8 It is very remarkable, that when the power of Muhammad became firmly established, he never reverts to the insinuations against the soundness of his mind which in the earlier Suras he so often rebuts.

9 That is, their graves.  Mar.  So called because there is but a step into it from the surface of the earth.  Ullm.

10 That is, when in this life.

SURA XXXV.-THE CREATOR, OR THE ANGELS [LXXXVI.]

Mecca.-45 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Praise be to God, Maker of the Heavens and of the Earth!  Who employeth the angels as envoys, with pairs of wings, two, three, and four:  He addeth to his creature what He will!  Truly God hath power for all things.

The mercy which God layeth open for man, no one can keep back; and what He shall keep back, none can afterwards send forth.  And He is the Mighty, the Wise.

O men! bear in mind the favour of God towards you.  Is there a creator other than God, who nourisheth you with the gifts of heaven and earth?  There is no God but He!  How then are ye turned aside from Him?

If they treat thee as an impostor, then before thee have apostles been treated as impostors.  But to God shall all things return.

O men! assuredly the promise of God is true:  let not then the present life deceive you:  and let not the Deceiver deceive you as to God.

Yes, Satan is your foe.  For a foe then hold him.  He calleth his followers to him that they may become inmates of the flame.

The unbelievers,-for them a terrible punishment!

But believers and doers of good works, for them is mercy, and a great reward!

Shall he, the evil of whose deeds are so tricked out to him that he deemeth them good, be treated like him who seeth things aright?  Verily God misleadeth whom He will, and guideth whom He will.  Spend not thy soul in sighs for them:  God knoweth their doings.

It is God who sendeth forth the winds which raise the clouds aloft:  then drive we them on to some land dead from drought,1 and give life thereby to the earth after its death.  So shall be the resurrection.

If any one desireth greatness, all greatness is in God.  The good word riseth up to Him, and the righteous deed will He exalt.  But a severe punishment awaiteth the plotters of evil things; and the plots of such will He render vain.

Moreover, God created you of dust-then of the germs of life-then made you two sexes:  and no female conceiveth or bringeth forth without his knowledge; and the aged ageth not, nor is aught minished from man’s age, but in accordance with the Book.  An easy thing truly is this to God.

Nor are the two seas2 alike:  the one fresh, sweet, pleasant for drink, and the other salt, bitter; yet from both ye eat fresh fish, and take forth for you ornaments to wear, and thou seest the ships cleaving their waters that ye may go in quest of his bounties, and that ye may be thankful.