ROOT ص ح ف

Important Words:

آیة here means a great sign or the Sign of punishment. See also 2:130 & 19:11.

Commentary:

The words, Has there not come to them clear evidence of what is contained in the former Books, may mean: (1) is not the argument sufficient to convince them that in the times of former Prophets also disbelievers continued to demand Signs in spite of many Signs having been shown to them and that this fact is recorded in the former Scriptures; (2) does not the fact constitute a sufficient guide to them that the prophecies made in the former Scriptures about the advent of a great Prophet are being fulfilled in the person of the Holy Prophet; and (3) is not the fact sufficient to convince them that similar signs have been shown to them as were shown in the times of the former Prophets?

56:19; 76:16.

Commentary:

What a beautiful description of the "Garden" which the righteous servants of God will inherit. As contrasted with this blissful condition of the God-fearing, the terrible agony of the sinful and the guilty is described in the next few verses (vv. 75-79).

Commentary:

The reference here may be to the impudent demand of disbelievers mentioned elsewhere in the Quran, viz. that they would not believe unless God spoke to them direct (2:119), or unless the Prophet should bring down a Book for them from heaven which they could read (17:94).

Commentary:

The Quran being a compendium of all permanent and imperishable teachings which are embodied in various revealed Scriptures, constitutes, as it were, a collection of all heavenly Books. This is the significance of the words "Contained in honoured Books." The verse further says that the Quran will be written in the form of a Book, will be honoured and respected and will be protected and preserved against every kind of interpolation and interference.

Commentary:

The reference clearly seems to be to the vast circulation of newspapers, journals, and books and to the system of libraries and reading rooms and such other places and means of spreading knowledge in the latter days—in the time of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi.

20:134.

Commentary:

Because the essential principles of all religions are basically identical, the teachings mentioned in the foregoing verses are also found in the Scriptures of Moses and Abraham. The verse may also signify that the prophecy about the appearance of a great Prophet who was to give to the world the Last Divine Message and the most perfect teaching is found in the Scriptures of Moses (Deut. 18:18-19 & 33:2) and Abraham.

3:165; 62:3; 87:19.

Commentary:

The expression رسول من الله is case in apposition with the word البینة in the preceding verse. The word مطھرة (pure) signifies that the Quran is completely free from all possible flaws, blemishes or defects. It possesses, on the contrary all conceivable beauty and excellence.