this of the number of those who go astray. Therefore go in procession from whence the people go in procession, and ask pardon of GoD, for GOD is gracious and merciful. And when ye have finished your holy ceremonies, remember GoD, according as ye remember your fathers, or with a more reverent commemoration. There are some men who say, O LORD, give us our portion in this world; but such shall have no portion in the next life and there are others who say, O LORD, give us good in this world and also good in the next world, and deliver us from the torment of hell fire. They shall have a portion of that which they have gained: GoD is swift in taking an account. Remember GoD the appointed number of days ; but if any haste to depart from the valley of Mina in two days, it shall be no crime in him. And if any tarry longer, it shall be no crime in him, in him who feareth GOD. Therefore fear Gon, and know that unto him ye shall be gathered. There is a man who causeth thee to marvela by his speech concerning this present life, and calleth God to witness tha which is in his heart, yet he is most intent in opposing thee; and when he turneth away from thee, he hasteth to act corruptly in the earth, and to destroy that which is sown, and springeth up: but GoD loveth not corrupt doing. And if one say unto him, Fear GoD; prido seizeth him, together with wickedness; but hell shall be his reward, and an unhappy couch shall it be. There is also a man who selleth his soul for the sake of those things which are pleasing unto God; and GoD is gracious unto his servants. O true believers, enter into the true religion wholly, and follow not the steps of Satan, for he is your open enemy. If ye have slipped after the declarations of our will have come unto you, know that God is mighty and wise. Do the infidels expect less than that God should come down to them overshadowed with clouds, and the angels also? but the thing is decreed, and to God shall all things return. Ask the children of Israel how many evident signs we have showed them; and whoever shall change the grace of God after it shall have come unto him, verily GoD will be severe in punishing him. The present life was ordained for those who believe not,* and they laugh the faithful to scorn; but they who fear God shall be above them, on the day of the resurrection: for GoD is bountiful unto whom he pleaseth without measure. Mankind was of one faith, and GoD sent prophets bearing good tidings, and denouncing threats, and sent down with them the scripture in

For he will judge all creatures, says Jallalo'ddin, in the space of half a day. i. e. Three days after slaying the sacrifices.

This person was al Akhnas Ebn Shoraik, a fair-spoken dissembler, who swore that he believed in Mohammed, and pretended to be one of his friends, and to contemn this world But Gop here reveals to the prophet his hypocrisy and wickedness."

Setting fire to his neighbour's corn, and killing his asses by night.

The person here meant was one Soheib, who being persecuted by the idolaters of Mecca, forsook all he had, and fled to Medina.”

The life of this world is strewed with flowers for the unbelievers. They make a scoff of the faithful. Those who have the fear of the Lord shall be raised above them at the day of resurrection. God dispenseth as he pleaseth his innumerable gifts."Savary.

truth, that it might judge between men of that concerning which they disagreed and none disagreed concerning it, except those to whom the same scriptures were delivered, after the declarations of God's will had come unto them, out of envy among themselves. And God directed those who believed, to that truth concerning which they disagreed, by his will: for God directeth whom he pleaseth into the right way. Did ye think ye should enter paradise, when as yet no such thing had happened unto you, aз hath happened unto those who have been before you? They suffered calamity, and tribulation, and were afflicted; so that the apostle, and they who believed with him, said; When will the help of GoD come? Is not the help of God nigh? They will ask thee what they shall bestow in alms: Answer, The good which ye bestow, let it be given to parents, and kindred, and orphans, and the poor and the stranger. Whatsoever good ye do, God knoweth it. War is enjoined you against the Infidels; but this is hateful unto you: yet perchance ye hate a thing which is better for you, and perchance ye love a thing which is worse for you: but God knoweth and ye know not. They will ask thee concerning the sacred month, whether they may war therein: Answer, To war therein is grievous; but to obstruct the way of GoD, and infidelity towards him, and to keep men from the holy temple, and to drive out his people from thence, is more grievous in the sight of GoD, and the temptation to idolatry is more grievous than to kill in the sacred months. They will not cease to war against you, until they turn you from your religion, if they be able: but whoever among you shall turn back from his religion, and die an infidel, their works shall be vain in this world, and the next; they shall be the companions of hell fire, they shall remain therein for ever. But they who believe, and who fly for the sake of religion, and fight in God's cause, they shall hope for the mercy of God; for God is gracious and merciful. They will ask thee concerning wine and lots: Answer, In both there is great sin, and also some things of use unto men; ness is greater than their use. They will ask thee also what they shall bestow in alms: Answer, What ye have to spare. Thus GoD showeth his signs unto you, that peradventure ye might seriously think of this present world, and of the next. They will also ask thee concerning orphans: Answer, To deal righteously with them is best; and if ye intermeddle with the management of what belongs to them, do them no wrong;

but their sinful

Under the name of wine all sorts of strong and inebriating liquors are comprehended.' The original word, al Meiser, properly signifies a particular game performed with arrows, and much in use with the pagan Arabs. But by lots we are here to understand all games whatsoever, which are subject to chance or hazard, as dice, cards, &c.

