THE KORAN. S78 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE KORAN. 



The Koran — Its reputed Origin — Held in great Veneration by the 

 Moslems — Its literary Merits— European Translations, Du 

 Ryer's, Maracci's, Sale's, Savary's — Sources whence Us Doc- 

 trines were borrowed — Its leading Articles of Faith — Angels 

 and Jin or Genii — Examination of the Dead by Munliir and 

 Nakir — Intermediate State of the Soul — The Resurrection — 

 Signs that precede it — Ceremonies of the Final Judgment — 

 The Judicial Balance — The Bridge Ai Sirat— Torments of the 

 "Wicked — Luxuries and Enjoyments of the Happy State — 

 Women not excluded from the Mohammedan Paradise — Pre- 

 destination — Prayer— The Mohammedan Sabbath— Ablutions 

 — Circumcision — Alms — Fasting — Festivals — Prohibitions as 

 to Food, Intoxicating Liquors, and Games of Chance — Civil 

 and Criminal Code of the Moslems — Laws respecting Mar- 

 riage — Theft — Courts and Officers of Justice — Traditions — 

 Mohammedan Sects — The Sonnees and Sheahs — Their 

 Hatred of each other. 



The Koran, as is well known, imbodies the pre- 

 tended revelations of the Arabian Prophet.* It was 

 delivered by its author, and is still received by his 

 followers, as containing every information in the 

 shape of precept and instruction necessary for the 

 guidance and spiritual welfare of mankind. Accord- 

 ing to them it had an origin far more sublime than 

 that of human invention, its substance being uncrea- 

 ted and eternal, co-existent with the essence of the 

 Deity, and inscribed from everlasting with a pen of 

 light on the Preserved Table in the seventh heaven. 



♦ Koran is derived from the verb Karaa, to read, and means the 

 book to be read, — Sale, Prelim. Dis. sect. 3. 



