Muhammad, THE KORAN
The vital
new religion of Islam emerged in the seventh century among the Arabs of
Islamic
standards of morality and rules governing daily life are set by the Koran. Muslims see their religion as the completion
and perfection of Judaism and Christianity.
GOD
God: there is no god but Him, the Living, the Eternal One. Neither slumber nor
sleep overtakes Him. His is what the heavens and the earth contain. Who can
intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before and behind
men. They can grasp only that part of His knowledge which He wills. His throne
is as vast as the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not
weary Him. He is the Exalted, the Immense One. (2:255—257)
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the
Merciful
It is the Merciful who has taught the Koran.
He created man and taught him articulate speech. The sun and the moon pursue
their ordered course. The plants and the trees bow down in adoration.
He raised the heaven on high and set the balance of all things, that you might
not transgress that balance. Give just weight and full measure.
He laid the earth for His creatures, with all its fruits and blossom-bearing
palm, chaff- covered grain and scented herbs. Which of your Lord’s blessings
would you deny?
He created man from potter’s clay, and the jinn [spirits] from smokeless fire.
Which of your Lord’s blessings would you deny? (5 5:1—18)
All that is in the heavens and the earth gives glory to God. He is the
Mighty, the Wise One.
It is He that has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. He ordains life
and death, and has power over all things.
He is the First and the Last, the Visible and the Unseen. He has knowledge of
all things.
It was He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then mounted
the throne. He knows all that goes into the earth and all that emerges from it,
all that comes down from heaven and all that ascends to it. He is with you
wherever you are. God is cognizant of all your actions.
He has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. To God shall all things return. He causes the night to pass into the day, and causes
the day to pass into the night. He has knowledge of the inmost thoughts of men.
(57:1—7)
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY
Righteousness does not consist in whether you face towards the East or the
West. The righteous man is he who believes in God and the Last Day, in the angels
and the Book and the prophets; who, though he loves it dearly, gives away his
wealth to kinsfolk, to orphans, to the destitute, to the traveller
in need and to beggars, and for the redemption of captives; who attends to his
prayers and renders the alms levy; who is true to his promises and steadfast in trial and adversity and
in times of war. Such are the true believers; such are the God-fearing. (2:176—178)
Serve God and associate none with Him. Show kindness to parent and kindred,
to orphans and to the destitute, to near and distant neighbours,
to those that keep company with you, to the traveller
in need, and to the slaves you own. God does not love arrogant and boastful
men, who are themselves niggardly and enjoin others to be niggardly; who
conceal the riches which God of His bounty has bestowed upon them (We have
prepared a shameful punishment for the unbe1ievers) and who spend their wealth
for the sake of ostentation, believing neither in God nor in the Last Day. He
that chooses Satan for his friend, an evil friend has he. (4:36—39)
CHRISTIANITY
And remember the angels’ words to Mary. They said: “God has chosen you. He
has made you pure and exalted you above womankind. Mary, be obedient to your
Lord; bow down and worship with the worshippers.”
This is an account of a divine secret. We reveal it to you. You were not
present when they cast lots to see which of them should have charge of Mary;
nor were you present when they argued about her.
The angels said to Mary: “God bids you rejoice in a word from Him. His name is
the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world and in the
hereafter, and shall be one of those who are favoured.
He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall
lead a righteous life.”
“Lord,” she said, “how can I bear a child when no man has touched me?”
He replied: “Even thus. God creates whom He will. When He decrees a thing He
need only say: ‘Be,’ and it is. He will instruct him
in the Scriptures and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the Gospel, and send him
forth as an apostle to the Israelites. He will say: ‘I bring you a sign from
your Lord. From clay I will make for you the likeness of a bird. I shall
breathe into it and, by God’s leave, it shall become a
living bird. By God’s leave I shall heal the blind man and the leper, and raise
the dead to life. I shall tell you what to eat and what to store up in your
houses. Surely that will be a sign for you, if you are true believers. I come
to confirm the Torah which preceded me and to make lawful to you some of things
you are forbidden. I bring you a sign God and obey me. God is my Lord and your
Lord: therefore serve Him. That is a straight path.’” (3:42—51)
People of the Book, do not
transgress the bounds of your religion. Speak nothing but the truth about God.
The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, was no more than God’s apostle and His
which He cast to Mary: a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His apostles
and do not say: “Three.” Forbear, and it shall be
better for you. God is but one God. God forbid that He should have a son! His
is all that the heavens and the earth contain. God is the all-sufficient protector.
The Messiah does not disdain to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are
nearest to Him. Those who through arrogance disdain His service shall all be
brought before Him.
(4:171—172)
HEAVEN AND HELL
THAT WHICH IS COMING
In
the Name of God, the Compassionate. the Merciful
When that which is coming comes—and no soul shall then deny
its coming—some shall be abased and others exalted.
When the earth shakes and quivers, and the mountains crumble away and scatter
abroad into fine dust, you shall be divided into three multitudes: those on the
right (blessed shall be those on the right); those on the left (damned shall be
those on the left); and those to the fore (foremost shall be those). Such are
they that shall be brought near to their Lord in the gardens of delight: a
whole multitude from the men of old, but only a few from the latter
generations.
They shall recline on jewelled couches face to face,
and there shall wait on them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest
wine (that will neither pain their heads nor take away their reason); with
fruits of their own choice and flesh of fowls that they relish. And theirs shall
be the dark-eyed houris [beautiful virgins], chaste
as hidden pearls: a guerdon [reward] for their deeds.
There they shall hear no idle talk, no sinful speech, but only the greeting,
“Peace! Peace!” Those on the right hand — happy shall be those on the right
hand! They shall recline on couches raised on high in the shade of thornless sidrs and clusters of talh [probably the banana fruit]; amidst gushing waters and
abundant fruits, unforbidden, never- ending.
We created the houris and made them virgins, loving
companions for those on the right hand: a multitude from the men of old, and a
multitude from the latter generations.
As for those on the left hand (wretched shall be those on the left hand!) they
shall dwell amidst scorching winds and seething water: in the shade of
pitch-black smoke, neither cool nor refreshing. For they have lived in comfort
and persisted in the heinous sin, saying: “When we are once dead and turned to
dust and bones, shall we be raised to life? And our
forefathers, too?”
Say: “Those of old, and those of the present age, shall be brought together on
an appointed day. As for you sinners who deny the truth, you shall eat the
fruit of the Zaqqum tree and fill your bellies with
it. You shall drink scalding water: yet you shall drink it as the thirsty camel
drinks.”
Such shall be their fare on the Day of Reckoning. (56:1—5 6)
WOMEN
YUSUFALI: Men are the protectors and
maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the
other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous
women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah
would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and
ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And
last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against
them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).
PICKTHAL: Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made
the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property
(for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret
that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion,
admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey
you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.
SHAKIR: Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made
some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the
good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and
(as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them
alone in the sleeping-places and beat them; then if they obey you, do not seek a
way against them; surely Allah is High, Great. (4:34—35)