CONTENTS. XVII.—ENTITLED SURAT AL BANI ISRAÍL (THE CHIL- XXIII.—ENTITLED SURAT YL MUMINUN (THE TRUE XXVI. ENTITLED SURAT AL SHU'ARÁ (THE POETS) XXVII.—ENTITLED SURAT-UN-Namal (THE ANT) THE QURÁN. CHAPTER XIV. ENTITLED SURAT AL IBRAHÍM (ABRAHAM). Revealed at Makkah. INTRODUCTION. ACCORDING to the commentators, the title of this chapter is due to the mention of the Patriarch Abraham in ver. 38. Like most of the Makkan chapters, this one relates entirely to the controversy between Muhammad and the unbelieving Quraish. In it the infidels are warned by the example of those who rejected the former prophets, and they are threatened with the direst punishment of hell, where they shall be ever dying without being permitted to die. The purpose of Muhammad in relating the stories of the former prophets and of the destruction of their enemies is to impress the Quraish with the dreadful consequences of their rejection of him. Probable Date of the Revelations. All authorities agree that this chapter belongs to Makkah. The commentators, however, would make vers. 33 and 34 refer to the Quraish, who were disgraced at Badr, and thus relegate this passage to Madína. There is, however, no good reason for such an interpretation of this passage. See notes there. Aside from the general spirit of the revelations in this chapter, we have as data for fixing their date the statements of vers. 16 and VOL. III. A 47, which allude to the purpose of the Quraish to expel Muhammad and his followers from Makkah. This would fix the date of the chapter very near the Hijra; with which the spirit of the Prophet's teaching here very well agrees. Principal Subjects. The Qurán given to guide men out of darkness into light Apostles always use the language of their people His message to the children of Israel Former prophets were rejected in spite of their miracles The prophets suffer persecution with resignation VERSES I 2,3 4 5 6-8 9-13 13, 14 15 16 God reveals to them the overthrow of the wicked 17 18 19-21 God able to destroy the infidels and to create others in their stead Parables of the good and evil tree The idolaters threatened with hell-fire. True believers exhorted to steadfastness and prayer Abraham prays for himself and children that they may be kept from idolatry He asks pardon for himself and his parents God is not regardless of what infidels do, and will certainly punish them. The subtle plotting of the unbelievers will be brought to confusion The earth and heavens to be changed at the resurrection |