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g Al Hejr is a territory in the province of Hejaz, between Medina and
Syria, where the tribe of Thamûd dwelt;1 and is mentioned towards the end of
the chapter.
h See the Prelim. Disc. Sect. III. p. 46, &c.
i viz., When they shall see the success and prosperity of the true
believers; or when they shall come to die; or at the resurrection.
j i.e., The revelations which compose the Korân.
k When the divine wisdom shall judge it proper to use their ministry,
as in bearing his revelations to the prophets, and the executing his sentence
on wicked people; but not to humour you with their appearance in visible
shapes, which, should your demand be complied with, would only increase your
confusion, and bring GOD'S vengeance on you the sooner.
l See the Prelim. Disc. IV. p. 57.
m i.e., The incredulous Meccans themselves; or, as others rather think,
the angels in visible forms.
n For the Mohammedans imagine that the devils endeavour to ascend to
the constellations, to pry into the actions and overhear the discourse of the
inhabitants of heaven, and to tempt them. They also pretend that these evil
spirits had the liberty of entering any of the heavens till the birth of
JESUS, when they were excluded three of them; but that on the birth of
Mohammed they were forbidden the other four.2
o See chapter 3, p. 35, note b.

1 See the Prelim. Disc. p. 4. 2 Al Beidâwi.

except him who listeneth by stealth, at whom a visible flame is darted.p
We have also spread forth the earth, and thrown thereon stable mountains,
and we have caused every kind of vegetable to spring forth in the same,
according to a determinate weight:
20 and we have provided therein necessaries of life for you, and for him
whom ye do not sustain.q
There is no one thing but the storehouses thereof are in our hands; and
we distribute not the same otherwise than in a determinate measure.
We also send the winds driving the pregnant clouds, and we send down from
heaven water, whereof we give you to drink, and which ye keep not in store.
Verily we give life, and we put to death: and we are the heirs of all
things.r
We know those among you who go before; and we know those who stay
behind.s
And thy LORD shall gather them together at the last day: for he is
knowing and wise.
We created man of dried clay, of black mud, formed into shape:t
and we had before created the devil of subtle fire.
And remember when thy LORD said unto the angels, Verily I am about to
create man of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape;
when, therefore, I shall have completely formed him, and shall have
breathed of my spirit into him; do ye fall down and worship him.
30 And all the angels worshipped Adam together,
except Eblis, who refused to be with those who worshipped him.
And God said unto him, O Eblis, what hindered thee from being with those
who worshipped Adam?
He answered, It is not fit that I should worship man, whom thou hast
created of dried clay, of black mud, wrought into shape.
God said, Get thee therefore hence: for thou shalt be driven away with
stones:
and a curse shall be on thee, until the day of judgment.
The devil said, O LORD, Give me respite until the day of resurrection.
God answered, Verily thou shalt be one of those who are respited
until the day of the appointed time.u
The devil replied, O LORD, because thou hast seduced me, I will surely
tempt them to disobedience in the earth;
40 and I will seduce such of them as shall be thy chosen servants.
God said, This is the right way with me.x
Verily as to my servants, thou shalt have no power over them; but over
those only who shall be seduced, and who shall follow thee.
And hell is surely denounced unto them all:

p For when a star seems to fall or shoot, the Mohammedans suppose the
angels, who keep guard in the constellations, dart them at the devils who
approach too near.
q viz., Your family, servants, and slaves, whom ye wrongly imagine that
ye feed yourselves; though it is GOD who provides for them as well as you:1
or, as some rather think, the animals, of whom men take no care.2
r i.e., Alone surviving, when all creatures shall be dead and
annihilated.
s What these words particularly drive at is uncertain. Some think them
spoken of the different times of men's several entrance into this world, and
their departure out of it; others of the respective forwardness and
backwardness of Mohammed's men in battle; and a third says, the passage was
occasioned by the different behaviour of Mohammed's followers, on seeing a
very beautiful woman at prayers behind the prophet; some of them going out of
the Mosque before her, to avoid looking on her more nearly, and others staying
behind, on purpose to view her.3
t See chapter 2, p. 4, &c.
u See ibid. and chapter 7, p. 106.
x viz., The saving of the elect, and the utter reprobation of the
wicked, according to my eternal decree.

