Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
[141] Nöldeke, "Qur'an," p. 15; Jeffery, Vocabulary, p. 165 (Sijjin), p. 91
(Tasnim). Margoliouth, "Additions," JRAS, (1939), p. 58, suggests that the
word "sijjil" was actually meant here, but that "sijjin" was used to conform
with the rhyme. Margoliouth thinks that the Rabbinic "gillayon" (for
"unwritten writing material") may have been the source.
[142] See n. 21, above.
[143] See Blachère's listing in Appendix B. Nöldeke and Schwally give no
ordering for these verses.
[144] A Sira tradition of Ibn Hisham (Guillaume, Muhammad, p. 122)
shows Al-Walid b. al-Mughira as the one who was meant in these verses.
[145] Rudolph, Koran, p. 533, n. 8, supposes the number 19 to represent
the 12 signs of the zodiac and the seven planets, which the Gnostics
regarded as demons who torment the rising souls of the dead.
[146] Nöldeke and Schwally, GQ, vol. 1, p. 88.
[147] Cf. Abu Jahl's accusation against Muhammad in Ibn Hisham (Guil-
laume, Muhammad, p. 141): "Muhammad pretends that God's troops who
will punish you in Hell and imprison you there, are nineteen only, while
you have a large population..." See n. 51, above. Muslims have attempted to
make all sorts of claims regarding Qur'an 74:30 (cf. Ali, Qur'an, vol. 2,p.
1643, n. 5793; Deedat, Al-Qur'an: The Ultimate Miracle, pp. 27 f; etc.),
most of which have been proven to be false (cf. Campbell, The Qur'an and
the Bible, pp. 250 f).
[148] See Ali, in Qur'an, vol. 2, p. 1597.
[149] Nöldeke and Schwally, GQ, vol. 1, p. 40; Nöldeke, "Qur'an," p. 12.