[3] Koran, chap. vi.

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I cannot believe that any creature was created for uncompensated misery; it would be contrary to God’s mercy and justice.

MARY SOMERVILLE.

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THE SPIDER AND THE DOVE.

    The spider and the dove,—­what thing is weak
    If Allah makes it strong? 
    The spider and the dove! if He protect,
    Fear thou not foeman’s wrong.

    From Mecca to Medina fled our Lord,
    The horsemen followed fast;
    Into a cave to shun their murderous rage,
    Mohammed, weary, passed.

    Quoth Aba Bekr, “If they see me die!”
    Quoth Eba Foheir, “Away!”
    The guide Abdallah said, “The sand is deep,
    Those footmarks will betray.”

    Then spake our Lord “We are not four but Five;
    He who protects is here. 
    ‘Come!  Al-Muhaimin’ now will blind their eyes;
    Enter, and have no fear.”

    The band drew nigh; one of the Koreish cried,
    “Search ye out yonder cleft,
    I see the print of sandalled feet which turn
    Thither, upon the left!”

    But when they drew unto the cavern’s mouth,
    Lo, at its entering in,
    A ring-necked desert-dove sat on her eggs;
    The mate cooed soft within.

    And right athwart the shadow of the cave
    A spider’s web was spread;
    The creature hung upon her web at watch;
    Unbroken was each thread;

    “By Thammuz’ blood,” the unbelievers cried,
    “Our toil and time are lost;
    Where doves hatch, and the spider spins her snare,
    No foot of man hath crossed!”

    Thus did a desert bird and spider guard
    The blessed Prophet then;
    For all things serve their maker and their God
    Better than thankless men.

Pearls of the Faith.

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THE YOUNG DOVES.

    There came before our Lord a certain one
    Who said, “O Prophet! as I passed the wood
    I heard the voice of youngling doves which cried,
    While near the nest their pearl-necked mother cooed.

    “Then in my cloth I tied those fledglings twain,
    But all the way the mother fluttered nigh;
    See! she hath followed hither.”  Spake our Lord: 
    “Open thy knotted cloth, and stand thou by.”

    But when she spied her nestlings, from the palm
    Down flew the dove, of peril unafeared,
    So she might succor these.  “Seest thou not,”
    Our Lord said, “how the heart of this poor bird

    “Grows by her love, greater than his who rides
    Full-face against the spear-blades?  Thinkest thou
    Such fire divine was kindled to be quenched? 
    I tell ye nay!  Put back upon the bough

“The nest she claimeth thus:  I tell ye nay! 
From Allah’s self cometh this wondrous love: 
Yea!  And I swear by Him who sent me here,
He is more tender than a nursing dove,