Search Results for "حَرْفٍ"
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۞ أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
3:79; 4:47; 5:14, 42.
3:79; 4:47; 5:14, 42.
3:79; 4:47; 5:14, 42.
Important Words:
یحرفونه (they pervert it) is derived from حرف which means, he turned a thing aside; he made a thing incline away, the infinitive حرف meaning the side or border of a thing. حرف القول means: (1) he changed or removed a word or speech or writing from its proper place; (2) he made a word or speech or writing incline from its position so as to give it a wrong significance (Aqrab & Mufradat). Thus تحریف may be either by (1) omitting or adding or changing a word or sentence; or by (2) perverting or putting a wrong interpretation on it.
Commentary:
The verse is addressed to Muslims. The Israelites having been reduced to such a condition as to have become hardened like stones or even worse, Muslims cannot expect them to subscribe to their belief or act faithfully to them. The Israelites had become utterly devoid of faith and all sense of honesty. They would hear the word of God revealed to the Holy Prophet and when they went back to their people, they would wilfully pervert it and thus try to mislead them and turn them against the Holy Prophet and his followers by means of deliberate misrepresentation. Nothing good can be expected from such people and nothing can prevent them from breaking agreements and their plighted word.
a
3:79; 4:47; 5:14, 42.
a
3:79; 4:47; 5:14, 42.
82
Important Words:
یحرفونه (they pervert it) is derived from حرف which means, he turned a thing aside; he made a thing incline away, the infinitive حرف meaning the side or border of a thing. حرف القول means: (1) he changed or removed a word or speech or writing from its proper place; (2) he made a word or speech or writing incline from its position so as to give it a wrong significance (Aqrab & Mufradat). Thus تحریف may be either by (1) omitting or adding or changing a word or sentence; or by (2) perverting or putting a wrong interpretation on it.
Commentary:
The verse is addressed to Muslims. The Israelites having been reduced to such a condition as to have become hardened like stones or even worse, Muslims cannot expect them to subscribe to their belief or act faithfully to them. The Israelites had become utterly devoid of faith and all sense of honesty. They would hear the word of God revealed to the Holy Prophet and when they went back to their people, they would wilfully pervert it and thus try to mislead them and turn them against the Holy Prophet and his followers by means of deliberate misrepresentation. Nothing good can be expected from such people and nothing can prevent them from breaking agreements and their plighted word.
a
3:79; 4:47; 5:14, 42.
مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
یعنی منہ سے تو رَاعِنَا کہہ دیتے ہیں مگر ان کے دل اس سے متفق نہیں ہوتے۔ دل میں وہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو حقیر سمجھتے ہیں اور خیال کرتے ہیں کہ اس سے کسی رعایت کی طلب کی ہمیں کوئی ضرورت نہیں۔
عربی کے لفظ ہیں فَـلَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِیْـلًا جن کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ وہ صرف قلیل ایمان لاتے ہیں۔ مگر محاورہ میں اس کے معنے بالکل ایمان نہ لانے کے ہیں۔
2:76; 3:79; 5:42.
2:105.
The expression Ghaira Musma‘in means; (1) mayest thou not hear by reason of deafness; (2) mayest thou not hear what may please thee; (3) mayest thou not be obeyed.
2:76; 3:79; 5:42.
2:105.
Commentary:
The verb یقولون (they say) is used in Arabic both for words of mouth, and for what one expresses by one’s condition or conduct (see 2:31). In this verse, the expression has been used of the Jews in both these senses, viz. "They say with their tongues that they have heard and obeyed, but their conduct shows that instead of obeying they disobey and defy."
The expression غیر مسمع (without being heard) gives a number of meanings: (1) mayest thou not be made to hear, i.e. mayest thou not hear by reason of deafness; (2) mayest thou not hear any speech or news which thou wouldst like or which may please thee; (3) may not what thou sayest be accepted, or may not thy invitation be accepted and thy call responded to; (4) mayest thou not be obeyed; or (5) the expression may mean, though it was not certainly intended by the Jews, mayest thou not hear anything offensive or unpleasant.
