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204
THE QUR'ÂN.
XLI, 47-54.
are the partners ye did join with me?' they shall say, 'We do own to thee there is no witness amongst us !' and that on which they used to call before shall stray away from them, and they shall think there is no escape for them. Man is never tired of praying for good, but if evil touch him, then he is despairing and hopeless.
[50] But if we make him taste mercy from us after distress has touched him he will surely say, 'This is for me, and I do not think the Hour is imminent; and if I be brought back to my Lord, verily, I shall surely have good with Him?;' but we will inform those who misbelieve of what they have done, and we will surely make them taste wretched torment.
And when we have been gracious to man, he turns away and goes aside; but when evil touches him he is one of copious prayer.
Say, 'Let us see now! if it be from God and ye disbelieve in it, who is more in error than he who is in a remote schism ?'
We will show them our signs in the regions and in themselves, until it is plain to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough for thy Lord that He is witness over all ? Ay, verily, they are in doubt about the meeting of their Lord! Ay, verily, He encompasses all !
still
1 Or the words may be rendered, 'There is good with him due to me.'
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