Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/313

Ⅸ, 98-103. the bounds which God has sent down to His Apostle ; but God is knowing and wise.

And of the Arabs of the desert are some who take what they expend to be a forced loan, and they wait a turn of fortune against you ; against them shall a turn of evil fortune be; for God both hears and knows.

And of the Arabs of the desert are some who believe in God and the last day, and who take what they expend in alms to be a means of approach to God and to the Apostle’s prayers, — is it not a means of approach for them ? God will make them enter into His mercy; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.

As for the foremost in the race, the first of hose who fled, and the helpers , and those who followed them in their kindness, God is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him; He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein for aye; that is the mighty happiness.

And of those who are round about you of the Arabs of the desert, some are hypocrites, and of the people of Medînah, some are stubborn in hypocrisy; thou dost not know them — we know them; we will torment them twice over ; then shall they be sent off into mighty woe.

And others have confessed their sins, — that they have mixed with a righteous action another evil action; — haply it may be God will turn again to them ; verily, God is forgiving and merciful.