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THE QUR'ÂN.
XLVIII, 18-25.
they did swear allegiance to thee beneath the tree?; and He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down His shechina ? upon them and rewarded them with a victory nigh at hands, and many spoils for them to take; for God is mighty, wise!
[20] God promised you many spoils and hastened this on for you, and restrained men's hands from you; and it may be a sign for the believers and guide you in a right way;—and other (spoils) which ye could not gain; but God has encompassed them; for God is mighty over all.
And had those who misbelieved fought you, they would have turned their backs; then they would have found neither patron nor helper !—God's course which has been followed before, and thou shalt find no change in the course of God!
He it was who restrained their hands from you, and your hands from them in the mid-valley of Mecca* after He had given you the victory over them ; for God on what ye do doth look!
[25] Those who misbelieved and turned (you) away from the Sacred Mosque, and (turned away) the offering, kept from arriving at its destined place 5; and had it not been for believing men and believing women whom ye knew not, whom ye might have trampled on, and so a crime might have
1 At 'Hudaibîyeh. ? See Part I, p. 38, note 2. • Either the success at Khâibar or the taking of Mecca. * Alluding to the truce concluded at 'Hudaibîyeh.
6 Mohammed having only set out with the intention of peaceably performing the pilgrimage, carried cattle with him to sacrifice in the valley of Minâ, but was obliged by the Qurâis to turn back. See Introduction, pp. xxxix, xl.
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