CHAPTER X X V.

ENTITLED SURAT AL FURQÁN (THE ILLUMINATION).

Revealed at Makkah.

INTRODUCTION.

THE object of the revelations of this chapter is to rebuke the unbelief of the Quraish. They had charged Muhammad with being an impostor. His Quran was stigmatised as a jumble of old stories, which he had learned from certain informants during the day, and wrote down in the night. The only reply given to these accusations is a denial, accompanied by a threatening of Divine judgment upon their unbelief. The fate of those who opposed the former prophets is recounted as a warning to the unbelieving people of Makkah, while the rewards of true believers are detailed as a comfort to the Prophet and his followers.

Here, as elsewhere, Muhammad is more successful in his arguments against idolatry than in defence of his prophetic claims. The passages setting forth the reasons why God alone should be worshipped are very noble and beautiful.

This chapter, while showing the stolid indifference and confident opposition of the Quraish, nowhere indicates any violence towards Muhammad or his followers. The idolaters are simply unbelievers, given over to their lusts, and utterly irreligious. The only thing noticeable beyond this in their opposition is their charging Muhammad with being an impostor. It was probably owing to this that Muhammad began to despair of their conversion (ver. 46), when he spoke of the infidels as "brute cattle," though he at the same time expressed himself as earnestly desiring their conversion (ver. 59).

Probable Date of the Revelations.

The most that can be said of the date of the revelations of this chapter is, that they belong to an early period in Muhammad's ministry at Makkah.

This is evident from the absence of any allusion to persecution on the part of the Quraish. Their opposition, however, had assumed a somewhat decided form, as we find that the unbelievers are called by hard names, as already remarked above. However, the Prophet still pleads with them in hope of their conversion. The revelations may therefore be assigned a place near the end of the first Makkan stage.

Some have imagined that vers. 43 and 44 were revealed at Tayif, but without reason. Others have fixed ver. 70 seq. at Madína, supposing the person alluded to there to be Wahshi, who slew Hamza at the battle of Ohod; but that verse is better understood as having a general reference.

5,6

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The Quran said to be Muhammad's own forgery.
Muhammad protests that the Qurán is from God.

Unbelievers reject Muhammad because he is like other men
Muhammad said to be a madman

God comforts Muhammad on account of these calumnies
Unbelievers doomed to hell-fire.

The reward of the pious in Paradise

Even the false gods will desert their worshippers in the judg

ment-day

The former prophets were all like Muhammad

The blasphemous unbelief of the Quraish

They shall be punished and their works demolished
Relative condition of the faithful and the unbelievers in the

resurrection.

Former prophets had their enemies among unbelievers
The Quran sent down by piecemeal a stumbling-stone to
infidels, but a comfort to believers

Those who accused Moses and Aaron of imposture were
destroyed

Noah's calumniators drowned

16, 17

18-21

22

23

24, 25

26-32

33

34-36

Ádites, Thamúdites, and Sodomites destroyed for infidelity. 40-42 The Quraish warned in vain by these examples

39

Muhammad only desires the conversion of his people
He is exhorted to trust the merciful Creator and Ruler of
heaven and earth .

The infidels refuse to worship the God of Muhammad.
God praised for his benevolent works

The servants of God described

Wicked men saved by repentance and good works

True penitents described

Their reward in Paradise

God reprobates the Quraish.

VERSES

58

59

60

61

62, 63

64-68

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

|| (1) BLESSED be he who hath revealed the Furqan unto R his servant, that he may be a preacher to all creatures: (2) unto whom belongeth the kingdom of heaven and of earth: who hath begotten no issue; and hath no partner in his kingdom: who hath created all things, and disposed the same according to his determinate will. (3) Yet have they taken other gods besides him; which have created nothing, but are themselves created: (4) and are able neither to avert evil from, nor to procure good unto themselves; and have not the power of death, or of life, or of raising the dead. (5) And the unbelievers say, This Qurán is no other than a forgery which he hath contrived; and other people have assisted him therein: but they utter an

(1) The Furgán. The Qurán. See Prelim. Disc., p. 97; also note on chap. xxi. 49, where the Pentateuch is called by this name. (2) Begotten no issue. See note on chap. xxiii. 92.

