Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
slaves to be prostitutes. The v. 34 is thought by some to refer to the two
examples of Joseph (Qur'an 12:23f) and Mary (Qur'an 19:16f) both of
whom were accused of adultery, the v. 35 describes God as bein^40 g the light
of Heaven and earth, and v. 36 may have referred to churches. The^41 vv. 37f
claim that believers who are not inhibited by business or wealth from
meditating on God, and those who also perform the prayer and give alms,
will be rewarded. The vv. 38f compare the works of unbelievers with a
mirage in the desert and darkness at sea. The vv. 41f speak of the witness of
God in Creation, and the vv. 46f concern themselves with the hypocrites
(cf. 63:5f). The vv. 50f describe believers as being those who say that they
"hear and obey," after which instruction is given not to swear^42 obedience,
but to show it. Those who believe and perform good (works) are promised
that they will be made successors (v. 54), and those who perform the
prayer, give alms and obey Muhammad, are told that they will possibly find
mercy. The v. 56 says that unbelievers are bound for Hell, and the vv. 57f
return to the subject of asking permission before entering the dwellings of
others, because of the possible nakedness of the host. The v. 60 shows that
it was no sin to dine in the houses of relatives or with those who were
handicapped, and v. 61 commands believers to give the greetings of God
upon entering a house. In v. 62 believers are defined as those who believe
Allah and Muhammad, these are to ask leave of Muhammad at meetings,
and Muhammad is to pray for those who do not. The v. 63 states that
Muhammad was to be addressed differently than others, and a warning is
given not to disobey Allah's commands. The v. 64 says that God knows
everything. A number of verses in this sura are similar to passages in the
Bible, Talmud or text of the Jewish Tefillah. This sura is said^43 to have had
more than 100 verses, or to have been as long as Qur'an 2 origi^44 nally.^45
In canonical traditions, Umar is quoted as saying that there was a verse regarding the stoning of married adulterers in the Qur'an originally.^46 Evidently, however, this verse was not found in the Qur'an codices of his day, forUmar states that he would have added the verse himself, were it
not for those who would have accused `Umar of adding to the Qur'an. The^47
notable Ubayy b. Ka'b claimed that the verse of stoning was originally
found in Qur'an 33, although the rhyme of the given text, as wel^48 l as the
subject matter, actually fits Qur'an 24 better. The stoning^49 of adulterers and
adulteresses appears to have been practiced by Muhammad and his
followers. In earlier times, the former^50