Fourth Topic

It is as though when "Alif. Lâm. Mîm." and their sisters appear in this form that they are declaring: "We are leaders; we imitate no one and follow none. Our style is original and our manner, singular." This topic too contains a number of subtleties.

Firstly: It is the custom of orators and eloquent speakers to always adhere to patterns and embroider examples and to follow well-trodden paths. But these letters are virginal, untouched by man or jinn.

Secondly: From beginning to end, the Qur'an is as it was at first. Although out of their longing, its friends have wanted to imitate it, and likewise its enemies out of their desire to challenge it, it has never been imitated nor has anything similar been achieved. If you want proof of this, take a look at the millions of Arabic books! Are any equal to the Qur'an, or even close to it? No! Even an ignorant illiterate would exclaim if he were to compare them to it: "The Qur'an is not of their level!" It is either inferior to all of them, and this is impossible; or it is superior, and this is as it should be. It would fall to his lot to perceive this much of its miraculous-ness.

Thirdly: It is the mark of human art that at first it emerges crude and deficient in many respects. It is dry and lacking in grace. Only later is it perfected and made pleasing. The Qur'an's style, however, was graceful, fresh, and young when it first appeared, and it still challenges the human mind, which has grown old through the combining of ideas and plagiarizing them. It has triumphed over all of them, proclaiming through its victory that it is the art of the Creator of all powers and destiny.

O you who sniffs at the breeze of eloquence! Doesn't the bee of your mind gather from the blossoms of these four topics the honey of "I testify that this is the Word of Allâh!"?