CHAP. XLIII.
Intitled, The Ornaments of Gold
[a]
; revealed at Mecca
[b]
.
In the name of the most merciful God.
[a] The words chosen for the title of this chapter occurs p. 398.
[b] Some except the verse beginning with these words, And ask our apostles whom we have sent before thee, &c.
[c] See the Prelim. Disc. §. III. p. 59, &c.
[a] In the original book;] i.e. The preserved Table; which is the original of all the scriptures in general.
[b] See chap. 16. p. 218, &c.
[a] Had this Koran been sent down unto some great man of either of the two cities;] i.e. To one of the principal inhabitants of Mecca, or of Tâyef, such as al Walid Ebn al Mogheira, or Orwa Ebn Masud, the Thakifite [1] .
[1] Al Beidawi.
[b] The mercy of thy Lord;] By this expression the prophetic office is here particularly intended.
[c] See chap. 19. p. 254.
[d] And ask our apostles whom we have sent before thee;] That is, ask those who profess the religions which they taught, and their learned men [2] .
[2] Idem. Jallal. &c.
[e] But it was greater than the other;] Literally, Than its sister. The meaning is that the miracles were all very great and considerable, or, as the French may express it, by a phrase nearly the same, les uns plus grands que les autres.
[f] A punishment;] viz. The successive plagues which they suffered, previous to their final destruction in the red Sea.
[a] These rivers;] To wit, the Nile and its branches [1] .
[1] Idem.
[b] See chap. 20. p. 257. not. e.
[c] Have bracelets of gold therefore, been put upon him;] Such bracelets were some of the insignia of royalty; for when the Egyptians raised a person to the dignity of a prince, they put a collar or chain of gold about his neck [2] , and bracelets of gold on his wrists [3] .
[2] See Genes. xli. 42.
[3] Al Beidawi, Jallalo’ddin.
[d] When the son of Mary was proposed for an example, &c.] This passage is generally supposed to have been revealed on occasion of an objection made by one Ebn al Zabári to those words in the 21st chapter [4] , by which all in general, who were worshipped as deities, besides God, are doomed to hell: whereupon the infidels cried out, We are contented that our gods should be with Jesus; for he also is worshipped as God [5] . Some, however, are of opinion it might have been revealed in answer to certain idolaters, who said that the Christians, who received the scriptures, worshipped Jesus, supposing him to be the son of God; whereas the angels were more worthy of that honour than he [6] .
[4] See p. 273.
[5] Jallalo’ddin, Al Beidawi.
[6] Idem.
[e] An example;] Or an instance of our power, by his miraculous birth.
[f] We could from yourselves produce angels, &c.] As easily as we produced Jesus without a father [7] . The intent of the words is to shew how just and reasonable it is to think that the angels should bear the relation of children to men, rather than to God; they being his creatures, as well as men, and equally in his power.
[7] Idem.
[g] He shall be a sign of the approach of the last hour;] For some time before the resurrection Jesus is to descend on earth, according to the Mohammedans, near Damascus [8] , or, as some say, near a rock in the holy land named Afik, with a lance in his hand, wherewith he is to kill Antichrist, whom he will encounter at Ludd, or Lydda, a small town not far from Joppa [9] . They add that he will arrive at Jerusalem at the time of morning prayer, that he shall perform his devotions after the Mohammedan institution, and officiate instead of the Imâm, who shall give place to him; that he will break down the cross, and destroy the churches of the Christians, of whom he will make a general slaughter, excepting only such as shall profess Islâm, &c. [10] .
[8] See the Prel. Disc. §. IV. p. 81.
[9] See ib. p. 80.
[10] Al Beidawi.
[h] Now am I come unto you with wisdom;] That is, with a book of revelations, and an excellent system of religion.
[a] The confederated sects among them fell to variance;] This may be understood either of the Jews in the time of Jesus, who opposed his doctrine, or of the Christians since, who have fallen into various opinions concerning him; some making him to be God, others the Son of God, and others, one of the persons of the Trinity, &c [1] .
[1] Idem. Jallal.
[b] O Malec;] This the Mohammedans suppose to be the name of the principal angel who has the charge of hell.
[c] He shall answer;] Some say that this answer will not be given till a thousand years after.
[d] Our messengers who attend them;] i.e. The guardian angels.
[e] Except those who bear witness to the truth, &c.] That is, to the doctrine of God’s unity. The exception comprehends Jesus, Ezra, and the angels; who will be admitted as intercessors, tho’ they have been worshipped as gods [2] .
[2] Iidem.
[a] See chap. 25. p. 301. not. d.