The first portion of the above passage is identical with Sura XXI., v. 7; which see in Art. XLVII.

It contains, further, a reference to the divine Miracles and Scriptures of the former prophets.

"They rejoice, because of its correspondence with that which is with them." يفرحون لموافقته لما عندهم (Jelalooddeen;) that is, on account of its conformity with their own Scriptures.

Compare this with other passages (as Arts. VII, XIII., XV., &c.) which appeal to the Jews and Christians as witnesses to the correspondence of the Corân with their own Scriptures.

سورة الرعد

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلاً قُلْ كَفَى بِاللّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ

And those who disbelieve say,—Thou art not sent;—say,—God sufficeth for a witness between me and between you, and also he with whom is the knowledge of the book.

"And also he with whom is the knowledge of the Book; that is from amongst the believers of the Jews and Christians," ومن عنده علم الكتاب من مومني اليهود والنصارى —Jelalooddeen.

The purport is similar to that of the preceding passage. Mahomet's witnesses at Mecca were, as here alleged, God himself, and certain of the Jews and Christians, to whose knowledge of their own inspired Scriptures he appeals for evidence in favour of the Corân.

سورة العنكبوت

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي ذُرِّيَّتِهِ النُّبُوَّةَ وَالْكِتَابَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَجْرَهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