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. XVI. The Chapter of the Bee, containing an hundred and eight Ver∣ses, written at Mecca.

IN the Name of God, gracious and mercifull. The cha∣stisement of God is not far remote; desire it not before its time; praised be God, he hath no companion, he cau∣seth the Angels to descend, and sendeth his inspirations to whom it pleaseth him; preach his power, and the pains of Hell to unbelievers; there is no God but he, fear him, he created the earth and the heavens, he is more power∣full then your Idols, and created man of the mire of the earth, neverthelesse he is obstinate in his pride▪ he created cleane beasts for your use, you draw (from them) great emolument, and advantage, to cloth and nourish your selves, yee see their beauty when they feed; and and when they lead them to pasture, they beare the burthen and whatsoever ye will send into Cities, what ye cannot carry without them, but with exceeding great travell; God is gracious and mercifull towards you; he created horses, and mules, and asses to beare you; he crea∣ted many glorious things, of which you have not know∣ledge.

He teacheth them the right way, who observe his Commandements; had it pleased him, he had guided all into the way of his Law. He s••ndeth you water from Hea∣ven to take away thirst, and causeth plants to bring forth, and trees that nourish your flocks; he maketh the Olive trees to produce, the Date trees, Vines, and all sorts of fruits. These things are arguments of his Unity, to such as consider them; he created the night, the day, the Sun, the Moone, and the Stars, that move at his pleasure, these things are signs of his Omnipotency to them that are wise; He created whatsoever is on Earth of divers colours kind, and species; he created the sea, which affordeth you fish, pearles, and other precious stones to adorne you; thou seest how the ships saile upon the waters, and divide the waves for the advantage of commerce, peradventure you will give God thanks for his favours. He raised the mountaines to make firm the Earth, and to hinder it to move, he created the rivers, and established way••s to guide you; he made the Stars to conduct you by night upon the sea, and the mountains to direct you in your way by day▪ who but he could have creat••d what he hath made? will you never consider it? It is not in your power to keep account of his mercies, he is altogether gracious and mercifull, and knoweth the secret of your souls: the Idolls that ye adore can create nothing, but are things dead, without motion, and know not in what time the world shall rise again; your God is one sole God; such as believe not the end of the world, such as deny his U∣nity, and boast of their false beliefe, are abhorred of his divine Majesty; when they are interrogated concerning what God hath inspired into Mahomet; they answered, that he preacheth Fables of antiquity, but they shall bear their burthen at the day of Judgement, who have sedu∣ced them from the right way, and have not known it. They that were before them were deceivers, God overthrew their habitations, the ruines fell upon them, and he cha∣stised them; when they least thought of it; he sh••ll make them ashamed at the day of Judgement, and shall demand of them, where be the Idols for which they disputed a∣gainst

true-believers? Such as have knowledge of Gods Commandements, assure that shame shall be upon the foreheads of Infidels, and that the Angels shall cause them to die, because of the enormity of their sins; They will say at the houre of death, that they believe in God, and are penitent for their faults, God knoweth what they have done; he shall command them to enter into hell, where is the abode of the proud: He shall command them who have his feare before their eyes to enter the house of E∣ternity, and the gardens Eden, wherein flow many ri∣vers, there shall they dwell eternally with the height of their desire. Shall the wicked continue in their sin, untill the Angels cause them to die, or untill the day of Judge∣ment? Thus did their predecessors. God was not unjust towards them, they drew mischief on themselves through their iniquity; they were chastised and felt the punish∣ment which they had despised; they have said, had it so pleased God, our fathers and we had adored him alone; so spake their predecessors. The Prophets are not obli∣ged, but to preach and instruct the people. We sent a Prophet to every Nation, to instruct it, and to command the worship of one sole God, and to quit the adoration of Tagot, and of Idols; God guided some into the right way, and others were seduced; consider what is the end of the wicked; if thou indeavourest to put them into the right path, thou shalt lose thy time, God guideth not them that desire to erre, they shall be deprived of protection at the day of Judgement; they have sworne by their faith, that God will not make the dead to rise againe, but he shall cause them to rise againe, to chastise them according to his promises; but the greatest part of men doe not know it, did they know it, they would acknowledge their errors, and the impious would acknowledge their blas∣phemies. When we willed any thing, we said, be thou, and it was! They that depart from the wicked for the love of their Lord, and shall convert themselves, shall be rewarded in this world, and yet more in the other, had they knowledge to understand it. Such as patiently en∣dure the injuries of unbelievers, and trust in their Lord

