"They are not commanded, i.e. in either of their Sciiptures, the Tourât or the Gospel," وما أمروا في كتابهم التوراة والأنجيل —Jelalooddeen: i.e. in the contents of their Books." وما أمروا أي في كتبهم بما فيها —Baidhawi. (NB.—Some hold this to have been a Sura revealed at Mecca.)

This is an unequivocal testimony to the purity both of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. However much the Jews and Christians of that day might err in their practice, and however much they might mistake or pervert the purport and doctrines of the word of God, the books containing that word, and then in common use amongst them, were, according to this passage, free from any admixture other than the pure, unadulterated truth. They contained divine instruction in the "right religion,—the pure orthodox faith," الدين لحنقاء وذلك دين القيمة

سورة الجمعة

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ
الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ
كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

As an ass, laden with the most valuable books, is unconscious of their use or value; just so the Jews, though the constituted custodians of the inspired Scriptures, were all unconscious of their sacred contents, and disqualified to profit by them.

This illustration forcibly supports the view taken throughout the Corân respecting the position and conduct of the Jews; and it does not materially differ from the sentiments which are often- expressed regarding them by Christians. Though possessing the word of God pure and intact in the old Testament, the Jews have not spiritual perception enough to see its true bearing. They are blind to the truth.

The spirit of the passage is plainly an acknowledgment that the Jews were possessed of the real word of God, if they had only the sense to recognize and use the same aright; but they were too ignorant and darkened to understand it.