J. F. Campbell Collection > Koran: or, Alcoran of Mohammed

CHAP, XXXI. AL KORAN. 337
God will bring the same to light ; for God is clear-sighted and knowing.
Oh my son, be constant at prayer, and command that which is just, and
forbid that which is evil : and be patient under the afflictions which shall
befall thee ; for this is& duty absolutely incumbent on all vien.* Distort
not thy face out of contempt to men, neither walk in the earth with
insolence ; for God loveth no arrogant, vain-glorious person. And be
moderate in thy pace ; and lower thy voice ; for the most ungi-ateful of all
voices surely is the voice of asses.' Do ye not see that God hath subjected
whatever is in heaven and on earth to your service, and hath abundantly
poured on you his favours, hath outwardly and inwardly?™ Tliere are
some who dispute concerning God without knowledge, and without a
direction, and without an enlightening book. And when it is said unto
them. Follow that which God hath revealed, they answer. Nay, we wUl
follow that which we found our fathers to practise. What, though the
devil invite them to the torment of hell ] Whosoever resigneth himself
unto God, being a worker of righteousness, taketh hold on a strong
handle ;t and unto God belongeth the issue of all things. But whoever
shall be an unbeliever, let not his unbelief grieve thee : unto us shall they
return ; then will we declare unto them that which they have done, for
God knoweth the innermost parts of the breasts of men. We will suffer
them to enjoy this world for a little while: aftei-wards we will drive them
to a severe punishment. If thou ask them who hath created the heavens
and the earth, they will surely answer, God. Say, God be praised ! but
the greater part of them do not understand. Unto God belongeth whatever
is in heaven and earth : for God is the self-sufficient, the praiseworthy.
If whatever trees are in the earth were pens, and he should after that swell
the sea into seven seas of ink, the words of God would not be exhausted;"
for God is mighty and wise. Your creation and your resuscitation are but
as the creation and resuscitation of one soul :° verily God both heareth and
seeth. Dost thou not see that God causeth the night to succeed the day,
and causeth the day to succeed the night, and compelleth the sun and the
moon to serve i/ou ? Each f^f those luminaries hasteneth iii its course to a
determined period : and God is well acquainted with that which ye do.
This is declared concerning the divine knowledge and power, for that GoD is
tlie true Being, and for that whatever ye invoke, besides him, is vanity ;
and for that God is the high, the great God. Dost thou not see that the
ships run in the sea, through the favour of God, that he may show you of
• " Bear patiently the calamities which befall thee. They are a consequence 0/
the eternal decrees." — Savary.
'To the braying of which animal the Arabs liken a loud and disagreeable voice.
™ i. e. All kinds of blessings, regarding as well the mind as tlie body.
t " He who hath devoted his heart unto Islamism and unto virtue hath seized
hold of an immoveable pillar. He is supported upon God, the end of all things."
— Savary.
° This passage is said to have been revealed in answer to the Jews, who insisted
that all knowledge was contained in the law.7
" God being able to produce a million of worlds by the single word Kun, i. e. Bi^
and to raise the dead in general by the single word Kum, i. e. Arise.
7 Al Beid^wi.