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my reward from no other than the LORD of all creatures. measure, and be not defrauders; and weigh with an equal balance; and diminish not unto men aught of their matters; neither commit violence in the earth, acting corruptly. And fear him who hath created you, and also the former generations. They answered, Certainly thou art distracted thou art no more than a man, like unto us: and we do surely esteem ther to be a liar. Cause now a part of the heaven to fall upon us, if thor: speakest truth. Shoaib said, My LORD best knoweth that which ye do. And they charged him with falsehood: wherefore the punishment of the day of the shadowing cloud" overtook them; and this was the punishmen of a grievous day. Verily herein was a sign; but the greater part of them did not believe. Thy LORD is the mighty, the merciful. This book is certainly a revelation from the LORD of all creatures, which the faithful spirit hath caused to descend upon thy heart, that thou mightest be a preacher to thy people, in the perspicuous Arabic tongue;† and it is borne witness to in the scriptures of former ages. Was it not a sign unto them, that the wise men among the children of Israel knew it? Had we revealed it unto any of the foreigners, and he had read the same unto them, yet they would not have believed therein. Thus have we caused obstinate infidelity to enter the hearts of the wicked: they shall not believe therein, until they see a painful punishment. It shall come suddenly upon them, and they shall not foresee it and they shall say, Shall we be respited? Do they therefore desire our punishment to be hastened? What thinkest thou? If we suffer them to enjoy the advantage of this life for several years, and afterwards that with which they are threatened come upon them; what will that which they have enjoyed profit them? We have destroyed no city, but preachers were first sent unto it, to admonish the inhabitants thereof, neither did we treat them unjustly. The devils did not descend with the Korân, as the infidels give out: it is not for their purpose, neither are they able to produce such a book; for they are far removed from hearing the discourse of the angels in heaven. Invoke no other god with the true God, lest thou become one of those who are doomed to punishment. And admonish thy more near relations." And behave thyself with meekness

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Fear him who created you, and who created the first man."-Savary. God first plagued them with such intolerable heat for seven days, that all their waters were dried up; and then brought a cloud over them, under whose shade they ran, and were all destroyed by a hot wind and fire which proceeded from it.

i. e. Gabriel; who is entrusted with the divine secrets and revelations.

It is written in Arabic, and the style of it is pure."-Savary.

The infidels were continually defying Mohammed to bring some signal and miraculous destruction on them, as a shower of stones, &c.

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See chap. 15, p. 210.

The commentators suppose the same command to have been virtually contained in the seventy-fourth chapter, which is prior to this in point of time. It is said..at Mohammed, on receiving the passage before us, went up immediately to Mount Safa, and having called the several families to him, one by one, when they were all assembled, asked them, whether if he should tell them that mountain would bring forth a smaller mountain, they would believe him; to which they answering in the affirmative, Verily, says he, I am a warner sent unto you before a severe chastisement.

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Literally, Lower thy wing.

Al Beidawi. 'See the notes thereon, and the Prelim. Disc. sect. ii. p. 31. Al Beidâwi

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towards the true believers who follow thee: and if they be disobedient unte thee, say, Verily, I am clear of that which ye do. And trust in the most mighty, the merciful God; who seeth thee when thou risest up, and thy behaviour among those who worship; for he both heareth and knoweth. Shall I declare unto you upon whom the devils descend? They descend upon every lying and wicked person: they learn what is heard; but the greater part of them are liars. And those who err follow the steps of the poets: dost thou not see that they rove as bereft of their senses through overy valley; and that they say that which they do not?

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except those who believe, and do good works, and remember GOD frequently; and who defend themselves, after they have been unjustly treated. And they who act unjustly shall know hereafter with what treatment they shall be treated.

i. e. Who seeth thee when thou risest up to watch and spend the night in religious exercises, and observeth thy anxious care for the Moslems' exact performance of their duty. It is said that the night on which the precept of watching was abrogated, Mohammed went privately from one house to another, to see how his companions spent the time; and that he found them so intent in reading the Korân, and repeating their prayers, that their houses, by reason of the humming noise they made, seemed to be so many nests of hor. Some commentators, however, suppose that by the prophet's behaviour, in this place, is meant the various postures he used in praying at the head of his companions; as standing, bowing, prostration, and sitting.

nets.

