ENTITLED, THE KNEELING;s REVEALED AT MECCA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
H. M.t THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD.
Verily both in heaven and earth are signs of the divine power unto the
true believers:
and in the creation of yourselves, and of the beasts which are scattered
over the face of the earth, are signs unto people of sound judgment;
and also in the vicissitude of night and day, and the rain which GOD
sendeth down from heaven, whereby he quickeneth the earth after it hath been
dead: in the change of the winds also are signs unto people of understanding.
These are the signs of GOD; we rehearse them unto thee with truth. In
what revelation therefore will they believe, after they have rejected GOD and
his signs?
Woe unto every lying and impious person;
who heareth the signs of GOD, which are read unto him, and afterwards
proudly persisteth in infidelity, as though he heard them not: (denounce unto
him a painful punishment:)
and who, when he cometh to the knowledge of any of our signs, receiveth
the same with scorn. For these is prepared a shameful punishment:
before them lieth hell; and whatever they shall have gained shall not
avail them at all, neither shall the idols which they have taken for their
patrons, besides GOD; and they shall suffer a grievous punishment.
10 This is a true direction: and for those who disbelieve the signs of
their LORD, is prepared the punishment of a painful torment.
It is GOD who hath subjected the sea unto you, that the ships may sail
therein, at his command; and that ye may seek advantage unto yourselves by
commerce; of his bounty; and that ye may give thanks:
and he obligeth whatever is in heaven and on earth to serve you; the
whole being from him. Verily herein are signs unto people who consider.
s The word from which this chapter is denominated occurs p. 370.
t See the Prelim. Disc. Sect. III. p. 46, &c.
Speak unto the true believers, that they forgive those who hope not for
the days of GOD,u that he may reward people according to what they shall have
wrought.
Whoso doeth that which is right doth it to the advantage of his own soul;
and whoso doeth evil doth it against the same: hereafter shall ye return unto
your LORD.
We gave unto the children of Israel the book of the law, and wisdom, and
prophecy; and we fed them with good things, and preferred them above all
nations:
and we gave them plain ordinances concerning the business of religion;
neither do they fall to variance, except after that knowledge had come unto
them, through envy among themselves: but thy LORD will decide the controversy
between them, on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein they
disagree.
Afterwards we appointed thee, O Mohammed, to promulgate a law concerning
the business of religion: wherefore follow the same, and follow not the
desires of those who are ignorant.x
Verily they shall not avail thee against GOD at all; the unjust are the
patrons of one another; but GOD is the patron of the pious.
This Koran delivereth evident precepts unto mankind; and is a direction,
and a mercy, unto people who judge aright.
20 Do the workers of iniquity imagine that we will deal with them as with
those who believe and do good works; so that their life and their death shall
be equal? An ill judgment do they make.
GOD hath created the heavens and the earth in truth; that he may
recompense every soul according to that which it shall have wrought: and they
shall not be treated unjustly.
What thinkest thou? He who taketh his own lust for his GOD, and whom GOD
causeth knowingly to err, and whose ears and whose heart he hath sealed up,
and over whose eyes he hath cast a veil; who shall direct him, after GOD shall
have forsaken him? Will ye therefore not be admonished?
They say, There is no other life, except our present life: we die, and we
live; and nothing but time destroyeth us. But they have no knowledge in this
matter; they only follow a vain opinion.
And when our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, their argument which
they offer against the same is no other than that they say, Bring to life our
fathers who have been dead; if ye speak truth.
Say, GOD giveth you life; and afterwards causeth you to die: hereafter
will he assemble you together on the day of resurrection; there is no doubt
thereof; but the greater part of men do not understand.
Unto GOD appertaineth the kingdom of heaven and earth; and the day
whereon the hour shall be fixed, on that day shall those who charge the Koran
with vanity perish.
And thou shalt see every nationy kneeling: every nation shall be called
unto its book of account; and it shall be said unto them, This day shall ye be
rewarded according to that which ye have wrought.
u By the days of GOD, in this place, are meant the prosperous successes
of his people in battle against the infidels.1 The passage is said to have
been revealed on account of Omar, who being reviled by one of the tribe of
Ghifâr, was thinking to revenge himself by force. Some are of opinion that
this verse is abrogated by that of war.2
x That is, of the principal Koreish, who were urgent with Mohammed to
return to the religion of his forefathers.3
y The original word Ommat properly signifies a people who profess one
and the same law or religion.
1 See p. 186, note d. 2 Al Beidâwi. 3
Idem.
This our book will speak concerning you with truth; therein have we
written down whatever ye have done.z
As to those who shall have believed and done good works, their LORD shall
lead them into his mercy: this shall be manifest felicity.
30 But as to the infidels, it shall be said unto them, Were not my signs
rehearsed unto you? but ye proudly rejected them, and became a wicked people!
And when it was said unto you, Verily the promise of GOD is true: and as
to the hour of judgment, there is no doubt thereof: ye answered, We know not
what the hour of judgment is: we hold an uncertain opinion only; and we are
not well assured of this matter.
But on that day the evils of that which they have wrought shall appear
unto them; and that which they mocked at shall encompass them:
and it shall be said unto them, This day will we forget you, as ye did
forget the meeting of this your day: and your abode shall be hell fire; and ye
shall have none to deliver you.
This shall ye suffer, because ye turned the signs of GOD to ridicule; and
the life of the world deceived you. On this day, therefore, they shall not be
taken forth from thence, neither shall they be asked any more to render
themselves well-pleasing unto God.
Wherefore praise be unto GOD, the LORD of the heavens, and the LORD of
the earth;
the LORD of all creatures: and unto him be glory in heaven and earth; for
he is the mighty, the wise God.
_______