Our signs, charging them with falsehood. But, We noted and wrote down all (ahsaina kitgban)'. ¹

In whatever way the verse may be taken, it hardly seems a sufficient basis for such a doctrine as the Muhammadan theologians have developed from it.

2. We shall now consider some of those passages in which words such as haqqa, katab, qada and qadara, usually interpreted as referring to the decrees of God, are employed.

3. Haqqa, haqqat (is rightly decreed or pronounced). It might be possible to dispense with any consideration of these words were it not that in some passages they are usually translated by such terms as to lead to the conclusion that they refer to the eternal decrees of the Almighty, as, for example, in the following passages: 'Verily they against whom the decree of thy Lord is pronounced (haqqat 'alaihim) shall not believe. Even though every kind of sign come unto them, till they behold the dolorous torment!' ² 'And to every people have We sent an apostle saying: Worship God and turn away from Taghout. Some of them there were whom God guided, and there were others decreed to err (haqqat 'alaihi 'd-dalalatu). But go through the land and see what hath been the end of those who treated my apostles as liars.' ³

These translations, however, do not give the proper sense of the words as used in these passages. The words express the justice or rightness or truth of the saying or of the action to which they refer. To see the

true meaning of the words we must look at several other passages first. 'Just, therefore, (fahaqqa) is the doom which our Lord hath passed upon us. We shall surely taste it.' ¹ 'Nought did they all but charge the apostles with falsehood: just, therefore, (fahaqqa) is the retribution.' ² 'And Ad and Pharaoh, and the people of Lot and the dwellers in the forest, and the people of Tobba, all gave the lie to their prophets: justly, therefore, were (fahaqqa) the menaces inflicted.' ³

From this meaning the words pass to express that some sentence or doom is justly due. 'Seest thou not that all in the Heavens and all on the Earth adoreth God? the sun and the moon and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and the beasts, and many men? But of many is chastisement the due (wakathirun haqqa 'alaihi'l-'adhabu).' ⁴ 'Him then on whom the sentence of punishment hath justly lighted (afaman haqqa 'alaihi kalimatu'l-'adhabi) — him who is doomed to the fire canst thou rescue?' ⁵ ' And by troops shall the unbelievers be driven towards Hell, until when they reach it, its gates shall be opened, and its keepers shall say to them, "Came not apostles from among yourselves to you, reciting to you the signs of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting with Him on this your Day?" They shall say, "Yes". But just is the sentence of punishment (haqqat kalimatu'l-'adhabi) on the unbelievers.' ⁶ 'We have not taught him (Muhammad) poetry, nor would it beseem him. This Book is no other than