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

^2 AL KOKAN. CHAP. n.
shall be sent to a most grievous punisliment ; for God is not regardless of
tliat which ye do. These are they who have purchased this present life, at
the price of that which is to come; wherefore their punishment shall not
he mitigated, neither shall they be helped. We formerly delivered the book
of the law unto Moses, and caused apostles to succeed him, and gave evident
miracles to Jesus the son of Mary, and strengthened him with the holy
spirit.'' Do ye therefore, whenever an apostle cometh unto you with that
which your souls desire not, proudly reject liim, and accuse some of im-
posture, and slay others? The Jews ^s^j, Owv hearts ai-e uncircumcised:
but God hath cursed them with their infidelity ;* therefore few shall be-
lieve. And when a book came unto them from God, confirming the scrip'
tures which were with them, although they had before prayed for assistance
against those who believed not," yet when that came unto them which they
knew to be from God, they would not believe tlierein: therefore the curse
of God shall be on the infidels. For a vile price have they sold their souls,
that they should not believe in that \vhich God hath sent down;" out of
envy, because God sendeth down his favours to such of his servants as he
pleaseth: therefore they brought on themselves indignation on indignation;
and the unbelievers shall suffer an ignominious punishment. When one
saith unto them. Believe in that which God hath sent down ; they answer,
We believe in that which hath been sent down unto us:° and they reject
what hath bf.en revealed since, although it be the truth, confirming that
which is with them. Say, Why therefore have ye slain the prophets of God
in times past, if ye be true believers'? Moses formerly came unto you with
evident signs, but yeafterwards took the calfybr your God and did wickedly.
And when we accepted your covenant, and lifted the mountain of Sinai
over you," saying, Receive the law which we have given you, with a reso-
lution to perform it, and hear; they said, We have heard, and have rebelled:
and they wei'e made to drink down the calf into their htiarts^ for their un-
belief. Say, A grievous thing hath your faith commanded you, if ye I
true believers?'' Say, if the future mansion with God be prepared pecu-
^ We must not imagine Mohammed here means the Holy Ghost, in the Chris-
tian acceptation. The commentators say, this spirit was the angel Gabriel, who
sanctitied Jesus, and constantly attended on him.**
* " God hath cursed them because of their perfidy. O how small is the number
of the true believers.'' — Savary.
' The Jews, in expectation of the coming of Mohammed (according to the t
dition of his followers) used this prayer, Ood, help us ayainst the unbelitvers, by
the prophet who is to be sent in the last times.^
" The Koran.
" The Pentateuch.
See before, p. 9.
P Moses look the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the /ire, and ground it to
powder, and strewed it upon the wafer (of the brook that descended Jrcm the mount)
and made the children of Israel drink ofit.'-
1 Mohammed here infers from their forefathers' disobedience in worshipping the
calf, at the same time that they pretended to believe in the law of Moses, that the
faith of the Jews in his time was as vain and hypocritical, since they rejected him
who was foretold therein as an impostor.^
8 Jallalo"ddin. » Idem. ^ Exod. xxxii. 20; Deut. ix. 21. ^ Jallalo'ddin,
YaKya, al Beidawi.