489. Questioning the requirement for foreign language words when the Quran is said to be revealed in clear Arabic.?

Verses (12:2, 13:37, 16:103, 20:113, 26:195, 39:28, 41:3, 41:44, 42:7, 43:3, 46:12) of the Quran say it was revealed in the clear Arabic language. People who are bent upon finding errors in the Quran question the presence of non-Arabic words in it when it is found saying the Quran was revealed in clear Arabic.There is no language in the world that does not have the presence of a word from another language.

The names of people speaking a particular language will be of the same language, and will be mentioned as such.

In the same way crops grown in a place or produced will bear the name in the same language that is in vogue there. For example the south Indian food item called Idly, when introduced to other parts of the country will be known by the same name. Hence any language in the world is prone to mixing words from other languages.

Clear Arabic does not mean the absence of words from other languages.

Each language has its own fundamentals and traditions, and if a person violates the fundamentals of the particular language he is deemed as not clear about the language he is speaking.

For example, if one calls people as peoples, or he makes use of a sentence saying, ‘all the birds arrived’ instead of ‘the birds came’ or makes use of the term he will be chopped off his head, in place of ‘he will be killed’. And instead of mentioning ‘the news reader is Mr.X’, It is being said as ‘the news is read by Mr.X. This is how we find the mutilation of a language. Though the words used are of the English language, they are not appropriately used.

Similarly we find people misusing words while conversing with each other.

In the same way when English language is spoken violating its fundamentals it cannot be said to be in its clear or pure form.

Though Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate the grace of the Arabic language was not lost in his handling of the same. We see the grace of the Arabic language being handled in the Quran as being done by well-educated scholars. There is no uncouth way of expression in the Quran, and neither is there a beastly treatment of the language. 

This is what is known as a clear expression of the Arabic language.

For example, when we write George Bush went to Dubai in an American Airlines flight, we find that except the word airlines and went, all the other words are from languages other than English. 

Though the language spoken happens to be of a particular language, it remains distorted sometimes due to colloquialism.

Similarly, one needs to interpret the usage of the phrase ‘clear Arabic language’ as to differentiate from unclear impure Arabic language’

Similar to all languages of the world being found containing a mixture of words of other languages, so is the case with Arabic, and this is not contrary to the phrase in the Quran that says ‘the Quran is revealed in the clear Arabic language’.

488. Is God devoid of a form or shape?

Many verses of the Quran talk of the attributes of the Almighty, and the fundamentals required to be called as God.

Non-Muslims believe the ideology of Islam is basically God does not have a form or shape, and many Muslims also carry the same belief. There is no harm in nurturing such a belief as long as it is done on the basis of the opinion that since nobody has seen God. But if it is believed on the basis of a surmise that God does not have a form or shape at all, then it is a wrong notion.

In the Quran there is not a single verse that says God is formless or shapeless, and neither did Prophet Muhammad declare so in any of his sayings. 

On the contrary there are many verses in the Quran and, there are many hadiths that talk of the Almighty having a form or shape for sure. 

The wrong belief that has spread among Muslims saying God does not have a form or shape has encouraged them to be less God fearing.

The belief God has no shape or form has given roots to the Muslims a thought of no God fearing with the assumption there is no necessity to fear nihility.

The Muslims are required to believe the Almighty has a form and shape of Himself that cannot be comprehended by any in this world, and He is visible only in the hereafter world. 

There is evidence provided for this belief in the Quran.

Verses 2:46, 2:223, 2:249, 3:77, 6:31, 6:154, 10:7, 10:11, 10:15, 10:45, 11:29, 13:2, 18:105, 18:110, 29:5, 29:23, 30:8, 32:10, 33:44, 41:54, 75:23, of the Quran say the Almighty is visible to human beings only in the hereafter world. Prophet Muhammad has also said the Almighty is visible to humans only in the hereafter world. Book: Bukhari 554, 573, 806, 4581, 4851, 6574,7434, 7435, 7436, 7438, 7440). 

The fact that the Almighty is visible in itself is evidence that God has form and a shape, because unless and until there is shape nothing becomes visible.

