ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION. THIS chapter is regarded by some writers as one of the earliest revelations of the Quran. I can find for this opinion no other reason than that the words with which it begins, and from which it receives its title, have a somewhat striking similarity to those which are found in the first verse of chapter lxxiv., which, on all hands, is admitted to be one of the earliest pa~s of the Quran. This theory, however, is disproved by the following facts :-(1) Ver. 10 speaks of enemies of the Prophet, contumelies, and opposition, which did not exist at so early a peliod j (2) verso 10 and II exhort the Prophet to withdraw from the infidels and to leave them in the hands of God; moreover, (3), the statements concerning the punishment of hell and the destruction of Pharaoh point to a later date.