From these words some suppose that only drinking to excess and too frequent gaming are prohibited. And the moderate use of wine they also think is allowed by these words of the 16th chapter, And of the fruits of palm-trees and grapes ye obtain inebriating drink, and also good nourishment. But the more received opinion is, that both drinking wine or other strong liquors in any quantity, and playing at any game of chance, are absolutely forbidden.

See the Prelim. Disc. sect. v. 2 See ibid. "Vide Jallalo'ddin et al Zamakshari. See the Prelim. Disc. ubi sup.

M

they are your brethren: GoD knoweth the corrupt dealer from the righteous; and if GOD please, he will surely distress you, for God is mighty and wise. Marry not women who are idolaters, until they believe: verily a maid-servant who believeth, is better than an idolatress, although she please you more. And give not women who believe in marriage to the idolaters, until they believe: for verily a servant who is a true believer, is better than an idolater, though he please you more. They invite unto hell fire, but God inviteth unto paradise and pardon through his will, and declareth his signs unto men, that they may remember. They will ask thee also concerning the courses of women: Answer, They are a pollution therefore separate yourselves from women in their courses, and go not near them, until they be cleansed. But when they are cleansed, go in unto them as GOD hath commanded you,' for God loveth those who repent, and loveth those who are clean. Your wives are your tillage; go in therefore unto your tillage in what manner soever ye will: and do first some act that may be profitable unto your souls ;" and fear God, and know that ye must meet him; and bear good tidings unto the faithful. Make not God the object of your oaths, that ye will deal justly, and be devout, and make peace among men;" for God is he who heareth and knoweth. GOD will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths; but he will punish you for that which your hearts have assented unto: GOD is merciful and gracious. They who vow to abstain from their wives, are allowed to wait four months: but if they go back from their vow, verily GOD is gracious and merciful; and if they resolve on a divorce, God is he who heareth and knoweth The women who are divorced shall wait concerning themselves until they have their courses thrice, and it shall not be

viz. By his curse, which will certainly bring to nothing what ye shall wrong the orphans of.

But not while they have their courses, nor by using preposterous venery.'

That is in any posture; either standing, sitting, lying, forwards, or backwards. And this passage, it is said was revealed to answer the Jews, who pretended that if a man lay with his wife backwards, he would get a more witty child. It has been imagined that these words allow that preposterous lust, which the commentators say is forbidden by the preceding; but I question whether this can be proved.

i. e. Perform some act of devotion or charity.

So as to swear frequently by him. The word translated object, properly signifies a butt to shoot at with arrows."

Some commentators expound this negatively, That ye will not deal justly, nor be devout, &c. For such wicked oaths, they say, were customary among the idolatrous inhabitants of Mecca; which gave occasion to the following saying of Mohammed; When you swear to do a thing, and afterwards find it better to do otherwise; do that which is better, and make void your oath.

When a man swears inadvertently and without design.

That is, they may take so much time to consider; and shall not by a rash oath, be obliged actually to divorce them.

i. e. If they be reconciled to their wives within four months, or after, they may retain them: and GOD will dispense with their oath.

This is to be understood of those only with whom the marriage has been consummated; for as to the others there is no time limited. Those who are not quite past childbearing (which a woman is reckoned to be after her courses cease, and she is fifty-five lunar years, or about fifty-three solar years old) and those who are too young to have children, are allowed three months only; but they who are with child must wait till they be delivered." Ebn Abbas, Jallalo'ddin. Jallalo'ddin, Yahya, Al Zamakshari. Vide Lucret. Jallalo'ddin. Idem. Yahya. Jallalo'ddin.

de ver. Nat. 1. iv. v. 1258, &c.

lawful for them to conceal that which God hath created in their wombs," : they believe in God and the last day; and their husbands will act more justly to bring them back at this time, if they desire a reconciliation. The women ought also to behave towards their husbands in like manner as their husbands should behave towards them, according to what is just but the men ought to have a superiority over them. GOD is mighty and wise. Ye may divorce your wives twice; and then either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness. But it is not lawful for you to ake away any thing of what ye have given them, unless both fear that they cannot observe the ordinances of GOD. And if ye fear that they cannot observe the ordinance of GOD, it shall be no crime in either of them on account of that for which the wife shall redeem herself. These are the ordinances of God; therefore transgress them not; for whoever transgresseth the ordinances of God, they are unjust doers. But if the husband divorce her a third time, she shall not be lawful for him again, until she marry another husband.* But if he also divorce her, it shall be no crime in them if they return to each other, if they think they can observe the ordinances of GoD, and these are the ordinances of GoD, he declareth them to people of understanding. But when ye divorce women, and they have fulfilled their prescribed time, either retain them with humanity, or dismiss them with kindness; and retain them not by violence, so that ye transgress; for he who doth this, surely injureth his own soul. And make not the signs of GoD a jest: but remember God's favour towards you, and that he hath sent down unto you the book of the Koran, and wisdom admonishing you thereby; and fear GoD, and know that Gop is omniscient. But when ye have divorced your wives, and they have fulfilled their prescribed time, hinder them not from marrying their husbands, when they have agreed among themselves according to what is honourable. This is given in admonition unto him among you who believeth in GoD, and the last day. This is most righteous for you, and most pure. God knoweth, but ye know not. Mothers after they are

