[Footnote 131: The loose expressions of the Koran (c. 3, p.
124, 125, c. 8, p. 9) allow the commentators to fluctuate
between the numbers of 1000, 3000, or 9000 angels; and the
smallest of these might suffice for the slaughter of seventy
of the Koreish, (Maracci, Alcoran, tom. ii. p. 131.) Yet the
same scholiasts confess that this angelic band was not
visible to any mortal eye, (Maracci, p. 297.) They refine on
the words (c. 8, 16) "not thou, but God," &c. (D'Herbelot.
Bibliot. Orientale p. 600, 601.)]