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

214 AL KORAN. CHAP, xti
they have -wrought. Wherefore pviblish that which thou hast been com-
manded, and withdra-w from the idolaters. We will surely take thy part
against the scoffers," who associate with GoD another god ; they sha!\
surely know tlieir folly. And now we well know that thou art deeply
concerned on account of that which they say; but do thou celebrate the
praise of thy Lord ; and be one of those who woi'ship; and serve thy Lord,
until death'' shall overtake thee.
CHAPTER XVL
INTITLED THE BEE;y REVEALED AT MECCA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
The sentence of God will surely come to he executed : wherefore do not
hasten it. Praise be unto him ! and far he that from him which they
associate with him 1 He shall cause the angels to descend with a revelation
by his command, unto such of his servants as he pleaseth, saying, Preach
tliat there is no GoD, except myself; therefore fear me. He hath created
the heavens and the earth, to manifest /injustice: far be that from him
which they associate vjith him t He hath created man of seed ;* and yet
behold he is a professed disputer against tlie resurrection^ He hath like-
wise created the cattle for you ; from them ye Jiave wherewith to keep
yourselves warm,^and other advantages; and of them do ye also eat. And
translate the word, w/w bmnd themselves by oath ; and suppose certain Thamfidites,
who swore to kill Saleb by night, arc here meant. But the sentence more probably
relates to the Jews and Christians, who (say the Mohammedans) receive some part
of the scriptures, and reject others ; and also approved of some passages of the
Koran, and disapproved of others, according to their prejudices; or else to the
unbelieving Meccans, some of whom called the Koran a piece of witchcraft ; others,
flights of divination ; others, old stories; and others, a poetical composition.'
" This passage, it is said, was revealed on account of five noble Koreish, whose
names were Al Walid Ebn al Mogheira, al As Ebn Wayel, Oda Ebn Kais, al Aswad
Ebn Abd Yaghflth, and al Aswad Ebn al Motalleb. These were inveterate enemies
of Mohammed, continually persecuting him, and turning him into ridicule; where-
fore at length Gabriel came and told him that he was commanded to take his part
against them ; and on the angel's making a sign towards them one after another,
al Walid passing by some arrows, one of them hitched in his garment, and he, out
of pride, not stooping to take it oflF, but walking forward, the head of it cut a vein
in his heel, and he bled to death ; al As was killed with a thorn, which stuck into
the sole of his foot, and caused his leg to swell to a monstrous size; Oda died with
violent and perpetual sneezing; al Aswad Ebn Abd Yaghflth ran his head againf
a thorny tree and killed himself; and al Aswad Ebn al Motalleb was struck blind.*
^ Literally, That which is certain.
f This insect is mentioned about the middle of the chapter.
» Except the last three verses.
• " He hath created man of clay, and he disputes with obstinacy." — Savary.
» The person particularly intended in this place was Obba Ebn Khalf, who came
to Mohammed with a rotten bone, and asked him whether it was possible for God to
restore it to life.*
'• Viz., their skins, wool, and hair, which serve you for clothing,
* Al Beidawi. Jallalo'ddin. * Al Beidawi. • Idem.