nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Great.

256 There is no compulsion in religion — the right way is indeed clearly distinct from error. So whoever disbelieves in the devil and believes in Allāh, he indeed lays hold on the firmest handle which shall never break. And Allāh is Hearing, Knowing.

257 Allāh is the Friend of those who believe — He brings them out of darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, their friends are the devils who take them out of light into darkness. They are the companions of the Fire; therein they abide.

258 Hast thou not thought of him who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because Allāh had given him kingdom? When Abraham said, My Lord is He Who gives life and causes to die, he said: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Surely Allāh causes the sun to rise from the East, so do thou make it rise from the West. Thus he who disbelieved was confounded. And Allāh guides not the unjust people.

259 Or like him who passed by a town, and it had fallen in upon its roofs. He said: When will Allāh give it life after its death? So Allāh caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him. He said: How long hast thou tarried? He said: I have tarried a day, or part of a day. He said: Nay, thou hast tarried a hundred years; but look at thy food and drink — years have not passed over it! And look at thy ass! And that We may make thee a sign to men. And look at the bones, how We set them together then clothe them with flesh. So when it became

clear to him, he said: I know that Allāh is Possessor of power over all things.

260 And when Abraham said, My Lord, show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? He said: Yes, but that my heart may be at ease. He said: Then take four birds, then tame them to incline to thee, then place on every mountain a part of them, then call them, they will come to thee flying; and know that Allāh is Mighty, Wise.

261 The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is as the parable of a grain growing seven ears, in every ear a hundred