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

202 AL KORAN. cnAP. xiil
iiig and evening.* Say, Who is the Lord of heaven and earth 1 Answer,
Cod. Say, Have ye, therefore, taken unto yourselves protectors beside him,
who are unable either to hc4p, or to defend themselves from hurt 1 Say
Shall the blind and the seeing be esteemed equal 1 or sliall darkness and
light be accounted the same 1 or have they attributed companions unto
God who have created as he hath created, so that their creation bear any
resemblance unto his ? Say, God is the creator of all things ; he is the
one, the victorious God. He causeth water to descend from heaven,
and the brooks flow according to their respective measure, and the floods
bear the floating froth : and from the metals which they melt in the fire,
seeking to cast ornaments or vessels ybr tise, tliere ariseth a scum like unto
it. Thus God setteth forth truth and vanity. But the scum is thrown olT,
and that which is useful to mankind remaineth on the earth. Thus doth
God put forth parables. Unto those who obey their Lord shall be given
the most excelleuc reward: but those who obey him not, although they
were jiosyessed of whatever is in the whole earth and as much more, they
would give it all for their ransom. These will be brought to a terrible
account : their abode shall be hell ; an unhappy couch shall it be 1 Shall
he, therefore, who knoweth that what hath been sent down unto thee from
thy Lord, is truth, be rewarded as he who is bliud'? The prudent only
will consider ; who fulfil the covenant of God, and break not their con-
tract ; and who join that which GoD hath commanded to be joined,^ and
wlio fear their Lord, and dread an ill account; and who persevere out of a
sincere desire to please their Lord, and observe the stated times of prayer,
and give alms out of what we have bestowed on them, in secret and openly,
and who turn away evil with good : the reward of these shall be paradise,
gardens of eternal abode,^ which they shall enter, and also whoever shall
have acted uprightly, of their fathers, and their wives, and their posterity :
and the angels shall go in unto them by every gate, saying, Peace be upon
you, because ye have endured with patience ; how excellent a reward is
paradise ! But as for those who violate the covenant of God, after the
establishment thereof, and who cut in sunder that which God hath com-
manded to be joined, and act corruptly in the earth, on them shall a curse
fall, and they shall have a miserable dwelling in hell. God giveth provision
in abundance unto whom he pleaseth, and is sparing unto whom he pleaseth.
Those of Mecca rejoice in the present life ; although the present life, in
respect of the future, is but a precarious provision. The infidels say,
Unless a sign be sent down unto him from his Lord, we will not believe.
Answer, Verily God will lead into error whom he pleaseth, and will direct
* This is an allusion to the increasing and diminishing of the shadows, according
to the height of the sun ; so that when they are the longest, wliich is in the morning
and the evening, they appear prostrate on the ground, in the posture of adoration.
y By believing in all the prophets without exception, and joining thereto the con-
tinual practice of their duty both towards God and man.*
■ Literally, gardens o/Eden. See chap. 9, p. 167.
8 Al Beidawi, Jallalo'ddin, Tahya.