The likeness of those who take to themselves Tutelars[66] instead of God is as the likeness of the spider, which maketh for herself a dwelling; and the frailest of dwellings surely is the dwelling of the spider! If they knew[67]——! Verily God knoweth whatever thing they invoke in His stead; and He is the Mighty, the Wise. And these parables[68] we propound unto men; but none understand them except the wise. God hath created the heavens and the earth in truth: verily therein is a sign unto the believers. (xxix. 40-43.) _MOḤAMMAD AND THE ḲUR-ÁN._ XVII. †O thou enwrapped _in thy mantle_,[69] Arise and warn! And thy Lord—magnify Him! And thy raiment—purify it! And the abomination[70]—flee it! And bestow not favours that thou mayest receive again with increase. And for thy Lord wait thou patiently.[71] (lxxiv. 1-7.) XVIII. †By the morning-brightness, And by the still of night,[72] Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee, neither hath He hated thee. And surely the Future will be better for thee than the Present, And thy Lord will give to thee, and thou wilt be well-pleased. Did He not find thee an orphan, and sheltered thee? And He found thee erring, and guided thee, And found thee needy, and enriched thee. Then, as to the orphan, oppress him not; And as to him that asketh of thee, chide him not away; And as for the bounty of thy Lord, tell it then [abroad]. (xciii.) XIX. SAY, I do not say unto you, ‘With me[73] are the treasures of God,’ nor, ‘I know what is unseen,’ nor do I say unto you, ‘Verily I am an angel.’ I follow not [aught] but what is revealed unto me. (vi. 50.) XX. †SAY, I am only a man like unto you. It is only revealed unto me that your God is One God. He then that hopeth to meet his Lord, let him work a righteous work, and in the worship of his Lord let him not associate any [other god]. (xviii. 110.) XXI. †SAY, If I err, only against myself shall I err, but if I am rightly-guided, it [is] of what my Lord hath revealed to me. Verily, He is the Hearer, the Near-at-hand! (xxxiv. 49.) XXII. Moḥammad is nought but a Messenger.[74] The Messengers have passed away before him. If then he die or be slain, will ye turn round upon your heels?[75] But he who turneth round upon his heels will not injure God a whit;[76] and God will reward the thankful. (iii. 138.) XXIII. Verily We have revealed unto thee as we revealed unto Noah and the prophets after him, and _as_ We revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and Jesus, and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron, and Solomon; and We gave unto David the Psalms. (iv. 161.) XXIV. [77] SAY _unto them_, Do ye argue with us concerning God, when He is our Lord and your Lord,[78] and when we have our works and ye have your works, and when we are sincere towards Him?