Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
hypocrites confessed their sins, and v. 104 describes Muhammad as
purifying and sanctifying those from whom he accepts alms. T^237 he vv.
108f seem to refer to the "mosque of opposition," and v. 109b appears to
allude to the Ka'ba. In v. 112 the claim is made that the Torah, Gospel and
Qur'an contain a promise for believers whom Allah has purchased for
Paradise, who are to kill and be killed in "Allah's way." The v. 113 is
grammatically incomplete, in v. 114 Muhammad and the believers are
commanded not to pray for forgiveness for pagans, and v. 115^239 claims that
Abraham only prayed for his (pagan) father, because of a former promise.
The v. 117 gives a short description of God's power, and v. 118 says that
God helped Muhammad, the emigrants and the helpers in their time of
trouble. The v. 119 appears to refer to three who were left behind
(Tabuk). The vv. 120f give a commandment to fear God and an^240
encouragement to participate in raids, but in an apparent reversal, v. 123
dictates that not all should go out; some should remain and learn about
religion. In v. 124 the believers are commanded to fight the unbelievers, v.
125 gives a question as to who was strengthened in faith by a sura. The vv.
126f present the hypocrites as dying as unbelievers, and that (as a group)
they are (so) tried once or twice a year. In v. 128 the hypocrites are said to
have asked who sees them, when a sura (probably concerning them) is
revealed. The v. 129 presents Muhammad as a messenger sent from among
them (the Arabs), who is burdened by their troubles. The v. 130 makes a
statement of Monotheism. Zayd b. Thabit said that, as he was collecting the
verses of the Qur'an, he was only able to find the vv. 129-130 with (Abu)
Khuzayma. The Arabic name for Ezra (v. 30) is thought to have co^241 me
from Hebrew. Some of the verses of this sura are at least remot^242 ely similar
to passages in the Bible and Talmud.^243
In the 106th month after the Hijra, Muhammad sent Abu Bakr and
(later)Ali with 300 pilgrims and 20 camels for sacrifice to perform the Hajj in Mecca. Abu Bakr led the Hajj and declared that no polytheists would be allowed to participate in the Hajj the following year and that no one would be permitted to circumambulate the Kaba naked then. `Ali is reported to
have read the first 30 or 40 verses of Qur'an 9 on the day of sacrifice.^244