Translated by J. M. Rodwell Copyright 2005
http://thriceholy.net/Texts/Koran.html#footer1
KORAN
(some excerpts related to Jews and Christians)
Introduction: Sura 2 - 5
Verily, they who believe (Muslims), and they who follow the Jewish
religion, and the Christians, and the Sabeites—whoever of these
believeth in God and the last day, and doeth that which is right,
shall have their reward with their Lord: fear shall not come upon
them, neither shall they be grieved.
Desire ye then that for your sakes31 the Jews should believe? Yet a
part of them heard the word of God, and then, after they had
understood it, perverted it, and knew that they did so.
And they say, ‘None but Jews or Christians shall enter Paradise:’
This is their wish. SAY: Give your proofs if ye speak the truth.
But they who set their face with resignation Godward, and do what is
right,— their reward is with their Lord; no fear shall come on them,
neither shall they be grieved.
Moreover, the Jews say, ‘The Christians lean on nought:’ ‘On nought
lean the Jews,’ say the Christians: Yet both are readers of the
Book. So with like words say they who have no knowledge. But on the
resurrection day, God shall judge between them as to that in which
they differ.
Moreover, the Jews say, ‘The Christians lean on nought:’ ‘On nought
lean the Jews,’ say the Christians: Yet both are readers of the
Book. So with like words say they who have no knowledge. But on the
resurrection day, God shall judge between them as to that in which
they differ.
But until thou follow their religion, neither Jews nor Christians
will be satisfied with thee. SAY: Verily, guidance of God,— that is
the guidance! And if, after ‘the Knowledge’ which hath reached thee,
thou follow their desires, thou shalt find neither helper nor
protector against God.
And this to his children did Abraham bequeath, and Jacob also,
saying, ‘O my children! truly God hath chosen a religion for you; so
die not unless ye be also Muslims.’
Were ye present when Jacob was at the point of death? when he said
to his sons, ‘Whom will ye worship when I am gone?’ They said, ‘We
will worship thy God and the God of thy fathers Abraham and Ismael
and Isaac, one God, and to Him are we surrendered (Muslims).’
That people have now passed away; they have the reward of their
deeds, and ye shall have the meed of yours: but of their doings ye
shall not be questioned.
They say, moreover, ‘Become Jews or Christians that ye may have the
true guidance.’ SAY: Nay! the religion of Abraham, the sound in
faith, and not one of those who join gods with God!
Will ye say, ‘Verily Abraham, and Ismael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and
the tribes, were Jews or Christians?’ SAY: Who knoweth best, ye, or
God? And who is more in fault than he who concealeth the witness
which he hath from God? But God is not regardless of what ye do.
And the Jews plotted, and God plotted: But of those who plot is God
the best.
Abraham was neither Jew nor Christian; but he was sound in the
faith, a Muslim; and not of those who add gods to God.
Among the Jews are those who displace the words of their scriptures,
and say, ‘We have heard, and we have not obeyed. Hear thou, but as
one that heareth not; and LOOK AT US;’ perplexing with their
tongues, and wounding the Faith by their revilings.
But if they would say, ‘We have heard, and we obey; hear thou, and
REGARD US;’ it were better for them, and more right. But God hath
cursed them for their unbelief. Few only of them are believers!
O ye to whom the Scriptures have been given! believe in what we have
sent down confirmatory of the Scripture which is in your hands, ere
we efface your features, and twist your head round backward, or
curse you as we cursed the sabbathbreakers: and the command of God
was carried into effect.
Say the Jews and Christians, ‘Sons are we of God and his beloved.’
SAY: Why then doth he chastise you for your sins? Nay! ye are but a
part of the men whom he hath created! He will pardon whom he
pleaseth, and chastise whom he pleaseth, and with God is the
sovereignty of the Heavens and of the Earth, and of all that is
between them, and unto Him shall all things return.
O people of the Book! now hath our Apostle come to you to clear up
to you the cessation of Apostles, lest you should say, ‘There hath
come to us no bearer of good tidings, nor any warner.’ But now hath
a bearer of good tidings and a warner reached you. And God is
Almighty.
