But let flee her fires who will, no flinching for me, son of Kais! 
     O children of Kais! stand firm before her! gain peace or give! 
     Who seeks flight before her fear, his Doom stands and bars the road. 
     Away!  Death allows no quitting of place, and brands are bare! 
     What is life for us, when the uplands and valleys are ours no more? 
     Ah, where are the mighty now? the spears and generous hands?

     FROM THE QU’RAN

     Translation of George Sale

CHAPTER XXXV.:  INTITLED “THE CREATOR.”  REVEALED AT MECCA

In the name of the most merciful GOD.  Praise be unto GOD, the creator of heaven and earth; who maketh the angels his messengers, furnished with two, and three, and four pair of wings:  GOD maketh what addition he pleaseth unto his creatures; for GOD is almighty.  The mercy which GOD shall freely bestow on mankind, there is none who can withhold; and what he shall withhold, there is none who can bestow, besides him:  and he is the mighty, the wise.  O men, remember the favor of GOD towards you:  is there any creator, besides GOD, who provideth food for you from heaven and earth? There is no GOD but he:  how therefore are ye turned aside from acknowledging his unity? If they accuse thee of imposture, apostles before thee have also been accused of imposture; and unto GOD shall all things return.  O men, verily the promise of GOD is true:  let not therefore the present life deceive you, neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning GOD:  for Satan is an enemy unto you; wherefore hold him for an enemy:  he only inviteth his confederates to be the inhabitants of hell.  For those who believe not there is prepared a severe torment:  but for those who shall believe and do that which is right, is prepared mercy and a great reward.  Shall he therefore for whom his evil work hath been prepared, and who imagineth it to be good, be as he who is rightly disposed, and discerneth the truth?  Verily GOD will cause to err whom he pleaseth, and will direct whom he pleaseth.  Let not thy soul therefore be spent in sighs for their sakes, on account of their obstinacy; for GOD well knoweth that which they do. It is God who sendeth the winds, and raiseth a cloud:  and we drive the same unto a dead country, and thereby quicken the earth after it hath been dead; so shall the resurrection be.  Whoever desireth excellence; unto GOD doth all excellence belong:  unto him ascendeth the good speech; and the righteous work will he exalt.  But as for them who devise wicked plots, they shall suffer a severe punishment; and the device of those men shall be rendered vain.  GOD created you first of the dust, and afterwards of seed:  and he hath made you man and wife.  No female conceiveth,