1 Idem. 2 Jallalo'ddin. 3 Al Beidâwi.

it hath seven gates; unto every gate a distinct company of them shall be
assigned.y
But those who fear God shall dwell in gardens, amidst fountains.
The angels shall say unto them, Enter ye therein in peace and security,
and we will remove all grudges from their breasts;z they shall be as
brethren, sitting over against one anothera on couches;
weariness shall not affect them therein, neither shall they be cast out
thence forever.
Declare unto my servants that I am the gracious, the merciful God;
50 and that my punishment is a grievous punishment.
And relate unto them the history of Abraham's guests.b
When they went in unto him, and said, Peace be unto thee,
he answered, Verily we are afraid of you:c
and they replied, Fear not; we bring thee the promise of a wise son.
He said, Do ye bring me the promise of a son now old age hath overtaken
me? what is it therefore that ye tell me?
They said, We have told thee the truth; be not therefore one of those who
despair.
He answered, And who despaireth of the mercy of GOD, except those who
err?
And he said, What is your errand, therefore, O messengers of God?
They answered, Verily we are sent to destroy a wicked people;
60 but as for the family of Lot, we will save them all,
except his wife; we have decreed that she shall be one of those who
remain behind to be destroyed with the infidels.
And when the messengers came to the family of Lot,
he said unto them, Verily ye are a people who are unknown to me.
They answered, But we are come unto thee to execute that sentence,
concerning which your fellow-citizens doubted:
we tell thee a certain truth; and we are messengers of veracity.
Therefore lead forth thy family, in some time of the night; and do thou
follow behind them, and let none of you turn back; but go whither ye are
commanded.d
And we gave him this command; because the utmost remnant of those people
was to be cut off in the morning.
And the inhabitants of the city came unto Lot, rejoicing at the news of
the arrival of some strangers.
And he said unto them, Verily these are my guests: wherefore do not
disgrace me by abusing them;
70 but fear GOD, and put me not to shame.
They answered, Have we not forbidden thee from entertaining or protecting
any man?
Lot replied, These are my daughters: therefore rather make use of them,
if ye be resolved to do what ye purpose.
As thou livest they wander in their folly.e
Wherefore a terrible storm from heaven assailed them at sunrise,
and we turned the city upside down: and we rained on them stones of baked
clay.
Verily herein are signs unto men of sagacity:
and those cities were punished, to point out a right way for men to walk
in.
Verily herein is a sign unto the true believers.

y See the Prelim. Disc. Sect. IV. p. 71
z That is, all hatred and ill-will which they bore each other in their
lifetime; or, as some choose to expound it, all envy or heart-burning on
account of the different degrees of honour and happiness to which the blessed
will be promoted according to their respective merits.
a Never turning their backs to one another;2 which might be construed a
sign of contempt.
b See chapter 11, p. 165, &c.
c What occasioned Abraham's apprehension was, either their sudden
entering without leave or their coming at an unseasonable time; or else their
not eating with him.
d Which was into Syria; or into Egypt.
e Some will have these words spoken by the angels to Lot; others, by
GOD to Mohammed.

1 See chapter 7, p. 108, note, 7. 2 Jallalo'ddin. 3 Al
Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin.

The inhabitants of the wood near Midianf were also ungodly.
80 Wherefore we took vengeance on them.g And both of them were destroyed,
to serve as a manifest rule for men to direct their actions by.
And the inhabitants of Al Hejrh likewise heretofore accused the
messengers of God of imposture:
and we produced our signs unto them, but they retired afar off from the
same.
And they hewed houses out of the mountains, to secure themselves.
But a terrible noise from heaven assailed them in the morning;
neither was what they had wrought of any advantage unto them.
We have not created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is contained
between them, otherwise than in justice: and the hour of judgment shall surely
come. Wherefore O Mohammed, forgive thy people with a gracious forgiveness.i
Verily thy LORD is the creator of thee and of them, and knoweth what is
most expedient.
We have already brought unto thee seven verses which are frequently to be
repeated,j and the glorious Koran.
Cast not thine eyes on the good things which we have bestowed on several
of the unbelievers, so as to covet the same:k neither be thou grieved on their
account. Behave thyself with meekness towards the true believers;
90 and say, I am a public preacher.
If they believe not, we will inflict a like punishment on them, as we
have inflicted on the dividers,l
who distinguished the Koran into different parts,
for by thy LORD, we will demand an account from them all of that which
they have wrought.
Wherefore publish that which thou hast been commanded, and withdraw from
the idolaters.

