8 reason aright? O true believers, take not the Jews or Christians for your friends; they are friends the one to the other; but whoso among you taketh them for his friends, he is surely one of them: verily GoD directeth not unjust people. Thou shalt set those in whose hearts there is an infirmity, to hasten unto them, saying, We fear lest some adversity befall us; but it is easy for God to give victory, or a command from him, that they may repent of that which they concealed in their minds. And they who believe will say, Are these the men who have sworn by GoD, with a most firm oath, that they surely held with you? their works are become vain, and they are of those who perish. O true believers, whoever of you apostatizeth from his religion, GoD will certainly bring other people to supply his place," whom he will love, and who will love him; who shall be humble towards the believers, but severe to the unbelievers: they shall fight for the religion of GoD, and shall not fear the obloquy of the detractor. This is the bounty of GoD, he bestoweth it on whom he pleaseth: GoD is extensive and wise. Verily your protector is God, and his apostle, and those who believe, who observe the stated times of prayer, and give alms, and who bow down to worship. And whoso taketh Gop, * and vicious appetites of mankind: for this, it seems, was demanded by the Jewish tribes of Koreidha and al Nadir." These were the words of Ebn Obba, who, when Obâdah Ebn al Sâmat publicly renounced the friendship of the infidels, and professed that he took God and his apostle for his patrons, said that he was a man apprehensive of the fickleness of fortune, and therefore would not throw off his old friends, who might be of service to him hereafter.' To extirpate and banish the Jews; to detect and punish the hypocrites. These words may be spoken by the Mohammedans either to one another, or to the Jews: since these hypocrites had given their oaths to both." This is one of those accidents which, it is pretended, were foretold by the Korân long before they came to pass. For in the latter days of Mohammed, and after his death, considerable numbers of the Arabs quitted his religion, and returned to Paganism, Judaism, or Christianity. Al Beidâwi reckons them up in the following order. 1. Three companies of Banu Modlaj, seduced by Dhu'lhamâr al Aswad al Ansi, who set up for a prophet in Yaman, and grew very powerful there. 2. Banu Honeifa, who followed the famous false prophet Moseilama. 3. Banu Assad, who acknowledged Toleiha Ebn Khowailed, another pretender to divine revelation,' for their prophet. All these fell off in Mohammed's lifetime. The following, except only the last, apostatized in the reign of Abu Beer. 4. Certain of the tribe of Fezârah, headed by Oyeyma Ebn Hosein. 5. Some of the tribe of Ghatfân, whose leader was Korrah Ebn Salina. 6. Banu Soleim, who followed al Fahjanh Ebn Abd Yalil. 7. Banu Yarbu, whose captain was Malec Ebn Noweirah Ebn Kais. 8. Part of the tribe of Tamîn, the proselytes of Sajaj the daughter of al Mondhar, who gave herself out for a prophetess. 9. The tribe of Kendah, led by al Askith Ebn Kais. 10. Banu Beer Ebn al Wayel in the province of Bahrein, headed by al Hotam Ebn Zeid. And 11. Some of the tribes of Ghassan, who, with theit prince Jabalah Ebn al Aysham, renounced Mohammedism in the time of Omar, and returned to their former profession of Christianity." But as to the persons who fulfilled the other part of this prophecy, by supplying the loss of so many renegades, the commentators are not agreed. Some will have then to be the inhabitants of Yaman, and others the Persians; the authority of Mohammed himself being vonched for both opinions. Others, however, suppose them to be two housand of the tribe of al Nakhá (who dwelt in Yaman), five thousand of those of Kenda and Bajîlah, and three thousand of unknown descent, who were present at the famous battle of Kadesia, fought in the Khalifat of Omar, and which put an end to the Persian empire.' If they are inferior to the believers, they shali be superior to the infidels."-Savary. Al Beidâwi. • See ib. Al Beidawi. 1 Idem. * Idem. See ib. See ib. sect. i. and his apostle, and the believers for his friends, they are the party of God, and they shall be victorious. O true believers, take not such of those to whom the scriptures were delivered before you, or of the infidels, for your friends, who make a laughing-stock, and a jest of your religion; but fear GOD, if ye be true believers; nor those who when ye call to prayer, make a laughing-stock and a jest of it; this they do, because they are people who do not understand. Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, do ye reject us for any other reason than because we believe in GoD, and that revelation which hath been sent down unto us, and that which was formerly sent down, and for that the greater part of you are transgressors? Say, Shall I denounce unto you a worse thing than this, as to the reward which ye are to expect with God? He whom God hath cursed, and with whom he hath been angry, having changed some of them into apes and swine, and who worship Taghut, they are in the worse condition, and err more widely from the straightness of the path. When they came unto you, they said, We believe yet they entered into your company with infidelity, and went forth from you with the same; but God well knew what they concealed. Thou shalt see many of them hastening unto iniquity and malice, and to eat things forbidden; and woe unto them for what they have done. Unless their doctors and priests forbid them uttering wickedness, and eating things forbidden; woe unto them for what they shall have committed. The Jews say, The hand of GoD is tied up. Their hands shall be tied up, and they shall be cursed for that which they have said. Nay his hands are both stretched forth; he bestoweth as he pleaseth: that which This passage was primarily intended to forbid the Moslems entering into a friendship with two hypocrites named Refàa Ebn Zeid, and Soweid Ebn al Hareth, who, though they had embraced Mohammedism, yet ridiculed it on all occasions, and were notwithstanding greatly beloved among the prophet's followers. These words were added on occasion of a certain Christian, who hearing the Muadhdhin, or crier, in calling to prayers, repeat this part of the usual form. I profess that Mohammed is the apostle of God, said aloud. May God burn the liar: but a few nights after his own house was accidentally set on fire by a servant, and himself and his family perished in the flames.' * "What can I describe unto you more terrible than the vengeance which God hath exercised against you? He hath cursed you in his anger. Some of you hath he transformed into apes and into swine, because that ye have burned incense before idols, and that ye have been plunged into utter darkness."-Savary. The former were the Jews of Ailah, who broke the sabbath; and the latter those who believed not in the miracle of the Table which was let down from heaven to Jesus. Some, however, imagine that the Jews of Ailah only are meant in this place, pretending that the young men among them were metamorphosed into apes, and the old men into swine. See chap. ii. p. 31. See before, p. 81. That is, he is become niggardly and closefisted. These were the words of Phineas Ebn Azura (another indecent expression of whom, almost to the same purpose, is mentioned elsewhere), when the Jews were much impoverished by a dearth, which the commentators will have to be a judgment on them for their rejecting of Mohammed; and the other Jews who heard him, instead of reproving him, expressed their approbation of what he had said. d i. e. They shall be punished with want and avarice. The words may also allude to the manner wherein the reprobates shall appear at the last day, having their right hand. tied up to their necks; which is the proper signification of the Arabic word. 1 Al Beidawi. 2 See chap. ii. p. 9. Beidâ wi. See towards the end of this chapter. · Chap. iii. p. 56. • Al Beidâwi. 'Ai shall increase the transgreshave put enmity and hatred hath been sent down unto thee from thy LORD sion and infidelity of many of them; and we between them, until the day of resurrection. So often as they shall kindle a fire for war, GoD shall extinguish it; and they shall set their minds to act corruptly in the earth, but God loveth not the corrupt doers. Moreover if they who have received the scriptures believe, and fear God, we wit surely expiate their sins from them, and we will lead them into gardens of pleasure; and if they observe the law, and the gospel, and the other scriptures which have been sent down unto them from their LORD, they shall surely eat of good things both from above them, and from under their feet. Among them there are people who act uprightly; but how evil is that which many of them do work! O apostle, publish the whole of that which hath been sent down unto thee from thy LoRD: for if thou do not, thou dost not in effect publish any part thereof; and GoD will defend thee against wicked men ; for God directeth not the unbelieving people. Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, ye are not grounded on any thing, until ye observe the law and the gospel and that which hath been sent down unto you from your LORD. That which hath been sent down unto thee from thy LORD will surely increase the transgression and infidelity of many of them: but be not thou solicitous for the unbelieving people. Verily they who believe, and those who Judaize, and the Sabians, and the Christians, whoever of them believeth in God and the last day, and doth that which is right, there shall come no fear on them, neither shall they be grieved. We formerly accepted the covenant of the children of Israel, and sent apostles unto them. So often as an apostle came unto them with that which their souls desired not, they accused some of them of imposture, and some of them they killed: and they imagined that there should be no punishment for those crimes, and they became blind, and deaf. Then was GOD turned unto them; afterwards many of them again became blind and deaf; but GoD saw what they did. They are surely infidels, who say, Verily God is Christ the son of Mary; since Christ said, viz. The Korân. Either by raising feuds and quarrels among themselves, or by granting the victory to the Moslems. Al Beidawi adds, that on the Jews neglecting the true observance of their law, corrupting their religion, God has successively delivered them into the hands, first of Bakht Nasr or Nebuchadnezzar, then of Titus the Roman, and afterwards of the Persians, and has now at last subjected them to the Mohammedans. That is, they shall enjoy the blessings both of heaven and earth. That is, if they do not complete the publication of all thy revelations without exception, thou dost not answer the end for which they were revealed; because the concealing of any part renders the system of religion which God has thought fit to publish to mankind by thy ministry lane and imperfect. Until this verse was revealed, Mohammed entertained a guard of armed men for his security; but on his receiving this assurance of God's protection, he immediately dismissed them." *See chap. ii. p. 9. 'Shutting their eyes and ears against conviction and the remonstrances of the law; as when they worshipped the calf. i. e. Upon their repentance. O children of Israel, serve God, my LORD and your LORD; whoever shall give a companion unto GoD, GOD shall exclude him from paradise, and his habitation shall be hell fire; and the ungodly shall have none to help them. They are certainly infidels, who say, GoD is the third of three: for there is no God, besides one God; and if they refrain not from what they say, a painful torment shall surely be inflicted on such of them as are unbelievers Will they not therefore be turned unto God, and ask pardon of him? since God is gracious and merciful. Christ the son of Mary is no more than an apostle; other apostles have preceded him; and his mother was a woman of veracity: they both ate food.P Behold, how we declare unto them the signs of God's unity; and then behold how they turn aside from the truth. Say unto them, Will ye worship, besides GoD, that which can cause you neither harm nor profit? GoD is he who heareth and seeth. Say, O ye who have received the scriptures, exceed not the just bounds in your religion, by speaking beside the truth; neither follow the desires of people who have heretofore erred, and who have seduced many, and have gone astray from the straight path. Those among the children of Israel who believed not were cursed by the tongue of David, and of Jesus the son of Mary. This befell them because they were rebellious and transgressed: they forbade not one another the wickedness which they committed; and woe unto them for what they committed. Thou shalt see many of them take for their friends those who believe not. Woe unto them for what their souls have sent before them, for that God is incensed against them, and they shall remain in torment for ever. But, if they had believed in GoD, and the prophet, and that which hath been revealed unto him, they had not taken them for their friends; but many of them are evil doers. Thou shalt surely find the most violent of all men in enmity against the true believers to be the Jews, and the idolaters: and thou shalt surely find those among them to be the most inclinable to entertain friendship for the truc believers, who say, We are Christians. This cometh to pass, because there are priests and monks among them; and because they are not elated with pride: [VII.] and when they hear that which hath been sent down to the apostle read unto them, thou shalt see their eyes overflow with tears, because of the truth which they perceive therein, saying, O LORD, we Sec chap. iv. p. 80. Never pretending to partake of the divine nature, or to be the mother of