page4
God and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled and went on transgressing.
002.062 Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the
Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on
them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
063 And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (The towering height) of Mount (Sinai) : (Saying):
"Hold firmly to what We have given you and bring (ever) to remembrance what is therein: Perchance ye may fear God."
002.064 But ye turned back thereafter: Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of God to you, ye had surely been
among the lost.
002.065 And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: "Be ye
apes, despised and rejected."
002.066 So We made it an example to their own time and to their posterity, and a lesson to those who fear God.
002.067 And remember Moses said to his people: "God commands that ye sacrifice a heifer." They said: "Makest thou
a laughing-stock of us?" He said: "God save me from being an ignorant (fool)!"
002.068 They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what (heifer) it is!" He said; "He says: The
heifer should be neither too old nor too young, but of middling age. Now do what ye are commanded!"
002.069 They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us Her colour." He said: "He says: A
fawn-coloured heifer, pure and rich in tone, the admiration of beholders!"
002.070 They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what she is: To us are all heifers alike: We
wish indeed for guidance, if God wills."
002.071 He said: "He says: A heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish." They
said: "Now hast thou brought the truth." Then they offered her in sacrifice, but not with good-will.
002.072 Remember ye slew a man and fell into a dispute among yourselves as to the crime: But God was to bring forth
what ye did hide.
002.073 So We said: "Strike the (body) with a piece of the (heifer)." Thus God bringeth the dead to life and showeth
you His Signs: Perchance ye may understand.
002.074 Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: They became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among
rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and
others which sink for fear of God. And God is not unmindful of what ye do.
002.075 Can ye (o ye men of Faith) entertain the hope that they will believe in you? Seeing that a party of them heard
the Word of God, and perverted it knowingly after they understood it.
002.076 Behold! when they meet the men of Faith, they say: "We believe": But when they meet each other in private,
they say: "Shall you tell them what God hath revealed to you, that they may engage you in argument about it before your
Lord?" Do ye not understand (their aim)?
002.077 Know they not that God knoweth what they conceal and what they reveal?
002.078 And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they
do nothing but conjecture.
002.079 Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say:"This is from God," to traffic with
it for miserable price!- Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.
002.080 And they say: "The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days." Say: "Have ye taken a promise from
God, for He never breaks His promise? or is it that ye say of God what ye do not know?"
002.081 Nay, those who seek gain in evil, and are girt round by their sins,- they are companions of the Fire: Therein
shall they abide (For ever).
002.082 But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide
(For ever).
002.083 And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but God; treat
with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer;
and practise regular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now).
002.084 And remember We took your covenant (to this effect): Shed no blood amongst you, nor turn out your own
people from your homes: and this ye solemnly ratified, and to this ye can bear witness.