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

CHAP. II. AL KORAN. 33
lilveness of tliose who lay out their substance from a desire to please God,
aud for an establishment for their souls, is as a garden on a hill, on which
a violent rain falleth, and it bringeth forth its fruits twofold ; and if a violent
rain falleth not on it, yet the dew falleth thereon: and God seeth that
which ye do. Doth any of you desire to have a garden of palm trees and
vines," through which rivers flow, wherein he may have all kinds q/fi-uits,
and that he may attain to old age, and have a weak offspring ? then a
violent fiery wind shall sti'ike it, so that it shall be burned.* Thus God
declai'eth his signs unto you, that ye may consider. true believers,
bestow alms of the good things which ye have gained, and of that which
we have produced for you out of the earth, and choose not the bad thereof,
to give it in alms, such as ye would not accept yourselves, otherwise than
by connivance : •" and know that God is rich and worthy to be praised
The devil threateneth you with poverty, and commandeth you filthy covet-
ousness ; but God promiseth you pardon from himself and abundance :
God is bounteous and wise. He giveth wisdom imto whom he pleaseth;
and he unto whom wisdom is given hath received much good : but none
will consider, except the wise of heart. And whatever alms ye shall give,
or whatever vow ye shall vow, verily God knoweth it ; but the ungodly
shall have none to help them. If ye make your alms to appear, it is well ;
but if ye conceal them, and give them imto the poor, this will be better for
you, and will atone for your sins : and God is well informed of that which
ye do. The direction of them belongeth not unto thee ; but God directeth
whom he pleaseth. The good that ye shall give in alms shall redmnd unto
yourselves ; and ye shall not give unless out of desire of seeing the face of
God." And what good thing ye shall give in alms, it shall be repaid you,
and ye shall not be treated unjustly ; unto the poor who are wholly em-
ployed in fighting for the religion of God, and cannot go to and fro on the
earth; whom the ignorant man thinketh rich, because of their modesty:
thou shalt know them by this mark, they ask not men with importunity;
and what good ye shall give in alms, verily God knoweth it. They who
distribute alms of their substance night and day, in private and in public,
shall have their reward with the Lord; on them shall no fear come,
neither shall they be grieved. They who devour usury shall not ariseyro?u
the dead, but as he ariseth whom Satan hath infected by a touch:** this
shall happen to tliem because they say. Truly selling is but as usury : and
" This garden is an emblem of alms given out of liypocrisy, or attended with re-
proaches, which perish, and will be of no service hereafter to the given*
* "Who among you would desire to possess a garden planted with palm trees,
adorned with vines, intersected by rivulets, and enriched with all the fruits of the
earth; and to be then seized by old age, to leave infants in the cradle, and to see
this garden devastated by a whirlwind of flame ? Thus doth God reveal his mysteries
unto you, that you may turn your thoughts unto liim." — Savory.
*> That is, on having some amends made by the seller of such goods, either by
abatement of the price, or giving something else to the buyer to make up the value.
o t e. For the sake of a reward hereafter, and not for any worldly consideration. i
^ viz. Like demoniacs or possessed persons, that is, in great horror and distraction
ofiEind, and convulsive agitation of body.
9 Jallalo'ddin. ^ Idem.