The Koran Part 149

The spoil taken from the people of the towns and a.s.signed by G.o.d to his apostle, belongeth to G.o.d, and to the apostle, and to his kindred, and to the orphan, and to the poor, and to the wayfarer, that none of it may circulate among such of you only as are rich: What the apostle hath given you, take: What he hath refused you, refuse: And fear ye G.o.d, for G.o.d is severe in punishing.

To the poor refugees (Mohadjerin) also doth a part belong, who have been driven from their homes and their substance, and who seek favour from G.o.d and his goodwill, and aid G.o.d and his apostle. These are the men of genuine virtue.

They of Medina who had been in possession of their abodes and embraced the faith before them, cherish those who take refuge with them; and they find not in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s any desire for what hath fallen to their share: they prefer them before themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are preserved from their own covetousness shall it be well.

And they who have come after them into the faith say, "O our Lord! forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in the faith, and put not into our hearts ill-will against those who believe. O our Lord! thou verily art Kind, Merciful."

Hast thou not observed the disaffected saying to their unbelieving brethren3 among the people of the Book, "If ye be driven forth, we will go forth with you; and in what concerneth you, never will we obey any one; and if ye be attacked we will certainly come to your help." But G.o.d is witness that they are liars.

No! if they were driven forth, they would not share their banishment; if they were attacked they would not help them, or if they help them they will surely turn their backs: then would they remain unhelped.

a.s.suredly the fear of you is more intense in their hearts than the fear of G.o.d! This because they are a people devoid of discernment.

They (the Jews) will not fight against you in a body except in fenced towns or from behind walls. Mighty is their valour among themselves! thou thinkest them united-but their hearts are divided. This for that they are a people who understand not.

They act like those who lately preceded them,4 who also tasted the result of their doings; and a grievous chastis.e.m.e.nt awaiteth them-

Like Satan when he saith to a man, "Be an infidel:" and when he hath become an infidel, he saith, "I share not thy guilt:5 verily, I fear G.o.d the Lord of the Worlds."

Of both, therefore, shall the end be that they dwell for ever in the fire: This is the recompense of the evil doers.

O ye who believe! fear G.o.d. And let every soul look well to what it sendeth on before for the morrow. And fear ye G.o.d: Verily, G.o.d is cognisant of what ye do.

And be ye not like those who forget G.o.d, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their proper selves. Such men are the evil doers.

The inmates of the Fire and the inmates of Paradise are not to be held equal.

The inmates of Paradise only shall be the blissful.

Had we sent down this Koran on some mountain, thou wouldst certainly have seen it humbling itself6 and cleaving asunder for the fear of G.o.d. Such are the parables we propose to men in order that they may reflect.

He is G.o.d beside whom there is no G.o.d. He knoweth things visible and invisible: He is the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful.

He is G.o.d beside whom there is no G.o.d: He is the King, the Holy, the Peaceful, the Faithful, the Guardian, the Mighty, the Strong, the Most High!

Far be the Glory of G.o.d from that which they unite with Him!

He is G.o.d, the Producer, the Maker, the Fashioner! To Him are ascribed excellent t.i.tles. Whatever is in the Heavens and in the Earth praiseth Him.

He is the Mighty, the Wise!

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1 The Jews of Nadhir, three miles from Medina, had broken a treaty made with Muhammad, and in the month Rab of the fourth year of the Hejira were besieged by him and driven first to the Jews of Kainoka, who had emigrated previously, under compulsion, after the battle of Bedr, and subsequently out of Arabia. Weil, Life of M. p.137.n.

2 On which account these spoils were entirely a.s.signed to Muhammad, and not divided in the usual manner. See Sura [xcv.] viii. 42. Weil, p. 138, 184.

3 To the Jews of the tribe of Nadhir.

4 The idolaters slain at Bedr (Djal.) or the Jews of Kainoka, who had been plundered previously to those of Nadhir.

5 Lit. I am clear of thee.

6 This may be derived from the Rabbinical idea that Mount Sinai was chosen, on account of its lowness, to be the scene of the revelation to Moses, in order to shew that G.o.d loves the humble.

SURA x.x.xIII.-THE CONFEDERATES1 [CIII.]

MEDINA.-73 Verses

In the Name of G.o.d, the Compa.s.sionate, the Merciful

O PROPHET, fear thou G.o.d, and obey not the unbelievers and the hypocrites;- Truly G.o.d is Knowing, Wise:

But follow what is revealed to thee from thy Lord: Cognisant truly is He of all your actions-

And put thou thy trust in G.o.d, for a sufficient guardian is G.o.d.

G.o.d hath not given a man two hearts within him; neither hath he made your wives whom ye divorce2 to be as your mothers; nor hath he made your adopted sons to be as your own sons. Such words are indeed in your mouths; but G.o.d speaketh the truth, and in the right way He guideth.

Name them after their fathers: this will be more right before G.o.d. But if ye know not who their fathers are, then let them be your brethren in the faith, and your comrades. And unless made with intent of heart, mistakes in this matter shall be no crime in you: for G.o.d is Lenient, Merciful.

Nearer of kin to the faithful is the Prophet, than they are to their own selves. His wives are their mothers. According to the Book of G.o.d, they who are related by blood, are nearer the one to the other than other believers, and than those who have fled their country3 for the cause of G.o.d: but whatever kindness ye shew to your kindred, shall be noted down in the Book.

And remember that we have entered into covenant with the Prophets, and with thee, and with Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus, Son of Mary: and we formed with them a strict covenant,

That G.o.d may question the men of truth as to their truth.4 But a sore torment hath He prepared for the unbelievers.

O believers!5 remember the goodness of G.o.d towards you, when the armies came against you, and we sent against them a blast, and hosts that ye saw not; for the eye of G.o.d was upon your doings:

When they a.s.sailed you from above you, and from below you,6 and when your eyes became distracted, and your hearts came up into your throat, and ye thought divers thoughts of G.o.d:

Then were the faithful tried, and with strong quaking did they quake:

And when the disaffected and the diseased7 of heart said, "G.o.d and his Apostle have made us but a cheating promise:"

And when a party of them said, "O people of Yathrib!8 there is no place of safety for you here;9 therefore return into the city." And another party of you asked the prophet's leave to return, saying, "Our houses are left defenceless." No! they were not left defenceless: but their sole thought was to flee away.

If the enemy had effected an entry at all points, and they (the disaffected) had been asked to promote confusion, they would have done so; but only a short time would they have remained in it.-(Medina).10

They had before pledged themselves to G.o.d that they would not turn their backs; and a pledge given to G.o.d must be enquired of.

SAY: Flight shall not profit you; if ye have fled the death or the slaughter, yet even then, but a little while shall ye enjoy your good things!

SAY: Who is he that will screen you from G.o.d, whether He choose to bring evil on you, or to shew you mercy? None beside G.o.d shall they find to be their patron or helper.

G.o.d well knoweth those among you who cause hindrances, and those who say to their brethren, "Come hither to us;" and who come not to the fight except a little.

It is out of covetousness in your regard: for when an alarm cometh, thou mayest see them look to thee, and roll their eyes like him on whom the shadows of death have fallen! Yet, when the alarm is pa.s.sed, with sharp tongues will they a.s.sail you, covetous of the best of the spoil. No faith have these! G.o.d will make their doings of no avail! And easy is this with G.o.d.

They thought that the CONFEDERATES would never retire:11 and were the confederates to come again, they would fain be dwelling among the Arabs of the desert, and there ask news about you! for though they were with you, they fought not except a little.