Footnote 27:  The point to which men turn in prayer, Zoroastrians pray towards the east—­the direction of the rising sun; Jews towards Jerusalem, where the Temple was; and Muslims, from the utterance of this sura, towards Mekka.  At first Muhammad adopted no Qiblah.  On reaching Medinah, in order to conciliate the Jews he adopted Jerusalem as the Qiblah.  But a year after reaching Medinah, he broke with the Jews and commanded his people to make the Kaabah their Qiblah.

Footnote 28:  The cube-like building in the centre of the mosque at Mekka, which contains the sacred black stone.

Footnote 29:  Ahmad and Muhammad have both the same meaning, i.e., “the Praiseworthy One.”  Muslim commentators hold that the Paraclete (Comforter) promised in John xvi. 7 means Muhammad.  In order to make this clear, however, they say we ought to read “Periklutos,” i.e., virtually Ahmad and Muhammad, instead of “Paracletos.”

Footnote 30:  According to the Koran, Mary was worshipped as God by the Christians of Arabia.

Footnote 31:  According to sura 2, verse 174, the Bismillah (lit.  “In the name of Allah,” etc.) must be uttered before animals to be eaten are killed.