f To whom Shoaib was also sent, as well as to the inhabitants of
Midian. Abulfeda says these people dwelt near Tabûc, and that they were not
of the same tribe with Shoaib. See also Geog. Nub. 110.
g Destroying them, for their incredulity and disobedience, by a hot
suffocating wind.1
h Who were the tribe of Thamûd.2
i This verse, it is said, was abrogated by that of the sword.
j That is, the first chapter of the Korân, which consists of so many
verses: though some suppose the seven long chapters3 are here intended.
k That is, Do not envy or covet their worldly prosperity, since thou
hast received, in the Korân, a blessing, in comparison whereof all that we
have bestowed on them ought to be contemned as of no value. Al Beidâwi
mentions a tradition, that Mohammed meeting at Adhriât (a town of Syria) seven
caravans, very richly laden, belonging to some Jews of the tribes of Koreidha
and al Nadîr, his men had a great mind to plunder them, saying, That those
riches would be of great service for the propagation of GOD'S true religion.
But the prophet represented to them, by this passage, that they had no reason
to repine, GOD having given them the seven verses, which were infinitely more
valuable than those seven caravans.4
l Some interpret the original word, the obstructers, who hindered men
from entering Mecca, to visit the temple, lest they should be persuaded to
embrace Islâm: and this, it is said, was done by ten men, who were all slain
at Bedr. Others translate the word, who bound themselves by oath; and suppose
certain Thamûdites, who swore to kill Saleh by night, are here meant. But the
sentence more probably relates to the Jews and Christians, who (say the
Mohammedans) receive some part of the scriptures, and reject others; and also
approved of some passages of the Korân, and disapproved of others, according
to their prejudices; or else to the unbelieving Meccans, some of whom called
the Korân a piece of witchcraft; others, flights of divination; others, old
stories; and others, a poetical composition.5

1 Iidem. 2 See chapter 7, p. 113, &c., and Prel. Disc. p. 5.
3 See chapter 9, p. 134, note e.
4 Al Beidâwi. 5 Idem, Jallalo'ddin.

We will surely take thy part against the scoffers,m
who associate with GOD another god; they shall surely know their folly.
And now we well know that thou art deeply concerned on account of that
which they say;
but do thou celebrate the praise of thy LORD; and be one of those who
worship;
and serve thy LORD until deathn shall overtake thee.

_______

CHAPTER XVI.

ENTITLED, THE BEE;o REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE sentence of GOD will surely come to be executed; wherefore do not
hasten it. Praise be unto him! and far be that from him which they associate
with him!
He shall cause the angels to descend with a revelation by his command,
unto such of his servants as he pleaseth, saying, Preach that there is no GOD,
except myself; therefore fear me.
He hath created the heavens and the earth, to manifest his justice; far
be that from him which they associate with him!
He hath created man of seed; and yet behold he is a professed disputer
against the resurrection.q
He hath likewise created the cattle for you; from them ye have wherewith
to keep yourselves warm,r and other advantages; and of them do ye also eat.
And they are likewise a credit unto you,s when ye drive them home in the
evening, and when ye lead them forth to feed in the morning:
and they carry your burdens to a distant country, at which ye could not
otherwise arrive, unless with great difficulty to yourselves; for your LORD is
compassionate and merciful.
and he hath also created horses, and mules, and asses, that ye may ride
thereon, and for an ornament unto you; and he likewise created other things
which ye know not.
It appertaineth unto GOD to instruct men in the right way; and there is
who turneth aside from the same: but if he had pleased, he would certainly
have directed you all.
10 It is he who sendeth down from heaven rain water, whereof ye have to
drink, and from which plants, whereon ye feed your cattle, receive their
nourishment.

m This passage, it is said, was revealed on account of five noble
Koreish, whose names were al Walîd Ebn al Mogheira, al As Ebn Wayel, Oda Ebn
Kais, al Aswad Ebn Abd Yaghûth, and al Aswad Ebn al Motalleb. These were
inveterate enemies of Mohammed, continually persecuting him, and turning him
into ridicule; wherefore at length Gabriel came and told him that he was
commanded to take his part against them; and on the angel's making a sign
towards them one after another, al Walîd passing by some arrows, one of them
hitched in his garment, and he, out of pride, not stooping to take it off, but
walking forward, the head of it cut a vein in his heel, and he bled to death;
al As was killed with a thorn, which stuck into the sole of his foot, and
caused his leg to swell to a monstrous size; Oda died with violent and
perpetual sneezing; al Aswad Ebn Abd Yaghûth ran his head against a thorny
tree and killed himself; and al Aswad Ebn al Motalleb was struck blind.1
n Literally, That which is certain.
o This insect is mentioned about the middle of the chapter.
p Except the three last verses.
q The person particularly intended in this place was Obba Ebn Khalf,
who came to Mohammed with a rotten bone, and asked him whether it was possible
for GOD to restore it to life.2
r viz., Their skins, wool, and hair, which serve you for clothing.
s Being a grace to your court-yards, and a credit to you in the eyes of
your neighbours.3

