P. G. Wodehouse - "Jill the Reckless)"

Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne - "Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, v4"

Anthony Trollope - "The O'Conors of Castle Conor from Tales from all Countries"

John Lothrop Motley - "History of the United Netherlands, 1588"

New Philadelphia Book Publisher Highlights Local Talent
Book and Publishing News from Publishers Newswire(tm)

Looking for Child to be on Cover of a New Book, 'The Model Child'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Philadelphia literary world will celebrate the launch of two new players today, April 10th: Kay Square Press, a new publishing company focused on Philadelphia-area artists, their stories, and their art; and Kay Square's first release, 'With the Rich and Mighty: Emlen Etting of Philadelphia' (ISBN: 978-0-9815129-0-7), a critical biography by Kenneth C. Kaleta.

FlatSigned Press Alleges Don Imus Remarks Damage Legacy of President Gerald R. Ford
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nathan Yungerberg, an accomplished model scout and professional child photographer is launching a nation-wide casting call to find the cover model for his highly anticipated book release, 'The Model Child: A Parents Guide to the Child Modeling Industry' (ISBN: 978-0-9817018-0-6).

Books: The Koran (without footnotes)

U >> Unknown >> The Koran (without footnotes)






________


CHAPTER XXV.

ENTITLED, AL FORKAN; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

BLESSED be he who hath revealed the Forkan unto his servant, that he may
be a preacher to all creatures:
unto whom belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth: who hath begotten
no issue; and hath no partner in his kingdom: who hath created all things, and
disposed the same according to his determinate will.
Yet have they taken other gods besides him; which have created nothing,
but are themselves created: and are able neither to avert evil from, nor to
procure good unto themselves; and have not the power of death, or of life,
or of raising the dead.
And the unbelievers say, This Koran is no other than a forgery which he
hath contrived; and other people have assisted him therein: but they utter an
unjust thing, and a falsehood.
They also say, These are fables of the ancients, which he hath caused to
be written down; and they are dictated unto him morning and evening.
Say, He hath revealed it, who knoweth the secrets in heaven and earth:
verily he is gracious and merciful.
And they say, What kind of apostle is this? He eateth food, and walketh
in the streets, as we do: unless an angel be sent down unto him, and become a
fellow preacher with him;
or unless a treasure be cast down unto him; or he have a garden, of the
fruit whereof he may eat; we will not believe. The ungodly also say, Ye
follow no other than a man who is distracted.
Behold what they liken thee unto. But they are deceived; neither can
they find a just occasion to reproach thee.
10 Blessed be he, who, if he pleaseth, will make for thee a better provision
than this which they speak of; namely, gardens through which rivers flow: and
he will provide thee palaces.
But they reject the belief of the hour of judgment, as a falsehood: and
we have prepared for him, who shall reject the belief of that hour, burning
fire;
when it shall see them from a distant place, they shall hear it furiously
raging and roaring.
And when they shall be cast, bound together, into a strait place thereof,
they shall there call for death;
but it shall be answered them, Call not this day for one death, but call
for many deaths.
Say, Is this better, or a garden of eternal duration, which is promised
unto the pious? It shall be given unto them for a reward, and a retreat:
therein shall they have whatever they please, continuing in the same
forever. This is a promise to be demanded at the hands of thy LORD.
On a certain day he shall assemble them, and whatever they worship,
besides GOD; and shall say unto the worshipped, Did ye seduce these my
servants; or did they wander of themselves from the right way?
They shall answer, GOD forbid! It was not fitting for us, that we should
take any protectors besides thee: but thou didst permit them and their fathers
