Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
Qur'an 26Qur'an 26Qur'an 26Qur'an 26 also begins with mysterious letters, which are said to be the
"signs" of the clear book. After showing Muhammad's desire^7374 for his
countrymen (v. 2), this rather "structured" sura gives the narratives of seven
prophet figures. The story of Moses (vv. 9f) roughly follows the scheme of
his narrative in Qur'an 20, and emphasizes his Monotheistic message. The
v. 26:12 is also similar to 20:26f, and the often-repeated description of
Allah as the "Lord of the worlds" (vv. 15, 22, 46, 77, 98, 109, 127, 164,
179, 192) also appears in Qur'an 1:1. Qur'an 26:21 seems to have the
enslavement of the Israelites take place while Moses was away in Midian,
contrary to the Biblical account, but it may be that Muhamm^75 ad was
referring to his own situation. Moses is charged with being^76 possessed (v.
26), and the description of Pharaoh considering himself to^77 be God (v. 28)
seems to come from Jewish sources. Moses is again accused of w^78 anting to
drive the Egyptians from their land (v. 34; cf. 20:59, 66), and Pharaoh is
portrayed as having been a magician (cf. 20:74). The vv. 69f gi^79 ve a
narrative of Abraham in which his Monotheistic preaching is not only
related, but is also anachronistically Muhammad's style. I^80 n the vv. 105f
the story of Noah is told, and in keeping with earlier Noah narratives (cf.
54:9f; 37:73f; 71), the flood is sent because Noah has been accused of lying
and then calls to God for deliverance (vv. 117f). In the vv. 108 and 110 the
idea of obedience to God and a messenger are reiterated, and t^81 he
statement that (only) the vilest follow Noah (v. 111), must have actually
been a remark of the Meccans about Muhammad, since Noah was o^82 nly
"followed" by his own household. In v. 116 Noah is threatene^83 d with being
stoned, and Muhammad also seems to have been threatened in a similar
manner. The vv. 123f relate the stories of the Ad, to whom the me^84 ssenger Hud is now sent, the Thamud, to whom Salih is now sent, Lot, and the^8586 people of the Thicket, to whom Shuayb is now sent. Hud, Salih, Lot^87 and
Shuayb also appear as the advocates of Monotheism. The doctrine of obedience to God and messenger is stated again (vv. 126, 131, 144, 150, 163, 179). Hud, Salih, Lot and Shuayb say they do not expect a wage from
their respective peoples (vv. 127, 145, 164, 180), and Muhammad also
made this disclaimer (cf. 52:40; 68:46). The voice of the Mecc^88 ans
resounds from the various peoples (vv. 136f, 153f, 167, 185f) al^89 l of whom
reject their messengers and are consequently severely punished. Together
with Noah - Hud, Salih and Lot are said to have been the brethren of those
to whom they were sent, and Abraham is also shown as having preached to
his father and people. Later, Muhammad is also called upon to^90 warn his
relatives (v. 214). In the vv. 192f the Qur'an is said to be a "sending down"
of the "Lord of the worlds," and Muhammad is compared to the messengers