"Above it are nineteen"
In The Caliph’s House, Tahir Shah’s marvelous account of his adventures moving his family to Morocco and buying and refurbishing a home in Casablanca, Shah is repeatedly amazed by the belief of the locals (including Westernized Moroccans whom he believes to be sophisticated) in the existence of jinn, the mischievous spirit beings who interfere in human affairs. And their invariable reply to his astonished inquiries is “It’s in the Qur’an.”
One of the most prominent treatments of the jinn in the Qur’an is in the Meccan sura 72. In verses 1-15 they recount their hearing of a wonderful “recitation,” or “Qur’an,” which leads them to profess belief in Allah who “has taken neither a wife nor a son” (v. 3). Then verses 16-28 contain warnings for the unbelievers: if only they had accepted Islam, Allah would have sent them rain – indicating once again that obedience to Allah brings earthly prosperity. The “places of worship are for Allah alone” (v. 18) – as Qatadah explains: “Whenever the Jews and Christians used to enter their churches and synagogues, they would associate partners with Allah. Thus, Allah commanded His Prophet to tell them that they should single Him out alone for worship.” The sura ends with warnings that while Muhammad may seem weak, Allah’s promises are sure, and the unbelievers will taste hell (vv. 23-24).
The Meccan sura 73 begins with Allah addressing Muhammad as “you who are wrapped in garments” (v. 1), as Muhammad was holding vigil in prayer during the night. Allah gives him instructions about how long he should pray (vv. 3-4, 20) and a promise of further revelations (v. 5). Allah commands Muhammad to give him his full devotion (v. 8), and to be patient with the unbelievers (v. 10) who will suffer the tortures of hell (vv. 13-14). Muhammad is a messenger as was Moses to Pharaoh, and those who refuse to accept his message will be punished as was Pharaoh (vv. 15-16). The believers should read as much of the Qur’an as is easy for them, as Allah knows they’re busy with jihad, or some may be ill or traveling (v. 20).
Sura 74, also Meccan, begins in a similar fashion: Allah addresses Muhammad as “you wrapped up in your cloak” (v. 1) and commands him to deliver his warning (v. 2). Muhammad should keep himself pure (vv. 4-5) and not expect any material gain from preaching Allah’s word (v. 6). Then Allah describes the ruin and damnation of an unbeliever who scoffed at Muhammad’s message, culminating in his torture in hellfire (vv. 8-29).
After that comes a cryptic and famous verse: “Above it are nineteen” (v. 30). Above what? Nineteen what? The text offers no clear answer, and that is where the fun begins. Here is a discussion that airs out many theories regarding this verse, including the theory of the Qur’anic scholar Günther Lüling, who suggests a slight emendation of the text to make it a simple reference to the gates of hell – which works in context. But the existing cryptic verse has become the foundation for numerous elaborate flights of Islamic numerology, attempting to show that this verse contains a hidden number-based key that demonstrates the Qur’an’s miraculous character. The verse has also led to the development of a mysticism surrounding the number nineteen -- such that some have opined, despite the many nominees for the role of “twentieth hijacker,” that there is no such person, and the number of nineteen hijackers was chosen for the September 11, 2001 jihad missions because of the mystical significance of the number.
The following verse looks as if it dropped in from somewhere else, as it is lengthy and discursive in the middle of what is otherwise a sura full of clipped, poetic verses. It reinforces the mysticism surrounding the number nineteen saying of the angels who act as “Guardians of the Fire” that Allah has “fixed their number only as a trial for unbelievers, in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty, and the believers may increase in Faith” (v. 31). If this is meant to say that the number of angels guarding hell is nineteen, how would that fact help the Jews, Christians, and other People of the Book become certain that Muhammad was a prophet, and strengthen the Muslims’ faith? That question is left unanswered in the text, but in Islamic history it is where the numerological mysticism begins. And the object of it is always to demonstrate the truth of the Qur’an, so as to show the People of the Book that, as Ibn Kathir puts it, Muhammad “speaks according to the same thing that they have with them of heavenly revealed Scriptures that came to the Prophets before him.” But ultimately Allah is absolutely sovereign regarding who will accept Muhammad’s message and who doesn’t, for the verse repeats again the often-repeated Qur’anic adage, “Allah leaves to stray those whom He pleases, and guides those whom He pleases.”