For the expression راعنا (ra‘ina) see note on 2:105.
The Jews used the aforesaid ambiguous expressions in order (1) to conceal what evil thoughts they entertained about the Holy Prophet; (2) to make Muslims imitate them and use analogous expressions while addressing the Holy Prophet; and (3) to taunt Muslims with regard to matters affecting their religion, saying to them in effect, "We speak to your Prophet jestingly and abuse him in ambiguous words; if he had been a true Prophet of God, he would have certainly come to know of this."
c
2:76; 3:79; 5:42.
d
2:105.
2
یعنی منہ سے تو رَاعِنَا کہہ دیتے ہیں مگر ان کے دل اس سے متفق نہیں ہوتے۔ دل میں وہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو حقیر سمجھتے ہیں اور خیال کرتے ہیں کہ اس سے کسی رعایت کی طلب کی ہمیں کوئی ضرورت نہیں۔
3
عربی کے لفظ ہیں فَـلَا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِیْـلًا جن کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ وہ صرف قلیل ایمان لاتے ہیں۔ مگر محاورہ میں اس کے معنے بالکل ایمان نہ لانے کے ہیں۔
a
2:76; 3:79; 5:42.
b
2:105.
521
Commentary:
The verb یقولون (they say) is used in Arabic both for words of mouth, and for what one expresses by one’s condition or conduct (see 2:31). In this verse, the expression has been used of the Jews in both these senses, viz. "They say with their tongues that they have heard and obeyed, but their conduct shows that instead of obeying they disobey and defy."
The expression غیر مسمع (without being heard) gives a number of meanings: (1) mayest thou not be made to hear, i.e. mayest thou not hear by reason of deafness; (2) mayest thou not hear any speech or news which thou wouldst like or which may please thee; (3) may not what thou sayest be accepted, or may not thy invitation be accepted and thy call responded to; (4) mayest thou not be obeyed; or (5) the expression may mean, though it was not certainly intended by the Jews, mayest thou not hear anything offensive or unpleasant.
For the expression راعنا (ra‘ina) see note on 2:105.
The Jews used the aforesaid ambiguous expressions in order (1) to conceal what evil thoughts they entertained about the Holy Prophet; (2) to make Muslims imitate them and use analogous expressions while addressing the Holy Prophet; and (3) to taunt Muslims with regard to matters affecting their religion, saying to them in effect, "We speak to your Prophet jestingly and abuse him in ambiguous words; if he had been a true Prophet of God, he would have certainly come to know of this."
a
2:76; 3:79; 5:42.
b
2:105.
613
The expression Ghaira Musma‘in means; (1) mayest thou not hear by reason of deafness; (2) mayest thou not hear what may please thee; (3) mayest thou not be obeyed.
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَٰقَهُمْ لَعَنَّٰهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَٰسِيَةً ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ ۙ وَنَسُوا۟ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَا تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱصْفَحْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
فاء کا ترجمہ اور بھی ہوتا ہے۔
The verse contains a very apt description of the Jewish people.
4:156.
2:76; 3:79; 4:47; 5:42
Important Words:
قاسیة (hardened) is derived from قسی which means: (1) it was or became hardened; (2) it became darkened (Aqrab). Thus, the words جعلنا قلوبھم قاسیة rendered as, We have hardened their hearts, may also mean, We have made their hearts devoid of light.
نسوا (have forgotten) is derived from نسی meaning, he forgot, or he abandoned or ceased acting on (Aqrab).
خائنة (treachery) is both the noun-infinitive and the active participle from خان i.e. he acted unfaithfully or treacherously. They say خانه i.e. he was unfaithful to the confidence or trust that he (the other party) reposed in him; he was treacherous or perfidious to him. خائنة means: (1) treachery, perfidiousness or unfaithfulness; (2) one who is very treacherous, unfaithful or perfidious. In the latter sense the word خائنة is the intensive form of خائن. The expression خائنة الاعین used elsewhere in the Quran (40:20) means, a surreptitious or intentional look at a thing at which it is not allowable to look; or the looking with a look that induces suspicion or evil opinion; or the making of a sign with the eye to indicate a thing that one conceals in the mind; or as some say, the contracting of the eye by way of making an obscure indication (Lane). The word خائنة may also be taken to have been used as an adjective qualifying the noun امة (people or party) which may be taken to be understood before it.