Verses (7:54, 10:3, 13:2, 20:5, 25:59, 32:4, 57:4) of the Quran say the Almighty is seated on ‘Arsh’ a throne. Verses 

(9:129, 11:7, 17:42, 21:22, 22:86, 22:116, 27:26, 40:15, 43:82, 81:20, 85:15) of the Quran say the Almighty is the owner of the throne (Arsh). 

Mention of the Almighty being seated on a throne is proof He has a form or a shape, if there is no form or shape the question of being seated does not arise.

Some are of the opinion that the word throne should not be used in the literal sense because they say it refers to the power the Almighty holds. 

But the verses (39:75, 40:7, 69:17) of the Quran talk of angels that bear the throne, and the angels that surround the ‘Arsh’ singing praises of the Almighty. We need to understand as said in the Quran that angels are bearers of the throne on which the Almighty is seated, and the word does not refer to the power as claimed by these people. 

Verse 89:22 says the Almighty will arrive on the day of judgement to question humans surrounded by angels. 

And verse 68:42 of the Quran and hadith Bukhari 4919 says people will prostrate at the feet of the Almighty.

And hadith Bukhari: 4848, 4849, can be found recorded, as Prophet Muhammad saying when the hell dwellers are flung into hellfire, it would ask if there were more people to be thrown into it, at that time Allah would set his feet on it, prompting it to say it had enough of people thrown into it. 

From this we can understand Allah has legs. 

In the hereafter when judgements are delivered, to follow the footsteps of whomever they followed, other than Allah in this world, into hell, they would abide by the command to be thrown into hell, while the others who worshipped Allah alone in this world will remain expecting the arrival of the great God. (Book: Bukhari 806, and 7440)

In the hereafter world Allah would talk to some people exclusively, questioning them if they have committed certain punishable acts after presenting them with the required evidence. (Book :Bukhari 4685) When they own up to their misdeeds, He will tell them just as He hid their activities from the rest of the people while on earth, He will do the same to them in the Hereafter and forgive them.

This is another evidence to prove Allah has definite shape and form. 

Verse 39:67 of the Quran says the earth and the skies will be within the grip of Allah when He decimates them all together. Prophet Muhammad demonstrated the same by clinching his fist. (Book: Muslim 5371, 5372.) 

We find in the hadith book Bukhari: 6614, that Allah scripted the Torah with his Own hands. 

And also, we see in the hadith book Bukhari 6520, the earth on the day of judgement will fit into the hands of the great God like a piece of bread. 

The recording in the hadith book Bukhari 3731 says the absolute believers of Allah will be on the right-hand side of Him on the day of Judgement. 

Verse 38:75 of the Quran says Allah created the first human being with both His hands.

Prophet Muhammad said Allah created the first human being Adam in His Own persona.

Narrator :Abu Huraira (RA) 

Book: Bukhari 6227 

It cannot be said that Allah created the first human in His persona, without Him devoid of any shape. 

There are numerous proofs that evidence the presence of a pair of hands for Allah. 

Dajjal will call himself God, but he is single eyed, do not believe him. Your Lord is not handicapped, is being quoted by Prophet Muhammad. Book: (Bukhari 3057, 3337, 3440, 4403, 6173, 7127, 7131, 7407).

From this it can be understood the presence of eyes in Allah.

Prophet Muhammad said one can find Allah smiling in the hereafter world. (Book:Bukhari 7437, 3798, 6573). 

Verses 2:253, 4;164, 7;143, 7:144 of the Quran talks about Prophet Musa’s conversation with Allah. 

These verses are evidence to prove Allah possesses a mouth. 

There are numerous verses of the Quran that talk of Almighty as the All Seer and Listener.

All these prove the presence of ears and eyes for the Almighty. 

Despite the presence of numerous evidence, some present unsuitable explanations for the same. 

They contend the words ‘right hand’ and ‘left hand’ and eyes of God refer to symbolic representations of the importance given to persons status with respect to God and do not refer in the literal sense.

By this kind of interpretation, of the Quranic verses these people exhibit their ignorance. Generally any word in the original texts needs to be given its direct meaning except at circumstances when it is improbable. 

Thousands of words like, he ate with his hands, his hands were broken, he took an eye treatment, he woke up with his eyes open are understood in the direct sense.

In the same way wherever a direct meaning cannot be attributed to a particular word with reference to God, can different connotations be made.

We have made clear such places of the Quran in our explanation point 61 of this compilation. 

