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

18 AL KORAN. CHAP. ii.
intormefliate nation,* that ye may be witness against the rest of mankind,
and that the apostle may be a witness against you. We appointed the
Keblah towards which thou didst formerly jiray, only that we might know
him who followeth the apostle, from him who tumeth back on the heels;'
though this change seem a great matter, unless unto those whom God hath
directed. But God will not render your foith of none effect;' for God is
gracious and merciful imto man. We have seen thee turn about thy face
towards heaven with uncertainty, but we will cause thee to turn thyself
towards a Keblah that will please thee. Turn, therefore, thy face towards
the holy temple of Mer.ca; and wherever ye be, turn your faces towards
that ijlace. They to whom the scriptui-e hath been given, know this to be
truth from their Lord, God is not regardless of that which ye do. Verilji
although thou shouldest show unto those to whom the scripture hath been
given all kinds of signs, yet they will not follow thy Keblah, neither shalt
thou follow their Keblah ; nor will one part of them follow the Keblah of
the other. And if thou follow their dosires, after the knowledge which
hath been given thee, verily thou wilt become one of the ungodly. They
to whom we have given the scripture, know our apostle, even as they know
their own children; but some of them ^ide the truth, against their own
knowledge. Truth is from thy Lord, therefore thou shalt not doubt.
Every sect hath a certain tract of heaven to which they turn themselves in
vrayer; but do ye strive to run after good things: wherever ye be, God
Avdll bring you all back at the resurrection, for God is almighty. And from
what place soever thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the holy temple ;
for this is truth from thy Lord ; neither is God regardless of that which ye
do. From what place soever thou comest forth, turn thy face towards the
holy temple ; and wherever ye be, thitherward turn your faces, lest men
have matter of dispute against you ; but as for those among them who are
unjust doers, fear them not, but fear me, that I may accomplish my grace
iipon you, and that ye may be directed. As we have sent unto you an
apostle from among you,' to rehearse our signs unto you, and to purify
you, and to teach you the book of the Kordn and wisdom, and to teach you
that which ye knew not : therefore remember me, and I will remember
you, and give thanks unto me, and be not unbelievers. trv^ beHevei-s,
beg assistance with patience and prayer, for God is with the patient. And
say not of those who are slain in fight for the religion of G od,^ that tliey are
dead; yea, they are Living:^ but ye do not understand. We will surely
prove you by afflicting you in some measure with fear, and hunger, and
* " We have established you, O chosen people, to bear witness against the rest of
the nation, as your apostle will bear it against you." — ISavary.
"■ i. e. Keturneth to Judaism.
• Or will not suffer it to go without its reward, while ye prayed towards Jerusalem,
t That is, of your own nation.
° The original words are literally, who are slain in the way of God ; by which ex-
pression, frequently occurring in the Koran, is always meant war undertaken against
unbelievers for the propagation of the Mohammedan faith.
» The souls of martyrs, (for such they esteem those who die in battle against
infidels,) says Jallalo'ddin, are in the crops of green birds, which have liberty to tiy
wherever they please in paradise, and feed on the fruits tncreof.