Commentary:
The words, They pervert the words from their proper places, may mean: (1) they tamper with the text of the Book, or (2) they distort the true meaning of the text.
The words نسواحظا rendered as they have forgotten a good part, may also be translated as, "they have abandoned and ceased to act on a goodly part".
1
فاء کا ترجمہ اور بھی ہوتا ہے۔
b
4:156.
c
2:76; 3:79; 4:47; 5:42
651
Important Words:
قاسیة (hardened) is derived from قسی which means: (1) it was or became hardened; (2) it became darkened (Aqrab). Thus, the words جعلنا قلوبھم قاسیة rendered as, We have hardened their hearts, may also mean, We have made their hearts devoid of light.
نسوا (have forgotten) is derived from نسی meaning, he forgot, or he abandoned or ceased acting on (Aqrab).
خائنة (treachery) is both the noun-infinitive and the active participle from خان i.e. he acted unfaithfully or treacherously. They say خانه i.e. he was unfaithful to the confidence or trust that he (the other party) reposed in him; he was treacherous or perfidious to him. خائنة means: (1) treachery, perfidiousness or unfaithfulness; (2) one who is very treacherous, unfaithful or perfidious. In the latter sense the word خائنة is the intensive form of خائن. The expression خائنة الاعین used elsewhere in the Quran (40:20) means, a surreptitious or intentional look at a thing at which it is not allowable to look; or the looking with a look that induces suspicion or evil opinion; or the making of a sign with the eye to indicate a thing that one conceals in the mind; or as some say, the contracting of the eye by way of making an obscure indication (Lane). The word خائنة may also be taken to have been used as an adjective qualifying the noun امة (people or party) which may be taken to be understood before it.
Commentary:
The words, They pervert the words from their proper places, may mean: (1) they tamper with the text of the Book, or (2) they distort the true meaning of the text.
The words نسواحظا rendered as they have forgotten a good part, may also be translated as, "they have abandoned and ceased to act on a goodly part".
727B
The verse contains a very apt description of the Jewish people.
۞ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُسَٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلْكُفْرِ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ ۛ وَمِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ ۛ سَمَّٰعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّٰعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ ءَاخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِۦ ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُۥ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
یعنی قرآن کریم آکر سنتے ہیں۔ پھر اس کا غلط مفہوم لوگوں میں پھیلاتے ہیں تا لوگ مسلمانوں پر اعتراض کریں۔
9:47.
2:76; 3:79; 4:47.
The expression may also mean, (1) they listen in order to lie; (2) they accept as true the lies which others utter about the Holy Prophet.
9:47.
2:76; 3:79; 4:47.
Commentary:
The expression سماعون للکذب (who would fondly listen to any lie) is capable of bearing two meanings: (1) they listen to you in order to lie, i.e. they come to you so that they may listen to your words, and then go out and distort and twist your words and their meanings before their own people and ascribe to you things which you did not say or mean; (2) they hearken to lies and accept them, i.e. they believe the lies which others utter about you and accept them as true. Similarly, the clause سماعون لقوم آخرین (who listen for conveying it to another people) means: (1) they listen (to you) for the sake of another people; i.e. they come and listen to what you say in order to report it to another people; (2) they believe what others say about you and take it as true.
c
9:47.
d
2:76; 3:79; 4:47.
1
یعنی قرآن کریم آکر سنتے ہیں۔ پھر اس کا غلط مفہوم لوگوں میں پھیلاتے ہیں تا لوگ مسلمانوں پر اعتراض کریں۔
a
9:47.
b
2:76; 3:79; 4:47.
