fac-similé réduire la fenêtre zoomer dans le manuscrit dézoomer dans le manuscrit galerie d'images
fac-similé fac-similé fac-similé fac-similé
Sale, 1734

CHAP. LVI.

Intitled, The Inevitable; revealed at Mecca.


In the name of the most merciful God.
WHEN the inevitable [a] day of judgment shall suddenly come, no soul shall charge the prediction of its coming with falsehood: it will abase some, and exalt others. When the earth shall be shaken with a violent shock; and the mountains shall be dashed in pieces, and shall become as dust scattered abroad; and ye shall be separated into three distinct classes: the companions of the right hand; (how happy shall the companions of the right hand be!) and the companions of the left hand [b] ; how happy miserable the companions of the left hand be!) and those who have preceded others in the faith, shall precede them to paradise [c] . These are they who shall approach near unto God: they shall dwell in gardens of delight: (There shall be many of the former religions; and few of the last [d] .) Reposing on couches adorned with gold and precious stones; sitting opposite to one another thereon [e] . Youths which shall continue in their bloom forever, shall go round about to attend them, with goblets, and beakers, and a cup of flowing wine: their heads shall not ache by drinking the same, neither shall their reason be disturbed: and with fruits of the sorts which they shall choose, and the flesh of birds of the kind which they shall desire. And there shall accompany them fair damsels having large black eyes; resembling pearls hidden in their shells: as a reward for that which they shall have wrought. They shall not hear therein any vain discourse, [435] or any charge of sin; but only the salutation, Peace! Peace! And the companions of the right hand (how happy shall the companions of the right hand be!) shall have their abode among lote trees free from thorns, and trees of mauz [a] loaded regularly with their produce from top to bottom; under an extended shade, near a flowing water [b] , and amidst fruits in abundance, which shall not fail, nor shall be forbidden to be gathered: and they shall repose themselves on lofty beds [c] . Verily we have created the damsels of paradise by a peculiar creation [d] ; and we have made them virgins [e] , beloved by their husbands, of equal age with them; for the delight of the companions of the right hand. There shall be many of the former religions, and many of the latter [f] . And the companions of the left hand (how miserable shall the companions of the left hand be!) shall dwell amidst burning winds [g] , and scalding water, under the shade of a black smoke, neither cool nor agreeable. For they enjoyed the pleasures of life before this, while on earth; and obstinately persisted in a heinous wickedness: and they said, After we shall have died, and become dust and bones, shall we surely be raised to life? Shall our forefathers also be raised with us? Say, Verily both the first and the last shall surely be gathered together to judgment, at the prefixed time of a known day. Then ye, O men, who have erred, and denied the resurrection as a falsehood, shall surely eat of the fruit of the tree of al Zakkum, and shall fill your bellies therewith: and ye shall drink thereon boiling water; and ye shall drink as a thirsty camel [436] drinketh. This shall be their entertainment on the day of judgment. We have created you: will ye not therefore believe that we can raise you from the dead? What think ye? The seed which ye emit, do ye create the same, or are we the creators thereof? We have decreed death unto you all: and we shall not be prevented. We are able to substitute others like unto you in your stead, and to produce you again in the condition or form which ye know not. Ye know the original production by creation; will ye not therefore consider that we are able to produce you by resuscitation? What think ye? The grain which ye sow, do ye cause the same to spring forth, or do we cause it to spring forth? If we pleased, verily we could render the same dry and fruitless, so that ye would not cease to wonder [a] , saying, , saying, Verily we have contracted debts [b] for seed and labour, but we are not permitted [c] to reap the fruit thereof. What think ye? The water which ye drink, do ye send down the same from the clouds, or are we the senders thereof? If we pleased, we could render the same brackish: will ye not therefore give thanks? What think ye? The fire which ye strike, do ye produce the tree whence ye obtain the same [d] , or are we the producers thereof? We have ordained the same for an admonition [e] , and an advantage to those who travel through the deserts. Wherefore praise the name of thy Lord, the great God. Moreover I swear [f] by the setting of the stars; (and it is surely a great oath, if ye knew it;) that this is the excellent Koran, the original whereof is written in the preserved book: none shall touch the same, except those who are clean [g] . It is a revelation from the Lord of all creatures. Will ye, therefore, despise this new revelation? And do ye make this return for your food which ye receive from God, that ye deny yourselves to be obliged to him for the same [h] ? When the soul of a dying person cometh up to his throat, and ye at the same time are looking on; (and we are nigher unto him than ye, but ye see not his true condition;) would ye not, if ye are [437] not to be rewarded for your action hereafter, cause the same to return into the body, if ye speak the truth [a] ? And whether he be of those who shall approach near unto God [b] , his reward shall be rest, and mercy, and a garden of delights: or whether he be of the companions of the right hand, he shall be saluted with the salutation, Peace be unto thee! by the companions of the right hand his brethren: or whether he be of those who have rejected the true faith, and gone astray, his entertainment shall consist of boiling water, and the burning of hell fire. Verily this is a certain truth. Wherefore praise the name of thy Lord, the great God.

notes originales réduire la fenêtre

[a] The inevitable;] The original word, the force whereof cannot well be expressed by a single one in English, signifies a calamitous accident, which falls surely and with sudden violence, and is therefore made use of here to design the day of judgment.

