BALAAM

There is said to be an allusion to Balaam in the Qurʾān, Sūrah vii. 174 , “Recite to them the story of him to whom we gave our signs, and he departed therefrom, and Satan followed him, and he was of those who were beguiled.” The commentary of the Jalālain says that he was a learned man amongst the Israeli tes, who was requested by the Can a a nites to curse Moses at the time when he was about to attack the Jabbārūn or “giants,” a tribe of the Can a a nites. Balaam at first refused to do so but at last yielded, when valuable presents were made to him. (See Tafsīru ʾl-Jalālain , p. 142.) BALAD ( بلد‎ ). Lit . Any country, district, or town, regarded as an habitation. Al-Balad , the sacred territory of Makkah. A title given to the XC th Sūrah, in which the word occurs. BĀLIGH ( بالغ‎ ). “Of years of legal maturity; adult.” [ PUBERTY .]