1 Al Beidâwi. 2 Idem. 3 Idem.

And by means thereof he causeth corn, and olives, and palm-trees, and
grapes, and all kinds of fruits, to spring forth for you. Surely herein is a
sign of the divine power and wisdom unto people who consider.
And he hath subjected the night and the day to your service; and the sun,
and the moon, and the stars, which are compelled to serve by his command.
Verily herein are signs unto people of understanding.
And he hath also given you dominion over whatever he hath created for you
in the earth, distinguished by its different colour.t Surely herein is a sign
unto people who reflect.
It is he who hath subjected the sea unto you, that ye might eat fishu
thereout, and take from thence ornamentsx for you to wear; and thou seest the
ships ploughing the waves thereof, that ye may seek to enrich yourselves of
his abundance, by commerce; and that ye might give thanks.
And he hath thrown upon the earth mountains firmly rooted, lest it should
move with you,y and also rivers, and paths, that ye might be directed:
and he hath likewise ordained marks whereby men may know their way; and
they are directed by the stars.z
Shall God therefore, who createth, be as he who createth not? Do ye not
therefore consider?
If ye attempt to reckon up the favors of GOD, ye shall not be able to
compute their number; GOD is surely gracious and merciful;
and GOD knoweth that which ye conceal, and that which ye publish.
20 But the idols which ye invoke, besides GOD, create nothing, but are
themselves created.
They are dead, and not living; neither do they understand
when they shall be raised.a
Your GOD is one GOD. As to those who believe not in the life to come,
their hearts deny the plainest evidence, and they proudly reject the truth.
There is no doubt but GOD knoweth that which they conceal and that which
they discover.
Verily he loveth not the proud.
And when it is said unto them, What hath your LORD sent down unto
Mohammed? they answer, Fables of ancient times.
Thus are they given up to error, that they may bear their own burdens
without diminution on the day of resurrection, and also a part of the burdens
of those whom they caused to err, without knowledge. Will it not be an evil
burden which they shall bear?
Their predecessors devised plots heretofore: but GOD came into their
building, to overthrow it from the foundations; and the roof fell on them from
above, and a punishment came upon them, from whence they did not expect.b

t That is, of every kind; the various colour of things being one of
their chief distinctions.1
u Literally, fresh flesh; by which fish is meant, as being naturally
more fresh, and sooner liable to corruption, than the flesh of birds and
beasts. The expression is thought to have been made use of here the rather,
because the production of such fresh food from salt water is an instance of
GOD'S power.2
x As pearls and coral.
y The Mohammedans suppose that the earth, when first created, was
smooth and equal, and thereby liable to a circular motion as well as the
celestial orbs; and that the angels asking, who could be able to stand on so
tottering a frame, God fixed it the next morning by throwing the mountains on
it.
z Which are their guides, not only at sea, but also on land, when they
travel by night through the deserts. The stars which they observe for this
purpose, are either the Pleiades, or some of those near the Pole.
a i.e., At what time they or their worshippers shall be raised to
receive judgment.
b Some understand this passage figuratively, of God's disappointing
their wicked designs; but others suppose the words literally relate to the
tower which Nimrod (whom the Mohammedans will have to be the son of Caanan,
the son of Ham, and so the nephew of Cush, and not his son) built in Babel,
and carried to an immense height (five thousand cubits, say some), foolishly
purposing thereby to ascend to heaven and wage war with the inhabitants of
that place; but God frustrated his attempt, utterly overthrowing the tower by
a violent wind and earthquake.1