to enjoy abundance; so that they forgot thy admonition, and became lost
people.
And God shall say unto their worshippers, Now have these convinced you
of falsehood, in that which ye say: they can neither avert your punishment,
nor give you any assistance. And whoever of you shall be guilty of injustice,
him will we cause to taste a grievous torment.
20 We have sent no messengers before thee, but they ate food, and walked
through the streets: and we make some of you an occasion of trial unto
others. Will ye persevere with patience? since the LORD regardeth your
perseverance.
They who hope not to meet us at the resurrection say, Unless the angels
be sent down unto us, or we see our LORD himself, we will not believe. Verily
they behave themselves arrogantly; and have transgressed with an enormous
transgression.
The day whereon they shall see the angels, there shall be no glad
tidings on that day for the wicked; and they shall say, Be this removed far
from us?
and we will come unto the work which they shall have wrought, and we will
make it as dust scattered abroad.
On that day shall they who are destined to paradise be more happy in an
abode, and have a preferable place of repose at noon.
On that day the heaven shall be cloven in sunder by the clouds, and the
angels shall be sent down, descending visibly therein.
On that day the kingdom shall of right belong wholly unto the Merciful;
and that day shall be grievous for the unbelievers.
On that day the unjust person shall bite his hand for anguish and
despair, and shall say, Oh that I had taken the way of truth with the apostle!
Alas for me! Oh that I had not taken such a one for my friend!
He seduced me from the admonition of God, after it had come unto me: for
the devil is the betrayer of man.
30 And the apostle shall say, O LORD, verily my people esteemed this Koran
to be a vain composition.
In like manner did we ordain unto every prophet an enemy from among the
wicked: but thy LORD is a sufficient director and defender.
The unbelievers say, Unless the Koran be sent down unto him entire at
once, we will not believe. But in this manner have we revealed it, that we
might confirm thy heart thereby, and we have dictated it gradually, by
distinct parcels.
They shall not come unto thee with any strange question; but we will
bring thee the truth in answer, and a most excellent interpretation.
They who shall be dragged on their faces into hell shall be in the worst
condition, and shall stray most widely from the way of salvation.
We heretofore delivered unto Moses the book of the law; and we appointed
him Aaron his brother for a counsellor.
And we said unto them, Go ye to the people who charge our signs with
falsehood. And we destroyed them with a signal destruction.
And remember the people of Noah, when they accused our apostles of
imposture: we drowned them, and made them a sign unto mankind. And we have
prepared for the unjust a painful torment.
Remember also Ad, and Thamud, and those who dwelt at al Rass; and many
other generations within this period.
Unto each of them did we propound examples for their admonition; and each
of them did we destroy with an utter destruction.
40 The Koreish have passed frequently near the city which was rained on by a
fatal rain; have they not seen where it once stood? Yet have they not
dreaded the resurrection.
When they see thee, they will receive thee only with scoffing, saying, Is
this he whom GOD hath sent as his apostle?
Verily he had almost drawn us aside from the worship of our gods, if we
had not firmly persevered in our devotion towards them. But they shall know
hereafter, when they shall see the punishment prepared for them, who hath
strayed more widely from the right path.
What thinkest thou? He who taketh his lust for his god; canst thou be
his guardian?
Dost thou imagine that the greater part of them hear, or understand?
They are no other than like the brute cattle; yea, they stray more widely from
the true path.
Dost thou not consider the works of thy LORD, how he stretcheth forth the
shadow before sunrise? If he had pleased, he would have made it immovable
forever. Then we cause the sun to rise, and to show the same;
and afterwards we contract it by an easy and gradual contraction.
