The Koran Part 5

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

SAY: I betake me for refuge to the Lord of MEN,

The King of men,

The G.o.d of men,

Against the mischief of the stealthily withdrawing whisperer,1

Who whispereth in man's breast-

Against djinn and men.

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1 Satan.

SURA I.1 [VIII.]

MECCA.-7 Verses

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

PRAISE be to G.o.d, Lord of the worlds!

The compa.s.sionate, the merciful!

King on the day of reckoning!

Thee only do we worship, and to Thee do we cry for help.

Guide Thou us on the straight path,2

The path of those to whom Thou hast been gracious;-with whom thou art not angry, and who go not astray.3

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1 This Sura, which Noldeke places last, and Muir sixth, in the earliest cla.s.s of Meccan Suras, must at least have been composed prior to Sura x.x.xvii.

182,where it is quoted, and to Sura xv. 87, which refers to it. And it can scarcely be an accidental circ.u.mstance that the words of the first, second, and fifth verses do not occur in any other Suras of the first Meccan period as given by N"ldeke, but frequently in those of the second, which it therefore, in N"ldeke, opinion, immediately precedes. But this may be accounted for by its having been recast for the purposes of private and public devotion by Muhammad himself, which is the meaning probably of the Muhammadan tradition that it was revealed twice. It should also be observed that, including the auspicatory formula, there are the same number of pet.i.tions in this Sura as in the Lord's Prayer. It is recited several times in each of the five daily prayers, and on many other occa.s.sions, as in concluding a bargain, etc. It is termed "the Opening of the Book," "the Completion," "the Sufficing Sura," the Sura of Praise, Thanks, and Prayer,"

"the Healer," "the Remedy," "the Basis," "the Treasure," "the Mother of the Book," "the Seven Verses of Repet.i.tion." The Muhammadans always say "Amen"

after this prayer, Muhammad having been instructed, says the Sonna, to do so by the Angel Gabriel.

2 Islam

3 The following transfer of this Sura from the Arabic into the corresponding English characters may give some idea of the rhyming prose in which the Koran is written:

Bismillahi 'rahhmani 'rrahheem.

El-hamdoo lillahi rabi 'lalameen.

Arrahhmani raheem.

Maliki yowmi-d-deen.

Eyaka naboodoo, wayaka nest aeen.

Ihdina 'ssirat almostakeem.

Sirat alezeena anhamta aleihim, gheiri-'l mughdoobi aleihim, wala dsaleen.

Ameen.

SURA CIX.-UNBELIEVERS [IX.]

MECCA.-6 Verses

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

SAY: O ye UNBELIEVERS!

I worship not that which ye worship,

And ye do not worship that which I worship;

I shall never worship that which ye worship,

Neither will ye worship that which I worship.

To you be your religion; to me my religion.1

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1 This Sura is said to have been revealed when Walid urged Muhammad to consent that his G.o.d should be worshipped at the same time with the old Meccan deities, or alternately every year. Hishami, p. 79; Tabari, p. 139. It is a distinct renunciation of Meccan idolatry, as the following Sura is a distinct recognition of the Divine Unity.

SURA CXII.-THE UNITY [X.]

MECCA.-4 Verses

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

SAY: He is G.o.d alone:

G.o.d the eternal!

He begetteth not, and He is not begotten;

And there is none like unto Him.

SURA CXI. ABU LAHAB [XI.]