Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/172

 154 JUDAISM AND

the words : 1 " Dost thou not see how thy Lord stretches (lengthens) out the shadow when he will, makes it quies- cent, then sets the sun over it as an indicator." This I think is perhaps an allusion to the sign given to Hezekiah, 2

We find more in the Quran albout Ezra, 3 if not about his history, yet about the way in which the Jews regarded him. According to the assertion of Muhammad the Jews held Ezra to be the Son of God.4 This is certainly a mere misunderstanding which arose from the great esteem in which Ezra was undoubtedly held. This esteem is expressed in the following passage : 5 " Ezra would have been worthy to have made known the law if Moses had not come before him." Truly Muhammad sought to cast suspicion on the Jews' faith in the unity of Grod, and thought he had here found a good opportunity of so doing.

This utterance as an expression of the Jewish opinion of that time loses much in value when we consider the personality of that Phineas the son of Azariah, to whom it is attributed.

In the traditions of Istem there is a great deal aboiit Ezra as the compiler of the Law. In this character also

1 Sura XXV. 47-8.

2 2 Kings, xx. 9-12, 8j[

The Arabian grammarians dispute as to whether tho word should receive a nunnation or not, but it seems to me that the omission of it is more suitable to the form of. the word which is like a diminutive Several of the Arabians regard this as correct.

4 Sura IX. 30. Snnna, 462.

In D'Herbelot (under the word " Ozair " page 691) much is adduced from Muslim commentators and historians to explain this passage, which however, in harmony with the Talmud, only asserts Ezra's renewing of the Law.

5 Sanhedriii 21. 2.

rib Nbbtf tr; bs rnifl inznu? NTJB ?rn

nab