mmad (vol. i. page 27) seems to be correct, "We may hold the Quran to
be as surely Muhammad's words as the Muhammadans hold it to be the Word of
God."

[46] Ibn Khallikan's Biographical Dictionary, vol. iii. p. 16.

[47] "Were we to examine the Quran by the rules of rhetoric and criticism
as they are taught in Muslim schools, we should be obliged to acknowledge
that it is the perfection of thought and expression; an inevitable result
as the Muslims drew their principles of rhetoric from that very
book."--Baron M. de Slane, in the introduction to Ibu Khallikan's
Biographical Dictionary.

[48] There are many Traditions which refer to this fact. Omar Ibn al
Khattab said; "I accorded with my cherisher (_i.e._, God) in three things.
One is that I said, 'O messenger of God! if we were to say our prayers in
Abraham's place it would be better.' Then a revelation came down 'Take the
place of Abraham for a place of prayer.' The second is, that I said, 'O
messenger of God! good and bad people come to your house; and I do not see
that it is fitting; therefore, if you order your women to be shut up it
will be better.' Then the revelation for doing so came down. The third is,
that his Majesty's wives were all agreed in a story about his drinking
honey; and he had vowed never to drink it more. Then I said to his
Majesty's wives, 'Should the Prophet divorce you, God will give him better
in exchange.' Then a revelation, came down agreeing with what I said."

'Ayesha said:--"I was reflecting on those women who had given themselves to
the Prophet, and said 'What! does a woman give herself away?' Then the
revelation descended:, 'Thou mayest decline for the present whom thou wilt
of them, and thou mayest take to thy bed her whom thou wilt, and whomsoever
thou shalt long for of those thou shalt have before neglected: and this
shall be no crime in thee.' (Sura xxxiii. 51). I said; 'I see nothing in
which your God doth not hasten to please you: whatsoever you wish He
doeth.'"

[49] Les Prolegomenes d'Ibn Khaldoun, vol. ii. p. 459.

[50] This includes even the orthography, for:--"La generation suivante, je
veux dire les Tabis (Taba'in), adopta l'orthographe des Compagnons du
Prophete et se fit un merite de ne point s'ecarter des formes adoptees par
ceux qui, apres Mahommed, etaient les plus excellent des hommes et qui
avaient recu de lui les revelations celestes, soit par ecrit, soit de vive
voix." Ibn Khaldoun, vol. ii. p. 397.

[51] Th