The authoritative speech of God in the Quran

By: Maged Taman

The authoritative speech in the Quran comes to us from various ways: the contents like the creation is that of God, the worship is to him alone, his authority is all over the creation including the prophets, mankind and everything in this universe. The authority of God is also over the language of speech, no weakness, no hesitation and no second thoughts. Those who talked about abrogation in the Quran is simply God said in these rare changes were good reason to do that and God already predetermined the change even in the past he knew what he will reveal or change in the future. The authority of God can be clearly appreciated when we read the Quran as God speech to us we find the firm style and the amazing choice of words and the way they fall each in place. Here are some examples of this authoritative of speech in the Quran:

1- The Creator God declares himself:

3:18 Allah (Himself) is witness that there is no God save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness). Maintaining His creation in justice, there is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise. شَهِدَ اللّهُ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَأُوْلُواْ الْعِلْمِ قَآئِمَاً بِالْقِسْطِ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (

2- There is no proof to man of other cause of creation but God:

Failure to prove we are not created from non-existence or we are the creators (since we are the only intelligent creation we know of) prove there is other creator.
52:35 Have they themselves been created without anything [that might have caused their creation]? Or are they the creators? أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ (52:35)

18:51 I did not make them witnesses of the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor of the creation of their own selves; and neither do I [have any need to] take as My helpers those [beings] that lead [men] astray. مَا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا (18:51)

3- The worship of false Gods does not prove those Gods beside God: but rather the presence of another force we call it Satan that want you to worship anything other than God, even of his creation:

25:3 Yet they choose beside Him other gods who create naught but are themselves created, and possess not hurt nor profit for themselves, and possess not death nor life, nor power to raise the dead. وَاتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَاةً وَلَا نُشُورًا (25:3)

4- God created all the creation:

6:102 Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no God save Him, the creator of all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things. – ذَلِكُمُ اللّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (6:102) 51:56

5- God Subjected his the creation to man:

As you note in most points above that God has created the universe and subjected it to us. This explains how the resources of the creation satisfied our needs and our knowledge made possible and even exponential as we see it today. No wander you see the verb subjected in many verses of the Quran. 45:13 And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: Behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflectوَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا مِّنْهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لَّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (45:13)

6- These subjection of creation is related to the laws of the creator: what we call it physio-chemical laws are constant. If you threw a stone from any part of the earth it will follow the laws of gravity and fall down. Every thing is created by a measure.

67:3 Who hath created seven heavens in harmony. Thou (Muhammad) canst see no fault in theBeneficent One's creation; then look again: Canst thou see any rifts? - الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا مَّا تَرَى فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ فَارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَى مِن فُطُورٍ (67:3)13:8 Allah knoweth that which every female beareth and that which the wombs absorb and that which they grow. And everything with Him is measured. اللّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَى وَمَا تَغِيضُ الأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِندَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ (13:8)

7- God knew that we would be able to chase the origin of creation:

Our curiosity to know how things created and God gave us the brain and the tools to trace his creation. No wonder that we found the big bang, the DNA, water as the origin of life and so on.29:20 Say (O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah bringeth forth the later growth. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things. قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (29:20)

8- As he who created first time he will be able to recreate:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَهُ الْمَثَلُ الأعْلَى فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ Sura 30 - Ar-Room [The Romans, The Byzantines] Verse 27-27: 27. It is He Who begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; and for Him it is most easy. To Him belongs the loftiest similitude (we can think of) in the heavens and the earth: for He is Exalted in Might, full of wisdom.

9-God clearly and strongly declare that the Quran is his book:

This is the scripture whereof there is no doubt, a Guidance unto those who ward off (evil). [Qur'an 2:2]A Book which We have revealed unto thee (Muhammad) that thereby thou mayst bring forth mankind from darkness unto light, by the permission of their Lord, unto the path of the Exalted in power, Worthy of Praise. [Qur'an 14:1]And, those who are endowed with knowledge, can see that the Revelation sent down to thee, O Muhammad, from thy Lord is the Truth; and that it guides people to the path of the Exalted, Worthy of all Praise. [Qur'an 34:6]

10- The Quran is not such as could be invented in despite of God: To our date no one gave us a convincing evidence that the Quran is made by other than God.

10:37 And this quran is not such as could ever be invented in despite of Allah; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind-- Therein is no doubt--from the Lord of the Worlds. وَمَا كَانَ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَى مِن دُونِ اللّهِ وَلَـكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (10:37)

11- God is the author of the Quran and Muhammad is the messenger: it is not poetry from Muhammad, sorcery or delusions.

