Note 54 — Chapter X

As the Arabians descend from Ismail, the brother of Isaak, they take to themselves the blessing which God, in Genesis (XVII. 20), pronounced upon him and his posterity; and in the twelve princes who, according to the same verse, were to issue from him, they see their twelve Imáms, Alí and the rest (see vol. II. p. 367). They believe also that the prophet, who, as God announced to Moses in the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy, XVIII. 18), would rise from the Ismailites, was Muhammed. According to Abul Firaj (Specimen Hist. Arab., 14.17), the Muhammedans find in a passage of the Pentateuch (Deuter., XXXIII. 2) indicated the descent of the law to Moses upon mount Sinai; that of the Gospel to Jesus upon mount Sair; and that of the Koran to Muhammed upon mount Pharan, near Mecca. Further, in Psalm L. v. 2. they imagine that in the words: “Manifestavit Deus e Sione coronam laudatam, actilan mahmudan,” by actilan, “crown,” is to be understood “kingdom,” and by mahmudan, “praised,” the very name of Muhammed. But this passage is translated in our Bible: “Out of Sion hath God appeared in perfect beauty.” They find also passages applicable to their prophet in Isaiah XXII. 6. 7. 9: XLII. 1. 7. 16. 17.; and the whole chapter LXIII. 1. 6. etc.: moreover in Habacuc, III. 3. etc. Besides, the town of Medina, being inhabited by a tribe of conquered Jews, who were expecting a promised Messiah, Muhammed presented himself as one for all nations; and the credulous easily confounded him who was expected by the Jews with the upstart Arabian prophet.