ENTITLED, MOHAMMED;s REVEALED AT MEDINA.t
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
GOD will render of none effect the works of those who believe not, and
who turn away men from the way of GOD:
but as to those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe the
revelation which hath been sent down unto Mohammed (for it is the truth from
their LORD), he will expiate their evil deeds from them, and will dispose
their heart aright.
q These genii, according to different opinions, were of Nisibin, or of
Yaman, or of Ninive; and in number nine or seven. They heard Mohammed reading
the Korân by night, or after the morning prayer, in the valley of al Nakhlah,
during the time of his retreat to al Tayef, and believed on him.1
r Hence the commentators suppose those genii, before their conversion
to Mohammedism, to have been of the Jewish religion.
s Some entitle this chapter War, which is therein commanded to be
vigorously carried on against the enemies of the Mohammedan faith.
t Some suppose the whole to have been revealed at Mecca.
1 Idem, Jallalo'ddin.
This will he do, because those who believe not follow vanity, and because
those who believe follow the truth from their LORD. Thus GOD propoundeth unto
men their examples.
When ye encounter the unbelievers, strike off their heads, until ye have
made a great slaughter among them; and bind them in bonds;
and either give them a free dismission afterwards, or exact a ransom;
until the war shall have laid down its arms.u This shall ye do. Verily if
GOD pleased he could take vengeance on them, without your assistance; but he
commandeth you to fight his battles, that he may prove the one of you by the
other. And as to those who fightx in defence of GOD'S true religion, God will
not suffer their works to perish:
he will guide them, and will dispose their heart aright;
and he will lead them into paradise, of which he hath told them.
O true believers, if ye assist GOD, by fighting for his religion, he will
assist you against your enemies; and will set your feet fast:
but as for the infidels, let them perish; and their works shall God
render vain.
10 This shall befall them, because they have rejected with abhorrence that
which GOD hath revealed: wherefore their works shall become of no avail.
Do they not travel through the earth, and see what hath been the end of
those who were before them? GOD utterly destroyed them: and the like
catastrophe awaiteth the unbelievers.
This shall come to pass, for that GOD is the patron of the true
believers, and for that the infidels have no protector.
Verily GOD will introduce those who believe, and do good works, into
gardens beneath which rivers flow: but the unbelievers indulge themselves in
pleasures, and eat as beasts eat; and their abode shall be hell fire.
How many cities were more mighty in strength than thy city which hath
expelled thee; yet have we destroyed them, and there was none to help them?
Shall he therefore, who followeth the plain declaration of his LORD, be
as he whose evil works have been dressed up for him by the devil; and who
follow their own lusts?
The description of paradise, which is promised unto the pious: therein
are rivers of incorruptible water; and rivers of milk, the taste whereof
changeth not; and rivers of wine, pleasant unto those who drink;
and rivers of clarified honey: and therein shall they have plenty of all
kinds of fruits; and pardon from their LORD. Shall the man for whom these
things are prepared be as he who must dwell forever in hell fire; and will
have the boiling water given him to drink, which shall burst their bowels?
u This law the Hanifites judge to be abrogated, or to relate
particularly to the war of Bedr, for the severity here commanded, which was
necessary in the beginning of Mohammedism,1 they think too rigorous to be put
in practice in its flourishing state. But the Persians and some others hold
the command to be still in full force; for, according to them, all the men of
full age who are taken in battle are to be slain, unless they embrace the
Mohammedan faith; and those who fall into the hands of the Moslems after the
battle are not to be slain, but may either be set at liberty gratis or on
payment of a certain ransom, or may be exchanged for Mohammedan prisoners, or
condemned to slavery, at the pleasure of the Imâm or prince.2
x Some copies, instead of kâtilu, read kûtilu, according to which
latter reading it should be rendered, who are slain, or suffer martyrdom, &c.
1 See cap. 8, p. 127 and 132. 2 Al Beidâwi. Vide Reland.
Dissert. de Jure Militari Mohammedanor. p. 32.
