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

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CHAPTER XIII.
INTITLED, THUNDER;' REVEiU^ED AT IMECCA"
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
Al. M. EJ These are tlie signs of the book of tlie Koran: and that
s\ hich hath l)cen sent down unto thee from thy Loud is the trv.'h; but the
j;reater part of men will not believe. It is God who hath raised the
heavens without visible pillars ; and then ascended his throne, and com-
pelled the sun and the moon to perform their services; every of the heavenly
bodies runneth an appointed course. He ordereth all things. He showeth
hii signs distinctly, that ye may be assured ye must meet your Lord at the
last day. It is he who hath sti*etched forth the earth, and placed therein
steadfast mountains, and rivers; and hath ordained therein of eveiy fruit
two different kinds.'" * He caiiseth the night to cover the day. Herein
are certain signs unto people who consider. And in the earth are tracts
of land of different natures^ though bordering on each other; and also
vineyards, and seeds, and palm-trees springing several from the same root,
and singly from distinct roots. They are watered with the same water, yet
we render some of them more excellent than others to eat. Herein are sui-ely
signs unto people who imdcrstantL If thou dost wonder at the infidels deny-
ing the resurrection, surely wonderful is their saying,* After we shall have
been reduced to dust, shall we he restored in a new creature ? These are
they who believe not in their Lord; these shall have collars on their
necks," and these shall he the inhabitants' of hdl fire : therein shall they
abide for ever. They will ask of thee to hasten evil rather than good:^
' This word occurs in the next pa2;e.
•^ Or, according to some copies, at Medina.
* The meaning of these letters is unknown. Of several conjectural explications
which are given of them, the following is one; I am the most wise and knowinj Ood.
™ As sweet and sour, black and white, small and large, &c.'
* " It is He who spread out the earth, who raised the mountains, who formed the
rivers, who gave you fruits of various kinds. He created them male and female."
• — Savari/.
° Some tracts being fruitful and others barren, some plain and others mountainous,
some proper for corn and others for trees, fcc*
* " If thou dost marvel at their unbelief, what must be thy surprise, when thou
hcarest them say. Is it possible that the dust of our body can become a new crea-
ture ? " — Savory.
° The collar here mentioned is an engine something like a pillory, but light enough
for the criminal to walk about with. Besides the hole to fix it on the neck, there
is another for one of the hands, which is thereby fastened to the neck.^ And in
til is manner the Mohammedans suppose the reprobates will appear at the day of
judgment.* Some understand this passage figuratively, of the infidels being bound
in the chains of error and obstinacy.'
p Provoking and daring thee to call down the divine vengeance on them for their
impenitency.
1 Al Beidawi, Jallalo'ddin. ' Idem. » Vide Chardin, Voy. de Perse, t. 2,
p. 229. * See chap. 5, p. 90. * Al Beidawi.