Part 13
Yet I
hold not myself clear, for the heart is prone to evil, save theirs on whom my Lord
hath mercy; for gracious is my Lord, the Merciful."
And
the King said, "Bring him to me: I will
take him for my special service." And when he had spoken with him he said,
"From this day shalt thou be with us, invested with place and trust."
He
said, "Set me over the granaries of the land, I will be their prudent
keeper!:
Thus
did we stablish Joseph in the land that he might house himself
therein
at pleasure. We bestow our favours on whom we will, and suffer not the reward
of the righteous to perish.
And
truly the recompense of the life to come is better, for those who have believed
and feared God.
And
Joseph's brethren came and went in to him and he knew them, but they recognised
him not.
And
when he had provided them with their provision, he said, "Bring me your
brother from your father. See you not that I fill the measure, and am the best
of hosts?
12:60 But if you bring him not to me, then
no measure of corn shall there be for you from me, nor shall you come near
me."
They
said to his servants, "Put their money into their camel-packs, that they
may perceive it when they have returned to their family:
haply they will come back to us."
And
when they returned to their father, they said, "O, our father! corn is
withholden from us: send, therefore, our
brother with us and we shall have our measure; and all care of him will we
take."
He
said, "Shall I entrust you with him otherwise than as I before entrusted
you with his brother? But God is the best guardian, and of those who shew
compassion He is the most compassionate."
And
when they opened their goods they found their money had been returned to them.
They said, "O, our father, what more can we desire? Here is our money
returned to us; we will provide corn for our families, and will take care of our
brother, and shall receive a camel's burden more of corn. This is an easy
quantity."
He
said, "I will not send him with you but on your oath before God that you
will, indeed, bring him back to me, unless hindrances encompass you." And
when they had given him their pledge, he said, "God is witness of what we
say."
And he
said, "O, my sons! Enter not by one gate, but enter by different gates.
Yet can I not help you against aught decreed by God:
judgment belongeth to God alone. In Him put I my trust, and in Him let the
trusting trust."
And
when they entered as their father had bidden them, it did not avert from them
anything decreed of God; but it only served to satisfy a desire in the soul of
Jacob which he had charged them to perform; for he was possessed of knowledge
which we had taught him; but most men have not that knowledge.
And
when they came in to Joseph, he took his brother to him. He said, "Verily,
I am thy brother. Be not thou grieved for what they did."
12:70 And when he had provided them with
their provisions, he placed his drinking cup in his brother's camel-pack. Then
a crier cried after them, "O travellers! you are surely thieves."
They
turned back to them and said, "What is that you miss?"
"We
miss," said they, "the prince's cup. For him who shall restore it, a
camel's load of corn! I pledge myself for it."
They
said, "By God! you know certainly that we came not to do wrong in the land
and we have not been thieves."
"What,"
said the Egyptians, "shall be the recompense of him who hath stolen it, if
you be found liars?"
They
said, "That he in whose camel-pack it shall be found be given up to you in
satisfaction for it. Thus recompense we the unjust.:
And
Joseph began with their sacks, before the sack of his brother, and then from
the sack of his brother he drew it out. This stratagem did we suggest to
Joseph. By the King's law he had no power to seize his brother, had not God
pleased. We uplift into grades of wisdom whom we will. And there is one knowing
above every one else endued with knowledge.
They
said, "If he steal, a brother of his hath stolen heretofore." But
Joseph kept his secret, and did not discover it to them. Said he, aside,
"You are in the worse condition. And God well knoweth what you
state."
They
said, "O Prince! Verily he hath a very aged father; in his stead,
therefore, take one of us, for we see that thou art a generous person."
He
said, "God forbid that we shall take but him with whom our property was
found, for then should we act unjustly."
12:80 And when they despaired of Benjamin,
they went apart for counsel. The eldest of them said, "Know you not how
that your father hath taken a pledge from you before God, and how formerly you
failed in duty with regard to Joseph? I will not quit the land till my father
give me leave, or God decide for me; for of those who decide is He the best.
