Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
tion given to Muhammad confirms the previous (Books), the vv. 30f
describe Paradise, and the vv. 33f speak about Hell and unbelievers. The
vv. 37f are thought to be a later addition, because of a change in the
rhyme, and the vv. 38f present an interesting polemic again^198 st pagans, in
which they are asked what their gods have created, and where their book is.
The v. 40 refers to those who swore by Allah that they would follow a
future warner, but that they rejected Muhammad; it could be that the
Messianic hopes of the Jews of Medina were alluded to in this verse. The^199
vv. 41f maintain that those meant in v. 40 will be punished. Qur'an 35:19 is
similar to Gal. 6:5, and 35:44 is vaguely reminiscent of Ps. 130:3.^200
Qur'an 7Qur'an 7Qur'an 7Qur'an 7 begins with mysterious letters, following which a book is said to
be sent down to Muhammad, in order to warn and as an admonition to
believers. The vv. 3f refer to previous peoples and their punishments, and
the vv. 7f speak of the scales at the Judgment. The vv. 9-11 conta^201 in a
grammatical mistake in persons, the v. 9 shows God's provis^202 ion, and the
vv. 10f give a narrative about Adam, which is generally based on earlier
Qur'anic accounts. The vv. 25f present admonitions addressed to the
"children of Adam," in which the pagans are said to have Satan as their
protector, since God clothed Adam, and yet the polytheists practice the
custom of nudity at their shrines (vv. 29f). The v. 32 maintains^203 that the
judgment (punishment) can neither be delayed nor expedited, the vv. 33f
speak of unbelievers and their judgment, and the vv. 40f relate about
believers in Paradise and their discussions with those in Hell. The vv. 52f
present God as Creator and Provider, and a narrative about Noah is given
(vv. 57f), which is based on previous Qur'anic Noah stories. The vv. 63f
present a narration about the Ad and Hud, and the vv. 71f relate about the Thamud and Salih. Both of these accounts generally agree with earlier Qur'anic stories, with the exception that v. 76 shows that the punishment of the Thamud was an earthquake (cf. 11:70 - "shout"). The vv. 78f give a narrative about Lot, which is based on previous Qur'anic stories, but in the account of Shuayb (vv. 83f) he is threatened with being driven out (of the
land) with the believers (v. 86), and the punishment of his peoples (v. 89) is
also now said to have been an earthquake (cf. 11:97 - "shout"). The vv. 92f
speak about previous peoples and their messengers. The vv. 101f give a
narrative about Moses, in which he is said to have performed the miracle of
the leprous hand (v. 105), and all of the works and buildings o^204 f Pharaoh
are said to have been destroyed (v. 133). In v. 142 God is shown as having
written on the tables of stone, and the mysterious "Samaritan" of earlier