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

CUAP. xiii. Al KORAN. 201
although there have already been examples of the divine vengeance before
them. Thy Lord is surely endued with indulgence towards men, not-
withstanding their iniquity ; but thy Lord is also severe in punishing.
The infidels say, Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his Lord, we
will not believe. Thou art commissioned to be a preacher only, and not a
worker of miracles : and unto every peoj)le hath a director been appointed.
God knoweth what every female beareth in her womb; and what the
wombs want or exceed of their due time, or number of young. "With him
is every thing regulated according to a determined measure. He knoweth
that which is hidden, and that which is revealed. He is the great, the
most high. He among you who concealeth his words, and he who pro-
claimeth them in public; he also who seeketh to hide himself in the
night, and he who goeth forth openly in the day, is equal in respect to the
knowledge of God, Each of them hath angels mutually succeeding each
other, before him, and behind him ; they watch him by the command of
God.** Verily God will not change his grace which is in men, until they
change the disposition in their souls by sin. When God willeth evil
on a people there shall be none to avert it ; neither shall they have
any protector beside him. It is he who causeth the lightning to ap-
pear unto you, to strike fear, and to raise hope,*" and who formeth the
pregnant clouds. The thunder celebrateth his praise," and the angels also,
for fear of him. He sendeth his thunderbolts, and striketh therewith
whom he pleaseth, while they dispute concerning God ;* for he is mighty
in power. It is he who ought of right to be invoked ; and the idols, which
they invoke besides him, shall not hear tliem at all ; otherwise than as he
is lizard, who stretcheth forth his hands to the water that it may ascend to
his mouth, when it cannot ascend thither: the supplication of the un-
believers is utterly eiToneous. Whatsoever is in heaven and on earth
worshippeth GoD, voluntarily or of force ;" and their shadows also, morn-
1 See the Prelim. Disc. sect. iv. p. 51.
^ Thunder and lightning being the sign of approaching rain ; a great blessing, m
the eastern countries more especially.
• Or causeth those who hear it, to praise him. Some commentators tell us, that
by the word thunder, in this place, is meant the angel who presides over the clouds,
and drives them forward with twisted sheets of fire.*
' This passage was revealed on the following occasion. Amer Ebn al Tofail, and
Arbad Ebn Rablah, the brother of Labid, went to ilohammmed with an intent to kill
him ; and Amer began to dispute with him concerning the chief points of his doctrine,
while Arbad, taking a compass, went behind him to despatch him with his sword:
but the prophet, perceiving his design, implored God's protection ; whereupon Arbad
was immediately struck dead by thunder, and Amer was struck with a pestilential
boil, of which he died in a short time, in a miserable condition."
Jallalo'ddin, however, tells another story, saying that Mohammed having sent
one to invite a certain man to embrace his religion, the person put this question to
the missionary, Who is this apostle, and what is God ? is he of gold, or of silver, or of
brass ? Upon which a thunderbolt struck off his skull and killed him.
° The infidels and devils themselves being constrained to humble themselves before
him, though against their will, when they are delivered up to punishment.
* Al Beidawi, Jallalo'ddin. ^ Al Beidawi. "Vide Golii notas in Adagia Arab,
adject, ad Gram. Erpenii, p. 99.