We need to consider only direct meanings of words quoted in the Quran except in places where it is found to be implausible.

The only evidence given by people who argue saying, God has no form or shape are verses that that convey in the Quran God has no equal of any kind. And attributing a shape to Him would be contrary to the Quran.

This argument by these people needs to be totally rejected by the learned.

There are creations by Allah which have shape and those that are shapeless. Air, light, electricity, heat, and cold are shapeless.

If the argument comparing Allah with the creations that have shape is wrong as per the verses of the Quran, then calling God shapeless is also wrong because there are many creations by God that are shapeless as already quoted.

We can understand the futility in the arguments by these people citing examples already mentioned.

Hence saying Allah has shape and form but not like Him is the apt description.

We have the same opinion. 

There is nothing like Him. 

The Quran 42:11 

The Quran112:1-4 says: 

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. 

1. Say, “He is God, the One. 

2. God, the Absolute. 

3. He begets not, nor was He begotten. 

4. And there is none comparable to Him.” 

Having belief in the above verses of the Quran steadfastly is the only guidance that can be got from the Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad, and we are required to staunchly believe the same.

487. Does abortion amount to homicide.

In the following verses (6:140, 6:151, 17:31, 60:12, 81:8,9) of the Quran we find it saying ‘Do not kill infants’.

The pagan Arabs prior to the advent of Prophet Muhammad committed infanticide of females fearing poverty and considered giving birth to a female child a disgrace. This cruel practice was abolished with the coming of Islam.

This is the direct meaning of the verse of the Quran mentioned above. 

During the time this verse was revealed, the knowledge to perform abortion was not available, and the pagans started killing the girl child only on delivery.

Now in the modern world the practice of killing the girl child is carried on while the child is unborn.

We need to know whether abortion amounts to homicide. How does Islam view the act of abortion.

Islam’s point of view on souls is the presence of two kinds of souls within the human body, one makes the body of humans to function, and the other is the difference of life and death.

The moment a life is conceived within a woman, it keeps developing and grows, proving existence of a life within another life extending from a-day old embryo to a nine-month-old fetus. Hence it can be easily concluded whether the formation is a one-day embryo or a nine-month-old fetus. It does carry a life in it, undergoing various stages of development in various stages, and destroying it amounts to homicide, it seems. But Prophet Muhammad has said, life is blown into a fetus only on its 120^{th day}. (Bukhari: 3208, 3332, 6594, 7454) 

Hence the life that is blown into the fetus after 120 days as quoted by Prophet Muhammad in addition to the one that was present all through 120 days of development of the same fetus is identified as the other life.

From this we come to understand the presence of life before the completion of 120 days of development of the fetus when another life is blown into it on the 120^{th day}.

To know more about the existence of two souls with additional evidence please refer to explanation point 486 of this compilation.

When human life is blown only on the 120^th day of conception of the fetus, aborting the blood clot prior to the 120 days does not amount to homicide of a human being is the conclusion arrived here.

Just as the usage of condoms and other forms of prevention of babies being conceived cannot be considered as killing the embryo, so is aborting an embryo less than 120 days old. But abortion of a 120-day old fetus amounts to killing a child. And destroying an embryo less than 120 days does not amount to killing a child. Yet taking into account the various ill effects abortion creates in the health of woman carrying the embryo, it is considered a crime.

In Islam there is prohibition in one carrying out activities that harms the body, scientists have discovered abortion harms the health of women. Hence destroying the embryo that is less than 120 days is also prohibited but on the basis of creating hazards to the mother, not because of infanticide in the womb.

When there is danger to the life of the mother or some other serious danger to her health, committing a small evil to prevent something worse or a bigger one does not amount to a crime. 

To know more on this subject please refer to explanation points 296, 314, and 486 of this compilation. 

486. The two different souls.

Verse (39:42) of the Quran says the Almighty captures the souls of people while they die forever and while they are asleep. Verse (6:60) of the Quran also conveys the same message. 

We do understand that God captures souls of people who are dead, but at same time we fail to understand the concept of the Almighty capturing souls of people asleep. Hence the question how it is possible for man to breathe during his sleep? if it is stated in the Quran that God captures the souls of people who are asleep, or for that matter how a man rolls over in his sleep without life? How does a man sense an ant-bite in sleep while his soul is taken away when he is asleep?

