HKB
certain tax, which he obliged them to earn by the prostitution of their bodies: and one of them made her complaint to Mohammed, which occasioned the revelation of this passage.2
1 Idem. 2 Jallalo'ddin. 3 Al Beidâwi. 4 Idem, Jallalo'ddin. 5 Idem. 6 Idem, Yahya, &c. 7 Idem 8 Isaiah iii. 16 and 18. 1 Al Beidâwi. 2 Idem, Jallalo'ddin
And now have we revealed unto you evident signs, and a history like unto some of the histories of those who have gone before you,y and an admonition unto the pious. GOD is the light of heaven and earth: the similitude of his light is as a niche in a wall, wherein a lamp is placed, and the lamp enclosed in a case of glass; the glass appears as it were a shining star. It is lighted with the oil of a blessed tree, an olive neither of the east, nor of the west:z it wanteth little but that the oil thereof would give light, although no fire touched it. This is light added unto light:a GOD will direct unto his light whom he pleaseth. GOD propoundeth parables unto men; for GOD knoweth all things. In the houses which GOD hath permitted to be raised,b and that his name be commemorated therein! men celebrate his praise in the same, morning and evening, whom neither merchandising nor selling diverteth from the remembering of GOD, and the observance of prayer, and the giving of alms; fearing the day whereon men's hearts and eyes shall be troubled; that GOD may recompense them according to the utmost merit of what they shall have wrought, and may add unto them of his abundance a more excellent reward; for GOD bestoweth on whom he pleaseth without measure. But as to the unbelievers, their works are like the vapor in a plain,c which the thirsty traveller thinketh to be water, until, when he cometh thereto, he findeth it to be nothing; but he findeth GOD with him,d and he will fully pay him his account; and GOD is swift in taking an account;
y i.e., The story of the false accusation of Ayesha, which resembles those of Joseph and the Virgin Mary.3 z But of a more excellent kind. Some think the meaning to be that the tree grows neither in the eastern nor the western parts, but in the midst of the world, namely, in Syria, where the best olives grow.4 a Or a light whose brightness is doubly increased by the circumstances above mentioned. The commentators explain this allegory, and every particular of it, with great subtlety; interpreting the light here described to be the light revealed in the Korân, or God's enlightening grace in the heart of man; and in divers other manners. b The connection of these words is not very obvious. Some suppose they ought to be joined with the preceding words, Like a niche, or It is lighted in the houses, &c., and that the comparison is more strong and just, by being made to the lamps in Mosques, which are larger than those in private houses. Some think they are rather to be connected with the following words, Men praise, &c. And others are of opinion they are an imperfect beginning of a sentence, and that the words, Praise ye God, or the like, are to be understood. However, the houses here intended are those set apart for divine worship; or particularly the three principal temples of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.5 c The Arabic word Serâb signifies that false appearance which, in the eastern countries, is often seen in sandy plains about noon, resembling a large lake of water in motion, and is occasioned by the reverberation of the sunbeams. It sometimes tempts thirsty travellers out of their way, but deceives them when they come near, either going forward (for it always appears at the same distance), or quite vanishing.1 d That is, He will not escape the notice or vengeance of GOD.