which they do. Say, Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel
(for he hath caused the Koran to descend on thy heart,
by the permission of God, confirming that which was
before revealed, a direction, and good tidings to the
faithful); whosoever is an enemy to God, or his angels,
or his apostles, or to Gabriel, or Michael, verily
God is an enemy to the unbelievers. And now we
have sent down unto thee evident signs, and none will
disbelieve them but the evil-doers. Whenever they
make a covenant, will some of them reject it? yea,
the greater part of them do not believe. And
when there came unto them an apostle from God, confirming
that scripture which was with them, some of those
to whom the scriptures were given, cast the book of
God behind their backs, as if they knew it not:
and they followed the device which the devils devised
against the kingdom of Solomon; and Solomon was not
an unbeliever; but the devils believed not, they taught
men sorcery, and that which was sent down to the two
angels at Babel, Harut, and Marut: yet those who
taught no man until they had said, Verily we are a
temptation, therefore be not an unbeliever. So
men learned from those two a charm by which they might
cause division between a man and his wife; but they
hurt none thereby, unless by God’s permission;
and they learned that which would hurt them, and not
profit them; and yet they knew that he who bought that
art should have no part in the life to come, and woful
is the price for which they have sold their souls,
if they knew it. But if they had believed and
feared God, verily the reward they would have had from
God would have been better, if they had known it.
O true believers, say not to our apostle, Raina; but
say, Ondhorna;[29] and hearken: the infidels
shall suffer a grievous punishment. It is not
the desire of the unbelievers, either among those
unto whom the scriptures have been given, or among
the idolaters, that any good should be sent down unto
you from your Lord: but God will appropriate his
mercy unto whom he pleaseth; for God is exceeding
beneficent. Whatever verse we shall abrogate,
or cause thee to forget, we will bring a better than
it, or one like unto it. Dost thou not know that
God is almighty? Dost thou not know that unto
God belongeth the kingdom of heaven and earth? neither
have ye any protector or helper except God. Will
ye require of your apostle according to that which
was formerly required of Moses? but he that hath exchanged
faith for infidelity, hath already erred from the
straight way. Many of those unto whom the scriptures
have been given, desire to render you again unbelievers,
after ye have believed; out of envy from their souls,
even after the truth is become manifest unto them;
but forgive them, and avoid them, till God shall send
his command; for God is omnipotent. Be constant
in prayer, and give alms; and what good ye have sent
before for your souls, ye shall find it with God;
surely God seeth that which ye do. They say, Verily