ENTITLED, THE SPIDER;m REVEALED AT MECCA.n
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
A. L. M.o Do men imagine that it shall be sufficient for themp to say,
We believe; will they not be proved?q
We heretofore proved those who were before them; for GOD will surely know
them who are sincere, and he will surely know the liars.
Do they who work evil think that they shall prevent us from taking
vengeance on them? An ill judgment do they make.
Whoso hopeth to meet GOD, verily GOD'S appointed time will certainly
come; and he both heareth and knoweth.
Whoever striveth to promote the true religion, striveth for the advantage
of his own soul; for GOD needeth not any of his creatures:
and as to those who believe and work righteousness, we will expiate their
evil deeds from them; and we will give them a reward according to the utmost
merit of their actions.
We have commanded man to show kindness towards his parents: but if they
endeavor to prevail with thee to associate with me that concerning which thou
hast no knowledge, obey them not.r Unto me shall ye return; and I will
declare unto you what ye have done.
Those who shall believe, and shall work righteousness, we will surely
introduce into paradise, among the upright.
m Transient mention is made of this insect towards the middle of the
chapter.
n Some think the first ten verses, ending with these words, And he well
knoweth the hypocrites, were revealed at Medina, and the rest at Mecca; and
others believe the reverse.
o See the Prelim. Disc. Sect. III. p. 46, &c.
p Literally, That they shall be let alone, &c.
q This passage reprehends the impatience of some of the prophet's
companions, under the hardships which they sustained in defence of their
religion, and the losses which they suffered from the infidels; representing
to them that such trials and afflictions were necessary to distinguish the
sincere person from the hypocrite, and the steady from the wavering. Some
suppose it to have been occasioned by the death of Mahja, Omar's slave, killed
by an arrow at the battle of Bedr, which was deeply lamented and laid to heart
by his wife and parents.1
r That is, If they endeavour to pervert thee to idolatry. The passage
is said to have been revealed on account of Saad Ebn Abi Wakkâs, and his
mother Hamna, who, when she heard that her son had embraced Mohammedism, swore
that she would neither eat nor drink till he returned to his old religion, and
kept her oath for three days.2
1 Al Beidâwi. 2 Idem.
There are some men who say, We believe in GOD: but when such a one is
afflicted for GOD'S sake, he esteemeth the persecution of men to be as
grievous as the punishment of GOD. Yet if success cometh from thy LORD, they
say, Verily we are with you. Doth not GOD well know that which is in the
breasts of his creatures?
10 Verily GOD well knoweth the true believers, and he well knoweth the
hypocrites.
The unbelievers say unto those who believe, Follow our way, and we will
bear your sins. Howbeit they shall not bear any part of their sins; for they
are liars:
but they shall surely bear their own burdens, and other burdens besides
their own burdens;s and they shall be examined, on the day of resurrection,
concerning that which they have falsely devised.
We heretofore sent Noah unto his people; and he tarried among them one
thousand years, save fifty years:t and the deluge took them away, while they
were acting unjustly;
but we delivered him and those who were in the ark, and we made the sameu
a sign unto all creatures.
We also sent Abraham; when he said unto his people, Serve GOD, and fear
him; this will be better for you; if ye understand.
Ye only worship idols besides GOD, and forge a lie. Verily those which
ye worship, besides GOD, are not able to make any provision for you: seek
therefore your provision from GOD; and serve him, and give thanks unto him;
unto him shall ye return.
If he charge me with imposture,x verily sundry nations before you
likewise charged their prophets with imposture: but public preaching only is
incumbent on an apostle.
Do they not see how GOD produceth creatures, and afterwards restoreth
them?y Verily this is easy with GOD.
Say, go through the earth, and see how he originally produceth creatures:
afterwards will GOD reproduce another production; for GOD is almighty.
20 He will punish whom he pleaseth, and he will have mercy on whom he
pleaseth. Before him shall ye be brought at the day of judgment:
and ye shall not escape his reach, either in earth, or in heaven:z
neither shall ye have any patron or defender besides GOD.
