Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/202

76 all besides this, for you to seek them with your wealth, marrying them and not fornicating ; but such of them as ye have enjoyed, give them their hire as a lawful due ; for there is no crime in you about what ye agree between you after such lawful due, verily, God is knowing and wise.

But whosoever of you cannot go the length of marrying marriageable women who believe, then take of what your right hands possess, of your maidens who believe; — though God knows best about your faith. Ye come one from the other ; then marry them with the permission of their people, and give them their hire in reason, they being chaste and not fornicating, and not receivers of paramours.

But when they are married, if they commit fornication, then inflict upon them half the penalty for married women ; that is for whomsoever of you fears wrong ; but that ye should have patience is better for you, and God is forgiving and merciful.

God wishes to explain to you and to guide you into the ordinances of those who were before you, and to turn towards you, for God is knowing, wise. God wishes to turn towards you, but those who follow their lusts wish that ye should swerve with a mighty swerving! God wishes to make it light for you, for man was created weak.

O ye who believe ! devour not your property amongst yourselves vainly, unless it be a merchandise by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves ; verily, God is compassionate unto you.

But whoso does that maliciously and unjustly, we will broil him with fire ; for that is easy with God.

If ye avoid great sins from which ye are