Return
you to your father and say, 'O our father! Verily, thy son hath stolen: we bear witness only of what we know: we could not guard against the unforeseen.
Enquire
for thyself ion the city where we have been, and of the caravan with which we
have arrived; and we are surely speakers of the truth.'
He
said, "nay, you have arranged all this among yourselves: But patience is seemly:
God, may be, will bring them back to me together; for he is the Knowing, the
Wise."
And he
turned away from them and said, "Oh! how I am grieved for Joseph!"
and his eyes became white with grief, for he bore a silent sorrow.
They
said, "By God thou wilt only cease to think of Joseph when thou art at the
point of death, or dead."
He
said, "I only plead my grief and my sorrow to God:
but I know from God what you know not:
Go, my
sons, and seek tidings of Joseph and his brother, and despair not of God's mercy,
for none but the unbelieving despair of the mercy of God."
And
when they came in to Joseph, they said, "O Prince, distress hath reached
us and our family, and little is the money that we have brought. But give us
full measure, and bestow it as alms, for God will recompense the
almsgivers."
He
said, "Know you what you did to Joseph and his brother in your
ignorance?"
12:90 They said, "Canst thou indeed be
Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Now hath God
been gracious to us. For whoso feareth God and endureth. . . . God verily will
not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish!"
They
said, "By God! now hath God chosen thee above us, and we have indeed been
sinners!"
He
said, "No blame be on you this day. God will forgive you, for He is the
most merciful of those who shew mercy.
Go you
with this my shirt and throw it on my father's face, and he shall recover his
sight: and bring me all your family."
And
when the caravan was departed, their father said, 'I surely perceive the smell
of Joseph: think you that I dote?"
They
said, "By God, it is thy old mistake."
And
when the bearer of good tidings came, he cast it on his face, and Jacob's
eyesight returned.
Then
he said, "Did I not tell you that I knew from God what you knew not?"
They
said, "Our father, ask pardon for our crimes for us, for we have indeed
been sinners."
He
said, "I will ask pardon of my Lord, for he is Gracious, Merciful."
12:100 And when they came into Joseph he took
his parents to him, and said, "Enter you
And he
raised his parents to the seat of state, and they fell down bowing themselves
unto him. Then said he, "O my father, this is the meaning of my dream of
old. My Lord hath now made it true, and he hath surely been gracious to me,
since he took me forth from the prison, and hath brought you up out of the
desert, after that Satan had stirred up strife between me and my brethren; for
my Lord is gracious to whom He will; for He is the Knowing, the Wise.
O my
Lord, thou hast given me dominion, and hast taught me to expound dark sayings.
Maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! My guardian art thou in this world and
in the next! Cause thou me to die a Muslim, and join me with the just."
This
is one of the secret histories which we reveal unto thee. Thou wast not present
with Joseph's brethren when they conceived their design and laid their plot: but the greater part of men, though thou long for
it, will not believe.
Thou
shalt not ask of them any recompense for this message. It is simply an
instruction for all mankind.
And
many as are the signs in the Heavens and on the Earth, yet they will past them
by, and turn aside from them:
And
most of them believe not in God, without also joining other deities with Him.
What! Are
they sure that the overwhelming chastisement of God shall not come upon them,
or that tht Hour shall not come upon them suddenly, while they are unaware?
Say: This is my way:
resting on a clear proof, I call you to God, I and whoso followeth me:L and glory be to God! I am not one of those who
add other deities to Him.
Never
before thee have we sent any but men, chosen out of the people of the cities,
to whom we made revelations. Will they not journey through the land, and see
what hath been the end of those who were before them? But the mansions of the
next life shall be better for those who fear God. Will they not then
comprehend?