673
Commentary:
The expression سماعون للکذب (who would fondly listen to any lie) is capable of bearing two meanings: (1) they listen to you in order to lie, i.e. they come to you so that they may listen to your words, and then go out and distort and twist your words and their meanings before their own people and ascribe to you things which you did not say or mean; (2) they hearken to lies and accept them, i.e. they believe the lies which others utter about you and accept them as true. Similarly, the clause سماعون لقوم آخرین (who listen for conveying it to another people) means: (1) they listen (to you) for the sake of another people; i.e. they come and listen to what you say in order to report it to another people; (2) they believe what others say about you and take it as true.
a
9:47.
b
2:76; 3:79; 4:47.
746
The expression may also mean, (1) they listen in order to lie; (2) they accept as true the lies which others utter about the Holy Prophet.
وَمَن يُوَلِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ دُبُرَهُۥٓ إِلَّا مُتَحَرِّفًا لِّقِتَالٍ أَوْ مُتَحَيِّزًا إِلَىٰ فِئَةٍ فَقَدْ بَآءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
这节经文规定和叙述穆斯林军队在对敌作战中可允许的明显退却或撤退: (a) 作为战略或战役调动, 当一支作战部队为了诱骗敌人或占领较好阵地而改变它的位置时; (b) 当一部分军队决定后撤去参加主力部队或其他穆斯林军队去发动对敌战斗时。
The verse defines and describes the circumstances in which an apparent retreat or withdrawal of a Muslim force against the enemy is permitted: (a) As war strategy or battle manoeuvre when a fighting force shifts its position to beguile the enemy or to occupy a better position; (b) when a part of the army decides to fall back to join the main body or another Muslim force before giving battle to the enemy.
Important Words:
متحیزا (turning) is derived from تحیز which is derived from حاز. They say حازہ i.e. he drew, collected or gathered it together. حاز الابل means, he drove the camels. تحیز or تحوز means, he or it writhed or twisted about and turned over and over; or he or it was restless, not remaining still on the ground; or he withdrew or retired to a distance; or he drew back. تحیز الیھم means, he turned or withdrew or retired or joined himself to them (company of men). تحیز also means, he turned aside or withdrew to his place or his proper place. حیز means, a place in which a thing is; the proper or natural place of a thing; the container or receptacle of anything (Lane).
فئة (company) is derived either from فاو i.e. he struck or smote or clove, or from فاء i.e. he returned, or he returned to a good state or condition. The word فئة means, a party, division or distinct body; or a company or congregated body of men; or a party or division of men; or a company of soldiers who fight in the rear of another party or company and to whom the latter has recourse in the case of fear or defeat; or a company of men who (in war) have recourse for aid, one to another (Lane).
Commentary:
The verse is important inasmuch as it defines and describes the circumstances in which an apparent retreat or withdrawal of a Muslim force against an enemy force is allowable. Such a retreat is allowed only on two distinct conditions: firstly, as a war strategy or a battle manoeuvre when a fighting force shifts its position not to fly but to hoodwink the enemy or to occupy a better position; secondly, when a force decides to fall back to join the main army or another Muslim force before giving battle to the enemy. No other retreat or withdrawal is allowed. Muslims must either win or die. Those who turn their backs incur the wrath of God and "Hell shall be their abode."
The words, and Hell shall be his abode, have a double significance: (1) that those who turn back from the battlefield, except in the circumstances stated above, shall be awarded the punishment of Hellfire in the Hereafter; (2) that although such runaways think that by turning back from the field of battle they will find security from danger, the truth is that they will thereby be running into the very jaws of fire, for such ignom-inious defeat will embolden the enemy against them and will open the doors of their persecution wider still.
A fight that begins with a single individual, (a Divine Messenger), arrayed against the entire forces of the world, cannot possibly allow at a later stage the retreat of a believing party against a disbelieving host on the basis of disparity in numbers. Where true faith comes in, numbers do not and indeed cannot count. It must be a fight to the finish, for what does a believer await except one of the two good things—victory or martyrdom (9:52)?
