27 To this end he conferred with one of My servants(3) and sought to win him over to his own designs; whereupon the Lord despatched unto Mine assistance the hosts of the seen and the unseen, protected Me by the power of truth, and sent down upon Me that which thwarted his purpose.  Thus were foiled the plots of those who disbelieve in the verses of the All-Merciful.  They, truly, are a rejected people.  When news spread of that which the promptings of self had impelled My brother to attempt, and Our companions in exile learned of his nefarious design, the voice of their indignation and grief was lifted up and threatened to spread throughout the city.  We forbade, however, such recriminations, and enjoined upon them patience, that they might be of those that endure steadfastly.

28 By God, besides Whom is none other God!  We withstood all these trials with forbearance, and enjoined upon God’s servants to show forth patience and fortitude.  Removing Ourself from their midst, We took up residence in another house, that perchance the flame of envy might be quenched in Our brother’s breast, and that he might be guided aright.  We neither opposed him, nor saw him again thereafter, but remained in Our home, placing Our hopes in the bounty of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.  When, however, he realized that his deed had been exposed, he seized the pen of calumny and wrote unto the servants of God, attributing what he had himself committed unto Mine own peerless and wronged Beauty.  His purpose was none other than to inspire mischief amongst God’s servants, and to instil hatred into the hearts of those who had believed in God, the All-Glorious, the All-Loving.

29 By the One in Whose hand is My soul!  We were dismayed by his deceitfulness—­nay, bewildered were all things visible and invisible.  Nor did he find respite from what he harboured in his bosom until he had committed that which no pen dare describe, and by which he disgraced the dignity of My station and profaned the sanctity of God, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the All-Praised.  Were God to turn all the oceans of the earth into ink and all created things into pens, they would not suffice Me to exhaust the record of his wrongdoings.  Thus do We recount that which befell Us, that haply ye may be of them that understand.

30 O Pen of Eternity!  Grieve not at the things that have befallen Thee, for erelong shall God raise up a people who will see with their own eyes and will recall Thy tribulations.  Withhold Thy pen from the mention of Thine enemies, and bestir it in the praise of the Eternal King.  Renounce all created things, and quaff the sealed wine of My remembrance.  Beware lest Thou become occupied with the mention of those from whom naught save the noisome savours of enmity can be perceived, those who are so enslaved by their lust for leadership that they would not hesitate to destroy themselves in their desire to emblazon their fame and perpetuate their names.  God hath