Page:Koran - Rodwell - 2nd ed.djvu/260

 evening, and on the day when “the Hour” shall arrive—“Bring in the people of Pharaoh into the severest punishment.”

And when they shall wrangle together in the fire, the weak shall say to those who had borne themselves so proudly, “It is you we followed: will ye therefore relieve us from aught of the fire?”

And those proud ones shall say, “Verily we are all in it; for now hath God judged between his servants.”

And they who are in the fire shall say to the keepers of Hell, “Implore your Lord that he would give us ease but for one day from this torment.” They shall say, “Came not your apostles to you with the tokens?” They shall say, “Yes.” They shall say, “Cry ye then aloud for help:” but the cry of the unbelievers shall be only in vain.

Assuredly, in this present life will we succour our apostles and those who shall have believed, and on the day when the witnesses shall stand forth; A day whereon the plea of the evil doers shall not avail them; but theirs shall be a curse, and theirs the woe of the abode in Hell. And of old gave we Moses the guidance, and we made the children of Israel the heritors of the Book,—a guidance and warning to men endued with understanding.

Therefore be steadfast thou and patient; for true is the promise of God: and seek pardon for thy fault, and celebrate the praise of thy Lord at evening and at morning.

As to those who cavil at the signs of God without authority having reached them, nought is there but pride in their breasts: but they shall not succeed. Fly thou for refuge then to God, for He is the Hearer, the Beholder. Greater surely than the creation of man is the creation of the heavens and of the earth: but most men know it not.

Moreover, the blind and the seeing, and the evil doer and they who believe and do the things that are right, shall not be deemed equal. How few ponder this! Aye, “the Hour” will surely come: there is no doubt of it: but most men believe it not. And your Lord saith, “Call upon me—I will hearken unto you: but they who turn in disdain from my service shall enter Hell with shame.” It is God who hath ordained the night for your rest, and the