How does the food get digested in sleep when there is no life? Similarly, we observe numerous physiological changes inside the body taking place when man is sleeping. Are all these activities taking place in a body that has no life in it, is the question?

Likewise when man is asleep, he does not think, is not subjected to worries, does not plan, does not memorize, and does not perform, and cessation of many other activities make it appear he is dead.

From the above we can come to a decision, there are two kinds of souls that are handled by the Almighty. 

One kind which is needed for the functioning of the body. The other connected with the senses of the soul. 

The soul that is needed for the functioning of the body does not leave us a living entity while we are asleep, the soul that can sense its flight from our body marking the end of its worldly life is the one that departs once and for all.

Life is blown into the 120 days old embryo that has been developing in the womb of the mother is said by Prophet Muhammad. (Book: Bukhari 3208, 3332, 6594, 7454)

The embryo already had life, before it could reach the 120 days stage from the time it was formed, and that was the reason it developed to the extent in three stages.

From the above quoted development of the embryo, it could be understood the life that is blown into it after 120 days, is of one type and the one contained in it prior to the time quoted is of another type

The following verse of the Quran confirms the same. 

The Quran 23:14 Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators. 

To learn more on this topic, please refer explanation point numbers 296, 314, and 487 of this compilation 

485. Is worship a necessity for a needless God?

Verses (2:263, 2:267, 3:97, 3:182, 4:131, 6:133, 10:68, 14:8, 22:64, 27:40, 29:6, 31:12, 31:26, 35:15, 39:7, 47:38, 57:24, 60:6, 64:6, 112:2) of the Quran say the Almighty is not a destitute or needy.The most important aspect of Islamic ideology is ‘God is not indigent’ and is devoid of needs. And Islam emphatically denies the designation of God to any needful entity.

People are deceived in the name of God and religion, because they fail to realize the fact that God is needless.

People continue to deceive themselves in spite of the fact that whatever is offered in the name of God is surreptitiously consumed by the go-in-between God and man, the votive offerings made, are again for the benefit of the same. Similarly, when a person of a particular religion poses himself as a god man, people erroneously consider him to possess attributes of God. The reason for man to believe a human possesses attributes of God in spite of him witnessing the same human eating and sleeping like him is his refusal to believe God is devoid of any physical or biological or physiological needs like a man.

This ideology in Islam protects people from being deceived in the name of God and religion.

Some may raise a question as to what makes God of no need to expect people to worship Him.

God cannot be considered as who has needs, just because we worship Him and slaughter animals in his name. If the people of the whole world sit together and take a decision not to worship God He stands nothing to lose.

And if the same people decide to worship Him wholeheartedly, it does not in any way affect the image of God. There is a hadith reflecting this concept. 

Book: Muslim 5033 

Allah’s commandment to fulfill all the obligatory duties by man without fail, does not translate into benefits for God, but to his own good.

When we advise a person to involve himself in a particular activity for his own good, it does not mean that we gain from those activities

If a person stresses the need for his son to get good credits in his forthcoming educational examinations or encourages him to come out victorious in his sports endeavors, nobody will think it is being done for the father’s benefit.

There can at least be a hidden expectation from the father, that he might take care of him in his final days. 

The obligatory duties by man to God does not result in any kind of such returns as expected by Him. Hence commandments by the Almighty for fulfillment of man’s obligatory duties towards Him cannot be construed as a necessity for God.

484. Not to despair when confronted with difficulties and hardships.

In these verses (2:124, 2:155, 2:249, 3:152, 3:154, 3:186, 5:41, 5:48, 5:94, 6:53, 6:165, 7:163, 7:168, 9:126, 11:7, 16:92, 18:7, 20:40, 20:85, 20:90, 20:131, 21:35, 21:111, 22:11, 23:30, 25:20, 27:40, 27:47, 29:3, 33:11, 38:24, 38:34, 39:49, 44:33, 47:4, 47:31, 54:27, 60:5, 64:15, 67:2, 68:17, 72:17, 76:2, 89:15, 89:16) of the Quran, we see it saying the blessings and difficulties on men are trysts on them.

A number of confusions that believers and disbelievers face during their life are solved with this belief.

