Karl May - "Mein Leben und Streben"

Upton Sinclair - "The Naturewoman"

Homer (Lang, Leaf, Myers trans.) - "The Iliad of Homer"

G. A. Henty - "On the Pampas"

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 XLV.

ENTITLED, THE KNEELING; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

H.M.
THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD.
Verily both in heaven and earth are signs of the divine power unto the
true believers:
and in the creation of yourselves, and of the beasts which are scattered
over the face of the earth, are signs unto people of sound judgment;
and also in the vicissitude of night and day, and the rain which GOD
sendeth down from heaven, whereby he quickeneth the earth after it hath been
dead: in the change of the winds also are signs unto people of understanding.
These are the signs of GOD; we rehearse them unto thee with truth. In
what revelation therefore will they believe, after they have rejected GOD and
his signs?
Woe unto every lying and impious person;
who heareth the signs of GOD, which are read unto him, and afterwards
proudly persisteth in infidelity, as though he heard them not: (denounce unto
him a painful punishment:)
and who, when he cometh to the knowledge of any of our signs, receiveth
the same with scorn. For these is prepared a shameful punishment:
10 before them lieth hell; and whatever they shall have gained shall not
avail them at all, neither shall the idols which they have taken for their
patrons, besides GOD; and they shall suffer a grievous punishment.
This is a true direction: and for those who disbelieve the signs of
their LORD, is prepared the punishment of a painful torment.
It is GOD who hath subjected the sea unto you, that the ships may sail
therein, at his command; and that ye may seek advantage unto yourselves by
commerce; of his bounty; and that ye may give thanks:
and he obligeth whatever is in heaven and on earth to serve you; the
whole being from him. Verily herein are signs unto people who consider.
Speak unto the true believers, that they forgive those who hope not for
the days of GOD, that he may reward people according to what they shall have
wrought.
Whoso doeth that which is right doth it to the advantage of his own soul;
and whoso doeth evil doth it against the same: hereafter shall ye return unto
your LORD.
We gave unto the children of Israel the book of the law, and wisdom, and
prophecy; and we fed them with good things, and preferred them above all
nations:
and we gave them plain ordinances concerning the business of religion;
neither do they fall to variance, except after that knowledge had come unto
them, through envy among themselves: but thy LORD will decide the controversy
between them, on the day of resurrection, concerning that wherein they
disagree.
Afterwards we appointed thee, O Mohammed, to promulgate a law concerning
the business of religion: wherefore follow the same, and follow not the
desires of those who are ignorant.
Verily they shall not avail thee against GOD at all; the unjust are the
patrons of one another; but GOD is the patron of the pious.
20 This Koran delivereth evident precepts unto mankind; and is a direction,
and a mercy, unto people who judge aright.
Do the workers of iniquity imagine that we will deal with them as with
those who believe and do good works; so that their life and their death shall
be equal? An ill judgment do they make.
GOD hath created the heavens and the earth in truth; that he may
recompense every soul according to that which it shall have wrought: and they
shall not be treated unjustly.
What thinkest thou? He who taketh his own lust for his GOD, and whom GOD
causeth knowingly to err, and whose ears and whose heart he hath sealed up,
and over whose eyes he hath cast a veil; who shall direct him, after GOD shall
have forsaken him? Will ye therefore not be admonished?
They say, There is no other life, except our present life: we die, and we
live; and nothing but time destroyeth us. But they have no knowledge in this
matter; they only follow a vain opinion.
And when our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, their argument which
they offer against the same is no other than that they say, Bring to life our
fathers who have been dead; if ye speak truth.
Say, GOD giveth you life; and afterwards causeth you to die: hereafter
will he assemble you together on the day of resurrection; there is no doubt
thereof; but the greater part of men do not understand.
Unto GOD appertaineth the kingdom of heaven and earth; and the day
whereon the hour shall be fixed, on that day shall those who charge the Koran
with vanity perish.
And thou shalt see every nation kneeling: every nation shall be called
unto its book of account; and it shall be said unto them, This day shall ye be
rewarded according to that which ye have wrought.
This our book will speak concerning you with truth; therein have we
written down whatever ye have done.
30 As to those who shall have believed and done good works, their LORD shall
lead them into his mercy: this shall be manifest felicity.
But as to the infidels, it shall be said unto them, Were not my signs
rehearsed unto you? but ye proudly rejected them, and became a wicked people!
And when it was said unto you, Verily the promise of GOD is true: and as
to the hour of judgment, there is no doubt thereof: ye answered, We know not
what the hour of judgment is: we hold an uncertain opinion only; and we are
not well assured of this matter.
But on that day the evils of that which they have wrought shall appear
unto them; and that which they mocked at shall encompass them:
and it shall be said unto them, This day will we forget you, as ye did
forget the meeting of this your day: and your abode shall be hell fire; and ye
shall have none to deliver you.
This shall ye suffer, because ye turned the signs of GOD to ridicule; and
the life of the world deceived you. On this day, therefore, they shall not be
taken forth from thence, neither shall they be asked any more to render
themselves well-pleasing unto God.
Wherefore praise be unto GOD, the LORD of the heavens, and the LORD of
the earth;
the LORD of all creatures: and unto him be glory in heaven and earth; for
he is the mighty, the wise God.



