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

CHAP. IV. AL KORAN. 65
husbands,^ for that God preserveth them, by committing them to the care
and protection of the men* But those, whose perverseness ye shall be
ripprehensive of, rebuke ; and remove them into separate apartments,'' and
ciuistise them.' But if they shall be obedient unto you, seek not an
occasion of quarrel against them : for God is high and great. And if ye
fear a breach between the husband and wife, send a judge' out of his
f iniily, and a judge out of her fiimily : if they shall desire a reconciliation,
God will cause them to agree ; for God is knowing and wise. Serve God,
and associate no creature with him ; and show kindness unto pai-ents, and
relations, and orphans, and the poor, and your neighbour who is of kin to
you,* and also your neighbour who is a stranger, and to your familiar com-
panion, and the traveller, and the captives whom your right hands shall
possess ; for God loveth not the proud or vainglorious, who are covetous,
and recommend covetousuess unto men, and conceal that which God of hi?
bounty hath given them;" (we have prepared a shameful punishment f(>t
the unbelievers;) and who bestow their wealth in charity to be observed
of men, and believe not in God, nor in the last day ; and whoever hath
Satan for a companion, an evil companion hath lie 1 And what harm would
befall them if they should believe in God, and the last day, and give alms
out of that which God hath bestowed on them 1 since GoD kuoweth them
toho do this. Verily God will not wrong any one even the weight of an
ant:^ and if it be a good action, he will double it, and will recompense it
in his sight with a great reward. How will it be with the unbelievers when
we shall bring a witness out of each nation against itself^ and shall bring
thee, Mohammed, a witness against these people?^ In that day they
who have not believed, and have rebelled against the apostle of God, shall
wish the earth was levelled with them ;t and they shall not be able to hide
any matter from God. O true believers, come not to prayers when ye are
p Both to preserve their husbands' substance from loss or waste, and themselves
from all degrees of immodesty.^
* " Wives ouffht to be obedient, and keep the secrets of their husbands, because
th.1t Heaven hath entrusted them to tlieir care." — Savary.
1 That is, banish them from your bed.
' By this passage the Mohammedans are in plain terms allowed to beat their wives,
in case of stubborn disobedience; but not in a violent or dangerous manner.^
' i. e. Let the magistrates first send two arbitrators or mediators, one on each side,
to compose the difference, and prevent, if possible, the ill consequences of an open
rupture.
' Either of your own nation or religion.
" Whether it be wealth, knowledge, or any other talent whereby they may help
their neighbour.
^ Either by diminishing the recompense due to his good actions, or to severely
punishing his sins. On the contrary, he will reward the former in the next life, far
above their deserts. The Arabic word dharra, which is translated an ant, signifies a
very small sort of that insect, and is used to denote a thing that is exceeding small, as
a mite.
>' When the Prophet, who was sent to each nation in particular, shall on the last
day be produced to give evidence against such of them as refused to believe in him,
or observed not the laws which he brouj^ht.
^ That is, the Arabians, to whom Mohammed was, as he pretended, more peca-
liarly sent.-
\ " In that terrible day they shall wish to be reduced into dust." — Savary.
• Al Beidawi, Jallalo'ddin. ' Al Beidawi. * See before, c. 2. "? 17-