12:110 When at last the Apostles lost all
hope, and deemed that they were reckoned as liars, our aid reached them, and we
delivered whom we would; but our vengeance was not averted from the wicked.
Certainly
in their histories is an example for men of understanding. This is no new tale
of fiction, but a confirmation of previous scriptures, and an explanation of
all things, and guidance and mercy to those who believe.
Sura XIII -- (13)
Thunder
(
________________________________________
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Elif.
Lam. Mim. Ra. These, the signs of the Book! And that which hath been sent down
to thee from thy Lord is the very truth: But
the greater part of men will not believe.
It is
God who hath reared the Heavens without pillars thou canst behold; then mounted
his throne, and imposed laws on the sun and moon:
each travelleth to its appointed goal. He ordereth all things. He maketh his
signs clear, that you may have firm faith in a meeting with your Lord.
And He
it is who hath outstretched the earth, and placed on it the firm mountains, and
rivers: and of every fruit He hath placed on
it tow kinds: He causeth the night to enshroud
the day. Verily in this are signs for those who reflect.
And on
the earth hard by each other are its various portions:
gardens of grapes and corn, and palm trees single or clustered. Though watered by
the same water, yet some make we more excellent as food than other: Verily in all this are signs for those who
understand.
If
ever thou dost marvel, marvellous surely is their saying, "What! when we
have become dust, shall we be restored in a new creation?"
These
are they who in their Lord believe not: these!
the collars shall be on their necks; and these shall be inmates of the fire, to
abide therein for aye.
To
hasten evil rather than good will they challenge thee:
but, before their time have been like examples. Full, truly, of mercy is thy
Lord unto men, despite their sins; but verily, thy Lord is right vehement to
punish.
And
they who believe not say: ":If a sign from his Lord be not sent down to him . .
.!" Thou art a warner only. And every people hath its guide.
God
knoweth the burden of every female, and how much their wombs lessen and enlarge: with Him everything is by measure:
13:10 Knower of the Hidden and the Manifest!
the Great! the Most High!
Alike
to Him is that person among you who concealeth his words, and he that telleth
them abroad: he who hideth him in the night,
and he who cometh forth in the day.
Each
hath a succession of Angels before him and behind him, who watch over him by
God's behest. Verily, God will not change his gifts to men, till they change
what is in themselves: and when God willeth
evil unto men, there is none can turn it away, nor have they any protector
beside Him.
He it
is who maketh the lightning to shine unto you; for fear and hope: and who bringeth up the laden clouds.
And
the Thunder uttereth his praise, and the Angels also, for awe of Him: and he sendeth his bolts and smiteth with them
whom he will while they are wrangling about God! Mighty is he is prowess.
Prayer
is His of right: but these deities to whom
they pray beside Him give them no answer, otherwise than as he is answered who
stretcheth forth his hands to the water that it may reach his mouth, when it
cannot reach it! The prayer of the Infidels only wandereth, and is lost.
And
unto God doth all in the Heavens and on the Earth bow down in worship,
willingly or by constraint: their very shadows
also morn and even!
Say: Who is Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth? Say: God. Say: Why
then have you taken beside Him protectors, who even for their own selves have
no power for help or harm? Say: What! shall
the blind and the seeing be held equal? Shall the darkness and the light be
held equal? Or have they given associates to God who have created as He hath
created, so that their creation appear to them like His? Say: God is the Creator of all things! He is the One!
the Conquering!
He
sendeth down the rain from Heaven: then flow
the torrents in their due measure, and the flood beareth along a swelling foam.
And from the metals which are molten in the fire for the sake of ornaments or
utensils, a like scum ariseth. In this way doth God depict (set forth) truth
and falsehood. As to the foam, it is quickly gone:
and as to what is useful to man, it remaineth on the earth,. Thus doth God set
forth comparisons! To those who respond to their Lord shall be an excellent
reward; but those who respond not to his call, had they all that the earth
containeth twice over, they would surely give it for their ransom. Evil their
reckoning! and Hell their home! And wretched the bed!
