Muhammad, the Qur\'an & Islam

(National Geographic (Little) Kids) #1
Muhammad: The Hijra

that they were to inherit the land of Egypt. The v. 5 mentions Haman a^137 s
being a contemporary of Pharaoh, v. 8 depicts Moses as being adopted by
Pharaoh's wife (rather than his daughter), and the Qur'anic^138 account
assumes that the same Pharaoh reigned from the time of Moses' birth until
his return to Egypt. In the vv. 14f Moses is shown as killing and then
repenting, and v. 27 maintains that Moses served eight or ten y^139 ears in
order to marry his wife. In the vv. 33f Moses is depicted as bei^140 ng afraid
to return to Egypt, because of the previous murder, and he requests that
Aaron be sent with him. In v. 38 Haman is commanded to build a tower (cf.
40:38f), v. 43 shows Moses as having received "the Book," and in the vv.
44f Muhammad is compared with Moses. The vv. 48f reproduce the
possibly Jewish questions as to why Muhammad was not given the same as
Moses, and such questions may have induced Muhammad to begin editing
"the Book" portions of the Qur'an. The v. 49 may have referred^141 to the
Torah, and v. 52 must allude to either Jews or Christians. The vv^142. 57f
give some of Muhammad's discussions with pagans, the vv. 62f speak of
the Judgment, and the vv. 67f describe those who believe and God's power.
The vv. 76f, which seem to have been a later addition, contain a^143 narrative
about Korah, who is described as having been wealthy. In the^144
vv. 85f the Qur'an and "the Book" are said to have been given to
Muhammad, and the vv. 86-87 may refer to the event of the Satanic
inspiration. The message of 28:60 is similar to that of I Jn. 2:^145 17.^146


Sura 39Sura 39Sura 39Sura 39 opens with "the sending down of the Book from God..." which is
shown to have been given Muhammad (v. 2). The vv. 4f speak of
polytheism, state that God does not lead liars or unbelievers (v. 5), and give
an unclear denial of God having a son (v. 6). In the vv. 7f God is shown to
be the Creator, who created the "eight pairs" (v. 8). The vv. 11f^147 speak of
unbelievers and those who believe, and v. 14 presents Muhammad as the
"first of the Muslims." The vv. 17f refer to the Judgment, and v. 19^148
mentions "Taghut" (cf. 16:38). The vv. 22f speak of God's provision, and
the sending down of "the most beautiful stories" (v. 24). The vv. 25f return
to the subject of the Judgment, and v. 29 mentions "the Arabic Qur'an, in
which nothing is crooked." The vv. 37f speak of predestination, and the vv.
39f reproduce some discussions with polytheists. In v. 42 "the Book" is said
to have been sent down to Muhammad, and the content of v. 43 may be
related to the Nestorian doctrine of death-sleep. The vv. 44^149 f deal with

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