Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 6.djvu/384

258 whom their right hands possess that they may share equally therein: — is it God's favours they gainsay ?

And God has made for you from amongst yourselves wives, and has made for you from your wives sons and grandchildren ; and has provided you with good things ; — is it in vanity that they believe, while for God's favour they are ungrateful ?

And they serve beside God what cannot control for them any provision from the heavens or the earth, and have no power at all.

Do not then strike out parables for God ! Verily, God knows, but ye do not know.

God has struck out a parable; an owned slave, able to do nothing ; and one whom we have provided with a good provision, and who expends therefrom in alms secretly and openly : — shall they be held equal? — Praise be to God, most of them do not know!

And God has struck out a parable : two men, one of them dumb, able to do nothing, a burden to his lord ; wherever 4ie directs him he comes not with success ; is he to be held equal with him who bids what is just and who is on the right way ?

God's are the unseen things of the heavens and the earth ; nor is the matter of the Hour aught but as the twinkling of an eye, or nigher still ! Verily, God is mighty over all !

God brings you forth out of the wombs of your mothers knowing naught; and He makes for you hearing, and sight, and hearts, — haply ye may give thanks !