7 Lit.  Mother, or Prototype of the Book.  Either God’s knowledge or Prescience, or the fabled preserved tablet, on which is written the original of the Koran, and all God’s decrees.  The Jews have a tradition that the Law existed before the Creation.  Midr.  Jalkut, 7.

8 That is, the progressive conquests of the Muslims trench more and more on the territories of the idolatrous Arabians.

SURA II.-THE COW1 [XCI.]

Medina.-286 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

ELIF.  Lam.  Mim.2 No doubt is there about this Book:  It is a guidance to the
God-fearing,

Who believe in the unseen,3 who observe prayer, and out of what we have bestowed on them, expend for God;

And who believe in what hath been sent down to thee, and in what hath been sent down before thee, and full faith have they in the life to come: 

These are guided by their Lord; and with these it shall be well.

As to the infidels, alike is it to them whether thou warn them or warn them not-they will not believe: 

Their hearts and their ears hath God sealed up; and over their eyes is a covering.  For them, a severe chastisement!

And some4 there are who say, “We believe in God, and in the latter day:”  Yet are they not believers!

Fain would they deceive God and those who have believed; but they deceive themselves only, and know it not.

Diseased are their hearts!  And that disease hath God increased creased to them.  Their’s a sore chastisement, for that they treated their prophet as a liar!

And when it is said to them, “Cause not disorders in the earth:”  they say, “Nay, rather do we set them right.”

Is it not that they are themselves the authors of disorder?  But they perceive it not!

And when it is said to them, “Believe as other men have believed;” they say, “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Is it not that they are themselves the fools?  But they know it not!

And when they meet the faithful they say, “We believe;” but when they are apart with their Satans5 they say, “Verily we hold with you, and at them we only mock.”

God shall mock at them, and keep them long in their rebellion, wandering in perplexity.

These are they who have purchased error at the price of guidance:  but their traffic hath not been gainful, neither are they guided at all.

They are like one6 who kindleth a fire, and when it hath thrown its light on all around him. . . .  God taketh away their light and leaveth them in darkness-they cannot see!-

Deaf, dumb, blind:  therefore they shall not retrace their steps from error!

Or like those who, when there cometh a storm-cloud out of the Heaven, big with darkness thunder and lightning, thrust their fingers into their ears because of the thunder-clap, for fear of death!  God is round about the infidels.