In the third and last verse the intellectual proof has been joined to the manifest proof.

It is said, “Have you seen what you called upon besides God? Show me what part of the earth they created, or if there is any share for them in the heavens.”

Had they really been gods then they should have been the originators of beneficence. They should have at least created some part of the word and taken part a little in the creation of heavens (they cannot do anything). Is it possible that a Lord God is devoid of beneficence? Who was the apostle who invited mankind to other gods? Bring a book similar to the books sent earlier or show some message which contains even the weakest arguments about obeying gods, if you are truthful. The verse says, “. Bring me a book before this or traces of knowledge if you are truthful.”

It is clear now that all apostles were unanimous about Oneness of God and this is a very open proof. It is now proven that the book of the universe and the books of the apostles too present strong arguments in favor of the Oneness of God. The Oneness of God, therefore, is an irrefutable truth and only a weak-minded dolt can deny it.

Here, the traces in “traces of knowledge” originate from “effect”. According to Maqayis -ol-Loghata it has three meanings, to make it prominent, to remember, and the trace of something non-existent.

Fakhr Razi has explained it in other words, and he says that “Asar” means remnant, signs and legends but most exegetes have taken it to mean the “relics” but it is not surprising that all the three meanings revert to the same meaning because they have all been construed from a single base and that is “Something that proves the existence of something else.” (1)

1. Tahqiq fi kalimati Qura’n alkarim Vol.1 Origin of Asar.