do their work), each running unto an appointed term; and that Allah is Informed of what ye do?
30. That (is so) because Allah, He is the True, and that which they invoke beside Him is the False, and because Allah, He is the Sublime, the Great.
31. Hast thou not seen how the ships glide on the sea by Allah’s grace, that He may show you of His wonders? Lo! therein indeed are portents for every stedfast, grateful (heart). 32. And if a wave enshroudeth them like awnings, they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only. But when He bringeth them safe to land, some of them compromise. None denieth Our signs save every traitor ingrate.
33. O mankind! Keep your duty to your Lord and fear a Day when the parent will not be able to avail the child in aught, nor the child to avail the parent. Lo! Allah s promise is the very truth. Let not the life of the world beguile you, nor let the deceiver beguile you, in regard to Allah.
34. Lo! Allah! With Him is knowledge of the Hour. He sendeth down the rain, and knoweth that which is in the wombs. No soul knoweth what it will earn to-morrow, and no soul knoweth in what land it will die. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.
SORAH XXXII As-Sajdah, “The Prostration,” takes its name from a word in v. 15. It belongs to the middle group of Meccan Surahs.
THE PROSTRATION Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. Alif. Lam. Mim.'
2. The revelation of the Scripture whereof there is no doubt is from the Lord of the Worlds.
3. Or say they: He hath invented it? Nay, but it is the Truth from thy Lord, that thou mayst warn a folk to whom no Warner came before thee, that haply they may walk aright. 4. Allah it is Who created the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, in six Days. Then He mounted the throne. Ye have not, beside Him, a protecting friend or mediator. Will ye not then remember?
5. He directeth the ordinance from the heaven unto the earth; then it ascendeth unto Him in a Day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that ye reckon.
6. Such is the Knower of the invisible and the visible, the Mighty, the Merciful, 7. Who made all things good which He created, and He began the creation of man from clay; 8. Then He made his seed from a draught of despised fluid; THE GLORIOUS KORAN S^TRAH 9. Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit; and appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts. Small thanks give ye!
10. And they say: When we are lost in the earth, how can we then be re-created? Nay but they are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord.
n. Say: The angel of death, who hath charge concerning you, will gather you, and afterward unto your Lord ye will be returned. 12. Couldst thou but see when the guilty hang their heads before their Lord, ( and say): Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back; we will do right, now we are sure.
.13. And if We had so willed. We could have given every soul its guidance, but the word from Me concerning evil-doers took elfect: that I will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together, 14. So taste (the evil of your deeds). Forasmuch as ye forgot the meeting of this your day, lo! We forget you. Taste the doom of immortality because of what ye used to do.
15. Only those believe in Our revelations who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate and hymn the praise of their Lord, and they are not scornful, 16. Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them.
17. No soul knoweth what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.
18. Is he who is a believer like unto him who is an evil- liver? They are not alike.
19. But as for those who believe and do good works, for them are the Gardens of Retreat—a welcome (in reward) for what they used to do. 20. And as for those who do evil, their retreat is the Fire. Whenever they desire to issue forth from thence, they XXXII THE PROSTRATION are brought back thither. Unto them it is said: Taste the torment of the Fire which ye used to deny.
21. And verily We make them taste the lower punishment ' before the greater, that haply they may return.
22. And who doth greater wrong than he who is reminded of the revelations of his Lord, then turneth from them. Lo! We shall requite the guilty.
23. We verily gave Moses the Scripture; so be not ye in doubt ot his receiving it; and We appointed it a guidance for the Children of Israel.
24. And when they became stcdfast and believed firmly in Our revelations, We appointed from among them leaders who guided by Our command.
25. Lo! thy Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they used to differ.
26. Is it not a guidance for them (to observe) how many generations We destroyed before them, amid whose dwelling- places they do walk? Lo, therein verily are portents! Will they not then heed?
27. Have they not seen how We lead the water to the barren land and therewith bring forth crops whereof their cattle eat, and they themselves? Will they not then see? 28. And they say: When cometh this victory (of yours) if ye are truthful?
29. Say (unto them: On the day of the victory the faith of those who disbelieve (and who then will believe) will not avail them, neither will they be reprieved.
30. So withdraw from them (O Muhammad), and await (the event). Lo! they (also) are awaiting (it).
' i.e. punishment in this world.