________


CHAPTER XLVI.

ENTITLED, AL AHKAF; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

H.M.
THE revelation of this book is from the mighty, the wise GOD.
We have not created the heavens, and the earth, and whatever is between
them, otherwise than in truth, and for a determined period: but the
unbelievers turn away from the warning which is given them.
Say, What think ye? Show me what part of the earth the idols which ye
invoke, besides GOD, have created? Or, had they any share in the creation of
the heavens? Bring me a book of scripture revealed before this, or some
footstep of ancient knowledge, to countenance your idolatrous practices; if ye
are men of veracity.
Who is in a wider error than he who invoketh, besides GOD, that which
cannot return him an answer, to the day of resurrection; and idols which
regard not their calling on them:
and which, when men shall be gathered together to judgment, will become
their enemies, and will ungratefully deny their worship?
When our evident signs are rehearsed unto them, the unbelievers say of
the truth, when it cometh unto them, This is a manifest piece of sorcery.
Will they say, Mohammed hath forged it? Answer, If I have forged it,
verily ye shall not obtain for me any favor from GOD: he well knoweth the
injurious language which ye utter concerning it: he is a sufficient witness
between me and you; and he is gracious and merciful.
Say, I am not singular among the apostles; neither do I know what will
be done with me or with you hereafter: I follow no other than what is revealed
unto me; neither am I any more than a public warner.
10 Say, What is your opinion? If this book be from GOD, and ye believe not
therein; and a witness of the children of Israel bear witness to its
consonancy with the law, and believeth therein; and ye proudly reject the
same: are ye not unjust doers? Verily GOD directeth not unjust people.
But those who believe not say of the true believers, If the doctrine of
the Koran had been good, they had not embraced the same before us. And when
they are not guided thereby, they say, This is an antiquated lie.
Whereas the book of Moses was revealed before the Koran, to be a guide
and a mercy: and this is a book confirming the same, delivered in the Arabic
tongue; to denounce threats unto those who act unjustly, and to bear good
tidings unto the righteous doers.
As to those who say, Our LORD is GOD; and who behave uprightly: on them
shall no fear come, neither shall they be grieved.
These shall be the inhabitants of paradise, they shall remain therein
forever: in recompense for that which they have wrought.
We have commanded man to show kindness to his parents: his mother beareth
him in her womb with pain, and bringeth him forth with pain: and the space of
his being carried in her womb, and of his weaning, is thirty months; until,
when he attaineth his age of strength, and attaineth the age of forty years,
he saith, O LORD, excite me, by the inspiration, that I may be grateful for
their favors, wherewith thou hast favored me and my parents; and that I may
work righteousness, which may please thee: and be gracious unto me in my
issue; for I am turned unto thee, and am a Moslem.
These are they from whom we accept the good work which they have wrought,
and whose evil works we pass by; and they shall be among the inhabitants of
paradise: this is a true promise, which they are promised in this world.
He who saith unto his parents, Fie on you! Do ye promise me that I shall
be taken forth from the grave, and restored to life; when many generations
have passed away before me, and none of them have returned back? And his
parents implore GOD'S assistance, and say to their son, Alas for thee!
Believe: for the promise of GOD is true. But he answereth, This is no other
than silly fables of the ancients.
These are they whom the sentence passed on the nations which have been
before them, of genii and of men, justly fitteth: they shall surely perish.
