CHAP. LIII.
Intitled, The Star; revealed at Mecca.
In the name of the most merciful God.
[a] By the star;] Some suppose the stars in general, and others the Pleiades in particular, to be meant in this place.
[b] When it setteth;] Or, according to a contrary signification of the verb here used, when it riseth.
[c] One mighty in power, &c.] Namely, the angel Gabriel.
[d] He appeared;] In his natural form, in which God created him, and in the eastern part of the sky. It is said that this angel appeared in his proper shape to none of the prophets, except Mohammed, and to him only twice: once when he received the first revelation of the Korân, and a second time when he took his night journey to heaven; as it follows in the text.
[e] Afterwards he approached;] In a human shape.
[f] Two bows length;] Or, as the word also signifies, two cubits length.
[g] The heart of Mohammed did not falsely represent that which he saw;] But he saw it in reality.
[h] The lote-tree beyond which there is no passing;] This tree, say the commentators, stands in the seventh heaven, on the right hand of the throne of God; and is the utmost bounds beyond which the angels themselves must not pass; or, as some rather imagine, beyond which no creature’s knowledge can extend.
[i] When the lote-tree covered that which it covered;] The words seem to signify that what was under this tree exceeded all description and number. Some suppose the whole host of angels worshipping beneath it [1] are intended, and others, the birds which sit on its branches [2] .
[1] Idem.
[2] Jallalo’ddin.
[k] And he really beheld some of the greatest signs of his Lord;] Seeing the wonders both of the sensible and the intellectual world [3] .
[3] Al Beidawi.
[l]
What think ye of Allât, and al Uzza, and Manâh;]
Those were three idols of the ancient Arabs, of which we have spoken
in the Preliminary Discourse
[4]
.
As to the blasphemy which some pretend Mohammed once uttered, through
inadvertence, as he was reading this passage, See chap. 22. p. 279. not. c.
[4] §. i. pag. 17, &c.
[a] See chap. 16. p. 218, &c.
[b] Shall man have whatever he wisheth for?] i.e. Shall he dictate to God, and name whom he pleases for his intercessors, or for his prophet; or shall he choose a religion according to his own fancy, and prescribe the terms on which he may claim the reward of this life and the next [1] ?
[1] Al Beidawi, Jallalo’ddin.
[c] What thinkest thou of him, &c.] This passage, it is said, was revealed on account of al Walid Ebn al Mogheira, who, following the prophet one day, was reviled by an idolater for leaving the religion of the Koreish, and giving occasion of scandal; to which he answered, that what he did was out of apprehension of the divine vengeance: whereupon the man offered, for a certain sum, to take the guilt of his apostacy on himself; and the bargain being made, al Walid returned to his idolatry, and paid the man part of what had been agreed on; but afterwards, on farther consideration, he thought it too much, and kept back the remainder [2] .
[2] Al Beidawi.
[d] Is the knowledge of futurity with him?] That is, is he assured that the person with whom he made the above- mentioned agreement will be allowed to suffer in his stead hereafter [3] ?
[3] Idem.
[a] He is the Lord of the dog-star;] Sirius, or the greater dog-star, was worshipped by some of the old Arabs [1] .
[1] See the Prelim. Disc. §. I. p. 17, and Hyde, not. in Ulug. Beig. Tab. Stell. fix. p. 53.
[b] The cities which were turned upside down;] Viz. Sodom, and the other cities involved in her ruin. See chap. 11. p. 184.