shall be recompensed when they least think of it. We here∣tofore sent but men to preach our Law; ask of them that have knowledge of the written Law, if it be not true? We have sent to them the Alcoran, to the end thou maist in∣struct men in our Commandements, peradventure they will consider it. The earth shall produce nothing to them, that shall conspire against the Prophet, they shall be cha∣stised when they least think of it; God shall afflict them in their commerce, they shall not escape his punishment, and their substance shall diminish by little and little be∣fore their eyes; God is gracious and mercifull to them only that honour him: See they not the shadow of that which God hath created, sometimes at the right hand, sometimes at the left, to adore his divine Majesty, they certainly are contemptible; whatsoever is on the earth, and in the heavens, beast, and Angels, worship God with humility, feare their Lord, and obey his Commande∣ments. God hath commanded them to worship and to feare one God, alone, to whom obedience is due, eternal∣ly; whom will ye feare but God? who but God shall pro∣tect you? when evill befalleth you, you have recourse to his divine goodnesse; being delivered, some of you give him thanks, and yet believe not in his Law: You seek on∣ly the riches of the earth, but you shall see what shall be your end, they say that their wealth proceedeth from their Idols: by God! an account of their blasphemies shall be required of them; they affirme that God hath daugh∣ters; assuredly they deceive themselves, and are not well satisfied, when it is said to them, that a daughter is born to them; they fly such as declare to them the punishment of their sins, God shall leave them in igmony, and they shall be contemned as the earth which they trample un∣der their feet; because they believe not in the day of Judgement, misery shall perpetually pursue them; God shall command for ever, and be eternally powerfull and victorious. Should God chastise men when they offend, he should leave no living creature upon the earth, he defer∣reth their punishment untill the time appointed, they can neither advance nor retard it; they affirm God to have that

which themselves are not satisfied to have; they lye, when they say that paradise is for them, doubtlesse they are er∣roneous, and shall be precipitated into the fire of hell. By God! we have sent heretofore Prophets to the people, the devill seduced men, and was master of the wicked in this world, but in the other they shall rescent great tor∣ments: We have sent thee the Alcoran, to cleare to men the doubts touching Religion, and to guide true belie∣vers into the right way. God sendeth raine from heaven to refresh the earth, this is an evident signe of his omni∣potency, to them that heare his word; ye have yet a to∣ken of his omnipotency in the beasts that give you milk, to nourish you, and another marke in the fruits of the earth, in the fruits of Date trees, and the Vines, from which you extract wine, and receive profit. These things are signes of his omnipotency, to such as comprehend them. The Lord inspired the Bee to dwell in the fields, to lodge in trees, in Hives, and to eat of all sorts of fruits, it produceth honey of divers colours, that serveth for a remedy to the diseases of men; these things are signes of Gods omnipotency to them that consider them. God hath created you, and shall cause you to dye; There be per∣sons among you that shall be full of ignominy in their life, to the end they may understand that God is omni∣potent, conferreth benefits on some more then on others. Slaves have no part in the faculties of their Masters, neither are they associate with them, neverthelesse they associate to God another God equall to him, and blas∣pheme against his grace.) God hath created you men, and women, hath given you Children, and Children to your Children, he hath enriched you with the riches of the earth; Will you after this grace believe in your Idols, which are things inanimate, vaine, and un∣profitable? Will yee bee ingratefull for the benefits of God? Will yee Worship what can neither benefit not hurt you? Believe not that there is another God companion and associate with God; Hee know∣eth what yee know not, hee teacheth you a Parable: A Slave that is poore cannot give Almes, and

he who is rich giveth almes secretly and publiquely, as he seeth good; are they both alike? Ought they to be put in paralell? Praise be to God: Certainly, the greatest part of men know not his graces, he teacheth you a para∣ble: Behold! two men, the one was borne deaf, and dumb, and given in charge to his Guardian, he knoweth not how to imploy him, he is capable neither of doing, nor spea∣king well, is he like to him that speaketh, that understan∣deth, teacheth men Justice, and followeth the right way? Whatsoever is in Heaven, or on Earth appertaineth to God, when he commandeth any thing, it is performed in the twinkling of an eye, yea sooner, he is omnipotent: He it is that causeth you to come out of the wombe of your mother, that giveth you hearing, sight, and sense, per∣haps ye will return him thanks; See ye not the birds that flye in the Aire; who sustaineth them but God? It is an evident signe of his omnipotency for the True-believers, he hath given you houses to inhabit, and the skins and furres of beasts to cover you, he hath given you their haire, and wooll, to furnish your houses, and enrich you; he created trees and clouds to overshadow you, made the Mountaines and Caves to cover you from rain, created garments to defend you from the heat of the Sun, and the rigour of cold, he hath accomplished his grace upon you, peradventure you will resigne your selves to the will of his divine Majesty, and professe his Unity. If the unbe∣lievers depart from the way of the Law, thou art obliged only to preach to them intelligibly; they know the grace of God, and contemne it, for that the greatest part of them are impious; preach unto them the day, wherein I will raise againe all the Nations of the world, and the Prophets and Apostles who have preached to them my Commandements, there shall be no excuse for Infidels, neither shall they find protection, or relaxation of their miseries: When they shall behold their Idols, they shall confesse that they were mislead, they shall understand the unity of thy Lord, and that their Idols are not a∣ble to intercede for them. God hath added to the punishment of Infidels, hath sent them evill upon