SORAH XXXIII Al-Ahzah, “The Clans,” takes its name from the army of the allied clans which came against Yathrib (Al-Madinah) in the fifth year of the Hijrah (vv. 9-25). Certain of the Bani Nadir, a Jewish tribe whom the Prophet had expelled from Yathrib on the ground of treason (see Surah LIX), went first to the leaders of Qureysh in Mecca and then to the chiefs of the great desert tribe of Ghatafan, urging them to extirpate the Muslims and promising them help from the Jewish population of Yathrib. As a result of their efforts, Qureysh with all their clans, and Ghatafan with all their clans marched to destroy Yathrib.
When the Prophet had news of their design, he ordered a trench to be dug before the city and himself led the work of digging it. The trench was finished when the clans arrived, 10,000 strong. The Prophet went out against them with his army of 3000, the trench being between the two armies. For nearly a month the Muslims were exposed to showers of arrows, in constant expectation of attack by much superior forces; and, to make matters worse, news came that the Jewish tribe of Bani Qureyzah m their rear had broken their alliance with the Muslims and made common cause with Qureysh.
The women and children had been put in strongholds—towers like the peel-towers of Northern England, of which every family of note had one for refuge in the time of raids. These were practically unguarded, and some of the Muslims asked permission of the Prophet to leave the battle front and go to guard them, though they were not then in danger because the Bam Qureyzah were not likely to show their treachery until the victory of the clans was certain.
The case of the Muslims seemed, humanly speaking, hopeless. But a secret sympathiser in the enemy camp managed to sow distrust between the Bani Qureyzah and the chiefs of the clans, making both feel uneasy. The obstacle of the trench was unexpected and seemed formidable; and when a fierce, bitter wind from the sea blew for three days and nights so furiously that they could not keep a shelter up, or light a fire, or boil a pot, Abu Sufian, the leader of St^RAH XXXIII THE CLANS Qureysh, raised the siege in disgust. And when GhataBn one morning found Qureysh had gone, they too departed for their homes.
On the very day when the Muslims returned from the trench, began the siege of the traitorous Bam Qureyzah in their towers of refuge. It lasted for twenty-five days. When they at length surrendered some of the tribe of Aus, whose adherents they were, asked the Prophet to show them the same grace that he had shown to the tribe of Khazraj, in the case of Bani Nadir, in allowing them to intercede for their dependents.
The Prophet said: “Would you like that one of you should decide concerning them?” They said: “Yes,” and he appointed Sa'd ibn Mu'Sdh, a great chief of Aus, who had been wounded and was being cared for in the Mosque. Sa'd was sent for and he ordered their men to be put to death, their women and children to be made captive, and their property to be divided among the Muslims at the Prophet’s will.
I have taken this account from the narrative of Ibn Khaldfin, which is concise, rather than from that in Ibn HishSm, which is exceedingly diffuse, the two accounts being in absolute agreement. Vv. 26 and 27 refer to the punishment of Bam Qureyzah. In v. 37 the reference is to the unhappy marriage of Zeyd, the Prophet’s freedman and adopted son, with Zeynab, the Prophet’s cousin, a proud lady of Qureysh. The Prophet had arranged the marriage with the idea of breaking down the old barrier of pride of caste, and had shown but little consideration for Zeynab’s feelings. Tradition says that both she and her brother were averse to the match, and that she had always wished to marry the Prophet. For Zeyd, the marriage was nothing but a cause of embarrassment and humiliation. When the Prophet’s attention was first called to their unhappiness, he urged Zeyd to keep his wife and not divorce her, being apprehensive of the talk that would arise if it became known that a marriage arranged by him had proved unhappy. At last, Zeyd did actually divorce Zeynab, and the Prophet was commanded to marry her in order, by his example, to disown the superstitious custom of the pagan Arabs, in such matters, of treating their adopted sons as their real sons, which was against the laws of God [i.e. the laws of nature); whereas in arranging a marriage, the woman’s inclinations ought to be considered. Unhappy marriage was no part of Allah’s ordinance, and was not to be held sacred in IslSm, 428 THE GLORIOUS KORAN sOrah The Surah contains further references to the wives of the Prophet in connection with which it may be mentioned that from the age of twenty-five till the age of fifty he had only one wife, Khadijah, fifteen years his senior, to whom he was devotedly attached and whose memory he cherished till his dying day. With the exception of ‘Aye- shah, the daughter of his closest friend, Abu Bakr, whom he married at her father’s request when she was still a child, all his later marriages were with widows whose state was pitiable for one reason or another. Some of them were widows of men killed in war. One was a captive, when he made the marriage the excuse for emancipating all the conquered tribe and restoring their property. Two were daughters of his enemies, and his alliance with them was a cause of peace. It is noteworthy that the period of these marriages, was also the period of his greatest activity, when he had little rest from campaigning, and was always busy with the problems of a growing empire.
