The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1882-11-16
THE KORAN.

Nineteenth Century.
Perhaps the chief distinctive mark to |
be noted in comparing the Mosiem's |
Koran with the Christians holy Bible |
is that the Koran is believed to have no
human element at all. Nor is it even
held to be a record of what Mohammed
said or did; for it is recorded in thetradi
tions. The Koran was n wholly objec
tive, nota subjective revelation. 1t was
revealed TO one man only. 1t did not
pass through many mems minds during
successive generations for nearly 1000
years like the Christian revelation. The
continuous subjechvity of our sacred
scriptures, protracted through so
long period. and the fact
of our acknowledging human element
IN them, causes the Musaeiman to place
them in the same category with his Sun
nah or tradition. According to his view
even our Gospels are not direct ievela-
tim, but only record of Christ's words
and actions compiled by his followers
and handed down to others. Though
admitted to be inspired, the inspiration
is of very different kind from that Of
the Koran. IT is an imparting Of ideas,
not of words. The very words Of the
| hDIdn, Ol bDt ONuGf uhuu, anu luuttt
the whole complete book, not mere
| portion of it, descended from God in a
| fixed an unalterable form on one parti-
cular night, called 1.-THE night of power, +"
though happily for Mohammed's purpo-
| SEES its descent was arrested at the lowest
of the seven heavens. There il remains
ed treasured up, or, SO to speak, stored
away in reserve, portions being delivered
as successive declarations Of doctrine,
law, or state policy became needed. Then
an audible voice communicated each
word in low tone to Mohammed, or.
as some say, whispered every sentence
into his ear. This accounts for the con.
stant repetition of the word s'say'' before
each revelation. A very important factoi
in the success of this wonderful book
which, notwithstanding its unequal
merit, utter want of system, aud tht
adulteration of its sublime ideas by {
frequent admixture of puerile aud fals'
teaching, is still reveied as direct EN-
anation from God by ABOUT 10000, 00l
OF human beings, was without doubt thi
disioined and fragmentary delivery. l
was never in fact either written or com
! posed like any other book. 1t grew lik
patchwork, little by little, piece afte
piece, patch added to patch. Even tn
Koran's warmest admirers must ADM
: that it has oftan the appearance of beinI
elumsily botched. The Koran's ow
accout Of itself is that it decended in
4 succession Of parcels. Some Of thes
! parcels were delivered at Mecca, som
= at Medinda, during period of twenty
three years the angel Gabriel being Tia
= supposed medium of delivery. Ahou
! ninety of the 113 chapters, or more tina
1 two. thirds Of the whole, are thought
+ have been the proportion assignable
: the Mecca period; aud of these the earl
er portions, delivered at time whe
s Mobammed really believed himself to b
4 stirred by divine impulses, though spoil
q en- in plain prose, IRE full Of poetic fir,
They are the utterances Of an enihusiai
:. wrough mp by an inteuse CONSCIOUSNESS
: Of the truth OF his prophetic message
! and often rise to great snhlimity.