Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/105

 FROM NOAH TO ABRAHAM, 87

Perhaps Muhammad was misled by the analogy of the wife of Lot, who is mentioned in the same context. While these variations are due to errors and to the confusion of different times and events, others are to be ascribed to deliberate : alteration and elaboration. And of this kind are those details not mentioned in Jewish History, which represent Noah as one occupying the same position as Muhammad and speaking in his spirit. This applies particularly to that which is put into his mouth as admonisher. This is the case not only with Noah, but with all who appear in the character of the righteous in any evil age. Thus he puts into the mouth of Luqman, as a wise man known to the Arabs, 2 words suitable to his own circum- stances and opinions, and the same thing happens in the case of Noah and the other preachers of Jewish history to whom he alludes. Noah although he worked no miracle, was savedvin a miraculous way, and so Muhammad cannot put into his mouth the .same words which he uses of himself, as well as ascribes to other forerunners of himself after Noah's time, viz., that he is a mere preacher ; yet he makes him say everything which is not clearly contrary to the historical facts related about him. He was only an unimportant man, 3 and did not pretend to be any one wonderful or supernatural. 4 But he was divinely commissioned to warn the people, and for this he asked no reward. 5 sancta simplicitas I one woald exclaim in considering this last point, if Muhammad had written it down with full consideration of Noah's position as one threatening the world with punishment, and if it had not been rather that he saw everything from his own distorted point of

1 The word "deliberate" is to be understood in the sense already sufficiently explained in the First Division, Third Section, so that we may use it from now on without further explanatory comment.

8 Sura XXXI. 11 ff. 3 Sura VII. 61. 4 Sura XI. 33.

5 Sura XI. 31. and XXYI. 109.