Shall
he then who knoweth that what hath been sent down to thee from thy Lord is the
truth, act like him who is blind? Men of insight only will bear this in mind,
13:20 Who fulfil their pledge to God, and break
not their compact:
And
who join together what God hath bidden to be joined, and who fear their Lord,
and dread an ill reckoning;
And
who, from desire to see the face of their Lord, are constant amid trials, and
observe prayer and give alms, in secret and openly, out of what we have
bestowed upon them, and turn aside evil by good:
for these is the recompense of that abode.
Gardens
of
"Peace
be with you!" say they, "because you have endured all things!"
charming the recompense of their abode!
But
those who, after having contracted it, break their covenant with God, and cut
asunder what God hath bidden to be united, and commit misdeeds on the earth,
these, a curse awaiteth them, and an ill abode!
God is
open-handed with supplies to whom he will, or is sparing. They rejoice in the
life that now is, but this present life is but a passing good, in respect of
the life to come!
And
they who believe not say, "Unless a sign be sent down to him from his
Lord. . . ." Say: God truly will mislead
whom he will; and He will guide to Himself him who turneth to Him,
Those
who believe, and whose hearts rest securely on the thought of God. What! Shall
not men's hearts repose in the thought of God? They who believe and do the
things that be right -- blessedness awaiteth them, and a goodly home.
Thus
have we sent thee to a people whom other peoples have preceded, that thou
mightest rehearse to them our revelations to thee. Yet they believe not on the
God of Mercy. Say: He is my Lord. There is no
God but He. In Him do I put my trust. To Him must I return.
13:30 If there were a Koran by which the
mountains could be set in motion, or the earth cleft, or the dead be made to
speak. . .! But all sovereignty is in the hands of God. Do then believers doubt
that had He pleased God would certainly have guided all men aright?
Misfortune
shall not cease to light on the unbelievers for what they have done, or to take
up its abode hard by their dwellings, until the threat of God come to pass.
Verily, God will not fail his plighted word.
Before
thee indeed have apostles been mocked at; but though I bore long with the
unbelievers, at last I seized upon them; -- and how severe was my punishment!
Who is
it then that is standing over every soul to mark its actions? Yet have they set
up associates with God. Say: Name them. What!
Would you inform God of that which He knoweth not on the Earth? Or are they not
a mere empty name? But prepared of old for the infidels was this fraud of
theirs; and they are turned aside from the path; and whom God causeth to err,
no guide shall there be for him!
Chastisement
awaiteth them in this present life, and more grievous shall be the chastisement
of the next: and one shall screen them from
God.
A
picture of the
They
to whom we have given the Book rejoice in what hath been sent down to thee; yet
some are banded together who deny a part of it. Say:
I am commanded to worship God, and not to associate any creature with Him. On
Him do I call, and to Him shall I return.
Thus,
then, as a code in the Arabic tongue have we sent down the Koran; and truly, if
after the knowledge that hath reached thee thou follow their desires, thou
shalt have no guardian or protector against God.
Apostles
truly have we already sent before thee, and wives and offspring have we given
them. Yet no apostle had come with miracles unless by leave of God. To each age
its Book.
What
He pleaseth will God abrogate or confirm: for
with Him is the source of revelation.
13:40 Moreover, whether we cause thee to see
the fulfilment of part of our menaces, or whether we take thee hence, verily,
thy work is preaching only, and ours to take account.
See
they not that we come into their land and cut short its borders? God
pronounceth a doom, and there is none to reverse his doom. And swift is He to
take account.
Those
who lived before them made plots: but all
plotting is controlled by God: He knoweth the works
of every one, and the infidels shall know whose will be the recompense of the
abode.
The
infidels, moreover, will say; Thou art not sent of God. Say: God is witness enough betwixt me and you, and,
whoever hath knowledge of the Book.
