The Alcoran of Mahomet, translated out of Arabique into French; by the sieur Du Ryer, Lord of Malezair, and resident for the King of France, at Alexandria. And newly Englished, for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities

CHAP. X. The Chapter of Jonas, containing an hundred and nine verses, written at Mecca.

IN the name of God, gracious and mercifull; I am God the mercifull. The precepts contained in this Book proceed from the Omnipotent: Doth the people wonder that we have inspired a man to preach to the wicked the torments of Hell, and to declare to True-believers, that they shall finde true what their Lord to them hath promi∣sed? The wicked say, that it is but sorcery and enchant∣ment. Certainly God is your Lord, who created Heaven and Earth in six dayes, and sitteth on his Throne, dispo∣sing all things; no man intercedeth for his Neighbour without his permission; he is your God and your Lord, worship him alone, will ye not consider it? you all shall be one day assembled before him; he promised with truth, that he will cause men to die, and raise them again, to re∣compence such as have believed in his Law, and done good works: The unbelievers shall drink a boyling drink, and shall endure great torments, because of their impiety. He it is that gave light to the Sun, and brightness to the Moon, that created the signes to know the number of years, the account of moneths, and of whatsoever he hath created, these things teach with truth, the miracles of his divine Majesty, to such as have knowledge to understand them; the difference of day and of night, and what God hath created in Heaven and in Earth, are marks of his u∣nity to them that have his fear before their eyes. They who believe there is no resurrection, such as place their con∣tent in the wealth of this world, they that trust in their ri∣ches, and that are ignorant of the commandements of God, shal be precipitated into the fire of Hell, because of their sins, and the True-believers shall be conducted by his di∣vine Majesty into delicious gardens, wherin flow many ri∣vers, they shall there find whatsoever they shall desire, and shal say at the beginning of their prayers, praised be God;

afterwards they shall say, Salvation be to God; and at the end of their prayers, prayse be to God, Lord of the Universe. Although God doth sometimes suddenly cha∣stise men, he alwayes attendeth the time of their Destiny. I will leave them that shall not believe in the Resurrecti∣on, in their errors, to their confusion; When man is af∣flicted, he invoketh us standing, sitting, lying, and in all postures, and when we have delivered him from his affli∣ction, he persisteth in his wickedness. It seemeth good to the wicked to do in this manner, we destroyed their Predecessors when they believed not in the Prophets, nei∣ther obeyed the precepts that we sent them, and have esta∣blished you on the Earth in their place after them, to see your deportments. When thou teachest our commande∣ments to them that believe not in the Resurrection; they say, that the precepts of the Alcoran are altogether con∣trary to what thou preachest, and that thou hast altered them; Say unto them, I have no will to alter them of my selfe, I do but what is inspired into me of God, I fear to be punished at the day of Judgement, should I disobey his divine Majesty; Say unto them, Had it pleased God, I had neither read, nor taught you his Commandements, I sojourned a long time with you, before I taught you, will you not learn them? Who is more unjust then hee that blasphemeth? God doth not aid the Infidels that worship what can neither benefit nor hurt them, and say, their Idols shall intercede for them; will you instruct God in any thing that he knoweth not, of what is in Heaven or in Earth? Praised be God, he hath no compa∣nion. Men were all of one Religion before Infidelity took place, and if God had not said that he would deferre the punishment of the wicked untill the day of Judgement, he had already destroyed them in this world, because of their impiety; They say, We will not believe in the Prophet, if God make not some miracles to appear in him; Say unto them, God knoweth what shall be; ex∣pect, I will expect with you: when we gave them to taste of content after their affliction, they had subtil∣ty upon our Commandements: Say unto them, God is

