And say:  Praise be to God who hath not begotten a son, who hath no partner in the Kingdom, nor any protector on account of weakness.  And magnify him by proclaiming His greatness.30

_______________________

1 Verses 12, 23-41, 75-82, 87, are supposed by many commentators to have originated at Medina.

2 Waquidy says the night-journey took place on the 17th of Rabhy’ 1, a twelvemonth before the Hejira.

3 Of Jerusalem; and thence through the seven heavens to the throne of God on the back of Borak, accompanied by Gabriel, according to some traditions; while others, and those too of early date, regard it as no more than a vision.  It was, however, in all probability a dream.  Muir ii. 219; Nöld. p. 102, who give the Muhammadan sources of information.

4 It is probable that as this verse has no real or apparent connection with the preceding, a verse may have been lost, and that verse 1 has been placed at the head of the Sura merely because the night-journey is elsewhere alluded to in it.

5 According to the commentators the slaughter of Isaiah and the imprisonment of Jeremiah, punished by the invasion of the Assyrians.

6 Over Sennacherib.

7 The slaying Zacharias, John Baptist, and Jesus, punished by the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.  Comp.  Tr.  Gittin, fol. 57, where we read of the sufferings drawn down upon the Jews in consequence of the former of these crimes.

8 That is, if ye return to sin, we will return to punish.

9 Lit. bird.

10 Comp.  Mischnah Aboth, 3, 20.

11 Comp. in Heb.  Isai. liii. 3.

12 Lit. lower a wing of humility.

13 Comp.  Sura [lxxxix.] vi. 151; lxxxi. 8, p. 45.  Zaid, the sceptical seeker after truth, is reported to have discouraged the killing of daughters, saying, “I will support them.”  Kitâb al Wackidi, p. 255.  See note at Sura [xcvii.] iii. 18.

14 Or, next of kin.

15 Or, run not after vain things which will avail nought.  Or, accuse not any of a crime if thou art not sure of his guilt.

16 Used a variety of arguments and illustrations.

17 Thus Tr.  Chagiga, fol. 9 b.  “There are seven heavens (rakian):  the veil, the firmament, the clouds, the habitation, the abode, the fixed seat, the araboth.”  See Wetst. on 2 Cor. xii. 2.

18 In obvious allusion to the saint-worship of the Christians.

19 See Sura [lxxxvii.] vii. 71.

20 See note on v. 1.  The tree is Zakkoum, Sura [xlv.] lvi.  The Rabbins teach that food of the bitterest herbs is one of the punishments of Hell.  See Schröder’s Rabb. und.  Talm.  Judenthum, p. 403.

21 That is, with all thy might.

22 Zamakshary relates that this passage was revealed when the Thaqyfites in framing the document of agreement between themselves and Muhammad, required that the words requiring the prostrations in worship should not be added.  The writer looked at the prophet, who stood by in silence, when Omar stood up and drew his sword with menacing words.  They replied, We speak not thee but to Muhammad.  Then this verse was revealed.  Thus Dr. Sprenger.  Life, p. 186.  He renders the last clause, but at the right moment a friend reprehended thee.