`Then do not set up compeers to Allah knowingly.

`Then do not set up compeers to Allah knowingly.' IDOLATRY IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS Generally, to compare or liken any entity, in power, effects or characters to God, is a form of POLYTHEISM, which sometimes creeps in the hearts of man, as an ant may creep upon a black stone in a dark night! The COMPEERS, or the false gods might be; idols, superstitions, and natural phenomena.

They may also be the pride of race and birth, the pride of rank, power, and wealth, when are set as rivals to God or compared with His attributes.

وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِى رَيْب مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَة مِّنْ مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ شُهَدَآءَكُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ(( 23 )) 23- AND IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT CONCERNING THAT WHICH WE HAVE SENT DOWN TO OUR SERVANT, (THE PROPHET) THEN PRODUCE A CHAPTER LIKE IT, AND CALL YOUR WITNESSES APART FROM ALLAH IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL.

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفْعَلُواْ فَاتَّقُواْ النَّارَ الَّتِى وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَـفِرينَ(( 24 )) 24- BUT IF YOU DO IT NOT, AND NEVER SHALL YOU DO IT, THEN GUARD YOURSELVES AGAINST THE FIRE WHOSE FUEL IS MEN AND STONES PREPARED FOR UNBELIEVERS. [ 48 ] THE COMMENTARY THE HOLY QURA"N, AN ETERNAL MIRACLE Blasphemy may sometimes be rooted in misunderstanding the nature of prophethood and miracles.

Here an eternal miracle is pointed to, namely the Glorious Qura"n, saying: ``And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to our servant, then produce a chapter like it.'' Here is a particular test. God has put many chapters before you. Can you produce at least one single chapter like it? By that, Qura"n calls to challenge all those who reject the idea that there is REVELATION, and that, it is from God. This is to make a reason against them out of their inability and failure.

Not themselves alone, but if there be any one apart of Allah, who may inspire spiritual truth in such a noble language, let them bring their works forth or help you in doing that - ``Then call your witnesses apart from Allah if you are truthful.'' In the following verse, (NO. 24) the book denies their ability of doing that EVER!

``But if you do it not, and NEVER shall you do it, then guard yourself against the fire the fuel of which is MEN & STONES, prepared for the unbelievers.'' STONES AS FUELS!? How can a piece of stone be the fuel for a fire?

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