5. The Food

O ye who believe! fulfill (all) obligations.Lawful unto you (for food) are all beasts of cattle, with theexceptions named: But animals of the chase are forbidden while yeare in the sacred precincts or in the state of pilgrimage: for Allahdoth command according to His will and plan.

O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity ofthe symbols of Allah, nor of the Sacred Month, nor of the animalsbrought for sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals,nor the people resorting to the Sacred House, seeking of the bountyand good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the sacredprecincts and of pilgrim garb, ye may hunt, and let not the hatredof some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque leadyou to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye oneanother in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another insin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.

Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat,blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked thename of other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling,or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored todeath; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unlessye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificedon stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) byraffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those whoreject faith given up all hope of your religion: Yet fear them notbut fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you,completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Isl�m as yourreligion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination totransgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

They ask thee what is lawful to them (asfood). Say: Lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and whatye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the mannerdirected to you by Allah: eat what they catch for you, but pronouncethe name of Allah over it: and fear Allah; for Allah is swift intaking account.

This day are (all) things good and pure madelawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful untoyou and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are(not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women amongthe People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye givethem their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secretintrigues. If any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and inthe Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (allspiritual good).

O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer,wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub yourheads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are ina state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye areill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from privy, or ye havebeen in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take foryourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces andhands. Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to makeyou clean, and to complete his favor to you, that ye may begrateful.

And call in remembrance the favor of Allahunto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when yesaid: “We hear and we obey”: And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth wellthe secrets of your hearts.

O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah,as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others toyou make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: thatis next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted withall that ye do.

To those who believe and do deeds ofrighteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward.

Those who reject faith and deny our signswill be companions of Hell-fire.

O ye who believe! Call in remembrance thefavor of Allah unto you when certain men formed the design tostretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back theirhands from you: so fear Allah. And on Allah let believers put (all)their trust.

Allah did aforetime take a covenant from theChildren of Israel, and We appointed twelve chieftains among them.And Allah said: “I am with you: if ye (but) establish regularprayers, give Zakat (regular charity), believe in my messengers,honor and assist them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, verily Iwill wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to Gardens withrivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resistethfaith, he hath truly wandered from the path or rectitude.”

But because of their breach of theircovenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard: theychange the words from their (right) places and forget a good part ofthe message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them -barring a few – ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, andoverlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.

From those, too, who call themselvesChristians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part ofthe message that was sent them: so We stirred up enmity and hatredbetween the one and the other, to the Day of Judgment. And soon willAllah show them what it is they have done.

O people of the Book! There hath come to youour Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in theBook, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary): There hathcome to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,-

Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His goodpleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out ofdarkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a Path thatis straight.

They disbelieved indeed those that say thatAllah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: “Who then hath the least poweragainst Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary,his mother, and every one that is on the earth? For to Allahbelongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that isbetween. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over allthings.”

(Both) the Jews and the Christians say: “Weare sons of Allah, and his beloved.” Say: “Why then doth He punishyou for your sins? Nay, ye are but men,- of the men He hath created:He forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and He punisheth whom He pleaseth:and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth,and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)”

O People of the Book! Now hath come unto you,making (things) clear unto you, Our Messenger, after the break in(the series of) our messengers, lest ye should say: “There came untous no bringer of glad tidings and no warner (from evil)”: But nowhath come unto you a bringer of glad tidings and a warner (fromevil). And Allah hath power over all things.

Remember Moses said to his people: “O mypeople! Call in remembrance the favor of Allah unto you, when Heproduced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what Hehad not given to any other among the peoples.

“O my people! Enter the holy land which Allahhath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for thenwill ye be overthrown, to your own ruin.”

They said: “O Moses! In this land are apeople of exceeding strength: Never shall we enter it until theyleave it: if (once) they leave, then shall we enter.”

(But) among (their) God-fearing men were twoon whom Allah had bestowed His grace: They said: “Assault them atthe (proper) Gate: when once ye are in, victory will be yours; Buton Allah put your trust if ye have faith.”

They said: “O Moses! while they remain there,never shall we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go thou, andthy Lord, and fight ye two, while we sit here (and watch).”

He said: “O my Lord! I have power only overmyself and my brother: so separate us from this rebellious people!”

