The Mekka Speeches — III — The Argumentative Period
P. 76. The Believer. Twice hast thou given us death, etc.—Referring to the absence of life before birth, and the deprivation of it at death, and to the being quickened at birth, and raised again after death.
P. 78. Their footprints, or vestiges: i.e. their buildings and public works.
Moses. For the Koranic history of the Israelites, see Lane’s Selections, pp. 97-131.
P. 84. I am bidden to resign myself: i.e. I am bidden to become a Muslim, for Muslim (Moslem or Musulman) means “one who is resigned,” and Islām, belonging to the same root, signifies “resignation,” or “self-surrender.” This is the correct name of the religion taught by the Arabian prophet, who would have regarded the epithet “Mohammadan,” as applied to the creed, or the professor thereof, as nothing short of blasphemy.
Jonah. P. 87. A. L. R.—Letters the import of which is as mysterious as K. and Y. S. before, and A. L. M. R. afterwards. Nöldeke believes them to be abbreviations of the names of the first reporters of the speeches.
P. 89. I had dwelt a lifetime: i.e. I should not have waited till I was forty before I began preaching, if I was the designing impostor you take me for.
P. 90. Ye are in ships—and they run with them.—The reader must have observed that sudden transitions from the second to the third person, and from the singular to the plural, are very common in the Korān. They may perhaps be regarded as convincing evidence of the fidelity of Mohammad’s reporters.
P. 97. God hath taken Him a son: referring to the Christian doctrine.
P. 100. Kibla: The point towards which prayer must be said. See p. 134.
P. 101. Now!—The angel Gabriel is credited with this taunt.
Thunder. P. 104. A. L. M. R.—Mystic letters as above; perhaps for AL-MogheyReh, as the first reporter of this particular speech.
P. 106. Patrons, i.e. Idols.
P. 108. Join what God hath bidden to be joined: i.e. believe in the whole series of prophets, and join good works to faith.
P. 111. Mother of the Book.—The Preserved Book mentioned before in The Fact (see note to p. 26).
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