Of the unbelievers there are some who give ear unto thee, until, when
they go out from thee, they say, by way of derision, unto those to whom
knowledge hath been given,y What hath he said now? These are they whose
hearts GOD hath sealed up, and who follow their own lusts:
but as to those who are directed, God will grant them a more ample
direction, and he will instruct them what to avoid.z
20 Do the infidels wait for any other than the last hour, that it may come
upon them suddenly? Some signs thereof are already come:a and when it shall
actually overtake them, how can they then receive admonition?
Know therefore, that there is no god but GOD: and ask pardon for thy
sin,b and for the true believers, both men and women. GOD knoweth your busy
employment in the world, and the place of your abode hereafter.
The true believers say, Hath not a Sura been revealed commanding war
against the infidels? But when a Sura without any ambiguity is revealed, and
war is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose hearts is an
infirmity,c look towards thee with the look of one whom death overshadoweth.
But obedience would be more eligible for them, and to speak that which is
convenient.
And when the command is firmly established, if they give credit unto GOD,
it will be better for them.
Were ye ready, therefore, if ye had been put in authority,d to commit
outrages in the earth, and to violate the ties of blood?
These are they whom GOD hath cursed, and hath rendered deaf, and whose
eyes he hath blinded.
Do they not therefore attentively meditate on the Koran? Are there locks
upon their hearts?
Verily they who turn their backs, after the true direction is made
manifest unto them, Satan shall prepare their wickedness for them, and God
shall bear with them for a time.
This shall befall them, because they say privately unto those who detest
what GOD hath revealed, We will obey you in part of the matter.e But GOD
knoweth their secrets.
How therefore will it be with them, when the angels shall cause them to
die, and shall strike their faces, and their backs?f
30 This shall they suffer, because they follow that which provoketh GOD to
wrath, and are averse to what is well pleasing unto him: and he will render
their works vain.
Do they in whose hearts is an infirmity imagine that GOD will not bring
their malice to light?
If we pleased, we could surely show them unto thee, and thou shouldest
know them by their marks; but thou shalt certainly know them by their perverse
pronunciation of their words. GOD knoweth your actions:
and we will try you, until we know those among you who fight valiantly,
and who persevere with constancy: and we will try the reports of your
behavior.
y i.e., The more learned of Mohammed's companions, such as Ebn Masúd
and Ebn Abbâs.3
z Or, as the words may also be translated, and he will reward them for
their piety.
a As the mission of Mohammed, the splitting of the moon, and the
smoke,1 mentioned in the forty-fourth chapter.
b Though Mohammed here and elsewhere2 acknowledges himself to be a
sinner, yet several Mohammedan doctors pretend he was wholly free from sin,
and suppose he is here commanded to ask forgiveness, not that he wanted it,
but that he might set an example to his followers: wherefore he used to say of
himself, if the tradition be true, I ask pardon of GOD a hundred times a day.3
c As hypocrisy, cowardice, or instability in their religion.
d Or, as the words may also be translated, If ye had turned back, and
apostatized from your faith.
e i.e., In part of what ye desire of us; by staying at home and not
going forth with Mohammed to war, and by private combination against him.4
f These words are supposed to allude to the examination of the
sepulchre.
3 Jallalo'ddin. 1 Idem, al Beidâwi. 2 See cap. 48, in
the beginning. 3 Jallalo'ddin
4 Al Beidâwi.
Verily those who believe not, and turn away men from the way of GOD, and
make opposition against the apostle,g after the divine direction hath been
manifested unto them, shall not hurt GOD at all; but he shall make their works
to perish.
O true believers, obey GOD; and obey the apostle: and render not your
works of no effect.
Verily those who believe not, and who turn away men from the way of GOD,
and then die, being unbelievers, GOD will by no means forgive.
Faint not therefore, neither invite your enemies to peace, while ye are
the superior: for GOD is with you, and will not defraud you of the merit of
your works.
Verily this present life is only a play and a vain amusement; but if ye
believe, and fear God, he will give you your rewards. He doth not require of
you your whole substance:
if he should require the whole of you, and earnestly press you, ye would
become niggardly, and it would raise your hatred against his apostle.
40 Behold, ye are those who are invited to expend part of your substance
for the support of GOD'S true religion; and there are some of you who are
niggardly. But whoever shall be niggardly shall be niggardly towards his own
soul: for GOD wanteth nothing, but ye are needy: and if ye turn back, he will
substitute another people in your stead, who shall not be like unto you.h
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