more subtile then you, his Messengers shall write your subtilties; he it is that made men to travell upon the earth and sea; It is he that sendeth them a favourable winde to rejoyce them in their ships; when tempest surpriseth them, they believe that the waves will overwhelm them, then they invoke God, with desire to embrace his Law, and say, if God doth deliver us from this danger, wee will believe in his Unity, and return him thanks for this mercy; and being delivered from perill, persist in their wickedness. O people! you draw mischief on your selves, you require nothing but the wealth of this world, you all shall appear before us to be judged according to your works; the life of the world is like to the rain, which we cause to descend from Heaven, it causeth with mixture all sorts of herbage to spring forth, for the nou∣rishment of men, and beasts. When the Earth is adorned with flowers, and enriched with its fruits, the Inhabitants oftentimes believe they have the power to cause their pro∣duction; then send we our chastisements day and night upon the Earth, and render it as mown, and as if the day before it had brought no fruit. Thus do I discover my∣steries to such as have knowledge to comprehend them. They beg their salvation of God; he saveth and putteth in the way of salvation whom it pleaseth him. He shall not cover the visage of them that have done good works, they shall appear without shame, and dwell in Paradise; where they shall remain eternally; and such as shall have done evill shall be punished after their demerits, they shall be covered with shame, and none shall be able to protect them, they shall be as if a great part of the obscu∣rity of the night had covered their countenance, they shall be condemned to the fire of hell, where they shall dwell eternally. Think on the day, wherein we will as∣semble all the world, and will say to the Infidels, hell shall be your habitation; where be the Idols you ado∣red? we have separated you from each other. Their Idols shall say to them, you have not worshipped us, God is witness; was there any thing between us and you, that rendred us ignorant of your adorations? That day shall

every one see what he hath done, and know that God is Truth it self; their Idols shall be separated farre from them, and they shall understand their blasphemies. Say unto them, who enricheth you with the wealth of heaven and earth? Who causeth life to come out of death, and death out of life? Who disposeth all things in the world? They shall answer, it is God: Say unto them, why have you not therefore his fear before your eyes? God is indeed your Lord, what is there after the Truth, but falshood? How will you depart from his Law? his Word shal be accomplished against Infidels. Say unto them, Have your Idols the power to cause men to die, and to rise again; how shall they be able to blaspheme after these reasons? Say unto them, Are your Idols able to conduct you into the right way? God guideth the people into the way of Salvation; who ought rather to be followed, he that gui∣deth the people into the right way, or he that misleadeth them? What reason have ye to follow the evill way; The greatest part of them follow but their own opinion, but their opinion is not conformable to the Truth; God knoweth all their actions, there is no falshood in the Alco∣ran, it confirmeth the ancient Scriptures, and perspicuously explaineth them; there is no doubt, but it proceedeth from the Lord of the Universe. They say Mahomet hath invented this Book; say unto them, come and bring any thing that resembleth it in Doctrine and Eloquence, and call the Idols which ye adore, we shall see if you are sincere; on the contrary, they have blasphemed, and have talked of what they understood not, when they heard the exposition of the Alcoran: Thus did their Prede∣cessours; but consider what is the end of the unjust; There be among them, who will believe in this Book, and others that will not believe; Thy Lord knoweth them that defile the earth; if they slander thee, say unto them, I will answer with my actions, and yee shall answer with yours, yee are innocent of what I act, and I am innocent of what yee doe. There be persons among them that have inclination to heare thee, but art thou able to cause the deafe to heare?