"And the poets - [only] the tempted (or fans) follow them; Do you not see that in every valley they roam And that they say what they do not do?ˮ (Quran 26: 224-226)"And We did not give Prophet Muhammad, knowledge of poetry, nor is it befitting for him. It is not but a message and a clear Qur'an.ˮ (Quran 36: 69)[That] indeed, the Qur'an is the word of a noble Messenger. And it is not the word of a poet; little do you believe. Nor the word of a soothsayer; little do you remember. [It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds. (Quran 69: 40-43)
Al-Qalam chapter 68 verse 2:“You are not, (O Muhammad), by the favour of your Lord, a madman”.chapter 81 verse 22:“And your companion (i.e. Muhammad) is not (at all) mad.”
"These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you, [O Muhammad], in truth. And indeed, you are from among the messengers. ˮ (Quran 2:252)He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. (Quran 3:3)

12- God hold the truth and not assumptions:

And most of them follow not except assumption. Indeed, assumption avails not against the truth at all. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of what they do. (Quran 10: 36)
10:66 Behold! verily to Allah belong all creatures, in the heavens and on earth. What do they follow who worship as His “partners” other than Allah. They follow nothing but fancy, and they do nothing but lie. أَلا إِنَّ لِلّهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَن فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ شُرَكَاء إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ يَخْرُصُونَ (10:66) 12:40 “If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah. He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not… مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلاَّ أَسْمَاء سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَآؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ أَمَرَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (12:40)
21:24 Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides him? Say, “Bring your convincing proof: this is the Message (the Quran) of those with me and the Message of those before me.” But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn away. أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ هَذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِيَ وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِي بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ فَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ (21:24)

13- God had many promises to the Quran that were fulfilled: As God promised Muhammad him he will make him recite the Quran and not forget it: He was praying and Muslims behind him 5 prayers a day and a lot of long nights for many years and they did not record about him forgetting the verses of the Quran despite his very busy mind guiding a nation and building its community.87:6 We shall make thee read (O Muhammad) so that thou shalt not forget سَنُقْرِؤُكَ فَلَا تَنسَى (87:6)8- God named his book the Quran (the recited): we come to learn over the years that this is the most recited book in the world.7:204 And when the Qur'an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy. -وَإِذَا قُرِىءَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (7:204)9- God promised to collect the Quran: though the Quran would come to the prophet as inspirations few verses at times and even a large chapter and in different orders. God as promised ended by having the Quran as one book with all verses in its right place in various chapters.إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ(75:17)75:17 (Picktall) Lo! upon Us (resteth) the putting together thereof and the reading thereof. God promised us the explanation of the Quran: many verses in the Quran are explained by other verses in the Quran.ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ (75:19)75:19 (Picktall) Then lo! upon Us (resteth) the explanation thereof. God promised to preserve the Quran: He did that with no change in one verse or letter over 1400 years.15:9 Lo! We, even We, reveal the reminder, and lo! We verily are its Guardian. إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ (15:9)12- God challenged the Jinn and Mankind to bring the like of the Quran: and no one has brought like the Quran including any government in the world.17:88 Say: Verily, though mankind and the jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another. -قُل لَّئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الإِنسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَن يَأْتُواْ بِمِثْلِ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنِ لاَ يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا (17:88)13- The Quran guide people to the straight path: it is not only my observation the religious Muslims are the best of Muslims in manners.17:9 Lo! this quran guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward.إِنَّ هَـذَا الْقُرْآنَ يِهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا (17:9)14- The Quran talked about the universes and humans: the scientific points mentioned in the Quran about the universe and human embryology were proven to be true after centuries.41:53 In time We shall make them fully understand Our messages [through what they perceive] in the utmost horizons [of the universe] and within them­selves, so that it will become clear unto them that this [revelation] is indeed the truth. [Still,] is it not enough [for them to know] that thy Sustainer is witness unto everything?سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (41:53)

14- The best witness of the Quran is God:

''Say (O Messenger), "What could be the greatest witness?” Say, “Allah is Witness between me and you. This Qur’an has been revealed to me so that I may warn you as well as whomever it reaches. Do you bear witness that there are other deities besides Allah?” Say, “I bear no such witness.” Say, “He is the One God [ILAH]. I disown what you associate with Him.” (6:19)

15- God compelled us to call into him: Most people have faith when they are in severe distress: One of the great evidence of God is our calling to him in the time of stress. Even those with weak faith or no faith are faithful at that time. 29:65 And when they mount upon the ships they pray to Allah, making their faith pure for Him only, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold! they ascribe partners (unto Him), – فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ (29:65) 31:32 And if a wave enshroudeth them like awnings, they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only. But when He bringeth them safe to land, some of them compromise. None denieth Our signs save every traitor ingrate. وَإِذَا غَشِيَهُم مَّوْجٌ كَالظُّلَلِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ فَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَّا كُلُّ خَتَّارٍ كَفُورٍ (31:32) 8

16- Guidance is only though God: Though man is responsible to find God, he did not leave him without guidance but according to his sincerity God will guide him:

''..A light has now come to you from God, and a Scripture making things clear, with which God guides those who follow what pleases Him to the ways of peace, bringing them from darkness out into light, by His will, and guiding them to a straight path.'' (Qur'an 5:15)

17- Small changes in man life or big changes in history happen by permission of God: But man has to strive to change if wants God to help him in that.

