وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ (2)
(54:2) (Regardless of any Signs these people see), they turn away and say: 'This is an ongoing sorcery.' *2
*2) The words sihr-um mustamirr of the Text can have several meanings: (1) That, God forbid, this magical illusion also is one of those magical performances that Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has been performing day and night; (2) that this certainly is a work of magic which has been performed with great expertise; and (3) that just as other works of magic have passed, so will this also pass without leaving any lasting effect behind.