Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 9.djvu/184

168 the kingdom of everything! and unto Him shall ye return. 



(ⅩⅩⅩⅦ. Mecca.)

In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.

By the (angels) ranged in ranks, and the drivers driving and the reciters of the reminder, 'Verily, your God is one,

Verily, we have adorned the lower heaven with the adornment of the stars, and to preserve it from every rebellious devil, that they may not listen to the exalted chiefs; for they are hurled at from every side, driven off, and for them is lasting woe; save such as snatches off a word, and there follows him a darting flame!

Ask them whether they are stronger by nature or (the angels) whom we have created? We have created them of sticky clay.

Nay, thou dost wonder and they jest! and when they are reminded they will not remember; and when they see a sign they make a jest thereof, and say, 'This is naught but obvious sorcery. What! when we are dead, and have become earth and bones, shall we then be raised? what! and our fathers of yore?'

Say, Yes, and ye shall shrink up, and it shall only