Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/47

ⅩⅨ, 53-65. him from the right side of the mountain; and we made him draw nigh unto us to commune with him, and we granted him, of our mercy, his brother Aaron as a prophet.

And mention, in the Book, Ishmael; verily, he was true to his promise, and was an apostle, — a prophet; and he used to bid his people prayers and almsgiving, and was acceptable in the sight of his Lord.

And mention, in the Book, Idrîs ; verily, he was a confessor, — a prophet ; and we raised him to a lofty place.

These are those to whom God has been gracious, of the prophets of the seed of Adam, and of those whom we bore with Noah, and of the seed of Abraham and Israel, and of those we guided and elected; when the signs of the Merciful are read to them, they fall down adoring and weeping.

And successors succeeded them, who lost sight of prayer and followed lusts, but they shall at length find themselves going wrong, except such as repent and believe and act aright ; for these shall enter Paradise, and shall not be wronged at all, — gardens of Eden, which the Merciful has promised to His servants in the unseen; verily, His promise ever comes to pass !

They shall hear no empty talk therein, but only ‘ peace ;’ and they shall have their provision therein, morning and evening; that is Paradise which we will give for an inheritance to those of our servants who are pious !

We do not descend save at the bidding