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righteousness; for they shall receive an endless reward. shall cause thee to deny the day of judgment after this? most wise judge?*

What, therefore,

Is not God he

CHAPTER XCVI.

INTITLED, CONGEALED BLOOD; REVEALED AT MECCA.,

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

READ, in the name of thy LORD, who hath created all things; who hath created man of congealed blood.† Read, by thy most beneficent LORD;* who taught the use of the pen; who teacheth man that which he knoweth not. Assuredly. Verily man becometh insolent, because he seeth himself abound in riches. Verily unto thy LORD shall be the return of all. What thinkest thou as to him who forbiddeth our servant, when he prayeth ? " What thinkest thou; if he follow the right direction; or command piety? What thinkest thou; if he accuse the divine revelations of falsehood, and turn his back? Doth he not know that God seeth? Assuredly. Verily, if he forbear not, we will drag him by the forelock, the lying, sinful forelock. And let him call his council to his assistance: we also will call the infernal guards to cast him into hell. Assuredly. Obey him not: but continue to adore God; and draw nigh unto him.

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state of happiness wherein man was originally created, and his fall from thence, in consequence of Adam's disobedience, to a state of misery in this world, and becoming liable to one infinitely more miserable in the next.

Some suppose these words directed to Mohammed, and others to man in general, by way of apostrophe.

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* "Is not the Eternal the most equitable of judges!”—Savary.

The first five verses of this chapter, ending with the words, Who taught man that which he knew not, are generally allowed to be the first passage of the Korân which was revealed, though some give this honour to the seventy-fourth chapter, and others to the first, the next, they say, being the sixty-eighth.

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All men being created of thick or concreted blood, except only Adam, Eve, and Jesus." "He formed man by the union of the sexes."-Savary.

These words, containing a repetition of the command, are supposed to be a reply to Mohammed, who in answer to the former words spoken by the angel had declared that he could not read, being perfectly illiterate; and intimate a promise that God, who had inspired man with the art of writing, would graciously remedy this defect in him.

The commentators agree the remaining part of the chapter to have been revealed against Abu Jahl, Mohammed's great adversary.

"For Abu Jahl threatened that if he catched Mohammed in the act of adoration he would set his foot on his neck; but when he came and saw him in that posture, he suddenly turned back as in a fright; and being asked what was the matter, said there was a ditch of fire between himself and Mohammed, and a terrible appearance of troops, to defend him."

"What thinkest thou of him who disturbeth the servant of the Lord when he prayeth, when he accomplisheth the command of Heaven, when he exhorteth to piety ?"-Savary. See chap. 11, p. 181.

i. e. The council or assembly of the principal Meccans, the far greater part of whom adhered to Abu Jahl.

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Vide Marracc. in loc. p. 809. Beidâwi. • Idem.

• See chap. 22, p. 274.

'Yahya.

Al

CHAPTER XCVII.

INTITLED, AL KADR; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

VERILY we sent down the Korân in the night of al Kadr. And what shall make thee understand how excellent the night of al Kadr is? The night of al Kadr is better than a thousand months. Therein do the angels descend, and the spirit of Gabriel also, by the permission of their LORD, with his decrees concerning every matter.* It is peace until the rising of the morn.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

INTITLED, THE EVIDENCE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

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THE unbelievers among those to whom the scriptures were given, and among the idolaters, did not stagger, until the clear evidence had come unto them: an apostle from GoD, rehearsing unto them pure books of revelations; wherein are contained right discourses. Neither were they unto whom the scriptures were given divided among themselves, until after the

The word al Kadr signifies power, and honour, or dignity, and also the divine decree; and the night is so named, either from its excellence above all other nights in the year, or because, as the Mohammedans believe, the divine decrees for the ensuing year are annually on this night fixed and settled, or taken from the preserved table by God's throne, and given to the angels to be executed. On this night Mohammed received his first revelations; when the Korân, say the commentators, was sent down from the aforesaid table, entire and in one volume, to the lowest heaven, from whence Gabriel revealed it to Mohammed by parcels, as occasion required.

The Moslem doctors are not agreed where to fix the night al-Kadr: the greater part are of opinion that it is one of the ten last nights of Ramadân, and, as is commonly believed, the seventh of those nights, reckoning backwards; by which means it will fall between the twenty-third and twenty-fourth days of that month."

*

See the preceding note, and chap. 44, p. 402.

"It was consecrated by the coming of angels and of the spirit (Gabriel). They obeyed the orders of the Eternal, and brought laws concerning every matter."-Savary. "The virtuous Mohammedans (say the Mussulman theologians), who shall read the chapter of the Evidence, shall, at the day of the resurrection, be placed among the most excellent of the creatures which have been pardoned by the hand of the Eternal."-Savary. • Some intitle this chapter from the first words, Did not.

di. e. Did not waver in their religion, or in their promises to follow the truth, when an apostle should come unto them. For the commentators pretend that before the appearance of Mohammed, the Jews and Christians, as well as the worshippers of idols, unanimously believed and expected the coming of that prophet, until which time they declared they would persevere in their respective religions, and then would follow him: but when he came, they rejected him through envy."

⚫ viz. Mohammed, or the Korân.

1 See chap. 44, p. 402.

Al Zamakh., al Jallalo'ddin.

⚫ lidem.

clear evidence had come unto them. And they were commanded no other in the scriptures than to worship GoD, exhibiting unto him the pure religion, and being orthodox; and to be constant at prayer, and to give alms ; « and this is the right religion. Verily those who believe not, among those who have received the scriptures, and among the idolators, shall be cast into the fire of hell, to remain therein for ever. These are the worst of creatures. But they who believe, and do good works; these are the best of creatures: their reward with their LORD shall be gardens of perpetual abode, through which rivers flow; they shall remain therein for ever. 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.