Then the sura concludes (vv. 32-56) with more warnings of hellfire, with the unbelievers lamenting that they landed there because they didn’t pray (v. 43) or feed the poor (v. 44). Instead, they used to talk vanities (v. 45) and deny the Day of Judgment (v. 46), on which no one will be there to intercede for them (v. 48).
The Meccan sura 75 is a poetic meditation on the resurrection and divine judgment, and on those who doubt that they will come. Allah can reassemble the bones of the dead (vv. 3-4, 40), and when the Day comes, man will find no refuge from judgment (vv. 10-11, 34-36). Instead, he will be evidence against himself even as he makes excuses (vv. 14-15). Those who gave nothing in charity, did not pray, and rejected the truth will be damned (vv. 30-32).
Allah also tells Muhammad not to try to memorize the Qur’an hastily as it is being revealed to him (vv. 16-19). As the Tafsir al-Jalalayn explains: “God, exalted be He, says to His Prophet: Do not move your tongue with it, with the Qur’ān, before Gabriel is through with [reciting] it, to hasten it, fearing to lose it.” Allah will make sure he remembers it, as Ibn Kathir says: “Allah would make sure to collect it in his chest, and He would make it easy for him to recite it in the same way that it was revealed to him.” This passage doesn’t discuss the possibility that Allah might cause some parts of the Qur’an to be forgotten, as mentioned in 2:106.
Sura 76, Meccan as well, dwells on the rewards of the righteous. Because they helped the needy (vv. 8-10) they will be delivered from evil on the Day of Judgment (v. 11) into a decidedly physical Paradise: Allah will reward them with a place in the Garden, where they will wear silk garments (vv. 12, 21) and sit on thrones, protected from the heat and the cold (v. 13). They will enjoy low-hanging fruit (v. 14) and drink from silver vessels and crystal goblets (v. 15) a wine mixed with ginger (v. 17) while immortal boys like pearls serve them (v. 19).
Allah has revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad in stages (v. 23); Muhammad should therefore be patient and not listen to the unbelievers (v. 24), remaining constant in prayer (vv. 25-26). Those who love this fleeting life should be warned: they will suffer a grievous penalty (vv. 27-31).
(Here you can find links to all the earlier “Blogging the Qur’an” segments. Here is a good Arabic Qur’an, with English translations available; here are two popular Muslim translations, those of Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, along with a third by M. H. Shakir. Here is another popular translation, that of Muhammad Asad. And here is an omnibus of ten Qur’an translations.)
Abject Dhimmitude:
UK Foreign Secretary Apologizes to Muslims for Invading Iraq, Grovels Even Further by Claiming "Islam is a Creed of Peace and an Enemy to no one".....
http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/2008/11/uk-foreign-secretary-apologizes-to-muslims-for-invading-iraq-grovels-even-further-by-claiming-islam-.html
Posted early today. It's not 7:50 yet!
dentalque
You are correct, Eagle Eye. I just finished the dadburn thing -- usually I write it on Tuesday or Wednesday, but this was such a tumultuous week (missed flight, canceled flight, many delayed flights, talks in two cities and lots of meetings) that I just now got it done, and posted it immediately to make sure the picture was ok.
Hope you enjoyed the free eight minutes.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
Well, we can see what it takes to be the 'Best Anti-jihad blogger'. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. But that's why they pay you those big bucks. 'A little work, but a great reward'.
Once jihad is over, you can retire in luxury...
while immortal boys like pearls serve them (v. 19). (There's that number 19 again).
Is there any evidence that some dwellers in Allah's Paradise are not immortal? Or is Allah just being redundant?
