2 Preface وَإِن يَرَوا آيَةً يُعرِضوا وَيَقولوا سِحرٌ مُستَمِرٌّYusuf AliBut if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, “This is (but) transient magic.”1Mustamirr: transient, or powerful: either meaning will apply. The Unbelievers acknowledge the unusual appearance, but call it magic. They do not therefore profit by the spiritual lesson.