That is, they shall tell the real truth, whether they have their courses, or be with child, or not; and shall not by deceiving their husband, obtain a separation from him before the term be accomplished; lest the first husband's child should, by that means, go to the second; or the wife, in case of the first husband's death, should set up her child as his heir, or demand her maintenance during the time she went with such child, and the expenses of her lying-in, under pretence that she waited not her full prescribed time.'

For if there be a settled aversion on either side, their continuing together may have very ill, and perhaps fatal consequences.

i. e. If she prevail on her husband to dismiss her, by releasing part of her dowry. "The Mahometan who has thrice sworn to divorce his wife, religion punishes by not allowing him to take her again till she has shared the bed of another man. The faulty person, who is thus unpleasantly circumstanced, endeavours to elude the law. He chooses a friend on whose discretion he can reckon; shuts him up with his wife in the presence of witnesses, and tremblingly awaits the result. The trial is a dangerous one. If, when e quits the room, the obliging friend declares that he divorces her, the first husband has right to resume her; but if, having forgotten friendship in the arms of love, he should say that he acknowledges her as his wife, he takes her away with him, and the marriage valid."-Savary.

viz. By obliging them to purchase their liberty with part of their dowry.

'Yahya.

divorced shall give suck unto their children two full years, to him who desireth the time of giving suck to be completed; and the father shall be obliged to maintain them and clothe them in the mean time, according to that which shall be reasonable. No person shall be obliged beyond his ability. A mother shall not be compelled to what is unreasonable or account of her child, nor a father on account of his child. And the heir of the father shall be obliged to do in like manner. But if they chose to wean the child before the end of two years, by common consent, and on mutual consideration, it shall be no crime in them. And if ye have a mind to provide a nurse for your children, it shall be no crime in you, in case ye fully pay what ye offer her, according to that which is just. And fear GOD, and know that God seeth whatsoever ye do. Such of you as die, and leave wives, their wives must wait concerning themselves four months and ten days, and when they shall have fulfilled their term, it shall be no crime in you, for that which they shall do with themselves," according to what is reasonable. GOD well knoweth that which ye do. And it shall be no crime in you, whether ye make public overtures of marriage unto such women, within the said four months and ten days, or whether ye conceal such your designs in your minds: GoD knoweth that ye will remember them.* But make no promises unto them privately, unless ye speak honourable words; and resolve not on the knot of marriage until the prescribed time be accomplished; and know that God knoweth that which is in your minds, therefore beware of him and know that God is gracious and merciful. It shall be no crime in you, if ye divorce your wives, so long as ye have not touched them, nor settled any dowry on them. And provide for them (he who is at his ease must provide according to his circumstances, and he who is straitened according to his circumstances) necessaries, according to what shall be reasonable. This is a duty incumbent on the righteous. But if ye divorce them before ye have touched them, and have already settled a dowry on them, ye shall give them half of what ye have settled, unless they release any part, or he release part in whose hand the knot of marriage is ; and if ye release the whole, it will approach nearer unto piety. And not forget liberality among you, for God seeth that which ye do. Carefully observe the appointed prayers, and the middle prayer, and be assiduous therein, with

That is to say before they marry again; and this not only for decency sake, but that it may be known whether they be with child by the deceased or not.

That is, if they leave off their mourning weeds, and look out for new husbands. *"The desire of marrying a wife, whether you show it openly, or conceal it in your own breasts, shall not render you guilty in the sight of GoD. He knoweth ye cannot prevent yourselves from thinking of women; but make to them no promise in secret, unless ye veil your love in decorous language."-Savary.

c

i. e. Unless the wife agree to take less than half her dowry, or unless the husband be so generous as to give her more than half, or the whole; which is here approved of as most commer.dable.

Yahya interprets this from a tradition of Mohammed, who being asked which was the middle prayer, answered, The evening prayer, which was instituted by the prophet Solomon. But Jallalo'ddin allows a greater latitude, and supposes it may be the after noon prayer the morning prayer, the noon prayer, or any other.