It is he who hath ordained the night to cover you as a garment; and sleep
to give you rest; and hath ordained the day for waking.
It is he who sendeth the winds, driving abroad the pregnant clouds, as
the forerunners of his mercy: and we send down pure water from heaven,
that we may thereby revive a dead country, and give to drink thereof unto
what we have created, both of cattle and men, in great numbers;
50 and we distribute the same among them at various times, that they may
consider: but the greater part of men refuse to consider, only out of
ingratitude.
If we had pleased, we had sent a preacher unto every city:
wherefore, do not thou obey the unbelievers; but oppose them herewith,
with a strong opposition.
It is he who hath let loose the two seas; this fresh and sweet, and that
salt and bitter; and hath placed between them a bar, and a bound which cannot
be passed.
It is he who hath created man of water, and hath made him to bear the
double relation of consanguinity and affinity; for thy LORD is powerful.
They worship, besides GOD, that which can neither profit them nor hurt
them: and the unbeliever is an assistant of the devil against his LORD.
We have sent thee to be no other than a bearer of good tidings, and a
denouncer of threats.
Say, I ask not of you any reward for this my preaching; besides the
conversion of him who shall desire to take the way unto his LORD.
And do thou trust in him who liveth, and dieth not; and celebrate his
praise: (he is sufficiently acquainted with the faults of his servants):
who hath created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between
them, in six days; and then ascended his throne: the Merciful. Ask now the
knowing concerning him.
60 When it is said unto the unbelievers, Adore the Merciful; they reply, And
who is the Merciful? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us? And
this precept causeth them to fly the faster from the faith.
Blessed be he who hath placed the twelve signs in the heavens; and hath
placed therein a lamp by day, and the moon which shineth by night!
It is he who hath ordained the night and the day to succeed each other,
for the observation of him who will consider, or desireth to show his
gratitude.
The servants of the Merciful are those who walk meekly on the earth, and
when the ignorant speak unto them, answer, Peace:
and who pass the night adoring their LORD, and standing up to pray unto
him;
and who say, O LORD, avert from us the torment of hell, for the torment
thereof is perpetual;
verily the same is a miserable abode and a wretched station:
and who, when they bestow, are neither profuse nor niggardly; but observe
a just medium between these;
and who invoke not another god together with the true GOD; neither slay
the soul which GOD hath forbidden to be slain, unless for a just cause: and
who are not guilty of fornication. But he who shall do this shall meet the
reward of his wickedness:
his punishment shall be doubled unto him on the day of resurrection; and
he shall remain therein, covered with ignominy, forever:
70 except him who shall repent and believe, and shall work a righteous
work; unto them will GOD change their former evils into good; for GOD is
ready to forgive, and merciful.
And whoever repenteth, and doth that which is right; verily he turneth
unto GOD with an acceptable conversion.
And they who do not bear false witness; and when they pass by vain
discourse, pass by the same with decency;
and who, when they are admonished by the signs of their LORD, fall not
down as if they were deaf and blind, but stand up and are attentive thereto:
and who say, O LORD, grant us of our wives and our offspring such as may
be the satisfaction of our eyes; and make us patterns unto those who fear
thee.
These shall be rewarded with the highest apartments in paradise, because
they have persevered with constancy; and they shall meet therein with greeting
and salutation;
they shall remain in the same forever: it shall be an excellent abode,
and a delightful station.
Say, My LORD is not solicitous on your account, if ye do not invoke him:
ye have already charged his apostle with imposture; but hereafter shall there
be a lasting punishment inflicted on you.