'Immortal' is a strange word for someone who is already dead...
Posted by: jihadwatch at November 23, 2008 7:48 AM
I was up early; it was a pleasant surprise to find it up when I checked.
Quick question: Qatadah wrote, “Whenever the Jews and Christians used to enter their churches and synagogues, they would associate partners with Allah. Thus, Allah commanded His Prophet to tell them that they should single Him out alone for worship.”
I understand the partners Muhammad clams the Christians have is Jesus and Mary. What partner(s) do the Jews have, or more specifically, who is the partner(s) that Muhammad claims they have? I think you mentioned this earlier in the series. Is it one of the prophets? It seems to me that this is may be one of those “errors” that keep popping up.
Thanks again.
Why can't there just be a 'Meccan only' version of this book?
Speaking of books, R.S., good luck with Stealth Jihad - Islam's War against the West.
Nice CBN interview.
Thanks again for your hard work in continuing this series.
"SHAKIR: Surely your Lord knows that you pass in prayer nearly two-thirds of the night, and (sometimes) half of it, and (sometimes) a third of it, and (also) a party of those with you; and Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are not able to do it, so He has turned to you (mercifully), therefore read what is easy of the Quran. He knows that there must be among you sick, and others who travel in the land seeking of the bounty of Allah, and others who fight in Allah's way, therefore read as much of it as is easy (to you), and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and offer to Allah a goodly gift, and whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allah; that is best and greatest in reward; and ask forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. "
If it weren't for the fact that Muslims perform such horrible acts in the name of Islam, this stuff would actually be funny.
Is there any other religion in the history of the world that tells it's followers to ignore everything about it when they're sick? Or traveling? Or busy doing something else? Or just don't feel like it?
Loved the second translation that slipped and used the word "booty". Now that is funny.
I keep getting bounced from the site back to Typepad?
Nothing to see here, remember Adbullah told us 9/11 had nothing to do with Islam.
Abdullah Mikail, self-described Islamic expert, zero followers, states Islam had nothing to do with 9/11.
Anjem Choudary, former Al-Mujahiroun's British leader, an organization which had a worldwide following, with 30 offices across Britain and others in Pakistan, Kuwait, France, South Africa, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Algeria, and organizer of the "Magnificent 19" conference, claimed it did.
Mohammed Atta, leader of the 19 hijackers who committed the atrocity, posthumously claimed it did.
Who are we to believe? It's so confusing.
But reading this, looks like Mohammed was as much a nutcase as Farrakhan, and only far more lethal.
Tanstaafl
In a separate tab/window, go to typepad.com and sign in from there. Leaving that tab open, go to JW or DW separately in another tab, sign in there (you again need to enter login and password for Typepad) and then start posting. Do a preview and confirm that you aren't signed out, and once you confirm that, then post. Granted, it's a lot more long winded than previously, but this method guarantees that you won't be kicked out.
I've made Typepad.com my home page, so that when I go to IE, I log in there first before I do anything.
duh swami:
You're making me laugh! Not only because I don't get paid anything like big bucks (contrary to the jihadists' caricature), but also because: when exactly will the jihad be over?
No, it was I, not Allah, who was being redundant in that instance.
Cordially
Robert Spencer
dentalque
It's Ezra. Qur'an 9:30: "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah, and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah. That is their saying with their mouths. They imitate the saying of those who disbelieved of old. Allah (Himself) fighteth against them. How perverse are they!"
Did any Jewish groups ever actually say that Ezra was the Son of God? No evidence of this has ever been found. But...it's in the Qur'an!
Cordially
Robert Spencer
19 Magnificent "Misunderstanders" of Islam?
I don't THINK so.
"The Murdering-Malignant 19" ...is more like it.
Only an evil and twisted mind who find these men magnificent.
73:10 "And bear with patience what they utter, and part from them with a fair leave- taking. 73:11 Leave Me to deal with the deniers, lords of ease and comfort (in this life); and do thou respite them awhile."
