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18
THE QUR'ÂN.
II, 121-128.
And when Abraham raised up the foundations of the House with Ishmael, 'Lord! receive it from us, verily, thou art hearing and dost know. Lord! and make us too resigned unto Thee, and of our seed also a nation resigned unto Thee, and show us our rites, and turn towards us, verily, Thou art easy to be turned and merciful. Lord! and send them an apostle from amongst themselves, to read to them Thy signs and teach them the Book and wisdom, and to purify them; verily, Thou art the mighty and the wise.'
Who is averse from the faith of Abraham save one who is foolish of soul? for we have chosen him in this world, and in the future he is surely of the righteous.
[125] When his Lord said to him, 'Be resigned,' he said, 'I am resigned' unto the Lord of the worlds.'
And Abraham instructed his sons therein, and Jacob (saying), 'O my sons ! verily, God has chosen for you a religion, do not therefore die unless ye be resigned 1.'
Were ye then witnesses when Jacob was facing death, when he said to his sons, 'What will ye serve when I am gone ?' They said, 'We will serve thy God, the God of thy fathers Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, one God; and we are unto Him resigned.'
That is a nation that has passed away, theirs is what they gained; and yours shall be what ye have gained; ye shall not be questioned as to that which they have done.
* See note, p. 15. The last sentence might be rendered 'until ye become Muslims.'
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