The prophet, having vindicated himself from the charge of having communication with the devils, by the opposition between his doctrine and their designs, and their inability to compose so consistent a book as the Korân, proceeds to show that the persons most likely to a correspondence with those evil spirits were liars and slanderers, that is, his enemies and opposers.

i. e. They are taught by the secret inspiration of the devils, and receive their idle and inconsistent suggestions for truth. It being uncertain whether the slanderers or the devils be the nominative case to the verb, the words may also be rendered, They impart what they hear; that is, The devils acquaint their correspondents on earth with such incoherent scraps of the angels' discourse as they can hear by stealth.

Their compositions being as wild as the actions of a distracted man: for most of the ancient poetry was full of vain imaginations; as fabulous stories and descriptions, loveverses, flattery, excessive commendations of their patrons, and as excessive reproaches of their enemies, incitements to vicious actions, vain-glorious vauntings, and the like." Shall I tell unto you who is the mortal whom Satan inspireth? It is the liar and the impious man. Deceived by his illusions, the poets follow him. Hast thou not seen them wander in the valleys? They say, but they do not."-Savary.

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That is, Such poets as had embraced Mohammedism; whose works, free from the profaneness of the former, run chiefly on the praises of God, and the establishing his unity, and contain exhortations to obedience and other religious and moral virtues; without any satirical invectives, unless against such as have given just provocations, by having first attacked them, or some others of the true believers, with the same weapons. In this last case, Mohammed saw it was necessary for him to borrow assistance from the poets of his party, to defend himself and religion from the insults and ridicule of the others; for which purpose he employed the pens of Labîd Ebn Rabîa,' Abda'llah Ebn Rahawa, Hassâr Ebn Thabet, and the two Caabs. It is related that Mohammed once said to Caab Ebr Malec, Ply them with satires; for, by him in whose hands my soul is, they wound more leeply than arrows."

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CHAPTER XXVII.

INTITLED, THE ANT REVEALED AT MECCA.

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

T.S. THESE are the signs of the Korân, and of the perspicuous book. a direction, and good tidings unto the true believers? who regularly perform their prayer, and give alms, and firmly believe in the life to come As to those who believe not in the life to come, we have prepared their works for them; and they shall be struck with astonishment at their disappointment, when they shall be raised again: these are they whom an evil punishment awaiteth in this life; and in that which is to come they shall be the greatest losers. Thou hast certainly received the Korân from the presence of a wise, a knowing God. Remember when Moses said unto his family, Verily I perceive fire: I will bring you tidings thereof, or I will bring you a lighted brand, that ye may be warmed. And when he was come near unto it, a voice cried unto him, saying, Blessed be he who is in the fire, and whoever is about it; and praise be unto God. the LORD of all creatures! O Moses, verily I am GoD, the mighty, the wise cast down now thy rod. And when he saw it, that it moved, as though it had been a serpent, he retreated, and fled, and returned not. And God said, O Moses, fear not; for my messengers are not disturbed with fear in my sight: except he who shall have done amiss, and shall have afterwards substituted good in lieu of evil; for I am gracious and merciful." Moreover put thy hand into thy bosom; it shall come forth white, without hurt: this shall be one among the nine signs* unto Pharaoh and his people. for they are a wicked people. And when our visible signs had come unto them, they said, This is a manifest sorcery. And they denied them, although their souls certainly knew them to be from God, out of iniquity and pride: but behold what was the end of the corrupt doers. We heretofore bestowed knowledge on David and Solomon; and they said, Praise be unto God,

In this chapter is related, among other strange things, an odd story of the ant, which has therefore been pitched on for the title.

