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)

themselves corrupt doers? but they are not sensible thereof. And when one faith unto them, Believe ye as others ^a believe; they answer, Shall we believe as fools believe? Are not they themselves fools? but they know it not. When they meet those who believe, they say, We do believe: but when they retire privately to their devils ^b, they say. We really hold with you, and only mock at those people: God shall mock at them, and continue them in their impiety, they shall wander in confusion. These are the men who have purchased error at the price of true direction: but their traffiek hath not been gainful, neither have they been rightly directed. They are like unto one who kindleth a fire ^c, and when it hath enlightened all around him ^d; God taketh away their light ^e and leaveth them in darkness, they shall not see; they are deaf, dumb, and blind, therefore will they not repent. Or like a stormy cloud from heaven, fraught with darkness, thunder, and lightning ^f, they put their fingers in their ears, because of the noise of the thunder, for fear of death; God encompasseth the infidels: the lightning wanteth but little of taking away their fight; so often as it enlighteneth them, they walk therein, but when darkness cometh on them, they stand still; and if God so pleased, he would certainly deprive them of their hearing and their sight, for God is almighty. O men of Mecca serve your Lord who hath created you, and those who have been before you: peradventure ye will fear him; who hath spread the earth as a bed for you, and the heaven as a covering, and hath caused water to descend from heaven, and thereby produced fruits for your sustenance. Set not up therefore any equals unto God, against your own knowledge. If ye be in doubt concerning that revelation which we have sent down unto our servant, produce a chapter like unto it, and call upon your witnesses, besides God ^g, if ye say truth. But if ye do it not, nor shall ever be able to do it; justly fear the fire