Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/305

Ⅸ, 40-46. Unless ye help him — and God did help him, when those who misbelieved drove him forth the second of two. When they twain were in the cave; when he said to his comrade, ‘ Grieve not, verily, God is with us;’ and God sent down His shechina upon him, and aided him with hosts ye could not see, and made the word of those who misbelieved inferior, and the word of God superior ; for God is mighty and wise. March ye then, light and heavy, and fight strenuously with your wealth and persons in God’s way ; that is better for you if ye did but know !

Were there goods nigh at hand, and a moderate journey, they would have followed you ; but the distance was too far for them ; they will swear by God, ‘ If we could, we would have gone forth with you.’ They destroy themselves, but God knows that they lie !

God forgive thee ; why didst thou give them leave (to stay) until it was made manifest to thee who spake the truth — until thou mightest know the liars ?

Those who believe in God and in the last day will not beg off from fighting strenuously with their wealth and their persons; but God knows those who fear.

It is only those who believe not in God and in the last day who beg off from thee, and those whose hearts are in doubt, and in their doubt do hesitate.

Had they wished to go forth, they would have prepared for it a preparation ; but God was averse

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