'By rendering them pleasing and agreeable to their corrupt natures and inclinations. See chap. 20, p. 256.

Some suppose God to be intended by the former words, and by the latter, the angels who were present; others think Moses and the angels are here meant, or all persons iu general in this holy plain, and the country round it.

This exception was designed to qualify the preceding assertion, which seemed too general: for several of the prophets have been subject to sins, though not great ones, before their mission; for which they had reason to apprehend God's anger, though they are ere assured that their subsequent merits entitle them to his pardon. It is supposed that Moses's killing the Egyptian undesignedly is hinted at.

See chap. 17, p. 236.

"The nine miracles."-Savary.

1 Yahya.

Jallalo'ddin, al Beidâwi.

⚫ lidem.

who hath kade us more excellent than many of his faithful servants! And Solomon was David's heir; and he said, O men, we have been taught the speech of birds, and have had all things bestowed on us; this is manifest excellence. And his armies were gathered together unto Solomon, con sisting of genii, and men, and birds; and they were led in distinct bands, until they came unto the valley of ants. And an ant, seeing the hosts approaching, said, O ants, enter ye into your habitations, lest Solomon and his army tread you under foot, and perceive it not. And Solomon smiled, laughing at her words, and said, O LORD, excite me that I may be thankful for thy favour, wherewith thou hast favoured me, and my parents; and that I may do that which is right, and well-pleasing unto thee: and introduce me, through thy mercy, into paradise, among thy servants the righteous. And he viewed the birds, and said, What is the reason that I see not the lapwing? Is she absent? Verily I will chastise her with a severe chastisement, or I will put her to death; unless she bring me a just excuse. And she tarried not long before she presented herself unto Solomon, and said, I have viewed a country which thou hast not viewed; and I come

Inheriting not only his kingdom, but also the prophetical office, preferably to his other sons, who were no less than nineteen."

That is, The meaning of their several voices, though not articulate; of Solomon's interpretation whereof the commentators give several instances.'

"Solomon was the heir of David. Mortals, said he, I understand the song of the birds; I possess every kind of knowledge; I have been raised to the sublime height.”—Savary.

For this fancy, as well as the former, Mohammed was obliged to the Talmudists who, according to their manner, have interpreted the Hebrew words of Solomon,' which the English version renders, I get men-singers and women-singers, as if that prince had forced demons or spirits to serve him at his table, and in other capacities; and particu larly in his vast and magnificent buildings, which they could not conceive he could otherwise have performed.

The valley seems to be so called from the great numbers of ants which are found there. Some place it in Syria, and others in Tâyef.'

The Arab historians tell us, that Solomon, having finished the temple of Jerusalem went in pilgrimage to Mecca, where having staid as long as he pleased, he proceeded towards Yaman; and leaving Mecca in the morning, he arrived by noon at Sanaa, and being extremely delighted with the country, rested there; but wanting water to make the ablution, he looked among the birds for the lapwing, called by the Arabs al Hudbud, whose business it was to find it; for it is pretended she was sagacious or sharp-signted enough to discover water under ground, which the devils used to draw, after she had marked the place by digging with her bill: they add, that this bird was then taking a tour in the air, whence seeing one of her companions alighting, she descended also, and having had a description given her by the other of the city of Saba, whence she was just arrived, they both went together to take a view of the place, and returned soon after Solomon had made the inquiry which occasioned what follows."

It may be proper to mention here what the eastern writers fable of the manner of Solo mon's travelling. They say that he had a carpet of green silk, on which his throne was placed, being of a prodigious length and breadth, and sufficient for all his forces to stand on, the men placing themselves on his right hand, and the spirits on his left: and that when all were in order, the wind, at his command, took up the carpet, and transported it, with all that were upon it, wherever he pleased; the army of birds at the same time flying over their heads, and forming a kind of canopy, to shade them from the sun.

