George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)
while one may milk an ewe, or than the space between the two milkings of a she camel 1. Some, explaining those words so frequently used in the Korân, God will be swift in taking an account, say that he will judge all creatures in the space of half a day, and others that it will be done in less time than the twinkling of an eye 2.
At this examination they also believe that each person will have the book wherein all the actions of his life are written, delivered to him; which books the righteous will receive in their right hand, and read with great pleasure and satisfaction; but the ungodly will be obliged to cake them against their wills in their left 3, which will be bound behind their backs, their right hand being tied up to their necks 4.
Of the balance wherein their works will be weighed.
To shew the exact justice which will be observed on this great day of trial, the next thing they describe is the balance, wherein all things shall be weighed. They say it will be held by Gabriel, and that it is of so vast a size, that its two scales, one of which hangs over paradise, and the other over hell, are capacious enough to contain both heaven and earth. Tho’ some are willing to understand what is said in the Korân concerning this balance, allegorically, and only as a figurative representation of God’s equity, yet the more ancient and orthodox opinion is that they are to be taken literally; and since words and actions, being mere accidents, are not capable of being themselves weighed, they say that the books wherein they are written will be thrown into the scales, and according as those wherein the good or the evil actions are recorded, shall preponderate, sentence will be given; those whose balances laden with their good works shall be heavy, will be saved, but those whose balances are light, will be condemned 5. Nor will any one have cause to complain that God suffers any good action to pass unrewarded, because the wicked for the good they do have their reward in this life, and therefore can expect no favour in the next.
The old Jewish writers make mention as well of the books to be produced at the last day, wherein mens actions are registred 6, as of the balance wherein they shall be weighed 7; and the scripture itself seems to have given the first notion of both 8. But what the Persian Magi believe of the balance comes nearest to the Mohammedan opinion.
1 The Arabs use, after they have drawn some milk from the camel, to wait a while, and let her young one suck a little, that she may give down her milk more plentifully at the second milking.
2 Pocock, Not. in Port. Mofis, p. 278—282. See also Kor. c. 2. p. 23.
4 Jallalo’ddin.
6 Midrash, Yalkut Shemuni, f. 153. c. 3.
7 Gemar. Sanhedr. f. 91, &c.
8 Exod. xxxii. 32, 33. Dan. vii. 10. Revel. xx. 12, &c, and Dan. v. 27.