-Apologists often cite verses such as the above to claim that only Allah (not the Muslim) deals out punishments of the disbelievers. But here the Quran instructs “thou” (Muhammad and his follows) to give the “deniers” (i.e., the disbelievers) respite for “awhile.” The later verses give the command to fight the disbelievers, so these early verses must be understood in that context.
Tafsirs of 73:11:
Ibn Abbas
"(Leave Me to deal with the deniers) of the Qur'an-this is a threat to them; and the ones specifically meant by this threat are those who fed the army of the disbelievers on the Day of Badr-, (lords of ease and comfort (in this life)) those who have wealth and richness; (and do thou respite them awhile) until the Day of Badr."
Al-Jalalayn
"And leave Me [to deal] with the deniers (wa’l-mukadhdhibīna is a supplement to the direct object, or [it is] an object of accompaniment; the meaning is: ‘I will avail you of them’, they being the doughty [leaders] of Quraysh), those enjoying affluence, and respite them a little, while — they were killed soon afterwards at Badr."
-The next verse is interesting because, though of the very early Meccan phase, it clearly mentions fighting in the cause of Allah (yuqatiloona fee sabeeli Allahi):
73:20 "Lo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two-thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee. Allah measureth the night and the day. He knoweth that ye count it not, and turneth unto you in mercy. Recite, then, of the Qur'an that which is easy for you. He knoweth that there are sick folk among you, while others travel in the land in search of Allah's bounty, and others (still) are fighting for the cause of Allah. So recite of it that which is easy (for you), and establish worship and pay the poor-due, and (so) lend unto Allah a goodly loan. Whatsoever good ye send before you for your souls, ye will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
Of this section, Ibn Kathir writes:
"...(He knows that there will be some among you sick, others traveling through the land, seeking of Allah's bounty, yet others fighting in Allah's cause.) meaning, He knows that there will be people of this nation who will have excuses for not praying the (voluntary) night prayer. They are those who are ill and therefore they are not able to perform it, and those who are traveling in the land seeking the bounty of Allah in business and trade, and others who will be busy with that which is more important to them. An example of this is going on expeditions to fight in the way of Allah. This Ayah, rather, this entire Surah was revealed in Makkah even though fighting was not legislated until after it was revealed. Thus, it is among the greatest of the signs of prophethood, because it informs about unseen matters of the future."
Next,
74:56 "And they will not heed unless Allah willeth (it). He is the fount of fear. He is the fount of Mercy."
76:29 "Lo! this is an Admonishment, that whosoever will may choose a way unto his Lord. 76:30 Yet ye will not, unless Allah willeth. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise. 76:31 He maketh whom He will to enter His mercy, and for evil-doers hath prepared a painful doom."
-The above verses show clearly that in Islamic understanding it is Allah who decides who follows Islam and who does not. This shows the bizarre Islamic conception whereby Allah causes people to be disbelievers and then punishes the disbelievers for their disbelief.
76:24 "So submit patiently to thy Lord's command, and obey not of them any guilty one or disbeliever."
-States categorically that those who submit to Allah (Muslims) should not obey any disbeliever. The implications are clear for Muslims living among non-Muslims.
75:1 "Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection; 75:2 Nay, I swear by the accusing soul (that this Scripture is true)."
Another problem with the language of the Quran: Why, and to whom, is Allah swearing these statements?
Mohammed is Allah. Allah is Mohammed.
Only other explanation is found here, in A complete guide to Allah!!!
Kinana
See chapter 10 in my link above
Thanks IP. I'm familiar with that series. Abul Kasem is very witty and has extensive knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah.
P.S. Your last post was the 19th. I've spoiled the Islamic numerological purity of the thread by adding the 20th.
Mr. Spencer,
I would like to ask you a question concerning your article about suras 58+59:
Is it true that the only proof of the conspiracy to kill Muhammad by some members of the Banu Nadir was a divine revelation?
Kind regards,
ottokoma
I checked Ch 11, same series. Abul somewhat answers your original question: