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Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/24

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8
the qurʼân.
ⅩⅦ, 63-71.


And when we said to the angels, ‘ Adore Adam ;’ and they adored, save Iblis, who said, ‘ Am I to adore one whom Thou hast created out of clay ?’

Said he, ‘ Dost thou see now ? this one whom Thou hast honoured above me, verily, if Thou shouldst respite me until the resurrection day, I will of a surety utterly destroy his seed except a few.’

65 Said He, ‘ Begone ! and whoso of them follows thee — verily, hell is your recompense, an ample recompense. Entice away whomsoever of them thou canst with thy voice; and bear down upon them with thy horse and with thy foot ; and share with them in their wealth and their children ; and promise them, — but Satan promises them naught but deceit. Verily, my servants, thou hast no authority over them ; thy Lord is guardian enough over them !’

It is your Lord who drives the ships for you in the sea that ye may seek after plenty from Him ; verily, He is ever merciful to you. And when distress touches you in the sea, those whom ye all on, except Him, stray away from you ; but when He has brought you safe to shore, ye turn away; for man is ever ungrateful.

70 Are ye sure that He will not cleave with you the side of the shore, or send against you a heavy sand-storm ? then ye will find no guardian for yourselves.

Or are ye sure that He will not send you back therein another time, and send against you a violent wind, and drown you for your misbelief ? then ye will find for yourselves no protector against us.


    referred to is the night journey to heaven, although those commentators who believe this to have been an actual fact suppose another vision to account for this passage.