Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/250

124 When Abraham said to his father Âzar, ‘Dost thou take idols for gods ? verily, I see thee and thy people in obvious error.’ Thus did we show Abraham the kingdom of heaven and of the earth, that he should be of those who are sure. And when the night overshadowed him he saw a star and said, ‘This is my Lord ;’ but when it set he said, ‘I love not those that set.’ And when he saw the moon beginning to rise he said, ‘This is my Lord ;’ but when it set he said, ‘If God my Lord guides me not I shall surely be of the people who err.’ And when he saw the sun beginning to rise he said, ‘This is my Lord, this is greatest of all ;’ but when it set he said, ‘O my people ! verily, I am clear of what ye associate with God ; verily, I have turned my face to him who originated the heaven and the earth, as a ʿHanîf, and I am not of the idolaters.’ And his people disputed with him; — he said, ‘Do ye dispute with me concerning God, when He has guided me ? but I fear not what ye associate with Him unless my Lord should wish for anything. My Lord doth comprehend all things in His knowledge, will ye not then remember ? How should I fear what ye associate with Him, when ye yourselves fear not to associate with God what He has sent down to you no power to do ? Which then of the two sects is worthier of belief, if indeed ye know ?’

Those who believe and do not obscure their faith with wrong, they are those who shall have security, and they are guided.