them; perchance they may act as we act, and return from their faith.' Then the
great and glorious God revealed this passage in respect of them, Oh ye people
of the Book, why do ye clothe the truth with error, and hide the truth, although
ye know it"? [1]
To these unworthy stratagems for throwing discredit on his revelation,
Mahomet replies that God's spiritual favours are (not, as the Jews held,
confined to their own nation, but) without respect of persons all-comprehensive.
And further, that it was His will to direct His people "by giving unto
one" (that is, to Mahomet) "a revelation similar to that which God had
given unto them,"that is, similar to the Jewish Scriptures of the Old
Testament. Thus the passage, instead of being an imputation against the Jewish
Scriptures, contains a clear and reverential mention of their authority and
divine origin; and claims nothing more for the Corân itself than to be a
revelation similar to them:
مثل ما اوتيتم