Allah said: “Therefore will the land be outof their reach for forty years: In distraction will they wanderthrough the land: But sorrow thou not over these rebellious people.

Recite to them the truth of the story of thetwo sons of Adam. Behold! they each presented a sacrifice (toAllah): It was accepted from one, but not from the other. Said thelatter: “Be sure I will slay thee.” “Surely,” said the former,”Allah doth accept of the sacrifice of those who are righteous.

“If thou dost stretch thy hand against me, toslay me, it is not for me to stretch my hand against thee to slaythee: for I do fear Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds.

“For me, I intend to let thee draw on thyselfmy sin as well as thine, for thou wilt be among the companions ofthe fire, and that is the reward of those who do wrong.”

The (selfish) soul of the other led him tothe murder of his brother: he murdered him, and became (himself) oneof the lost ones.

Then Allah sent a raven, who scratched theground, to show him how to hide the shame of his brother. “Woe isme!” said he; “Was I not even able to be as this raven, and to hidethe shame of my brother?” then he became full of regrets-

On that account: We ordained for the Childrenof Israel that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder orfor spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew thewhole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if hesaved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to themOur messengers with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of themcontinued to commit excesses in the land.

The punishment of those who wage war againstAllah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischiefthrough the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting offof hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: thatis their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs inthe Hereafter;

Except for those who repent before they fallinto your power: in that case, know that Allah is Oft-forgiving,Most Merciful.

O ye who believe! Do your duty to Allah, seekthe means of approach unto Him, and strive (with might and main) inHis cause: that ye may prosper.

As to those who reject Faith,- if they hadeverything on earth, and twice repeated, to give as ransom for thepenalty of the Day of Judgment, it would never be accepted of them,theirs would be a grievous penalty.

Their wish will be to get out of the Fire,but never will they get out therefrom: their penalty will be onethat endures.

As to the thief, male or female, cut off hisor her hands: a retribution for their deeds, and exemplarypunishment from Allah, and Allah is Exalted in Power, Full ofWisdom.

But if the thief repents after his crime, andamend his conduct, Allah turneth to him in forgiveness; for Allah isOft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

Knowest thou not that to Allah (alone)belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth? He punishethwhom He pleaseth, and He forgiveth whom He pleaseth: and Allah hathpower over all things.

O Messenger! let not those grieve thee, whorace each other into unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say”We believe” with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or itbe among the Jews,- men who will listen to any lie,- will listeneven to others who have never so much as come to thee. They changethe words from their (right) places: they say, “If ye are giventhis, take it, but if not, beware!” If any one’s trial is intendedby Allah, thou hast no authority in the least for him against Allah.For such – it is not Allah’s will to purify their hearts. For themthere is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a heavypunishment.

(They are fond of) listening to falsehood, ofdevouring anything forbidden. If they do come to thee, either judgebetween them, or decline to interfere. If thou decline, they cannothurt thee in the least. If thou judge, judge in equity between them.For Allah loveth those who judge in equity.

But why do they come to thee for decision,when they have (their own) Torah before them?- therein is the(plain) command of Allah; yet even after that, they would turn away.For they are not (really) People of Faith.

It was We who revealed the Torah (to Moses):therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged theJews, by the prophets who bowed (as in Isl�m) to Allah’s will, bythe rabbis and the doctors of law: for to them was entrusted theprotection of Allah’s book, and they were witnesses thereto:therefore fear not men, but fear Me, and sell not My signs for amiserable price. If any do fail to judge by (the light of) whatAllah hath revealed, they are unbelievers.

We ordained therein for them: “Life for life,eye for eye, nose or nose, ear for ear, tooth for tooth, and woundsequal for equal.” But if any one remits the retaliation by way ofcharity, it is an act of atonement for himself. And if any fail tojudge by (the light of) what Allah hath revealed, they arewrong-doers.

And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the sonof Mary, confirming the Torah that had come before him: We sent himthe Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of theTorah that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition tothose who fear Allah.

Let the people of the Gospel judge by whatAllah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by (the lightof) what Allah hath revealed, they are (no better than) those whorebel.

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth,confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it insafety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, andfollow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hathcome to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a Law and an OpenWay. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people,but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so striveas in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it isHe that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;

And this (He commands): Judge thou betweenthem by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires,but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that(teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turnaway, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purposeto punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.

