woe unto the literalists who call what they do not understand "repetition" !

Yes, if attention is paid to the Lord of Glory's Word, this truth is seen to shine everywhere like light. Indeed, with all its elements combining like light in its corners and crossroads, this truth causes the pure water of eloquence to pour forth. Curses upon those literalists who ignoring it, call it repetition!

Fourth Truth: This is to mould and shape the speech in such a way that it comprises the seeds of numerous branches, is the source of numerous statements, and indicates numerous meanings and different aspects. As though, since the speech holds such a potentiality, this truth alludes to its power to grow and the abundance of its produce. As if all those branches and aspects crowd together in the matter so as to balance the virtues and fine points, direct each branch towards an aim and lay a duty on each aspect.

Consider the story of Moses for it is more useful than the parts of his staff: the Qur'an took it in its shining white hand and the wizards of rhetoric fell prostrate before its eloquence.

Yes, Moses' staff is more useful than the proverbial staff in the famous tale. [^12] The staff in the story still found a use, however much it was split up, just like the story of Moses. It was owing to this that the Qur'an took the story with the shining white hand of its miracuIous exposition and exhibited it in many different forms. It employed every side of it brilliantly so that the magicians of the science of rhetoric (beyan) prostrated before it in wonderment and love.

[^12]:This refers to an Arabic proverb. See, Abū Faḍl Aḥmad b. Muḥammad al-Maydānī (d. 518/1124), Majmā' al-Amthāl.

Brother! With these literary styles, the elusive eloquence of this matter depicts for you a tree of reality with vast intertwining roots, well placed nodes, interwoven branches, and diverse fruits. Take a look at the Sixth Matter if you wish, for even if poorly arranged, it illustrates this matter to a degree.