The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabick into French, by the Sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the French king, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities. To which is prefixed, the life of Mahomet, the prophet of the Turks, and author of the Alcoran. With A needful caveat, or admonition, for them who desire to know what use may be made of, or if there be danger in reading the Alcoran.

CHAP. XIV. The Chapter of Abraham, containing fifty Verses, written at Mecca.

IN the name of God, gracious and merci∣ful; I am the merciful God. That Book! We have sent it to thee to bring the People out of darkness, to guide them to the light, and the way of thy Lord, always victorious and glorious; Whatsoever is in Heaven, and in Earth, is Gods; misery is upon unbelie∣vers, they shall undergo at the end of the World exceeding great torments. They who prefer the wealth of this World to that of Hea∣ven, who go astray from the way of the Law, and would pervert it, are in a great error, far from truth; The Prophets spake the lan∣guage of them to whom they were sent to instruct them, God guideth and mis-leadeth whom to him seemeth good, he is Omnipo∣tent and prudent. We sent Moses with pro∣digies, to bring the Children of Israel out of darkness, and to conduct them to light, he taught them the Commandments of the Law, to serve for instruction to such as shall persevere to do well, and shall not be ingrateful for the favours they have received. Moses spake to his peo∣ple, and said, Remember the grace of God towards you, he delivered you from the Men

of Pharaoh, who caused you to suffer great afflictions, who murthered your Children, a∣bused your Wives, and laid upon you great evils (sent from God, because of your sins.) The Lord hath said, if ye be not ingrateful, I will augment my graces upon you; if ye be impious, you shall be afflicted. Moses said to his people; if you and all Men be impi∣ous, know, that God will be always glorious, and hath no need of you. Know ye not what befel (before you) the people of Noah, Aad, Te∣mod, and their Posterity, that none had know∣ledge of but God, because of their great num∣ber? He sent them his Commandments by his Prophets, they bit their fingers for an∣ger, and said unto them, we renounce, and condemn your Doctrine: The Prophets said unto them, is there any doubt in the belief of the unity of God, Creator of Heaven, and Earth? he calleth you to remit your sins, and deferreth your punishment until the day ap∣pointed: They answered, Ye are Men like unto us, will you hinder us to adore the Gods of our Fathers? Produce arguments of strength sufficient to prove what you preach; the Pro∣phet replyed, We are Men as you are, but God giveth his grace to whom seemeth good to him; we are come to you through his permission, the true believers ought to trust in him; wherefore should we not be resigned to the will of God, who hath guided us into the right way? we will continue in well-doing, the righteous trust in his Divine Majesty. Then said the Infidels unto them, we will banish you from our Country, if you be not of our Re∣ligion; but God inspired into them, that the Infidels should perish, and that they should in∣habit

the Land after them; that he would pro∣tect such as should have his fear before their eyes, and fear the pains that are prepared for the wicked. The Prophets were protect∣ed of God, and the obstinate wicked were destroyed: they shall be precipitated into Hell, and drink of Water full of Corruption, Urine and Blood; Death shall appear on all sides be∣fore their eyes, before they have swallowed that Drink; they shall not dye in that misery, they shall suffer yet greater pains. The good works which the wicked have done, are like to Dust carried away by an impetuous Wind, they shall be unprofitable to them, and they shall be extirpated, because they depart from the truth: See they not that God hath created Heaven and Earth? that he can destroy them, and create in their place a new people, if it seem good to him? This is not difficult to God, all things are known to him. The more impotent of them that have followed the wick∣ed, shall say at the Day of Judgment, we o∣beyed you, will you this day deliver us from the punishment of God? They shall answer, had God guided us into the right way, we had conducted you thither, we are alike mi∣serable with you, we cry and lament in our misery, but find neither refuge nor protection. The Devil shall say unto them, what God hath promised to you is infallible, I foretold it to you, I caused you to transgress his Com∣mandments through my temptations; I had none other power over you, but to tempt you, you did me no harm when ye hearkened to me, you drew mischief on your selves, I am not your Tutor, neither are you mine, I was impious, when heretofore I suffered you to