(3) Themselves created. "Being either the heavenly bodies or idols, the works of men's hands."-Sale. What follows rather points to dumb idols only.

(5) Other people have assisted him. "See chap. xvi. 105. It is supposed the Jews are particularly intended in this place, because they used to repeat passages of ancient history to Muhammad, on which he used to discourse and make observations."-Sale, Baidhúwi. See also notes on chaps. iii. 185, xi. 36, and xii. 103.

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unjust thing and a falsehood. (6) They also say, These are fables of the ancients, which he hath caused to be written down; and they are dictated unto him morning and evening. (7) Say, He hath revealed it who knoweth the secrets in heaven and earth: verily he is gracious and merciful. (8) And they say, What kind of apostle is this? He eateth food and walketh in the streets, as we do: unless an angel be sent down unto him, and become a fellow-preacher with him; (9) or unless a treasure be cast down unto him; or he have a garden, of the fruit whereof he may eat, we will not believe. The ungodly also say, Ye follow no other than a man who is distracted. (10) Behold what they liken thee unto. But they are deceived; neither can they find a just occasion to reproach thee.

|| (11) Blessed be he who, if he pleaseth, will make for thee a better provision than this which they speak of; namely, gardens through which rivers flow: and he will provide thee palaces. (12) But they reject the belief of the hour of judgment as a falsehood: and we have prepared for him who shall reject the belief of that hour burning fire; (13) when it shall see them from a distant place, they shall hear it furiously raging and roaring. (14) And when they shall be cast, bound together, into a strait place thereof, they shall there call for death; (15) but it shall be answered them, Call not this day for

(6) These charges were never fairly refuted. The only answer is the assertion of the following verse.

(8) He eateth food, &c. "Being subject to the same wants and infirmities of nature, and obliged to submit to the same low means of supporting himself and his family, with ourselves. The Makkans were acquainted with Muhammad and with his circumstances and ways of life too well to change their old familiarity into the reverence due to the messenger of God: for a prophet hath no honour in his own country."-Sule.

Unless an angel. See notes on chap. vi. 109-1II.

(9) These words were probably said with reference to the Prophet's description of Paradise. Compare with verses 11 and 12 following. (14) A strait place. Strait by reason of the number of them. See note on chap. ii. 38.

one death, but call for many deaths. (16) Say, Is this better, or a garden of eternal duration, which is promised unto the pious? It shall be given unto them for a reward and a retreat: (17) therein shall they have whatever they please, continuing in the same for ever. This is a promise to be demanded at the hands of thy LORD. (18) On a certain day he shall assemble them, and whatever they worship, besides GOD; and shall say unto the worshipped, Did ye seduce these my servants; or did they wander of themselves from the right way? (19) They shall answer, GOD forbid! It was not fitting for us that we should take any protectors besides thee: but thou didst permit them and their fathers to enjoy abundance; so that they forgot thy admonition and became lost people. (20) And God shall say unto their worshippers, Now have these convinced you of falsehood in that which ye say; they can neither avert your punishment nor give you any assistance. (21) And whoever of you shall be guilty of injustice, him will we cause to taste a grievous torment. (22) We have sent no messengers before thee, but they ate food, and walked through the streets and we make some of you an occasion of trial unto others. Will ye persevere with patience? since the LORD regardeth your perseverance.

SIPARA. 3

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|| (23) They who hope not to meet us at the resurrection NINETEENTH say, Unless the angels be sent down unto us, or we see our LORD himself, we will not believe. Verily they behave themselves arrogantly, and have transgressed with an enormous transgression. (24) The day whereon they shall see

(17) See note on chap. iii. 15.

(18) Did ye seduce, &c. The objects of worship intended here seem to be the angels or holy men. The passage condemns the worship of walis and pirs or saints, so prevalent among the Muslims of the present day.

(22) An occasion of trial. "Giving occasion of envy, repining, and malice; to the poor, mean, and sick, for example, when they compare their own condition with that of the rich, the noble, and those who are in health; and trying the people to whom prophets are sent, by those prophets."-Sale, Baidhawi, Jaláluddín.

(24) They shall see the angels. "At their death or at the resurrec

tion."-Sale.