Page:Thomas Patrick Hughes - Notes on Muhammadanism - 2ed. (1877).djvu/55

 34 Súra-i-Máʾrij (lxx.), 19, "Man truly is by creation hasty."

(4) Mutashábih.—Intricate sentences, or expressions, the exact meaning of which it 1s impossible for man to ascertain until the day of resurrection, but which was known to the Prophet: e. g. the letters Alif, Lám, Mím (A. L. M.); Alif, Lám, Rá (A. L. R.); Alif, Lám, Mím, Rá (A. L. M. R.), etc., at the commencement of different Súras or chapters. Also Súra-i-Mulk (lxvii.) 1, "In whose hand is the Kingdom," i. e. God's hand (Arabic, yad); and Súra-i-Twá H (xx.), "He is most merciful and sitteth on His throne," i. e. God sitteth (Arabic, istawá); and Súra-i-Baqr (ii.),115, "The face of God" (Arabic, waj-ullah).

III. The use (istiʾmál) of words in the Qurán is divided into four classes. They are either Haqíqat, Majáz, Saríh, or Kináyah.

(1) Haqíqat.—Words which are used in their literal meaning: e. g. rukú, a prostration; ziná, adultery.

(2) Majáz.—Words which are figurative.

(3) Saríh.—Words the meaning of which is