Sura XIV (14)
Abraham, On Whom Be Peace
(
________________________________________
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Elif.
Lam. Ra. This Book have we sent down to thee that by their Lord's permission
thou mayest bring men out of darkness into light, into the path of the Mighty,
the Glorious --
Of
God; to whom belongeth whatever is in the Heavens and whatever is on the Earth: and woe! for their terrible punishment, to the
infidels,
Who
love the life that now is, above that which is to come, and mislead from the
way of God, and seek to make it crooked. These are in a far-gone error.
And in
order that He might speak plainly to them, we have not sent any Apostle, save
with the speech of his own people; but God misleadeth whom He will, and whom He
will he guideth: and He is the Mighty, the
Wise.
Of old
did we sent Moses with our signs: and said to
him, "Bring forth thy people from the darkness into the light, and remind
them of the days of God." Verily, in this are signs for every patient, grateful
person:
When
Moses said to his people, "Remember the kindness of God to you, when he
rescued you from the family of Pharaoh who laid on you a cruel affliction,
slaughtering your male children, and suffering only your females to live."
In this was a sore trial from your Lord --
And
when your Lord caused it to be heard that, "If we render thanks then will
I surely increase you more and more: but if
you be thankless. . . . Verily, right terrible my chastisement."
And
Moses said, "If you and all who are on the Earth be thankless, yet truly
God is passing Rich, and worthy of all praise."
Hath
not the story reached you of those who were before you, the people of Noah, and
Ad, and Themoud,
14:10 And of those who lived after them?
None knoweth them but God. When their prophets came to them with proofs of
their mission, they put their hands on their mouths and said, "In sooth,
we believe not your message; and in sooth, of that to which you bid us, we are
in doubt, as of a thing suspicious."
Their
prophets said: "Is there any doubt
concerning God, maker of the Heavens and of the Earth, who calleth you that He
may pardon your sin, and respite you until an appointed time?"
They
said, "You are but men like us: fain
would you turn us from our fathers' worship. Bring us therefore some clear
proof."
Their
Apostles said to them, "We are indeed but men like you. But God bestoweth
favours on such of his servants as he pleaseth, and it is not in our power to
bring you any special proof,
But by
the leave of God. In God therefore let the faithful trust.
And
why should we not put our trust in God, since He hath already guided us in our
ways. We will certainly bear with constancy the harm you would do to us. In God
let the trustful trust."
And
they who believed not said to their Apostles, "Forth from our land will we
surely drive you, or, to our religion shall you return." Then their Lord
revealed to them, "We will certainly destroy the wicked doers,
And we
shall certainly cause you to dwell in the land after them. This for him who
dreadeth the appearance at my judgment-seat and who dreadeth my menace!"
Then
sought they help from God, and every proud rebellious one perished:
Hell
is before him: and of tainted water shall he
be made to drink:
14:20 He shall sup it and scarce swallow it
for loathing; and Death shall assail him on every side, but he shall not die: and before him shall be seen a grievous torment.
A
likeness of those who believe not in their Lord. Their works are like ashes
which the wind scattereth on a stormy day: no
advantage shall they gain from their works. This is the far-gone wandering.
Seest
thou not that in truth hath God created the Heavens and the Earth? Were such
his pleasure He could make you pass away, and cause a new creation to arise.
And
this would not be hard for God.
All
mankind shall come forth before God; and the weak shall say to the men of
might, "Verily, we were your followers:
will you not then relieve us of some part of the vengeance of God?"
They
shall say, "If God had guided us, we surely had guided you. It is now all
one whether we be impatient, or endure with patience. We have no escape."
And
after doom hath been given, Satan shall say, "Verily, God promised you a
promise of truth: I, too, made you a promise,
but I deceived you. Yet I had not power over you:
But I
only called you and you answered me. Blame not me then, but blame yourselves: I cannot aid you, neither can you aid me. I never
believed that I was His equal with whom you joined me." As for the evil
doers, a grievous torment doth await them.