The period of revelation is between the end of the fifth and the end of the seventh years of the Hijrah.
THE CLANS Revealed at Al-Madinah In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
1. O Prophet! Keep thy duty to Allah and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise, 2. And follow that which is inspired in thee from thy Lord. Lo! Allah is Aware of what ye do. 3. And put thy trust in Allah, for Allah is sufficient as Trustee.
4. Allah hath not assigned unto any man two hearts within his body, nor hath he made your wives whom ye declare {to be your mothers) your mothers,’ nor hath he made those whom ' The reference is to a custom of the pagan Arabs by which a man could put away his wife by merely saying: “Thy back is as my mother’s back for me.”
XXXIII THE CLANS ye claim (to be your sons) your sons. This is but a saying of your mouths. But Allah sayeth the truth and He showeth the way.
5. Proclaim their real parentage. That will be more equitable in the sight of Allah. And if ye know not their fathers, then (they are) your brethren in the faith, and your clients. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose (that will be a sin for you). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
6. The Prophet is closer to the believers than their selves, and his wives are (as) their mothers. And the owners of kinship are closer one to another in the ordinance of Allah than (other) believers and the fugitives (who fled from Mecca), except that ye should do kindness to your friends.' This is written in the Book (of nature).
7. And when We exacted a covenant from the Prophets, and from thee (O Muhammad) and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary. We took from them a solemn covenant; 8. That He may ask the loyal of their loyalty. And He hath prepared a painful doom for the unfaithful.
9. O ye who believe! Remember Allah’s favour unto you when there came against you hosts, and We sent against them a great wind and hosts ye could not see. And Allah is ever Seer of what ye do.
10. When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when eyes grew wild and hearts reached to the throats, and ye were imagining vain thoughts concerning Allah.
* The Prophet had ordained brotherhood between individuals of the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) and the Muhajirin (fugitives from Mecca) a brotherhood which was closer than kinship by blood. This verse abolished such brotherhood, in so far as inheritance was concerned.
SURAH 430 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 11. There were the believers sorely tried, and shaken with a mighty shock. 12. And when the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, were saying: Allah and His messenger promised us naught but delusion.
13. And when a party of them said: O folk of Yathrib! There is no stand (possible) for you, therefor turn back. And certain of them (even) sought permission of the Prophet, saying: Our homes lie open (to the enemy). And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.
14. If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.
15. And verily they had already sworn unto Allah that they would not turn their backs (to the foe). An oath to Allah must be answered for.
16. Say: Flight will not avail you if ye flee from death or killing, and then ye dwell in comfort but a little while.
17. Say: Who is he who can preserve you from Allah if He intendeth harm for you, or intendeth mercy for you. They will not find that they have any friend or helper other than Allah.
18. Allah already knoweth those of you who hinder, and those who say unto their brethren: ‘'Come ye hither unto us!” and they come not to the stress of battle save a little, ig. Being sparing of their help to you (believers). But when the fear cometh, then thou (Muhammad) seest them regarding thee with rolling eyes like one who fainteth unto death. Then, when the fear departeth, they scald you with sharp tongues in their greed for wealth (from the spoil). Such have not believed. Therefor Allah maketh their deeds fruitless. And that is easy for Allah.
XXXIII THE CLANS 20. They hold that the clans have not retired (for good); and if the clans should advance (again), they would fain be in the desert with the wandering Arabs, asking for the news of you; and if they were among you, they would not give battle, save a little.
21. Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much.
22. And when the true believers saw the clans, they said: This is that which Allah and His messenger promised us. Allah and His messenger are true. It did but confirm them in their faith and resignation.
23. Of the believers are men who are true to that which they covenanted with Allah. Some of them have paid their vow by death (in battle), and some of them still are waiting; and they have not altered in the least; 24. That Allah may reward the true men for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He will, or relent toward them (if He will). Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
25. And Allah repulsed the disbelievers in their wrath; they gained no good. Allah averted their attack from the believers. Allah is Strong, Mighty.