Do they then seek after a judgment of (thedays of) ignorance? But who, for a people whose faith is assured,can give better judgment than Allah.?

O ye who believe! take not the Jews and theChristians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends andprotectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (forfriendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.

Those in whose hearts is a disease – thouseest how eagerly they run about amongst them, saying: “We do fearlest a change of fortune bring us disaster.” Ah! perhaps Allah willgive (thee) victory, or a decision according to His will. Then willthey repent of the thoughts which they secretly harbored in theirhearts.

And those who believe will say: “Are thesethe men who swore their strongest oaths by Allah, that they werewith you?” All that they do will be in vain, and they will fall into(nothing but) ruin.

O ye who believe! if any from among you turnback from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He willlove as they will love Him,- lowly with the believers, mightyagainst the rejecters, fighting in the way of Allah, and neverafraid of the reproaches of such as find fault. That is the Grace ofAllah, which He will bestow on whom He pleaseth. And Allahencompasseth all, and He knoweth all things.

Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah,His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those whoestablish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow downhumbly (in worship).

As to those who turn (for friendship) toAllah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- it is theparty of Allah that must certainly triumph.

O ye who believe! take not for friends andprotectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,-whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or amongthose who reject Faith; but fear ye Allah, if ye have faith(indeed).

When ye proclaim your call to prayer theytake it (but) as mockery and sport; that is because they are apeople without understanding.

Say: “O people of the Book! Do ye disapproveof us for no other reason than that we believe in Allah, and therevelation that hath come to us and that which came before (us), and(perhaps) that most of you are rebellious and disobedient?”

Say: “Shall I point out to you something muchworse than this, (as judged) by the treatment it received fromAllah? those who incurred the curse of Allah and His wrath, those ofwhom some He transformed into apes and swine, those who worshippedevil;- these are (many times) worse in rank, and far more astrayfrom the even path!”

When they come to thee, they say: “Webelieve”: But in fact they enter with a mind against Faith, and theygo out with the same but Allah knoweth fully all that they hide.

Many of them dost thou see, racing each otherin sin and transgression, and their eating of things forbidden. Evilindeed are the things that they do.

Why do not the rabbis and the doctors of Lawforbid them from their (habit of) uttering sinful words and eatingthings forbidden? Evil indeed are their works.

The Jews say: “Allah’s hand is tied up.” Betheir hands tied up and be they accursed for the (blasphemy) theyutter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He giveth andspendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation thatcometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinaterebellion and blasphemy. Amongst them we have placed enmity andhatred till the Day of Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire ofwar, Allah doth extinguish it; but they (ever) strive to do mischiefon earth. And Allah loveth not those who do mischief.

If only the People of the Book had believedand been righteous, We should indeed have blotted out theiriniquities and admitted them to Gardens of Bliss.

If only they had stood fast by the Torah, theGospel, and all the revelation that was sent to them from theirLord, they would have (enjoyed) eating both from above them and frombelow their feet. There is from among them a party on the rightcourse: but many of them follow a course that is evil.

O Messenger! proclaim the (message) whichhath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not, thouwouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And Allahwill defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For Allah guideth notthose who reject Faith.

Say: “O People of the Book! ye have no groundto stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Torah, the Gospel, and allthe revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” It is therevelation that cometh to thee from thy Lord, that increaseth inmost of them their obstinate rebellion and blasphemy. But sorrowthou not over (these) people without Faith.

Those who believe (in the Quran), those whofollow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,-any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,-on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

We took the covenant of the Children ofIsrael and sent them messengers, every time, there came to them an amessenger with what they themselves desired not – some (of these)they called impostors, and some they (go so far as to) slay.

They thought there would be no trial (orpunishment); so they became blind and deaf; yet Allah (in mercy)turned to them; yet again many of them became blind and deaf. ButAllah sees well all that they do.

Certainly they disbelieve who say: “Allah isChrist the son of Mary.” But said Christ: “O Children of Israel!worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever joins other gods withAllah,- Allah will forbid him the Garden, and the Fire will be hisabode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.

They disbelieved who say: Allah is one ofthree (in a Trinity): for there is no god except One God. If theydesist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievouschastisement will befall the disbelievers among them.

