172 The CORÂN

A testimony to the divine origin of the Jewish Scriptures and to the alleged faithfulness of some amongst the Jews, who, whatever others did, would not have suffered their Scriptures to be tampered with.

XCIX.—SURA IV., v. 58[60].

سورة النساء

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُواْ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُواْ إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُواْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلاَلاً بَعِيدًا

Hast thou not seen those who fancy that they believe in that which hath been revealed unto thee, and in that which hath been revealed before thee? They desire to go for a mutual decision unto the idol Tâghût: yet verily they have been commanded to disbelieve therein, and Satan desireth to deceive them into a wide deception.

It is here asserted that some Jews, who professed to believe in the Corân as well as in the previous Scriptures, were ready to go and decide their dispute according to an idolatrous custom before an idol. They are well reprehended by Mahomet, who refers them to their own Scripture as entirely prohibiting idolatry. This is the style of reference which one would naturally expect as to Scriptures believed by Mahomet to contain the uncorrupted commands of God.

TESTIMONY TO THE HOLY SCRIPTURES 173
C.—SURA IV., v. 130[131].

سورة النساء

وَللّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَإِن تَكْفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ لِلّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا

To God belongs whatever is in the heavens and in the earth, and verily We commanded those to whom the Scripture was given before you, and you likewise,—(Saying) Fear God, and, if ye disbelieve, verily to God belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and in the earth.

"The Book, in the sense of the Books," الكتاب بمعنى الكتب —"before you, i.e. the Jews and Christians," من قبلكم أي اليهود والنصارى —Jelalooddeen.

The sacred books of the Jews and Christians are here quoted, in the same category with the Corân, as inculcating the fear of God.

 CI.—SURA IV., v. 135[136].

سورة النساء

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ آمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِيَ أَنزَلَ مِن قَبْلُ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِاللّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلاَلاً بَعيدًا