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XXX,57-XXXI,5.
THE CHAPTER OF LOQMÂN.
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those who did wrong; nor shall they be asked to please God again.
1
We have struck out to men in this Qur'ân every kind of parable; but if thou shouldst bring them a sign then those who misbelieve will surely say, 'Ye are but followers of vanity; thus does God set a stamp upon the hearts of those who do not know.'
[60] Be thou patient then; verily, God's promise is true! and let them not flurry thee who are not
sure.
THE CHAPTER OF LOQMAN2.
(XXXI. Mecca.)
IN the name of the merciful and compassionate God.
A. L. M. These are the signs of the wise Book, a guidance and a mercy to those who do well, who are steadfast in prayer and give alms and who of the hereafter are sure; these are in guidance from their Lord, and these are the prosperous.
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[5] And amongst men is one who buys sportive legends, to lead astray from God's path, without knowledge, and to make a jest of it; these, for
1 I. e. a verse.
This sage is generally identified with the Aesop of the Greeks. The legends current in the East concerning him accord exactly with those of the Greek fabulist.
3 An Nadhr ibn al 'Hareth had purchased in Persia some of the old legends of Rustam and Isfendiâr, which were afterwards embodied in the Shâh-nâmeh of Firdausî. These he read to the Qurâis as being more wonderful than the Qur'ân.
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