And remember when Moses said to his people, ‘O my people! call to
mind the goodness of God towards you when he appointed Prophets
among you, and appointed you kings, and gave you what never had been
given before to any human beings:
Enter, O my people! the holy land which God hath destined for you.
Turn not back, lest ye be overthrown to your ruin.’
Among the Jews are those who displace the words of their scriptures,
and say, ‘We have heard, and we have not obeyed. Hear thou, but as
one that heareth not; and LOOK AT US;’ perplexing with their
tongues, and wounding the Faith by their revilings.
For the wickedness of certain Jews, and because they turn many from
the way of God, we have forbidden them goodly viands which had been
before allowed them.
And because they have taken usury, though they were forbidden it,
and have devoured men’s substance in frivolity, we have got ready
for the infidels among them a grievous torment.
But their men of solid knowledge, and the believers who believe in
that which hath been sent down to thee, and in what hath been sent
down before thee, and who observe prayer, and pay the alms of
obligation, and believe in God and the latter day,— these! we will
give them a great reward.
O Apostle! let not those who vie with one another in speeding to
infidelity vex thee;— of those who say with their mouths, ‘We
believe,’ but whose hearts believe not;— or of the Jews — listeners
to a lie — listeners to others — but who come not to thee. They
shift the words of the law from their places, and say, ‘If this be
brought to you, receive it; but if this be not brought to you, then
beware of it.’ For him whom God would mislead, thou canst in no wise
prevail with God! They whose hearts God shall not please to cleanse,
shall suffer disgrace in this world, and in the next a grievous
punishment;
Listeners to a falsehood and greedy devourers of the forbidden! If,
therefore, they have recourse to thee, then judge between them, or
withdraw from them. If thou withdraw from them, then can they have
no power to injure thee. But if thou judge, then judge between them
with equity. Verily, God loveth those who deal equitably.
Verily, we have sent down the law (Towrat) wherein are guidance and
light. By it did the prophets who professed Islam judge the Jews;
and the doctors and the teachers judged by that portion of the Book
of God, of which they were the keepers and the witnesses. Therefore,
O Jews! fear not men but fear Me; and barter not away my signs for a
mean price! And whoso will not judge by what God hath sent down —
such are the Infidels.
O Believers! take not the Jews or Christians as friends. They are
but one another’s friends. If any one of you taketh them for his
friends, he surely is one of them! God will not guide the evil
doers.
‘The hand of God,’ say the Jews, ‘is chained up.’ Their own hands
shall be chained up — and for that which they have said shall they
be cursed. Nay! outstretched are both His hands! At His own pleasure
does He bestow gifts. That which hath been sent down to thee from
thy Lord will surely increase the rebellion and unbelief of many of
them; and we have put enmity and hatred between them that shall last
till the day of the Resurrection. Oft as they kindle a beacon fire
for war shall God quench it! and their aim will be to abet disorder
on the earth: but God loveth not the abettors of disorder.
Verily, they who believe, and the Jews, and the Sabeites, and the
Christians — whoever of them believeth in God and in the last day,
and doth what is right, on them shall come no fear, neither shall
they be put to grief.
Of all men thou wilt certainly find the Jews, and those who join
other gods with God, to be the most intense in hatred of those who
believe; and thou shalt certainly find those to be nearest in
affection to them who say, ‘We are Christians.’ This, because some
of them are priests and monks, and because they are free from pride.
Conclusions: Sura 59 - 62
After the spoils of these Jews which God hath assigned to his
apostle, ye pressed not with horse or camel. But God giveth his
apostles power over what he will. God is Almighty.
They (the Jews) will not fight against you in a body except in
fenced towns or from behind walls. Mighty is their valor among
themselves! thou thinkest them united — but their hearts are
divided. This for that they are a people who understand not.
SAY: O ye Jews, if ye profess that ye rather than other men are the
friends of God, then wish for death if ye are men of truth.
