Studies in a Mosque - The Search For Mecca

THE KORAN. 143
the majority of them belong to this period, and the
rest to the third group, none being attributable with
certainty to the first division, and very few to the
Medina chapters ; but there is plenty of the old
themes of judgment, and paradise, and hell, though
the descriptions have lost something of their power,
and the long verses which are now common weaken
the effect of the language. The old eloquence, how-
ever, breaks out in its original force now and then, as
in the picture of the judgment in the " Chapter of
K." (1.) :-
We created man, and we know what his soul whispereth, and we
are nearer to him than his jugular vein.
When the two notetakers take note, sitting on the right hand and
on the left,
Not a word doth he utter, but a watcher is by him, ready.
And the stupor of death shall come in truth : " this is what thou
"
wouldst have avoided !
And the trumpet shall be blown : that is the Day of the Threat
And every soul shall come, along with a driver and a witness
— — ! —
" Thou didst not heed this ; so we have taken away from thee thy
veil, and to-day thy sight is keen."
And his companion shall say :
" This is what I am ready to witness."
*' Cast ye into Hell every unbelieving rebel, hinderer of the good,
transgressor, doubter,
Who setteth
torment."
other gods with God ; cast ye him into the fierce
His companion shall say, "
was in fathomless error."
our Lord ! I misled him not ; but he
God shall say, " Wrangle not before me, for I
about the threat.
charged you before
My word doth not change, and I am not unjust to my servants."
On that day will we say to Hell, " Art thou full ? " and it shall
say, " Is there more ? "
And Paradise shall be brought nigh to the righteous, not afar :
" This is what ye were promised, unto everyone who turneth
himself to God, and keepeth his laws,