541
这节经文规定和叙述穆斯林军队在对敌作战中可允许的明显退却或撤退: (a) 作为战略或战役调动, 当一支作战部队为了诱骗敌人或占领较好阵地而改变它的位置时; (b) 当一部分军队决定后撤去参加主力部队或其他穆斯林军队去发动对敌战斗时。
1106
Important Words:
متحیزا (turning) is derived from تحیز which is derived from حاز. They say حازہ i.e. he drew, collected or gathered it together. حاز الابل means, he drove the camels. تحیز or تحوز means, he or it writhed or twisted about and turned over and over; or he or it was restless, not remaining still on the ground; or he withdrew or retired to a distance; or he drew back. تحیز الیھم means, he turned or withdrew or retired or joined himself to them (company of men). تحیز also means, he turned aside or withdrew to his place or his proper place. حیز means, a place in which a thing is; the proper or natural place of a thing; the container or receptacle of anything (Lane).
فئة (company) is derived either from فاو i.e. he struck or smote or clove, or from فاء i.e. he returned, or he returned to a good state or condition. The word فئة means, a party, division or distinct body; or a company or congregated body of men; or a party or division of men; or a company of soldiers who fight in the rear of another party or company and to whom the latter has recourse in the case of fear or defeat; or a company of men who (in war) have recourse for aid, one to another (Lane).
Commentary:
The verse is important inasmuch as it defines and describes the circumstances in which an apparent retreat or withdrawal of a Muslim force against an enemy force is allowable. Such a retreat is allowed only on two distinct conditions: firstly, as a war strategy or a battle manoeuvre when a fighting force shifts its position not to fly but to hoodwink the enemy or to occupy a better position; secondly, when a force decides to fall back to join the main army or another Muslim force before giving battle to the enemy. No other retreat or withdrawal is allowed. Muslims must either win or die. Those who turn their backs incur the wrath of God and "Hell shall be their abode."
The words, and Hell shall be his abode, have a double significance: (1) that those who turn back from the battlefield, except in the circumstances stated above, shall be awarded the punishment of Hellfire in the Hereafter; (2) that although such runaways think that by turning back from the field of battle they will find security from danger, the truth is that they will thereby be running into the very jaws of fire, for such ignom-inious defeat will embolden the enemy against them and will open the doors of their persecution wider still.
A fight that begins with a single individual, (a Divine Messenger), arrayed against the entire forces of the world, cannot possibly allow at a later stage the retreat of a believing party against a disbelieving host on the basis of disparity in numbers. Where true faith comes in, numbers do not and indeed cannot count. It must be a fight to the finish, for what does a believer await except one of the two good things—victory or martyrdom (9:52)?
1106
The verse defines and describes the circumstances in which an apparent retreat or withdrawal of a Muslim force against the enemy is permitted: (a) As war strategy or battle manoeuvre when a fighting force shifts its position to beguile the enemy or to occupy a better position; (b) when a part of the army decides to fall back to join the main body or another Muslim force before giving battle to the enemy.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُۥ خَيْرٌ ٱطْمَأَنَّ بِهِۦ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ ٱنقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦ خَسِرَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
70:21, 22.
آیت میں مَنْ کا لفظ ہے جس کے معنے جمع کے بھی ہو سکتے ہیں اور مفرد کے بھی۔
70:21, 22.
The Arabs say, Fulanun ‘Ala Harfin min Amrihi, i.e. such a one is in a vacillating condition, looking to the result of an affair he turns to it if he sees what he likes and turns away from it if he sees what does not please him (Lane). The Quranic expression means, one who serves Allah standing aloof with respect to religion, in a fluctuating state, like the person who is in the outskirts of the army, so that if he is sure of victory and spoil, he stands firm, otherwise he flees away. The sense of the expression 'on the verge' is explained in the very next sentence, viz. "if good befalls him, he is content therewith; and if there befalls him a trial, he returns to his former way." Or, the expression may signify that people of weak faith are always in a state of doubt and suspense. If, by accepting the truth, they hope to get some material benefit they remain and behave as believers, but if belief is attended with trials and tribulations, they turn back on their heels.
33:20; 70:21-22.