Should they not be deafe, they would learn nothing; O∣thers there be, who look towards thee, but art thou able to guide the blind? should they see clearly, they would not follow the right way; God doth no injustice to men, they doe injury to themselves, through the enor∣mity of their offences. I will cause them to rise again at the day of Judgement, as if they had remained but one houre of a day in the grave; they shall know each other, and the w••cked who have not believed in the Resurrecti∣on, shall be damned: I will shew thee many of them whom I will chastise; I will cause thee to die before they be chastised, and they all shall appear before me to be judged; God is witness of their actions, he shall punish them according to their demerits; every Nation of the world hath had a Prophet sent from God, who hath jud∣ged with reason, and without injustice, the differences that were among them touching Religion: They have said, at what time shall the wrath of God appear? Say unto them, I, of my selfe, can neither procure good nor evill, if God doth not permit it; every one hath his de∣stiny, when the time of their destiny arriveth, they can neither retard, or advance it one hour. Have ye conside∣red the punishment which God heretofore sent, by day, and by night against the wicked? When ye felt it, ye be∣lieved it, and fell into it headlong. It shall be said to the wicked at the day of Judgement, tast eternall torments; shall you not be punished according to your demerits? They will ask of thee, if the pains denounced against the wicked, and if the Resurrection be matters of truth? Say unto them, yes, my Lord is most exact in his words, and all the treasures of the world shall not be able to redeem one soul. They shal repent of their sins, when they shall feel the punishment of their offences, but shal be condemned with∣out injustice; whatsoever is in heaven and in earth apper∣taineth to God, he is exact in his promise, yet the greatest part of the world do not know him. He it is who causeth to die, and giveth life, and shall assemble men at the day of Judgement. O people! God hath sent you instructions, and remedies for your infirmities; he hath sent a guide to

conduct true-believers into the way of his mercy; it shall be to them of more advantage, then the treasures that they accumulate: Have ye considered the good things which he hath created for you? Ye have appointed one part to be eaten, and have prohibited to eate of another: Hath God permitted you to blaspheme against him? The opi∣nion of such as blaspheme against God, shall be but mi∣sery at the day of Judgement; God is full of goodnesse for the people, but most of them are ingratefull. In whatso∣ever place thou art, whether thou teach what is contained in the Alcoran, or whether thou labour, I am alwayes present, nothing is concealed from thy Lord, of what∣soever is in heaven and earth; be it great or litle, all is written in the intelligible Booke, that explaineth all things. There needeth no feare for such as recommend themselves to God, they shall be exempt from the pains of hell. The true-believers who have his feare before their eyes, shall suffer no torments in the other world; it is declared to them on earth, that they shall have all con∣tent, the word of God admits of no alteration; they shall enjoy perfection of felicity in Paradise. Afflict not thy self for the words of the impious, vertue proceedeth from God, he understandeth, and knoweth all things; what∣soever is in heaven and in earth appertaineth to him: They who worship Idols, follow but their opinion, and are lyars; God hath created the night for repose, and the day for labour; such as heare his Word, find therein marks of his omnipotency. They have said, doe ye believe that God hath a Son? Praised be God, he is most rich, and hath no need of any person, he possesseth whatsoever is in heaven, and earth; you have no reason in what ye alledge; will you speak of God what ye know not? God doth not aide in this world them that blaspheme against him, he shall cause them to feele after their death great torments, because of their impiety: Instruct them in the History of Noah, how he spake to his people, and said, O people! if my abode with you, & the preaching of the Commandments of God, be irksom to you, know, that all my support is in God; assemble your Doctors, with your Idols, & conceal not what