But
they who shall have believed and done the things that be right, shall be
brought into gardens beneath which the rivers flow:
therein shall they abide for ever by the permission of their Lord: their greeting therein shall be,
"Peace."
Seest
thou not to what God likeneth a good word? To a good true: its root firmly fixed, and its branches in the
Heaven:
14:30 Yielding its fruit in all seasons by the
will of its Lord. God setteth forth these similitudes to men that haply they
may reflect.
And an
evil word is like an evil tree torn up from the face of the earth, and without
strength to stand.
Those
who believe shall God stablish by his steadfast word both in this life and in
that which is to come: but the wicked shall He
cause to err: God doth his pleasure.
Hast
thou not beholden those who repay the goodness of God with infidelity, and sink
their people into the abode of perdition --
Hell?
Therein shall they be burned; and wretched the dwelling!
They
set up compeers with God in order to mislead man from his way. Say: Enjoy your pleasures yet awhile, but assuredly,
your going hence shall be into the fire.
Speak
to my servants who have believed, that they observe prayer, and give alms of
that with which we have supplied them, both privately and openly, ere the day
come when there shall be neither traffic nor friendship.
It is
God who hath created the Heavens and the Earth, and sendeth down water from the
Heaven, and so bringeth forth the fruits for your food:L
And He hath subjected to you the ships, so that by His command, they pass
through the sea; and He hath subjected the rivers to you: and He hath subjected to you the sun and the moon in their constant
courses: and He hath subjected the day and the
night to you: of everything which you ask Him,
giveth He to you; and if you would reckon up the favours of God, you cannot
count them! Surely man is unjust, ungrateful!
Abraham
said: "O Lord make this land secure, and
turn aside me and my children from serving idols:
For
many men, O my Lord, have they led astray. But whosoever shall follow me, he
truly shall be of me; and whosoever shall disobey me. . . . Thou truly art
Gracious, Merciful.
14:40 O our Lord! verily I have settled some
of my offspring in an unfruitful valley, nigh to thy holy house; O our Lord,
that they may strictly observe prayer! Make thou therefore the hearts of men to
yearn toward them, and supply them with fruits that they may be thankful.
O our
Lord! thou truly knowest what we hide and what we bring to light; nought on
earth or in heaven is hidden from God. Praise be to God who hath given me, in
my old age, Ismael and Isaac! My Lord is the hearer of prayer.
Lord!
grant that I and my posterity may observe prayer. O our Lord! and grant this my
petition. O our Lord! forgive me and my parents and the faithful, on the day
wherein account shall be taken."
Think
thou not that God is regardless of the deeds of the wicked. He only respiteth
them to the day on which all eyes shall stare up with terror:
They
hasten forward in fear; their heads upraised in supplication; their looks
riveted; and their hearts a blank. Warn men therefore of the day when the
punishment shall overtake them,
And
when the evil doers shall say, "O our Lord! respite us yet a little while:
To thy
call will we make answer; thine Apostles will we follow." "Did you
not once swear that no change should befall you?
"Yet
you dwelt in the dwellings of those who were the authors of their undoing and
it was made plain to you how we had dealt with them; and we held them up to you
as examples. They plotted their plots: but God
could master their plots, even though their plots had been so powerful as to
move the mountains."
Think
not then that God will fail his promise to his Apostles; aye! God is mighty,
and Vengeance is His.
On the
day when the Earth shall be changed into another Earth, and the Heavens also,
men shall come forth unto God, the Only, the Victorious.
14:50 And thou shalt see the wicked on that
day linked together in chains --
Their
garments of pitch, and fire shall enwrap their faces -- that God may reward
every soul as it deserveth; verily God is prompt to reckon.
This
is a message for mankind, that they may thereby warned:
and that they may know that there is but one God; and that men of understanding
may ponder it.