adore me; Hell is prepared for you, and for all unbelievers, there shall they endure great tor∣ments, and the righteous shall enter into Pa∣radise, wherein flow many Rivers, where they shall dwell eternally, with all manner of bles∣sedness and content; Seest thou not how God speaketh by a Parable? A good word is like to a good Tree that hath taken Root in the Earth, and hath raised its Branches to Heaven, and produceth its Fruit in due time, through the permission of his Divine Majesty; he teacheth the people his Parables, perhaps they will be mindful: An evil word is like to a bad Tree, that hath been torn from the Earth, there is nothing to sustain it, and it is with∣out Root, or Fruit: God fortifieth the true believers through his word in this World, and in the other, and causeth the unjust to err, he doth what to him seemeth good: Seest thou not them that have changed his grace into impiety, and have made such as have follow∣ed them to dwell in the House of perdition? They shall abide eternally in the fire of Hell. They say, that God hath a Companion equal to him, and err from the way of his Law; Say unto them, ye shall have wealth in this World, but Hell is your Rendezvous. Say to the true believers, who make their prayers at the time appointed, and give alms in private, or publick, that the day shall come wherein they shall neither buy nor sell, and where eve∣ry one shall be recompensed for his works. Say unto them, God hath created the Earth, and the Heavens, he maketh the Rain to de∣scend from Heaven, which causeth to spring sorth all sorts of Fruits to enrich you, he created the Ship, that through his permission

saileth on the Sea, he created the Rivers, the Sun and the Moon, which move continually, he created the Day and the Night, and bestow∣eth on you whatsoever ye desire, his favours towards you can neither be numbred, nor re∣counted, nevertheless the inhabitants of Mec∣ca are always impious and wicked; Abraham said, Lord protect this City, and make it to be the refuge of the World; Keep me and my Children from the worship of Idols, they have seduced a part of the People; he that shall fol∣low me, and profess thy unity, shall be mine; if any one disobey me, thou art gracious and merciful: Lord, one part of my Lineage in∣habiteth Mecca, in a place unfruitful, give them the grace to persevere in thy service, incline the hearts of Men to affect them, en∣rich them with the Fruits of the Earth, per∣adventure they will thank thee; thou knowest whatsoever is in the World, I know it not; nothing that is in Heaven, or in Earth is hid from thee; praised be God, who hath given me Ismael and Isaac in mine old age, he hear∣eth prayers when it pleaseth him; Lord, give me and my Posterity the grace to persevere in well doing, hear my prayers, pardon me, and pardon my Father, and all true believers at the Day of Judgment. Think not that God is ignorant of the actions of Infidels, he defer∣reth the punishment of their crimes until the day that all Men shall have their eyes opened: that day shall they behold their sins before their eyes, and their hearts shall be full of de∣solation; If thou preachest to the people the Day of Judgment, hath God (will the wick∣ed say) preserved us to this present time, to do what thou dost appoint us? Say unto them,

have ye not sworn heretofore, that there is no Resurrection? Ye have dwelt with the unjust, ye have seen how they have been chastised, and how we have spoken to you in Parables. Certainly they conspire, but God knoweth their conspiracy, their policy is to tempt the prophet, to see if he will make the Moun∣tains to move. Think not that God will vi∣olate what he hath promised to the Prophets, he is Omnipotent, and avengeful. Consider the day wherein the Earth and Heavens shall change their face, and all people shall rise a∣gain; that Day shall one sole God Omnipo∣tent command Men to come out of their Monuments; Thou shalt that day see the wick∣ed bound in their Chains, their Garments shall be full of Pitch, and Guitran, their Faces shall be covered with Fire, that Day shall he recompence and chastise every one ac∣cording to his works, he is exact to keep account; This Book was sent to in∣struct the People, and teach them that there is but one God; the wise will remem∣ber.