Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/72

 54 JUDAISM AND ISli.lI.

of his deeds while he is still in a state of death, the time of resurrection must be the time for the judgment. 1

These two views of the resurrection and the judgment day, though different in themselves, are both closely connected in Judaism and more especially in Islam. 2 In Judaism there is a third period the advent of a Messiah, which it is not easy to separate from the other two. Naturally this time, which is to bring forth two such important events as judgment and resurrection, will be ushered in by terrible signs, In Judaism statements to this effect are to be found only about the third period, which is generally connected with the other two, viz., the earth- ly period of the Messiah ; in Islam on the contrary every- thing is attributed to the last day. The utterance most in accord with the Talmud is that in Sunnas 41 and 141, which says that learning shall vanish, ignorance shall take root, drunkenness and immorality shall increase. With this we must compare the passage in Sanhedrin 97 : 3 " At the time when David's son comes the learned diminish, and the place of learned meetings serves for immorality." The descriptions in the Quran refer more to the last day itself, and remind us of many passages in Holy Scripture, where it is also said of those days that the world will bow itself before G-od, the heavens will be rolled together 4 and

the future world," lie adds: ( 'he denies the T, H., therefore he has no more a portion in it." Here the expression QVlttn fiTin and "future, world" are taken as identical in meaning. Compare too the Book Ikkarim, IV. 81.

2 Compare, e.g. Sura XXVI. 87. 88.

3

Suras XXL 104, XXXIX. 67.

CL trS^n -1553 $ySf\ Isaiah XXXIV. 4.