The Light of Truth — Page 247
REFUTING OBJECTIONS 247 Indeed, the disbelievers were unable to compete and turned their backs and fled like those defeated. Humiliated and exasperated, when they found themselves incapable of contending in the field of bayān, they inclined towards the sword and spear. Yet many of them accepted Islam due to this literary mir- acle, such as Labīd bin Rabīʻah al-ʻĀmirī, who composed the fourth Mu'allaqah. ¹ He recognized Islam and was honoured by it, and demonstrated complete sincerity. He died in the year 41 AH [664 CE]. Likewise, many among them acknowledged that the Quran is replete with refined expressions, beautiful meta- phors, captivating statements, and compositions that are both wise and embellished. Indeed, whosoever carefully examined the Quran rushed towards Islam, presented themselves to the believers, and joined them. Had the Quran been anything less than the highest degree of perfection in fluency of speech and eloquence of expression, the matter would have been all too easy for its opponents. They would have retorted: O ye [Muhammadsas], the book you have presented before us and the discourse you have conveyed is neither eloquent nor even correct. We find nothing in it besides a collection of oft-repeated expressions and speech that is both insubstantial and ineffectual. What you have brought is neither the purest nor the most pleasant. Furthermore, it contains this or that [incorrect] word. You have made errors in your book, and have thus moved away from your intended meaning. You are not, therefore, among those whose speech is excellent. Consequently, there is no need to bring a passage the like thereof, match it in discourse, or imitate it line for line. So be off with you and stop praising your book, because it is 1. The Suspended Odes, or as-Sabʻul-Mu'allaqāt, are reportedly seven fa- mous masterpieces of Arabic poetry that were hung in the Ka'bah during pre-Islamic times. [Publisher]