INTITLED, THE EARTHQUAKE; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS

DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

WHEN the earth shall be shaken by an earthquake; and the earth shall cast forth her burdens; and a man shall say, What aileth her? On that day the earth shall declare her tidings, for that thy LORD will inspire her. On that day men shall go forward in distinct classes, that they may behold their works. And whoever shall have wrought good of the weight of an ant,' shall behold the same. And whoever shall have wrought evil of the weight of an ant, shall behold the same.

But when the promised apostle was sent, and the truth became manifest to them, they withstood the clearest conviction, differing from one another in their opinions; some believing and acknowledging Mohammed to be the prophet foretold in the scriptures, and others denying it."

But these divine precepts in the law and the gospel have they corrupted, changed, and violated."

* "They are the most perverse of mankind."-Savary.

This earthquake will happen at the first, or, as others say, at the second blast of the trumpet.

viz. The treasures and dead bodies within it."

"Man shall say, What a spectacle!"-Savary.

* 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."

'See chap. 4, p. 65, note x.

Al Zamakh., al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin.

• Iidem.

See the Prelim. Disc. sect. iv. p. 59. * See chap. 84, p. 484. he Prelin. Disc. sect. iv. p. 63.

Al Zamakh., al Beidâwi.

Al Beidawi. See

CHAPTER C.

INTITLED, THE WAR-HORSES WHICH RUN SWIFTLY: WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the war-horses which run swiftly to the battle, with a panting noise; and by those which strike fire, by dashing their hoofs against the stones and by those which make a sudden incursion on the enemy early in the morning, and therein raise the dust, and therein pass through the midst of the adverse troops: verily man is ungrateful unto his LORD;* and he is witness thereof: and he is immoderate in the love of worldly good. Doth he not know, therefore, when that which is in the graves shall be taken forth, and that which is in men's breasts shall be brought to light, that their LORD will, on that day, be fully informed concerning them?

CHAPTER CI.

INTITLED, THE STRIKING; REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE striking! What is the striking? And what shall make thee to understand how terrible the striking will be? On that day men shall be like moths scattered abroad,† and the mountains shall become like carded wool of various colours driven by the wind. Moreover he whose balance shall be heavy with good works, shall lead a pleasing life: but as to him whose balance shall be light, his dwelling shall be the pit of hell. What shall make thee to understand how frightful the pit of hell is? It is a burning fire.‡

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Some will have it that not horses, but the camels which went to the battle of Bedr, are meant in this passage. Others interpret all the parts of the oath of the human soul; but their explications seem a little forced, and therefore I choose to omit them.

"By those who in the morning are exercised in running; who make the dust fly under their rapid feet; who pass through the hostile battalions; verily man is ungrateful unto the Lord."-Savary.

D

This is one of the names or epithets given to the last day, because it will strike the hearts of all creatures with terror.1

"Day of calamities! Terrible day! Who is able to depict it unto thee? In that day men shall be like unto scattered locusts."-Savary.

• The original word Hâwiyat is the name of the lowest dungeon of hell, and probably signifies a deep pit or gulf.

"Who shall give unto thee an idea of the abyss? It is the most devouring of fires." -Savary.

Yahya, ex trad. Ali Ebn Abi Taleb.

10 Al Beidâwi. 'Al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin.

CHAPTER CII.

INTITLED, THE EMULOUS DESIRE OF MULTIPLYING; WHERE IT WAS REVEALED IS DISPUTED.*

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

THE emulous desire of multiplying riches and children employeth you, until ye visit the graves. By no means should ye thus employ your time : hereafter shall ye know your folly. Again, By no means: hereafter shall ye know your folly. By no means: if ye knew the consequence hereof with certainty of knowledge, ye would not act thus. Verily ye shall see hell: again, ye shall surely see it with the eye of certainty. Then shall ye be examined, on that day, concerning the pleasures with which ye have amusea yourselves in this life.t

CHAPTER CIII.

INTITLED, THE AFTERNOON; REVEALED AT MECCA.‡

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

By the afternoon; verily man employeth himself in that which will prove of loss except those who believe, and do that which is right; and who mutually recommend the truth, and mutually recommend perseverance unto each other.

(The believer who shall read this chapter (say the Mohammedan expositors) shall be rewarded as if he had read a thousand verses of the Korân, and God shall not demand of him an account of the benefits which he has received in this life.)-Savary.

Pi. e. Until ye die. According to the exposition of some commentators, the words should be rendered thus: The contending or vying in numbers wholly employeth you, so that ye visit even the graves, to number the dead: to explain which, they relate that there was a great dispute and contention between the descendants of Abd Menâf and the descendants of Sahm, which of the two families were the more numerous; and it being found, on cal culation, that the children of Abd Menâf exceeded those of Sahm, the Sahmites said that their numbers had been much diminished by wars in the time of ignorance, and insisted that the dead, as well as the living, should be taken into the account; and by this way of reckoning they were found to be more than the descendants of Abd Menâf.2

"The care of heaping up occupieth you until ye descend into the tomb! Alas, one day ye will know! Alas! I repeat it to you, your eyes will one day be opened. Ah! if ye but certainly knew! Ye will see the gulfs of hell; ye will see them opened! Then must ye give an account of your pleasures."-Savary.

(He who shall read this chapter shall experience the indulgence of the LORD, and shall be reckoned in the number of the faithful who have made truth and patience a law to themselves.)-Savary.

Or the time from the sun's declination to his setting; which is one of the five appointed times of prayer. The original word also signifies, The age or time in general.

* Al Zamakh., al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin.

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