26. And He brought those of the People of the Scripture who supported them down from their strongholds, and cast panic into their hearts. Some ye slew, and ye made captive some.
27. And He caused you to inlierit their land and their houses and their wealth, and land ye have not trodden. Allah is Able to do all things.
28. OProphet! Say unto thy wives: If ye desire the world’s life and its adornment, come! I will content you and will release you with a fair release.
29. But if ye desire Allah and His messenger and the abode THE GLORIOUS KORAN SURAH of the Hereafter, then lo! Allah hath prepared for the good among you an immense reward.
30. O ye wives of the Prophet! Whosoever of you com- miteth manifest lewdness, the punishment for her will be doubled, and that is easy for Allah. 31. And whosoever of you is submissive unto Allah and His messenger and doeth right, We shall give her her reward twice over, and We have prepared for her a rich provision.
32. O ye wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any other women. If ye keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.
33. And stay in your houses. Bedizen not yourselves with the bedizenment of the Time of Ignorance. Be regular in prayer, and pay the poor-due, and obey Allah and His messenger. Allah’s wish is but to remove uncleanness far from you, O Folk of the Household, and cleanse you with a thorough cleansing.
34. And bear in mind that which is recited in your houses of the revelations of Allah and wisdom. Lo! Allah is Subtile, Aware. 35. Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women who remember—Allah hath prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.
36. And it becometh not a believing man or a believing XXXIII THE CLANS woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His messenger, he verily goeth astray in error manifest. 37. And when thou saidst unto him on whom Allah hath conferred favour and thou hast conferred favour: Keep thy wife to thyself, and fear Allah. And thou didst hide in thy mind that which Allah was to bring to light, and thou didst fear mankind whereas Allah hath a better right that thou shouldst fear Him. So when Zeyd had performed the necessary formality (of divorce) from her. We gave her unto thee in marriage, so that (henceforth) there may be no sin for believers in respect of wives of their adopted sons, when the latter have performed the necessary formality (of release) from them. The commandment of Allah must he fulfilled.
38. There is no reproach for the Prophet in that which Allah maketh his due. That was Allah’s way with those who passed away of old—and the commandment of Allah is certain 39. Who delivered the messages of Allah and feared Him, and feared none save Allah. Allah kecpeth good account.
40. Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is Aware of all things.
41. O ye who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.
42. And glorify Him early and late. 43. He it is who blesseth you, and His angels (bless you), that He may bring you forth from darkness unto light; and He is Merciful to the believers.
44. Their salutation on the day when they shall meet Him will be: Peace. And He hath prepared for them a goodly recompense.
stfRAH 434 THE GLORIOUS KORAN 45. O Prophet! Lo! We have sent thee as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner.
46. And as a summoner unto Allah by His permission, and as a lamp that giveth light.
47. And announce unto the believers the good tidings that they will have great bounty from Allah.
48. And incline not to the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Disregard their noxious talk, and put thy trust in Allah, Allah is sufficient as Trustee.
49. O ye who believe! If ye wed believing women and divorce them before ye have touched them, then there is no period that ye should reckon. But content them and release them handsomely. 50. O Prophet! Lo! We have made lawful unto thee thy wives unto whom thou hast paid their dowries, and those whom thy right hand possesseth of those whom Allah hath given thee as spoils of war, and the daughters of chine uncle on the father’s side and the daughters of thine aunts on the father’s side, and the daughters of thine uncles on the mother’s side and the daughters of thine aunts on the mother’s side who emigrated with thee, and a believing woman if she give herself unto the Prophet and the Prophet desire to ask her in marriage—a privilege for thee only, not for the (rest of) believers—We are aware of that which We enjoined upon them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess—that thou mayst be free from blame, for Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
51. Thou canst defer whom thou wilt of them and receive unto thee whom thou wilt, and whomsoever thou desirest of those whom thou hast set aside (temporarily), it is no sin for thee (to receive her again); that is better; that they may be comforted and not grieve, and may all be pleased with what thou givest them. Allah knoweth what is in your hearts (O men) and Allah is Forgiving, Clement.
xxxni THE CLANS xxxni THE CLANS 52. It is not allowed thee to take (other) women henceforth, nor that thou shouldst change them for other wives even though their beauty pleased thee, save those whom thy right hand possesseth. And Allah is Watcher over all things.
