former translations of the Korân, I would not therefore be suspected of a design to make my own pass as free from faults: I am very sensible it is not; and I make no doubt that the few who are able to discern them, and know the difficulty of the undertaking, will give me fair quarter. I likewise flatter myself that they, and all considerate persons, will excuse the delay which has happened in the publication of this work, when they are informed that it was carried on at leisure times only, and amidst the necessary avocations of a troublesome profession. CONTENTS. _________ A TABLE OF THE SECTIONS OF THE PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE _________ SECTION Page I.-Of the Arabs before Mohammed; or, as they express it, in the Time of Ignorance; their History, Religion, Learning, and Customs 1 II.-Of the State of Christianity, particularly of the Eastern Churches, and of Judaism, at time of Mohammed's appearance; and of the methods taken by him for the establishing his Religion, and the circumstances which concurred thereto 25 III.-Of the Korân itself, the Peculiarities of that Book; the manner of its being written and published, and the General Design of it 44 IV.-Of the Doctrines and positive Precepts of the Korân which relate to Faith and Religious Duties 54 V.-Of certain Negative Precepts in the Korân 95 VI.-Of the Institutions of the Korân in Civil Affairs 103 VII.-Of the Months commanded by the Korân to be kept Sacred; and of the setting apart of Friday for the especial service of God 114 VIII.-Of the principal Sects among the Mohammedans; and of those who have pre- tended to Prophecy among the Arabs, in or since the time of Mohammed 117 A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS OF THE KORAN. ______________