Some people who observe the good among the people struggle while the evil thrive with all kinds of benefits in their life are confronted with a question: God exists, with this kind of happenings around. 

And they are also faced with the same kind of confusion when they come across people born with all kinds of deformities. 

 Islam houses in itself an excellent ideology that provides a clear solution to these kinds of confusion.

The Almighty created man on this earth to face trials by Him. And He will be resurrected after his death to be subjected to questioning by the Almighty, to be assigned a place in hell or heaven or depending on the outcome of the questioning.

Since this world is the testing grounds for men and women, Islam says not be deceived by the happenings in this world, where those with good deeds live an inadequate life and others with a good deal of bad deeds flourish. Because the Almighty takes trial of each and every person in this world albeit in different ways and on different levels. These confusions become meaningful only when a person is bestowed with 100% of all kinds of riches and benefits and not even an inkling of bad news. But the Almighty never seems to have given all good to a person, and there is not a single person on earth who has not had at least one mishap.

When we keenly observe a person showered with all kinds of blessings we see many blessings not granted to him are with us. 

Poverty, sickness, not good looking. strengthless, no children, being oppressed by the powerful, unending debts, matchless life partner, disobedient children, passing away of near and dear ones, physically challenged, loss of memory, loss of thinking power, illiteracy and thousands and thousands of other drawbacks are faced by different men at different parts of the world. The Almighty would have slapped a person with poverty and diseases.

But a person granted with riches and health may have some kind of issues to confront with, maybe God had given him an in cooperative wife or children or some other drawbacks.

The objective of God Almighty is to test men either by giving riches or denying him the same.

When Allah burdens us with additional hardships during his trial of us, we need to tolerate the hardships with patience, which will result in great gifts for us in the hereafter, and we do not lose anything living a virtuous life and this strengthens more our resolve to live a virtuous life.

When we encounter difficulties living a virtuous life in this world, we get recompensed for it in the hereafter with greater rewards, and at the same time if we violate God’s commands compromising values to make a good living in this world, we need to be ready to receive punishments for the same. This kind of thinking will protect us from being misguided in this world. A strong conviction in ourselves, that if we violate proper norms in this life in order to live a desirable life, we will be taken to task in the hereafter, would protect us from being misled.

Prophet Muhammad has clearly given us guidance on this aspect.

Prophet Muhammad said:

Whoever Allah chooses to do goodness, He lets him undergo trials and tribulations. 

(Book: Bukhari 5645) 

Prophet Muhammad said: 

Allah does not remain without forgiving the sins of a person who has been subjected to misery, diseases, sadness, worries, disturbances, etc., including a thorn prick.

(Book: Bukhari 5642) 

Adhau bin Abi Rabah (RA) was asked by Ibn Abbas (RA) if he would allow to show him a person who was promised paradise. Adhau bin Abi Rabah consented and Ibn Abbas pointed out to a black woman, and said, one day the woman approached Prophet Muhammad asking him to pray to God for her relief from the fits she experienced very often, at which time her clothes were thrown inappropriately, to which the prophet replied to her saying,           If you desire, I will pray to the Almighty for you to get rid of your fits, but if you can forbear the sufferings during your fits, you will be rewarded in the hereafter multifold for your patience in this world. Then she requested the prophet to pray to the Almighty that her clothes may not be thrown away when she experiences fits. . The prophet then prayed for her.

(Book: Bukhari 5652) 

Just as the good deeds remain a reason for a person to drive him towards paradise, so does a person's tolerance towards hardships. 

Prophet Muhammad said: 

Allah says: I will take away from my slave what he loves most (his both eyes) in this world, and if he tolerates and maintains patience, I reward him with paradise in place of them in the the hereafter.

(Book: Bukhari 5653) 

If we are to enjoy all the pleasures granted to us by God in this world, we need the pair of eyes to enjoy the same, with the help of the eyes we choose the best of everything in this world.

 If we are denied the opportunity of having vision in this world the loss is unimaginable. And at the same time if we could tolerate such a huge loss and maintain patience the Almighty offer us Paradise in the hereafter world. ,

Prophet Muhmmad said: 

I am amazed at believers, all aspects in their life bring benefits for them throughout their entire life, this cannot be found in the life of others. They are thankful to the great Lord if any happiness arrives on them, and it results in goodness to them and if something untoward happens to them they maintain patience, resulting also in their good favor.

