Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/311

Ⅸ, 82-91. if ye could but discern !’ Let them then laugh little, and let them weep much, as a recompense for that which they have earned !

But if God bring thee back to a sect of them, and they ask thee then for leave to sally forth ; say, ‘ Ye shall by no means ever sally forth with me, nor shall ye ever fight a foe with me ! verily, ye were content to sit at home the first time, sit ye then now with those who stay behind.’

Pray not for any one of them who dies, and stand not by his tomb ; verily, they disbelieved in God and His Apostle and died workers of abomination !

Let not their wealth and their children please you, God only wishes to torment them therewith in this world, and that their souls may pass away the while they misbelieve.

Whenever a sûrah is sent down to them, ‘ Believe ye in God, and fight strenuously together with His Apostle,’ those of them who have the means will ask thee for leave to stay at home and say, ‘ Let us be amongst those who stay behind.’ They are content to be with those who are left behind. A stamp is set upon their hearts that they should not discern.

But the Apostle and those who believe with him are strenuous with their wealth and with their persons; these shall have good things, and these it is shall prosper.

God has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye ; that is the mighty happiness !

There came certain desert Arabs that they might be excused ; and those stayed behind who had called