The Speeches & Table-Talk of the Prophet Mohammad · Prophet Muhammad
THE MOON.
_In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful._ The Hour approacheth and the MOON is cleft asunder. But if they see a sign they turn aside, and say “Useless magic!” And they call it a lie, and follow their own lusts:--but everything is ordained. Yet there came to them messages of forbiddance-- Wisdom supreme--but warners serve not! Then turn from them: the Day when the Summoner shall summon to a matter of trouble, With eyes cast down shall they come forth from their graves, as if they were scattered locusts, Hurrying headlong to the summoner: the unbelievers shall say, “This is a hard day!” The people of Noah, before them, called it a lie, and they called our servant a liar, and said, “Mad!” and he was rejected. Then he besought his Lord, “Verily I am overpowered: defend me.” So we opened the gates of heaven with water pouring forth, And we made the earth break out in springs, and the waters met by an order foreordained; And we carried him on a vessel of planks and nails, Which sailed on beneath our eyes;--a reward for him who had been disbelieved. And we left it as a sign; but doth any one mind? _And what was my torment and warning?_ _And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth anyone mind?_
Ad called it a lie; _but what was my torment and warning?_ Lo, we sent against them a biting wind on a day of settled ill-luck. It tore men away as though they were trunks of palm-trees torn-up. _But what was my torment and warning?_ _And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth any one mind?_ Thamūd called the warning a lie: And they said, “A single mortal from among ourselves shall we follow? verily then we should be in error and madness. Is the reminding committed to him alone among us? Nay, he is an insolent liar.” They shall know to-morrow about the insolent liar! Lo! we will send the she-camel to prove them: so mark them well, and be patient. And predict to them that the water shall be divided between themselves and her, every draught taken in turn. But they called their companion, and he took and hamstrung her-- _And what was my torment and warning?_ Lo! we sent against them one shout; and they became like the dry sticks of the hurdle-maker. _And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth any one mind?_ The people of Lot called the warning a lie;-- Lo! we sent a sand-storm against them, except the family of Lot, whom we delivered at daybreak As a favour from us; thus do we reward the thankful. And he had warned them of our attack, but they misdoubted the warning; And they sought his guests, so we put out their eyes. “_So taste ye my torment and warning!_” And in the morning there overtook them a punishment abiding. “_So taste my torment and warning._” _And we have made the Korān easy for reminding; but doth any one mind?_
And there came a warning to the people of Pharaoh: They called our signs all a lie: so we gripped them with the grip of omnipotent might. Are your unbelievers better men than those? Is there immunity for you in the Books? Do they say, “We are a company able to defend itself?” They shall all be routed, and turn their backs. Nay, but the Hour is their threatened time, and the Hour shall be most grievous and bitter. Verily the sinners are in error and madness! One day they shall be dragged into the fire on their faces: “_Taste ye the touch of Hell._” Verily all things have we created by a decree, And our command is but one moment, like the twinkling of an eye. And we have destroyed the like of you:--_but doth any one mind?_ And everything that they do is in the Books; Everything, little and great, is written down. Verily the pious shall be amid gardens and rivers, In the seat of truth, before the King Omnipotent. (liv.)
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.