For every one is prepared a certain degree of happiness or misery,
according to that which they shall have wrought: that God may recompense them
for their works: and they shall not be treated unjustly.
20 On a certain day, the unbelievers shall be exposed before the fire of
hell; and it shall be said unto them, Ye received your good things in your
lifetime, while ye were in the world; and ye enjoyed yourselves therein:
wherefore this day ye shall be rewarded with the punishment of ignominy; for
that ye behaved insolently in the earth, without justice, and for that ye
transgressed.
Remember the brother of Ad, when he preached unto his people in Al
Ahkaf (and there were preachers before him, and after him), saying, Worship
none but GOD: verily I fear for you the punishment of a great day.
They answered, Art thou come unto us that thou mayest turn us aside from
the worship of our gods? Bring on us now the punishment with which thou
threatenest us, if thou art a man of veracity.
He said, Verily the knowledge of the time when your punishment will be
inflicted is with GOD; and I only declare unto you that which I am sent to
preach; but I see ye are an ignorant people.
And when they saw the preparation made for their punishment, namely, a
cloud traversing the sky, and tending towards their valleys, they said, This
is a traversing cloud, which bringeth us rain. Hud answered, Nay; it is what
ye demanded to be hastened: a wind, wherein is a severe vengeance:
it will destroy everything, at the command of its LORD. And in the
morning nothing was to be seen, besides their empty dwellings. Thus do we
reward wicked people.
We had established them in the like flourishing condition wherein we have
established you, O men of Mecca; and we had given them ears, and eyes, and
hearts: yet neither their ears, nor their eyes, nor their hearts profited them
at all, when they rejected the signs of GOD; but the vengeance which they
mocked at fell upon them.
We heretofore destroyed the cities which were round about you; and we
variously proposed our signs unto them, that they might repent.
Did those protect them, whom they took for gods, besides GOD, and
imagined to be honoured with his familiarity? Nay; they withdrew from them:
yet this was their false opinion which seduced them, and the blasphemy which
they had devised.
Remember when we caused certain of the genii to turn aside unto thee,
that they might hear the Koran: and when they were present at the reading of
the same, they said to one another, Give ear: and when it was ended, they
returned back unto their people, preaching what they had heard.
30 They said, Our people, verily we have heard a book read unto us, which
hath been revealed since Moses, confirming the scripture which was delivered
before it; and directing unto the truth, and the right way.
Our people, obey GOD'S preacher: and believe in him; that he may forgive
you your sins, and may deliver you from a painful punishment.
And whoever obeyeth not GOD'S preacher shall by no means frustrate GOD's
vengeance on earth: neither shall he have any protectors besides him. These
will be in a manifest error.
Do they not know that GOD, who hath created the heavens and the earth,
and was not fatigued with the creation thereof, is able to raise the dead to
life? Yea verily; for he is almighty.
On a certain day the unbelievers shall be exposed unto hell fire; and it
shall be said unto them, Is not this really come to pass? They shall answer,
Yea, by our LORD. God shall reply, Taste, therefore, the punishment of hell,
for that ye have been unbelievers.
Do thou, O prophet, bear the insults of thy people with patience, as our
apostles, who were endued with constancy, bear the injuries of their people:
and require not their punishment to be hastened unto them. On the day
whereon they shall see the punishment wherewith they have been threatened,
it shall seem as though they had tarried in the world but an hour of a day.
This is a fair warning. Shall they perish except the people who transgress?



