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In the name of God, the Most Exalted, the Lord of overpowering majesty, the All-Conquering

A hidden Cause hath come—veiled is the decree; The Hour draweth nigh, the cloven moon we see.

God’s Remembrance—the proofs divine and plain, And the people scattered like locusts on the plain!

He cried,

“O people, own that faith to which I call—The Book I bring, its warnings—heed them one and all!”

“Behold the trenchant proof of God, divinely clear, Made easy for remembrance—who will lend an ear?”

“All that cometh from your Lord is best for you: The Remnant of the Lord—the Imam good and true.”

A cry came from the Lord Most High: “Alas! How were My warnings scorned, My chastisements passed?”

“Thou proud and mocking one,” the scoffers cry, “Thy magic ever works the heart awry!”

“On you the Mention falls among us?”—so they sneered—“You are but a boastful liar—bold and sheer.”

But when Our Word is uttered—then they’ll know; Like withered stalks shall all their vauntings go.

We tried you with Our She-Camel—a Sign to show, For eyes that read, and hearts that yearn to grow.

Wrong not your souls by wronging her—beware, Lest unyielding torment seize you unaware.

They sent their wretched lot to lay her low, And hamstrung her—the misbelievers’ blow.

Then, for their sins, the Lord poured doom like rain: He seized them—Mighty, Omnipotent in reign.

At dawn they lay flung flat upon the clay, Like trunks of down-hurled palms in disarray.

By the grace of God the Merciful, thou shalt write this according to the number of all things and deliver it to whomever thou canst, provided thou witness no grief, and thou shalt write to its end that thou hast possessed this in Sad. Take heed, O ye who have eyes to see!