Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/315

Ⅸ, 110-115. fear of God and of His good-will better, or he who has laid his foundation upon a crumbling wall of sand, which crumbles away with him into the fire of hell ? — but God guides not a people who do wrong.

The building which they have built will not cease to be a source of doubt in their hearts until their hearts are cut asunder ; but God is knowing, wise.

Verily, God hath bought of the believers their persons and their wealth, for the paradise they are to have ; they shall fight in the way of God, and they shall slay and be slain : promised in truth, in the law and the gospel and the Qurʼân ; — and who is more faithful to His covenant than God ?

Be ye glad then in the covenant which ye have made with Him, for that is the mighty happiness ! Those who repent, those who worship, those who praise, those who fast, those who bow down, those who adore, those who bid what is right and forbid what is wrong, and those who keep the bounds of God, — glad tidings to those who believe !

It is not for the prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for the idolaters, even though they be their kindred, after it has been made manifest to them that they are the fellows of hell.

Nor was Abraham’s asking pardon for his father aught else but through a promise he had promised him ; but when it was made manifest to him that he was an enemy to God, he cleansed himself of him ; verily, Abraham was pitiful and clement.