By plucking off her feathers, and setting her in the sun, to be tormented by the insects; or by shutting her up in a cage.'

4 Jallalo'ddin, al Beidâwi.

⚫ See Marracc. not. in loc. p. 511. • Vide Midrash, Yalkut Shemuni, p. 11, f. 29; and Millium de Mohammedismo ante Mohammed. p. 232. Eccles. ii. 8. Al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin. 'Al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin

• Iidem.

10 See chap. 21, p. 270.

unto thee from Saba, with a certain piece of news. I found a woman to reign over them, who is provided with every thing requisite for a prince, and hath a magnificent throne. I found her and her people to worship the sun, besides GOD: and Satan hath prepared their works for them, and hath turned them aside from the way of truth (wherefore they are not rightly directed), lest they should worship GoD, who bringeth to light that which is hidden in heaven and earth, and knoweth whatever they conceal, and whatever they discover. GOD! there is no GOD but he; the LORD of the magnificent throne. Solomon said, We shall see whether thou hast spoken the truth, or whether thou art a liar. Go with this my letter, and cast it down unto them; then turn aside from them, and wait to know what answer they will return. And when the queen of Saba had received the letter," she said, O nobles, verily an honourable letter hath been delivered unto me; it is from Solomon, and this is the tenor thereof: In the name of the most merciful God, Rise not up against me: but come, and surrender yourselves unto me." She said, O nobles, advise me in my business: I will not resolve on any thing, until ye be witnesses and approve thereof. The nobles answered, We are endued with strength, and are endued with great prowess in war; but the command appertaineth unto thee: see therefore what thou wilt command. She said, Verily kings, when they enter a city by force, waste the same, and abase the most powerful of the inhabitants hereof and so will these do with us. But I will send gifts unto them; and will wait for what further information those who shall be sent shall bring back. And when the queen's ambassador came unto Solomon, that prince

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This queen the Arabs call Balkîs; some make her the daughter of al Hodhâd Ebn Sharhabil, and others of Sharahîl Ebn Malec; but they all agree she was a descendant of Yarab Ebn Kahtân. She is placed the twenty-second in Dr. Pocock's list of the kings of Yaman.'

Which the commentators say was made of gold and silver, and crowned with precious stones. But they differ as to the size of it; one making it fourscore cubits long, forty bread, aud thirty high; while some say it was fourscore, and others, thirty cubits every way.

'Jallalo'ddin says that the queen was surrounded by her army, when the lapwing threw the letter into her bosom; but al Beidâwi supposes she was in an apartment of her palace, the doors of which were shut, and that the bird flew in at the window. The former com. mentator gives a copy of the epistle somewhat more full than that in the text; viz. From the servant of God, Solomon, the son of David, unto Balkis queen of Saba. In the name of the most merciful God. Peace be on him who followeth the true direction. Rise not up against me, but come and surrender yourselves unto me. He adds that Solomon perfumed this letter with musk, and sealed it with his signet.

•Or, Come unto me and resign yourselves unto the divine direction, and profess the true religion which I preach.

"Rise not up against me, but come unto me and believe."-Savary.

i. e. Whether thou wilt obey the summons of Solomon, or give us orders to make head against him.

"We have courage and troops, replied the nobles; but thou art our queen; princess, what dost thou command ?"-Savary.

Bearing the presents, which they say were five hundred young slaves of each sex, all habited in the same manner, five hundred bricks of gold, a crown enriched with precious stones, besides a large quantity of musk, amber, and other things of value. Some add, that Balkis, to try whether Solomon was a prophet or no, dressed the boys like girls, and the girls like boys, and sent him, in a casket, a pearl not drilled, and an onyx drilled with a crooked hole; and that Solomon distinguished the boys from the girls by the different

⚫ Vide Pocock. Spec. p. 59. 'Al Beidâwi, &c. Vide D'Herbel. Bibl. Orient. p. 182. • Ubi sup. 'Jallalo'ddin.

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