Book: Muslim 5726 

(2:155) We shall certainly test you by afflicting you with fear, hunger, loss of properties and lives and fruits. Give glad tidings, then, to those who remain patient;

The Quran 2:155 

Sa’ad (RA) narrates :

I asked Prophet Muhammad, Oh! Messenger of God, tell me who is the one who is the most tested by the Almighty? The Prophet replied, It’s the messengers of God who are the most tested by the Almighty, next to them are others like them and others similar to these, and each man is tested by the Almighty, as per his steadfastness on his belief in his faith. And if he is not strong in his belief, he is tested to the extent of his belief, and in case he proves to be very strong in his beliefs, the more he is subjected to tribulations in his life. The tests and tribulations remain all through his life for a slave of the Almighty, till he becomes totally rid of sins. 

 Book: Tirmidee 2322 

Comprehension of these truths in one’s life would lead to an understanding God is not unjust to any of his slaves in this world and if all trials and tribulations in life are borne by them with patience and perseverance, prove to be giving them peace of mind.

More over there is another reason the Almighty has left his slaves remain with grievances and shortcomings, the reason being, if this world is required to function smoothly, the haves and have nots are to be distributed appropriately.

And if each one of us are in a position to own about 1000 acres of land individually, no one would like to work for others, leading to a situation where none of us would be rendered unfit to tend to our own lands resulting in chaos and hunger.

This is the reason Allah has blessed and granted different people with grievances and sufficiency. 

Based on the needs of a patient, a physician's livelihood is run, and on the requirement of a physician’s need, the life of a pharmacist is decided, and on the requirement of a pharmacist a businessman’s life is dependent upon. And in the same way the lives of a farmer and that of a businessman are interdependent making the world function smoothly connected to a supply-chain working in tandem.

483. Can a man live up to 950 years?

In verse (29:14) of the Quran, it says Prophet Nooh lived up to 950 years in this world.

Now in the present world, the lifespan of a person is on an average of 60-70 years, with this range it could seem impossible for a person to live up to a period of 950 years in this world.

We come to understand that, similar to Prophet Nooh who is said to have lived for a period of 950 years, the people of those days belonging to his community were also said to live that long.

The maximum height a man can now reach is six feet, from the fossil findings of the yester years it has been found out man was not of the same size as of now.

Similarly, the thinking that the life span of men in those days would have been manyfold is not against rationality and science. And there is no evidence of any science documents that say all through history the life span of men remained between 60 years and 70 years.

The average lifespan of man at present is 50 years. and our forefathers lived up to ages ranging from 80-90 years Thus when the difference between average life spans in a matter of a century is shown to be vast as we have seen, no science can refute the vast difference in lifespan between now and thousands of years back.

482. Did Prophet Muhammad see the Almighty.

In verses (53:11-13) of the Quran it says Prophet Muhammad visually saw him,

The phrase ‘saw him’ refers to Prophet Muhammad having seen Jibril the celestial being, and this is what it conveys. 

But some people have mistakenly translated the word ‘him’ with connotations that refer to Allah in place of Jibril.

In Arabic there is only one word that refers to ‘Him’ whether it refers to God or human being. 

That Prophet Muhammad saw Allah with his eyes is a wrong notion, he saw Jibril is the right message.

 When Jibril brought the very first message from the Almighty the prophet saw Jibril in his natural form, then later on during the journey of Mehraj, the prophet again saw him in a place called Jannatul Mava.

This is what these verses convey. 

Ayesha (RA) said, the one who says, the prophet has seen God has committed a great blunder. saw Jibril in all his splendor on the horizon.

 Book:Bukhari 3234 

When Ayesha (RA) said the prophet has not seen God directly, the person named Masrook who is the narrator of this hadith pointed out to verse 53:13 of the Quran where in it is said he saw him again, she said it refers to Jibril

 Book:Bukhari 3235 

When Prophet Muhammad was asked whether he has seen God,he replied ‘how can I see Him He is all light.

Book:Muslim 291 

Hence the notion Prophet Muhammad saw Go directly is imaginative and a blatant lie.

To know whether we can see God while in this world please refer to explanation points 21, and 249, of his compilation.