George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)
sometimes led the way 1) as Adam, Seth, Lot, Ismael, Nun, Joshua, &c. and introduce some of the munder different names, as Enoch, Heber, and Jethro, who are called in the Korân, Edrîs, Hûd, and Shoaib; but several others whose very names do not appear in scripture (tho’ they endeavour to find some persons there to fix them on) as, Saleh, Khedr, Dhu’lkefl, &c. Several of their fabulous traditions concerning these prophets, we shall occasionally mention in the notes on the Korân.
As Mohammed acknowledged the divine authority of the Pentateuch, Psalms, and Gospel, he often appeals to the consonancy of the Korân with those writings, and to the prophecies which he pretended were therein concerning himself, as proofs of his mission; and he frequently charges the Jews and Christians with stilling the passages which bear witness to him 2. His followers also fail not to produce several texts even from our present copies of the Old and New Testament, to support their master’s cause 3.
Of the state after death.
The next article of faith required by the Korân, is the belief of a general resurrection and a future judgment. But before we consider the Mohammedan tenets in those points, it will be proper to mention what they are taught to believe concerning the intermediate state, both of the body and of the soul, after death.
Of the body before the resurrection.
When a corps is laid in the grave, they say he is received by an angel, who gives him notice of the coming of the two Examiners; which are two black livid angels, of a terrible appearance, named Monker and Nakîr. These order the dead person to sit upright, and examine him concerning his faith, as to the unity of God, and the mission of Mohammed: if he answer rightly, they suffer the body to rest in peace, and it is refreshed by the air of paradise; but if not, they beat him on the temples with iron maces, till he roars out for anguish so loud, that he is heard by all from east to west, except men and genii. Then they press the earth on the corps, which is gnawed and ftung till the resurrection by ninety nine dragons with seven heads each; or, as others say, their sins will become venemous beasts, the grievous ones stinging like dragons, the smaller like scorpions, and the others like serpents: circumstances which some understand in a figurative sense 4.
This examination of the sepulchre is not only founded on an express tradition of Mohammed, but is also plainly hinted at, tho’ not
1 Thus Heber is said to have been a prophet by the Jews; (Seder Olam. p. 2.) And Adam by Epiphanius; (Adv. Hæref. p. 6.) See also Joseph. Ant. l. 1. c. 2.
2 Korân, c. 2. p. 6, 12, 18. c. 3. &c.
3 Some of these texts are produced by Dr. Prideaux at the end of his life of Mahomet, and more by Marracoi in Alcor. p. 26, &c.
4 Al Ghazâli. V. Poc. not. in Port. Mofis, p. 241, &c.