evill, because they hinder the world to follow his Law: Preach unto them the day, wherein I will cause to rise a∣gain all the Nations of the world, with the Prophet who preached to them, to be witness of their actions; I will be witness against them of thy Nation; I have sent thee the Book that unfoldeth the mysteries of my Law, to guid the people into the right way, and to declare the joyes of paradise to such as professe my unity. God com∣mandeth you to do only that which is reasonable, he com∣mandeth you to give almes, and do good to your parents, he forbiddeth whordom, disobedience, and injustice, en∣joyneth you to do good, perhaps you will consider it. Per∣form what ye have promised to God, break not promised faith, ye call God to be witness of your promises, hee knoweth all your actions. Do not like the woman who spun a thred, foulded it, and afterwards entangled it and spoyled it, believe not that there is deceit and error in your Law; If the unbelievers be more in numbers then you, God permitteth it, to prove you; he shall clear to you at the day of Judgement the doubts that be among you; had it so pleased him, you all had observed one and the same Law; he guideth, misleadeth whom it pleaseth him, and will exactly require of you an accompt of your actions. Believe not that there is deceipt in your Law, take heed of stumbling; having once confirmed your steps, ye shall be severely chastised, ••f ye seduce the people from the right way; do not violate what ye have promised to God, for any price, his grace is of more advantage to you then the wealth of the earth, had ye knowledge to understand it; your wealth is perishable, and the riches of heaven are eternall; he shall recompence them that persevere in wel-doing, and whosoever shall doe good works, shall be blessed in this world, and in the other. When thou shalt read the Alcoran, implore God to deli∣ver thee from the malice of the Divell, abominable to all the Creatures, he hath no power over them that trust in his divine Majestie, his power extendeth over such as go astray, who obey not him, and adore many Gods. When we alter any precepts (God well knoweth what he orda••∣neth),

they say thou art a lyar, but the greatest part of them are ignorant; Say unto them, that assuredly the Holy Ghost hath taught it from thy Lord, to confirme believers in their faith, and to guide into the right way them that professe his unity, and to anounce to them the joyes of Paradise. I know, that they will say that a man hath taught him the Alcoran. He whom they presume to have taught him, is a Persian by Nation, and speaketh the Language of the Persians, and the Alcoran is in the Arabique tongue, full of instruction and eloquence. They who will not believe in God, shall suffer great torments; such as renounce his Commandements, blaspheme a∣gainst his divine Majesty; those that reject his Law, after having professed it, shall feel the effect of his wrath, and be punished for preferring the wealth of the earth to the riches of Heaven; God guideth not unbelievers. They in whose hearts he hath imprinted disobedience, those whom he hath deprived of hearing, and sight, are ignorant, they doubtlesse shall be at the end of the world in the number of the damned; he is mercifull to them that convert, and repent to have mislead the people from the right way and persevere in obedience to his Com∣mandements. Be thou mindfull of the day, wherein man shall dispute against himself, and every one shall be re∣warded according to his works without injustice. God teacheth you a Parable; Behold a free and Priviledged City, on the which God poureth his graces on all sides with abundance, and is ingratefull for his benefits; but he sent upon it misery, famine, and feare, because of its ingratitude. God hath sent to the Inhabitants thereof a Prophet of their Nation, they have slandered him, and were chastised, because of their sinne. Eate of what God hath given you, and give him thanks for his grace; if it be he whom ye worship, he forbiddeth you to eat of Car∣rion, of Bloud, and Swines-flesh, and whatsoever is not slaine in pronouncing the name of God; he will be gra∣cious and mercifull to them who shall eat through ne∣cessity, without designe to offend him. Lye not, in saying, Behold that which is permitted to be eaten! blaspheme

not against God; such as blaspheme against him, shall not prosper in this world, and in the ot••er shall suffer grievous torments. We did heretofore prohibit the Jews to eat of what we have recounted to thee, we did to them no injustice, they drew mischief on themselves through their sinne; thy Lord is gracious and mercifull to them that ignorantly offend him, who convert, and doe good works. Abraham was obedient to God, and professed his unity, he adored not Idols, and gave thanks to God for his mercies; God elected, and guided him into the right way, he gave him wealth in this world, and placed him in the other, in the number of the blessed. We have in∣spired thee to follow the Law of Abraham, he professed the unity of God, and adored not Idols, he established the Sabbath among the Jews, of which they dispute; God shall judge their d••fference at the day of Judgement. Call the people to the Law of God with prudence, and prea∣chings, and dispute against them with good arguments, God knoweth them that depart from the right way; if they evilly intreat you, intreat them as they shall intreat you; if ye be patient, patience is advantagious to them that take it willingly, have patience for the love of God, and afflict not your selves with the deportments and ma∣lice of the wicked, God is with the righteous, who have his feare before their eyes.

Notes

• See Gelal∣din.
• The Jewes and Chri∣stians.