________


CHAPTER XLVII.

ENTITLED, MOHAMMED; REVEALED AT MEDINA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

GOD will render of none effect the works of those who believe not, and
who turn away men from the way of GOD:
but as to those who believe, and work righteousness, and believe the
revelation which hath been sent down unto Mohammed (for it is the truth
from their LORD), he will expiate their evil deeds from them, and will dispose
their heart aright.
This will he do, because those who believe not follow vanity, and because
those who believe follow the truth from their LORD. Thus GOD propoundeth
unto men their examples.
When ye encounter the unbelievers, strike off their heads, until ye have
made a great slaughter among them; and bind them in bonds; and either give
them a free dismission afterwards, or exact a ransom; until the war shall
have laid down its arms. This shall ye do. Verily if GOD pleased he could
take vengeance on them, without your assistance; but he commandeth you
to fight his battles, that he may prove the one of you by the other. And as
to those who fight in defence of GOD'S true religion, God will not suffer their
works to perish:
he will guide them, and will dispose their heart aright;
and he will lead them into paradise, of which he hath told them.
O true believers, if ye assist GOD, by fighting for his religion, he will
assist you against your enemies; and will set your feet fast:
but as for the infidels, let them perish; and their works shall God
render vain.
This shall befall them, because they have rejected with abhorrence that
which GOD hath revealed: wherefore their works shall become of no avail.
10 Do they not travel through the earth, and see what hath been the end
of those who were before them? GOD utterly destroyed them: and the like
catastrophe awaiteth the unbelievers.
This shall come to pass, for that GOD is the patron of the true
believers, and for that the infidels have no protector.
Verily GOD will introduce those who believe, and do good works, into
gardens beneath which rivers flow: but the unbelievers indulge themselves in
pleasures, and eat as beasts eat; and their abode shall be hell fire.
How many cities were more mighty in strength than thy city which hath
expelled thee; yet have we destroyed them, and there was none to help them?
Shall he therefore, who followeth the plain declaration of his LORD, be
as he whose evil works have been dressed up for him by the devil; and who
follow their own lusts?
The description of paradise, which is promised unto the pious: therein
are rivers of incorruptible water; and rivers of milk, the taste whereof
changeth not; and rivers of wine, pleasant unto those who drink; and rivers
of clarified honey: and therein shall they have plenty of all kinds of fruits;
and pardon from their LORD. Shall the man for whom these things are
prepared be as he who must dwell forever in hell fire; and will have the
boiling water given him to drink, which shall burst their bowels?
Of the unbelievers there are some who give ear unto thee, until, when
they go out from thee, they say, by way of derision, unto those to whom
knowledge hath been given, What hath he said now? These are they whose
hearts GOD hath sealed up, and who follow their own lusts:
but as to those who are directed, God will grant them a more ample
direction, and he will instruct them what to avoid.
Do the infidels wait for any other than the last hour, that it may come
upon them suddenly? Some signs thereof are already come: and when it shall
actually overtake them, how can they then receive admonition?
Know therefore, that there is no god but GOD: and ask pardon for thy
sin, and for the true believers, both men and women. GOD knoweth your busy
employment in the world, and the place of your abode hereafter.
20 The true believers say, Hath not a Sura been revealed commanding war
against the infidels? But when a Sura without any ambiguity is revealed, and
war is mentioned therein, thou mayest see those in whose hearts is an
infirmity, look towards thee with the look of one whom death overshadoweth.
But obedience would be more eligible for them, and to speak that which is
convenient.
And when the command is firmly established, if they give credit unto GOD,
it will be better for them.
Were ye ready, therefore, if ye had been put in authority, to commit
outrages in the earth, and to violate the ties of blood?
These are they whom GOD hath cursed, and hath rendered deaf, and whose
eyes he hath blinded.
Do they not therefore attentively meditate on the Koran? Are there locks
upon their hearts?
Verily they who turn their backs, after the true direction is made
manifest unto them, Satan shall prepare their wickedness for them, and God
shall bear with them for a time.
This shall befall them, because they say privately unto those who detest
what GOD hath revealed, We will obey you in part of the matter. But GOD
knoweth their secrets.
How therefore will it be with them, when the angels shall cause them to
die, and shall strike their faces, and their backs?
This shall they suffer, because they follow that which provoketh GOD to
wrath, and are averse to what is well pleasing unto him: and he will render
their works vain.
Do they in whose hearts is an infirmity imagine that GOD will not bring
their malice to light?
30 If we pleased, we could surely show them unto thee, and thou shouldest
know them by their marks; but thou shalt certainly know them by their perverse
pronunciation of their words. GOD knoweth your actions:
and we will try you, until we know those among you who fight valiantly,
and who persevere with constancy: and we will try the reports of your
behavior.
Verily those who believe not, and turn away men from the way of GOD, and
make opposition against the apostle, after the divine direction hath been
manifested unto them, shall not hurt GOD at all; but he shall make their works
to perish.
O true believers, obey GOD; and obey the apostle: and render not your
works of no effect.
Verily those who believe not, and who turn away men from the way of GOD,
and then die, being unbelievers, GOD will by no means forgive.
Faint not therefore, neither invite your enemies to peace, while ye are
the superior: for GOD is with you, and will not defraud you of the merit of
your works.
Verily this present life is only a play and a vain amusement; but if ye
believe, and fear God, he will give you your rewards. He doth not require of
you your whole substance:
if he should require the whole of you, and earnestly press you, ye would
become niggardly, and it would raise your hatred against his apostle.
Behold, ye are those who are invited to expend part of your substance
for the support of GOD'S true religion; and there are some of you who are
niggardly. But whoever shall be niggardly shall be niggardly towards his own
soul: for GOD wanteth nothing, but ye are needy: and if ye turn back, he will
substitute another people in your stead, who shall not be like unto you.



