The Light of Truth — Page 289
REFUTING OBJECTIONS Let it be clear that these odes are very well known [and can be seen] like the mid-day sun. The collective body of intellectuals and leading poets agreed upon the excellences and perfect com- position of these odes. The broader community of poets agreed upon their beauty and brilliance. The British government has even selected them for the students of their schools and colleges and those who drink from its goblets [of knowledge] for the com- pletion of their studies. None deny this save the likes of you- simple-minded and mischievous, like the [spiritually] blind. This is what I have related from the examples of the early Arabs and from the sayings of eminent and well-respected fig- ures in order to rebuke and confute you. However, that which is made clear from the context of the Book of Allah, and from its pearls of verities all strung together, is an even closer path than this for those seeking guidance. For, God Almighty-in the way He has described the Holy Spirit as ذُو مِرَّةٍ ]dhu mirrah- Possessor of strength]—has at another place described him as 'dhū quwwah' [Possessor of power]. Thus He says: ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِنْدَ ذِى الْعَرْشِ مَكِيْنِ ]Possessor of power, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne]. 2 Therefore, His calling him [the angel Gabriel] dhū mirrah in one place and dhū quwwah in another place is an elegant elucidation through rhetorical styles. This is the practice of Allah in the Quran, wherein He explains certain verses by means of other verses in order to increase certainty and protect His Book against alteration by the unfaithful. Allah the Exalted has mentioned other traits of the Faithful Spirit [Gabriel] in His Decisive Book and Venerable Scripture. He sheds light upon his purity, his truthfulness, his trust, as well as his nearness to the Lord of all the worlds. Therefore, the only one who will consider him [dhū mirrah] to be Satan is the one who himself is an accursed Satan. 1. Sūrah an-Najm, 53:7 [Publisher] 2. Sūrah at-Takwir, 81:21 [Publisher] 289