ye doe; goe whither you will, ye shall find none to pro∣tect you; if ye contemne my instructions, I require not of you a reward for my pains; I desire to receive of none other then God the Omnipotent, and recommend my self to the Mill of his divine Majesty. They slandered Noah, then did we save him in the Arke, and them that were with him; we prolonged their posterity on earth, and drowned the wicked; consider the end of such as heard the word of God, and contemned it. We sent to them o∣ther Prophets after Noah, they made them to see miracles, and gave them most salutary instructions; but they did not believe in what they had no will before to believe. Thus I harden the heart of the wicked. We after them, sent Moses to Pharaoh, and his subjects, without miracles, they arose against our Commandements, when the truth was preached to them, and said, it was but Magick and enchantment. Moses said to them, will you say that the Truth is Sorcery? God doth not assist Magicians and Sorcerers; they said, Art thou, with thy brother, come to divert us from the Religion of our Fathers, and to be esteemed on earth? We will believe in thy words. Then Pharaoh commanded to summon the most skilfull of his Magicians; they being assembled, Moses said to them, cast downe what yee have a will to cast downe on the ground; having cast downe their cords and staves, Mo∣ses said to them, know ye none other thing but Magick? God shall render it vaine, and unprofitable; he abhor∣reth such as defile the earth, he confirmeth the Truth through his Word, although it be against the will of the wicked. Few men believed in Moses, because of their feare to displease Pharoah, and his Ministers. Pharoah was powerfull on earth, and in the number of the wicked. Moses said, O people! if ye believe in God, resign your selves to his will; they answered, All our confidence is in God; Lord, doe not thou abandon us to the malice of the unjust: deliver us through thy mercy from the hands of Infidels. We inspired Moses and his brother to dwell some time in Egypt with their people, and to make Ora∣tories in their houses, therein to make their prayers, and

Preach to true believers. Lord, said Moses, thou hast en∣riched Pha••oah and his people in this world; they goe a∣stray from the way of thy Law; confound their riches, and harden their hearts, they will not believe untill they see thy judgements, and feel the effect of thy wrath; he said, I h••••e heard the prayers of you both; be faithfull in your Embassie, and follow not the way of the igno∣rant. We gave passage through the sea to the children of Israel; Pharoah pursued them with hatred and envy, untill his people were drowned. Then said Pharoah, I believe there is none other God, but the God of the children of Israel, and I wholly recommend my self to his Will. Thou dost now believe in God, O Pharoah! and wert before disobedient to his Commandements, filling the earth with thy enormities, I have delivered thee from this pe∣rill, that thou maist be an example to posterity; for ma∣ny among the people are ignorant of my omnipotency. We gave the Children of Israell to dwell in places full of delights, and enriched them with the good things of the Earth, they knew the differences that arose among them touching Religion, thy Lord shall judge them at the day of Judgement. If thou doubtest what we have taught thee, repaire to them that have read the Scripture before thee; what thy Lord hath taught thee is most true; be not thou of them that doubt, neither of such as derogate from the Commandements of God, thou shalt be in the number of the wretched. Those whom God will chastise, shall not believe in his divine Majesty, should they behold all the miracles of the world, untill they see the torments of Hell. The faith is exceeding profitable to the Cities that have received it; when the Inhabitants of the City of Jonas embraced it, we delivered them from our punish∣ment, we delivered them from ignominy, and enriched them, untill the time appointed; if it pleased thy Lord, all the world should believe in him; wilt thou abhorre the people untill they believe in God? No man can em∣brace the faith with••ut his permission, he sendeth his in∣dignation against them that disobey his Commande∣ments: Say unto them, Consider all that is in Heaven

and Earth, miracles and preaching are of no use to such as will not believe; shall they expect what their Prede∣cessors expected? Say unto them, expect, I will expect with you. I will deliver my Prophets, and the True-be∣lievers, from the torments of Hell, it is reasonable that I deliver them that obey my Commandements. Oh peo∣ple! who causeth you to doubt of the Law which I teach you? I will not worship the Idols that you adore, I wor∣ship one God alone, who shall cause you all to dye; I will embrace his Law, it commandeth to professe his Unity, I am not of them that say, he hath a companion equall to him. Adore not what can neither benefit nor hurt thee, if thou doe it, thou shalt be in the number of the unjust. If God will afflict thee, none can deliver thee from af∣fliction; if God will doe good to thee, none can deprive thee of his grace, he hath given it to whom seemeth good to himself, he is gracious and mercifull. Oh people! God teacheth you the truth; whosoever shall follow the right way, shall save his soule, and whosoever shall go a∣stray, shall destroy it. I am not your Tutor, I do but what is inspired into me; I have patience in my perseverance, I wil expect the Judgement of God, there is no better Judge then he.