God lavisheth supplies on such of his servants as He pleaseth or giveth to them by measure.  God knoweth all things.

If thou ask them who sendeth rain from heaven, and by it quickeneth the earth, after it hath been dead, they will certainly answer, “God.”  Say:  Praise be to God!  Yet most of them do not understand.

This present life is no other than a pastime and a disport:  but truly the future mansion is life indeed!  Would that they knew this!

Lo! when they embark on shipboard, they call upon God, vowing him sincere worship, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold they join partners with Him.

In our revelation they believe not, yet take their fill of good things.  But in the end they shall know their folly.

Do they not see that we have established a safe precinct16 while all around them men are being spoiled?  Will they then believe in vain idols, and not own the goodness of God?

But who acteth more wrongly than he who deviseth a lie against God, or calls the truth when it hath come to him, a lie?  Is there not an abode for the infidels in Hell?

And whoso maketh efforts for us, in our ways will we guide them:  for God is assuredly with those who do righteous deeds.

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1 See Sura lxviii. p. 32.  The first ten verses of this Sura were revealed at Medina, after the battles of Bedr and Ohod.  Nöld. p. 115.

2 Deities for whose worship thou canst shew no authority.  Comp.  Tr.  Jebhamoth, fol. 6.  If a father saith to his son, “Defile thyself,” or saith, “Make not restitution,” shall he obey him?  It is said (Lev. xix. 3), Let every man reverence his father and mother, but keep my Sabbaths all of you:  ye are all bound to honour me.  Thus also Midr.  Jalkut, 604.  Comp. next Sura, v. 13.

3 The word say-the usual address of God or Gabriel to Muhammad-must either be considered as spoken by God to Abraham, in which case we have a curious instance of the manner in which Muhammad identifies himself with Abraham, and makes Abraham speak in words which he constantly elsewhere uses himself; or, with Wahl, we must suppose that from v. 17 to v. 22 are misplaced.

4 Comp.  Ps. cxxxix. 7.

5 Lit. for love among yourselves, or as an object of love, i.e. devout worship.

6 Thus Sura [lxv.] xxi. 71.  The Midr.  Rabbah on Gen. Par. 18, says that Haran, the father of Lot, was brought by Abraham’s deliverance from the furnace to the adoption of his doctrines.  Muhammad may have transferred this idea to Lot.

7 The following passages deserve to be compared, as shewing the loose way in which Muhammad could speak of the relationship subsisting between Abraham and the other Patriarchs.  See 38 below.  Sura [xci.] ii. 127; [lxxxix.] vi. 84; [lviii.] xix. 50; [lxv.] xxi. 72; [lxxvii.] xii. 6.  It is a curious coincidence that in the Sonna 398, 400, Joseph is said to be the Grandson, and Jacob the Son, of Abraham.