Page:The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930).pdf/48

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THE COW
33

79 Therefore woe be unto those who write the Scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written, and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.
80 And they say: The fire (of punishment) will not touch us save for a certain number of days. Say: Have ye received a covenant from Allah—truly Allah will not break His covenant—or tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?
81 Nay, but whosoever hath done evil and his sin surroundeth him; such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.
82 And those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden. They will abide therein.
83 And (remember) when We made a covenant with the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none save Allah (only), and be good to parents and to kindred and to orphans and the needy, and speak kindly to mankind; and establish worship and pay the poor-due. Then, after that, ye slid back, save a few of you, being averse.
84 And when We made with you a covenant (saying): Shed not the blood of your people nor turn (a party of) your people out of your dwellings. Then ye ratified (Our covenant) and ye were witnesses (thereto).[1]
85 Yet ye it is who slay each other and drive out a party of your people from their homes, supporting one another against them by sin and transgression[2]—and if they came to you as captives ye would ransom them, whereas their expulsion was itself unlawful for you—Believe ye in part of the Scripture and disbelieve ye in part thereof? And what is the reward of those who do so save ignominy in the life of the world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be consigned to the most grievous doom. For Allah is not unaware of what ye do.

  1. v. 83 is generally taken as referring to the Biblical covenant and v. 84 as referring to the solemn treaty which the Jews of Al-Madînah made with the Prophet in the year 1 A.H.
  2. The reference is to the wars between the Arab tribes of Al-Madînah in which the Jews used to take part as allies of one and the other, Jew waging war upon Jew.