Why turn they not to Allah, and seek Hisforgiveness? For Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.

Christ the son of Mary was no more than amessenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him. Hismother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily)food. See how Allah doth make His signs clear to them; yet see inwhat ways they are deluded away from the truth!

Say: “Will ye worship, besides Allah,something which hath no power either to harm or benefit you? ButAllah,- He it is that heareth and knoweth all things.”

Say: “O people of the Book! exceed not inyour religion the bounds (of what is proper), trespassing beyond thetruth, nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in timesgone by,- who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the evenway.

Curses were pronounced on those among theChildren of Israel who rejected Faith, by the tongue of David and ofJesus the son of Mary: because they disobeyed and persisted inexcesses.

Nor did they forbid one another theiniquities which they committed: evil indeed were the deeds whichthey did.

Thou seest many of them turning in friendshipto the Unbelievers. Evil indeed are (the works) which their soulshave sent forward before them (with the result), that Allah’s wrathis on them, and in torment will they abide.

If only they had believed in Allah, in theProphet, and in what hath been revealed to him, never would theyhave taken them for friends and protectors, but most of them arerebellious wrong-doers.

Strongest among men in enmity to thebelievers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among themin love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, “We areChristians”: because amongst these are men devoted to learning andmen who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant.

And when they listen to the revelationreceived by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing withtears, for they recognize the truth: they pray: “Our Lord! webelieve; write us down among the witnesses.

“What cause can we have not to believe inAllah and the truth which has come to us, seeing that we long forour Lord to admit us to the company of the righteous?”

And for this their prayer hath Allah rewardedthem with Gardens, with rivers flowing underneath,- their eternalhome. Such is the recompense of those who do good.

But those who reject Faith and belie OurSigns,- they shall be companions of Hell-fire.

O ye who believe! make not unlawful the goodthings which Allah hath made lawful for you, but commit no excess:for Allah loveth not those given to excess.

Eat of the things which Allah hath providedfor you, lawful and good; but fear Allah, in Whom ye believe.

Allah will not call you to account for whatis void in your oaths, but He will call you to account for yourdeliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on ascale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them;or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast forthree days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. Butkeep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs,that ye may be grateful.

O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling,(dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are anabomination,- of Satan’s handwork: Eschew such (abomination), thatye may prosper.

Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity andhatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder youfrom the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not thenabstain?

Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, andbeware (of evil): if ye do turn back, know ye that it is OurMessenger’s duty to proclaim (the message) in the clearest manner.

On those who believe and do deeds ofrighteousness there is no blame for what they ate (in the past),when they guard themselves from evil, and believe, and do deeds ofrighteousness,- then again, guard themselves from evil and believe,-then again, guard themselves from evil and do good. For Allah loveththose who do good.

O ye who believe! Allah doth but make a trialof you in a little matter of game well within reach of your handsand your lances, that He may test who feareth Him unseen: any whotransgress thereafter, will have a grievous penalty.

O ye who believe! Kill not game while in thesacred precincts or in state of pilgrimage. If any of you doth sointentionally, the compensation is an offering, brought to the K�ba,of a domestic animal equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged bytwo just men among you; or by way of atonement, the feeding of theindigent; or its equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of thepenalty of his deed. Allah forgives what is past: for repetitionAllah will punish him. For Allah is Exalted, and Lord ofRetribution.

Lawful to you is the pursuit of water-gameand its use for food,- for the benefit of yourselves and those whotravel; but forbidden is the pursuit of land-game;- as long as yeare in the sacred precincts or in state of pilgrimage. And fearAllah, to Whom ye shall be gathered back.

Allah made the K�ba, the Sacred House, anasylum of security for men, as also the Sacred Months, the animalsfor offerings, and the garlands that mark them: That ye may knowthat Allah hath knowledge of what is in the heavens and on earth andthat Allah is well acquainted with all things.

Know ye that Allah is strict in punishmentand that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Messenger’s duty is but to proclaim (themessage). But Allah knoweth all that ye reveal and ye conceal.

Say: “Not equal are things that are bad andthings that are good, even though the abundance of the bad maydazzle thee; so fear Allah, O ye that understand; that (so) ye mayprosper.”

