31 That is, to call them rabb-a title due only to God.

32 Assembled on Mount Sinai.  Compare the Jewish legend, that all the prophets, even those who were not yet born, were present on Mount Sinai, when God gave the law to Moses.  See Shemoth Rabba.  Parashah 28, according to which, not only the Prophets but the Rabbis of every generation, were present at the giving of the Law.

33 Becca, place of crowding, i.e.  Mecca.  This sentence, together with other Suras-the Cave, Mary, Imran, Repentance, T, H, are woven into the Kiswah or covering of the Caaba, which is renewed annually.

34 The Makam Ibrahim (praying place of Abraham) is a small building supported by six pillars about 8 ft. high, four of which are surrounded from top to bottom by a fine iron railing, while they leave the space between the two hind pillars open; within the railing is a frame about 5 ft. square, said to contain the sacred stone on which Ibrahim stood when he built the Caaba.  Burckhardt.  Lieut.  Burton (Pilgrimage, iii. 336) says that as the Arab tradition speaks clearly and consistently as to the fact of Abraham having visited Mecca to build the Caaba, it may be considered an open question.  Thus also Dr. G. W. Freytag (Einl.).

35 The Koran.

36 Or, they are smitten with.  Sale.  S’etendra comme une tente.  Kas.

37 This probably refers to the battle of Ohod.

38 The Arabic word occurs at verse 13 of horses as known by certain marks.  So here these angels would be known by their accoutrements, etc.

39 This and the following verses to 154 were probably revealed shortly after the reverse of Ohod.

40 This verse and xxxix. 31 (p.257) were recited at Muhammad’s death by Abu Bekr, in order to convince Omar and the other Muslims of the possibility of that event.  It has been supposed that these passages were invented by Abu Bekr on this occasion, and inserted into the Koran.  But this is more than doubtful.  See Nöldeke, pp. 199-201.

41 That is, return to idolatry.  A report had been spread in the battle of Ohod that Muhammad had been slain.

42 Lit. according to a writing (i.e. of God) definite.  The Rabbins also teach (Com.  Tract.  Rosch.  Haschanah) that there are books in which God has written down the lifetime of every individual.  Lit.  No soul can die.

43 Lit. and their saying was no other than that they said.

44 To relapse into infidelity.  The Koreisch attempted to seduce the Muslims to renounce their faith after the battle of Ohod.

45 The command to abstain from taking the spoils.  This disobedience turned the scale of victory against the Muslims.

46 Victory and plunder.

47 Some took to flight, others stood firm, and were not careful of their lives.

48 That is, in confused rout.

49 Muhammad had been accused of having secretly appropriated a portion of the spoil.