17 Preface هَل أَتاكَ حَديثُ الجُنودِYusuf AliHas the story reached thee, of the Forces—1In contrast to the real, all-embracing, and eternal power of God, what are the forces of man at their best? Two examples are mentioned. (1) Pharaoh was a proud monarch of a powerful kingdom, with resources and organisation, material, moral, and intellectual, as good as any in the world. When he pitted himself against God’s Prophet, he and his forces were destroyed. See 79:15-26. (2) The Thamūd were great builders, and had a high standard of material civilisation. But they defied the law of God and perished. See 7:73-79, and first n. to 7:73.