The life and death of Mahumed, the author of the Turkish religion being an account of his tribe, parents, birth, name, education, marriages, filthiness of life, Alcoran, first proselytes, wars, doctrines, miracles, advancement, &c. / by L. Addison ... author of The present state of the Jews.

CHAP. X. (Book 10)

Of the Honor given to the Alcoran.

HAving given this short account how the Doctrines of Mahumed were collected, and reduced to that form in which they are now extant, I shall fill up this Chapter with setting down the great Titles and respect given the Alcoran after Ozman had compil'd it. And first, it is usual with the Musulmin, or Proselytes of Mahumed, when they take the Alcoran in their hands, with a wonder∣ful reverence to kiss it, and salute it by the

Name of Alkilib Alhazim (i. e.) The Glorious Book; and Alcoran Alhadin (i. e.) the Mighty Alcoran. They swear by it, and pay it all the reverence they would do unto God. And no small disputes have been raised among the old Mahumedists, about the nature of the Al∣coran, whether it was the created or increated word of God. Vathecus was for the opinion of those who held the Alcoran to be created; and he writ to all the Provinces of Eyypt, That the Musulmin should be of the same opini∣on. Which Injunction was very displeasing to the Mahumedans; but they were by pe∣nalties forced to embrace it. Though not a few suffered Martyrdom for the contrary opinion; choosing rather to dye, than to hold the Alcoran was not the Increate word of God. These disputes continued long, and opinions prevailed according to the humour of the present Caliph that Reigned.

The excellent Erpenius tells us, in his Notes upon the Chapter of Joseph: It is in∣credible, what Vertue, Majesty, and Authority is granted to the Alcoran; yea, what Honour and Veneration is given it by the Musulmin; whole Books (saith he) are extant in its com∣mendation, written in so swoln and fabulous a style, that no discerning Reader can peruse them without laughter. First, they commend it above all the Creatures, and place it next to God▪ That he that handles it irreverently, is

unworthy of life, and is as wicked as he that contemns God. They permit not any who is not of their own Religion, so much as to touch it. If any Musulman chance to sit upon it, the sin is piacular: but if this irreverence be used by a Jew, or Christian, it is punished with death. No Mahumedan is permitted to touch it with the top of his finger, until he first wash: and lest any should unwarily offend therein, they write upon the cover of the Alcoran in great letters, this Sentence; Let no Man touch it who is unclean. They call it, the Medicine of the Heart; and hold it to be of such secret Vertue and worth, that the read∣ing of one letter therein, deserves a good re∣ward.

I have often doubted whether there be any true Edition of the Alcoran in the Eu∣ropean Language, since I observed how dif∣ficult it is for any Christian to obtain from the Mahumedans a copy thereof. For they permit not any of a Religion different from their own, so much as to touch it; nor of old was it suffer'd to be written in any but the Arabique Language. And at this day it is capital for a Moor to sell an Alcoran to either Jew or Christian. Nor indeed are any Al∣corans to be met with in private hands, or exposed to sale to the vulgar. In above seven years of conversation among the Moors, I could not obtain the sight of one: which I

ceased to wonder at, when it was told me, How the communicating of that Glorious Book (as they call it) might tend to its de∣filement, and prove fatal to any one who should be so free therewith. The buying of an Alcoran was once warmly attempted by Fr. Barton, a Country-man of our own, who had the sight of one, fair written in the Persick Tongue in Octavo, and of another in Quarto, written in Arabique. But when he essayed to buy the later of a Hogia, who taught Arabique at Pera, he refused to sell it at any rate. At last, hearing that several Alcorans in Persick, were to be had among the Der∣vices (a Religious sort of Mahumedan Monks) Mr. Barton endeavoured, but in vain, to pur∣chase one; and coming to Gallipolis in Greece, he had news that two or three Alcorans were there in a Colledge of the Dervices. But trying to buy one, they ask'd, Why he being an Infidel, should desire to have an Al∣coran? He told them, That he had heard ma∣ny things concerning their Law, and that he was very desirous to be ascertained of the truth thereof; and to that end, was willing to buy an Alcoran, and to take a Master therein to instruct him. Upon the hearing of this, a Turk presently reply'd, That the Infidel did dissemble, and that under pretence of love to the Musulmanick Faith, he designed to de∣ride it; and that he ought to be had before the

Visier, for his prophane attempt. So that our Country-man was forced to escape privily, for fear of being brought in question.

I shall conclude this observation with what Hottinger relates of one Ahmed Ibu Ali, who being in some great want of Money, pawned an exemplar of an Alcoran, with other small Works, both in Verse and Prose, to the Duke of Sylva; which the said Duke profer'd to Hottinger, at the price it was pawn'd for. Hottinger (as himself relates) was glad of the occasion to procure a Book he had so long desired; who receiving it into his pos∣session, freely used it in the presence of the said Ahmed Ibu Ali, without molestation or reproach. But Ali's occasions drawing him out of Afrique, and Hottinger's into his own Country; after three years, Ahmet came to Leida, and there made his Application to the learned Golius, whom he incessantly impor∣tuned to procure for him the copy of the Alcoran in Hottingers possession; and would not desist till he had obtained from Golius an earnest Letter to that purpose. This Al∣coran Hottinger had illustrated with Margi∣nal Notes, out of the Famous Commenta∣ries of Beidavi, and pointed it with great in∣dustry. So that by the Mahumedique Laws, it was wholly become useless to the Moor, and unlawful for him to receive it again. Which thing being urged unto Ali, he no

whit desisted; but with a doubled importu∣nity desired to have it restored to him, for no other reason, than to have it burned; that being the only lustration, whereby he thought it capable to be purified from the filth it had contracted by the Christians Notes and usage. In short, the Moors respect to the Alcoran is so egregious, that they so far honour all written Paper for its sake, as to take up every little script where they find it, and having kissed it, they stop it up in some chink of a Wall: saying, It is no small ini∣quity that any Papers should be troden under foot, in which may be written some part of the Alcoran, and the Name of God. That the Alcoran is writ in Metre, was never questi∣oned by any, but the great Scaliger, who considering the nature of the Arabique Tongue, concluded it very uncapable of Ryme and Verse. But upon second thoughts he grants, there is to be found in it a kind of Ryme, but without any tunable proportion. For the word that should make up the Metre, is either too near, or too distant from that which should make the Harmony. And those who have purposely considered this matter, grant, that the Alcoran is a very rude Poem; and the things therein contain∣ed, are so loose and incoherent, that Moses Amyraldus thought them rather the ragings of a Man in a Feaver, or the Enthusiasms of

a Drunkard, than the inspirations of God, or the sentiments of a sober considerare person.