Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
Sura 64Sura 64Sura 64Sura 64 opens in praise of God (vv. 1f), and v. 5 speaks about the
punishments of previous unbelievers. The v. 6 reproduces the rhetorical
question used against Muhammad about being led by a human, and the vv.
7f seem to repeat a discussion with pagans regarding the Resurrection. As a
parallel to the earlier Qur'anic doctrine of obedience to God and
Muhammad v. 8 seems to initiate the notion of belief in God and^151 His
messengers. The v. 9 maintains that those who believe in God and practice
good (works) will have their sins covered and will be admitted into
Paradise, and v. 10 describes those who deny God's signs (accounting them
to be lies) as being the inhabitants of Hell. The v. 11 declares that no
mishaps occur without God's permission, and the v. 12 commands
obedience to God and Muhammad, who is described as "his messenger."
The vv. 14f deal with the subject of almsgiving, and appear to show that
some were reluctant to give alms because of their families.
Qur'an 62Qur'an 62Qur'an 62Qur'an 62 also begins in praise of God (vv. 1f), in which Muhammad is
described as having been a messenger to the "unlearned" (or "heathen")^152
The v. 5 uses a Jewish byword against the Jews themselves, and^153 the vv.
6f address Jewish claims of being the "friends of God." The vv. 9f provide
the only allusion to the Islamic Friday assemblies, and v. 11 d^154 epicts the
"worldliness" of the first Muslims.^155
After the first three attempted raids on Meccans were unsuccessful,
Muhammad himself led a raid to Waddan 12 months after the Hijra, but he
was also unable to find a caravan. A treaty with the Banu Damra was said
to have been made on this expedition, which lasted 15 days.^156
In some Islamic traditions the practice of "Muta" (temporary marriage)^157 is said to have been allowed by Muhammad on a raid in which he partici- pated. Some hadith say that this practice was allowed in 8 AH^158 , whereas^159 others report that it was forbidden at Khaybar in 7 AH. A few tra^160 ditions show that Muta was first forbidden in the caliphate of `Umar,^161
nevertheless, some Shiite and Sunni groups still practice it.^162
One Sira tradition relates that Muhammad's cousin `Ali married
Muhammad's daughter Fatima at the end of the twelfth month after the
Hijra, and another states that this marriage took place in the 22nd month
after the Hijra.^163