Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/107

 TOWEB OF BABEL. 89

and this is treated of in several chapters of the Quran. 1 In order to have the right to refer what is said about Hfid to the time of the confusion of tongues, or, as the Rabbis call it, the Dispersion, 2 we must adduce some particulars which point to this reference, for the statements are very general in their -ten our and might be referred to other occurrences. The following verse 3 possibly refers to the building of the Tower : " And ye erect magnificent works, hoping that ye may continue for ever." The Arabic commentators take it that the buildings would afford them a perpetual dwelling-place, but the verse might also mean, " make by building it an everlasting name for yourselves." The neighbourhood is called in the Quran the " Possessor of Pillars. 4 In one passage 5 there appears to be a reference to Nimrod, who lived at this time and in this region, since the children of Ad are here reproached for obeying the command of every contumacious hero. 6 The idea that they were idolators, which is brought up against them in all the passages in the Quran, agrees perfectly with the Rabbinical view expressed as follows : 7 " And it came to

1 Suras VII. 63-71, XI. 5264, XXII. 43, XXIII. 33-44, XXV. 40, XXVI. 128 141, XXIX, 37, XXXVIII. 11, XL, 32, XLL 12-16, XLVI. 2026, L. 13, LI. 41, 42, Mil. 50, LIV. 18-22, LXIX. 4-9, LXXXTX. 5-9.

3 Sura XXVI. 129. g

4 Sura LXXXIX. 6. o\i*5l L>\3 Of, Genesis xi. 4.

Sura XI, 62, Jujs-e \ljij- J^ v*\ \**i'\


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Compare Genesis, x. 8, 9, where Nimrod's surname is always

6 D'Herbelot, under the heading Nimrod, asserts that the Arabians connect Nimrod with the building of the Tower.

7 Midr. Rabbah on Genesis, xi. 2, par. 38.

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