[b] The companions of the right hand, and of the left hand;] That is, the blessed and the damned; who may be thus distinguished here, because the books wherein their actions are registered will be delivered into the right hands of the former and into the left hands of the latter [1] , tho’ the words translated right hand, and left hand do also signify happiness and misery.

[1] Al Beidawi, Jallalo’ddin.

[c] And those who have preceded others in the faith shall precede them to paradise;] Either the first converts to Mohammedism, or the prophets, who were the respective leaders of their people, or any persons who have been eminent examples of piety and virtue, may be here intended. The original words literally rendered are, The leaders, the leaders: which repetition, as some suppose, was designed to express the dignity of these persons and the certainty of their future glory and happiness [2] .

[2] Iidem.

[d] There shall be many of the former religions,and few of the last;] i.e. There shall be more leaders, who have preceded others in faith and good works, among the followers of the several prophets from Adam down to Mohammed, than of the followers of Mohammed himself [3] .

[3] Iidem.

[e] See chap. 25. p. 212. not. c.

[a] The original word Talh is the name, not only of the mauz [1] , but also of a very tall and thorny tree, which bears abundance of flowers of an agreeable smell [2] , and seems to be the Acacia.

[1] See p. 371.

[2] V. J. Leon. Descript. Africæ, lib. 9.

[b] Near a flowing water;] Which shall be conveyed in channels to such places and in such manner as every one shall desire. [3] Al Beidâwi observes that the condition of the few who have preceded others in faith and good works, is represented by whatever may render a city life agreeable; and that the condition of the companions of the right hand, or the generality of the blessed, is represented by those things which make the principal pleasure of a country life; and that this is done to shew the difference of the two conditions.

[3] Al Beidawi.

[c] Lofty beds;] The word translated beds, signifies also, by way of metaphor, wives or concubines; and if the latter sense be preferred, the passage may be rendered thus, And they shall enjoy damsels raised on lofty couches, whom we have created, &c.

[d] We have created the damsels of paradise by a peculiar creation;] Having created them purposely of finer materials than the females of this world, and subject to none of those inconveniences which are natural to the sex [4] . Some understand this passage of the beatified women; who, tho’ they died old and ugly, shall yet be restored to their youth and beauty in paradise [5] .

[4] See the Prelim. Disc. §. IV. p. 95, &c.

[5] See ib. p. 103.

[e] Virgins;] For how often soever their husbands shall go in unto them, they shall always find them virgins.

[f] There shall be many of the former religions, and many of the latter;] Father Marracci thinks this to be a manifest contradiction to what is said above, There shall be many of the former and few of the latter: but al Beidâwi obviates such an objection, by observing that the preceding passage speaks of the leaders only, and those who have preceded others in faith and good works; and the passage before us speaks of the righteous of inferior merit and degree; so that tho’ there be many of both sorts, yet there may be few of one sort, comparatively speaking, in respect to the other.

[g] Burning winds;] Which shall penetrate into the passages of their bodies.

[a] To wonder;] Or to repent of your time and labour bestowed to little purpose, &c.

[b] We have contracted debts, &c.] Or, We are undone.

[c] We are not permitted, &c.] Or, We are unfortunate wretches, who are denied the necessaries of life.

[d] See chap. 36. p. 365. not. f.

[e] An admonition;] To put men in mind of the resurrection [1] ; which the production of fire in some sort resembles, or, of the fire of hell [2] .

[1] See chap. 36. p. 365.

[2] Al Beidawi.

[f] I swear;] The particle la is generally supposed to be intensive in this place; but if it be taken for a negative, the words must be translated, I will not or do not swear, because what is here asserted is too manifest to need the confirmation of an oath [3] .

[3] Idem.

[g] None shall touch the same, except those who are clean;] Or, Let none touch the same, &c. Purity both of body and mind being requisite in him who would use this book with the respect he ought, and hopes to edify by it: for which reason these words are usually written on the cover [4] .

[4] See the Prelim. Disc. §. III. p. 59.

[h] That ye deny yourselves to be obliged to him for the same;] By ascribing the rains, which fertilize your lands, to the influence of the stars [5] .
Some copies instead of rizkacom, i.e. your food, read shocracom, i.e. your gratitude; and then the passage may be rendered thus, And do ye make this return of gratitude, for God’s revealing the Korân, that ye reject the same as a fiction?

[5] See ib. §. p. 31, 32.

[a] When the soul of a dying person cometh up to his throat, &c.] The meaning of this obscure passage is, if ye shall not be obliged to give an account of your actions at the last day, as by your denying the resurrection ye seem to believe, cause the soul of the dying person to return into his body; for ye may as easily do that as avoid the general judgment [1] .

[1] Jallal. Al Beidawi.

[b] Of those who shall approach near unto God;] That is, of the leaders, or first professors of the faith.