________


CHAPTER XLVIII.

ENTITLED, THE VICTORY; REVEALED AT MEDINA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

VERILY we have granted thee a manifest victory:
that GOD may forgive thee thy preceding and thy subsequent sin, and may
complete his favour on thee, and direct thee in the right way;
and that GOD may assist thee with a glorious assistance.
It is he who sendeth down secure tranquility into the hearts of the true
believers, that they may increase in faith, beyond their former faith; (the
hosts of heaven and earth are GOD'S; and GOD is knowing and wise)
that he may lead the true believers of both sexes into gardens beneath
which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever; and may expiate their evil deeds
from them: (this will be great felicity with GOD):
and that he may punish the hypocritical men, and the hypocritical women,
and the idolaters, and the idolatresses, who conceive an ill opinion of GOD.
They shall experience a turn of evil fortune: and GOD shall be angry with
them, and shall curse them, and hath prepared hell for them; and ill journey
shall it be thither!
Unto GOD belong the hosts of heaven and earth; and GOD is mighty and
wise.
Verily we have sent thee to be a witness, and a bearer of good tidings,
and a denouncer of threats;
that ye may believe in GOD, and his apostle; and may assist him, and
revere him, and praise him morning and evening.
10 Verily they who swear fealty unto thee, swear fealty unto GOD: the hand
of GOD is over their hands. Whoever shall violate his oath, will violate the
same to the hurt only of his own soul: but whoever shall perform that which he
hath covenanted with GOD, he will surely give him a great reward.
The Arabs of the desert who were left behind will say unto thee, Our
substance and our families employed us, so that we went not forth with thee to
war; wherefore, ask pardon for us. They speak that with their tongues, which
is not in their hearts. Answer, Who shall be able to obtain for you anything
from GOD to the contrary, if he is pleased to afflict you, or is pleased to be
gracious unto you? Yea, verily, GOD is well acquainted with that which ye do.
Truly ye imagined that the apostle and the true believers would never
return to their families: and this was prepared in your hearts: but ye
imagined an evil imagination; and ye are a corrupt people.
Whoso believeth not in GOD and his apostle, verily we have prepared
burning fire for the unbelievers.
Unto GOD belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth: he forgiveth whom he
pleaseth: and he punisheth whom he pleaseth: and GOD is inclined to forgive,
and merciful.
Those who were left behind will say, when ye go forth to take the spoil,
Suffer us to follow you. They seek to change the word of GOD. Say, Ye shall
by no means follow us: thus hath GOD said heretofore. They will reply, Nay:
ye envy us a share of the booty. But they are men of small understanding.
Say unto the Arabs of the desert who were left behind, Ye shall be called
forth against a mighty and a warlike nation; ye shall fight against them, or
they shall profess Islâm. If ye obey, GOD will give you a glorious reward:
but if ye turn back, as ye turned back heretofore, he will chastise you with a
grievous chastisement.
It shall be no crime in the blind, neither shall it be a crime in the
lame, neither shall it be a crime in the sick, if they go not forth to war:
and whoso shall obey GOD and his apostle, he shall lead them into gardens
