GABRIEL AND MICHAEL, 11
is in spite of the fact that the other view is so fully in accord with the spirit of the doctrine about angels as accepted by the Jews, according to which the positions "on the right" and "on the left " mean only the decision to adopt either merciful or punitive measures. There can of course be no question of enmity between Gabriel and the Jews, or between Gabriel and Michael, and the speech is nothing but a repartee, which however to Muhammad's thinking- justified him in making an accusation against the Jews. This is even more clearly shown in the following narrative related by a commentator on the words " God is poor"[1] :
" Thus spoke the Jews when they had heard: -- ( Who is he that will lend unto God a goodly loan?' Quran II. 246. It is related that Muhammad with Abu Bakrhad written to the Jews of the Banu Qainuqa' calling them to Islam, to faithful observance of prayer, to offer free will offerings and to give God a good loan. Then Phineas the son of Azariah[2] said : ' Then God is poor, that he desires a loan'? Abu Bakr boxed his ears and said : ' If there were not a
2
- ↑ Baidhawi on Qurdn III. 177. (Arabic text) "God is poor." (more Arabic text)
- ↑ Phineas the son of Asai'iah (Hebrew text), the same tothe utterance that Eera is the son of God (ix. 30) is attributed by some. (Arabic text) "'Abid ben 'Umr says : Only one Jew used this expression, and that was Phineas the Son of Azariah, the same man who said: God is poor and we are rich." (Elpherar on ix. 30.)
