Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/297

VIII, 66-73. prophet! urge on the believers to fight. If there be of you twenty patient men, they shall conquer two hundred ; if there be of you a hundred, they shall conquer a thousand of those who misbelieve, because they are a people who did not discern—Now has God made it light for you; He knows that there is a weakness amongst you: but if there be amongst you but a patient hundred, they will conquer two hundred; and if there be of you a thousand, they will conquer two thousand, by the permission of God,—for God is with the patient !

It has not been for any prophet to take captives until he hath slaughtered in the land! Ye wish to have the goods of this world, but God wishes for the next, for God is mighty, wise! Were it not for a book from God that had gone before, there would have touched you, for that which ye took, a mighty punishment.

Eat of what spoils ye have taken, what is lawful and good; and fear God, verily, God is forgiving and merciful.

[70] O thou prophet ! say to such of the captives as are in your hands, ‘If God knows of any good in your hearts, he will give you better than that which is taken from you, and will forgive you; for God is forgiving and merciful.’

But if they desire to betray thee,—they have betrayed God before! but He hath given you power over them; for God is knowing, wise !

Verily, those who believe and have fled and