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

20 AL KORAN. CHAP. n.
that they who act unjustly did perceive,'* when they beliold their punish-
ment, that all power belongeth unto God, and that he is severe in punish-
ing! When those who have been followed shall separate themselves from
their followers,® and shall see the punishment, and the cords of relation be-
tween them shall be cut in sunder ; the followers shall say, If we could
return to life, we would separate ourselves from them, as they have nuoj
separated themselves from us. So God will show them their works; they
shall sigh grievously, and shall not come forth from the fire ofheU. O men,
eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth ; and tread not in
the steps of the devil, for he is your open enemy. Verily he commandeth
you evil and wickedness, and that ye should say that of GoD which ye
know not. And when it is said unto them who believe not, Follow that which
God hath sent down; they answer, Nay, but we will follow that which we
found our fathers practise. What ? though their fathers knew nothing, and
were not rightly directed ] The unbelievers are like unto one who crieth
aloud to that wliich heareth not so much as his calling,* or the sound of his
voice, lliey are deaf, dumb, and blind, therefore do they riot understand.
O true believers, eat of the good things which we have bestowed on you for
food, and return thanks unto God, if ye serve him. Verily he hath for-
bidden you to eat that which dieth of itself, and blood and swine's flesh, and
that on which any other name but God's hath been invocated.^ But he who is
forced by necessity, not lusting, nor returning to transgress, it shall be no
crime in him if he eat of those things, for God is gracious and merciful.
Moreover they who conceal any jMrt of the scripture which God hath sent
down unto them, and sell it for a small price, they shall swallow into their
bellies nothing but fire; God shall not speak unto them on the day of
resurrection, neither shall he purify them, an<l they shall suffer a grievous
punishment. These are they who have sold direction for error, and pardon
for punishment: but how great will their suffering be in the fire ! This
they shall endure, because God sent down the book of the Koran with
truth, and they who disagree concerning that book are certainly in a wide
mistake. It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces in prayer towards
the east and the west, but righteousness is of him who believeth in God
and the last day, and the angels, and the scriptures, and the prophets;
who giveth money for God's sake unto his kindred, and unto orjjhans, and
the needy, and the stranger, and those who ask, and for redemption of
captives ; who is constant at prayer, and giveth alms ; and of those who
perform their covenant, when they have covenanted, and who behave
themselves patiently in adversity, and hardships, and in time of violence:
^ Or it may be translated, Althovgh the ungodly will perceive, &c. But some copies
instead of yara, in the third person, read tara, in the second ; and then it must bo
rendered. Oh if thou didst see when the ungodly behold their punishment, &c.
» That is, when the broachers or heads of new sects shall at the last day forsake or
wash their hands of their disciples, as if they were not accomplices in their superstitions.
* " The unbelievers are like unto him who heareth the sound of the voice with-
out comprehending any thing. Deaf, dumb, and blind, they have no understand-
ing." — Savory.
f For this reason, whenever the Mohammedans kill any animal for food, they always
say Bistm'Vah, or In the name q/'God ; which if it be neglected, they think it not law-
ful to eat of it.