Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-12-17
The Koran.

dan KORAN, from late journal of travels in
the East, may not be uninteresting to our
readers. The religion of which this book
is the foundation, is professed by near Eve
score millions of the human race, and its
influence is felt over large portion of
the earth.
The Koran, the sacred book of the Ma
hometans, is TO them the rule and guide Of
their faith The word Koran is derived
from the Arabic word KaGra, and signifies
that which ought to be read. 1t is not a
historical work, nor is it purely book of
the law. It may be called book or col
lection of sermons or aphorisms, In which
are found some facts, some visions and
pretended revelations from Heaven, and a
series Of civil laws, and moral and religi-
Gus admonitions. In all Mahometan coun,
tries, the Koran is considered as a code of
civil jurisprudence, as we'll as canoncal
law.
1t is divided into one hundred and four
teen chapters, each having particular IL
tie, some of which are ridiculous enough,
as " the Cow" the Spider" the {" Wrap
ped ups" &c. Each chapter begins: 4" In
the name of the most merciful God" The
Koran is held in such reverence by all
true believers, that they will not touch it
without first being purified by water. Ac-
cordng TO the united testimony of Arabian
scholars, it is written with the utmost pu-
rify and elegance of language, and as Ma
| homet is said to have been illiterate, this
purity and elegance is considered irresisti-
BILE evidence, by orthodox Mussulmen, of
lis divine origin; they regard it as mimi
table by any human pen; and thai no hu-
man mind can match its sublimity. In the
Koran it is said:
overly, if me and genii were purpose
ly assembled, that they might produce a
book like this Koran, they would not pro-
duce one like unto it, even if the one as
sisted the other"
So much was the Koran admired for
its surprising elegance and beauty of lam
guage, and The boIdness and elegance OF
its style, that the most distinguished writers
of the age in which it was promulgated,
readily yielded TO it the palm of preemi-
nenee. Sale, the learned translator Of the
Koran, relates that Lebeid, a celebrated
poet of Mecca, one of whose poems was
suspended on the gate of Caaba, on read
ing the first chapter was struck with ADM
ration, and Immediately became a convert
TO the Mahometan faith; so powerful tC
his mind was the internal evidence OF its
divine dictation. The chapter which pro.
; duced so wonderful an effect on the mind
of Lcbeid, isas follows:
In The name of the most merciful God
Praise be 10 God, the Lord of all crea.
lures, the most merciful, the king of the
day of Judgment. Thee do we worship
and of Thee do we beg assistance. Dlrec
US in the highway, in the way OF those tc
whom thou hast been gracious; not o
those against whom thou art incensed, no
of those who go astray."
This chapter was the first which wa.
delivered TO Mahomet by the angel Gabri
ell, in the cave near Mecca. and is offer
repeated by Mahometans in their devotion
As specimens of the style oil the Koran
we have selected few passages from
! Sales translation first from The 18th chap.
"Praise be unto him who transporte,
1t his servant by night from the sacred TEN
pie of Moses, TO the farther temple of Je
Of rusalem, the circuit of which we hav,
in blessed that we might show some of GU
at sign, for God is he who heareth and seeth
And we gave unto Moses the book of tht
Is law, and appointed the same to be direc
lie ton unto the children of Israel, command
se ing them, saying, Beware that ye take nc
any other patron besides me.''
it. I'VE have ordained the night and tn
in day for two signs Of our power; afterwar
ID we blot out the sign OF the night, and W
er cause the sign of the day 10 shine fortI
that We may endeavor to obtain pIent
a from your Lord, by doing your busne.
in therein, and that ye may know the nnm5t
NJ of years, and the computation of time
20 The fate of every man have we boun
n. about his neck, and we will produce IN
j. him on the day of resurrection, boo
he wherein his adtions shall be recorded;
:. shall be offered him open, and the ange
~ shall say unto HIM, thine own soul shall
sufficient accountant against thee til
= day"
i. Again: the following prssage from Il
"a e6lh chapter, entitled The star which a
peared by nighs":
= "By Heaven and that which appear'
: by night: but what shall cause thee to u
= 4 derstand what that which appeareth
"a night isl 1t is The star Of piercing brigl
IL ness, every soul hath a guardian over
nj Let man consider, therefore, of what
~ IS created. Verify, God is able to raj
~ him to life, the day on which all seer
" thoughts and actions shall be examined