53. O ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission be granted you. But if ye are invited, enter, and, when your meal is ended, then disperse. Linger not for conversation. Lo! that would cause annoyance to the Prophet, and he-would be shy of (asking) you (to go); but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of them (the wives of the Prophet) anything, ask it of them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not for you to cause annoyance to the messenger of Allah, nor that ye should ever marry his wives after him. Lo! that in Allah’s sight would be an enormity.
54. Whether ye divulge a thing or keep it hidden, lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things.
55. It is no sin for them (thy wives) (to converse freely) with their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or the sons of their sisters or of their own women, or their slaves. O women! Keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Witness over all things.
56. Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. 57. Lo! those who malign Allah and His messenger, Allah hath cursed them in the world and the Hereafter, and hath prepared for them the doom of the disdained.
58. And those who malign believing men and believing women undeservedly, they bear the guilt of slander and manifest sin.
59. O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the THE GLORIOUS KORAN sOrah women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, that so they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.
60. If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbours in it but a little while.
61. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter.
62. That was the way of Allah in the case of those who passed away oi old; thou wilt not find for the way of Allah aught of power to change.
63. Men ask you of the Hour. Say: The knowledge of it is with Allah only. What can convey (the knowledge) unto thee? It may be that the Hour is nigh.
64. Lo! Allah hath cursed the disbelievers, and hath prepared for them a flaming fire, 65. Wherein they will abide for ever. They will find (then) no protecting friend nor helper. 66. On the day when their faces are turned over in the fire, they say: Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and had obeyed His messenger!
67. And they say: Our Lord! Lo! we obeyed our princes and great men, and they misled us from the Way.
68. Our Lord! Oh, give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse.
69. O ye who believe! Be not as those who slandered Moses, but Allah proved his innocence of that which they alleged, and he was well esteemed in Allah’s sight.
70. O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the point; 71. He will adjust your works for you and will forgive you XXXIII THE CLANS your sins. Whosoever obeyeth Allah and His messenger^ he verily hath gained a signal victory.
72. Lol We offered the trust unto the heavens and the earth and the hills, but they shrank from bearing it and were afraid of it. And man assumed it. Lo! he hath proved a tyrant and a fool.
73. So Allah punisheth hypocritical men and hypocritical women, and idolatrous men and idolatrous women. But Allah pardoneth believing men and believing women, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
SURAH XXXIV Saha, “Sheba,” takes its name from v. 15 if., where Sheba {Saha), a region in the Yaman, is mentioned as having been devastated by a flood. It warns of the effects of luxury.
An early Meccan Surah.
SABA Revealed at Mecca In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Mercilul.
1. Praise be to Allah, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. His is the praise in the Hereafter, and He is the Wise, the Aware.
2. He knoweeh that which goeth down into the earth and that which cometh forth from it, and that which descendeth from the heaven and that which ascendeth into it. He is the Merciful, the Forgiving.
3. Those who disbelieve say: The Hour will never come unto us. Say: Nay, by my Lord, but it is coming unto you surely. (He is) the Knower of the Unseen. Not an atom’s weight, or less than that or greater, escapeth Him in the heavens or in the earth, but it is in a clear Record, 4. That He may reward those who believe and do good works. For them is pardon and a rich provision.
5. But those w'ho strive against Our revelations, challenging (Us), theirs will be a painful doom of wrath.
6. Those who have been given knowledge see that what stiRAH XXXIV SABA 439 is revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the truth and leadeth unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner of Praise.
7. Those who disbelieve say: Shall we show you a man who will tell you (that) when ye have become dispersed in dust with most complete dispersal, still, even then, ye will be created anew?
8. Hath he invented a lie concerning Allah, or is there in him a madness? Nay, but those who disbelieve in the Hereafter are in torment and far error.
9. Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind them of the sky and the earth? If We will, We can make the earth swallow them, or cause obliteration from the sky to fall on them. Lo! herein surely is a portent for every slave who turneth (to Allah) repentant.
10. And assuredly We gave David grace from Us, (saying): O ye hills and birds, echo his psalms of praise! And We made the iron supple unto him, 11. Saying: Make thou long coats of mail and measure the links (thereof). And do ye right. Lo! I am Seer of what ye do. 12. And unto Solomon (We gave) the wind, whereof the morning course was a month s journey and the evening course a month’s journey, and We caused the fount of copper to gush forth for him, and (We gave him) certain of the jinn who worked before him by permission of his Lord. And such of them as deviated from Our command, them We caused to taste the punishment of flaming fire.
