Ourselves have we created them, and strengthened their joints; and when we please, with others like unto themselves will we replace them. This truly is a warning: And whoso willeth, taketh the way to his Lord; But will it ye shall not, unless God will it, for God is Knowing, Wise. He causeth whom He will to enter into his mercy. But for the evil doers, He hath made ready an afflictive chastisement. _______________________ 1 When in the womb. 2 With (the water of) Kafoor. Lane. 3 Desire no recompense from you. SURA XLIV.–SMOKE [LIII.] MECCA.–59 Verses In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful Ha. Mim.1 By this clear Book! See! on a blessed night2 have we sent it down, for we would warn mankind: On the night wherein all things are disposed in wisdom,3 By virtue of our behest. Lo! we have ever sent forth Apostles, A mercy from thy Lord: he truly heareth and knoweth all things– Lord of the Heavens and of the Earth and of all that is between them,–if ye be firm in faith– There is no God but He!–He maketh alive and killeth!–Your Lord and the Lord of your sires of old! Yet with doubts do they disport them. But mark them on the day when the Heaven shall give out a palpable SMOKE, Which shall enshroud mankind: this will be an afflictive torment. They will cry, "Our Lord! relieve us from this torment: see! we are believers." But how did warning avail them, when an undoubted apostle had come to them; And they turned their backs on him, and said, "Taught by others, possessed?" Were we to relieve you from the plague even a little, ye would certainly relapse.4 On the day when we shall fiercely put forth our great fierceness, we will surely take vengeance on them! Of old, before their time, had we proved the people of Pharaoh, when a noble apostle presented himself to them. "Send away with me," cried he, "the servants of God; for I am an apostle worthy of all credit: And exalt not yourselves against God, for I come to you with undoubted power; And I take refuge with Him who is my Lord and your Lord, that ye stone me not: And if ye believe me not, at least separate yourselves from me." And he cried to his Lord, "That these are a wicked people." "March forth then, said God, with my servants by night, for ye will be pursued. And leave behind you the cleft sea: they are a drowned host." How many a garden and fountain did they quit! And corn fields and noble dwellings! And pleasures in which they rejoiced them! So was it: and we gave them as a heritage to another people. Nor Heaven nor Earth wept for them, nor was their sentence respited; And we rescued the children of Israel from a degrading affliction– From Pharaoh, for he was haughty, given to excess. And we chose them, in our prescience, above all peoples,5 And we shewed them miracles wherein was their clear trial. Yet these infidels say, "There is but our first death, neither shall we be raised again: Bring back our sires, if ye be men of truth."