is of great length and, as one of the seven wonders of the world, was built under the guidance of a person whose existence is con- firmed by God. He delivered the city-dwellers of that time from the despoliation of nomadic tribes. The Huns, one group of those savages, overturned Europe; the Mongols, another, overturned Asia. Then the Barrier's destruction was looked on as a sign of the last times. But it's being levelled is something else. The Prophet (UWBP) said: "I'm one of the signs of the last times. The end of the world and myself are as [close as] these two [fingers]," so why should it be thought strange that the Barrier's destruction will be a sign of the end of the world after the Era of Bliss? Also, in view of the earth's great age, it's ruin is merely a wrinkle of old age on its face, or like the fading light of evening compared to high noon. Though admittedly there is an interval of thousands of years. Similarly, the turmoil of Gog and Magog resembles a fever arising from humanity's decrepitude. After all this, the opening section of the Twelfth Premise will open the door for you to another interpretation. It is like this:

Just as the Qur'an relates its stories to give lessons; so it makes vital points suitably to one of its aims (makasıd) and joins them to it. Although outwardly the light and fire of things do not appear together, they still may embrace and accompany one another in the mind or in style. The story's purpose is its moral; you don't need the details; whatever they are, they do not concern you. Take your lesson and go! Also, you can seek further explanation from the Tenth Premise. Figurative speech opens the door to further figurative speech. The verse: "And the sun set in a muddy spring"(18:86) drives the literalists out.

The key to God's argument (hüccetullah — the Qur'an), which is manifested in the styles of Arabic, lies in rhetoric and eloquence (belâgat), which is founded on metaphor and figurative speech and is the basis of its miraculous inimitability (i'caz). It does not consist of baubles found by the wayside through false conjecture due to their fame and hidden in the shells of its verses without their consent. If you wish, experience with pleasure the conclusion of the