Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
thought by some to have been Medinan. The vv. 32f illustrate th^84 e
hypocritical character of pagans, and the vv. 37f, which were thought to be
Medinan, instruct to give alms instead of lending money out t^85 o usurers.
The vv. 39f are concerned with the Resurrection and the Judgment, v. 44
states that Allah does not love unbelievers, and the vv. 45f depict God as
the sender of signs and the Provider. The vv. 49f return to the subject of
Judgment, and the vv. 58f speak of the witness of the Qur'an and
Muhammad.
Qur'an 11Qur'an 11Qur'an 11Qur'an 11 opens with mysterious letters and speaks of a "Book." The vv. 2f
describe Muhammad as a warner and proclaimer of repentance and for-
giveness. The vv. 5f show that God is the all-knowing, and v. 9 mentions
the six-day Creation and the Jewish notion that God's throne was on the
waters. The vv. 10f display some pagans' reactions to the doc^86 trine of
Resurrection, v. 15 reproduces question as to why no treasure nor angel was
sent to Muhammad, and v. 16 presents the reply to the accusati^87 on that
Muhammad authored the Qur'an. The vv. 18f speak of the reward of those
who love life on earth, and v. 20 describes the Qur'an as having been
preceded by the Book of Moses. The vv. 21f relate about the Jud^88 gment,
and the vv. 27f give a narrative about Noah. The comment of an alleged
leader of Noah's people (v. 29) may well have been the words of a Meccan
leader, since the accusations of Muhammad being only a human, whom
only the vilest follow, etc. seem to have been Meccan charges (cf. 21:3f, 7;
25:8f, 22; 26:111). The statement that Noah did not seek a wage from his
people (v. 31), is typical of previous narratives (cf. Qur'an 26:109) and is
also a disclaimer which Muhammad himself made (cf. Qur'an 52:40; 68:46;
38:86). The replies of Noah to the apparent question of why no treasure nor
angel was sent to him (v. 33), parallels the accusations made against
Muhammad (cf. 11:15). The v. 34 suggests that Muhammad had disputed
with the Meccans many times, and produces an unmistakable echo of the
Meccan's dare to see the threatened punishment on their city. The v. 37
inadvertently departs from the Noah narrative to present Muhammad's reply
to the charge of authoring the Qur'an, after which the Noah narrative