[363]. It may also mean “have recourse to God.”
[364]. Abdallah ibn Abbas, before noticed, first cousin of Mohammed and the most learned of the Companions. See D’Herbelot.
[365]. Koran xcvi., “Blood-clots,” 1 and 2. “Read” may mean “peruse the revelation” (it was the first Koranic chapter communicated to Mohammed), or “recite, preach.”
[366]. Koran, xxvii. 30. Mr. Rodwell (p. 1) holds to the old idea that the “Basmalah” is of Jewish origin, taught to the Kuraysh by Omayyah, of Taif, the poet and Haníf (convert).
[367]. Koran ix.: this was the last chapter revealed and the only one revealed entire except verse 110.
[368]. Ali was despatched from Al-Medinah to Meccah by the Prophet on his own slit-eared camel to promulgate this chapter; and meeting the assembly at Al-‘Akabah he also acquainted them with four things; (1) No Infidel may approach the Meccah temple; (2) naked men must no longer circuit the Ka’abah; (3) only Moslems enter Paradise, and (4) public faith must be kept.
[369]. Dictionaries give the word “Basmalah” (= saying Bismillah); but the common pronunciation is “Bismalah.”
[370]. Koran xvii. 110, a passage revealed because the Infidels, hearing Mohammed calling upon The Compassionate, imagined that Al-Rahmán was other deity but Allah. The “names” have two grand divisions, Asmá Jalálí, the fiery or terrible attributes, and the Asmá Jamálí (airy, watery, earthy or) amiable. Together they form the Asmá al-Husna or glorious attributes, and do not include the Ism al-A’azam, the ineffable name which is known only to a few.
[371]. Koran ii. 158.
[372]. Koran xcvi. before noticed.