Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/187

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ⅩⅩⅩⅦ, 73-98.
the chapter of the ranged.

Noah did call upon us, and a gracious answer did we give ; and we saved him and his people from a mighty trouble ; 75 and we made his seed to be the survivors; and we left for him amongst posterity ‘ peace upon Noah in the worlds; verily, thus do we reward those who do well ; verily, he was of our believing servants.’ 80 Then we drowned the others.

And, verily, of his sect was Abraham ; when he came to his Lord with a sound heart ; when he said to his father and his people, ‘ What is it that ye serve ? with a lie do ye desire gods beside God ? 85 What then is your thought respecting the Lord of the worlds ?’

And he looked a look at the stars and said, ‘Verily, I am sick !’ and they turned their backs upon him fleeing[1]. And he went aside unto their gods and said,‘ Will ye not eat ? 90 What ails you that ye will not speak ?’ And he went aside to them smiting with the right hand.

And they[2] rushed towards him. Said he, ‘ Do ye serve what ye hew out, when God has created you, and what ye make ?’

95 Said they, ‘Build for him a pyre, and throw him into the flaming hell !’ They desired to plot against him, but we made them inferior. Said he, ‘ Verily, I am going to my Lord, He will guide me. My Lord ! grant me (a son), one of the

  1. Mohammedan commentators say that he pretended to a knowledge of astrology and made as though he saw a presage of coming sickness for himself in the stars, whereupon the others fled for fear of contagion, and Abraham took the opportunity of absenting himself from the festival which was being held in honour of the idols.
  2. The people of the city.