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from Satan the Stoned.”’[1] (Q.) ‘What are the words and variants of the formula?’ (A.) ‘Some say, “I take refuge with God the All-hearing and knowing, etc.,” and others, “With God the Strong;” but the best is that of which the noble Koran and the Traditions speak. The Prophet was used, whenas he was about to open the Koran, to say, “I take refuge with God from Satan the Stoned.” And quoth a Tradition, reported by Nafi on the authority of his [adopted] father, “The apostle of God used, when he rose in the night to pray, to say aloud, ‘God is Most Great, with [all] greatness! Praise be to God abundantly! Glory to God morning and evening!’ Then would he say, ‘I seek refuge with God from Satan the Stoned and from the instigations of the Devils and their evil suggestions.”’ And it is told of Ibn Abbas[2] (of whom God accept) that he said, “The first time Gabriel came down to the Prophet [with a portion of the Koran,] he taught him [the formula of] seeking refuge, saying, ‘O Mohammed, say, “I seek refuge with God the All-hearing and knowing;” then say, “In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful!” And read, in the name of thy Lord who created men from clotted blood.’”’[3] (Q.) ‘What sayst thou of the verse, “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful”? Is it one of the verses of the Koran?’ (A.) ‘Yes; it is a verse of “The ant”[4] and occurs also [at the head of the first and] between every two [following] chapters; and there is much difference of opinion, respecting this, among the learned.’ Night ccccxlvii.(Q.) ‘Why is not the formula written at the head of the chapter of Immunity?’[5] (A.) ‘When this
- ↑ Koran xvi. 100. The Muslims fable the devil to have tempted Abraham to disobey God’s commandment to sacrifice Ishmael (Isaac) and to have been driven off by the Patriarch with stones. Hence he is called “The Stoned.”
- ↑ Abdallah ibn Abbas, first cousin of Mohammed and the most learned theologian among the Companions.
- ↑ Koran xcvi. 1 and 2.
- ↑ Koran xxvii. 30.
- ↑ Koran ix.
