28 . JUDAISM AND ISLAM.
and which appeared to him so important that he constantly referred to it in the hope of refuting the charge ? He himself confesses, however, that much related by him is to be found in the earlier Scriptures. To the embarrassing question, as to why he never worked a miracle, he constantly answered that he who was called to be a preacher only, not a wonder-worker, had yet told them plainly of the miracles which are mentioned in the earlier writings, l and which the learned Jews knew well. 2 They could testify to the truth of these narratives, 3 and among them one man 4 especially, the aforesaid ' Abdu'llah Ibn Salam, 5 to whom the laudatory passage in Sura III. 68 is said to refer, Not only were they to corroborate his words to others, but also to remove any doubt from Muhammad's own mind, as to the truth of his Mission. Thus we have in one place the injunction given to him : 6 "If thou art in doubt concerning that which we have sent down unto thee,
1 Suras XX. 133. , Jfl\ JWJ\ , j XXVI. 196. t ,
2 Sura XXVI. 197.
On which Elpherar : . !L ^ <lS\ J**c ***. \Jli" ^SsC ^\ Jlj
3 Sura XVII. 103. Jfjp ^> jC'S
a
- Sura XLVI. 9.
5 Elpherar in the name of several commentators, says :
A^s j;\_*o A
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"This is , who testified to the prophetic mission of
Mnhamtnad, the chosen one, and believed in him ; but the Jews were arrogant and would not believe in him."
Cf _ji^G.- ^ o^o SG-o _ C O^Cf S3 ut O C
6 Sura X. 94. V^ Qy% e?.^^ J UU ^^ ^j 5 ^ l^ c=U ^ t^/ y\i
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