reward with their LORD shall be gardens of perpetual abode, through which rivers flow; they shall remain therein for ever. (8) GOD will be well pleased in them; and they shall be well pleased in him. This is prepared for him who shall fear his LORD.

CHAPTER XCIX.

ENTITLED SURAT AL ZILZÁL (THE EARTHQUAKE).

Revealed at Makkah.

INTRODUCTION.

OWING to the rhetorical style of the first verses, this chapter has been considered by some to be Madínic, but the received opinion is that it is Makkan. It appears to be a mere fragment of a Sura.

Probable Date of the Revelations.

Little can be discovered as to the date of this chapter beyond the fact that it belongs to the earliest period of Muhammad's ministry at Makkah.

Principal Subjects.

The judgment-day shall be ushered in by a great earth-
quake.

The earth shall be inspired to declare why she trembles
Men shall be judged according to their deeds

VERSES

I-3

4, 5 6-8

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

R 2% (1) When the earth shall be shaken by an earthquake, (2) and the earth shall cast forth her burdens; (3) and a man shall say, What aileth her? (4) On that

(1) An earthquake. "This earthquake will happen at the first, or, as others say, at the second blast of the trumpet."-Sale. See Prelim. Disc., pp. 135, 136.

(2) Burdens. "Treasures and dead bodies within it. See chap. lxxxiv."-Sale.

day the earth shall declare her tidings, (5) for that day thy LORD will inspire her. (6) On that day men shall go forward in distinct classes, that they may behold their works. (7) And whoever shall have wrought good of the weight of an ant, shall behold the same. (8) And whoever shall have wrought evil of the weight of an ant, shall behold the same.

(5) Will inspire her, i.e., "will inform all creatures of the occasion of her trembling, and casting forth her treasures and her dead, by the circumstances which shall immediately attend them. Some say the earth will, at the last day, be miraculously enabled to speak, and will give evidence of the actions of her inhabitants."-Sale. See also Prelim. Disc., p. 143.

(7, 8) Weight of an ant. See note on chap. iv. 38, 39.

CHAPTER C.

ENTITLED SURAT AL ADIYAT (THE WAR-HORSES WHICH
RUN SWIFTLY).

Revealed at Makkah.

INTRODUCTION.

SOME Muslim writers, imagining that the first verses of this chapter refer to the camels employed by Muhammad in warfare, have erroneously classified it as Madínic.

The purport of the revelations is that God will certainly bring to light the secret thoughts of covetous and worldly men.

Probable Date of the Revelations.

On this subject nothing more can be said than that this chapter belongs to an early period of the ministry of Muhammad at Makkah.

Man's secret thoughts shall be discovered in the judgment-
day'

VERSES

1-6

7,8

9-11

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

R2 (1) By the war-horses which run swiftly to the battle, with a panting noise; (2) and by those which strike fire,

(1-5) "Some will have it that not horses but the camels which went to the battle of Badr, are meant in this passage. Others in

by dashing their hoofs against the stones; (3) and by those which make a sudden incursion on the enemy early in the morning, (4) and therein raise the dust, (5) and therein pass through the midst of the adverse troops: (6) verily man is ungrateful unto his LORD; (7) and he is witness thereof; (8) and he is immoderate in the love of worldly good. (9) Doth he not know, therefore, when that which is in the graves shall be taken forth, (10) and that which is in men's breasts shall be brought to light, (11) that their LORD will, on that day, be fully informed concerning them?

terpret all the parts of the oath of the human soul; but their explications seem a little forced, and therefore I choose to omit them."Sale, Yahya, Baidháwi.