rightly as the sun in its noontide splendour, and who praise and extol
their Lord in this Name that hath arisen, in the plenitude of might and
power, to assume the throne of independent sovereignty. From their lips
Thou shalt hear naught but the strains of My glorification and praise;
unto this Thy Lord beareth Me witness. The existence of these people,
however, hath remained concealed from the eyes of all who, from
everlasting, have been created through the Word of God. Thus have We made
plain Our meaning and set forth Our verses, that perchance men may reflect
upon the signs and tokens of their Lord.

24 These are they who, in truth, were not enjoined to prostrate themselves
before Adam.(1) They have never turned away from the countenance of Thy
Lord, and partake at every moment of the gifts and delights of holiness.
Thus hath the Pen of the All-Merciful set forth the secrets of all things,
be they of the past or of the future. Would that the world might
understand! Erelong shall God make manifest this people upon the earth,
and through them shall exalt His name, diffuse His signs, uphold His
words, and proclaim His verses, in spite of those that have repudiated His
truth, gainsaid His sovereignty, and cavilled at His signs.

25 O Beauty of the All-Glorious! Shouldst Thou chance upon this people and
enter their presence, recount unto them that which this Youth hath related
unto Thee concerning Himself and the things that have befallen Him, that
they may come to know what hath been inscribed upon the Preserved Tablet.
Acquaint them with the tidings of this Youth, and with the trials and
tribulations He hath suffered, that they may become mindful of Mine
afflictions, and be of them that understand. Recount, then, unto them how
We singled out for Our favour one of Our brothers,(2) how We imparted unto
him a dewdrop from the fathomless ocean of knowledge, clothed him with the
garment of one of Our Names, and exalted him to such a station that all
were moved to extol him, and how We so protected him from the harm of the
malevolent as to disarm even the mightiest amongst them.

26 We arose before the peoples of earth and heaven at a time when all had
determined to slay us. While dwelling in their midst, We continually made
mention of the Lord, celebrated His praise, and stood firm in His Cause,
until at last the Word of God was vindicated amongst His creatures, His
signs were spread abroad, His power exalted, and His sovere