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THE QUR'ÂN.
LII, 28-42.
'Verily, we used to call on Him before; verily, He is the righteous, the compassionate!'
Wherefore do thou1 remind them: for thou art, by the favour of thy Lord, neither a soothsayer nor mad!
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Will they say, 'A poet; we wait for him the sad accidents of fate?'
[30] Say, 'Wait ye then; for I too am of those who wait!'
Do their dreams bid them this? or are they an outrageous people?
Or will they say, 'He has invented it?'-nay, but they do not believe!
But let them bring a discourse like it, if they tell the truth!
[35] Or were they created of nothing, or were they the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth?-nay, but they are not sure!
Or have they the treasures of thy Lord? or are they the governors supreme?
Or have they a ladder whereon they can listen 2 ?— then let their listener bring obvious authority.
Has He daughters, while ye have sons?
[40] Or dost thou ask them a hire, while they are borne down by debt?
Or have they the unseen, so that they write it down?
Or do they desire a plot?-but those who misbelieve it is who are plotted against!
1 Addressed to Mohammed.
2 I. e. a ladder reaching to the gates of heaven, upon which they may stand and listen to the angels discoursing, as the devils do. See Part I, pp. 50, 51, note 2.
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