And defraud not men in their substance, and do no wrong on the earth by deeds of licence; And fear Him who made you and the races of old." They said, "Certainly thou art a person bewitched. Thou art but a man like us, and we deem thee liar- Make now a part of the heaven to fall down upon us, if thou art a man of truth." He said, "My Lord best knoweth your doings." And when they treated him as a liar, the chastisement of the day of cloud overtook them. This truly was the chastisement of a dreadful day! In this was a sign, but most of them believed not. But thy Lord!-He is the Mighty, the Merciful! Verily from the Lord of the Worlds hath this Book come down; The faithful spirit16 hath come down with it Upon thy heart, that thou mightest become a warner- In the clear Arabic tongue: And truly it is foretold in the Scriptures of them of yore.17 Was it not a sign to them18 that the learned among the children of Israel recognised it? If we had sent it down unto any foreigner, And he had recited it to them, they had not believed. In such sort have we influenced19 the heart of the wicked ones, That they will not believe it till they see the grievous chastisement? And it shall come upon them on a sudden when they look not for it: And they will say, "Can we be respited?" What! will they seek to hasten on our chastisement? How thinkest thou? If after we have given them their fill for years, That with which they are menaced come upon them at last, Of what avail will their enjoyments be to them? We never destroyed a city which had not first its warners With admonition; nor did we deal unjustly. The Satans were not sent down with this Koran: It beseemed them not, and they had not the power, For they are far removed from hearing it.20 Call not thou on any other god but God, lest thou be of those consigned to torment: But warn thy relatives of nearer kin,21 And kindly lower thy wing over the faithful who follow thee. And if they disobey thee, then say: "I will not be answerable for your doings;"- And put thy trust in Him that is the Mighty, the Merciful, Who seeth thee when thou standest in prayer, And thy demeanour amongst those who worship; For He heareth, knoweth all. Shall I tell you on whom Satan descend? They descend on every lying, wicked person: They impart what they have heard;22-but most of them are liars. It is the POETS23 whom the erring follow: Seest thou not how they rove distraught in every valley? And that they say that which they do not? Save those who believe and do good works, and oft remember God; And who defend themselves when unjustly treated. But they who treat them unjustly shall find out what a lot awaiteth them. _______________________ 1 This Sura belongs to about the seventh year of Muhammad's prophetic life. 2 See Sura 1xviii. I, p. 32. 3 Lit. to which their necks would humble themselves.