1 Idem. 2 Idem.

Also on the day of resurrection he will cover them with shame; and will
say, Where are my companions, concerning whom ye disputed? Those unto whom
knowledge shall have been given,c shall answer, This day shall shame and
misery fall upon the unbelievers.
30 They whom the angels shall cause to die, having dealt unjustly with
their own souls, shall offer to make their peaced in the article of death,
saying, We have done no evil. But the angels shall reply. Yea; verily GOD
well knoweth that which ye have wrought:
wherefore enter the gates of hell, therein to remain forever; and
miserable shall be the abode of the proud.
And it shall be said unto those who shall fear God, What hath your LORD
sent down? They shall answer, Good; unto those who do right shall be given an
excellent reward in this world; but the dwelling of the next life shall be
better; and happy shall be the dwelling of the pious!
namely gardens of eternal abode,e into which they shall enter; rivers
shall flow beneath the same; therein shall they enjoy whatever they wish.
Thus will GOD recompense the pious.
Unto the righteous, whom the angels shall cause to die, they shall say,
Peace be upon you; enter ye into paradise, as a reward for that which ye have
wrought.
Do the unbelievers expect any other than that the angels come unto them,
to part their souls from their bodies; or that the sentence of thy LORD come
to be executed on them? So did they act who were before them; and GOD was not
unjust towards them in that he destroyed them; but they dealt unjustly with
their own souls:
the evils of that which they committed reached them; and the divine
judgment which they scoffed at fell upon them.
The idolaters say, If GOD had pleased, we had not worshipped anything
besides him, neither had our fathers: neither had we forbidden anything,
without him.f So did they who were before them. But is the duty of the
apostles any other than public preaching?
We have heretofore raised up in every nation an apostle to admonish them,
saying, Worship GOD, and avoid TAGHUT.g And of them there were some whom GOD
directed, and there were others of them who were decreed to go astray.
Wherefore go through the earth, O tribe of Koreish, and see what hath been the
end of those who accused their apostles of imposture.
If thou, O prophet, dost earnestly wish for their direction; verily GOD
will not direct him whom he hath resolved to lead into error; neither shall
they have any helpers.
40 And they swear most solemnly by GOD, saying, GOD will not raise the
dead. Yea; the promise thereof is true: but the greater part of men know it
not.

c viz., The prophets, and the teachers and professors of GOD'S unity;
or, the angels.
d Making their submission, and humbly excusing their evil actions, as
proceeding from ignorance, and not from obstinacy or malice.2
e Literally, gardens of Eden. See chapter 9, p. 142.
f This they spoke of in a scoffing manner, justifying their idolatry
and superstitious abstaining from certain cattle,3 by pretending, that had
these things been disagreeable to GOD, he would not have suffered them to be
practised.
g See chapter 2, p. 28.

1 Idem, Jallalo'ddin. Vide D'Herbel. Bibl. Orient. Art. Nimrod
2 Iidem Interp 3 See chapter 6, p. 102, &c.

He will raise them that he may clearly show them the truth concerning
which they now disagree, and that the unbelievers may know that they are
liars.
Verily our speech unto anything, when we will the same, is, that we only
say unto it, Be; and it is.
As for those who have fled their country for the sake of GOD, after they
had been unjustly persecuted;h we will surely provide them an excellent
habitation in this world, but the reward of the next life shall be greater; if
they knew it.i
They who persevere patiently, and put their trust in their LORD, shall
not fail of happiness in this life and in that which is to come.
We have not sent any before thee, as our apostles, other than men,j unto
whom we spake by revelation. Inquire therefore of those who have the custody
of the scriptures, if ye know not this to be truth.
We sent them with evident miracles, and written revelations; and we have
sent down unto thee this Korân,k that thou mayest declare unto mankind that
which hath been sent down unto them, and that they may consider.
Are they who have plotted evil against their prophet secure that GOD will
not cause the earth to cleave under them, or that a punishment will not come
upon them, from whence they do not expect;
or that he will not chastise them while they are busied in travelling
from one place to another, and in traffic? (for they shall not be able to
elude the power of God,)
or that he will not chastise them by a gradual destruction? But your
LORD is truly gracious and merciful in granting you respite.
50 Do they not consider the things which GOD hath created; whose shadows
are cast on the right hand and on the left, worshipping God,l and become
contracted?
Whatever moveth both in heaven and on earth worshippeth GOD, and the
angels also; and they are not elated with pride, so as to disdain his service:
they fear their LORD, who is exalted above them, and perform that which
they are commanded.
GOD said, Take not unto yourselves two gods; for there is but one GOD:
and revere me.
Unto him belongeth whatsoever is in heaven and on earth; and unto him is
obedience eternally due. Will ye therefore fear any besides GOD?
Whatever favors ye have received are certainly from GOD; and when evil
afflicteth you, unto him do ye make your supplication;
yet when he taketh the evil from off you, behold, a part of you give a
companion unto their LORD,
to show their ingratitude for the favors we have bestowed on them.
Delight yourselves in the enjoyments of this life: but hereafter shall ye know
that ye cannot escape the divine vengeance.
And they set apart unto idols which have no knowledge,m a part of the
food which we have provided for them. By GOD, ye shall surely be called to
account for that which ye have falsely devised.