________________
XXXI, 14-23.
THE CHAPTER OF LOQMÂN.
133
me; then unto me is your return, and I will inform you of that which ye have done ! -
[15] 'O my son ! verily, if there were the weight of a grain of mustard seed and it were (hidden) in the rock, or in the heaven, or in the earth, God would bring it (to light). Verily, God is subtle, well aware !
O my son! be steadfast in prayer, and bid what is reasonable and forbid what is wrong; be patient of what befalls thee, verily, that is one of the determined affairs.
"And twist not thy cheek proudly, nor walk in the land haughtily; verily, God loves not every arrogant boaster : but be moderate in thy walk, and lower thy voice; verily, the most disagreeable of voices is the voice of asses!'
Have ye not seen that God has subjected to you what is in the heavens and what is in the earth, and has poured down upon you His favours, outwardly and inwardly? but amongst men are those who wrangle about God, without knowledge, and without guidance, and without an illuminating book!
[20] And when it is said to them, “ Follow what God has sent down;' they say, 'Nay! we will follow what we found our fathers agreed upon ;'-what! though Satan calls them to the torment of the blaze ?
But he who resigns his face unto God, and does good, he has grasped the firm handle ; unto God is the issue of affairs. But he who misbelieves, let not his misbelief grieve thee; to us is their return, and we will inform them of what they do ;-for, verily, God knows the nature of men's breasts !
We will let them enjoy themselves a little; then we will force them to rigorous woe !
Digitized by Google
