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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Moses in Qur'an and Bible (11) Ignorance of the Law and Persistence in Ignorance: It has been the rule with the old nations of the world that after the passing away of their prophets they gradually let the law enforced by them fall into desuetude and followed self invented rituals and customs according to their wishes in place of the simple and clear teachings of their faith, The Israelites were no exception.

Thought they had the Torah with them thought not in its original purity, yet their religious life was based upon certain superstitious rites and customs. The Qur'an points this out in these words: "And there are among them illiterates who know not the Book but only idle stories and they only make use of conjectures." (2:78) The Qur'an condemns them in these words: "O people of the Book!

Be not unduly immoderate in your religion and not follow the low desires of people who went astray before and led many astray and drifted away from the right path." (5:77) This is only a birds-eye-view of the state of society among the people of the Book during the Prophetic mission of Muhammad (may peace and the blessings of God be upon him).

This picture is drawn in the sacred book of Islam with the object of warning the Muslims that God's law of Requital is universal and undiscriminating and is applied to all without the least distinction of race and creed. For is it not said in the Qur'an.

"Thou shalt not find any change in the course of Allah." (33:62) "Thou shalt not find any alteration in the course of Allah." (35:43) NOTES: [^0] The word Fir'aun looks to a superficial observer to be only a difference of pronunciation but this is not so. Pharaoh is undoubtedly the Hebraized title of the King of Egypt. If the Prophet had heard this title from the Jews there was no reason why he should not have used Pharaoh (Fero) in Arabic and its pronunciation was not difficult for the Arabs.

But he did not do it and there must be some reason for it. That reason has come to light now from the book of Herodotus; the Greek historian of ancient Greece. He uses Peroun for Pharaoh, the very title the Qur'an has used. Herodotus's information must be direct and first-hand. Was this true also of Muhammad?