13. They made for him what he willed: synagogues and statues, basins like wells and boilers built into the. ground. Give thanks, O House of David! Few of My bondmen are thankful.
14. And when We decreed death for him, nothing showed his death to them save a creeping creature of the earth which THE GLORIOUS KORAN StjRAH gnawed away his staff. And when he fell the jinn saw clearly how, if they had known the unseen, they would not have continued in despised toil.
15. There was indeed a sign for Sheba in their dwelling-place; Two gardens on the right hand and the left (as who should say): Eat of the provision of your Lord and render thanks to Him. A fair land and an indulgent Lord! 16. But they were froward, so We sent on them the flood of ‘Irani, and in exchange for their two gardens gave them two gardens bearing bitter fruit, the tamarisk and here and there a lote-tree.
17. This We awarded them because of their ingratitude. Punish We ever any save the ingrates?
18. And We set, between them and the towns which We had blessed, towns easy to be seen, and We made the stage between them easy, (saying): Travel in them safely both by night and day.
19. But they said: Our Lord! Make the stage between our journeys longer. And they wronged themselves, therefore We made them bywords (in the land) and scattered them abroad, a total scattering. Lo! herein verily are portents for each stedfast, grateful (heart).
20. And Satan indeed found his calculation true concerning them, for they follow him, all save a group of true believers.
21. And he had no warrant whatsoever against them, save that We would know him who believeth in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt thereof; and thy Lord (O Muhammad) taketh note of all things, 22. Say (O Muhammad): Call upon those whom ye set up beside Allah! They possess not an atom’s weight either in the heavens or the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor hath He an auxiliary among them. 23. No intercession availeth with Him save for him whom XXXIV SABA He permitteth. Yet, when fear is banished from their hearts, they say: What was it that your Lord said? They say: The Truth. And He is the Sublime, the Great, 24. Say: Who giveth you provision from the sky and the earth? Say: Allah. Lo! we or you assuredly are rightly guided or in error manifest.
25. Say: Ye will not be asked of what we committed, nor shall we be asked of what ye do, 26. Say: Our Lord will bring us all together, then He will judge between us with truth. He is the All-knowing Judge. ^ 27. Say: Show me those whom ye have joined unto Him as partners. Nay (ye dare not)! For He is Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.
28. And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all mankind; but most of mankind know not.
29. And they say: When is this promise (to be fulfilled) if ye are truthful?
30. Say (O Muhammad): Youts is the promise of a Day which ye cannot postpone nor hasten by an hour. 31. And those who disbelieve say: We believe not in this Qur’an nor in that which was before it; but oh, if thou couldst see, when the wrong-doers are brought up before their Lord, how they cast the blame one to another; how those who were despised (in the earth) say unto those who were proud: But for you, we should have been believers.
32. And those who were proud say unto those who were despised: Did we drive you away from the guidance after it had come unto you? Nay, but ye were guilty.
33. Those who were despised say unto those who were proud: Nay but (it was your) scheming night and day, when ye commanded us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals unto stjRAH 442 THE GLORIOUS KORAN Him. And they are filled with remorse when they behold the doom; and We place carcans on the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught save what they did?
34. And We sent not unto any township a warner, but its pampered ones declared: Lo! we are disbelievers in that which ye bring unto us.
35. And they say: We are more (than you) in wealth and children. We are not the punished!
36. Say (O Muhammad): Lo! my Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will and narroweth it (for whom He will). But most of mankind know not. 37. And it is not your wealth nor your children chat will bring you near unto Us, but he who believeth and doeth good (he draweth near). As for such, theirs will be twofold reward for what they did, and they will dwell secure in lofty halls.
38. And as for chose who strive against Our revelations, challenging, they will be brought to the doom.
39. Say: Lo! my Lord enlargeth the provision for whom He will of His bondmen, and narroweth (it) for him. And whatsoever ye spend (for good) He replaceth it. And He is the Best of Providers.
40. And on the day when He will gather them all together. He will say unto the angels: Did these worship you?
41. They will say: Be Thou glorified. Thou art our Protector from them! Nay, but they worshipped the jinn; most of them were believers in them.
42. That day ye will possess no use nor hurt one for another. And We shall say unto those who did wrong; Taste the doom of the Fire which ye used to deny.
43. And if Our revelations are recited unto them in plain terms, they say: This is naught else than a man who would turn you away from what your fathers used to worship; and they say: This is naught else than an invented lie. Those XXXIV SABA