O ye who believe! Ask not questions aboutthings which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if yeask about things when the Quran is being revealed, they will be madeplain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft- forgiving,Most Forbearing.

Some people before you did ask suchquestions, and on that account lost their faith.

It was not Allah who instituted(superstitions like those of) a slit-ear she- camel, or a she-camellet loose for free pasture, or idol sacrifices for twin-births inanimals, or stallion-camels freed from work: It is the disbelieverswho invent a lie against Allah. but most of them lack wisdom.

When it is said to them: “Come to what Allahhath revealed; come to the Messenger.”: They say: “Enough for us arethe ways we found our fathers following.” What! even though theirfathers were void of knowledge and guidance?

O ye who believe! Guard your own souls: If yefollow (right) guidance, no hurt can come to you from those whostray. the return of you all is to Allah; it is He that will informyou of all that ye do.

O ye who believe! When death approaches anyof you, (take) witnesses among yourselves when making bequests,- twojust men of your own (brotherhood) or others from outside if ye arejourneying through the earth, and the chance of death befalls you(thus). If ye doubt (their truth), detain them both after prayer,and let them both swear by Allah “We wish not in this for anyworldly gain, even though the (beneficiary) be our near relation: Weshall hide not the evidence before Allah. If we do, then behold! weshall be sinners!”

But if it gets known that these two wereguilty of the sin (of perjury), let two others stand forth in theirplaces,- nearest in kin from among those who claim a lawful right:let them swear by Allah. “We affirm that our witness is truer thanthat of those two, and that we have not trespassed (beyond thetruth): if we did, behold! we will be wrong-doers!”

That is most suitable: that they may give theevidence in its true nature and shape, or else they would fear thatother oaths would be taken after their oaths. But fear Allah, andlisten (to His counsel): for Allah guideth not a rebellious people:

On the day when Allah will gather themessengers together, and ask: “What was the response ye received(from men to your teaching)?” They will sa df2 y: “We have noknowledge: it is Thou Who knowest in full all that is hidden.”

Then will Allah say: “O Jesus the son ofMary! Recount My favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! Istrengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, so that thou didst speak tothe people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught thee theBook and Wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel. And behold! thou makestout of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and thoubreathest into it and it becometh a bird by My leave, and thouhealest those born blind, and the lepers, by My leave. And behold!thou bringest forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrainthe Children of Israel from (violence to) thee when thou didst showthem the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This isnothing but evident magic.’

“And behold! I inspired the Disciples to havefaith in Me and Mine Messenger. They said, ‘We have faith, and dothou bear witness that we bow to Allah as Muslims’ “.

Behold! the Disciples, said: “O Jesus the sonof Mary! can thy Lord send down to us a Table set (with viands) fromheaven?” Said Jesus: “Fear Allah, if ye have faith!”

They said: “We only wish to eat thereof andsatisfy our hearts, and to know that thou hast indeed told us thetruth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle.”

Said Jesus the son of Mary: “O Allah ourLord! Send us from heaven a Table set (with viands), that there maybe for us – for the first and the last of us – a solemn festival anda sign from Thee; and provide for our sustenance, for Thou art thebest Sustainer (of our needs).”

Allah said: “I will send it down unto you:But if any of you after that resisteth faith, I will punish him witha penalty such as I have not inflicted on any one among all thepeoples.”

And behold! Allah will say: “O Jesus the sonof Mary! Didst thou say unto men, take me and my mother for two godsbeside Allah.?” He will say: “Glory to Thee! never could I say whatI had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, Thou wouldstindeed have known it. Thou knowest what is in my heart, Thou I knownot what is in Thine. For Thou knowest in full all that is hidden.

“Never said I to them aught except what Thoudidst command me to say, to wit, ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and yourLord’; and I was a witness over them whilst I dwelt amongst them;when Thou didst take me up Thou wast the Watcher over them, and Thouart a witness to all things.

“If Thou dost punish them, they are Thyservant: If Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power,the Wise.”

Allah will say: “This is a day on which thetruthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens, withrivers flowing beneath,- their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased withthem, and they with Allah. That is the great salvation, (thefulfillment of all desires).

To Allah doth belong the dominion of theheavens and the earth, and all that is therein, and it is He Whohath power over all things.