The World's Greatest Books - Volume 13 Part 21

"I will test the truth of thy words!" replied the angry monarch. "Take thou this note of mine to the queen thou laudest so highly, bidding her come to my kingdom to acknowledge my authority."

Almost in a twinkling the hoopoe was back with the queen's answer consenting to visit Solomon and his dominions. Solomon, having received this answer, asked the n.o.bles of his kingdom, "Which of you will bring me at once the Queen of Sheba's throne, to be here before she arrives?"

"I will!" said one of the wickedest of the jinns.

"And so will I, in a whiff!" answered a jinn that was well acquainted with the Scriptures.

In a very short time the throne was in Solomon's palace. "Alter ye it,"

said the king, "as much as ye may, to see whether she has any supernatural knowledge to identify it."

When the queen arrived, she was asked, "What throne is this?"

She replied, "It is mine--strangely mine." After she had witnessed the glory and wisdom of Solomon, she gave up her idols, and became the wors.h.i.+pper of Allah, the true G.o.d. (27.)

III.--THIRD PERIOD (A.D. 619-622)

_PUNISHMENT FOR VIOLATING THE SABBATH_

Ye know how We tested and proved those wicked people who dwelt in Elath on the Red Sea. On the Sabbath day We made the fish come right up to them, as if asking to be caught; but not so on other days. Those who yielded to the temptation, and thus violated the sanct.i.ty of the sacred day, We turned into apes as a punishment for their wrong-doing. (7.)

_MOUNT SINAI SHAKEN ABOVE THE ISRAELITES_

When the Israelites doubted the authority of the Law which We had given them through Moses, Our servant, We caused Mount Sinai to rear itself above them as a covering, so that the people feared it was going to fall upon them. And We said to them, "Receive ye with reverence that Law which We have given you, and remember what is contained therein, taking heed thereto."[26] (7.)

MEDINAH SURAS

_SALVATION FOR OTHERS THAN MUSLIMS_

All such as believe in Allah and in the last day, and who do that which is right, whether they are Jews, Christians, Sabeans, or Muslims, shall have their reward from Allah, who will take away from them all fear and grief. (3.)

_Muslims Only to be Saved_

No one that follows any other religion than Islam will be accepted by G.o.d or saved from peris.h.i.+ng in the life that is to come. (2.)

_ABRAHAM, ISHMAEL, ISAAC, JACOB, AND THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL ALL MUSLIMS_

Do ye Jews say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes of Israel were Jews, or do ye Christians say that they were Christians? But G.o.d knows better, and has revealed to you the truth that all these were Muslims, followers of the religion of Islam. But G.o.d is cognisant of your unbelief, and will bring you to account. (2.)

_THE QIBLAH CHANGED FROM JERUSALEM TO MEKKA_

Foolish men will say, "Why have they changed the Qiblah[27] from Jerusalem to the Kaabah[28] in Mekka?" Say to them, "G.o.d's is the east and the west, and He has commanded us to turn our face, when we pray, to the sacred mosque at Mekka." (2.)

_AGAINST JEWS AND CHRISTIANS, WHO CAPRICIOUSLY CHOOSE AND REJECT WHAT DIVINE REVELATIONS THEY PLEASE_

Why, then, do ye believe part only of the Book, and deny that part which authenticates the mission of the Prophet of Allah? All those who are guilty of this sin shall have shame in this life, and on the Resurrection Day shall be driven into the most excrutiating torments.

(2.)

_THE MEKKA TEMPLE FOUNDED BY ABRAHAM_

It was Abraham, our father, who first entered the Kaabah sanctuary at Mekka, and it is our bounden duty, if at all able, to visit this sacred house. (3.)

_JESUS PREDICTS THE COMING OF MUHAMMAD_

Jesus, Mary's Son, said, "O Israelites, I am Allah's Apostle, sent to confirm the Law of the Old Testament, and to bring you good tidings of a great Apostle to come after me, whose name is Ahmad."[29] (61.)

_MUHAMMAD THE LAST AND GREATEST OF G.o.d'S MESSENGERS_

In the former times We sent Our apostles with convincing arguments and all decisive miracles, and We gave them the Scriptures. We sent to men Noah, Abraham, and the prophets, but many believed not. Then We sent Our apostles, after whom came Jesus, Son of Mary. Then, last of all, came Our great apostle, Muhammad. O all ye believers, fear G.o.d and obey the words of Allah's messenger. (57.)

_THE KORAN CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT_

Why do they not carefully and impartially consider the Koran? If it had not been wholly of G.o.d, unbelievers would have been able to find out contradictions. (4.)

_MUHAMMAD CONTRADICTS THE FACT OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST_

Christians say that Christ Jesus, Son of Mary, was slain. But He was not slain, nor crucified, but another was taken for Him. The true Isa [Jesus] was taken up by G.o.d unto Himself, not seeing death. (4.)

_MUHAMMAD ADMITS THE FACT OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST_

And G.o.d said, "O Isa [Jesus], I will cause Thee to die, but I will take Thee up to Myself and deliver Thee from unbelievers!" (4.)