Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/100

 82 JUDAISM AND ISLAM.

allusion to Cain is found in the Quran in. a passage where he is called the man " who has seduced among men." l No one else is mentioned in this period excepting Idris 2 who, according to the commentators, is Enoch. This seems probable from the words, 3 " And we uplifted him to a place on high," and also from a Jewish writing in which he is counted among the nine who went to Paradise alive. Jalalu'ddin brings this point even more prominently forward : 4 "He lived in Paradise where he had been brought after he had tasted death ; he was quickened however, and departed not thence again." He appears to have gained his name 5 on account of the knowledge of the Divine Law attributed to him. Elpherar remarks : " He was called Idris (searcher) on account of his earnest search in the revealed Scriptures." It is remarkable that in both these passages of the Quran 6 he is mentioned after Ishmael.

1 Sura XLT. 92. yjjfc* J^ ^jj?

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2 JM.O\ Suras XIX. 57, 58 j XXI. 85, 86.

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Elpherar on Sura XIX. 57 says :

" He is the grandfather of the father of Noah, his name is Enoch ;" which name Abulfeda (Hist. Anteislamica page 14.) spells ^ and

expressly remarks : &*$* U } fo ^^ Sl^ ^ " With an unpointed ha, nun, waw, and a pointed ha 5" and later he adds y>*o\ JJ>. y^ C\.

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3 Sura XIX. 58. Uc U\X sUi^. Compare Genesis, v. 24 and the Tract Derech Erez cited in Midrash Talknt, chap. XLII.

4 In Maraccio.

5 ( _ r >^\ is derived from y*,j Elpherar on XIX. 57


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6 Suras XIX. 55, 56 j XXI. 85.