Important Words:
حرف (verge) is infinitive noun from حرف (harafa). They say حرف الشیء عن وجھه i.e. he turned the thing from its proper way or manner or altered it therefrom. حرف means, the extremity, verge, border, margin, brink, side or edge of anything, as for instance the side of a river, the edge of a sword or the ridge of a mountain. علی حرف من امرہ means, such a one is in a vacillating condition, looking to the result of an affair, he turns to it if he sees what he likes, and turns away from it if he sees what does not please him. من یعبد اللّٰه علی حرف means, one who serves Allah standing aloof with respect to religion, in a fluctuating state, like the person who is in the outskirts of the army, so that if he is sure of victory and spoil, he stands firm, otherwise he flees away; or the meaning is, he who serves God in doubt or suspense being unsteady like him who is on the ridge of a mountain; or the meaning is, one who serves God in one mode of circumstances i.e. when in ample circumstances and not when in straitened circumstances (Lane).
Commentary:
The sense of the expression علی حرف (on the verge) is explained in the very next sentence, viz. if good befall him, he is content therewith; and if there befall him a trial, he returns to his former way. Taking the word حرف in the sense of suspense, the expression would signify that people of weak faith are always in a state of doubt and suspense. If by accepting the message of truth they hope to get some material benefit, they remain and act as believers but if belief is attended with trials and tribulations then they turn back on their heels. Taking this word in the sense of edge or brink, the expression would mean that such people have only a superficial knowledge of religion. They do not enter into its spirit and have no insight into it. Such waverers and doubters are always deprived of the very benefits they hope to get by their insincere faith.
c
70:21, 22.
1
آیت میں مَنْ کا لفظ ہے جس کے معنے جمع کے بھی ہو سکتے ہیں اور مفرد کے بھی۔
b
33:20; 70:21-22.
2446
Important Words:
حرف (verge) is infinitive noun from حرف (harafa). They say حرف الشیء عن وجھه i.e. he turned the thing from its proper way or manner or altered it therefrom. حرف means, the extremity, verge, border, margin, brink, side or edge of anything, as for instance the side of a river, the edge of a sword or the ridge of a mountain. علی حرف من امرہ means, such a one is in a vacillating condition, looking to the result of an affair, he turns to it if he sees what he likes, and turns away from it if he sees what does not please him. من یعبد اللّٰه علی حرف means, one who serves Allah standing aloof with respect to religion, in a fluctuating state, like the person who is in the outskirts of the army, so that if he is sure of victory and spoil, he stands firm, otherwise he flees away; or the meaning is, he who serves God in doubt or suspense being unsteady like him who is on the ridge of a mountain; or the meaning is, one who serves God in one mode of circumstances i.e. when in ample circumstances and not when in straitened circumstances (Lane).
Commentary:
The sense of the expression علی حرف (on the verge) is explained in the very next sentence, viz. if good befall him, he is content therewith; and if there befall him a trial, he returns to his former way. Taking the word حرف in the sense of suspense, the expression would signify that people of weak faith are always in a state of doubt and suspense. If by accepting the message of truth they hope to get some material benefit, they remain and act as believers but if belief is attended with trials and tribulations then they turn back on their heels. Taking this word in the sense of edge or brink, the expression would mean that such people have only a superficial knowledge of religion. They do not enter into its spirit and have no insight into it. Such waverers and doubters are always deprived of the very benefits they hope to get by their insincere faith.
a
70:21, 22.
1935
The Arabs say, Fulanun ‘Ala Harfin min Amrihi, i.e. such a one is in a vacillating condition, looking to the result of an affair he turns to it if he sees what he likes and turns away from it if he sees what does not please him (Lane). The Quranic expression means, one who serves Allah standing aloof with respect to religion, in a fluctuating state, like the person who is in the outskirts of the army, so that if he is sure of victory and spoil, he stands firm, otherwise he flees away. The sense of the expression 'on the verge' is explained in the very next sentence, viz. "if good befalls him, he is content therewith; and if there befalls him a trial, he returns to his former way." Or, the expression may signify that people of weak faith are always in a state of doubt and suspense. If, by accepting the truth, they hope to get some material benefit they remain and behave as believers, but if belief is attended with trials and tribulations, they turn back on their heels.