________


CHAPTER XXVI.

ENTITLED, THE POETS; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

T.S.M.
THESE are the signs of the perspicuous book.
Peradventure thou afflictest thyself unto death, lest the Meccans become
not believers.
If we pleased, we could send down unto them a convincing sign from
heaven, unto which their necks would humbly submit.
But there cometh unto them no admonition from the Merciful, being newly
revealed as occasions require, but they turn aside from the same;
and they have charged it with falsehood: but a message shall come unto
them, which they shall not laugh to scorn.
Do they not behold the earth, how many vegetables we cause to spring up
therein, of every noble species?
Verily herein is a sign: but the greater part of them do not believe.
Verily thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful God.
10 Remember when thy LORD called Moses, saying, Go to the unjust people,
the people of Pharaoh; will they not dread me?
Moses answered, O LORD, verily I fear lest they accuse me of falsehood,
and lest my breast become straitened, and my tongue be not ready in
speaking: send therefore unto Aaron, to be my assistant.
Also they have a crime to object against me: and I fear they will put me
to death.
God said, They shall by no means put thee to death: wherefore go ye with
our signs; for we will be with you, and will hear what passes between you and
them.
Go ye therefore unto Pharaoh, and say, Verily we are the apostle of the
LORD of all creatures:
send away with us the children of Israel.
And when they had delivered their message, Pharaoh answered, Have we not
brought thee up, among us, when a child; and hast thou not dwelt among us for
several years of thy life?
Yet hast thou done thy deed which thou hast done, and thou art an
ungrateful person.
20 Moses replied, I did it indeed, and I was one of those who erred;
wherefore I fled from you, because I feared you: but my LORD hath
bestowed on me wisdom, and hath appointed me one of his apostles.
And this is the favor which thou hast bestowed on me, that thou hast
enslaved the children of Israel.
Pharaoh said, And who is the LORD of all creatures?
Moses answered, The LORD of heaven and earth, and whatever is between
them: if ye are men of sagacity.
Pharaoh said unto those who were about him, Do ye not hear?
Moses said, Your LORD, and the LORD of your forefathers.
Pharaoh said unto those who were present, Your apostle, who is sent unto
you, is certainly distracted.
Moses said, The LORD of the east, and of the west, and of whatever is
between them; if ye are men of understanding.
Pharaoh said unto him, Verily if thou take any god besides me, I will
make thee one of those who are imprisoned.
30 Moses answered, What, although I come unto you with a convincing miracle?
Pharaoh replied, Produce it therefore, if thou speakest truth.
And he cast down his rod, and behold, it became a visible serpent:
and he drew forth his hand out of his bosom; and behold, it appeared
white unto the spectators.
Pharaoh said unto the princes who were about him, Verily this man is a
skilful magician:
he seeketh to dispossess you of your land by his sorcery; what therefore
do ye direct?
They answered , Delay him and his brother by good words for a time; and
send through the cities men to assemble
and bring unto thee every skilful magician.
So the magicians were assembled at an appointed time, on a solemn day.
And it was said unto the people, Are ye assembled together?
40 Perhaps we may follow the magicians, if they do get the victory.
And when the magicians were come, they said unto Pharaoh, Shall we
certainly receive a reward, if we do get the victory?
He answered, Yea; and ye shall surely be of those who approach my person.
Moses said unto them, Cast down what ye are about to cast down.
Wherefore they cast down their ropes and their rods, and said, By the
might of Pharaoh, verily we shall be the conquerors.
And Moses cast down his rod, and behold, it swallowed up that which they
had caused falsely to appear changed into serpents.
Whereupon the magicians prostrated themselves, worshipping,
and said, We believe in the LORD of all creatures,
the LORD of Moses and of Aaron.
Pharaoh said unto them, Have ye believed on him, before I have given you
permission? Verily he is your chief who hath taught you magic: but hereafter
ye shall surely know my power. I will cut off your hands and your feet, on the
opposite sides, and I will crucify you all.
50 They answered, It will be no harm unto us; for we shall return unto our
LORD.
We hope that our LORD will forgive us our sins, since we are the first
who have believed.
And we spake by revelation unto Moses, saying, March forth with my
servants by night; for ye will be pursued.
And Pharaoh sent officers through the cities to assemble forces, saying,
Verily these are a small company;
and they are enraged against us:
but we are a multitude well provided.
So we caused them to quit their gardens, and fountains,
and treasures, and fair dwellings:
thus did we do; and we made the children of Israel to inherit the same.
60 And they pursued them at sunrise.
And when the two armies were come in sight of each other, the companions
of Moses said, We shall surely be overtaken.
Moses answered, By no means; for my LORD is with me, who will surely
direct me.
And we commanded Moses by revelation, saying, Smite the sea with thy rod.
