118 The CORÂN

At any rate this is a direct quotation from the Old Testament. And we find it in Psalm XXXVII. v. 29,—The righteous shall inherit the earth, and dwell therein for ever.

This admission of the inspiration of the Psalms as then extant, and in use among the Jews and Christians, is in accordance with the tenor in which the Bible is spoken of in every part of the Corân.

L.—SURA XVII., v. 2.

سورة الإسراء

وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِّبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلاَّ تَتَّخِذُواْ مِن دُونِي وَكِيلاً

And We gave Moses the book, and made it a direction to the Children of Israel, (saying)—Take ye not other than Me for a patron.

"Take not,—var. read.,—that they should not take,— يتخذوا وفي قراءة تتخذوا "The Book, i.e. the Pentateuch,"— الكتاب التوراة —Jelalooddeen.

LI.—SURA XVII., v. 4,5, and 7

سورة الإسراء

وَقَضَيْنَا إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي الْكِتَاب لَتُفْسِدُنَّ فِي الأَرْضِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَتَعْلُنَّ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا * فَإِذَا جَاء وَعْدُ أُولاهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَّنَا أُوْلِي بَأْسٍ شَدْيدَ الخ ‫* .  . فَإِذَا جَاء وَعْدُ الآخِرَةِ الخ *

TESTIMONY TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES 119

And We declared in the book, in respect of the Children of Israel,—saying, Ye shall surely work corruptly on the earth twice, and ye shall be elated with great arrogance. 
And when the threat of the first of these two (visitations) came to pass, We sent against you our servants of terrible strength, &c., 

and when the threat of the second (visitation) came to pass, &c.

"The Book, that is, the Pentateuch," الكتاب التوراة Jelalooddeen; Baidhâwi.

This passage refers to certain prophecies in the Old Testament, predicting that the Jews would commit wickedness, and arrogantly offend against God, on two occasions; and on two occasions suffer the punishment of their sins; a prophecy which, as is here said, actually came to pass. From the continuation of the subject in verse 7, it would appear that allusion is made to the destruction of the Temple twice: first at the Captivity, and secondly by Titus.

LII.—SURA XVII., v. 55.

سورة الإسراء

وَرَبُّكَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلَقَدْ فَضَّلْنَا بَعْضَ النَّبِيِّينَ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا

And verily We have bestowed favour upon some of the prophets more than upon others, and We gave David the Psalms, &c.