THE CHAPTER OF THE NIGHT JOURNEY. THE CHAPTER OF JOSEPH (PEACE BE ON HIM!) THE CHAPTER OF THE BELIEVER MEDINA SURAS CHAPTERS FROM THE KORAN I MECCA SURAS THE CHAPTER OF CONGEALED BLOOD1 N the name of the merciful and compassionate God. Who created man from congealed blood! Read, for thy Lord is most generous! Who taught the pen! Taught man what he did not know! Nay, verily, man is indeed outrageous at seeing himself get rich! Verily, unto thy Lord is the return! Hast thou considered him who forbids a servant when he prays? Hast thou considered if he were in guidance or bade piety? Hast thou considered if he said it was a lie, and turned his back? Did he not know that God can see? Nay, surely, if he do not desist we will drag him by the forelock!—the lying sinful forelock! So let him call his counsel: we will call the guards of hell! Nay, obey him not, but adore and draw nigh! THE CHAPTER OF THE COVERED" IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. 1 The five opening verses of this chapter are generally allowed to have been the first that were revealed. 2 I. e. Mohammed. The allusion is to Abu Ghal, who threatened to set his foot on Mohammed's neck if he caught him in the act of adoration. 1 The first five verses of this chapter form the second revelation by the angel Gabril in person, and the first after the Fatrah, or period of Intermission.' And thy Lord magnify! And thy garments purify! And grant not favours to gain increase! And for thy Lord await! And when the trump is blown, for that day is a difficult day! for the misbelievers aught but easy! Leave me alone with him I have created and for whom I have made extensive wealth and sons that he may look upon, and for whom I have smoothed things down. Then he desires that I should increase! nay, verily, he is hostile to our signs! I will drive him up a hill! Then he reflected and planned! May he be killed,-how he planned! Again, may he be killed,-how he planned! Then he looked; then he frowned and scowled; then he retreated and was big with pride and said, 'This is only magic exhibited! this is only mortal speech! '-I will broil him in hell-fire! and what shall make thee know what hell-fire is? It will not leave and will not let alone. It scorches the flesh; over it are nineteen (angels). We have made only angels guardians of the fire, and we have only made their number a trial to those who misbelieve; that those who have been given the Book may be certain, and that those who believe may be increased in faith; and that those who have been given the Book and the believers may not doubt; and that those in whose hearts is sickness, and the misbelievers may say, 'What does God mean by this as a parable?' Thus God leads astray whom He pleases, and guides him He pleases: and none knows the hosts of thy Lord save Himself; and it is only a reminder to mortals! Nay, by the moon! And the night when it retires! And the morning when it brightly dawns! Verily, it is one of the greatest misfortunes; a warning to mortals; for him amongst you who wishes to press forward or to tarry! Every soul is pledged for what it earns; except the felThe person meant is generally supposed to be Walid ibn Mughairah, one of the chiefs of the Qurais. See note 3, Chapter of the Mount. lows of the right: in gardens shall they ask each other about the sinners!' What drove you into hell-fire?' They shall say, 'We weren't of those who prayed; we didn't feed the poor; but we did plunge into discussion with those who plunged, and we called the judgment day a lie until the certainty did come to us!' But there shall not profit them the intercession of the intercessors. What ailed them that they turned away from the memorial as though they were timid asses fleeing from a lion? Nay, every man of them wished that he might have given him books spread open! Nay, but they did not fear the hereafter! Nay, it is a memorial! and let him who will remember it; but none will remember it except God please. He is most worthy of fear; and he is most worthy to forgive! THE CHAPTER OF THE ENWRAPPED IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God. O thou who art enwrapped! rise by night except a little-the half, or deduct there from a little, or add thereto, and chant the Qur'ân chanting. Verily, we will cast on thee a heavy speech. Verily, the early part of the night is stronger in impressions and more upright in speech! Verily, thou hast by day a long employment; but mention the name of thy Lord and devote thyself thoroughly to Him, the Lord of the east and the west; there is no god but He; then take Him for a guardian! And endure patiently what they say, and flee from them with a decorous flight. And leave me and those who say it is a lie, who are possessed of comfort; and let them bide for a while. Verily, with us are heavy fetters and hell-fire, and food that chokes, and mighty woe! On the day when the earth and the mountains shall tremble and the earth shall be as a crumbling sand-hill! I. e. death. Verily, we have sent unto you an apostle bearing witness against you, as we sent an apostle unto Pharaoh. But Pharaoh rebelled against the apostle, and we seized him with an overpowering punishment. Then how will ye shield yourselves if ye misbelieve from the day which shall make children grey-headed, whereon the heaven cleaves-its promise shall be fulfilled! Verily, this is a memorial, and whoso will, let him take unto his Lord a way.1 Verily, thy Lord knows that thou dost stand up to pray nearly two-thirds of the night, or the half of it or the third of it, as do part of those who are with thee; for God measures the night and the day; He knows that ye cannot calculate it, and He turns relentant towards you. So read what is easy of the Qur'ân. He knows that there will be of you some who are sick and others who beat about in the earth craving the grace of God, and others who are fighting in the cause of God. Then read what is easy of it and be steadfast in prayer, and give alms, and lend to God a goodly loan, for what ye send forward for yourselves of good ye will find it with God. It is better and a greater hire; and ask ye pardon of God: verily, God is forgiving, merciful! THE CHAPTER OF THE FORENOON In the name of the merciful and compassionate God. And the night when it darkens! Thy Lord has not forsaken thee, nor hated thee! and surely the hereafter is better for thee than the former; and in the end thy Lord will give thee, and thou shalt be well pleased! Did He not find thee an orphan, and give thee shelter? and find thee erring, and guide thee? and find thee poor with a family, and nourish thee? But as for the orphan oppress him not; and as for the beg 1 From verse 20 the rest of the sûrah seems from its style to belong to the Medinah period; and there is a tradition ascribed to 'Ayeshah that it was revealed a year later than the earlier part of the chapter. |