assistant of the devil against his LORD. (58) We have sent thee to be no other than a bearer of good tidings and a denouncer of threats. (59) Say, I ask not of you any. reward for this my preaching, besides the conversion of him who shall desire to take the way unto his LORD. (60) And do thou trust in him who liveth and dieth not, and celebrate his praise; (he is sufficiently acquainted with the faults of his servants ;) who hath created the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them, in six days, and then ascended his throne: the Merciful. Ask now the knowing concerning him. (61) When it is said unto the unbelievers, Adore the Merciful, they reply, And who is the Merciful? Shall we adore that which thou commandest us? And this precept causeth them to fly the faster from the faith. (62) Blessed be he who hath placed. the twelve signs in the heavens, and hath placed therein a lamp by day, and the moon which shineth by night! (63) It is he who hath ordained the night and the day R to succeed each other, for the observation of him who will consider, or desireth to show his gratitude. (64) The servants of the Merciful are those who walk meekly on the earth, and when the ignorant speak unto them, answer, Peace; (65) and who pass the night adoring their LORD, and standing up to pray unto him, (66) and who say, O LORD, avert from us the torment of hell, for the torment thereof is perpetual; verily the same is a miserable abode 66 (59) Who shall desire, &c. Seeking to draw near unto him, by embracing the religion taught by me his Apostle, which is the best return I expect from you for my labours. The passage, however, is capable of another meaning, viz., that Muhammad desires none to give but him who shall contribute freely and voluntarily towards the advancement of God's true religion.”—Sale, Baidhawi. (60) Six days. See notes on chaps. vii. 55, x. 3, and comp. chap. xli, 8-11. (62) This is the prayer of Muhammad, but Muslims understand it to be introduced by the word say understood. See introduction to chap. i. (64) Place. "Not a salutation, but a waiving all further intercourse."-Sale. and a wretched station, (67) and who, when they bestow, are neither profuse nor niggardly, but observe a just medium between these; (68) and who invoke not another god together with the true GOD; neither slay the soul which GOD hath forbidden to be slain, unless for a just cause, and who are not guilty of fornication. But he who shall do this shall meet the reward of his wickedness; (69) his punishment shall be doubled unto him on the day of resurrection, and he shall remain therein covered with ignominy for ever: (70) except him who shall repent and believe, and shall work a righteous work, unto them will GOD change their former evils into good; for GOD is ready to forgive and merciful. (71) And whoever repenteth and doth that which is right, verily he turneth unto GOD with an acceptable conversion. (72) And they who do not bear false witness, and when they pass by vain discourse, pass by the same with decency; (73) and who, when they are admonished by the signs of their LORD, fall not down as if they were deaf and blind, but stand up and are attentive thereto, (74) and who say, O LORD, grant us of our wives and our offspring such as may be the satisfaction of our eyes, and make us patterns unto those who fear thee. (75) These shall be rewarded with the highest apartments in Paradise, because they have persevered with constancy, and they shall meet therein with greeting and salutation; (76) they shall remain in the same for ever; it shall be an excellent abode and a delightful station. (77) Say, My LORD is not solicitous on your account, if ye do not invoke him; ye have already charged his Apostle with imposture, but hereafter shall there be a lasting punishment inflicted on you. (67) See chap. xvii. 29. (70) Change former evils into good. "Blotting out their former rebellion, on their repentance, and confirming and increasing their faith and obedience."-Sale, Baidhawi. (71-76) This passage teaches that salvation is to be attained by repentance and good works. See note on chap. iii. 31. CHAPTER XXVI. ENTITLED SURAT AL SHU'ARÁ (THE POETS). Revealed at Makkah. INTRODUCTION. THIS chapter, like the seventh chapter, is taken up entirely with Muhammad's defence of his prophetic claims against the objections of the Quraish. The character of these objections may be learned from the words put into the mouths of those who rejected the former prophets. Those prophets were called impostors, liars, and madmen by those rejecting them, and we may certainly conclude that these same epithets were applied by the Quraish to Muhammad. Again, the replies attributed to the former prophets reflect the answer of Muhammad to his maligners: that he was a prophet of the true God; that he had no motive to deceive them, inasmuch as he took no reward from his people for his services; that God would visit dire punishment upon them unless they should repent. In the concluding verses we find mention made of certain poets, to which the chapter owes its title. These poets seem to have been a special source of annoyance to Muhammad at this time. It is possible that they were the ringleaders of the opposition to his prophetic pretensions. It does not speak very highly of "the incomparable verses of the Quran" when it is said that several poets were employed by Muhammad to meet the satire of these " rovers through every valley." See note on ver. 228. Probable Date of the Revelations. Some writers, supposing that every reference to Jews points necessarily to Madína, have thought this chapter to be Madinic. But this notion being ill founded, there is nothing left to give countenance to such an opinion. On the other hand, some have thought ver. 214 seq., or at least ver. 214, to be the first verse or portion of the Qurán, but they need not be interpreted to mean more than that Muhammad had received a new command to preach to his near relatives. Vers. 215-219 show that there was already a band of worshippers, who were no doubt true believers. Rodwell, following Noëldeke, fixes the chapter in the seventh year of Muhammad's ministry at Makkah. Judging from the fulness of the stories taken from Old Testament history, the date could not be much earlier, while the absence of any reference to violent persecution precludes our making it later. Some have thought that ver. 224 seq. belong to Madina, but without good reason: the style is decidedly Makkan. Principal Subjects. Muhammad is grieved at the unbelief of the Quraish . God will send a grim messenger whom they shall respect He is sent to Pharaoh and his people. Fearing that he will be called an impostor, Moses asks Moses being assured that he will not be put to death Pharaoh charges Moses with ingratitude Moses apologises to Pharaoh for killing the Egyptian. VERSES 1, 2 3,4 5 5-8 9, 10 11, 12 13-16 17, 18 19, 21 22, 27 28 29-32 33-41 42-47 The Red Sea is divided by Moses, and Israelites pass The Egyptians are drowned, and become a warning to 61-65 all unbelievers 66-68 The story of Abraham : He preaches against idolatry Abraham prays for himself and his father 69-82 83-92 He warns his people of the vain repentance of idolaters His people accused him of imposture . Unbelievers desire Noah to reject his poor followers Noah takes refuge in God, and is saved in the ark The story of Ád : : They charge God's messengers with imposture VERSES 93-102 Húd claims the prophetic office, and preaches to the They reject his warnings and charge him with im 120-122 124-135 136-139 Sálih, declaring himself a prophet, preaches to them. 142-152 They slay the she-camel, and are destroyed for in- The Sodomites accuse their prophets with imposture . 153 . 154-156 . 157-159 160 161-166 167 God saves Lot from Sodom, but Lot's wife is destroyed 168-171 They call him a madman and a liar, and challenge him The Qurán given to Muhammad, through Gabriel, in the Arabic language. 192-195 The Qurán attested as God's Word by the former Scriptures 196, 197 |