God. Being obliged to support their lives by the same means, and being subject to the same necessities and infirmities as the rest of mankind, and therefore no gods." See chap. iv. p. 80. But here the words are principally directed to the Christians. That is, of their prelates and predecessors, who erred in ascribing divinity to Christ, before the mission of Mohammed.3 See chap. ii. p. 13, note r. Having not that high conceit of themselves, as the Jews have; but being humble and well disposed to receive the truth; qualities, says al Beidâwi, which are to be commended even in infidels. The persons directly intended in this passage were, either Ashaina, king of Ethiopia, and several bishops and priests, who being assembled for that purpose, heard Jaafar Ebn 'Jallalo'ddin. 2 Idem, Al Beidâwi. 3 Iidem. believe; write us down therefore with those who bear witness to the truth and what should hinder us from believing in GOD, and the truth which hath come unto us, and from earnestly desiring that our LORD would introduce us into paradise with the righteous people? Therefore hath God rewarded them, for what they have said, with gardens through which rivers flow; they shall continue therein for ever; and this is the reward of the righteous. But they who believe not, and accuse our signs of falsehood, they shall be the companions of hell. O true believers, forbid not the good things which God hath allowed you; but transgress not, for God loveth not the transgressors. And eat of what God hath given you for food that which is lawful and good: and fear GoD, in whom ye believe. GOD will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths; but he will punish you for what ye solemnly swear with deliberation. And the expiation of such an oath shall be the feeding of ten poor men with such moderate food as ye feed your own families withal; or to clothe them; or to free the neck of a true believer from captivity: but he who shall not find wherewith to perform one of these three things shall fast thee days. This is the expiation of your oaths, when ye swear inadvertently. Therefore keep your oaths. Thus GOD declareth unto you his signs, that ye may give thanks. O true believers, surely wine, and lots, and images, and divining arrows, are an abomination of the work of Satan; therefore avoid them that ye may prosper. Satan seeketh to sow dissension and hatred among you, by means of wine and lots, and to divert you from remembering Taleb, who fled to that country in the first flight, read the 29th and 30th, and afterwards the 18th and 19th chapters of the Korân; on hearing of which the king and the rest of the company burst into tears, and confessed what was written therein to be conformable to truth; that prince himself, in particular, becoming a proselyte to Mohammedism: or else thirty, or as others say, seventy persons, sent ambassadors to Mohammed by the same king of Ethiopia, to whom the prophet himself read the 36th chapter, intitled Y. S. Whereupon they began to weep, saying, How like is this to that which was revealed unto Jesus! and immediately professed themselves Moslems. These words were revealed, when certain of Mohammed's companions agreed to oblige themselves to continual fasting and watching, and to abstain from women, eating flesh, sleeping on beds, and other lawful enjoyments of life, in imitation of some selfdenying Christians; but this the prophet disapproved, declaring, that he would have no monks in his religion." See chap. ii. p. 26. The commentators give us the different opinions of the doctors, as to the quantity of food and clothes to be given in this case; which I think scarcely worth transcribing. That is, three days together, says Abu Hanifa. But this is not observed in practice, being neither explicitly commanded in the Korân, nor ordered in the Sonna. That is, all inebriating liquors, and games of chance. See the Prelim. Disc. sect. v. and chap. ii. p. 25. Al Beidawi and some other commentators expound this of idols; but others, with more probability, of the carved pieces, or men, with which the pagan Arabs played at chess, being little figures of men, elephants, horses, and dromedaries; and this is supposed to be the only thing which Mohammed disliked in that game: for which reason the Sonnites play with plain pieces of wood, or ivory; but the Persians and Indians, who are not so scrupulous, still make use of the carved ones." See the Prelim. Disc. sect. v. See the Prelim. Disc. sect. ii. Al Beidâwi, al Thalabi. Vide Abulfed. Vit. Moh. p. 25, &c. Marrac. Prodr. ad Refut. Alcor. part 1. p. 45. Vide Prelim Disc. sect. v. 'Jallalo'ddin, Al Beidâwi. Al Beidâwi. |