e, then obey them not.
To Me do ye return, and I will tell you of your doings."

None of the commentators take the word _Jahada_ in this passage to mean
fighting or crusade, and it is difficult, therefore, to understand why
the word should have been distorted from its proper literal and
classical meaning in other places of the same book.

[Sidenote: (7) The Spider, XXIX, 69.]

19. "And those who (_Jahadoo_) made efforts for Us, in our path
will we surely guide; for verily God is with those who do righteous
deeds."

Mr. Palmer translates the word here as meaning "fought," contrary to Mr.
Sale, the Rev. Mr. Rodwell, and Sir William Muir, who translate it
"endeavour," "effort," and "strive." The conventional term Jihad,
meaning crusade or warfare, was not in use in the time of the revelation
of the Koran.

[Sidenote: (8) The Bee, XVI, 40.]

20. "And they swear by God with their (_Jahd_) utmost oaths that
'God will never raise him who once is dead.' Nay; but on Him is a
promise binding though most men know it not."

Sale renders the word "most solemnly;" Rodwell, "most sacred oath;"
Palmer, "most strenuous oath."

[Sidenote: (9) Creator, XXXV, 40.]

21. "They swore by God with their (_Jahd_) utmost oath that should
a preacher come to them they would yield to guidance more than any
people: but when the preacher came to them, it only increased in
them their estrangement."

Sale's rendering is "most solemn oath," Rodwell's, "mightiest oath," and
Palmer's, "most strenuous oath."

II.--THE MEDINITE SURAS.

[Sidenote: (10) The Cow or Heifer, II, 215.]

22. "But they who believe, and who fly their country, and
(_Jahadoo_) exert their utmost in the way of God, may hope for
God's mercy, and God is Gracious and Merciful."

Mr. Sale and the Rev. Mr. Rodwell translate _Jahadoo_ as those who
_fight_, and Mr. Palmer as those who _wage war_; but there is no reason
to change the proper meaning of the word. Sir William Muir translates
the verse thus:--

"But they that believe and they who emigrate for the sake of their
faith and strive earnestly in the way of God, let them hope in the
mercy of God, for God is forgiving, merciful."[330]

In a footnote he says:--"The word Jihad is the same as that subsequently
used for a religious war; but it had not yet probably acquired its fixed
application. It was employed in its _general_ sense befor