beneath which rivers flow; but whoso shall turn back, he will chastise him
with a grievous chastisement.
Now GOD was well pleased with the true believers, when they sware
fidelity to thee under the tree; and he knew that which was in their hearts;
wherefore he sent down on them tranquility of mind, and rewarded them with a
speedy victory,
and many spoils which they took: for GOD is mighty and wise.
20 GOD promised you many spoils which ye should take; but he have you these
by way of earnest; and he restrained the hands of men from you: that the same
may be a sign unto the true believers; and that he may guide you into the
right way.
And he also promiseth you other spoils, which ye have not yet been able
to take: but now hath GOD encompassed them for you; and GOD is almighty.
If the unbelieving Meccans had fought against you, verily they had turned
their backs; and they would not have found a patron or protector:
according to the ordinance of GOD, which hath been put in execution
heretofore against opposers of the prophets; for thou shalt not find any
change in the ordinance of GOD.
It was he who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from them,
in the valley of Mecca; after that he had given you the victory over them:
and GOD saw that which ye did.
These are they who believed not, and hindered you from visiting the holy
temple, and also hindered the offering being detained, that it should not
arrive at the place where it ought to be sacrificed. Had it not been that ye
might have trampled on divers true believers, both men and women, whom ye know
not, being promiscuously assembled with the infidels, and that a crime might
therefore have lighted on you on their account, without your knowledge, he had
not restrained your hands from them: but this was done, that GOD might lead
whom he pleased into his mercy. If they had been distinguished from one
another, we had surely chastised such of them as believed not, with a severe
chastisement.
When the unbelievers had put in their hearts an affected preciseness, the
preciseness of ignorance, and GOD sent down his tranquility on his apostle and
on the true believers; and firmly fixed in them the word of piety, and they
were the most worthy of the same, and the most deserving thereof: for GOD
knoweth all things.
Now hath GOD in truth verified unto his apostle the vision, wherein he
said, Ye shall surely enter the holy temple of Mecca, if GOD please, in full
security; having your heads shaved, and your hair cut: ye shall not fear: for
God knoweth that which ye know not; and he hath appointed you, besides this, a
speedy victory.
It is he who hath sent his apostle with the direction, and the religion
of truth; that he may exalt the same above every religion: and GOD is a
sufficient witness hereof.
Mohammed is the apostle of GOD: and those who are with him are fierce
against the unbelievers, but compassionate towards one another. Thou mayest
see them bowing down, prostrate, seeking a recompense from GOD, and his good-
will. Their signs are in their faces, being marks of frequent prostration.
This is their description in the pentateuch, and their description in the
gospel: they are as seed which putteth forth its stalk and strengtheneth it,
and swelleth in the ear, and riseth upon its stem; giving delight unto the
sower. Such are the Moslems described to be: that the infidels may swell with
indignation at them. GOD hath promised unto such of them as believe, and do
good works, pardon and a great reward.