10 A Prophet, so far as we know, of Muhammad’s own invention, unless Muir’s conjecture be admitted that he was a Christian or Jewish missionary whose adventures and persecution were recast into this form.-The name may have been suggested by, Methusaleh, upon whose piety the Midrasch enlarges.

11 That is, we had intended to make thee our chief.  Beidh.

12 Thus, in contradiction to Gen. xviii. 8, the Rabbins; comp.  Tr.  Baba Mezia, fol. 86, “They made as though they ate.”

13 Or, menstrua passa est, in token of the possibility of her bearing a child.

14 Lit. his arm was straitened concerning them.

15 Lit. column.

16 With the name, it is said, of the person each should strike.

17 See Sura [lvi.] xxvi. 176.

18 That is, after giving fair measure.

19 Seizure, for punishment.  Hence, the punishment itself.

20 In the later period of his life Muhammad attributed his gray hairs to the effect produced upon him by this Sura and its “Sisters.”  While Abu Bekr and Omar sat in the mosque at Medina, Muhammad suddenly came upon them from the door of one of his wives’ houses. . . .  And Abu Bekr said, “Ah! thou for whom I would sacrifice father and mother, white hairs are hastening upon thee!” And the Prophet raised up his beard with his hand and gazed at it; and Abu Bekr’s eyes filled with tears.  “Yes,” said Muhammad, “Hûd and its sisters have hastened my white hairs.”  “And what,” asked Abu Bekr, “are its sisters?” “The Inevitable (Sura lvi.) and the Blow (Sura ci.).”  Kitâb al Wackidi, p. 84, ap.  Muir.

SURA XIV.-ABRAHAM, ON WHOM BE PEACE [LXXVI.]

Mecca.-52 Verses

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

ELIF.  Lam.  Ra.  This Book have we sent down to thee that by their Lord’s permission thou mayest bring men out of darkness into light, into the path of the Mighty, the Glorious-

Of God; to whom belongeth whatever is in the Heavens and whatever is on the
Earth:  and woe! for their terrible punishment, to the infidels,

Who love the life that now is, above that which is to come, and mislead from the way of God, and seek to make it crooked.  These are in a far-gone error.

And in order that He might speak plainly to them, we have not sent any Apostle, save with the speech of his own people; but God misleadeth whom He will, and whom He will he guideth:  and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Of old did we send Moses with our signs:  and said to him, “Bring forth thy people from the darkness into the light, and remind them of the days of God.”  Verily, in this are signs for every patient, grateful person: 

When Moses said to his people, “Remember the kindness of God to you, when he rescued you from the family of Pharaoh who laid on you a cruel affliction, slaughtering your male children, and suffering only your females to live.”  In this was a sore trial from your Lord-