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. LIII The Chapter of the Starre, containing sixty Ver∣ses, written at Mecca.

IN the name of God, gracious and merciful. I swear by the Star that disappeareth, that your friend Mahomet ••r∣reth not, he speaketh nothing of his own, he speaketh but what hath been inspired into him by the omnipotent, and most bountifull▪ God. The Angell approached him in the highest place of heaven, within the length of two bowes; & somewhat nearer; God hath inspired into him, what he hath inspired into his servant, who altered nothing of what hath been inspired into him. He hath spoken what he hath seen, and in what form the Angel was. Dispute not a∣gainst him, concerning what he saw; he another time saw the Angel in Heaven, near to the Tree that is at the right side of Gods throne; and although that tree was covered with that which covered him, his fight was not dazled, and he is not in error. Certainly he hath seen the great wonders of his Lord: Have ye considered Alat, Az, and Menat, those three Idols? Will ye s••••are that God hath daugh∣ters, and that ye have Sonnes? ye will make a false Oath, and shall be in a manifest error; Those Idols have nothing but the names which your Fathers and you have given them, God hath not commanded you

to worship them, ye follow only your passions, remote from the truth, God teacheth you the way of Salvation by the mouth of his Prophet; doth man obtain from Idols what he required of them? God is God in the beginning, and the end; How many Angels be there in Heaven, whose prayers are unprofitable, if God doth not accept them? They that believe not in the day of Judgment, say, that Angels are maidens, they understand not what they say; they speak through opinion, and that opinion is not conformed to truth. Depart thou farre from them that reject our Law, and desire only the goods of the Earth, and are ignorant of all other things. Thy Lord knoweth them that go a stray from the right way, and such as fol∣low the path of Salvation; all that is in the Heavens, and Earth, is Gods, he shall chastise the wicked, and reward the just. He pardoneth their veniall sinnes, who flie sinnes mortall, he is exceeding merciful. He knoweth that he hath created you of Earth, and that he formed you in your mothers womb. Extol not your selves, he knoweth such as have his fear before their eyes. Hast thou seen him that abandoned the faith? a little wealth was given him, and nothing more; doth he know what must befall him? hath he knowledg of what is to come? will he not learn what is written in the books of Moses and Abraham? to wit, that none shall bear the burden of another; man shal have but what he shal have gained; he shal in the end see his la∣bour be rewarded after his works, and all shall appear in the presence of thy Lord. H•• it is that causeth to laugh and mourn, to live and to dye; he created the male and fe∣male of every thing, he giveth and taketh away mans soul, when he listeth; he is most rich, and hath no want of any person. He is the Lord of the Planet, which men a∣dored. He destroyed A•••• and Temod, drowned the people of Noah, who were most erroneous and unjust, overthrew the City of Lot, and covered it with burning stone. In whom will they believe, if they believe not in thy Lord? This Prophet is sent to preach to you the pains of hel, as did the other Prophets that were before you; The day of Judgment approacheth, and none but God

knoweth when it will come; wonder ye at this discourse? Ye scoffe, and lament not when ye are spoken to, but ye shal be surprized in your sin, if ye humble not your selves be∣fore God, neither worship him.

Notes

• The Turks believe that there is an Apple tree at the right side of throne of God, and that none can ascend higher then its bran∣ches, no not the an∣gels.
• See Gelal∣din.
• See Gelal∣din.
• Great and small sins.