Muhammad: Break with the Jewsinstruct believers not to be as those who were given the Book previously.
The v. 17 gives an encouragement to give alms, and v. 18 tells of rewards
for believers and punishment for unbelievers. The vv. 19f contrast temporal
earthly life to eternal life in Paradise. The v. 22 relates that no catastrophe
occurs without God's permission, and v. 24 says that if others are greedy,
God is rich. The vv. 25f tell of God's sending the former messengers and
the Book, where Noah, Abraham and Jesus are mentioned, and monasticism
is said to have been an innovation of man. The vv. 28f essentially command
believers to fear God and believe Muhammad, and then describe the
benefits of those who live accordingly. Some of the verses of this sura are
at least remotely similar to Bible passages.^253
Qur'an 4Qur'an 4Qur'an 4Qur'an 4 opens with a command to fear God (v. 1), the v. 2 speaks about
being benevolent and just to orphans, and v. 3 allows a Muslim to have two,
three or four wives. The vv. 4f return to the subject of orphans, t^254 he vv. 8f
give some regulations regarding inheritance, and v. 9 is directed against
injustice to orphans. The vv. 10f speak of inheritance again, v. 17 presents
these as the regulations of Allah saying that those who obey Allah and
Muhammad will be led into Paradise, and v. 18 says that those who rebel
will be sent to Hell. The vv. 19f speak of adultery and witnesses (no
punishment is mentioned), and v. 22 rules out death-bed repentance. The v.
23 forbids that one's wives be inheritable. The vv. 24f give some of the
Qur'anic laws for marriage, in which the practice of "muta^255 " is referred to and married slaves who commit adultery are to receive half^256 of the punishment of freewomen (again no punishment is described). The vv. 33f appear to forbid blood-feuds among Muslims, v. 36 gives commandment against covetousness, and v. 37 speaks of inheritance. The v. 38 explains why men are more dominating than women, and prescribes the warning, restriction and beating of rebellious women. The v. 39 instructs that an arbitrator should be used to settle disputes between man and wife. The v. 40 commands to serve God, be a Monotheist and (essentially) be good to all. The v. 41 admonishes against greed, and the vv. 42f speak of alms. The vv. 45f describe the Judgment, and v. 46 gives regulations for prayer, in which the restriction about drunkeness in prayer and the provision for ritual washings with sand (where no water is available) seem to have come from Jewish sources. Islamic traditions generally report that t^257 he latter of these laws was instituted once asA'isha lost her necklace on an expedition.^258
The vv. 47f describe Jewish activities against Muhammad, v. 48^259 contains
the statement about hearing and rebelling (cf. Qur'an 2:87),^260 and v. 49
refers to their use of the term "ra'ina." The v. 51 seems to have^261 been