2 The Talmud mentions the worm Shameer, used by Solomon to cut the stones for building the temple. Pirke Aboth. v. See Buxt. Lex. Talmud, p. 2456. Tr. Gittin, fol. 68; and Midr. Jalkut on 1 Kings, vi. 7. This passage of Scripture may have suggested the idea that Solomon built, etc., by the aid of Spirits. 3 That is, in their difficult toils. 4 See M. Caussin de Perceval Hist. des Arabes, vol. iii., who, as well as M. de Sacy, fix this event in the second century of our era. 5 The Saba, of verse 14 formed an important branch of the trading population of Yemen. This whole passage, 14-18, alludes to the cessation of traffic between them and Syria, which led to the desire to lengthen the stages and diminish the expense of the journey. See Muir's Life of Muhammad, i. p. cxxxix. Muhammad attributes this desire to covetousness. 6 That is, of strength and material prosperity. 7 That is, so as to form a judgment free from the influence of others. 8 It is very remarkable, that when the power of Muhammad became firmly established, he never reverts to the insinuations against the soundness of his mind which in the earlier Suras he so often rebuts. 9 That is, their graves. Mar. So called because there is but a step into it from the surface of the earth. Ullm. 10 That is, when in this life. SURA XXXV.-THE CREATOR, OR THE ANGELS [LXXXVI.] MECCA.-45 Verses In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful PRAISE be to God, Maker of the Heavens and of the Earth! Who employeth the ANGELS as envoys, with pairs of wings, two, three, and four: He addeth to his creature what He will! Truly God hath power for all things. The mercy which God layeth open for man, no one can keep back; and what He shall keep back, none can afterwards send forth. And He is the Mighty, the Wise. O men! bear in mind the favour of God towards you. Is there a creator other than God, who nourisheth you with the gifts of heaven and earth? There is no God but He! How then are ye turned aside from Him? If they treat thee as an impostor, then before thee have apostles been treated as impostors. But to God shall all things return. O men! assuredly the promise of God is true: let not then the present life deceive you: and let not the Deceiver deceive you as to God. Yes, Satan is your foe. For a foe then hold him. He calleth his followers to him that they may become inmates of the flame. The unbelievers,-for them a terrible punishment! But believers and doers of good works, for them is mercy, and a great reward! Shall he, the evil of whose deeds are so tricked out to him that he deemeth them good, be treated like him who seeth things aright? Verily God misleadeth whom He will, and guideth whom He will. Spend not thy soul in sighs for them: God knoweth their doings. It is God who sendeth forth the winds which raise the clouds aloft: then drive we them on to some land dead from drought,1 and give life thereby to the earth after its death. So shall be the resurrection.