God does not change the conditions of a people unless they first change that which is in their hearts. [Qur'an 13:12]Man shall have nothing but what he strives for. [Qur'an 50:40]And whatever suffering ye suffer, it is what your hands have wrought. [Qur'an 42:29]And those who strive in Our (cause), We will certainly guide them to our Paths. [Qur'an 29:69]

18-God speech is authoritative but not autocratic: God ask us not just believe in Quran because he said it is his book but it is very important to ponder and find the proofs God have for us in the Quran by pondering and asking ourselves. A well known approach in the Quran is known as ‘Exhausting the Alternatives’. The Qur’an says that it is a revelation from the Creator of all that exists. If for some reason you do not believe in it, then what is it or where iyour proof?.

35:3 O Mankind! Think of the blessings of Allah upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the heaven and earth? There is no god but He. How could you wander in the wilderness of thought! 35:4 (O Messenger) if they deny you, Messengers before you were also denied. But all affairs ultimately end up in His Court. 35:5 O Mankind! Indeed Allah's Promise is true. (The Law of Requital is an inevitable reality). So let not the present life deceive you, nor let the Deceiver deceive you about Allah. (Deceiver = Satan = Selfish desire. Also misguided people and their propaganda).

19- Although God speech is authortative, Muslims have to use the paragmatic and democratic ways to spread the message of Quran:

16 verse 125 states:“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction; and argue with them in a way that is best.”

20-God authority over history: The future for us is the past for him since he sees the future: Moses told beno Israel that God had made prophets (most of them) and kings, and he kept his promise.5:20 Remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ اذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنبِيَاء وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَآتَاكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّن الْعَالَمِينَ-3:26 Say: O Allah! Owner of Sovereignty! Thou givest sovereignty unto whom Thou wilt, and Thou withdrawest sovereignty from whom Thou wilt. Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt and Thou abasest whom Thou wilt. In Thy hand is the good. Lo! Thou art Able to do all things.قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاء وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاء وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاء وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاء بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ11-God

21- authority of God over the idols: A lot of idols that people worshiped were either God creation as humans, sun, stars, cows..... or from materials that created by God like statues:

25:3 Yet have they taken, besides him, gods that can create nothing but are themselves created; that have no control of hurt or good to themselves; nor can they control death nor life nor resurrection.وَاتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَاةً وَلَا نُشُورًا (25:3

22- God authority over human spirit:

39:42 It is God [alone that has this power - He] who causes all human beings to die at the time of their [bodily] death, and [causes to be as dead], during their sleep, those that have not yet died: thus, He withholds [from life] those upon whom He has decreed death, and lets the others go free for a term set [by Him]. In [all] this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who think!

23- God authority over his prophets:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّيْنَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكُمْ إِصْرِي قَالُواْ أَقْرَرْنَا قَالَ فَاشْهَدُواْ وَأَنَاْ مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ (3:81)3:81 (Picktall) When Allah made (His) covenant with the prophets, (He said): Behold that which I have given you of the Scripture and knowledge. And afterward there will come unto you a messenger, confirming that which ye possess. Ye shall believe in him and ye shall help him. He said: Do ye agree, and will ye take up My burden (which I lay upon you) in this (matter)? They answered: We agree. He said: Then bear ye witness. I will be a witness with you. -3:84 Say: "We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed by their Sustainer unto Moses and jesus and all the [other] prophets: we make no distinction between any of them. And unto Him do we surrender ourselves."قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُون

24- God authority over the day of judgment:

1:4 Lord of the day of Judgment!مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ99:1 WHEN THE EARTH quakes with her [last] mighty quaking,99:2 and [when] the earth yields up her burdens,99:3 and man cries out, "What has happened to her?" -99:4 on that Day will she recount all her tidings,99:5 as thy Sustainer will have inspired her to do!99:6 On that Day will all men come forward, cut off from one another,99:7 And so, he who shall have done an atom's weight of good, shall behold it;99:8 and he who shall have done an atom's weight of evil, shall behold it.

25- God authority over all people:

23:52 And, verily, this community of yours is one single community, since I am the Sustainer of you all: remain, then, conscious of Me!وَإِنَّ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ (23:52)6:42 And, indeed, We sent Our messages unto people before thy time, [O Prophet,] and visited them with misfortune and hardship so that they might humble themselves:وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلنَآ إِلَى أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ (6:42)16- God Authority over the disbelievers:سَأَصْرِفُ عَنْ آيَاتِيَ الَّذِينَ يَتَكَبَّرُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَإِن يَرَوْاْ كُلَّ آيَةٍ لاَّ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهَا وَإِن يَرَوْاْ سَبِيلَ الرُّشْدِ لاَ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلاً وَإِن يَرَوْاْ سَبِيلَ الْغَيِّ يَتَّخِذُوهُ سَبِيلاً ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا وَكَانُواْ عَنْهَا غَافِلِينَ (7:146)7:146 (Y. Ali) Those who behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right - them will I turn away from My signs: Even if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them; and if they see the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the way; but if they see the way of error, that is the way they will adopt. For they have rejected our signs, and failed to take warning from them.