CHAPTER XXIII. ENTITLED SURAT UL MUMINÚN (THE TRUE BELIEVERS). Revealed at Makkah. INTRODUCTION. THERE is a great deal of similarity between this chapter and chapter vii., which is no doubt due to the fact that both chapters belong to about the same period. The unbelieving Quraish are warned and threatened by reference to the fate of those who rejected their prophets in former ages. As in chapter vii., so in this, all these prophets are facsimiles of Muhammad. Their message was his message; their people were like his people. The charges of madness and imposture were ever raised against them, as they were made against him. Like Muhammad, they sought refuge in God against their enemies. God saved them and destroyed the infidels, and God would save Muhammad and the believers and destroy the infidels of Makkah. In reading over this chapter, the general impression is left that Muhammad had now little or no hope of converting the Quraish. They are regarded as reprobate and given over to final destruction. Mercy and judgments have been visited upon them, but all in vain. They still scoff at the Prophet as a madman, and regard his messages concerning resurrection and judgment as so many fables. The Prophet is therefore content to warn them patiently. Avoiding strife and guarding against the temptation of the evil spirits, who seem to have suggested to him to use more violent measures to advance the true religion, he determines to render good for evil, and to guard against the suggestions of the genii or devils (vers. 94-99). The chapter ends with a graphic description of the reward of the true believers, as it began with a description of their character. This is contrasted with the dreadful end of the unbelievers, who will find out, when too late for repentance, that the threatenings of their Prophet were true. Though they shall then seek God with many protestations of sorrow for their unbelief, they shall be sternly rejected and spurned from the divine presence. reason. Probable Date of the Revelations. Some authors (Jaláluddín as Syúti) regard this chapter as the last Makkan chapter; but for this opinion there seems to be no good Those who would locate it at Madína misinterpret vers. 77, 78, as referring to the battle of Badr. The calamity alluded to in ver. 78 was the famine which afflicted Makkah shortly before the Hijra; and from ver. 76 we might infer that it was still present at the time these verses were recorded. However that may be, this date is too late for the main portion of the chapter, which affords no evidence of that violence shown by the unbelieving Quraish which characterised them during the latter period of Muhammad's mission at Makkah. The probability is that the larger part of the revelations of this chapter belong to the earlier part of the third Makkan period, B.H. 6 or 7. God the author of all our blessings Noah, sent as an apostle of God, preaches against idolatry. 18-23 24 25-27 Noah is commanded to make the ark, to save himself and true followers from the Flood 28-32 Other nations after that of Noah perish in their infidelity. 33-46 47-50 The unbelievers are destroyed, but God gives a book to Moses for the direction of believers 50, 51 Jesus and Mary created a sign 52 Apostles exhorted to be steadfast in the true faith 53, 54 55-58 True believers sure of their reward 59-62 God judges men according to their ability. 63 64, 65 66-68 69-72 VERSES A gracious invitation rejected by them God continues the calamity of the Makkans in mercy to them. The chastisements of the Lord rejected God, the author of life and intellect, can raise the dead The Quraish persist in denying the resurrection They are judged out of their own mouths Angels not the offspring of God. The Prophet takes refuge in God against every evil spirit . The awful doom of unbelievers . They are punished for persecuting believers Time will pass slowly in hell Triumph of the faithful over the unbelieving idolaters 73-75 76 77,78 79-81 82-84 85-91 92, 93 94-99 100, 101 102-109 . 110-112 113-115 IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. SIPARA. || (1) Now are the true believers happy: (2) who EIGHTEENTH humble themselves in their prayer, (3) and who eschew R} all vain discourse, (4) and who are doers of alms-deeds; (5) and who keep themselves from carnal knowledge of any women (6) except their wives, or the captives which their right hand possess (for as to them they shall be blameless (7) but whosoever coveteth any woman beyond these, they are transgressors): (8) and who acquit themselves faithfully of their trust, and justly perform their covenant; (9) and who observe their appointed times of prayer: (10) these shall be the heirs, (11) who shall inherit Paradise; they shall continue therein for ever. (12) We formerly created man in a finer sort of clay; (13) afterwards we placed him in the form of seed in a sure receptacle: (14) afterwards we made the seed coagulated blood; and we formed the coagulated blood (3) Vain discourse, i.e., lying, jesting, and foolish talk. (6) See note on chap. iv. 3. This verse attests the position taken up there in respect to the cause of the immorality prevalent in Muslim countries. (12) The allusion is to the creation of Adam. (13) Receptacle, viz., "the womb."