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THE QUR'ÂN.
XXIV, 35-40.
[35] God is the light of the heavens and the earth ; His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, and the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as though it were a glittering star; it is lit from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the east nor of the west, the oil of which would well-nigh give light though no fire touched it,- light upon light!—God guides to His light whom He pleases; and God strikes out parables for men, and God all things doth know.
In the houses God has permitted to be reared and His name to be mentioned therein-His praises · are celebrated therein mornings and evenings.
Men whom neither merchandize nor selling divert from the remembrance of God and steadfastness in prayer and giving alms, who fear a day when hearts and eyes shall be upset ;—that God may recompense them for the best that they have done, and give them increase of His grace; for God provides whom He pleases without count.
But those who misbelieve, their works are like the mirage in a plain, the thirsty counts it water till when he comes to it he finds nothing, but he finds that God is with him; and He will pay him his account, for God is quick to take account.
[40] Or like darkness on a deep sea, there covers it a wave above which is a wave, above which is a cloud, -darknesses one above the other,—when one puts out his hand he can scarcely see it; for he to whom God has given no light, he has no light.
Mary, Part II, p. 29, both of whom, like Ayesha, were accused of incontinence, and miraculously proved innocent.
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