And when he had smitten it, it became divided into twelve parts, between which
were as many paths, and every part was like a vast mountain.
And we drew thither the others;
and we delivered Moses and all those who were with him:
then we drowned the others.
Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe.
Verily thy LORD is the mighty and the merciful.
And rehearse unto them the story of Abraham:
70 when he said unto his father, and his people, What do ye worship?
They answered, We worship idols; and we constantly serve them all the day
long.
Abraham said, Do they hear you, when ye invoke them?
Or do they either profit you, or hurt you?
They answered, But we found our fathers do the same.
He said, What think ye? The gods which ye worship,
and your forefathers worshipped,
are my enemy: except only the LORD of all creatures,
who hath created me, and directeth me;
and who giveth me to eat, and to drink,
80 and when I am sick, healeth me;
and who will cause me to die, and will afterwards restore me to life;
and who, I hope, will forgive my sins on the day of judgment.
O LORD, grant me wisdom; and join me with the righteous:
and grant that I may be spoken of with honour among the latest
posterity;
and make me an heir of the garden of delight:
and forgive my father, for that he hath been one of those who go astray.
And cover me not with shame on the day of resurrection;
on the day in which neither riches nor children shall avail,
unless unto him who shall come unto GOD with a sincere heart:
90 when paradise shall be brought near to the view of the pious,
and hell shall appear plainly to those who shall have erred:
and it shall be said unto them, Where are your deities which ye served
besides GOD? will they deliver you from punishment, or will they deliver
themselves?
And they shall be cast into the same, both they, and those who have been
seduced to their worship;
and all the host of Eblis.
The seduced shall dispute therein with their false gods,
saying, By GOD, we were in a manifest error,
when we equalled you with the LORD of all creatures:
and none seduced us but the wicked.
100 We have now no intercessors,
nor any friend who careth for us.
If we were allowed to return once more into the world, we would certainly
become true believers.
Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them believed not.
The LORD is the mighty, the merciful.
The people of Noah accused GOD's messengers of imposture:
when their brother Noah said unto them, Will ye not fear God?
Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you;
wherefore fear GOD, and obey me.
I ask no reward of you for my preaching unto you; I expect my reward from
no other than the LORD of all creatures:
110 wherefore fear GOD, and obey me.
They answered, Shall we believe on thee, when only the most abject
persons have followed thee?
Noah said, I have no knowledge of that which they did;
it appertaineth unto my LORD alone to bring them to account, if ye
understand;
wherefore I will not drive away the believers:
I am no more than a public preacher.
They replied, Assuredly, unless thou desist, O Noah, thou shalt be
stoned.
He said, O LORD, verily my people take me for a liar;
wherefore judge publicly between me and them; and deliver me and the true
believers who are with me.
Wherefore we delivered him, and those who were with him, in the ark
filled with men and animals;
120 and afterwards we drowned the rest.
Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them believed not.
Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful.
The tribe of Ad charged GOD's messengers with falsehood:
when their brother Hud said unto them, Will ye not fear God?
Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you;
wherefore fear GOD, and obey me.
I demand not of you any reward for my preaching unto you: I expect my
reward from no other than the LORD of all creatures.
Do ye build a landmark on every high place, to divert yourselves?
And do ye erect magnificent works, hoping that ye may continue in their
possession forever?
130 And when ye exercise your power, do ye exercise it with cruelty and
rigour?
Fear GOD, by leaving these things; and obey me.
And fear him who hath bestowed on you that which ye know:
he hath bestowed on you cattle, and children,
and gardens, and springs of water.
Verily I fear for you the punishment of a grievous day.
They answered, It is equal unto us whether thou admonish us, or dost not
admonish us:
this which thou preachest is only a device of the ancients;
neither shall we be punished for what we have done.
And they accused him of imposture: wherefore we destroyed them. Verily
herein was a sign: but the greater part of them believed not.
140 Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful.
The tribe of Thamud also charged the messengers of God with falsehood.
When their brother Saleh said unto them, Will ye not fear God?
Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you:
wherefore fear GOD, and obey me.
I demand no reward of you for my preaching unto you: I expect my reward
from no other than the LORD of all creatures.
Shall ye be left forever secure in the possession of the things which are
here;
among gardens, and fountains,
and corn, and palm-trees, whose branches sheathe their flowers.
And will ye continue to cut habitations for yourselves out of the