As for those who believe not in the signs of GOD, or that they shall meet
him at the resurrection, they shall despair of my mercy, and for them is a
painful punishment prepared.
s viz., The guilt of seducing others, which shall be added to the guilt
of their own obstinacy without diminishing the guilt of such as shall be
seduced by them.
t This is true, if the whole life of Noah be reckoned; and accordingly
Abulfeda says he was sent to preach in his two hundred and fiftieth year, and
that he lived in all nine hundred and fifty: but the text seeming to speak of
those years only which he spent in preaching to the wicked antediluvians, the
commentators suppose him to have lived much longer. Some say the whole length
of his life was a thousand and fifty years; that his mission happened in the
fortieth year of his age, and that he lived after the Flood sixty years;1 and
others give different numbers; one, in particular, pretending that Noah lived
near sixteen hundred years.2
This circumstance, says al Beidâwi, was mentioned to encourage Mohammed,
and to assure him that God, who supported Noah so many years against the
opposition and plots of the antediluvian infidels, would not fail to defend
him against all attempts of the idolatrous Meccans and their partisans.
u i.e., The ark.
x This seems to be part of Abraham's speech to his people: but some
suppose that GOD here speaks, by way of apostrophe, first to the Koreish, and
afterwards to Mohammed; and that the parenthesis is continued to these words,
And the answer of his people was no other, &c. In which case we should have
said, If ye charge Mohammed your apostle with imposture, &c.
y The infidels are bid to consider how GOD causeth the fruits of the
earth to spring forth, and reneweth them every year, as in the preceding;
which is an argument of his power to raise man, whom he created at first, to
life again after death, at his own appointed time.
z See Psalm cxxxix. 7, &c.
1 Idem, al Zamakh. 2 Caab, apud Yahyam.
And the answer of his people was no other than that they said, Slay him,
or burn him. But GOD saved him from the fire.a Verily herein were signs unto
people who believed.
And Abraham said, Ye have taken idols, besides GOD, to cement affection
between you in this life:
but on the day of resurrection, the one of you shall deny the other, and
the one of you shall curse the other; and your abode shall be hell fire, and
there shall be none to deliver you.
And Lot believed on him. And Abraham said, Verily I fly from my people,
unto the place which my LORD hath commanded me; or he is the mighty, the wise.
And we gave him Isaac and Jacob; and we placed among his descendants the
gift of prophecy and the scriptures: and we gave him his reward in this world;
and in the next he shall be one of the righteous.
We also sent Lot; when he said unto his people, Do ye commit filthiness
which no creature hath committed before you?
Do ye approach lustfully unto men, and lay wait in the highways,b and
commit wickedness in your assembly?c And the answer of his people was no
other than that they said, Bring down the vengeance of GOD upon us, if thou
speakest truth.
30 Lot said, O LORD, defend me against the corrupt people.
And when our messengers came unto Abraham with good tidings,d they said,
We will surely destroy the inhabitants of this city: for the inhabitants
thereof are unjust doers.
Abraham answered, Verily Lot dwelleth there. They replied, We well know
who dwelleth therein: we will surely deliver him and his family, except his
wife; she shall be one of those who remain behind.
And when our messengers came unto Lot, he was troubled for them, and his
arm was straitened concerning them.e But they said, Fear not, neither be
grieved; for we will deliver thee and thy family, except thy wife; for she
shall be one of those who remain behind.
We will surely bring down upon the inhabitants of this city vengeance
from heaven, for that they have been wicked doers;
and we have left thereof a manifest signf unto people who understand.
And unto the inhabitants of Madian we sent their brother Shoaib; and he
said unto them, O my people, serve GOD, and expect the last day; and
transgress not, acting corruptly in the earth.
But they accused him of imposture; wherefore a storm from heaveng
assailed them, and in the morning they were found in their dwellings dead and
prostrate.
And we also destroyed the tribes of Ad, and Thamud; and this is well
known unto you from what yet remains of their dwellings. And Satan prepared
their works for them, and turned them aside from the way of truth, although
they were sagacious people.
And we likewise destroyed Karûn, and Pharaoh, and Haman. Moses came unto
them with evident miracles, and they behaved themselves insolently in the
earth: but they could not escape our vengeance.
a See chapter 21.
b Some suppose the Sodomites robbed and murdered the passengers;
others, that they unnaturally abused their bodies.
c Their meetings being scenes of obscenity and riot.
d See chapter 11, p. 165, &c.
e See ibid. p. 166.
f viz., The story of its destruction, handed down by common tradition;
or else its ruins, or some other footsteps of this signal judgment; it being
pretended that several of the stones, which fell from heaven on those cities,
are still to be seen, and that the ground where they stood appears burnt and
blackish.
g See chapter 7, p. 114.
40 Every of them did we destroy in his sin. Against some of them we sent a
violent wind:h some of them did a terrible noise from heaven destroy:i some of
them did we cause the earth to swallow up:k and some of them we drowned.l
Neither was GOD disposed to treat them unjustly; but they dealt unjustly with
their own souls.
The likeness of those who take other patrons besides GOD is as the
likeness of the spider, which maketh herself a house: but the weakest of all
houses surely is the house of the spider; if they knew this.
Moreover GOD knoweth what things they invoke, besides him; and he is the
mighty, the wise.
These similitudes do we propound unto men: but none understand them,
except the wise.
