Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
The beginning of sura 97sura 97sura 97sura 97 is thought to be missing. Muslim scholars see^68
97:1-3 as referring to the night (of al-Qadr) when the first parts of the
Qur'an were revealed. This sura contains perhaps the earli^69 est mention of
angels or spirit (v. 4).
Qur'an 86Qur'an 86Qur'an 86Qur'an 86 is composed of two fragments, each beginning with oaths; the^70
vv. 15-17 appear to be an early allusion to opposition against Muhammad's
message.
Sura 91Sura 91Sura 91Sura 91 also begins with a long list of oaths, which is followed (vv. 11f)
with the punishment narrative of Thamud. This story was also used by
Christian and pagan Arab poets whose works were probably^71 at least an
indirect source.
Sura 80Sura 80Sura 80Sura 80, which appears to be composed of three fragments, b^72 egins with
what is usually regarded as Muhammad being rebuked (vv. 1-10), the^73
vv. 11-15 seem to describe the Qur'an as a heavenly writing and the vv.
33-42 give an early allusion to the coming Judgment, which is very similar
to some works of the Syrian Church.^74
Qur'an 68Qur'an 68Qur'an 68Qur'an 68, although containing apparently old fragments, was probably
updated or added to later. However, vv. 2-14 resemble later sur^75 as, where
Muhammad was accused of having been possessed (cf. v. 51), th^76 e
vv. 15-16 must have been revealed after suras with narratives, the parable^77
of vv. 17f is probably from a Syrian work, and the foreign voca^78 bulary of
vv. 37 and 39 also indicate a later time period. The reference^79 to Jonah in
vv. 48f must be old, as his name is not used ("companion of the fish"), and
may well imply that it dates from a time when Muhammad's own situation
with respect to the Meccans had deteriorated (v. 48a).
Sura 87Sura 87Sura 87Sura 87 begins with a phrase which is definitely Biblical ("Praise the name
of your Lord..."); vv. 12f concur with the message of Mk. 9:48 and Is.
66:24 and v. 6 seems to show that no part of the Qur'an had yet been
committed to writing. Prayer is again presented as the only ritual (v. 15)
and the cryptic reference to the scrolls of Abraham and Moses (v. 19)
implies that Muhammad had contact with heretical groups which had
broken off from Christianity.^80
The suras 95suras 95suras 95suras 95 and 103 103103 103 are thought to be incomplete as they stand, and both^81
begin with with at least one oath. The nouns in the oaths of 95:1f appear to