H. Wert thou ever in love?

S. Yes, completely immersed in it.

H. With whom?

S. With my God, who will, I trust, pardon me for my errors, and deliver me from thee this day.

H. Knowest thou thy God?

S. Yes.

H. By what means?

S. By the scriptures, which he caused to descend to his prophet.

H. Dost thou guard the Koran?

S. Does it fly from me, that I should guard it?

H. What dost thou learn from it?

S. That God commanded its rules to be obeyed.

H. Hast thou read and understood it?

S. Yes.

H. If so, tell me, first, What passage in it is most sublime.  Secondly, Which most commanding.  Thirdly, Which most just.  Fourthly, Which most alarming.  Fifthly, Which most encouraging.  Sixthly, That which Jews and Christians both believe in.  Seventhly, That in which God has spoken purely of himself; that where he speaks of the angels; that in which he mentions the prophets; that where he alludes to those destined to Paradise; and that in which he speaks of those devoted to hell; that which includes ten points; and that which Eblis the accursed delivered.

S. By God’s help I will answer thee.  The most sublime passage is the Koorsee:  the most commanding, “God insisteth on justice:”  the most just, “Whoever diminishes the least of a measure, God will requite him doubly, and the same to whoever addeth the least:”  the most alarming, “All expect to enter Paradise:”  the most encouraging, “O my servants, who have mortified yourselves, despair not of the mercy of God!” that in which are ten points, “God created the heavens and the earth, the revolutions of night and day; also, the firmament over the waters that it might profit man:”  that which is believed alike by jews and christians, “The Jew saith that the Christian is in error, and the Christian saith that the Jew is mistaken, they both believe so; and both are in error:”  that in which God hath spoken purely of himself, “I have not created genii and men but to worship me:”  that in which he speaks of the angels, “They said, we have no knowledge, but what thou hast taught us; for thou only art wise and all-knowing:”  that which speaks of the prophets, “How could we deliver you a verse without the order of God, on whom the faithful will rely:”  that which mentions the devoted to hell, “God hath cast us down from heaven, for we were transgressors:”  that which describes the blessed, “Praised be God, who hath divested us of all sorrow, for our Lord is merciful and gracious:”  that which satan spoke, “None will profit by thy mercy but thy servants the blessed.”