The Sword of Islam (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1905 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X THE QURAN The word Quran signifies in Arabic "the reading," or rather, "that which ought to be read." The syllable Al is only the Arabic article equivalent to "the" and therefore ought to be omitted when the English article is prefixed. The work is divided into 114 chapters, called "Suras," a term properly signifying a row, order, or regular series; as a course of bricks in building, or a rank of soldiers in an army. In the manuscript copies these chapters are not distinguished by their numerical order, but by particular titles, which (except that of the first, which is the initial chapter, or introduction to the rest) are taken sometimes from a particular matter treated of, or person mentioned therein; but usually from the first word of note. Occasionally there are two or more titles, a peculiarity due to the difference of the copies. Some of the chapters having been revealed at Mecca, and others at Madina, the explanation of this circumstance makes a part of the title; but a portion of the text is said to have been revealed partly at the former town, and partly at the latter; and in some cases, it is yet a dispute among the commentators to which place of the two they belong. Every chapter is subdivided into smaller portions, of very unequal length, customarily called verses; but the Arabic word is "Ayat," and signifies signs or wonders. Notwithstanding this subdivision is common and well known, yet no manuscript exists wherein the verses are actually numbered; though in some copies the total of the verses in each chapter is set down after the title. And the Muhammadans seem to have some scruple in making an actual distinction in their copies, because the chief disagreement between their several editions of the Quran consists in the division and ...