Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/259

Ⅵ, 138-143. to destroy them, and to obscure for them their religion ; but had God pleased they would not have done it, leave them alone and that which they have forged.

And they say, ‘These cattle and tilth are inviolable; none shall taste thereof, save such as we please’ — as they pretend — and there are cattle whose backs are prohibited, and cattle over whom God’s name is not pronounced, — forging a lie against Him! He shall reward them for what they have forged.

And they say, ‘What is in the wombs of these cattle is unlawful for our wives, but if it be (born) dead, then are they partners therein.’ He will reward them for their attribution ; verily, He is wise and knowing.

Losers are they who kill their children foolishly, without knowledge, and who prohibit what God has bestowed upon them, forging a lie against God ; they have erred and are not guided.

He it is who brought forth gardens with trailed and untrailed vines, and the palms and corn land, with various food, and olives, and pomegranates, alike and unlike. Eat from the fruit thereof whene’er it fruits, and bring the dues thereof on the day of harvest, and be not extravagant; verily, He loves not the extravagant.

Of cattle are there some to ride on and to spread. Eat of what God has bestowed upon you, and follow