-Sale. R & into a piece of flesh: then we formed the piece of flesh into bones and we clothed those bones with flesh: then we produced the same by another creation. Wherefore blessed be GOD, the most excellent Creator! (15) After this shall ye die: (16) and afterwards shall ye be restored to life, on the day of resurrection. (17) And we have created over you seven heavens: and we are not negligent of what we have created. (18) And we send down rain from heaven, by measure; and we cause it to remain on the earth we are also certainly able to deprive you of the same. (19) And we cause gardens of palm-trees, and vineyards, to spring forth for you by means thereof: (20) wherein ye have many fruits, and whereof ye eat. (21) And we also raise for you a tree springing from Mount Sinai; which produceth oil, and a sauce for those who eat. (22) Ye have likewise an instruction in the cattle; we give you to drink of the milk which is in their bellies, and ye receive many advantages from them; and of them do ye eat; (23) and on them, and on ships, are ye carried. || (24) We sent Noah heretofore unto his people, and he (14) Another creation, i.e., "producing a perfect man, composed of soul and body."-Sale. Blessed be God, &c. See note on chap. vi. 94. (17) Seven heavens, "literally, seven paths, by which the heavens are meant, because, according to some expositors, they are the paths of the angels and of the celestial bodies: though the original word also signifies things which are folded or placed like storeys one above another, as the Muhammadans suppose the heavens to be."-Sale. (21) A tree springing from Mount Sinai, viz., "the olive. The gardens near this mountain are yet famous for the excellent fruittrees of almost all sorts which grow there."-Sale on authority of Thevenot's Travels, liv. ii. ch. 9. (23) On them." are ye carried. "The beast more particularly meant in this place is the camel, which is chiefly used for carriage in the East; being called by the Arabs, the land ship, on which they pass those seas of sand, the deserts."-Sale. Savary translates, "They carry you on the earth, as the ships bear you on the sea," but incorrectly. The idea of the original seems to be, that by means of camels and ships men could traverse both land and sea. (24) Noah. See chap. vii. 60-65, and xi. 26–49, and notes there. said, O my people, serve GOD: ye have no GOD besides him; will ye therefore not fear the consequence of your worshipping other gods? (25) And the chiefs of his people, who believed not, said, This is no other than a man, as ye are he seeketh to raise himself to a superiority over you. If GOD had pleased to have sent a messenger unto you, he would surely have sent angels: we have not heard this of our forefathers. (26) Verily he is no other than a man disturbed with frenzy: wherefore wait concerning him for a time. (27) Noah said, O LORD, do thou protect me; for that they accuse me of falsehood. (28) And we revealed our orders unto him, saying, Make the ark in our sight, and according to our revelation. And when our decree cometh to be executed, and the oven shall boil and pour forth water, (29) carry into it of every species of animals one pair; and also thy family, except such of them on whom a previous sentence of destruction hath passed and speak not unto me in behalf of those who have been unjust; for they shall be drowned. (30) And when thou and they who shall be with thee shall go up into the ark, say, Praise be unto GOD, who hath delivered us from the ungodly people! (31) And say, O LORD, cause me to come down from this ark with a blessed descent; for thou art the best able to bring me down from the same with safety. (32) Verily herein were signs of our omnipotence; and we proved mankind thereby. (33) Afterwards we raised up another generation after them: (34) and we sent unto them an apostle from among them, who (25) A man as ye are. This was the common objection of the Quarish to Muhammad. The history of Muhammad was invariably represented as a facsimile of the history of every other prophet. See introductions to chaps. vii. and xxi. (28) The oven. Rodwell translates "earth's surface." The original is oven, and probably is used here of the wrath of God flaming up as a flaming oven does. (29) Thy family, except such, &c. See notes on chap. xi. 41-43. (33) Another generation, viz., "the tribe of Ád or of Thamúd."Sale. (34) An apostle. Húd or Sálih. Comp. chap. xi. 50 and 61. VOL. III. M |