mountains, behaving with insolence?
150 Fear GOD, and obey me;
and obey not the command of the transgressors,
who act corruptly in the earth, and reform not the same.
They answered, Verily thou art distracted:
thou art no other than a man like unto us: produce now some sign, if thou
speakest truth.
Saleh said, This she-camel shall be a sign unto you: she shall have her
portion of water, and ye shall have your portion of water alternately, on a
several day appointed for you;
and do her no hurt, lest the punishment of a terrible day be inflicted on
you.
But they slew her; and were made to repent of their impiety:
for the punishment which had been threatened overtook them. Verily
herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe.
Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful.
160 The people of Lot likewise accused GOD's messengers of imposture.
When their brother Lot said unto them, Will ye not fear God?
Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you:
wherefore fear GOD, and obey me.
I demand no reward of you for my preaching: I expect my reward from no
other than the LORD of all creatures.
Do ye approach unto the males among mankind,
and leave your wives which your LORD hath created for you. Surely ye are
people who transgress.
They answered, Unless thou desist, O Lot, thou shalt certainly be
expelled our city.
He said, Verily I am one of those who abhor your doings:
O LORD, deliver me, and my family, from that which they act.
170 Wherefore we delivered him, and all his family,
except an old woman, his wife, who perished among those who remained
behind;
then we destroyed the rest;
and we rained on them a shower of stones; and terrible was the shower
which fell on those who had been warned in vain.
Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe.
Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful.
The inhabitants of the wood also accused GOD'S messengers of imposture.
When Shoaib said unto him, Will ye not fear God?
Verily I am a faithful messenger unto you:
wherefore fear GOD, and obey me.
180 I ask no reward of you for my preaching: I expect my reward from no
other than the LORD of all creatures.
Give just measure, and be not defrauders;
and weigh with an equal balance;
and diminish not unto men aught of their matters; neither commit violence
in the earth, acting corruptly.
And fear him who hath created you, and also the former generations.
They answered, Certainly thou art distracted;
thou art no more than a man, like unto us; and we do surely esteem thee
to be a liar.
Cause now a part of the heaven to fall upon us, if thou speakest truth.
Shoaib said, My LORD best knoweth that which ye do.
And they charged him with falsehood: wherefore the punishment of the day
of the shadowing cloud overtook them; and this was the punishment of a
grievous day.
190 Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe.
Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful.
This book is certainly a revelation from the LORD of all creatures,
which the faithful spirit hath caused to descend
upon thy heart, that thou mightest be a preacher to thy people,
in the perspicuous Arabic tongue;
and it is borne witness to in the scriptures of former ages.
Was it not a sign unto them, that the wise men among the children of
Israel knew it?
Had we revealed it unto any of the foreigners,
and he had read the same unto them, yet they would not have believed
therein.
200 Thus have we caused obstinate infidelity to enter the hearts of the
wicked:
they shall not believe therein, until they see a painful punishment.
It shall come suddenly upon them, and they shall not foresee it:
and they shall say, Shall we be respited?
Do they therefore desire our punishment to be hastened?
What thinkest thou? If we suffer them to enjoy the advantage of this
life for several years,
and afterwards that with which they are threatened come upon them;
what will that which they have enjoyed profit them?
We have destroyed no city, but preachers were first sent unto it,
to admonish the inhabitants thereof; neither did we treat them unjustly.
210 The devils did not descend with the Koran, as the infidels give out:
it is not for their purpose, neither are they able to produce such a
book;
for they are far removed from hearing the discourse of the angels in
heaven.
Invoke no other god with the true GOD, lest thou become one of those who
are doomed to punishment.
And admonish thy more near relations.
And behave thyself with meekness towards the true believers who follow
thee:
and if they be disobedient unto thee, say, Verily, I am clear of that
which ye do.
And trust in the most mighty, the merciful God;
who seeth thee when thou risest up,
and thy behavior among those who worship;
220 for he both heareth and knoweth.
Shall I declare unto you upon whom the devils descend?
They descend upon every lying and wicked person:
they learn what is heard; but the greater part of them are liars.
And those who err follow the steps of the poets:
dost thou not see that they rove as bereft of their senses through every
valley;
and that they say that which they do not?
except those who believe, and do good works, and remember GOD frequently;
and who defend themselves, after they have been unjustly treated. And they
who act unjustly shall know hereafter with what treatment they shall be treated.