GOD hath created the heavens and the earth in truth; verily herein is a
sign unto the true believers.
Rehearse that which hath been revealed unto thee of the book of the
Koran: and be constant at prayer; for prayer preserveth a man from filthy
crimes, and from that which is blamable; and the remembering of GOD is surely
a most important duty. GOD knoweth that which ye do.
Dispute not against those who have received the scriptures, unless in the
mildest manner;m except against such of them as behave injuriously towards
you: and say, We believe in the revelation which hath been sent down unto us,
and also in that which hath been sent down unto you; our GOD and your GOD is
one, and unto him are we resigned.
Thus have we sent down the book of the Koran unto thee: and they unto
whom we have given the former scriptures believe therein; and of these
Arabians also there is who believeth therein: and none reject our signs,
except the obstinate infidels.
Thou couldest not read any book before this; neither couldest thou write
it with thy right hand: then had the gainsayers justly doubted of the divine
original thereof.
But the same is evident signs in the breasts of those who have received
understanding: for none reject our signs except the unjust.
50 They say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his LORD, we will not
believe. Answer, Signs are in the power of GOD alone; and I am no more than a
public preacher.
Is it not sufficient for them that we have sent down unto thee the book
of the Koran, to be read unto them? Verily herein is a mercy, and an
admonition unto people who believe.
Say GOD is a sufficient witness between me and you:
he knoweth whatever is in heaven and earth; and those who believe in vain
idols, and deny GOD, they shall perish.
They will urge thee to hasten the punishment which they defy thee to
bring down upon them:n if there had not been a determined time for their
respite, the punishment had come upon them before this; but it shall surely
overtake them suddenly, and they shall not foresee it.
They urge thee to bring down vengeance swiftly upon them: but hell shall
surely encompass the unbelievers.
h The original word properly signifies a wind that drives the gravel
and small stones before it; by which the storm, or shower of stones, which
destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, seems to be intended.
i Which was the end of Ad and Thamud.
k As it did Karûn.
l As the unbelievers in Noah's time, and Pharaoh and his army
m i.e., Without ill language or passion. This verse is generally
supposed to have been abrogated by that of the sword; though some think it
relates only to those who are in alliance with the Moslems.
n See chapter 6, p. 93
On a certain day their punishment shall suddenly assail them, both from
above them, and from under their feet; and God shall say, Taste ye the reward
of that which ye have wrought.
O my servants who have believed, verily my earth is spacious: wherefore
serve me.o
Every soul shall taste death: afterwards shall ye return unto us;
and as for those who shall have believed, and wrought righteousness, we
will surely lodge them in the higher apartments of paradise; rivers shall flow
beneath them, and they shall continue therein forever. How excellent will be
the reward of the workers of righteousness;
60 who persevere with patience, and put their trust in their LORD!
How many beasts are there, which provide not their food? It is GOD who
provideth for them, and for you; and he both heareth and knoweth.
Verily, if thou ask the Meccans, who hath created the heavens and the
earth, and hath obliged the sun and the moon to serve in their courses? they
will answer, GOD. How therefore do they lie, in acknowledging of other gods?
GOD maketh abundant provision for such of his servants as he pleaseth;
and is sparing unto him, if he pleaseth: for GOD knoweth all things.p
Verily if thou ask them, who sendeth rain from heaven, and thereby
quickeneth the earth, after it hath been dead? they will answer, GOD. Say,
GOD be praised! But the greater part of them do not understand.
This present life is no other than a toy, and a plaything; but the future
mansion of paradise is life indeed: if they knew this they would not prefer
the former to the latter.
When they sail in a ship, they call upon GOD, sincerely exhibiting unto
him the true religion: but when he bringeth them safe to land, behold, they
return to their idolatry;
to show themselves ungrateful for that which we have bestowed on them,
and that they may enjoy the delights of this life; but they shall hereafter
know the issue.
Do they not see that we have made the territory of Mecca an inviolable
and secure asylum, when men are spoiled in the countries round about them? Do
they therefore believe in that which is vain, and acknowledge not the goodness
of GOD?
But who is more unjust than he who deviseth a lie against GOD, or denieth
the truth, when it hath come unto him? Is there not in hell an abode for the
unbelievers?
70 Whoever do their utmost endeavor to promote our true religion, we will
direct them into our ways; for GOD is with the righteous.
o That is, If ye cannot serve me in one city or country, fly unto
another, where ye may profess the true religion in safety; for the earth is
wide enough, and ye may easily find places of refuge. Mohammed is said to
have declared, That whoever flies for the sake of his religion, though he stir
but the distance of a span, merits paradise, and shall be the companion of
Abraham and of himself.1
p And particularly who will make a good, and who will make a bad use of
their riches.
1 Al Beidâwi.