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Life of Mahomet [Volume III Appendix]
page 311
THE BIOGRAPHY OF MAHOMET, AND RISE OF ISLAM.
APPENDIX TO VOLUME THIRD.
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THE SURAS REVELED AT MEDINA.
Account of the Medina Suras
I PROPOSE here to complete, or rather to amend, the chronological
enumeration, as given at the close of the Second Volume, of those
Suras which were composed by Mahomet at Medina.
Reason why they cannot be accurately arranged in
chronological sequence
Many of them are very long, some containing so many as from
two to three hundred verses. Few relate to a single subject.
Several of them traverse over many years. For, as before explained,
the amanuenses of Mahomet, under his direction, ordinarily placed
new verses, as they appeared, with previously formed Suras, or
collections of passages, relating to the same topic. The
subjects in all the longer Suras being various, and each having
been in this manner gradually enlarged, the whole have assumed
their present miscellaneous form. On the other hand, there are
one or two which relate to a single scene or subject, as the
Fifty-ninth to the siege and expulsion of the Bani Nadhir, and the
Sixty-third to the treasonable conduct of Abdallah and the
disaffected."
But the main periods and subjects indicated below
It will be apparent from these remarks, that it is not possible
to assign to the longer Suras any precise chronological place
and order. But in the following Statement, I will endeavour ~
indicated
to explain to what main periods or subjects each Sura refers.
SURA XCVIII.; 8 verses.---A short Sura with nothing determinate
to mark its chronology.
SURA II.; 287 verses. In this Sura are collected the passages
composed in the first two or three years of Mahomet's stay at
Medina. The greater part relates to the Jews, with biblical
and rabbinical stories, notice of the change of the Kibla, &c.
The disaffected citizens are also denounced in it. There is
likewise much matter of a legislative character produced during the
first Medina stage, with additions and interpolations from the
Revelations of later stages.
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SURA III.; 200 verses.---A portion was composed shortly
after
the battle or Badr, (A.H. 2,) which is described in it. Another
and longer portion relates to the battle of Ohod, A.H. 3. The
Second expedition to Badr, A.H. 4, is also spoken of. The
Jews are largely referred to in a spirit of bitter hostility. And
the interview with tite Christian deputation from Najran described,
which belongs to a much later period, A.H. 9. There
are also some very late passages relating to the Farewell pilgrimage,
A.H. 10, introduced in relation to others referring to
the Meccan rites.
SURA VIII.; 76 verses.---This was composed in part immediately
after the battle of Badr, A.H. 2 ; and the greater portion
appears to be of an equally early date. The Coreish are frequently
referred to, and sometimes in the old Meccan style.
SURA XLVII.; 88 verses.-Fighting strenuously inculcated;
and the Infidels bf Mecca threatened.
SURA LXII.; 11 verses. -- The Jews reprobrated for their
ignorance; and greater regularity at prayers inculcated on Believers.
SURA V.; 120 verses. - A great part consists in denunciation of
the Jews. The obnoxious doctrines of Christianity are
also controverted. The opening portion, relating to the rites of
Meccan pilgrimage, is of a later period. Part of it may possibly
belong to the Sixth year of the Hegira, when Mahomet set
out for Hodeibia. But a portion also appears to appertain to the
last pilgrimage, A.H. 10, - as v.4. "This day have I perfected
your Religion for you," &C There are also miscellaneous instructions
and legislative provisions.
SURA LIX.; 24 verses. - A.H. 4. Siege and expulsion of the
Bani Nadhir.
SURA IV.; 175 verses. --- Numerous injunctions on the
treatment of women and the various relations of the sexes. A great part
occupied with animadversions on the Jews. References to the
Idolaters of Mecca. General instructions, social and political.
SURA LVIII.; 22 verses. --- On Divorce and certain other
social questions. The Disaffected are reprobated for favouring the Jews.
SURA LXV.; 13 verses. - On Divorce and other social matters.
SURA XXIV.; 65 verses - The vindication of Ayesha, after the
expedition against the Bani Mustalick, A.H. 5. Miscellaneous
injunctions, social and religious.
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SURA LXIII.; 11 verses. - Belongs to the same period. Menaces
against Abdallah ibn Obey and the Disaffected for their treasonable
threats on the expedition against the B. Mustalick.
SURA LVII.; 29 verses. - Strenuous exhortations to fight, and to
obtain the merit of joining the cause of Mahomet before the final victory.
SURA LXI.; 14 verses. --- Like the preceding; as v.4, "Verily
God loveth those that fight in his cause, drawn up in line as if
they were a well-compacted building." Speedy victory is
promised.
There remain only five Suras which belong exclusively to the
five last years of Mahomet's life. They are -
SURA XLVIII.; 29 verses. - Refers to the Truce of Hodeibia,
towards the close of A.H. 6.
SURA LX.; 13 verses. - Subsequent to the above. It relates to
the treatment of the women who during the Truce came over from Mecca.
SURA LXVI.; 13 verses. - Mahomet's intrigue with his slave
girl Mary, the Copt-subsequent to the embassy to Egypt-probably A.H. 7 or 8.
SURA XLIX.; 18 verses. - An unimportant Sura, relating partly
to the Bedouin Arabs, whose profession of Islam was stigmatized
as insincere.
SURA IX.; 131 verses. --- The final Sura, declaring the antagonism
of Islam to every other system, excluding all but Mussulmans from
Mecca and the rites of pilgrimage, referring to the
battle of Tabuk, &c.
END OF VOL. III.
The Life of Mahomet, Volume III [Table of Contents]