ons of Mahomet
continued after this to be regarded by his people as inspired
communications from the Almighty, when they were so palpably formed
to secure his own objects, and pander even to his evil desires. We
hear of no doubts or questionings, and we can only attribute the
confiding and credulous spirit of his followers to the absolute
ascendency of his powerful mind over all who came within its
influence."[375]

The verses 37 and 38 of the thirty-third Sura had not in any way
"secured the objects of Mohammad, much less pandered to his evil
desire." As his marriage with Zeinab had taken place long before they
were published, they could not be said to confer any exceptional
privilege upon him.

[Sidenote: The false story traced to Mukatil.]

24. The story copied by commentators that Mohammad had accidentally seen
Zeinab and admired her is traced to Mukatil,[376] a commentator of the
Koran in the second century, who died at Basra 150 A.H. "The doctors
(_in traditions_)," writes Ibn Khallikan in his Biographical Dictionary,
translated by Slane, "differ in opinion respecting Mukatil: some declare
that, as a traditionist, he was worthy of confidence, and others accused
him of falsehood."

... Ahmed bin Saiyar says:--

"Mukatil Ibn Sulaiman, a native of Balkh, went to Marw, whence he
proceeded to Irak. His veracity is suspected; his Traditions should be
left aside and declarations should be rejected. Speaking of the divine
attributes, he said things which it would be sinful to repeat." Ibrahim
Ibn Yakub-al-Juz-Jani called Mukatil an audacious liar. Abu Abd
ar-Rahman an Nasai said:--"Liars notorious for forging Traditions and
passing them off as coming from the Prophet were four in number: Ibn Abi
Yahya, at Medina; Al-Wakidi, at Baghdad; Mukatil Ibn Sulaiman, in
Khorasan; and Muhammad Ibn Said, surnamed _Al-Maslub_, in Syria." Waki
Ibn al-Jarrah said of Mukatil that he was a confirmed liar. Abu Bakr
al-Ajurri said: "I asked Abu Dawud Sulaiman Ibn al Ashath concerning
Mukatil, and he answered:--'All Traditions given by him should be
rejected.' According to Omar Ibn al-Ghallas, Mukatil Ibn Sulaiman was a
liar, and his traditions were to be rejected." "As for Mukatil Ibn
Sulaiman," said Al-Bukhari, "pass him over in silence." In another
place, he says of him: "He is just nothing at all." Yahya Ibn Moin
declared that Mukatil's traditions were of no value; and Ahmad Ibn
Hanbal said: "As