They swore by God with their mightiest oath that should a preacher come to them they would yield to guidance more than any people: but when the preacher came to them it only increased in them their estrangement, Their haughtiness on earth and their plotting of evil! But the plotting of evil shall only enmesh those who make use of it.5 Look they then for aught but God's way6 of dealing with the peoples of old? Thou shalt not find any change in the way of God,– Yea, thou shalt not find any variableness in the way of God. Have they never journeyed in the land and seen what hath been the end of those who flourished before them, though mightier in strength than they? God is not to be frustrated by aught in the Heavens or in the Earth; for He is the All-knowing, the All-mighty. If, moreover, God should chastise men according to their deserts, He would not leave even a reptile on the back of the earth! But to an appointed time doth He respite them. And when their time shall come, then verily God's eye is on his servants. _______________________ 1 See note at Sura [xcvii.] iii. 18. This is one of the passages said to have originated with Zayd. 2 Not only seas, properly so called, but the great masses of fresh water in the Nile, Tigris, inland lakes, etc. 3 The Gospel. 4 This idea was probably suggested by Muhammad's reminiscences of the view from the Cave of Hira, to the north and west of which there is a prospect thus described by Burckhardt (Travels, p. 176). "The country before us had a dreary aspect, not a single green spot being visible; barren, black, and grey hills, and white sandy valleys were the only objects in sight." 5 Lit. shall encompass its people. 6 Method of dealing, i.e., first warning, then punishing. SURA VII.–AL ARAF [LXXXVII.] MECCA.–205 Verses In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful ELIF. LAM. MIM. SAD.1 A Book hath been sent down to thee: therefore let there be no difficulty in thy breast concerning it: to the intent that thou mayest warn thereby, and that it may be a monition to the faithful. Follow ye what hath been sent down to you from your Lord; and follow no masters beside Him. How little will ye be monished! How many cities have we destroyed! By night, or while they were in their midday slumber, did our wrath reach them! And what was their cry when our wrath reached them, but to say, "Verily, we have been impious." Surely, therefore, will we call those to account, to whom an Apostle hath been sent, and of the sent ones themselves will we certainly demand a reckoning. And with knowledge will we tell them of their deeds, for we were not absent from them. The weighing2 on that day, with justice! and they whose balances shall be heavy, these are they who shall be happy. And they whose balances shall be light, these are they who have lost their souls, for that to our signs they were unjust: