عَلَیۡکَ
Appears 51 times in Quran
Occurrences in Quran
Found 50 verses containing "عَلَیۡکَ".
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡۤ اَنۡزَلَ عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡہُ اٰیٰتٌ مُّحۡکَمٰتٌ ہُنَّ اُمُّ الۡکِتٰبِ وَاُخَرُ مُتَشٰبِہٰتٌ ۖ فَاَمَّا الَّذِیۡنَ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ زَیۡغٌ فَیَتَّبِعُوۡنَ مَا تَشٰبَہَ مِنۡہُ ابۡتِغَآءَ الۡفِتۡنَۃِ وَابۡتِغَآءَ تَاۡوِیۡلِہٖ ۗ وَمَا یَعۡلَمُ تَاۡوِیۡلَہٗۤ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ ۗ وَالرّٰسِخُوۡنَ فِی الۡعِلۡمِ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اٰمَنَّا بِہٖ کُلٌّ مِّنۡ عِنۡدِ رَبِّنَا ۗ وَمَا یَذَّکَّرُ اِلَّاۤ اُولُوا الۡاَلۡبٰبِ
11:2.
39:24.
7:54; 18:79.
4:163.
مُحْكَمْ (Muhkam) 的意思是: (1) 意义不会受到窜改或删减者; (2) 意义不含糊或不存在怀疑可能性者; (3) 意义清楚而解释明确者; (4) 包含«古兰经»特有教义的节文(مُفْرَدَات, Mufradat和Lane)。
اُمّ (Umm) 意指: (1) 母亲; (2) 事物的起源或基础; (3) 任何作为扶助、支持改革或修正另一事物手段的东西; (4) 与周围其它事物相联系的任何东西 (اَقْرَبْ, Aqrab和مُفْرَدَات, Mufradat)。
مُتَشَابِه (Mutashabih) 用於 (1)虽是一致, 但可以有不同解释的词语、句子或经节; (2) 彼此相似或一致的部分; (3) 经文的真正意义和没有表示出来的意义相类似的部分; (4) 经文的正确意思只有参照称为 مُحْكَمْ (Muhkam) 的经文才可知道; (5) 不经过反复考虑就不能正确理解的经文; (6) 经文含有的教义和先前启示的经文含有的教义相符或相似的部分 (مُفْرَدَات, Mufradat)。
تَأ وِيْل (Ta’wil) 意思是: (1) 解释或说明; (2) 讲话或文章的意义的推测; (3) 转变讲话或文章的正确解释; (4) 对梦的解释; (5) 事物的结束、结果或后果 (Lane)。在此节经文中该词出现两次。第一次的意思是 (2) 和 (3), 而第二次的意思是 (1) 或 (5)。
此节经文说明这样一个重要规则, 即为了证实一个有争论的观点, 应该考虑那明确而清楚的经文措辞。如果发现这些经文与某一意义不明确的章节的句子结构有抵触, 就应该把该章节解释得与措辞明确、清楚的经文相一致。根据此节经文来看, «古兰经» 有两种经文。一种是 مُحْكَمْ (Muhkam) 意义肯定而明确的, 另一种是 مُتَشَابِه (Mutashabih) 意义可作不同的解释的。正确解释 Mutashabih 经文的方法是, 只有把其经文解释得与 (Muhkam) 经文相一致。在39:24中, 整个 «古兰经» 被称作Mutashabih而在11:2中所有 «古兰经» 节文被说成是 Muhkam。这不应该被看作与在注释的这节经文相矛盾。根据在注解的这节经文, 有些 «古兰经» 节文是 Muhkam, 有些节文是 Mutashabih。就 «古兰经» 节文的真正意义而论, 整个 «古兰经» 是 Muhkam, 因为所有的节文包含明确而永恒的真理。然而, 从另一意义来说, 全本 «古兰经» 节文是Mutashabih, 因为 «古兰经» 每一节都同时表示几个同样正确和适当的意思, 就另一意义说, «古兰经» 也是Mutashabih 相互类似, 其中没有前后矛盾或相互不一致的地方, 不同的节文可以相互印证。(如同此节经文所指出的那样) 有些经文当然属於 (Muhkam), 有些属于Mutashabih, 这要看不同读者的知识、思想品质和天赋能力而定, 如本节所指示者。至于预言, 用明白、直接、只容许有一种意义的语言所表述的可以看作是 (Muhkam); 而用隐喻、能有不止一种解释的语言叙述的, 则可被看作 Mutashabih。因此, 应该按照确已实现了无疑的预言和伊斯兰教的基本原则来解释用隐喻的言语所叙述的预言。有关(Muhkam) 预言, 读者可参阅58:22; 而28:86则包含Mutashabih预言。(Muhkam) 这个词也适用那种包括充分而全面经律的经文; 而 Mutashabih经文只包容某一经律的一部分, 并且须与其它经文联系起来阅读, 才能形成一条完整的经律。مُحْكَمَات (Muhkamat) (明确的经文)通常论述伊斯兰教信仰的律令和教义; 而且 مُتَشَابِهَات (Mutashabihat) 论述次要的论题或叙述众先知的生平轶事或各民族史, 在论述中有时就用一些可能会产生不同意思的成语和短语。这样的经文的解释不应与措辞清楚的伊斯兰教信仰的教义相矛盾。这里可以注意到: 为了用最少的词来表达众多的意思, 为了使经文风格优雅, 为了使人们受到磨炼--------如果没有这种磨炼, 人们的心灵就不可能深化和完美--------就需要使用隐喻, 而隐喻是经典中Mutashabih经文的主要基础。
مُحْکَمٰتٌ محکمات سے مراد وہ آیات ہیں جن میں قرآن کریم کی خاص تعلیم بیان ہوئی ہے۔
مُتَشٰبِھٰتٌ سے مراد وہ آیات ہیں جن میں ایسی تعلیم ہے جو پہلی کتابوں میں بھی مذکور ہے۔
یعنی جو آیات پہلی کتب کی تعلیم سے ملتی ہیں وہ ان کو بگاڑ کر پہلی قوموں کی روایات کے تابع کر دیتے ہیں اور اس طرح قرآن کریم کی خوبی کو چھپا دیتے ہیں۔
7:54; 18:79.
4:163.
11:2.
39:24.
Muhkam means, (1) that which has been made secure from change or alteration; (2) that in which there is no ambiguity or possibility of doubt; (3) that which is clear in meaning and decisive in exposition and (4) a verse which embodies a teaching special to the Qur’an (Mufradat & Lane).
Umm means, (1) mother; (2) source or origin or basis of a thing; (3) anything which is a means of sustenance and support or of reformation and correction for another; (4) anything to which other things around it are linked (Aqrab & Mufradat).
Mutashabih is used about (1) that phrase, sentence or verse which is susceptible of different, though concordant, interpretations; (2) that whose parts resemble or are concordant with one another; (3) that whose true significance bears a similarity to a sense which is not meant; (4) that of which the true meaning is known only by referring it to what is termed Muhkam; (5) that which cannot be rightly understood without repeated consideration; (6) a verse which contains teaching corresponding to or resembling those contained in the previous revealed Scriptures (Mufradat).
Ta’wil means, (1) interpretation or explanation; (2) conjecture about the meaning of a speech or writing; (3) turning away a speech or writing from its right interpretation; (4) interpretation of a dream; (5) end, result or sequel of a thing (Lane). In this verse the word occurs twice; in the former place it gives the second or the third meaning, while in the latter it gives the first or the fifth meaning.
The verse lays down the golden rule that, in order to prove a controversial point, the decisive and clearly worded parts of a Scripture should be taken into consideration, and if these are found to contradict the construction put upon a certain ambiguous passage that passage should be so interpreted as to make it harmonize with the decisive and clearly worded parts of the text. According to the verse, the Qur’an has two sets of verses. Some are Muhkam (firm and decisive in meaning) and others Mutashabih (capable of different interpretations). The right way to interpret a Mutashabih verse is that only such interpretation of it should be accepted as agrees with the verses that are Muhkam. In 39:24 the whole of the Qur’an is called Mutashabih and in 11:2 all the Quranic verses have been described as Muhkam. This should not be taken as contradicting the verse under comment, according to which some verses of the Qur’an are Muhkam and others Mutashabih
11:2.
39:24.
7:54; 18:79.
4:163.
Important Words:
محکمات (decisive in meaning) is derived from احکم which again is derived from حکم which means, he decided or he judged; he prevented or restrained or withheld. احکمه means, he rendered it firm, stable and secure; he restrained it. Hence محکم means: (1) that which has been made secure from change or alteration; (2) that in which there is no ambiguity or possibility of doubt; (3) that which is clear in meaning and decisive in exposition (Aqrab, Mufradat & Lane).
ام (basis) is the noun-infinitive from ام (amma), i.e. he aimed at or sought or took himself to. ام possesses a variety of meanings some of which are: (1) mother; (2) source or origin or basis of a thing; (3) anything which is a means of sustenance and support or of reformation and correction for another; (4) anything to which other things surrounding it are linked (Aqrab & Mufradat).
متشابھات (susceptible of different interpretations) is the plural of متشابھة which is derived from شبه. They say شبھه به i.e. he made it to be like that; he likened it to that. شبه علیه الامر means, he rendered the affair confused or obscure or ambiguous to him. تشابه الرجلان means, the two men were so like each other that it was difficult to distinguish one from the other. متشابهmeans, mutually resembling. Thus the expressions متشابھه is used about (1) that phrase, sentence or verse which is susceptible of different, though concordant, interpretations; or (2) that whose parts resemble or are concordant with one another; or (3) that whose true significance bears a similarity to a sense which is not meant; or (4) that of which the true meaning is known only by referring it to what is termed محکم (decisive); or (5) that which cannot be rightly understood without repeated consideration (Aqrab, Lane & Mufradat).
زیغ (perversity) is the noun-infinitive from زاغ which means, he declined or deviated, or turned aside from the right course. So زیغ means, deviation from the truth or the right course; crookedness; doubt. ازاغه means, he made him deviate from the right course (Aqrab & Mufradat).
تاویله (its interpretation). تاویل is the noun-infinitive from اول which is derived from آل i.e. he or it turned or returned. اولهmeans, he caused it or him to turn or return. اول الکلام means, he interpreted or explained the speech or writing. اول الرؤیاmeans, he interpreted the dream. تاویل means, (1) interpretation or explanation; (2) conjecture about the meaning of a speech or writing; (3) turning away a speech or writing from its right interpretation; (4) interpretation of a dream; (5) end, result or sequel of a thing (Lane & Aqrab). In the present verse the word تاویل occurs twice, the first-mentioned تاویلgiving the second or the third meaning, while the second-mentioned gives the first or the fifth meaning.
الراسخون (firmly grounded) is the plural of الراسخ which is derived from رسخ i.e. he or it was or became firm, stable or established. رسخ الشیءmeans, the thing became firmly established. رسخ العلم فی قلبه means, knowledge became firmly established, or sank deep, in his heart. الراسخ فی العلم is one whose knowledge is extensive and deep-rooted, being firmly established and based on sure ground (Aqrab & Mufradat).
Commentary:
The verse, which was revealed when a party of Christians from Najran visited the Holy Prophet in Medina (Jarir), serves a fourfold purpose: (1) it gives the genesis of the later Christian doctrines and explains how the true original doctrines became perverted; (2) it tells how the critics of Islam, particularly the Christians, distort true Islamic teachings in order to find an excuse for attacking Islam; (3) it warns Muslims to take a lesson from the history of Christians; and (4) it supplies a sure and trustworthy principle of interpreting revealed Books, or, for that matter, any writing or speech, in a right manner.
What proved the perversion of the Christian faith was that expressions like "Son of God" etc. used metaphorically were taken literally and the simple and straightforward faith of Jesus was transformed out of all recognition, the متشابهbeing given the place of محکم.
Again, it is on record that when the party of Christians, referred to above, visited the Holy Prophet and had a discussion with him on the godhead of Jesus, they, like clever casuists, who when it suits their purpose tear a passage from its context and then base their arguments on it, asked the Holy Prophet if the words کلمة الله (word of God) and روح(spirit) were used about Jesus in the Quran, and, receiving an answer in the affirmative, joyfully exclaimed that the divinity of Jesus was thereby proved. They did not care to ponder over the explanation of these words in their context, which did not at all bear out the sense which they thought they possessed. It is to such objectionable practices that allusion is made in this verse, which lays down the golden rule that, in order to prove a controversial point, the decisive and clearly worded parts of a Scripture should be taken into consideration, and that if they are found to contradict the construction put upon a certain ambiguous passage quoted in support of an argument, that interpretation should be rejected and the passage should be so interpreted as to make it harmonize with the decisive and clearly worded parts of the text.
This golden rule should always be observed whenever it is required to interpret or explain a passage which is susceptible of several interpretations and is not easily comprehensible. Its observance is all the more necessary when a seemingly difficult and knotty verse of the Quran is sought to be explained. Any interpretation which clashes with other verses of the Quran and runs counter to the clearly worded parts thereof should be rejected and only that interpretation which is in harmony with its basic principles should be accepted.
According to the verse, the Quran has two sets of verses. Some are محکم (decisive in meaning) and others متشابه(capable of different interpretations). The right way to interpret a متشابه verse is that only such interpretation of it should be accepted as agrees with the verses that are محکم and all other interpretations should be dismissed as incorrect. It is on record that one day the Holy Prophet, on hearing people disputing about the interpretation of certain verses of the Quran, angrily said: "Thus were ruined those who have gone before you. They interpreted certain parts of their scriptures in such a manner as to make them contradict other parts. But the Quran has been so revealed that different parts of it should corroborate one another. So do not reject any truth by making one part contradict the other. Act on what you understand thereof and refer that which you do not understand to those who know and understand it" (Musnad).
The above hadith also refutes the theory of abrogation, for it speaks of the Quran as a Book of which all parts corroborate one another and condemns those who think that some of its verses contradict others. To Ahmad, the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, goes the credit of exploding the so-called abrogation theory. He and his disciples have given convincing explanations of those verses which were previously regarded as abrogated.
It may be noted here that in 39:24 the whole Quran is called متشابه and in 11:2 all the Quranic verses have been described as محکم. This should not be taken as contradicting the verse under comment, according to which some verses of the Quran are محکم and others متشابه. The apparent in-consistency is easily explained. So far as the real significance of the Quranic verses is concerned the whole of the Quran is محکم (decisive), inasmuch as all its verses contain decisive and eternal truths. In another sense, however, the whole of the Quran is متشابه inasmuch as the Quranic verses have been so worded as to give, at one and the same time, several meanings equally true and good. The Quran is also متشابه (i.e.mutually resembling) in the sense that there is no contradiction or inconsistency in it, its different verses affording support to one another. But parts of it are certainly محکم or متشابه for different readers according to their mental and spiritual capacities, as the present verse points out.
As regards prophecies, those that are couched in plain and direct language, susceptible of only one meaning, would be regarded as محکم and those that are described in figurative or metaphorical language, capable of more than one interpretation, would be regarded as متشابه. The prophecies described in metaphorical language should, therefore, be interpreted in the light of the prophecies that have been clearly and literally fulfilled and also in the light of the basic and fundamental principles of Islam. For an example of محکم prophecies, the reader is referred to 58:22; whereas 28:86 contains a متشابه prophecy.
The term محکم may also be applied to such verses as embody full and complete commandments while متشابه verses are those which give only part of a certain commandment, and require to be read in conjunction with other verses to make a complete injunction.
Moreover, محکمات (decisive verses) generally deal with the Law and the doctrines of Faith, while متشابھات generally deal with topics of secondary importance or describe incidents in the lives of Prophets or the history of peoples and, while so doing, sometimes make use of idioms and phrases capable of different meanings. Such verses should not be so interpreted as to contradict the clear-worded tenets of the Faith.
The Arabic clause which has been translated as and none knows its right interpretation except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge; they say, ‘We believe in it; the whole is from our Lord', may be rendered in two ways, according as the pause is made after the word الله (Allah) or after the word العلم (knowledge). If the pause is made after العلم (knowledge), the clause would be translated as above and the term would in this case apply to verses pertaining to events of the past or verses containing general exhortation. If, however, the pause is made after الله (Allah), the term متشابھات would refer to prophecies of which the real interpretation is known to God only. In this case the clause would be translated as, "and none knows its interpretation except Allah; and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say, "We believe in it, the whole is from our Lord". Grammatically, both constructions are correct.
Finally, it may be noted that the use of metaphors, the main basis of متشابھات verses, in religious scriptures is necessary; (1) to assure vastness of meaning in the fewest of words; (2) to add beauty and grace to the style; and (3) to provide for the people a trial (ابتلاء) without which spiritual development and perfection is not possible.
c
11:2.
d
39:24.
e
7:54; 18:79.
f
4:163.
224
مُحْكَمْ (Muhkam) 的意思是: (1) 意义不会受到窜改或删减者; (2) 意义不含糊或不存在怀疑可能性者; (3) 意义清楚而解释明确者; (4) 包含«古兰经»特有教义的节文(مُفْرَدَات, Mufradat和Lane)。
225
اُمّ (Umm) 意指: (1) 母亲; (2) 事物的起源或基础; (3) 任何作为扶助、支持改革或修正另一事物手段的东西; (4) 与周围其它事物相联系的任何东西 (اَقْرَبْ, Aqrab和مُفْرَدَات, Mufradat)。
226
مُتَشَابِه (Mutashabih) 用於 (1)虽是一致, 但可以有不同解释的词语、句子或经节; (2) 彼此相似或一致的部分; (3) 经文的真正意义和没有表示出来的意义相类似的部分; (4) 经文的正确意思只有参照称为 مُحْكَمْ (Muhkam) 的经文才可知道; (5) 不经过反复考虑就不能正确理解的经文; (6) 经文含有的教义和先前启示的经文含有的教义相符或相似的部分 (مُفْرَدَات, Mufradat)。
227
تَأ وِيْل (Ta’wil) 意思是: (1) 解释或说明; (2) 讲话或文章的意义的推测; (3) 转变讲话或文章的正确解释; (4) 对梦的解释; (5) 事物的结束、结果或后果 (Lane)。在此节经文中该词出现两次。第一次的意思是 (2) 和 (3), 而第二次的意思是 (1) 或 (5)。
228
此节经文说明这样一个重要规则, 即为了证实一个有争论的观点, 应该考虑那明确而清楚的经文措辞。如果发现这些经文与某一意义不明确的章节的句子结构有抵触, 就应该把该章节解释得与措辞明确、清楚的经文相一致。根据此节经文来看, «古兰经» 有两种经文。一种是 مُحْكَمْ (Muhkam) 意义肯定而明确的, 另一种是 مُتَشَابِه (Mutashabih) 意义可作不同的解释的。正确解释 Mutashabih 经文的方法是, 只有把其经文解释得与 (Muhkam) 经文相一致。在39:24中, 整个 «古兰经» 被称作Mutashabih而在11:2中所有 «古兰经» 节文被说成是 Muhkam。这不应该被看作与在注释的这节经文相矛盾。根据在注解的这节经文, 有些 «古兰经» 节文是 Muhkam, 有些节文是 Mutashabih。就 «古兰经» 节文的真正意义而论, 整个 «古兰经» 是 Muhkam, 因为所有的节文包含明确而永恒的真理。然而, 从另一意义来说, 全本 «古兰经» 节文是Mutashabih, 因为 «古兰经» 每一节都同时表示几个同样正确和适当的意思, 就另一意义说, «古兰经» 也是Mutashabih 相互类似, 其中没有前后矛盾或相互不一致的地方, 不同的节文可以相互印证。(如同此节经文所指出的那样) 有些经文当然属於 (Muhkam), 有些属于Mutashabih, 这要看不同读者的知识、思想品质和天赋能力而定, 如本节所指示者。至于预言, 用明白、直接、只容许有一种意义的语言所表述的可以看作是 (Muhkam); 而用隐喻、能有不止一种解释的语言叙述的, 则可被看作 Mutashabih。因此, 应该按照确已实现了无疑的预言和伊斯兰教的基本原则来解释用隐喻的言语所叙述的预言。有关(Muhkam) 预言, 读者可参阅58:22; 而28:86则包含Mutashabih预言。(Muhkam) 这个词也适用那种包括充分而全面经律的经文; 而 Mutashabih经文只包容某一经律的一部分, 并且须与其它经文联系起来阅读, 才能形成一条完整的经律。مُحْكَمَات (Muhkamat) (明确的经文)通常论述伊斯兰教信仰的律令和教义; 而且 مُتَشَابِهَات (Mutashabihat) 论述次要的论题或叙述众先知的生平轶事或各民族史, 在论述中有时就用一些可能会产生不同意思的成语和短语。这样的经文的解释不应与措辞清楚的伊斯兰教信仰的教义相矛盾。这里可以注意到: 为了用最少的词来表达众多的意思, 为了使经文风格优雅, 为了使人们受到磨炼--------如果没有这种磨炼, 人们的心灵就不可能深化和完美--------就需要使用隐喻, 而隐喻是经典中Mutashabih经文的主要基础。
1
مُحْکَمٰتٌ محکمات سے مراد وہ آیات ہیں جن میں قرآن کریم کی خاص تعلیم بیان ہوئی ہے۔
2
مُتَشٰبِھٰتٌ سے مراد وہ آیات ہیں جن میں ایسی تعلیم ہے جو پہلی کتابوں میں بھی مذکور ہے۔
3
یعنی جو آیات پہلی کتب کی تعلیم سے ملتی ہیں وہ ان کو بگاڑ کر پہلی قوموں کی روایات کے تابع کر دیتے ہیں اور اس طرح قرآن کریم کی خوبی کو چھپا دیتے ہیں۔
a
11:2.
b
39:24.
c
7:54; 18:79.
d
4:163.
299
Important Words:
محکمات (decisive in meaning) is derived from احکم which again is derived from حکم which means, he decided or he judged; he prevented or restrained or withheld. احکمه means, he rendered it firm, stable and secure; he restrained it. Hence محکم means: (1) that which has been made secure from change or alteration; (2) that in which there is no ambiguity or possibility of doubt; (3) that which is clear in meaning and decisive in exposition (Aqrab, Mufradat & Lane).
ام (basis) is the noun-infinitive from ام (amma), i.e. he aimed at or sought or took himself to. ام possesses a variety of meanings some of which are: (1) mother; (2) source or origin or basis of a thing; (3) anything which is a means of sustenance and support or of reformation and correction for another; (4) anything to which other things surrounding it are linked (Aqrab & Mufradat).
متشابھات (susceptible of different interpretations) is the plural of متشابھة which is derived from شبه. They say شبھه به i.e. he made it to be like that; he likened it to that. شبه علیه الامر means, he rendered the affair confused or obscure or ambiguous to him. تشابه الرجلان means, the two men were so like each other that it was difficult to distinguish one from the other. متشابهmeans, mutually resembling. Thus the expressions متشابھه is used about (1) that phrase, sentence or verse which is susceptible of different, though concordant, interpretations; or (2) that whose parts resemble or are concordant with one another; or (3) that whose true significance bears a similarity to a sense which is not meant; or (4) that of which the true meaning is known only by referring it to what is termed محکم (decisive); or (5) that which cannot be rightly understood without repeated consideration (Aqrab, Lane & Mufradat).
زیغ (perversity) is the noun-infinitive from زاغ which means, he declined or deviated, or turned aside from the right course. So زیغ means, deviation from the truth or the right course; crookedness; doubt. ازاغه means, he made him deviate from the right course (Aqrab & Mufradat).
تاویله (its interpretation). تاویل is the noun-infinitive from اول which is derived from آل i.e. he or it turned or returned. اولهmeans, he caused it or him to turn or return. اول الکلام means, he interpreted or explained the speech or writing. اول الرؤیاmeans, he interpreted the dream. تاویل means, (1) interpretation or explanation; (2) conjecture about the meaning of a speech or writing; (3) turning away a speech or writing from its right interpretation; (4) interpretation of a dream; (5) end, result or sequel of a thing (Lane & Aqrab). In the present verse the word تاویل occurs twice, the first-mentioned تاویلgiving the second or the third meaning, while the second-mentioned gives the first or the fifth meaning.
الراسخون (firmly grounded) is the plural of الراسخ which is derived from رسخ i.e. he or it was or became firm, stable or established. رسخ الشیءmeans, the thing became firmly established. رسخ العلم فی قلبه means, knowledge became firmly established, or sank deep, in his heart. الراسخ فی العلم is one whose knowledge is extensive and deep-rooted, being firmly established and based on sure ground (Aqrab & Mufradat).
Commentary:
The verse, which was revealed when a party of Christians from Najran visited the Holy Prophet in Medina (Jarir), serves a fourfold purpose: (1) it gives the genesis of the later Christian doctrines and explains how the true original doctrines became perverted; (2) it tells how the critics of Islam, particularly the Christians, distort true Islamic teachings in order to find an excuse for attacking Islam; (3) it warns Muslims to take a lesson from the history of Christians; and (4) it supplies a sure and trustworthy principle of interpreting revealed Books, or, for that matter, any writing or speech, in a right manner.
What proved the perversion of the Christian faith was that expressions like "Son of God" etc. used metaphorically were taken literally and the simple and straightforward faith of Jesus was transformed out of all recognition, the متشابهbeing given the place of محکم.
Again, it is on record that when the party of Christians, referred to above, visited the Holy Prophet and had a discussion with him on the godhead of Jesus, they, like clever casuists, who when it suits their purpose tear a passage from its context and then base their arguments on it, asked the Holy Prophet if the words کلمة الله (word of God) and روح(spirit) were used about Jesus in the Quran, and, receiving an answer in the affirmative, joyfully exclaimed that the divinity of Jesus was thereby proved. They did not care to ponder over the explanation of these words in their context, which did not at all bear out the sense which they thought they possessed. It is to such objectionable practices that allusion is made in this verse, which lays down the golden rule that, in order to prove a controversial point, the decisive and clearly worded parts of a Scripture should be taken into consideration, and that if they are found to contradict the construction put upon a certain ambiguous passage quoted in support of an argument, that interpretation should be rejected and the passage should be so interpreted as to make it harmonize with the decisive and clearly worded parts of the text.
This golden rule should always be observed whenever it is required to interpret or explain a passage which is susceptible of several interpretations and is not easily comprehensible. Its observance is all the more necessary when a seemingly difficult and knotty verse of the Quran is sought to be explained. Any interpretation which clashes with other verses of the Quran and runs counter to the clearly worded parts thereof should be rejected and only that interpretation which is in harmony with its basic principles should be accepted.
According to the verse, the Quran has two sets of verses. Some are محکم (decisive in meaning) and others متشابه(capable of different interpretations). The right way to interpret a متشابه verse is that only such interpretation of it should be accepted as agrees with the verses that are محکم and all other interpretations should be dismissed as incorrect. It is on record that one day the Holy Prophet, on hearing people disputing about the interpretation of certain verses of the Quran, angrily said: "Thus were ruined those who have gone before you. They interpreted certain parts of their scriptures in such a manner as to make them contradict other parts. But the Quran has been so revealed that different parts of it should corroborate one another. So do not reject any truth by making one part contradict the other. Act on what you understand thereof and refer that which you do not understand to those who know and understand it" (Musnad).
The above hadith also refutes the theory of abrogation, for it speaks of the Quran as a Book of which all parts corroborate one another and condemns those who think that some of its verses contradict others. To Ahmad, the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, goes the credit of exploding the so-called abrogation theory. He and his disciples have given convincing explanations of those verses which were previously regarded as abrogated.
It may be noted here that in 39:24 the whole Quran is called متشابه and in 11:2 all the Quranic verses have been described as محکم. This should not be taken as contradicting the verse under comment, according to which some verses of the Quran are محکم and others متشابه. The apparent in-consistency is easily explained. So far as the real significance of the Quranic verses is concerned the whole of the Quran is محکم (decisive), inasmuch as all its verses contain decisive and eternal truths. In another sense, however, the whole of the Quran is متشابه inasmuch as the Quranic verses have been so worded as to give, at one and the same time, several meanings equally true and good. The Quran is also متشابه (i.e.mutually resembling) in the sense that there is no contradiction or inconsistency in it, its different verses affording support to one another. But parts of it are certainly محکم or متشابه for different readers according to their mental and spiritual capacities, as the present verse points out.
As regards prophecies, those that are couched in plain and direct language, susceptible of only one meaning, would be regarded as محکم and those that are described in figurative or metaphorical language, capable of more than one interpretation, would be regarded as متشابه. The prophecies described in metaphorical language should, therefore, be interpreted in the light of the prophecies that have been clearly and literally fulfilled and also in the light of the basic and fundamental principles of Islam. For an example of محکم prophecies, the reader is referred to 58:22; whereas 28:86 contains a متشابه prophecy.
The term محکم may also be applied to such verses as embody full and complete commandments while متشابه verses are those which give only part of a certain commandment, and require to be read in conjunction with other verses to make a complete injunction.
Moreover, محکمات (decisive verses) generally deal with the Law and the doctrines of Faith, while متشابھات generally deal with topics of secondary importance or describe incidents in the lives of Prophets or the history of peoples and, while so doing, sometimes make use of idioms and phrases capable of different meanings. Such verses should not be so interpreted as to contradict the clear-worded tenets of the Faith.
The Arabic clause which has been translated as and none knows its right interpretation except Allah and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge; they say, ‘We believe in it; the whole is from our Lord', may be rendered in two ways, according as the pause is made after the word الله (Allah) or after the word العلم (knowledge). If the pause is made after العلم (knowledge), the clause would be translated as above and the term would in this case apply to verses pertaining to events of the past or verses containing general exhortation. If, however, the pause is made after الله (Allah), the term متشابھات would refer to prophecies of which the real interpretation is known to God only. In this case the clause would be translated as, "and none knows its interpretation except Allah; and those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say, "We believe in it, the whole is from our Lord". Grammatically, both constructions are correct.
Finally, it may be noted that the use of metaphors, the main basis of متشابھات verses, in religious scriptures is necessary; (1) to assure vastness of meaning in the fewest of words; (2) to add beauty and grace to the style; and (3) to provide for the people a trial (ابتلاء) without which spiritual development and perfection is not possible.
a
7:54; 18:79.
b
4:163.
d
11:2.
e
39:24.
369
Muhkam means, (1) that which has been made secure from change or alteration; (2) that in which there is no ambiguity or possibility of doubt; (3) that which is clear in meaning and decisive in exposition and (4) a verse which embodies a teaching special to the Qur’an (Mufradat & Lane).
370
Umm means, (1) mother; (2) source or origin or basis of a thing; (3) anything which is a means of sustenance and support or of reformation and correction for another; (4) anything to which other things around it are linked (Aqrab & Mufradat).
371
Mutashabih is used about (1) that phrase, sentence or verse which is susceptible of different, though concordant, interpretations; (2) that whose parts resemble or are concordant with one another; (3) that whose true significance bears a similarity to a sense which is not meant; (4) that of which the true meaning is known only by referring it to what is termed Muhkam; (5) that which cannot be rightly understood without repeated consideration; (6) a verse which contains teaching corresponding to or resembling those contained in the previous revealed Scriptures (Mufradat).
372
Ta’wil means, (1) interpretation or explanation; (2) conjecture about the meaning of a speech or writing; (3) turning away a speech or writing from its right interpretation; (4) interpretation of a dream; (5) end, result or sequel of a thing (Lane). In this verse the word occurs twice; in the former place it gives the second or the third meaning, while in the latter it gives the first or the fifth meaning.
373
The verse lays down the golden rule that, in order to prove a controversial point, the decisive and clearly worded parts of a Scripture should be taken into consideration, and if these are found to contradict the construction put upon a certain ambiguous passage that passage should be so interpreted as to make it harmonize with the decisive and clearly worded parts of the text. According to the verse, the Qur’an has two sets of verses. Some are Muhkam (firm and decisive in meaning) and others Mutashabih (capable of different interpretations). The right way to interpret a Mutashabih verse is that only such interpretation of it should be accepted as agrees with the verses that are Muhkam. In 39:24 the whole of the Qur’an is called Mutashabih and in 11:2 all the Quranic verses have been described as Muhkam. This should not be taken as contradicting the verse under comment, according to which some verses of the Qur’an are Muhkam and others Mutashabih
تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ اللّٰہِ نَتۡلُوۡہَا عَلَیۡکَ بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ وَاِنَّکَ لَمِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِیۡنَ
Commentary:
The story of Talut, Jalut and David has been fittingly concluded by God with the verse under comment to point out that these incidents have been referred to by the Quran not by way of telling a story but as divine signs in order to hint that the Prophet of Islam, being also a Messenger of God, is sure to receive at least the same help and succour as was received by His Messengers of yore.
259
Commentary:
The story of Talut, Jalut and David has been fittingly concluded by God with the verse under comment to point out that these incidents have been referred to by the Quran not by way of telling a story but as divine signs in order to hint that the Prophet of Islam, being also a Messenger of God, is sure to receive at least the same help and succour as was received by His Messengers of yore.
۞ لَّیۡسَ عَلَیۡکَ ہُدٰٮہُمۡ وَلٰکِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنۡفِقُوۡا مِنۡ خَیۡرٍ فَلِاَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ۚ وَمَا تُنۡفِقُوۡنَ اِلَّا ابۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡہِ اللّٰہِ ۚ وَمَا تُنۡفِقُوۡا مِنۡ خَیۡرٍ یُّوَفَّ اِلَیۡکُمۡ وَاَنۡتُمۡ لَا تُظۡلَمُوۡنَ
خَیْر کے معنے مال کے بھی ہیں اور اچھے مال کے بھی۔ یعنی جو اچھے ذرائع سے کمایا گیا ہو یا زیادہ ہو (مفردات)
28:57; 92:13.
2:282; 4:174; 8:61; 39:11.
The use of the word Khair, which also means, anything and everything good (Lane), enlarges the scope of charity and does not confine it to the spending of money alone. The word includes the doing of good in any shape or form.
These words constitute a great testimonial to the inherent goodness of the Companions of the Holy Prophet. It signifies that they needed no commandment to spend their wealth in Allah’s way. They were already doing it out of an instinctive desire to win His pleasure.
28:57; 92:13.
2:282; 4:174; 8:61; 39:11.
Commentary:
As the verse relates to believers, the word ھدی occurring in it does not mean "showing the right path," for believers have already accepted guidance. It means "making them follow the right path". It is indeed God alone Who can enable believers to continue treading on the right path and protect them from the dangers of the way. See also 2:6.
The Quran has here selected the word خیر (wealth) instead of any other word meaning wealth or property; for this word not only signifies "property" but "good and well-earned property". Nay, it signifies even more, for it extends to "anything and everything good". The choice of this word thus greatly extends the scope of charity and does not confine it to the spending of wealth alone. The expression includes the doing of good to mankind in any form.
The clause while you spend not but to seek the favour of Allah, is a great tribute to the Companions of the Holy Prophet. They are not bidden to spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of God, but are told that such is already their practice. This is also a form of exhortation which is considered to be more effective than a direct command or prohibition.
b
28:57; 92:13.
c
2:282; 4:174; 8:61; 39:11.
2
خَیْر کے معنے مال کے بھی ہیں اور اچھے مال کے بھی۔ یعنی جو اچھے ذرائع سے کمایا گیا ہو یا زیادہ ہو (مفردات)
a
28:57; 92:13.
b
2:282; 4:174; 8:61; 39:11.
279
Commentary:
As the verse relates to believers, the word ھدی occurring in it does not mean "showing the right path," for believers have already accepted guidance. It means "making them follow the right path". It is indeed God alone Who can enable believers to continue treading on the right path and protect them from the dangers of the way. See also 2:6.
The Quran has here selected the word خیر (wealth) instead of any other word meaning wealth or property; for this word not only signifies "property" but "good and well-earned property". Nay, it signifies even more, for it extends to "anything and everything good". The choice of this word thus greatly extends the scope of charity and does not confine it to the spending of wealth alone. The expression includes the doing of good to mankind in any form.
The clause while you spend not but to seek the favour of Allah, is a great tribute to the Companions of the Holy Prophet. They are not bidden to spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of God, but are told that such is already their practice. This is also a form of exhortation which is considered to be more effective than a direct command or prohibition.
b
28:57; 92:13.
c
2:282; 4:174; 8:61; 39:11.
344
The use of the word Khair, which also means, anything and everything good (Lane), enlarges the scope of charity and does not confine it to the spending of money alone. The word includes the doing of good in any shape or form.
345
These words constitute a great testimonial to the inherent goodness of the Companions of the Holy Prophet. It signifies that they needed no commandment to spend their wealth in Allah’s way. They were already doing it out of an instinctive desire to win His pleasure.
نَزَّلَ عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ بِالۡحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَیۡنَ یَدَیۡہِ وَاَنۡزَلَ التَّوۡرٰٮۃَ وَالۡاِنۡجِیۡلَ
4:106; 5:49; 29:52; 39:3.
حَقَّ (Haqqa) 的意思, 它曾是 (或它已成为了) 正当的, 正确的, 真实的, 可靠的, 真正的, 结实的或实际的; 或者这曾是 (或成为了) 一种既成或确认的事实; 或者它曾是 (或成为了) 有约束力的, 义不容辞的或应该有的 (Lane)。بِالْحَقّ (Bil-Haqq) 这一用语意指, (1) «古兰经» 包含的教义基础是永恒的真理, 是不能被攻击得了的; (2) 首先接受 «古兰经» 的人是最适宜於接受它的民族; (3) 它在适当的时候来到并满足人类一切真实的需要; (4) 它已扎下了根, 反对它的人无力能够摧毁它或窜改它。
اِنْجِيْل (Injil) 的意思是好消息, 根据 اَقْرَبْ (Aqrab) 的见解, 这是一个希腊字。(不是源于阿拉伯文的字根,)而英文 “Evangel” (福音) 一字源出於此字。«福音书» 之所以称为 «福音书» 是, 因为书中的内容不仅是对于那些接受了伊撒的人们是 “好消息”, 而且还因为它包容关於最伟大的穆圣降临的预言。先知伊撒 (耶稣) 穆圣的降生说成是养主自己的降临 (马太福音21:40)。这个字不是指现行的四 «福音书», 现行的四 «福音书» 是由伊撒的追随者在他受难很久之后写成的。只记叙伊撒的生平及其教诲, 这个字是指伊撒所得到的真正启示。
4:106; 5:49; 29:52; 39:3.
Haqqa means, it was or became just, proper, right, true, authentic, genuine, substantial or real; or it was or became an established or confirmed fact; or it was or became binding, incumbent or due (Lane). The expression Bil-Haqq signifies, (1) that the Qur’an comprises teachings which are based on eternal truths and are incapable of being successfully assailed; (2) that its first recipients are the people best suited to receive it; (3) that it has come in the fulness of time and fulfils all true human needs; (4) that it has come to stay and no effort on the part of its opponents can destroy or tamper with it.
The word, Taurat, is derived from Wara which means, he burnt; he concealed (Aqrab). Taurat is so called probably because in its pristine purity reading it and acting upon its teaching kindled in the heart of men the fire of Divine love. Possibly, the word also contains a hint that bright prophecies about the advent of the last Law-giving Prophet lie hidden in the Book. Taurat is the name applied to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The name is also sometimes applied to the Ten Commandments.
Injil, which means, good news, is, according to Aqrab, a Greek word (un-derived from any Arabic root) from which the English word "Evangel" is derived. The Gospels were so called because they contained not only "good news" for those who accepted Jesus but also because they contained prophecies about the advent of the greatest Prophet whose coming Jesus had described as the coming of the Lord Himself (Matt. 21: 40). The word does not refer to the present four Gospels which were written by the followers of Jesus long after his crucifixion and which give merely an account of his life and teachings, but to the actual revelation received by Jesus.
4:106; 5:49; 29:52; 39:3.
Important Words:
بالحق (containing the truth). الحق is derived from حق i.e. it was or became just, proper, right, true, authentic, genuine, substantial or real; or it was or became an established or confirmed truth or fact; or it was or became binding, incumbent or due. So حق means, a truth; an established fact; a right; equity and justice; a thing that is decreed or destined; a thing suitable to the requirements of wisdom, justice, truth and right. الحق is one of the names of God, meaning the Really Existing God; or the Creator according to the requirements of wisdom, justice and right. The word is also applied to the Quran and the religion of Islam (Lane). See also 2:181.
توراة (Torah) is believed to be a Hebrew word. In Arabic it is said to be derived from وری. They say وری النار i.e. the fire burnt. وری الزند means, he made the fire-producing wood or steel produce fire. وری الخبر means, he concealed the news. وری عن کذا means, he meant one thing but by using equivocal expressions made the listener think of another (Aqrab). In view of these significations of the word, توراة (Torah) is so called probably because in its pristine purity reading it and acting upon its teaching kindled in the heart of man the fire of Divine love. Possibly, the word also contains a hint that bright prophecies about the advent of the final Law-giving Prophet lie hidden in the Book. In Hebrew the root meaning of the word is "to teach", the word Torah meaning, "instruction or precept or law" (Gesenius). Torah is the name applied to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The name may have its origin in the popular Jewish belief that "the original Pentateuch, like everything celestial, consisted of fire, being written in block letters of flame upon a white ground of fire" (Jew. Enc. xii. 197). The name Torah is also sometimes applied to the Ten Commandments.
انجیل (Gospel) is probably of Greek origin from which the English form "Evangel" (good news) is derived. The word Evangel was formerly freely used in place of Gospel, but is now archaic. In Arabic نجله ابوہ (najalahu) means, his father begot him. نجل الشیء means, he laid bare or disclosed the thing. نجل الارض means, he tore open or ploughed the land for the purpose of sowing seed. نجل الرجل (najila) means, the man’s eyes were large and beautiful. The word انجیل which, according to Aqrab, is a Greek word underived from any Arabic root, means بشارة i.e. good news.
مصدقًا (fulfilling). See 2:42.
الفرقان (Discrimination). See 2:54.
Commentary:
The expression بالحق rendered as "containing the truth" (lit. "with truth") means:(1) that the Quran comprises true teachings which are based on eternal truth and are incapable of being successfully assailed; (2) that the Quran has been sent rightly, meaning that the first recipients of it were the fittest people to receive it; (3) that it has come in the fullness of time and fulfils a true need; (4) that it has come to stay and no effort on the part of its opponents can succeed in destroying or tampering with it. See Important Words above.
انجیل means "good news", and the Gospels are so called because they contained not only "good news" for those who accepted Jesus, but also because they contained prophecies about the advent of the Greatest of the Prophets whose coming Jesus described as the coming of the Lord Himself (Matt. 21:40) or as the advent of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). They also contain prophecies about the advent in the Latter Days of Jesus’ own counterpart, the Promised Messiah.
The word انجیل occurring in the verse does not refer to the present four Gospels which were written by the followers of Jesus long after his so-called crucifixion and which give merely an account of his life and teachings. The word refers to the actual revelation received by Jesus from God. The present Gospels do indeed contain a part of that revelation, but Divine words have become so mixed up with the sayings of Jesus himself that in many cases it is difficult to distinguish between the two. The Gospels contain a good deal of matter which is admittedly not of Divine origin.
The saying of the Holy Prophet, صدورھم اناجیلھم i.e. "the breasts of my Companions are like Gospels" (Lisan), sheds some light on the significance and position of the Gospels. This saying of the Prophet means that the breasts of his Companions were repositories of his life history and teachings which are indeed a great gospel. It may be inferred from this that the position of the present Gospels is analogous to that of the collections of Hadith, such as Bukhari, Muslim, etc.
The clause, He sent down the Torah and the Gospel before this as a guidance, means that before the Quran was revealed, the Torah and the Gospels provided spiritual guidance for men but that their place was now taken by the Quran which has come as a guidance for all time and all mankind.
d
4:106; 5:49; 29:52; 39:3.
221A
حَقَّ (Haqqa) 的意思, 它曾是 (或它已成为了) 正当的, 正确的, 真实的, 可靠的, 真正的, 结实的或实际的; 或者这曾是 (或成为了) 一种既成或确认的事实; 或者它曾是 (或成为了) 有约束力的, 义不容辞的或应该有的 (Lane)。بِالْحَقّ (Bil-Haqq) 这一用语意指, (1) «古兰经» 包含的教义基础是永恒的真理, 是不能被攻击得了的; (2) 首先接受 «古兰经» 的人是最适宜於接受它的民族; (3) 它在适当的时候来到并满足人类一切真实的需要; (4) 它已扎下了根, 反对它的人无力能够摧毁它或窜改它。
222
اِنْجِيْل (Injil) 的意思是好消息, 根据 اَقْرَبْ (Aqrab) 的见解, 这是一个希腊字。(不是源于阿拉伯文的字根,)而英文 “Evangel” (福音) 一字源出於此字。«福音书» 之所以称为 «福音书» 是, 因为书中的内容不仅是对于那些接受了伊撒的人们是 “好消息”, 而且还因为它包容关於最伟大的穆圣降临的预言。先知伊撒 (耶稣) 穆圣的降生说成是养主自己的降临 (马太福音21:40)。这个字不是指现行的四 «福音书», 现行的四 «福音书» 是由伊撒的追随者在他受难很久之后写成的。只记叙伊撒的生平及其教诲, 这个字是指伊撒所得到的真正启示。
a
4:106; 5:49; 29:52; 39:3.
295
Important Words:
بالحق (containing the truth). الحق is derived from حق i.e. it was or became just, proper, right, true, authentic, genuine, substantial or real; or it was or became an established or confirmed truth or fact; or it was or became binding, incumbent or due. So حق means, a truth; an established fact; a right; equity and justice; a thing that is decreed or destined; a thing suitable to the requirements of wisdom, justice, truth and right. الحق is one of the names of God, meaning the Really Existing God; or the Creator according to the requirements of wisdom, justice and right. The word is also applied to the Quran and the religion of Islam (Lane). See also 2:181.
توراة (Torah) is believed to be a Hebrew word. In Arabic it is said to be derived from وری. They say وری النار i.e. the fire burnt. وری الزند means, he made the fire-producing wood or steel produce fire. وری الخبر means, he concealed the news. وری عن کذا means, he meant one thing but by using equivocal expressions made the listener think of another (Aqrab). In view of these significations of the word, توراة (Torah) is so called probably because in its pristine purity reading it and acting upon its teaching kindled in the heart of man the fire of Divine love. Possibly, the word also contains a hint that bright prophecies about the advent of the final Law-giving Prophet lie hidden in the Book. In Hebrew the root meaning of the word is "to teach", the word Torah meaning, "instruction or precept or law" (Gesenius). Torah is the name applied to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The name may have its origin in the popular Jewish belief that "the original Pentateuch, like everything celestial, consisted of fire, being written in block letters of flame upon a white ground of fire" (Jew. Enc. xii. 197). The name Torah is also sometimes applied to the Ten Commandments.
انجیل (Gospel) is probably of Greek origin from which the English form "Evangel" (good news) is derived. The word Evangel was formerly freely used in place of Gospel, but is now archaic. In Arabic نجله ابوہ (najalahu) means, his father begot him. نجل الشیء means, he laid bare or disclosed the thing. نجل الارض means, he tore open or ploughed the land for the purpose of sowing seed. نجل الرجل (najila) means, the man’s eyes were large and beautiful. The word انجیل which, according to Aqrab, is a Greek word underived from any Arabic root, means بشارة i.e. good news.
مصدقًا (fulfilling). See 2:42.
الفرقان (Discrimination). See 2:54.
Commentary:
The expression بالحق rendered as "containing the truth" (lit. "with truth") means:(1) that the Quran comprises true teachings which are based on eternal truth and are incapable of being successfully assailed; (2) that the Quran has been sent rightly, meaning that the first recipients of it were the fittest people to receive it; (3) that it has come in the fullness of time and fulfils a true need; (4) that it has come to stay and no effort on the part of its opponents can succeed in destroying or tampering with it. See Important Words above.
انجیل means "good news", and the Gospels are so called because they contained not only "good news" for those who accepted Jesus, but also because they contained prophecies about the advent of the Greatest of the Prophets whose coming Jesus described as the coming of the Lord Himself (Matt. 21:40) or as the advent of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15). They also contain prophecies about the advent in the Latter Days of Jesus’ own counterpart, the Promised Messiah.
The word انجیل occurring in the verse does not refer to the present four Gospels which were written by the followers of Jesus long after his so-called crucifixion and which give merely an account of his life and teachings. The word refers to the actual revelation received by Jesus from God. The present Gospels do indeed contain a part of that revelation, but Divine words have become so mixed up with the sayings of Jesus himself that in many cases it is difficult to distinguish between the two. The Gospels contain a good deal of matter which is admittedly not of Divine origin.
The saying of the Holy Prophet, صدورھم اناجیلھم i.e. "the breasts of my Companions are like Gospels" (Lisan), sheds some light on the significance and position of the Gospels. This saying of the Prophet means that the breasts of his Companions were repositories of his life history and teachings which are indeed a great gospel. It may be inferred from this that the position of the present Gospels is analogous to that of the collections of Hadith, such as Bukhari, Muslim, etc.
The clause, He sent down the Torah and the Gospel before this as a guidance, means that before the Quran was revealed, the Torah and the Gospels provided spiritual guidance for men but that their place was now taken by the Quran which has come as a guidance for all time and all mankind.
a
4:106; 5:49; 29:52; 39:3.
364
Haqqa means, it was or became just, proper, right, true, authentic, genuine, substantial or real; or it was or became an established or confirmed fact; or it was or became binding, incumbent or due (Lane). The expression Bil-Haqq signifies, (1) that the Qur’an comprises teachings which are based on eternal truths and are incapable of being successfully assailed; (2) that its first recipients are the people best suited to receive it; (3) that it has come in the fulness of time and fulfils all true human needs; (4) that it has come to stay and no effort on the part of its opponents can destroy or tamper with it.
365
The word, Taurat, is derived from Wara which means, he burnt; he concealed (Aqrab). Taurat is so called probably because in its pristine purity reading it and acting upon its teaching kindled in the heart of men the fire of Divine love. Possibly, the word also contains a hint that bright prophecies about the advent of the last Law-giving Prophet lie hidden in the Book. Taurat is the name applied to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The name is also sometimes applied to the Ten Commandments.
366
Injil, which means, good news, is, according to Aqrab, a Greek word (un-derived from any Arabic root) from which the English word "Evangel" is derived. The Gospels were so called because they contained not only "good news" for those who accepted Jesus but also because they contained prophecies about the advent of the greatest Prophet whose coming Jesus had described as the coming of the Lord Himself (Matt. 21: 40). The word does not refer to the present four Gospels which were written by the followers of Jesus long after his crucifixion and which give merely an account of his life and teachings, but to the actual revelation received by Jesus.
فَاِنۡ حَآجُّوۡکَ فَقُلۡ اَسۡلَمۡتُ وَجۡہِیَ لِلّٰہِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ ۗ وَقُل لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ وَالۡاُمِّیّٖنَ ءَاَسۡلَمۡتُمۡ ۚ فَاِنۡ اَسۡلَمُوۡا فَقَدِ اہۡتَدَوۡا ۖ وَّاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَاِنَّمَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡبَلٰغُ ۗ وَاللّٰہُ بَصِیۡرٌۢ بِالۡعِبَادِ
4:126.
5:93, 100; 13:41; 16:83.
People of the Book and Ummiyyin (those who follow no revealed Book) comprise the whole of mankind.
See {113A} and {1058}.
If the People of the Book and those who follow no revealed Scripture were to surrender themselves to God, they would surely accept the Holy Prophet and be rightly guided, the former because clear prophecies are found in their Scriptures regarding him and the latter because of the combined testimony of nature, human conscience and common sense.
4:126.
5:93, 100; 13:41; 16:83.
Important Words:
امیین (the unlearned), see 2:79.
الذین اوتوا الکتاب (those who have been given the Book), i.e. the People of the Book. The two expressions, i.e. امیین and الذین اوتوا الکتاب comprise the whole of mankind. الذین اوتوا الکتاب are those people who possess and profess to follow a revealed scripture; and امیون are those who accept and follow no such Book.
Commentary:
If the People of the Book and those who follow no revealed Scripture were to submit to God, they would surely accept the Holy Prophet and be rightly guided, the former because clear prophecies are found in their Scriptures regarding him and the latter because of the combined testimony of nature, human conscience and common sense. Submission to God is the source of all true guidance. One stumbles and loses the right path only when one deviates from the course of submission, bowing to authorities other than God.
a
4:126.
b
5:93, 100; 13:41; 16:83.
a
4:126.
b
5:93, 100; 13:41; 16:83.
312
Important Words:
امیین (the unlearned), see 2:79.
الذین اوتوا الکتاب (those who have been given the Book), i.e. the People of the Book. The two expressions, i.e. امیین and الذین اوتوا الکتاب comprise the whole of mankind. الذین اوتوا الکتاب are those people who possess and profess to follow a revealed scripture; and امیون are those who accept and follow no such Book.
Commentary:
If the People of the Book and those who follow no revealed Scripture were to submit to God, they would surely accept the Holy Prophet and be rightly guided, the former because clear prophecies are found in their Scriptures regarding him and the latter because of the combined testimony of nature, human conscience and common sense. Submission to God is the source of all true guidance. One stumbles and loses the right path only when one deviates from the course of submission, bowing to authorities other than God.
a
4:126.
b
5:93, 100; 13:41; 16:83.
384
People of the Book and Ummiyyin (those who follow no revealed Book) comprise the whole of mankind.
385
See {113A} and {1058}.
386
If the People of the Book and those who follow no revealed Scripture were to surrender themselves to God, they would surely accept the Holy Prophet and be rightly guided, the former because clear prophecies are found in their Scriptures regarding him and the latter because of the combined testimony of nature, human conscience and common sense.
ذٰلِکَ نَتۡلُوۡہُ عَلَیۡکَ مِنَ الۡاٰیٰتِ وَالذِّکۡرِ الۡحَکِیۡمِ
Commentary:
The story of Jesus, as narrated in the verse, is not a mere thing of the past. It is meant to shed new light on events that form the basis of the doctrines of a large section of humanity as well as to provide a lesson for the future.
347
Commentary:
The story of Jesus, as narrated in the verse, is not a mere thing of the past. It is meant to shed new light on events that form the basis of the doctrines of a large section of humanity as well as to provide a lesson for the future.
وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیۡکَ وَرَحۡمَتُہٗ لَہَمَّت طَّآئِفَۃٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ اَنۡ یُّضِلُّوۡکَ وَمَا یُضِلُّوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ ۖ وَمَا یَضُرُّوۡنَکَ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ۚ وَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ وَالۡحِکۡمَۃَ وَعَلَّمَکَ مَا لَمۡ تَکُنۡ تَعۡلَمُ ۚ وَکَانَ فَضۡلُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیۡکَ عَظِیۡمًا
یہاں فضل کَانَ کا اسم ہے لیکن ایسے موقع پر اردو میں اسے مبتدا نہیں بنا سکتے اس وجہ سے ’’اور اللہ کا فضل تجھ پر بہت بڑا ہے‘‘ کی بجائے ’’تجھ پر اللہ کا (بہت) بڑا فضل ہے‘‘ ترجمہ کیا گیا ہے۔
17:74.
42:53; 96:6.
The words Fadl (grace) and Rahmah (mercy), though general in their significance, sometimes denote, "worldly goods" and "spiritual blessings" respectively (2:65). Thus the verse would mean that the Holy Prophet enjoyed God’s protection in temporal as well as in spiritual matters.
The Hypocrites adopted various ways to bring the Holy Prophet to grief. They would try to mislead him into coming to a wrong decision in matters of vital importance. But their evil designs were always frustrated because he was invariably led by God to the right course concerning matters affecting the future of Islam.
17:74.
42:52; 96:6.
Important Words:
یضلوك (bring about thy ruin). See 2:27.
Commentary:
Various were the ways the hypocrites adopted to bring the Holy Prophet to grief. They would try to mislead him into coming to a wrong decision on a matter of vital importance. But their evil designs were always frustrated because the Holy Prophet was invariably led by God to the right course concerning matters affecting the future of Islam.
The words فضل (grace) and رحمة (mercy), though also general in their significance, sometimes denote "worldly good" and "spiritual blessings" respectively (see 2:65). In this case, the verse would mean that the Holy Prophet enjoyed God’s protection in temporal as well as spiritual matters.
a
17:74.
b
42:53; 96:6.
345
فَضْل (Fadl) (恩典) 和 رَحْمَةْ (Rahmah) (仁慈)这两个字有其一般的含义。但有时分别指 “财产” 和 “精神上的恩惠” (2:65)。因此, 这节经文的意思是, 穆圣受到安拉在精神和肉体方面的保护。
1
یہاں فضل کَانَ کا اسم ہے لیکن ایسے موقع پر اردو میں اسے مبتدا نہیں بنا سکتے اس وجہ سے ’’اور اللہ کا فضل تجھ پر بہت بڑا ہے‘‘ کی بجائے ’’تجھ پر اللہ کا (بہت) بڑا فضل ہے‘‘ ترجمہ کیا گیا ہے۔
a
17:74.
b
42:52; 96:6.
580
Important Words:
یضلوك (bring about thy ruin). See 2:27.
Commentary:
Various were the ways the hypocrites adopted to bring the Holy Prophet to grief. They would try to mislead him into coming to a wrong decision on a matter of vital importance. But their evil designs were always frustrated because the Holy Prophet was invariably led by God to the right course concerning matters affecting the future of Islam.
The words فضل (grace) and رحمة (mercy), though also general in their significance, sometimes denote "worldly good" and "spiritual blessings" respectively (see 2:65). In this case, the verse would mean that the Holy Prophet enjoyed God’s protection in temporal as well as spiritual matters.
a
17:74.
b
42:53; 96:6.
668
The words Fadl (grace) and Rahmah (mercy), though general in their significance, sometimes denote, "worldly goods" and "spiritual blessings" respectively (2:65). Thus the verse would mean that the Holy Prophet enjoyed God’s protection in temporal as well as in spiritual matters.
669
The Hypocrites adopted various ways to bring the Holy Prophet to grief. They would try to mislead him into coming to a wrong decision in matters of vital importance. But their evil designs were always frustrated because he was invariably led by God to the right course concerning matters affecting the future of Islam.
تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ اللّٰہِ نَتۡلُوۡہَا عَلَیۡکَ بِالۡحَقِّ ۗ وَمَا اللّٰہُ یُرِیۡدُ ظُلۡمًا لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ
بِالْحَقّ (Bil-Haqq) (字面意义为“有真理”, 译为包容真理) 这用语的第一个意思是: 安拉的迹象或安拉的话充满真理, 其次表示它们有权出现, 也就是说, 你们有权接受它们: 第三个意思是启示的合适时间。另见221A。
The expression Bil-Haqq (lit. 'with truth' and translated as, comprising the truth) signifies, firstly, that these Signs or words of God are full of truth; secondly, they have come as a matter of right, i.e. you had a right to receive them; thirdly, this was the proper time for their revelation. See also {364}.
Important Words:
The words بالحق (lit. 'with truth' and translated as, while they comprise the truth) signify, firstly, that these Signs or words of God are full of truths; secondly, that they have come as a matter of right, i.e. you had a right to receive them; thirdly, that this was the proper time for their recital. See also 3:4.
The words, Allah wills not any wrong, mean that by calling upon mankind to accept the Holy Prophet, God does not intend to cause them harm; in fact, He desires to have mercy on them. The interests of mankind required that a Prophet should have been sent to them.
270
بِالْحَقّ (Bil-Haqq) (字面意义为“有真理”, 译为包容真理) 这用语的第一个意思是: 安拉的迹象或安拉的话充满真理, 其次表示它们有权出现, 也就是说, 你们有权接受它们: 第三个意思是启示的合适时间。另见221A。
394
Important Words:
The words بالحق (lit. 'with truth' and translated as, while they comprise the truth) signify, firstly, that these Signs or words of God are full of truths; secondly, that they have come as a matter of right, i.e. you had a right to receive them; thirdly, that this was the proper time for their recital. See also 3:4.
The words, Allah wills not any wrong, mean that by calling upon mankind to accept the Holy Prophet, God does not intend to cause them harm; in fact, He desires to have mercy on them. The interests of mankind required that a Prophet should have been sent to them.
456
The expression Bil-Haqq (lit. 'with truth' and translated as, comprising the truth) signifies, firstly, that these Signs or words of God are full of truth; secondly, they have come as a matter of right, i.e. you had a right to receive them; thirdly, this was the proper time for their revelation. See also {364}.
وَلَوۡ نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ کِتٰبًا فِیۡ قِرۡطَاسٍ فَلَمَسُوۡہُ بِاَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ لَقَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ
They had made sure that it was a heavenly and not an earthly thing.
Important Words:
قرطاس (parchment) means paper; a roll or scroll of paper; anything one writes upon; a writing or book; a butt or target (Lane).
Commentary:
The words, and they had felt it with their hands, mean, "and they had made sure that it was a heavenly thing and not an earthly one". The words also embody a beautiful allusion to the spiritual blindness of the people. Being blind, they cannot see; so they have to feel with their hands.
The verse signifies that when a man gives himself up to doubting, nothing, however clear and manifest, can convince him.
755
Important Words:
قرطاس (parchment) means paper; a roll or scroll of paper; anything one writes upon; a writing or book; a butt or target (Lane).
Commentary:
The words, and they had felt it with their hands, mean, "and they had made sure that it was a heavenly thing and not an earthly one". The words also embody a beautiful allusion to the spiritual blindness of the people. Being blind, they cannot see; so they have to feel with their hands.
The verse signifies that when a man gives himself up to doubting, nothing, however clear and manifest, can convince him.
825
They had made sure that it was a heavenly and not an earthly thing.
وَرُسُلًا قَدۡ قَصَصۡنٰہُمۡ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ وَرُسُلًا لَّمۡ نَقۡصُصۡہُمۡ عَلَیۡکَ ۚ وَکَلَّمَ اللّٰہُ مُوۡسٰی تَکۡلِیۡمًا
40:79.
The Qur’an mentions by name only 24 Prophets whereas according to a saying of the Holy Prophet as many as 124,000 Prophets appeared in the world (Musnad, v. 266). Elsewhere, the Qur’an says: There is not a people to whom a Warner has not been sent (35:25).
Besides the translation given in the text, the clause also means, "to Moses Allah spoke particularly or directly".
40:79.
Commentary:
The Quran mentions only 24 Prophets by name, whereas a saying of the Holy Prophet states that as many as 124,000 Prophets have appeared in the world (Musnad, v. 266). Elsewhere the Quran says: There is not a people to whom a warner has not been sent (35:25).
For an explanation of the clause, and Allah spoke to Moses particularly, see the preceding verse.
i
40:79.
362
«古兰经» 中另一处说: 每一个民族都有过传警告者 (35:25)。而按照穆圣的说法, 世界上降下的先知多达1,24,000位。 (مُسْنَدْ, Musnad, 穆斯纳德266节)
c
40:79.
628
Commentary:
The Quran mentions only 24 Prophets by name, whereas a saying of the Holy Prophet states that as many as 124,000 Prophets have appeared in the world (Musnad, v. 266). Elsewhere the Quran says: There is not a people to whom a warner has not been sent (35:25).
For an explanation of the clause, and Allah spoke to Moses particularly, see the preceding verse.
c
40:79.
707
The Qur’an mentions by name only 24 Prophets whereas according to a saying of the Holy Prophet as many as 124,000 Prophets appeared in the world (Musnad, v. 266). Elsewhere, the Qur’an says: There is not a people to whom a Warner has not been sent (35:25).
707A
Besides the translation given in the text, the clause also means, "to Moses Allah spoke particularly or directly".
اِذۡ قَالَ اللّٰہُ یٰعِیۡسَی ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ اذۡکُرۡ نِعۡمَتِیۡ عَلَیۡکَ وَعَلٰی وٰلِدَتِکَ اِذۡ اَیَّدتُّکَ بِرُوۡحِ الۡقُدُسِ تُکَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِی الۡمَہۡدِ وَکَہۡلًا ۖ وَّاِذۡ عَلَّمۡتُکَ الۡکِتٰبَ وَالۡحِکۡمَۃَ وَالتَّوۡرٰٮۃَ وَالۡاِنۡجِیۡلَ ۖ وَاِذۡ تَخۡلُقُ مِنَ الطِّیۡنِ کَہَیۡـَٔۃِ الطَّیۡرِ بِاِذۡنِیۡ فَتَنۡفُخُ فِیۡہَا فَتَکُوۡنُ طَیۡرًۢا بِاِذۡنِیۡ ۖ وَتُبۡرِئُ الۡاَکۡمَہَ وَالۡاَبۡرَصَ بِاِذۡنِیۡ ۖ وَاِذۡ تُخۡرِجُ الۡمَوۡتٰی بِاِذۡنِیۡ ۖ وَاِذۡ کَفَفۡتُ بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرٰٓءِیۡلَ عَنۡکَ اِذۡ جِئۡتَہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَقَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مِنۡہُمۡ اِنۡ ہٰذَاۤ اِلَّا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ
3:49.
3:50.
2:88; 2:254.
3:47.
在摇篮里讲话这个动作意指在童年时期讲智慧和孝顺的话。伊撒讲这种话反映他对他母亲的极大的信任。玛尔彦自己是一个贤慧和虔诚的妇女, 把伊撒扶养成为聪明和孝顺的孩子。在成熟之年说的言语, 表明不仅玛尔彦是一个虔诚的女人, 而伊撒也是一个正义的男子汉。因此, 即使他在中年, 不再直接受他母亲的影响, 他讲的话还是充满智慧而虔诚的。
这指的是犹太人企图将伊撒钉死在十字架上, 而安拉把他从十字架上解救下来。
یعنی جس طرح پرندہ انڈے سی کر بچے نکالتا ہے۔ اسی طرح تُو بھی انسانوں میں سے روحانی قابلیت کے لوگوں کو اپنی تربیت میں لے کر ایک دن اس قابل بنا دیتا تھا کہ وہ خداتعالیٰ کی طرف روحانی پرواز کرنے لگ جائیں۔
مفسرین کہتے ہیں‘ اس آیت سے ثابت ہے کہ مسیحؑ خداتعالیٰ کی طرح پرندے پیدا کرتے تھے۔ حالانکہ آیت کے الفاظ یہ ہیں کہ تو پرندوں کی طرح پیدا کرتا ہے اور پرندے مٹی کے جانور بنا کر ان میں پھونک مار کر ان کو زندہ نہیں کیا کرتے۔ بلکہ انڈے دیکر ان پر بیٹھتے ہیں اور گرم کرکے ان میں سے بچے نکالتے ہیں۔ اسی طرح مسیحؑ کرتا تھا کہ طینی صفت لوگوں کو چن کر ان کی تربیت کرتا تھا اور اپنے کلام سے ان کو گرمی پہنچاتا تھا یہاں تک کہ وہ بے جان انسان روحانی انسان بن جاتے تھے اور سب نبی ہی ایسا کرتے ہیں مسیحؑ کی اس میں کوئی خصوصیت نہیں۔
دیکھئے نوٹ سورہ آل عمران آیت نمبر۵۰۔
مفسرین کہتے ہیں کہ اس سے ثابت ہوتا ہے مسیح مُردے زندہ کرتے تھے حالانکہ قرآن کریم میں صاف لکھا ہے کہ مُردے سوائے خداتعالیٰ کے کوئی زندہ نہیں کرتا۔ چنانچہ اللہ تعالیٰ فرماتا ہے لَآ اِلٰـہَ اِلَّا ھُوَ یُحْیٖ وَ یُمِیْتُ رَبُّکُمْ وَ رَبُّ اٰبَآءِ کُمُ الْاَوَّلِیْنَ (الدخان: ۹)کہ خداتعالیٰ کے سوا تمہارا کوئی معبودنہیں وہی زندہ بھی کرتا ہے اور مارتا بھی ہے اور وہ تمہارا بھی رب ہے اور تمہارے باپ دادوں کا بھی رب تھا۔ اسی طرح فرماتا ہے اَمِ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِہٖ اَوْلِیَآءَ فَاللّٰہُ ھُوَ الْوَلِیُّ وَ ھُوَ یُحْیِ الْمَوْتٰی وَھُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْئٍ ق
اس سے صاف ثابت ہے کہ یہودی مسیحؑ کو صلیب پر مارنے میں کامیاب نہیں ہوئے تھے۔ مفسرین کی رائے کے مطابق اس کے یہ معنے کرنا کہ کسی اور شخص کی شکل بدل کر مسیح کی جگہ صلیب پر لٹکا دیا گیا تھا مضحکہ خیز خیال ہے۔ اگر کسی شخص کو شکل بدل کر لٹکا دیا گیا تھا تو پھر یہودی سچے ہوئے کیونکہ وہ تو یہی سمجھتے تھے کہ ہم نے مسیحؑ کو صلیب پر لٹکا دیا ہے اور وہ اس پر مر گیا ہے۔ پھر اس آیت کی وہ تو تصدیق نہیں کر سکتے۔ بعض لوگوں کو یہاں دھوکہ لگتا ہے کہ ایسے تمام الفاظ مسیحؑ کی نسبت کیوں استعمال کیے جاتے ہیں۔ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ مسیحؑ کی نسبت یہ پیشگوئی تھی کہ وہ تمثیلوں میں باتیں کرے گا۔ (متی ب
5:12.
2:88; 2:254.
3:49.
3:50.
The act of speaking in the cradle signifies speaking words of wisdom and piety in childhood. This sort of speaking by Jesus reflected great credit on his mother, who, herself being a wise and pious lady, brought him up as a wise and pious child. And the speaking of good words in middle age shows that not only was Mary a pious woman, but Jesus too was a righteous man so that even when he was of middle age and was no longer under the direct influence of his mother, he spoke words of piety and wisdom. See also {418}.
See {420D} and {420E}.
The reference is to the attempts of Jews to kill Jesus on the cross from which God delivered him.
2:88; 2:254.
3:47.
3:49.
3:50.
5:12.
Commentary:
In the clause, thou didst speak to the people in the cradle and when of middle age, the act of speaking in the cradle signifies speaking words of wisdom and piety in childhood. This sort of speaking on the part of Jesus reflected great credit on his mother, who, herself being wise and pious, brought him up as a wise and pious child. And the speaking of good words in middle age shows that not only was Mary a pious woman, but Jesus, too, was a righteous man so that even when he was of middle age and was no longer under the direct influence of his mother, he spoke words of piety and wisdom to men. See also 3:47 & 3:49, 50, where similar works of Jesus, i.e. the creation of birds and the quickening of the dead, etc. have been discussed.
Protection similar to that alluded to in the latter part of this verse in the words, I restrained the Children of Israel from putting thee to death, was promised to the Holy Prophet as well (5:68). This promise met with a remarkable fulfilment. Though, even at Mecca, his life was in constant danger, at Medina that danger very much increased. The Holy Prophet led many expeditions in person and several attempts were made on his life. At Uhud, he was severely wounded and at Hunain he was left alone among a large host of bloodthirsty archers. Yet amidst all these dangers he remained safe, and after having triumphed over his enemies, passed away peacefully in his house at Medina. The reference in the present verse is to the attempts of the Jews to kill Jesus on the cross, from which—accursed death—God delivered him. The words, I restrained the Children of Israel, should not, however, be understood to mean that Jesus suffered even no persecution at the hands of his enemies. A similar expression has been used with regard to early Muslims in the Quran (5:12), but it is a well-known fact that they had to pass through grievous trials and tribulations. The expression thus only means that the enemy will fail to kill Jesus, whom God will protect from being destroyed.
a
3:49.
b
3:50.
c
2:88; 2:254.
d
3:47.
400
在摇篮里讲话这个动作意指在童年时期讲智慧和孝顺的话。伊撒讲这种话反映他对他母亲的极大的信任。玛尔彦自己是一个贤慧和虔诚的妇女, 把伊撒扶养成为聪明和孝顺的孩子。在成熟之年说的言语, 表明不仅玛尔彦是一个虔诚的女人, 而伊撒也是一个正义的男子汉。因此, 即使他在中年, 不再直接受他母亲的影响, 他讲的话还是充满智慧而虔诚的。
401
这指的是犹太人企图将伊撒钉死在十字架上, 而安拉把他从十字架上解救下来。
1
یعنی جس طرح پرندہ انڈے سی کر بچے نکالتا ہے۔ اسی طرح تُو بھی انسانوں میں سے روحانی قابلیت کے لوگوں کو اپنی تربیت میں لے کر ایک دن اس قابل بنا دیتا تھا کہ وہ خداتعالیٰ کی طرف روحانی پرواز کرنے لگ جائیں۔
2
مفسرین کہتے ہیں‘ اس آیت سے ثابت ہے کہ مسیحؑ خداتعالیٰ کی طرح پرندے پیدا کرتے تھے۔ حالانکہ آیت کے الفاظ یہ ہیں کہ تو پرندوں کی طرح پیدا کرتا ہے اور پرندے مٹی کے جانور بنا کر ان میں پھونک مار کر ان کو زندہ نہیں کیا کرتے۔ بلکہ انڈے دیکر ان پر بیٹھتے ہیں اور گرم کرکے ان میں سے بچے نکالتے ہیں۔ اسی طرح مسیحؑ کرتا تھا کہ طینی صفت لوگوں کو چن کر ان کی تربیت کرتا تھا اور اپنے کلام سے ان کو گرمی پہنچاتا تھا یہاں تک کہ وہ بے جان انسان روحانی انسان بن جاتے تھے اور سب نبی ہی ایسا کرتے ہیں مسیحؑ کی اس میں کوئی خصوصیت نہیں۔
3
دیکھئے نوٹ سورہ آل عمران آیت نمبر۵۰۔
4
مفسرین کہتے ہیں کہ اس سے ثابت ہوتا ہے مسیح مُردے زندہ کرتے تھے حالانکہ قرآن کریم میں صاف لکھا ہے کہ مُردے سوائے خداتعالیٰ کے کوئی زندہ نہیں کرتا۔ چنانچہ اللہ تعالیٰ فرماتا ہے لَآ اِلٰـہَ اِلَّا ھُوَ یُحْیٖ وَ یُمِیْتُ رَبُّکُمْ وَ رَبُّ اٰبَآءِ کُمُ الْاَوَّلِیْنَ (الدخان: ۹)کہ خداتعالیٰ کے سوا تمہارا کوئی معبودنہیں وہی زندہ بھی کرتا ہے اور مارتا بھی ہے اور وہ تمہارا بھی رب ہے اور تمہارے باپ دادوں کا بھی رب تھا۔ اسی طرح فرماتا ہے اَمِ اتَّخَذُوْا مِنْ دُوْنِہٖ اَوْلِیَآءَ فَاللّٰہُ ھُوَ الْوَلِیُّ وَ ھُوَ یُحْیِ الْمَوْتٰی وَھُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْئٍ ق
5
اس سے صاف ثابت ہے کہ یہودی مسیحؑ کو صلیب پر مارنے میں کامیاب نہیں ہوئے تھے۔ مفسرین کی رائے کے مطابق اس کے یہ معنے کرنا کہ کسی اور شخص کی شکل بدل کر مسیح کی جگہ صلیب پر لٹکا دیا گیا تھا مضحکہ خیز خیال ہے۔ اگر کسی شخص کو شکل بدل کر لٹکا دیا گیا تھا تو پھر یہودی سچے ہوئے کیونکہ وہ تو یہی سمجھتے تھے کہ ہم نے مسیحؑ کو صلیب پر لٹکا دیا ہے اور وہ اس پر مر گیا ہے۔ پھر اس آیت کی وہ تو تصدیق نہیں کر سکتے۔ بعض لوگوں کو یہاں دھوکہ لگتا ہے کہ ایسے تمام الفاظ مسیحؑ کی نسبت کیوں استعمال کیے جاتے ہیں۔ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ مسیحؑ کی نسبت یہ پیشگوئی تھی کہ وہ تمثیلوں میں باتیں کرے گا۔ (متی ب
a
2:88; 2:254.
b
3:47.
c
3:49.
d
3:50.
e
5:12.
738
Commentary:
In the clause, thou didst speak to the people in the cradle and when of middle age, the act of speaking in the cradle signifies speaking words of wisdom and piety in childhood. This sort of speaking on the part of Jesus reflected great credit on his mother, who, herself being wise and pious, brought him up as a wise and pious child. And the speaking of good words in middle age shows that not only was Mary a pious woman, but Jesus, too, was a righteous man so that even when he was of middle age and was no longer under the direct influence of his mother, he spoke words of piety and wisdom to men. See also 3:47 & 3:49, 50, where similar works of Jesus, i.e. the creation of birds and the quickening of the dead, etc. have been discussed.
Protection similar to that alluded to in the latter part of this verse in the words, I restrained the Children of Israel from putting thee to death, was promised to the Holy Prophet as well (5:68). This promise met with a remarkable fulfilment. Though, even at Mecca, his life was in constant danger, at Medina that danger very much increased. The Holy Prophet led many expeditions in person and several attempts were made on his life. At Uhud, he was severely wounded and at Hunain he was left alone among a large host of bloodthirsty archers. Yet amidst all these dangers he remained safe, and after having triumphed over his enemies, passed away peacefully in his house at Medina. The reference in the present verse is to the attempts of the Jews to kill Jesus on the cross, from which—accursed death—God delivered him. The words, I restrained the Children of Israel, should not, however, be understood to mean that Jesus suffered even no persecution at the hands of his enemies. A similar expression has been used with regard to early Muslims in the Quran (5:12), but it is a well-known fact that they had to pass through grievous trials and tribulations. The expression thus only means that the enemy will fail to kill Jesus, whom God will protect from being destroyed.
a
5:12.
b
2:88; 2:254.
d
3:49.
e
3:50.
804
The act of speaking in the cradle signifies speaking words of wisdom and piety in childhood. This sort of speaking by Jesus reflected great credit on his mother, who, herself being a wise and pious lady, brought him up as a wise and pious child. And the speaking of good words in middle age shows that not only was Mary a pious woman, but Jesus too was a righteous man so that even when he was of middle age and was no longer under the direct influence of his mother, he spoke words of piety and wisdom. See also {418}.
805
See {420D} and {420E}.
806
The reference is to the attempts of Jews to kill Jesus on the cross from which God delivered him.
وَاِنۡ کَانَ کَبُرَ عَلَیۡکَ اِعۡرَاضُہُمۡ فَاِنِ اسۡتَطَعۡتَ اَنۡ تَبۡتَغِیَ نَفَقًا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اَوۡ سُلَّمًا فِی السَّمَآءِ فَتَاۡتِیَہُمۡ بِاٰیَۃٍ ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ لَجَمَعَہُمۡ عَلَی الۡہُدٰی ۚ فَلَا تَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡجٰہِلِیۡنَ
5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.
یعنی خداتعالیٰ کی مشیّت پر صبر کر۔
5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.
The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify 'using worldly means,' i.e. preaching and propagating the truth; and the words, a ladder unto heaven, imply 'using spiritual means,' i.e. offering prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can spiritually mount to heaven. The Holy Prophet is told to employ both these means. The word Jahil as in 2:274 means "one not knowing" or "unacquainted." The Holy Prophet is exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect. The verse also sheds light on the Holy Prophet’s great solicitude and concern for the spiritual well-being of his people. He was prepared to go to any length to bring them a Sign, even if he had "to seek a passage in the earth or a ladder unto heaven."
5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.
Important Words:
نفقا (passage). نفق means, a hole or a passage bored into or through the earth and having an opening at the other end (Aqrab). See also 9:67.
سلما (ladder) is derived from سلم (sallama). They say سلمه i.e. he made him safe and secure. سلمه الیه means, he gave or delivered it to him. سلم (sullam) means, a ladder or series of stairs or steps meant for ascending. It is so called because it delivers one to the place to which one desires to go. The word also signifies a means to a thing (Lane).
Commentary:
The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify using worldly means, i.e. preaching and propagating the truth in the earth in order to strengthen the faith; and the words, a ladder unto Heaven, imply using spiritual means, i.e. offering up prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can mount to Heaven.
The Holy Prophet has been told here that God is not going to compel men to embrace Islam; if he desires their wholesale conversion he should assiduously follow the two prescribed courses, one earthly and the other heavenly. He should, on the one hand, devote himself vigorously to preaching and propagating the truth; and, on the other, he should fervently pray to God that He may guide mankind and help the cause of Islam.
It goes without saying that the Holy Prophet acted upon both these methods to the fullest extent, as a result of which God helped the cause of Islam, so much so that within a small space of time the whole of Arabia was converted.
The word جاھل (one lacking knowledge) is here used only in the sense of one not knowing or unacquainted, and not in the stronger sense of ignorant. It has been also used in this sense in other verses of the Quran. For instance, we read in 2:274; "One who does not know them (the needy) thinks them to be free from want", i.e. those who are unacquainted with the real condition of the poor, think them to be well off. In the verse under comment, the Holy Prophet has been exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect.
It should also be noted that it was not by way of rebuke, as some have thought, that the Holy Prophet was asked to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder into the sky. The words become meaningless, if taken in that light. What is meant is simply the suggestion of two ways of success which, when acted upon, proved wonderfully effective.
c
5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.
1
یعنی خداتعالیٰ کی مشیّت پر صبر کر۔
c
5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.
783
Important Words:
نفقا (passage). نفق means, a hole or a passage bored into or through the earth and having an opening at the other end (Aqrab). See also 9:67.
سلما (ladder) is derived from سلم (sallama). They say سلمه i.e. he made him safe and secure. سلمه الیه means, he gave or delivered it to him. سلم (sullam) means, a ladder or series of stairs or steps meant for ascending. It is so called because it delivers one to the place to which one desires to go. The word also signifies a means to a thing (Lane).
Commentary:
The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify using worldly means, i.e. preaching and propagating the truth in the earth in order to strengthen the faith; and the words, a ladder unto Heaven, imply using spiritual means, i.e. offering up prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can mount to Heaven.
The Holy Prophet has been told here that God is not going to compel men to embrace Islam; if he desires their wholesale conversion he should assiduously follow the two prescribed courses, one earthly and the other heavenly. He should, on the one hand, devote himself vigorously to preaching and propagating the truth; and, on the other, he should fervently pray to God that He may guide mankind and help the cause of Islam.
It goes without saying that the Holy Prophet acted upon both these methods to the fullest extent, as a result of which God helped the cause of Islam, so much so that within a small space of time the whole of Arabia was converted.
The word جاھل (one lacking knowledge) is here used only in the sense of one not knowing or unacquainted, and not in the stronger sense of ignorant. It has been also used in this sense in other verses of the Quran. For instance, we read in 2:274; "One who does not know them (the needy) thinks them to be free from want", i.e. those who are unacquainted with the real condition of the poor, think them to be well off. In the verse under comment, the Holy Prophet has been exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect.
It should also be noted that it was not by way of rebuke, as some have thought, that the Holy Prophet was asked to seek a passage into the earth or a ladder into the sky. The words become meaningless, if taken in that light. What is meant is simply the suggestion of two ways of success which, when acted upon, proved wonderfully effective.
b
5:49; 6:150; 11:119; 13:32; 16:10.
844
The words, to seek a passage into the earth, signify 'using worldly means,' i.e. preaching and propagating the truth; and the words, a ladder unto heaven, imply 'using spiritual means,' i.e. offering prayers to God for the guidance of disbelievers, etc. Prayer is indeed the ladder by which a man can spiritually mount to heaven. The Holy Prophet is told to employ both these means. The word Jahil as in 2:274 means "one not knowing" or "unacquainted." The Holy Prophet is exhorted not to remain unacquainted with the law of God in this respect. The verse also sheds light on the Holy Prophet’s great solicitude and concern for the spiritual well-being of his people. He was prepared to go to any length to bring them a Sign, even if he had "to seek a passage in the earth or a ladder unto heaven."
وَلَا تَطۡرُدِ الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ رَبَّہُمۡ بِالۡغَدٰوۃِ وَالۡعَشِیِّ یُرِیۡدُوۡنَ وَجۡہَہٗ ۖ مَا عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ حِسَابِہِمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ وَّمَا مِنۡ حِسَابِکَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ شَیۡءٍ فَتَطۡرُدَہُمۡ فَتَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ
11:30.
18:29.
Wajh means, pleasure; countenance; the thing itself (2:113).
11:30.
18:29.
Important Words:
الغداوة (morning), which is often written as غداة the letter (و) being silent, is derived from غدا which means, he went forth or went away in the early part of the morning, i.e. between daybreak and sunrise. So, غداوة or غداة or غدوة or غدیة means, early part of the morning; the period between daybreak and sunrise; morning; first part of the day; forenoon (Lane).
العشی (evening) is derived from عشا means, he ate the evening meal; he repaired to (him, etc.) at night. عشی means, the late part of the evening; evening; afternoon; time between sunset and nightfall. It also means the time between the declining of the sun and sunset; also the time from the declining of the sun to morning; night (Lane).
وجھه (His countenance). The word وجه also means نفس الشیء i.e. the thing itself (see 2:113).
Commentary:
The wordsبالغداوة والعشی (morning and evening) taken in their wider significance cover, as shown under Important Words, practically all the 24 hours, excluding only the time in which the offering of Prayers is prohibited. Thus, in one sense the two words taken together comprise both day and night, and in another they indicate only morning and evening.
The words یریدون وجھه (seeking His countenance) may also mean, "seeking God Himself," for the expression وجه also means, "the thing itself." In that case, the clause would mean "they seek nothing but God, i.e. they seek God alone."
The words, thou shouldst be of the unjust, hint that there are some men who look upon themselves as being too great and disdain to join a movement set on foot by a Prophet, because its adherents are mostly poor and do not belong to what is called higher society. They would join it only if the poorer adherents were expelled. So, in order to demolish such hopes on their part, God bids the Holy Prophet to declare that he would not drive away his poor followers so that the so-called great might join his fold. The prohibition does not mean that the Holy Prophet actually used to drive away his poorer followers. It is only meant as a reply and a rebuff to the desires of the proud and the haughty. They are told that the humble followers of the Holy Prophet, who remember God morning and evening or day and night, cannot be turned out for their sake. The Quran has already made the Holy Prophet say, I follow only that which is revealed to me (6:51). So now when the prohibition, drive not away those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, has so forcibly been revealed, the so-called rich should despair of the humble being driven away. So these words were revealed not as a reflection on the Holy Prophet, whose kindness to the poor is so well-known, but in order to shatter the hopes of the proud.
The words, Thou art not at all accountable for them nor are they at all accountable for thee, are also meant to point to the same great truth. Though the Prophet could not turn the poor out on account of the humbleness of their position, yet it might be thought that he might turn them out on account of some weakness on their part in respect of actions, but, besides the fact that in this respect the poor and the rich stand on the same footing, the Law does not hold the Prophet responsible for their actions, hence he cannot turn them out on this score either, unless of course when some serious offence is committed by them.
c
11:30.
d
18:29.
a
11:30.
b
18:29.
798
Important Words:
الغداوة (morning), which is often written as غداة the letter (و) being silent, is derived from غدا which means, he went forth or went away in the early part of the morning, i.e. between daybreak and sunrise. So, غداوة or غداة or غدوة or غدیة means, early part of the morning; the period between daybreak and sunrise; morning; first part of the day; forenoon (Lane).
العشی (evening) is derived from عشا means, he ate the evening meal; he repaired to (him, etc.) at night. عشی means, the late part of the evening; evening; afternoon; time between sunset and nightfall. It also means the time between the declining of the sun and sunset; also the time from the declining of the sun to morning; night (Lane).
وجھه (His countenance). The word وجه also means نفس الشیء i.e. the thing itself (see 2:113).
Commentary:
The wordsبالغداوة والعشی (morning and evening) taken in their wider significance cover, as shown under Important Words, practically all the 24 hours, excluding only the time in which the offering of Prayers is prohibited. Thus, in one sense the two words taken together comprise both day and night, and in another they indicate only morning and evening.
The words یریدون وجھه (seeking His countenance) may also mean, "seeking God Himself," for the expression وجه also means, "the thing itself." In that case, the clause would mean "they seek nothing but God, i.e. they seek God alone."
The words, thou shouldst be of the unjust, hint that there are some men who look upon themselves as being too great and disdain to join a movement set on foot by a Prophet, because its adherents are mostly poor and do not belong to what is called higher society. They would join it only if the poorer adherents were expelled. So, in order to demolish such hopes on their part, God bids the Holy Prophet to declare that he would not drive away his poor followers so that the so-called great might join his fold. The prohibition does not mean that the Holy Prophet actually used to drive away his poorer followers. It is only meant as a reply and a rebuff to the desires of the proud and the haughty. They are told that the humble followers of the Holy Prophet, who remember God morning and evening or day and night, cannot be turned out for their sake. The Quran has already made the Holy Prophet say, I follow only that which is revealed to me (6:51). So now when the prohibition, drive not away those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, has so forcibly been revealed, the so-called rich should despair of the humble being driven away. So these words were revealed not as a reflection on the Holy Prophet, whose kindness to the poor is so well-known, but in order to shatter the hopes of the proud.
The words, Thou art not at all accountable for them nor are they at all accountable for thee, are also meant to point to the same great truth. Though the Prophet could not turn the poor out on account of the humbleness of their position, yet it might be thought that he might turn them out on account of some weakness on their part in respect of actions, but, besides the fact that in this respect the poor and the rich stand on the same footing, the Law does not hold the Prophet responsible for their actions, hence he cannot turn them out on this score either, unless of course when some serious offence is committed by them.
e
11:30.
f
18:29.
852
Wajh means, pleasure; countenance; the thing itself (2:113).
تِلۡکَ الۡقُرٰی نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآئِہَا ۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡہُمۡ رُسُلُہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَمَا کَانُوۡا لِیُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِمَا کَذَّبُوۡا مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۚ کَذٰلِکَ یَطۡبَعُ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ
3:185; 5:33.
3:185; 5:33.
The Qur’an does not give the entire history of bygone peoples but only the relevant parts of it. Nevertheless, no book of history contains more reliable information about the tribes of ‘Ad and Thamud than does the Qur’an, and students of history have admitted that what the Qur’an tells us is the only authentic and reliable information that we possess about these ancient peoples and all other stories current about them are so many myths.
The hearts of disbelievers are sealed up when they refuse to make use of their God-given power of reasoning and understanding.
3:185; 5:33.
Commentary:
The word القری (the towns) again refers here to ancient towns fallen into ruin. The Quran reverts to their mention in order to emphasize the seriousness of a Prophet’s rejection and to introduce the narration of yet another by-gone people, the rejecters of Moses.
By using the words, some of whose news, the verse makes it clear that the Quran has not given the entire history of by-gone peoples but only the relevant parts of it. Nevertheless, no book of history contains more reliable information about the peoples of ‘Ad and Thamud than does the Quran, and students of history have admitted that what the Quran tells us is the only authentic and reliable knowledge that we possess about these ancient peoples, and all other stories current about them may be only so many myths. As regards Lot, later Jewish writers have admitted that he was a Prophet of God, as the Quran represents him to be, though the Bible does not seem to accord him this rank.
The verse hints that as the Holy Prophet represents in his person all the Prophets that have gone before him, therefore his rejecters will be visited with all the various forms of punishment that befell the rejecters of former Prophets.
The opponents of God’s Prophets are in the habit of rejecting their claims on the basis of mere hearsay and make-believe. The result of such a hasty rejection is that the hearts of the rejecters become sealed and they become deprived of the power to understand the arguments and signs which God shows to establish the truth of His Messengers. The verse thus throws light on how the hearts or minds of disbelievers are sealed. They are sealed only when disbelievers refuse to make use of their God-given power of reasoning and understanding.
e
3:185; 5:33.
c
3:185; 5:33.
998
Commentary:
The word القری (the towns) again refers here to ancient towns fallen into ruin. The Quran reverts to their mention in order to emphasize the seriousness of a Prophet’s rejection and to introduce the narration of yet another by-gone people, the rejecters of Moses.
By using the words, some of whose news, the verse makes it clear that the Quran has not given the entire history of by-gone peoples but only the relevant parts of it. Nevertheless, no book of history contains more reliable information about the peoples of ‘Ad and Thamud than does the Quran, and students of history have admitted that what the Quran tells us is the only authentic and reliable knowledge that we possess about these ancient peoples, and all other stories current about them may be only so many myths. As regards Lot, later Jewish writers have admitted that he was a Prophet of God, as the Quran represents him to be, though the Bible does not seem to accord him this rank.
The verse hints that as the Holy Prophet represents in his person all the Prophets that have gone before him, therefore his rejecters will be visited with all the various forms of punishment that befell the rejecters of former Prophets.
The opponents of God’s Prophets are in the habit of rejecting their claims on the basis of mere hearsay and make-believe. The result of such a hasty rejection is that the hearts of the rejecters become sealed and they become deprived of the power to understand the arguments and signs which God shows to establish the truth of His Messengers. The verse thus throws light on how the hearts or minds of disbelievers are sealed. They are sealed only when disbelievers refuse to make use of their God-given power of reasoning and understanding.
a
3:185; 5:33.
1017
The Qur’an does not give the entire history of bygone peoples but only the relevant parts of it. Nevertheless, no book of history contains more reliable information about the tribes of ‘Ad and Thamud than does the Qur’an, and students of history have admitted that what the Qur’an tells us is the only authentic and reliable information that we possess about these ancient peoples and all other stories current about them are so many myths.
1018
The hearts of disbelievers are sealed up when they refuse to make use of their God-given power of reasoning and understanding.
وَکُلًّا نَّقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِہٖ فُؤَادَکَ ۚ وَجَآءَکَ فِیۡ ہٰذِہِ الۡحَقُّ وَمَوۡعِظَۃٌ وَّذِکۡرٰی لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ
25:33.
25:33.
25:33.
Commentary:
This verse clearly proves that the accounts of the previous Prophets have not been narrated in the Quran merely as simple facts of history, but contain prophetic allusions to similar incidents that were to occur in the life of the Holy Prophet. If it had not been so, how could these accounts be said to bring satisfaction to his mind and "make his heart firm." It was only when these accounts were to be taken as future incidents of his own life, that they could bring satisfaction to the Holy Prophet. In these accounts he saw how his enemies were to behave towards him, how they were to be discomfited and how his cause was to triumph in the end. As he was the representative of all previous Prophets, therefore, more or less, he was to pass through all the experiences through which his predecessors in the prophetic office had passed.
a
25:33.
a
25:33.
1501
Commentary:
This verse clearly proves that the accounts of the previous Prophets have not been narrated in the Quran merely as simple facts of history, but contain prophetic allusions to similar incidents that were to occur in the life of the Holy Prophet. If it had not been so, how could these accounts be said to bring satisfaction to his mind and "make his heart firm." It was only when these accounts were to be taken as future incidents of his own life, that they could bring satisfaction to the Holy Prophet. In these accounts he saw how his enemies were to behave towards him, how they were to be discomfited and how his cause was to triumph in the end. As he was the representative of all previous Prophets, therefore, more or less, he was to pass through all the experiences through which his predecessors in the prophetic office had passed.
a
25:33.
قِیۡلَ یٰنُوۡحُ اہۡبِطۡ بِسَلٰمٍ مِّنَّا وَبَرَکٰتٍ عَلَیۡکَ وَعَلٰۤی اُمَمٍ مِّمَّنۡ مَّعَکَ ۚ وَاُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُہُمۡ ثُمَّ یَمَسُّہُمۡ مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ
معلوم ہوا ہے کہ نوحؑ کی نبوت کا زمانہ دیر تک چلا گیا تھا۔ اور اس کے زمانہ میں کئی امتیں بنیں اور بگڑیں۔
اس جگہ سفر سے مراد کشتی کا سفر نہیں بلکہ نبوت کے زمانہ کا سفر ہے۔
The verse shows that apart from the progeny of Noah the progeny of those believers who were with him in the Ark also were saved from the Deluge and that they prospered and multiplied. Scholars now subscribe to the view that most of the inhabitants of the earth are descended from Noah.
The story of the Deluge with some variations is to be found in the traditions and literature of different countries (Enc. Rel. & Eth.; Enc. Bib. & Enc. Brit. under "Deluge"). The catastrophe seems to have taken place somewhere near the dawn of human civilization. It is a well-known historical fact that whenever a people, comparatively more advanced in culture and civilization, have come to settle in a country, they have either blotted out of existence the less civilized inhabitants of the land or have greatly weakened them. Thus it appears that when the descendants of Noah and those of his companions who were the founders of human civilization spread to other lands, because they were more powerful than the peopl
Commentary:
This verse shows that not only was the progeny of Noah saved from the Flood and was blessed by God and multiplied upon the earth, but the progeny of those believers who were with him in the Ark also prospered and multiplied. So the popular notion that only Noah’s progeny survived and multiplied in the earth has no basis in fact. This statement of the Quran establishes its superiority over the Bible. All educated Christians now believe that the inhabitants of the earth are not all descended from Noah; but in holding this view they, in fact, subscribe to the statement of the Quran and reject that of the Bible, for the Bible clearly says that only Noah and his sons survived the Deluge and that it was their progeny that dwelt and multiplied in the earth (Gen. ch. 9). Accordingly, Christian writers divide the human race into three groups, viz. the descendants of Ham, Sam and Yapheth, the three sons of Noah. But according to the Quran the children of those who believed in Noah also survived and multiplied in the earth, to say nothing of other races.
The clause, there will be other peoples whom We shall grant provision, may mean: (1) that even in the time of Noah there were other peoples who did not perish but who were given respite and then perished in due time; (2) that some of those who were saved with Noah and who received blessings became corrupt in due course and were then punished by God.
1
معلوم ہوا ہے کہ نوحؑ کی نبوت کا زمانہ دیر تک چلا گیا تھا۔ اور اس کے زمانہ میں کئی امتیں بنیں اور بگڑیں۔
2
اس جگہ سفر سے مراد کشتی کا سفر نہیں بلکہ نبوت کے زمانہ کا سفر ہے۔
1429
Commentary:
This verse shows that not only was the progeny of Noah saved from the Flood and was blessed by God and multiplied upon the earth, but the progeny of those believers who were with him in the Ark also prospered and multiplied. So the popular notion that only Noah’s progeny survived and multiplied in the earth has no basis in fact. This statement of the Quran establishes its superiority over the Bible. All educated Christians now believe that the inhabitants of the earth are not all descended from Noah; but in holding this view they, in fact, subscribe to the statement of the Quran and reject that of the Bible, for the Bible clearly says that only Noah and his sons survived the Deluge and that it was their progeny that dwelt and multiplied in the earth (Gen. ch. 9). Accordingly, Christian writers divide the human race into three groups, viz. the descendants of Ham, Sam and Yapheth, the three sons of Noah. But according to the Quran the children of those who believed in Noah also survived and multiplied in the earth, to say nothing of other races.
The clause, there will be other peoples whom We shall grant provision, may mean: (1) that even in the time of Noah there were other peoples who did not perish but who were given respite and then perished in due time; (2) that some of those who were saved with Noah and who received blessings became corrupt in due course and were then punished by God.
1321
The verse shows that apart from the progeny of Noah the progeny of those believers who were with him in the Ark also were saved from the Deluge and that they prospered and multiplied. Scholars now subscribe to the view that most of the inhabitants of the earth are descended from Noah.
The story of the Deluge with some variations is to be found in the traditions and literature of different countries (Enc. Rel. & Eth.; Enc. Bib. & Enc. Brit. under "Deluge"). The catastrophe seems to have taken place somewhere near the dawn of human civilization. It is a well-known historical fact that whenever a people, comparatively more advanced in culture and civilization, have come to settle in a country, they have either blotted out of existence the less civilized inhabitants of the land or have greatly weakened them. Thus it appears that when the descendants of Noah and those of his companions who were the founders of human civilization spread to other lands, because they were more powerful than the peopl
ذٰلِکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ الۡقُرٰی نَقُصُّہٗ عَلَیۡکَ ۖ مِنۡہَا قَآئِمٌ وَّحَصِیۡدٌ
20:100.
20:100.
20:100.
Important Words:
قری (cities) is the plural of قریة and means, (1) the people of the towns; or (2) the towns themselves (Aqrab).
حصید (mown down like the harvest) is derived from حصد. They say حصد الزرع i.e. he reaped or cut the harvest with a scythe. حصد القوم بالسیف means, he mowed down the people with the sword. The proverb من زرع الشر حصد الندامة means, he who sows evil reaps remorse. حصید means, reaped seed-produce; mown down with the sword like reaped seed-produce; an harvest that is cut or mown down; also the lower part of the harvest which remains after the latter is cut down (Lane & Aqrab). See also 6:142.
Commentary:
In the first mentioned sense of the word قری the word قائم (standing) would mean that the progeny of these peoples lived after them and thus, as it were, continued to stand; and in the latter sense it would mean that the remains of some of these towns are still to be found while others have become totally extinct. Similarly, in this sense the word حصید (mown down like the harvest) would mean "a people who have become totally or nearly extinct." If, however, the word قری is taken in the sense of "towns," the word حصید would signify, "towns whose traces have become wholly or nearly extinct."
The verse means that the remains of some of the towns mentioned are still extant, while others have become wholly or nearly obliterated. Consequently, if the ruins of some of the towns mentioned in this Surah cannot be found, the truth of the Quranic narratives cannot be called into question, because the Quran itself uses the word حصید (mown down) with regard to them. If, however, in some future time, archaeologists succeed in discovering the ruins of some towns now extinct, the Quranic account would still be beyond doubt, for the word حصید (mown down) is also used with regard to a harvest that has been cut down with a scythe, the lower part of which still remains visible. See also 10:25.
c
20:100.
a
20:100.
1481
Important Words:
قری (cities) is the plural of قریة and means, (1) the people of the towns; or (2) the towns themselves (Aqrab).
حصید (mown down like the harvest) is derived from حصد. They say حصد الزرع i.e. he reaped or cut the harvest with a scythe. حصد القوم بالسیف means, he mowed down the people with the sword. The proverb من زرع الشر حصد الندامة means, he who sows evil reaps remorse. حصید means, reaped seed-produce; mown down with the sword like reaped seed-produce; an harvest that is cut or mown down; also the lower part of the harvest which remains after the latter is cut down (Lane & Aqrab). See also 6:142.
Commentary:
In the first mentioned sense of the word قری the word قائم (standing) would mean that the progeny of these peoples lived after them and thus, as it were, continued to stand; and in the latter sense it would mean that the remains of some of these towns are still to be found while others have become totally extinct. Similarly, in this sense the word حصید (mown down like the harvest) would mean "a people who have become totally or nearly extinct." If, however, the word قری is taken in the sense of "towns," the word حصید would signify, "towns whose traces have become wholly or nearly extinct."
The verse means that the remains of some of the towns mentioned are still extant, while others have become wholly or nearly obliterated. Consequently, if the ruins of some of the towns mentioned in this Surah cannot be found, the truth of the Quranic narratives cannot be called into question, because the Quran itself uses the word حصید (mown down) with regard to them. If, however, in some future time, archaeologists succeed in discovering the ruins of some towns now extinct, the Quranic account would still be beyond doubt, for the word حصید (mown down) is also used with regard to a harvest that has been cut down with a scythe, the lower part of which still remains visible. See also 10:25.
b
20:100.
نَحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ اَحۡسَنَ الۡقَصَصِ بِمَاۤ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ ہٰذَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ وَاِنۡ کُنۡتَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ لَمِنَ الۡغٰفِلِیۡنَ
The reason why the story of Joseph was revealed to the Holy Prophet in such detail is that it contains many prophetic allusions to his own life. The whole story was to be, as it were, re-enacted in the person of the Holy Prophet himself and his brethren, the Quraish.
Important Words:
نقص (We narrate). They say قص اثرہ i.e. he followed his tracks or footsteps in pursuit. قص علیه الحدیث means, he related to him the story in its proper manner i.e. rightly, as though he followed its traces in pursuit and related it accordingly (Lane). See also 7:177.
Commentary:
As the expression نقص (which literally means, we narrate rightly or properly) indicates, the verse shows that some differences existed about the life story of Joseph. The Quran here claims to act as judge between the upholders of different views and to lift the veil of obscurity from the face of the true story. This is why it says, We relate to thee the narration rightly or properly as though following its very traces (see Important Words). It is strange that some European critics of the Quran have not taken into consideration the existence of differences about the life of Joseph, but have only thought fit to take exception to the narrative of the Quran, merely because it differs from that of the Bible in certain details. In fact, the very objection has established the truth of the Quran, inasmuch as the claim that it relates the incidents rightly shows that the Revealer of the Quran knew that at some future time people would object to the Quranic version. Brinckman is one of these critics. In his "Notes on Islam" he says, "In the Koran a beautiful and touching tale is mangled and spoiled." The following pages will show whether it is in the Quran or the Bible, that a "beautiful and touching tale" has been "mangled and spoiled."
One of the reasons why the story of Joseph was revealed to the Holy Prophet in such detail is that it contains many prophetic allusions to his own life. The whole story was to be, as it were, re-enacted in the person of the Holy Prophethimself and his brethren, the Quraish, and was thus to serve as evidence of his truth. Another reason is that, as the Holy Prophet was the like of Joseph it was necessary that he himself should know the latter’s life history.
The Holy Prophet has been referred to here as of those not possessed of requisite knowledge. His lack of requisite knowledge about Joseph was intended to hint that, firstly, the whole truth about Joseph was to be found neither in the Bible nor in the Talmud; and, secondly, that the Holy Prophet was not aware that events similar to those which happened to Joseph were to occur in his own life. The account of the Quran differs from that of the Bible in many respects but, as will appear from the following pages, wherever the two accounts differ, it is the Bible that has erred.
1508
Important Words:
نقص (We narrate). They say قص اثرہ i.e. he followed his tracks or footsteps in pursuit. قص علیه الحدیث means, he related to him the story in its proper manner i.e. rightly, as though he followed its traces in pursuit and related it accordingly (Lane). See also 7:177.
Commentary:
As the expression نقص (which literally means, we narrate rightly or properly) indicates, the verse shows that some differences existed about the life story of Joseph. The Quran here claims to act as judge between the upholders of different views and to lift the veil of obscurity from the face of the true story. This is why it says, We relate to thee the narration rightly or properly as though following its very traces (see Important Words). It is strange that some European critics of the Quran have not taken into consideration the existence of differences about the life of Joseph, but have only thought fit to take exception to the narrative of the Quran, merely because it differs from that of the Bible in certain details. In fact, the very objection has established the truth of the Quran, inasmuch as the claim that it relates the incidents rightly shows that the Revealer of the Quran knew that at some future time people would object to the Quranic version. Brinckman is one of these critics. In his "Notes on Islam" he says, "In the Koran a beautiful and touching tale is mangled and spoiled." The following pages will show whether it is in the Quran or the Bible, that a "beautiful and touching tale" has been "mangled and spoiled."
One of the reasons why the story of Joseph was revealed to the Holy Prophet in such detail is that it contains many prophetic allusions to his own life. The whole story was to be, as it were, re-enacted in the person of the Holy Prophethimself and his brethren, the Quraish, and was thus to serve as evidence of his truth. Another reason is that, as the Holy Prophet was the like of Joseph it was necessary that he himself should know the latter’s life history.
The Holy Prophet has been referred to here as of those not possessed of requisite knowledge. His lack of requisite knowledge about Joseph was intended to hint that, firstly, the whole truth about Joseph was to be found neither in the Bible nor in the Talmud; and, secondly, that the Holy Prophet was not aware that events similar to those which happened to Joseph were to occur in his own life. The account of the Quran differs from that of the Bible in many respects but, as will appear from the following pages, wherever the two accounts differ, it is the Bible that has erred.
1358
The reason why the story of Joseph was revealed to the Holy Prophet in such detail is that it contains many prophetic allusions to his own life. The whole story was to be, as it were, re-enacted in the person of the Holy Prophet himself and his brethren, the Quraish.
وَکَذٰلِکَ یَجۡتَبِیۡکَ رَبُّکَ وَیُعَلِّمُکَ مِنۡ تَاۡوِیۡلِ الۡاَحَادِیۡثِ وَیُتِمُّ نِعۡمَتَہٗ عَلَیۡکَ وَعَلٰۤی اٰلِ یَعۡقُوۡبَ کَمَاۤ اَتَمَّہَا عَلٰۤی اَبَوَیۡکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَاِسۡحٰقَ ۚ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ عَلِیۡمٌ حَکِیۡمٌ
12:22, 102.
12:22, 102.
The name is explained in the Bible as 'the supplanter' (Gen. 27: 36). It is the prevalent critical opinion that Ya‘qub (Jacob) is really a shortened form of Ya‘akobel admitting several meanings such as 'God follows' or 'God rewards.' Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel and known as the Third Patriarch (Enc. Bib. & Jew. Enc.).
12:22, 102.
Important Words:
یعقوب (Jacob) may, be said to have been derived from عقب. They say عقبه i.e. he struck his heel; he came after him as though at his heel. The Bible says, "And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob," (Gen. 25:26) as if "one who takes hold by the heel." The name is also explained in the Bible as "the supplanter" (Gen. 27:36). It is the prevalent critical opinion that Ya‘akob (Jacob) is really a shortened form of Ya‘akob-el, admitting several explanations such as "God follows" or "God rewards." Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel (another name of Jacob) and known as the third Patriarch (Enc. Bib. & Jew. Enc.). See also 2:41.
Commentary:
The words, thy Lord shall choose thee, mean that God will deal with you (Joseph) according to your dream, and you will attain to the greatness which has been promised to you in the vision.
The expression, shall teach you the interpretation of things, is capable of two meanings: (a) what you have seen in the dream will come to pass (b) God will teach you how to interpret dreams.
By the word "favour" occurring in this verse is meant the boon of prophethood, which means that Joseph received the promise that God would bestow prophethood on him, and through him He would bestow distinction on Jacob’s family also. God would make them believe in Joseph and thus they would share with him the favours and blessings of God.
This verse also embodies a divergence from the Bible. According to the Quran, Jacob was pleased to hear of the dream of Joseph and held it as true. But the Bible says: "His father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" (Gen. 37:10). Evidently there was no reason or occasion for Jacob to become angry with his son for having seen a dream in which he had no hand. No reasonable person, much less a Prophet of God, would act so unreasonably. Neither can it be said that Jacob thought Joseph was telling a lie and that really he had dreamt no dream, for the words which Jacob uttered when he heard of the dream i.e. "What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?" show that Jacob did believe that Joseph had really seen a dream. It is curious that the Bible contradicts itself in this very passage, for it says, "His brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying" (Gen. 37:11). The fact that Jacob "observed the saying" i.e. remembered it and bore it in mind, shows that he believed it to be a true dream and a genuine heavenly vision.
This incident furnishes a fourth point of similarity between Joseph and the Holy Prophet. Just as Jacob believed in the truth of Joseph’s dream, similarly, when Waraqah heard of the first revelation of the Holy Prophet, he accepted it as the true Word of God and even likened it to the revelation of Moses.
g
12:22, 102.
a
12:22, 102.
1511
Important Words:
یعقوب (Jacob) may, be said to have been derived from عقب. They say عقبه i.e. he struck his heel; he came after him as though at his heel. The Bible says, "And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob," (Gen. 25:26) as if "one who takes hold by the heel." The name is also explained in the Bible as "the supplanter" (Gen. 27:36). It is the prevalent critical opinion that Ya‘akob (Jacob) is really a shortened form of Ya‘akob-el, admitting several explanations such as "God follows" or "God rewards." Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel (another name of Jacob) and known as the third Patriarch (Enc. Bib. & Jew. Enc.). See also 2:41.
Commentary:
The words, thy Lord shall choose thee, mean that God will deal with you (Joseph) according to your dream, and you will attain to the greatness which has been promised to you in the vision.
The expression, shall teach you the interpretation of things, is capable of two meanings: (a) what you have seen in the dream will come to pass (b) God will teach you how to interpret dreams.
By the word "favour" occurring in this verse is meant the boon of prophethood, which means that Joseph received the promise that God would bestow prophethood on him, and through him He would bestow distinction on Jacob’s family also. God would make them believe in Joseph and thus they would share with him the favours and blessings of God.
This verse also embodies a divergence from the Bible. According to the Quran, Jacob was pleased to hear of the dream of Joseph and held it as true. But the Bible says: "His father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" (Gen. 37:10). Evidently there was no reason or occasion for Jacob to become angry with his son for having seen a dream in which he had no hand. No reasonable person, much less a Prophet of God, would act so unreasonably. Neither can it be said that Jacob thought Joseph was telling a lie and that really he had dreamt no dream, for the words which Jacob uttered when he heard of the dream i.e. "What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?" show that Jacob did believe that Joseph had really seen a dream. It is curious that the Bible contradicts itself in this very passage, for it says, "His brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying" (Gen. 37:11). The fact that Jacob "observed the saying" i.e. remembered it and bore it in mind, shows that he believed it to be a true dream and a genuine heavenly vision.
This incident furnishes a fourth point of similarity between Joseph and the Holy Prophet. Just as Jacob believed in the truth of Joseph’s dream, similarly, when Waraqah heard of the first revelation of the Holy Prophet, he accepted it as the true Word of God and even likened it to the revelation of Moses.
b
12:22, 102.
1361
The name is explained in the Bible as 'the supplanter' (Gen. 27: 36). It is the prevalent critical opinion that Ya‘qub (Jacob) is really a shortened form of Ya‘akobel admitting several meanings such as 'God follows' or 'God rewards.' Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham and the traditional ancestor of the people of Israel and known as the Third Patriarch (Enc. Bib. & Jew. Enc.).
وَاِنۡ مَّا نُرِیَنَّکَ بَعۡضَ الَّذِیۡ نَعِدُہُمۡ اَوۡ نَتَوَفَّیَنَّکَ فَاِنَّمَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡبَلٰغُ وَعَلَیۡنَا الۡحِسَابُ
10:47; 40:78.
21:45.
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that when the object of signs of punishment is the reformation and reclamation of the people, the postponement or cancellation of some of them cannot reasonably be criticized. The real object of the advent of the Prophets is to deliver the Divine Message to men, and the fulfilment or postponement or revocation of a prophecy is only a secondary thing, being subordinate to this supreme purpose. It should, therefore, occasion no surprise if, in harmony with the fulfilment of this purpose and of the Divine decree, a prophecy is cancelled or revoked, particularly when all people have to appear before God on the Day of Reckoning when the whole truth will come to light. This verse is important inasmuch as it lays down a fundamental divine principle about signs of punishment. To think that as signs of punishment proceed from God they must always happen as foretold is simply absurd and, besides clashing with the Divine attribute of mercy, belies the very purpose for which Prophets of God are raised.
d
10:47; 40:78.
e
3:21; 5:93; 16:83.
a
10:47; 40:78.
b
21:45.
1651
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that when the object of signs of punishment is the reformation and reclamation of the people, the postponement or cancellation of some of them cannot reasonably be criticized. The real object of the advent of the Prophets is to deliver the Divine Message to men, and the fulfilment or postponement or revocation of a prophecy is only a secondary thing, being subordinate to this supreme purpose. It should, therefore, occasion no surprise if, in harmony with the fulfilment of this purpose and of the Divine decree, a prophecy is cancelled or revoked, particularly when all people have to appear before God on the Day of Reckoning when the whole truth will come to light. This verse is important inasmuch as it lays down a fundamental divine principle about signs of punishment. To think that as signs of punishment proceed from God they must always happen as foretold is simply absurd and, besides clashing with the Divine attribute of mercy, belies the very purpose for which Prophets of God are raised.
f
10:47; 40:78.
g
3:21; 5:93; 16:83.
وَیَوۡمَ نَبۡعَثُ فِیۡ کُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ شَہِیۡدًا عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ۖ وَجِئۡنَا بِکَ شَہِیۡدًا عَلٰی ہٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ تِبۡیٰنًا لِّکُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّہُدًی وَّرَحۡمَۃً وَّبُشۡرٰی لِلۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ
10:38; 12:112.
4:42; 16:85.
4:42; 16:85.
10:38; 12:112.
Commentary:
This verse brings to completion the theme of the preceding verses and purports to say that when on the Day of Judgement various Prophets will present their own examples to establish the guilt of disbelievers, the Holy Prophet also will be presented as a witness against the latter. Disbelievers will be told that when the Holy Prophet who was like them and was one of them eschewed all idolatrous practices and succeeded not only himself in winning the pleasure of God but also led many others to the goal of their life, why could not they benefit by his example? Was this not due to his belief in the Divine teaching which was revealed to him and their rejection of that teaching and their refusal even to recognize its need?
The verse then proceeds to describe the eminent qualities of the Quran and says that it contains an exposition of all the spiritual needs of man and of the means which attract the Grace and Mercy of God.
The words کل شیء (everything) should not be understood to mean everything absolutely, but only all those things that pertain to the spiritual needs of man. So the verse means to say that all fundamental and basic principles which are necessary for the moral and spiritual development of man are embodied in the Quran. The fact that the exposition and explanation of some injunctions and principles is to be found in the Hadith may not be understood to contradict this claim of the Quran. The Hadith contains only explanations and expositions of the Quranic teaching and nothing over and above it or in opposition to it. The Holy Prophet was the greatest exponent of the Quran and so what he said in explanation of a certain injunction of the Quran was perfectly in harmony with it and was free from the possibility of error. This view is also corroborated by the Quran itself (53:4). Indeed they are in grievous error who say that the Prophet was an ordinary mortal like them and therefore they were not bound by all the interpretations, expositions and explanations of the Quranic verses given by him and that they could explain and interpret the Quran as well as he.
a
4:42; 16:85.
b
10:38; 12:112.
c
4:42; 16:85.
d
10:38; 12:112.
1890
Commentary:
This verse brings to completion the theme of the preceding verses and purports to say that when on the Day of Judgement various Prophets will present their own examples to establish the guilt of disbelievers, the Holy Prophet also will be presented as a witness against the latter. Disbelievers will be told that when the Holy Prophet who was like them and was one of them eschewed all idolatrous practices and succeeded not only himself in winning the pleasure of God but also led many others to the goal of their life, why could not they benefit by his example? Was this not due to his belief in the Divine teaching which was revealed to him and their rejection of that teaching and their refusal even to recognize its need?
The verse then proceeds to describe the eminent qualities of the Quran and says that it contains an exposition of all the spiritual needs of man and of the means which attract the Grace and Mercy of God.
The words کل شیء (everything) should not be understood to mean everything absolutely, but only all those things that pertain to the spiritual needs of man. So the verse means to say that all fundamental and basic principles which are necessary for the moral and spiritual development of man are embodied in the Quran. The fact that the exposition and explanation of some injunctions and principles is to be found in the Hadith may not be understood to contradict this claim of the Quran. The Hadith contains only explanations and expositions of the Quranic teaching and nothing over and above it or in opposition to it. The Holy Prophet was the greatest exponent of the Quran and so what he said in explanation of a certain injunction of the Quran was perfectly in harmony with it and was free from the possibility of error. This view is also corroborated by the Quran itself (53:4). Indeed they are in grievous error who say that the Prophet was an ordinary mortal like them and therefore they were not bound by all the interpretations, expositions and explanations of the Quranic verses given by him and that they could explain and interpret the Quran as well as he.
a
10:38; 12:112.
f
4:42; 16:85.
وَاِنَّ عَلَیۡکَ اللَّعۡنَۃَ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الدِّیۡنِ
38:79.
38:79.
38:79.
Important Words:
اللعنة (the curse) literally means, the state of being away from the mercy of God. See also 2:89.
Commentary:
The verse declares that the curse and maledictions of not only God and His Chosen Ones but also of all succeeding generations of men dog the footsteps of the opponents of God’s Prophets, while the latter and their followers continue to be remembered with honour and affection. As Divine Reformers will continue to come till the end of days, so Satan and his votaries will also continue to be cursed till the Day of Judgement. The curse referred to here does not, however, mean the Divine punishment which will have its full manifestation on the Day of Judgement but the curses and maledictions of men with which Satan and his followers will ever continue to be remembered in this world. See also 2:162 & 13:26.
a
38:79.
b
38:79.
1740
Important Words:
اللعنة (the curse) literally means, the state of being away from the mercy of God. See also 2:89.
Commentary:
The verse declares that the curse and maledictions of not only God and His Chosen Ones but also of all succeeding generations of men dog the footsteps of the opponents of God’s Prophets, while the latter and their followers continue to be remembered with honour and affection. As Divine Reformers will continue to come till the end of days, so Satan and his votaries will also continue to be cursed till the Day of Judgement. The curse referred to here does not, however, mean the Divine punishment which will have its full manifestation on the Day of Judgement but the curses and maledictions of men with which Satan and his followers will ever continue to be remembered in this world. See also 2:162 & 13:26.
a
38:79.
وَمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ اِلَّا لِتُبَیِّنَ لَہُمُ الَّذِی اخۡتَلَفُوۡا فِیۡہِ ۙ وَہُدًی وَّرَحۡمَۃً لِّقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
6:158; 12:112; 16:90.
6:158; 12:112; 16:90.
6:158; 12:112; 16:90.
Commentary:
The verse sets forth the existence of differences among the nations of the world as a reason for Divine revelation to be sent down to them because the Divine Word alone can resolve these differences. These differences also constitute a justification for the Quranic revelation. If men could only be convinced that the Quran was the revealed word of God, they would certainly give up their own views in its favour.
The verse also suggests that disbelievers cannot reasonably object to the advent of a new Prophet because a new Prophet comes only when the people cease to observe the teaching of the previous Prophet and deviate from the right path. So their deviation from the right path and their differences justify the appearance of a new Prophet.
The question may be asked, if, for instance, the Jews had remained loyal to the teachings of Moses, would the Holy Prophet not have come? The question is hypothetical. In any case differences and disagreements would have continued to exist in the world and consequently there would have always remained the need for a new Divine Messenger. But God has already provided an answer to the question in the words, "Had there been in the earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, We should have certainly sent down to them from heaven an angel as a Messenger" (17:96) i.e. if all men had become pure and holy like angels, there was no need for any Prophet to come. The word of God would then have descended directly upon every individual. But since angels have never lived on this earth nor has the world ceased to be a place of sin and iniquity, the Prophets also have not ceased to appear to bring about reconciliation between the sinful people and their Compassionate and Merciful Creator.
e
6:158; 12:112; 16:90.
a
6:158; 12:112; 16:90.
1865
Commentary:
The verse sets forth the existence of differences among the nations of the world as a reason for Divine revelation to be sent down to them because the Divine Word alone can resolve these differences. These differences also constitute a justification for the Quranic revelation. If men could only be convinced that the Quran was the revealed word of God, they would certainly give up their own views in its favour.
The verse also suggests that disbelievers cannot reasonably object to the advent of a new Prophet because a new Prophet comes only when the people cease to observe the teaching of the previous Prophet and deviate from the right path. So their deviation from the right path and their differences justify the appearance of a new Prophet.
The question may be asked, if, for instance, the Jews had remained loyal to the teachings of Moses, would the Holy Prophet not have come? The question is hypothetical. In any case differences and disagreements would have continued to exist in the world and consequently there would have always remained the need for a new Divine Messenger. But God has already provided an answer to the question in the words, "Had there been in the earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, We should have certainly sent down to them from heaven an angel as a Messenger" (17:96) i.e. if all men had become pure and holy like angels, there was no need for any Prophet to come. The word of God would then have descended directly upon every individual. But since angels have never lived on this earth nor has the world ceased to be a place of sin and iniquity, the Prophets also have not ceased to appear to bring about reconciliation between the sinful people and their Compassionate and Merciful Creator.
b
6:158; 12:112; 16:90.
فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَاِنَّمَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِیۡنُ
3:21; 5:93.
3:21; 5:93.
3:21; 5:93.
Commentary:
The words, If they turn away, mean that in spite of this offer of peace made to disbelievers, they are determined to compel the Prophet to flee from Mecca. By doing so they are incurring a grave responsibility.
b
3:21; 5:93.
a
3:21; 5:93.
1883
Commentary:
The words, If they turn away, mean that in spite of this offer of peace made to disbelievers, they are determined to compel the Prophet to flee from Mecca. By doing so they are incurring a grave responsibility.
a
3:21; 5:93.
وَعَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ ہَادُوۡا حَرَّمۡنَا مَا قَصَصۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمۡنٰہُمۡ وَلٰکِنۡ کَانُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ یَظۡلِمُوۡنَ
11:102; 16:34.
11:102; 16:34.
11:102; 16:34.
Commentary:
The verse warns Muslims that, like idolaters, the Jews also made lawful things unlawful and vice versa, and for this unlawful act they were punished by God, so they (the Muslims) should be on their guard against following their bad example.
The word "before" in the sentence We forbade before this all… refers to v. 116 above. The words, but they used to wrong themselves, signify that some other things such as the flesh of the cow and the fat of the goat were forbidden to them. But the prohibition was temporary and was prescribed as a punishment to the Jews for having made lawful for themselves things which God had made unlawful for them.
c
11:102; 16:34.
a
11:102; 16:34.
1919
Commentary:
The verse warns Muslims that, like idolaters, the Jews also made lawful things unlawful and vice versa, and for this unlawful act they were punished by God, so they (the Muslims) should be on their guard against following their bad example.
The word "before" in the sentence We forbade before this all… refers to v. 116 above. The words, but they used to wrong themselves, signify that some other things such as the flesh of the cow and the fat of the goat were forbidden to them. But the prohibition was temporary and was prescribed as a punishment to the Jews for having made lawful for themselves things which God had made unlawful for them.
c
11:102; 16:34.
اِقۡرَاۡ کِتٰبَکَ کَفٰی بِنَفۡسِکَ الۡیَوۡمَ عَلَیۡکَ حَسِیۡبًا
17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27.
17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27.
17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27.
Commentary:
The expression, Read thy book, used figuratively means, "take thy punishment". The words, Sufficient is thy own soul this day as reckoner against thee, clearly show that punishment is not something that comes from outside but it takes its birth within man himself. In fact, the punishments and rewards of Heaven and Hell will only be so many embodiments and representations of the deeds, good or bad, of man. Thus in this life man is the architect of his own destiny and in the next he will be his own rewarder or punisher.
b
17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27.
a
17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27.
1944
Commentary:
The expression, Read thy book, used figuratively means, "take thy punishment". The words, Sufficient is thy own soul this day as reckoner against thee, clearly show that punishment is not something that comes from outside but it takes its birth within man himself. In fact, the punishments and rewards of Heaven and Hell will only be so many embodiments and representations of the deeds, good or bad, of man. Thus in this life man is the architect of his own destiny and in the next he will be his own rewarder or punisher.
a
17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27.
اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً مِّنۡ رَّبِّکَ ۚ اِنَّ فَضۡلَہٗ کَانَ عَلَیۡکَ کَبِیۡرًا
28:87.
28:87.
28:87.
Commentary:
The meaning of the expression, Surely, His grace towards thee is great, among other things, is that when the spirit of the Quran disappeared from the world and its letter only remained, God alone could and would bring it back.
a
28:87.
a
28:87.
2017
Commentary:
The meaning of the expression, Surely, His grace towards thee is great, among other things, is that when the spirit of the Quran disappeared from the world and its letter only remained, God alone could and would bring it back.
a
28:87.
نَّحۡنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ نَبَاَہُمۡ بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ اِنَّہُمۡ فِتۡیَۃٌ اٰمَنُوۡا بِرَبِّہِمۡ وَزِدۡنٰہُمۡ ہُدًی
8:3; 47:18.
8:3; 47:18.
The verse shows that many fantastic stories were current about the Dwellers of the Cave in the Holy Prophet’s time. The truth about them, however, is that they were young men of noble conduct who had staked their all for the sake of their Lord and that their faith had steadily grown under persecution.
8:3; 47:18.
Commentary:
The verse shows that many fantastic stories were current about the Dwellers of the Cave in the Holy Prophet’s time. The truth about them, however, is that they were young men of noble conduct who had staked their all for the sake of their Lord and that their faith had steadily grown under persecution.
a
8:3; 47:18.
a
8:3; 47:18.
2054
Commentary:
The verse shows that many fantastic stories were current about the Dwellers of the Cave in the Holy Prophet’s time. The truth about them, however, is that they were young men of noble conduct who had staked their all for the sake of their Lord and that their faith had steadily grown under persecution.
a
8:3; 47:18.
1670
The verse shows that many fantastic stories were current about the Dwellers of the Cave in the Holy Prophet’s time. The truth about them, however, is that they were young men of noble conduct who had staked their all for the sake of their Lord and that their faith had steadily grown under persecution.
وَلَقَدۡ مَنَنَّا عَلَیۡکَ مَرَّۃً اُخۡرٰۤی
اَنِ اقۡذِفِیۡہِ فِی التَّابُوۡتِ فَاقۡذِفِیۡہِ فِی الۡیَمِّ فَلۡیُلۡقِہِ الۡیَمُّ بِالسَّاحِلِ یَاۡخُذۡہُ عَدُوٌّ لِّیۡ وَعَدُوٌّ لَّہٗ ۚ وَاَلۡقَیۡتُ عَلَیۡکَ مَحَبَّۃً مِّنِّیۡ وَلِتُصۡنَعَ عَلٰی عَیۡنِیۡۤ
28:9.
قرآن کریم میں عَدُوٌّ کا لفظ دو جگہ آیا ہے۔ اردو میں ایک کافی ہوتا ہے اس لئے ہم نے پہلی جگہ اس کا ترجمہ نہیں کیا‘ دوسری جگہ کر دیا ہے۔
یعنی ہماری نگہداشت میں (دیکھئے اقرب زیر لفظ عَین)
‘Ain means (1) the eye; (2) inmates of a house; (3) protection (Lane). As Moses was to have been entrusted with the great and difficult task of delivering a people, held in bondage for long by a cruel and powerful monarch, it was necessary that he should have received the requisite training for the great mission under royal tutors and teachers. So it was in fulfilment of this Divine plan that Moses found his way into Pharaoh’s own house.
28:9.
Important Words:
For التابوت see 2:249.
عینی (My eye). عین means, (1) the eye; (2) look or view; (3) the people or inmates of a house or dwelling; (4) brothers from the same father and mother; (5) protection or honour (Lane). The expression علی عینی means, before my eyes, or, under my protection. See also 11:38.
تصنع (be reared) is derived from صنع. They say صنع الشیء i.e. he made the thing. صنع الفرس means, he looked after the horse. صنع ابنته means, he properly brought up his daughter. صنع (sun‘un) means, to do a thing properly and well. اصطنع الشیء means, he ordered the thing to be prepared for him. اصطنعه means, he taught him and trained and brought him up. اصطنع عندہ صنیعة means, he did him a favour. اصطنعه لنفسه means, he chose him for himself. اصطناع means, to mend or reform a thing thoroughly and well (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
As Moses was to have been entrusted with the great and difficult task of delivering a people held in bondage for long by a cruel and powerful monarch, it was necessary that he should have received the requisite training for the great mission under royal tutors and teachers. So it was in fulfilment of this divine plan that he found his way into Pharaoh’s own house.
The reference in the verse is to the Biblical narrative. See Exod. 2:1-10.
The expression فلیلقه is in the imperative mood and signifies command, meaning, We commanded that the river should cast it on to the bank.
a
28:9.
1
قرآن کریم میں عَدُوٌّ کا لفظ دو جگہ آیا ہے۔ اردو میں ایک کافی ہوتا ہے اس لئے ہم نے پہلی جگہ اس کا ترجمہ نہیں کیا‘ دوسری جگہ کر دیا ہے۔
2
یعنی ہماری نگہداشت میں (دیکھئے اقرب زیر لفظ عَین)
c
28:9.
2263
Important Words:
For التابوت see 2:249.
عینی (My eye). عین means, (1) the eye; (2) look or view; (3) the people or inmates of a house or dwelling; (4) brothers from the same father and mother; (5) protection or honour (Lane). The expression علی عینی means, before my eyes, or, under my protection. See also 11:38.
تصنع (be reared) is derived from صنع. They say صنع الشیء i.e. he made the thing. صنع الفرس means, he looked after the horse. صنع ابنته means, he properly brought up his daughter. صنع (sun‘un) means, to do a thing properly and well. اصطنع الشیء means, he ordered the thing to be prepared for him. اصطنعه means, he taught him and trained and brought him up. اصطنع عندہ صنیعة means, he did him a favour. اصطنعه لنفسه means, he chose him for himself. اصطناع means, to mend or reform a thing thoroughly and well (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
As Moses was to have been entrusted with the great and difficult task of delivering a people held in bondage for long by a cruel and powerful monarch, it was necessary that he should have received the requisite training for the great mission under royal tutors and teachers. So it was in fulfilment of this divine plan that he found his way into Pharaoh’s own house.
The reference in the verse is to the Biblical narrative. See Exod. 2:1-10.
The expression فلیلقه is in the imperative mood and signifies command, meaning, We commanded that the river should cast it on to the bank.
c
28:9.1822
‘Ain means (1) the eye; (2) inmates of a house; (3) protection (Lane). As Moses was to have been entrusted with the great and difficult task of delivering a people, held in bondage for long by a cruel and powerful monarch, it was necessary that he should have received the requisite training for the great mission under royal tutors and teachers. So it was in fulfilment of this Divine plan that Moses found his way into Pharaoh’s own house.
قَالَ سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡکَ ۖ سَاَسۡتَغۡفِرُ لَکَ رَبِّیۡۤ ۖ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ بِیۡ حَفِیًّا
9:114; 26:87; 60:5.
9:114; 26:87; 60:5.
9:114; 26:87; 60:5.
Important Words:
حفیا (gracious) is derived from حفی (hafiya).They say حفا فلاناً i.e. he gave such a one. حفاہ من الشیء means, he refused to give him the thing. حفی به means, he honoured him; he showed him much honour and kindness and affection and regard for his circumstances; he behaved towards him with benevolence and solicitude and manifested joy. حفی عنه means, he asked or inquired much respecting him or it. حفی means, kind; gracious; affectionate; having much regard for another person’s circumstances; going to the utmost in asking or inquiring etc. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 7:188.
d
9:114; 26:87; 60:5.
a
9:114; 26:87; 60:5.
2190
Important Words:
حفیا (gracious) is derived from حفی (hafiya).They say حفا فلاناً i.e. he gave such a one. حفاہ من الشیء means, he refused to give him the thing. حفی به means, he honoured him; he showed him much honour and kindness and affection and regard for his circumstances; he behaved towards him with benevolence and solicitude and manifested joy. حفی عنه means, he asked or inquired much respecting him or it. حفی means, kind; gracious; affectionate; having much regard for another person’s circumstances; going to the utmost in asking or inquiring etc. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 7:188.
a
9:114; 26:87; 60:5.
مَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ لِتَشۡقٰۤی
这节经文内含有一个消息, 给穆圣和穆斯林以安慰和希望。这个消息的大意是说, «古兰经» 是安拉启示的一本完美而正确的经典, 因此持有这本天经的使者的使命是绝对不会失败的。因此, 穆圣的事业必定胜利。这些经文也驳斥了所谓这本经典即شَرِيْعَة (Shari‘ah) 是一种可诅咒的事物的这一基督教教条。«古兰经» 中没有与人类本性不一致的地方, 假如按照它去行动, 不会使人遭到麻烦。
The verse contains a message of comfort and hope for the Holy Prophet and Muslims. It purports to say that it is incompatible with the perfect and unerring Quranic revelation that its bearer should fail in his mission. The cause of the Holy Prophet, therefore, must triumph. The verse also refutes the Christian dogma that the Law or the Shari‘ah is a curse. There is nothing in the Qur’an which is repugnant to human nature and which, if acted upon, should put man into trouble.
Commentary:
As hinted above, the present verse contains a message of comfort and hope for the Holy Prophet and Muslims. It means to suggest that it is incompatible with the perfect and unerring Quranic revelation that its bearer should fail in his mission. The cause of the Holy Prophet, therefore, will triumph and his followers after passing through severe trials and tribulations will achieve success, prosperity and glory. This Surah was revealed at Mecca in the very early period of the Call when the Muslims were being mercilessly harassed and harried and the persecution to which they were subjected was very severe and organized and seemed to know no end. Hence the need for these comforting words.
The verse also refutes and rebuts the Christian dogma that the Law or the Shari‘ah is a curse. It purports to say that the Law has been revealed as a source of Divine mercy and blessing. There is nothing in it which is repugnant to human nature and which if acted upon should put man into trouble and distress.
811
这节经文内含有一个消息, 给穆圣和穆斯林以安慰和希望。这个消息的大意是说, «古兰经» 是安拉启示的一本完美而正确的经典, 因此持有这本天经的使者的使命是绝对不会失败的。因此, 穆圣的事业必定胜利。这些经文也驳斥了所谓这本经典即شَرِيْعَة (Shari‘ah) 是一种可诅咒的事物的这一基督教教条。«古兰经» 中没有与人类本性不一致的地方, 假如按照它去行动, 不会使人遭到麻烦。
2239
Commentary:
As hinted above, the present verse contains a message of comfort and hope for the Holy Prophet and Muslims. It means to suggest that it is incompatible with the perfect and unerring Quranic revelation that its bearer should fail in his mission. The cause of the Holy Prophet, therefore, will triumph and his followers after passing through severe trials and tribulations will achieve success, prosperity and glory. This Surah was revealed at Mecca in the very early period of the Call when the Muslims were being mercilessly harassed and harried and the persecution to which they were subjected was very severe and organized and seemed to know no end. Hence the need for these comforting words.
The verse also refutes and rebuts the Christian dogma that the Law or the Shari‘ah is a curse. It purports to say that the Law has been revealed as a source of Divine mercy and blessing. There is nothing in it which is repugnant to human nature and which if acted upon should put man into trouble and distress.
1808
The verse contains a message of comfort and hope for the Holy Prophet and Muslims. It purports to say that it is incompatible with the perfect and unerring Quranic revelation that its bearer should fail in his mission. The cause of the Holy Prophet, therefore, must triumph. The verse also refutes the Christian dogma that the Law or the Shari‘ah is a curse. There is nothing in the Qur’an which is repugnant to human nature and which, if acted upon, should put man into trouble.
کَذٰلِکَ نَقُصُّ عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ اَنۡۢبَآءِ مَا قَدۡ سَبَقَ ۚ وَقَدۡ اٰتَیۡنٰکَ مِنۡ لَّدُنَّا ذِکۡرًا
Commentary:
The verse embodies a prophecy that the Holy Prophet will have to face conditions and circumstances similar to those which Moses had confronted. No other Israelite Prophet shared as many points of resemblance with the Holy Prophet as Moses did. Moses had Aaron, his brother, as his assistant in the discharge of his duties. The Holy Prophet had his cousin ‘Ali whom he likened to Aaron when he left him behind on the occasion of the expedition to Tabuk. Aaron was accused of having made for the Israelites a calf for worship and ‘Ali was accused of being an accomplice in the murder of ‘Uthman. The Holy Prophet also had a Samiri in the person of the Jew, ‘Abdullah bin Saba, who outwardly became a Muslim and stirred up revolt against the third Caliph, ‘Uthman, which culminated in the latter’s assassination and in an internecine split in Islam which unfortunately has since then shown no sign of abating or healing.
2311
Commentary:
The verse embodies a prophecy that the Holy Prophet will have to face conditions and circumstances similar to those which Moses had confronted. No other Israelite Prophet shared as many points of resemblance with the Holy Prophet as Moses did. Moses had Aaron, his brother, as his assistant in the discharge of his duties. The Holy Prophet had his cousin ‘Ali whom he likened to Aaron when he left him behind on the occasion of the expedition to Tabuk. Aaron was accused of having made for the Israelites a calf for worship and ‘Ali was accused of being an accomplice in the murder of ‘Uthman. The Holy Prophet also had a Samiri in the person of the Jew, ‘Abdullah bin Saba, who outwardly became a Muslim and stirred up revolt against the third Caliph, ‘Uthman, which culminated in the latter’s assassination and in an internecine split in Islam which unfortunately has since then shown no sign of abating or healing.
قَالَ اِنِّیۡۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اُنۡکِحَکَ اِحۡدَی ابۡنَتَیَّ ہٰتَیۡنِ عَلٰۤی اَنۡ تَاۡجُرَنِیۡ ثَمٰنِیَ حِجَجٍ ۖ فَاِنۡ اَتۡمَمۡتَ عَشۡرًا فَمِنۡ عِنۡدِکَ ۖ وَمَاۤ اُرِیۡدُ اَنۡ اَشُقَّ عَلَیۡکَ ۚ سَتَجِدُنِیۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ مِنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ
The construction of the verse does not seem to lend countenance to the conclusion generally considered derivable from it, viz. that Shu‘aib or Jethro agreed to marry one of his daughters to Moses in lieu of eight or ten years of service. The fact of the matter appears to be that Shu‘aib having grown very old needed an honest man to look after his flocks and Moses having been found by him to be possessed of the required qualifications was taken in service by him at the instance of one of his daughters. Eight or ten years were agreed upon as the tenure of service. Shu‘aib, however, being a godly person either himself realized, or was informed by God by revelation, that a great future lay before Moses. He, therefore, offered to marry one of his daughters to him and, desiring that his son-in-law should live with him for some time and benefit by his noble company, laid it down as one of the conditions of marriage that Moses should stay with him for eight or ten years. Thus it is not correct to say that Sh
Commentary:
The construction of the verse does not seem to lend countenance to the conclusion generally considered derivable from it, viz. that Shu‘aib or Jethro agreed to marry one of his daughters to Moses in lieu of eight or ten years of service. The fact of the matter appears to be that Shu‘aib having grown very old needed an honest man to look after his flocks and Moses having been found as possessing the required qualifications was taken in service by him at the instance of one of his daughters. Eight or ten years were agreed upon as the tenure of service. Shu‘aib, however, being a holy man either himself realized or was informed by God that a great future lay before Moses. He, therefore, offered to marry one of his daughters to him and, desiring that his son-in-law should live with him for some time and benefit by his noble company, laid it down as one of the conditions of marriage that Moses should stay with him for eight or ten years. Thus it is not correct to say that Shu‘aib offered to marry his daughter to Moses in lieu of the latter serving him for eight or ten years. Whatever remuneration Moses might have received from Shu‘aib had nothing to do with the marriage proposal.
The flight of Moses from Egypt and his stay in Midian for ten years bears a striking resemblance to the residence of the Holy Prophet for ten years in Medina after his Hijrah from Mecca. Moses must have, in a large measure, benefited himself spiritually by his God-fearing and righteous father-in-law’s company just as his upbringing in the house of Pharaoh had equipped him with temporal knowledge. But the noble Prophet of Islam was indebted to no human being for the great treasures of spiritual and temporal knowledge possessed by him. He had received them direct from God.
The expression من عندک means, 'It would be an additional favour from you.'
2894A
Commentary:
The construction of the verse does not seem to lend countenance to the conclusion generally considered derivable from it, viz. that Shu‘aib or Jethro agreed to marry one of his daughters to Moses in lieu of eight or ten years of service. The fact of the matter appears to be that Shu‘aib having grown very old needed an honest man to look after his flocks and Moses having been found as possessing the required qualifications was taken in service by him at the instance of one of his daughters. Eight or ten years were agreed upon as the tenure of service. Shu‘aib, however, being a holy man either himself realized or was informed by God that a great future lay before Moses. He, therefore, offered to marry one of his daughters to him and, desiring that his son-in-law should live with him for some time and benefit by his noble company, laid it down as one of the conditions of marriage that Moses should stay with him for eight or ten years. Thus it is not correct to say that Shu‘aib offered to marry his daughter to Moses in lieu of the latter serving him for eight or ten years. Whatever remuneration Moses might have received from Shu‘aib had nothing to do with the marriage proposal.
The flight of Moses from Egypt and his stay in Midian for ten years bears a striking resemblance to the residence of the Holy Prophet for ten years in Medina after his Hijrah from Mecca. Moses must have, in a large measure, benefited himself spiritually by his God-fearing and righteous father-in-law’s company just as his upbringing in the house of Pharaoh had equipped him with temporal knowledge. But the noble Prophet of Islam was indebted to no human being for the great treasures of spiritual and temporal knowledge possessed by him. He had received them direct from God.
The expression من عندک means, 'It would be an additional favour from you.'
2211
The construction of the verse does not seem to lend countenance to the conclusion generally considered derivable from it, viz. that Shu‘aib or Jethro agreed to marry one of his daughters to Moses in lieu of eight or ten years of service. The fact of the matter appears to be that Shu‘aib having grown very old needed an honest man to look after his flocks and Moses having been found by him to be possessed of the required qualifications was taken in service by him at the instance of one of his daughters. Eight or ten years were agreed upon as the tenure of service. Shu‘aib, however, being a godly person either himself realized, or was informed by God by revelation, that a great future lay before Moses. He, therefore, offered to marry one of his daughters to him and, desiring that his son-in-law should live with him for some time and benefit by his noble company, laid it down as one of the conditions of marriage that Moses should stay with him for eight or ten years. Thus it is not correct to say that Sh
نَتۡلُوۡا عَلَیۡکَ مِنۡ نَّبَاِ مُوۡسٰی وَفِرۡعَوۡنَ بِالۡحَقِّ لِقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
Commentary:
Perhaps in no other Surah of the Quran have the different phases of Moses’ life been treated in such detail as in the present Surah—his infancy, and childhood, his youth, his flight or exile and his Call. The Holy Prophet’s pre-eminence as a Prophet is a thing apart, but as he has been "likened" to Moses, the conditions and circumstances of his life resemble more those of Moses than of any other Prophet.
The words, "with truth" imply that the Quranic narrative of Moses differs in certain details from that of the Bible but wherever the Quranic description differs from the Biblical account, it will be found to be nearer truth and reality.
2878
Commentary:
Perhaps in no other Surah of the Quran have the different phases of Moses’ life been treated in such detail as in the present Surah—his infancy, and childhood, his youth, his flight or exile and his Call. The Holy Prophet’s pre-eminence as a Prophet is a thing apart, but as he has been "likened" to Moses, the conditions and circumstances of his life resemble more those of Moses than of any other Prophet.
The words, "with truth" imply that the Quranic narrative of Moses differs in certain details from that of the Bible but wherever the Quranic description differs from the Biblical account, it will be found to be nearer truth and reality.
اِنَّ الَّذِیۡ فَرَضَ عَلَیۡکَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ لَرَآدُّکَ اِلٰی مَعَادٍ ۚ قُل رَّبِّیۡۤ اَعۡلَمُ مَنۡ جَآءَ بِالۡہُدٰی وَمَنۡ ہُوَ فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیۡنٍ
17:85.
اَلْمَعَادُ کے معنے اَلْمَرْجَعُ کے ہوتے ہیں یعنی جس کی طرف لوگ لوٹ لوٹ کر آتے ہیں۔ یہاں اس سے مراد مکہ ہے جہاں لوگ باربار حج اور عمرہ کے لئے جاتے تھے۔
اس میں فتح مکہ کی طرف اشارہ ہے جس کی طرف محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو واپس لانے کی پیشگوئی کی گئی ہے۔ اور قرآن کے فرض کرنے سے یہ بتایا گیا ہے کہ اگر محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم مکہ کی طرف لوٹ کر واپس نہ آئے تو یہ قرآن کی سچائی پر ایک حرف ہوگا‘ کیونکہ اللہ تعالیٰ نے یہ وعدہ قرآنی شریعت کے ذکر کے ساتھ اپنی قسم کھا کر کیا ہے۔ اور اللہ تعالیٰ کے فضل سے پورا ہو کر رہے گا۔
17:85.
This verse is considered by some scholars to have been revealed while the Holy Prophet was on his way from Mecca to Medina. It embodied a great prophecy, viz. that one day he will have to leave Mecca and then eventually he will come back to it as a victor and conqueror. The verse constitutes a befitting sequel to the Surah which gives a somewhat detailed life-story of Moses, the like of the Holy Prophet. Moses fled from Egypt and lived in Midian for ten years which were the years of preparation for the great task which lay ahead of him. Then he went back to Egypt with the Divine Message and succeeded in delivering the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. Similarly, the Holy Prophet fled from Mecca and spent ten precious years of his life in Medina which were the years of preparation for the great object of conquering Mecca, the Centre and Citadel of his Faith. He returned to it as a conqueror and a victor and was fully successful in his life’s mission.
17:85.
Important Words:
فرض (made binding) means, He (God) made a thing obligatory or binding by a known decree. فرض له means, he appointed to him a thing. فرض اللّٰه الاحکام علی عبادہ means, God has instituted or prescribed for His servants ordinances and commandments (Lane & Aqrab).
معاد (place of return) is derived from عاد. They say عاد الیه i.e. he returned to it. معاد means, a place to which a person returns; a place, state or result to which a person or thing eventually comes; a place of destination or an ultimate state or condition (Mecca is so called because the pilgrims return to it again and again); Paradise; Pilgrimage; Hereafter (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
This verse is considered by some scholars to have been revealed while the Holy Prophet was on his way from Mecca to Medina. It embodied a great prophecy, viz. that the Holy Prophet one day will have to leave Mecca and then eventually he will come back to it as a victor and conqueror, and the fulfilment of this mighty prophecy under extraordinary circumstances will show "who has brought the guidance, and who is in manifest error." The verse constitutes a befitting sequel to the Surah which gives a somewhat detailed life-story of Moses, the counterpart of the Holy Prophet. Moses fled from Egypt and lived in Midian for ten years which were years of preparation for the great task which lay ahead of him. Then he went back to Egypt with the Divine Message and succeeded in delivering the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. Similarly, the Holy Prophet fled from Mecca and spent ten precious years of his life in Medina which were the years of preparation for the great object of conquering Mecca, the centre and citadel of his Faith. He returned to it as a conqueror and victor and fully succeeded in the achievement of his great object.
d
17:85.
1
اَلْمَعَادُ کے معنے اَلْمَرْجَعُ کے ہوتے ہیں یعنی جس کی طرف لوگ لوٹ لوٹ کر آتے ہیں۔ یہاں اس سے مراد مکہ ہے جہاں لوگ باربار حج اور عمرہ کے لئے جاتے تھے۔
2
اس میں فتح مکہ کی طرف اشارہ ہے جس کی طرف محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو واپس لانے کی پیشگوئی کی گئی ہے۔ اور قرآن کے فرض کرنے سے یہ بتایا گیا ہے کہ اگر محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم مکہ کی طرف لوٹ کر واپس نہ آئے تو یہ قرآن کی سچائی پر ایک حرف ہوگا‘ کیونکہ اللہ تعالیٰ نے یہ وعدہ قرآنی شریعت کے ذکر کے ساتھ اپنی قسم کھا کر کیا ہے۔ اور اللہ تعالیٰ کے فضل سے پورا ہو کر رہے گا۔
a
17:85.
2936
Important Words:
فرض (made binding) means, He (God) made a thing obligatory or binding by a known decree. فرض له means, he appointed to him a thing. فرض اللّٰه الاحکام علی عبادہ means, God has instituted or prescribed for His servants ordinances and commandments (Lane & Aqrab).
معاد (place of return) is derived from عاد. They say عاد الیه i.e. he returned to it. معاد means, a place to which a person returns; a place, state or result to which a person or thing eventually comes; a place of destination or an ultimate state or condition (Mecca is so called because the pilgrims return to it again and again); Paradise; Pilgrimage; Hereafter (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
This verse is considered by some scholars to have been revealed while the Holy Prophet was on his way from Mecca to Medina. It embodied a great prophecy, viz. that the Holy Prophet one day will have to leave Mecca and then eventually he will come back to it as a victor and conqueror, and the fulfilment of this mighty prophecy under extraordinary circumstances will show "who has brought the guidance, and who is in manifest error." The verse constitutes a befitting sequel to the Surah which gives a somewhat detailed life-story of Moses, the counterpart of the Holy Prophet. Moses fled from Egypt and lived in Midian for ten years which were years of preparation for the great task which lay ahead of him. Then he went back to Egypt with the Divine Message and succeeded in delivering the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. Similarly, the Holy Prophet fled from Mecca and spent ten precious years of his life in Medina which were the years of preparation for the great object of conquering Mecca, the centre and citadel of his Faith. He returned to it as a conqueror and victor and fully succeeded in the achievement of his great object.
a
17:85.
2235
This verse is considered by some scholars to have been revealed while the Holy Prophet was on his way from Mecca to Medina. It embodied a great prophecy, viz. that one day he will have to leave Mecca and then eventually he will come back to it as a victor and conqueror. The verse constitutes a befitting sequel to the Surah which gives a somewhat detailed life-story of Moses, the like of the Holy Prophet. Moses fled from Egypt and lived in Midian for ten years which were the years of preparation for the great task which lay ahead of him. Then he went back to Egypt with the Divine Message and succeeded in delivering the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. Similarly, the Holy Prophet fled from Mecca and spent ten precious years of his life in Medina which were the years of preparation for the great object of conquering Mecca, the Centre and Citadel of his Faith. He returned to it as a conqueror and a victor and was fully successful in his life’s mission.
وَاِذۡ تَقُوۡلُ لِلَّذِیۡۤ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡہِ وَاَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیۡہِ اَمۡسِکۡ عَلَیۡکَ زَوۡجَکَ وَاتَّقِ اللّٰہَ وَتُخۡفِیۡ فِیۡ نَفۡسِکَ مَا اللّٰہُ مُبۡدِیۡہِ وَتَخۡشَی النَّاسَ وَاللّٰہُ اَحَقُّ اَنۡ تَخۡشٰٮہُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضٰی زَیۡدٌ مِّنۡہَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجۡنٰکَہَا لِکَیۡ لَا یَکُوۡنَ عَلَی الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ حَرَجٌ فِیۡۤ اَزۡوٰجِ اَدۡعِیَآئِہِمۡ اِذَا قَضَوۡا مِنۡہُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ وَکَانَ اَمۡرُ اللّٰہِ مَفۡعُوۡلًا
بعض مفسرین کہتے ہیں کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ’’نعوذ باللہ‘‘دل میں حضرت زینبؓ کو نکاح میں لانے کا ارادہ رکھتے تھے مگر اس کو چھپاتے تھے تاکہ لوگ ٹھوکر نہ کھائیں مگر اصل میں اس کے یہ معنے ہیں کہ آنحضرت صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو معلوم ہو چکا تھا کہ حضرت زیدؓ حضرت زینبؓ کو طلاق دینا چاہتے ہیں اور آپ اس معاملہ کو پوشیدہ رکھ کر حضرت زیدؓ کو نصیحت کرتے تھے تاکہ لوگوں کو یہ ٹھوکر نہ لگے کہ ایک شریف خاندان کی لڑکی ایک آزاد غلام سے بیاہ کر رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اچھا کام نہیں کیا بلکہ فتنہ کا دروازہ کھول دیا ہے۔ بعض علماء کہتے ہیں کہ ز ینبؓ کا نکاح آنحضرت صلی اللہ
ہم پہلے لکھ چکے ہیں کہ تاریخ سے یہ ثابت ہے کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے حضرت زینبؓ سے نکاح کیا تھا مگر اس آیت میں زَوَّجْنٰکَھَا کے الفاظ ہیں۔ جس کے معنے یہ ہیں کہ ’’ہم نے تجھ سے اس کا بیاہ کر دیا‘‘ سو یاد رکھنا چاہیے کہ عربی زبان میں جو فعل کسی کے دخل دینے سے ہو وہ اسی کی طرف منسوب ہوتا ہے۔ چونکہ الہاماً اللہ تعالیٰ کی طرف سے نکاح کا حکم ہوا تھا اس لئے یہ فعل اللہ تعالیٰ کی طرف منسوب کیا گیا۔
Zaid bin Harith, a young freed man of the Holy Prophet whom he had adopted as his son before adoption was declared unlawful in Islam.
Had divorced her; Watar means, need; want; an object of want (Lane).
Zainab was the daughter of the Holy Prophet’s aunt, hence a full- blooded Arab lady, intensely proud of her ancestry and exalted social status. Islam had envisaged and given to the world a civilization and culture in which there were no class divisions, no hereditary nobility, no vested interests. All men were free and equal in the sight of God. The Holy Prophet wanted to start with his own family to carry into actual effect this noble ideal of Islam. He wished to marry Zainab to Zaid, who in spite of having been freed by the Prophet, unfortunately still carried the stigma of slavery in the minds of some people. It was exactly this stigma of slavery, this invidious distinction between 'free' and 'slave' which the Holy Prophet sought to remove by Zainab’s marriage with Zaid. In deference to the Holy Prophet’s wish Zainab agreed to the proposal. The purpose of the Holy Prophet was achieved. The marriage levelled to the ground class distinctions and divisions. It was a practical demonstration of Islam
Important Words:
وطرا (want) has no verb. It means, a want, a need, an object of want or need; or that which one proposes to accomplish or of which one is desirous. They say قضی منه وطرہ i.e. he accomplished or obtained his want from him (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
As the verse deals with an incident of very great historical importance, it demands and deserves a somewhat detailed explanation. Zaid bin Harith, to whom the words "on whom Allah had bestowed favours and on whom thou also had bestowed favours" refer, belonged to the tribe of Kalb. In his childhood he was kidnapped and sold as a slave in Mecca where he was bought by Khadijah’s brother and given over to her. On her marriage with the Holy Prophet Khadijah presented Zaid to him who at once emancipated him. Zaid was so much attached to the Prophet that when later his father and uncle begged of the Holy Prophet to let him go with them as the grief of his separation from home had almost killed his mother, the Prophet readily gave his permission. But Zaid himself flatly refused to part company with the Holy Prophet, exclaiming that he was dearer to him than his father and mother. The Prophet was so deeply touched by Zaid’s fidelity and love for him that he at once declared him (Zaid) to be his son and henceforward Zaid came to be known as the Prophet’s son. Zaid remained throughout his life a most beloved and faithful disciple of the Holy Prophet and sealed his fidelity to Islam and the Prophet with his blood on the battlefield of Mu’tah.
Zainab was the daughter of the Holy Prophet’s aunt, hence a full-blooded Arab, intensely proud of her ancestry and exalted social status. Islam had envisaged and given to the world a civilization and culture in which there were to be no class divisions, no hereditary nobility, no vested interests. All men were to be free and equal in the sight of God. The Holy Prophet wanted to start with his own family the carrying into actual effect of this noble ideal of Islam. He wished to marry Zainab to Zaid, who in spite of having been liberated by the Prophet and called his son, unfortunately still carried the stigma of slavery in the minds of some people. It was exactly this stigma of slavery, this invidious distinction between 'free' and 'slave' which the Holy Prophet sought to remove by Zainab’s marriage to Zaid. In deference to the Holy Prophet’s wish Zainab agreed to the proposal. The purpose of the Holy Prophet was achieved. The marriage levelled to the ground all class distinctions and divisions. It was a practical demonstration of Islam’s noble ideal. The marriage, however, ended in failure, not so much due to a difference in the social status of Zainab and Zaid as to the incompatibility of their dispositions and temperaments and also due to a feeling of inferiority from which Zaid suffered. The failure of the marriage naturally grieved the Holy Prophet. But it also served a very useful purpose. In pursuance of Divine command, as mentioned in the latter part of the verse under comment, the Prophet himself married Zainab, thus cutting at the very root of another obnoxious and deep-seated Arab custom, viz. that it was a sacrilege to marry the wife of one’s adopted son. The custom of adoption was abolished and with it went also this foolish notion. Thus Zainab’s marriage with Zaid served one very noble object and its failure another highly useful purpose.
The words "fear Allah" signify that Zaid wanted to divorce Zainab, and as divorce according to Islam is very hateful in the sight of God, the Holy Prophet exhorted him not to do so.
The clause, "And then…thou shouldst fear Him," may apply to both Zaid and the Holy Prophet. Applying to Zaid it would mean that Zaid did not like that the cause of his separation from Zainab should come to light, perhaps because as the words "fear Allah," indicate the fault lay more with him than with Zainab. As, however, applying to the Holy Prophet, the words would signify that as the marriage between Zaid and Zainab was arranged at his instance and wish, he naturally did not like its breaking. The clause also shows that the Prophet feared that the break-down of the marriage which was arranged by him and which had been entered into in deference to his special wish, but which resulted in an ostensible failure of the experiment in Islamic brotherhood, would cause some mental confusion and uneasiness among people whose faith was weak. This was the anxiety that lay heavy on the Prophet’s heart. The words, "thou didst fear men," seem to point to this fear of his. But, as mentioned above, God had His own purpose in the failure of this marriage. He wanted to show that there was nothing in this failure to be afraid of. On the contrary, it was a blessing in disguise and was intended to serve a great purpose and therefore the Prophet’s fear was unfounded.
Christian and other hostile Critics of Islam pretend to find in the Holy Prophet’s marriage to Zainab a basis for mean attacks on him. It is stated that the Prophet, having by chance seen Zainab, became enamoured of her beauty and Zaid, having come to know of his desire to marry her, sought divorce from her. The fact that the Holy Prophet’s most inveterate enemies, before whose eyes the whole affair had actually taken place, dared not attribute the base motives ascribed to him by these critics after so many centuries, completely knocks the bottom from under this base and totally unfounded charge. Zainab was the Prophet’s own cousin and being so closely related to him he must have seen her many times, for "Purdah" had not as yet been enjoined. Besides, it was in deference to his own persistently expressed wish that Zainab had reluctantly agreed to marry Zaid. It is on record that she and her brother had desired before her marriage with Zaid that she should be taken in marriage by the Holy Prophet himself. What wasit that prevented the Holy Prophet from marrying her when she was a virgin and when she herself ardently desired to get married to him? The whole story evidently seems to be a figment of the "fertile" imagination of the Holy Prophet’s hostile critics and it is an insult to human intellect to give the least credence to it. But while there are some Christian critics like Muir and Margoliouth who find fault with the Holy Prophet for having married Zainab, there are others better informed and more honest like the good and noble Rev. Bosworth Smith who found nothing in this marriage to cavil at. The Rev, gentleman says:
"It should be remembered, however, that most of Mohammed’s marriages may be explained, at least, as much by his pity for the forlorn condition of the persons concerned, as by other motives. They were almost all of them widows who were not remarkable either for their beauty or their wealth, but quite the reverse. May not this fact, and his undoubted faithfulness to Khadijah till her dying day, and till he himself was fifty years of age, give us additional ground to hope that calumny or misconception has been at work in the story of Zainab" - ("Mohammed and Mohammedanism").
1
بعض مفسرین کہتے ہیں کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ’’نعوذ باللہ‘‘دل میں حضرت زینبؓ کو نکاح میں لانے کا ارادہ رکھتے تھے مگر اس کو چھپاتے تھے تاکہ لوگ ٹھوکر نہ کھائیں مگر اصل میں اس کے یہ معنے ہیں کہ آنحضرت صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو معلوم ہو چکا تھا کہ حضرت زیدؓ حضرت زینبؓ کو طلاق دینا چاہتے ہیں اور آپ اس معاملہ کو پوشیدہ رکھ کر حضرت زیدؓ کو نصیحت کرتے تھے تاکہ لوگوں کو یہ ٹھوکر نہ لگے کہ ایک شریف خاندان کی لڑکی ایک آزاد غلام سے بیاہ کر رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اچھا کام نہیں کیا بلکہ فتنہ کا دروازہ کھول دیا ہے۔ بعض علماء کہتے ہیں کہ ز ینبؓ کا نکاح آنحضرت صلی اللہ
2
ہم پہلے لکھ چکے ہیں کہ تاریخ سے یہ ثابت ہے کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے حضرت زینبؓ سے نکاح کیا تھا مگر اس آیت میں زَوَّجْنٰکَھَا کے الفاظ ہیں۔ جس کے معنے یہ ہیں کہ ’’ہم نے تجھ سے اس کا بیاہ کر دیا‘‘ سو یاد رکھنا چاہیے کہ عربی زبان میں جو فعل کسی کے دخل دینے سے ہو وہ اسی کی طرف منسوب ہوتا ہے۔ چونکہ الہاماً اللہ تعالیٰ کی طرف سے نکاح کا حکم ہوا تھا اس لئے یہ فعل اللہ تعالیٰ کی طرف منسوب کیا گیا۔
3104
Important Words:
وطرا (want) has no verb. It means, a want, a need, an object of want or need; or that which one proposes to accomplish or of which one is desirous. They say قضی منه وطرہ i.e. he accomplished or obtained his want from him (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
As the verse deals with an incident of very great historical importance, it demands and deserves a somewhat detailed explanation. Zaid bin Harith, to whom the words "on whom Allah had bestowed favours and on whom thou also had bestowed favours" refer, belonged to the tribe of Kalb. In his childhood he was kidnapped and sold as a slave in Mecca where he was bought by Khadijah’s brother and given over to her. On her marriage with the Holy Prophet Khadijah presented Zaid to him who at once emancipated him. Zaid was so much attached to the Prophet that when later his father and uncle begged of the Holy Prophet to let him go with them as the grief of his separation from home had almost killed his mother, the Prophet readily gave his permission. But Zaid himself flatly refused to part company with the Holy Prophet, exclaiming that he was dearer to him than his father and mother. The Prophet was so deeply touched by Zaid’s fidelity and love for him that he at once declared him (Zaid) to be his son and henceforward Zaid came to be known as the Prophet’s son. Zaid remained throughout his life a most beloved and faithful disciple of the Holy Prophet and sealed his fidelity to Islam and the Prophet with his blood on the battlefield of Mu’tah.
Zainab was the daughter of the Holy Prophet’s aunt, hence a full-blooded Arab, intensely proud of her ancestry and exalted social status. Islam had envisaged and given to the world a civilization and culture in which there were to be no class divisions, no hereditary nobility, no vested interests. All men were to be free and equal in the sight of God. The Holy Prophet wanted to start with his own family the carrying into actual effect of this noble ideal of Islam. He wished to marry Zainab to Zaid, who in spite of having been liberated by the Prophet and called his son, unfortunately still carried the stigma of slavery in the minds of some people. It was exactly this stigma of slavery, this invidious distinction between 'free' and 'slave' which the Holy Prophet sought to remove by Zainab’s marriage to Zaid. In deference to the Holy Prophet’s wish Zainab agreed to the proposal. The purpose of the Holy Prophet was achieved. The marriage levelled to the ground all class distinctions and divisions. It was a practical demonstration of Islam’s noble ideal. The marriage, however, ended in failure, not so much due to a difference in the social status of Zainab and Zaid as to the incompatibility of their dispositions and temperaments and also due to a feeling of inferiority from which Zaid suffered. The failure of the marriage naturally grieved the Holy Prophet. But it also served a very useful purpose. In pursuance of Divine command, as mentioned in the latter part of the verse under comment, the Prophet himself married Zainab, thus cutting at the very root of another obnoxious and deep-seated Arab custom, viz. that it was a sacrilege to marry the wife of one’s adopted son. The custom of adoption was abolished and with it went also this foolish notion. Thus Zainab’s marriage with Zaid served one very noble object and its failure another highly useful purpose.
The words "fear Allah" signify that Zaid wanted to divorce Zainab, and as divorce according to Islam is very hateful in the sight of God, the Holy Prophet exhorted him not to do so.
The clause, "And then…thou shouldst fear Him," may apply to both Zaid and the Holy Prophet. Applying to Zaid it would mean that Zaid did not like that the cause of his separation from Zainab should come to light, perhaps because as the words "fear Allah," indicate the fault lay more with him than with Zainab. As, however, applying to the Holy Prophet, the words would signify that as the marriage between Zaid and Zainab was arranged at his instance and wish, he naturally did not like its breaking. The clause also shows that the Prophet feared that the break-down of the marriage which was arranged by him and which had been entered into in deference to his special wish, but which resulted in an ostensible failure of the experiment in Islamic brotherhood, would cause some mental confusion and uneasiness among people whose faith was weak. This was the anxiety that lay heavy on the Prophet’s heart. The words, "thou didst fear men," seem to point to this fear of his. But, as mentioned above, God had His own purpose in the failure of this marriage. He wanted to show that there was nothing in this failure to be afraid of. On the contrary, it was a blessing in disguise and was intended to serve a great purpose and therefore the Prophet’s fear was unfounded.
Christian and other hostile Critics of Islam pretend to find in the Holy Prophet’s marriage to Zainab a basis for mean attacks on him. It is stated that the Prophet, having by chance seen Zainab, became enamoured of her beauty and Zaid, having come to know of his desire to marry her, sought divorce from her. The fact that the Holy Prophet’s most inveterate enemies, before whose eyes the whole affair had actually taken place, dared not attribute the base motives ascribed to him by these critics after so many centuries, completely knocks the bottom from under this base and totally unfounded charge. Zainab was the Prophet’s own cousin and being so closely related to him he must have seen her many times, for "Purdah" had not as yet been enjoined. Besides, it was in deference to his own persistently expressed wish that Zainab had reluctantly agreed to marry Zaid. It is on record that she and her brother had desired before her marriage with Zaid that she should be taken in marriage by the Holy Prophet himself. What wasit that prevented the Holy Prophet from marrying her when she was a virgin and when she herself ardently desired to get married to him? The whole story evidently seems to be a figment of the "fertile" imagination of the Holy Prophet’s hostile critics and it is an insult to human intellect to give the least credence to it. But while there are some Christian critics like Muir and Margoliouth who find fault with the Holy Prophet for having married Zainab, there are others better informed and more honest like the good and noble Rev. Bosworth Smith who found nothing in this marriage to cavil at. The Rev, gentleman says:
"It should be remembered, however, that most of Mohammed’s marriages may be explained, at least, as much by his pity for the forlorn condition of the persons concerned, as by other motives. They were almost all of them widows who were not remarkable either for their beauty or their wealth, but quite the reverse. May not this fact, and his undoubted faithfulness to Khadijah till her dying day, and till he himself was fifty years of age, give us additional ground to hope that calumny or misconception has been at work in the story of Zainab" - ("Mohammed and Mohammedanism").
2357
Zaid bin Harith, a young freed man of the Holy Prophet whom he had adopted as his son before adoption was declared unlawful in Islam.
2357A
Had divorced her; Watar means, need; want; an object of want (Lane).
2357B
Zainab was the daughter of the Holy Prophet’s aunt, hence a full- blooded Arab lady, intensely proud of her ancestry and exalted social status. Islam had envisaged and given to the world a civilization and culture in which there were no class divisions, no hereditary nobility, no vested interests. All men were free and equal in the sight of God. The Holy Prophet wanted to start with his own family to carry into actual effect this noble ideal of Islam. He wished to marry Zainab to Zaid, who in spite of having been freed by the Prophet, unfortunately still carried the stigma of slavery in the minds of some people. It was exactly this stigma of slavery, this invidious distinction between 'free' and 'slave' which the Holy Prophet sought to remove by Zainab’s marriage with Zaid. In deference to the Holy Prophet’s wish Zainab agreed to the proposal. The purpose of the Holy Prophet was achieved. The marriage levelled to the ground class distinctions and divisions. It was a practical demonstration of Islam
اَوَلَمۡ یَکۡفِہِمۡ اَنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ یُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ ۚ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَرَحۡمَۃً وَّذِکۡرٰی لِقَوۡمٍ یُّؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
对不信的人要求降示惩罚的迹象 (见上节经文), 这节经文以充满怜悯的口 气答复了他们。它问他们说, 安拉已经给了他们以 «古兰经» 为形式的仁慈的迹象。如果他们按照 «古兰经» 去做, 他们能达到高超的地位而成为世界上一个光荣和可敬的民族。为什么他们还要降示一个惩罚的迹象呢?
To the demand of disbelievers for a Sign of punishment (see preceding verse), the present verse gives an answer full of pathos. It asks them, why do they demand a Sign of punishment when God has already given them a Sign of mercy in the form of the Qur’an by acting upon which they can acquire eminence and become an honoured and respected people in the world.
Commentary:
To the demand of disbelievers for a sign of punishment, the present verse gives an answer full of pathos. It asks disbelievers the pertinent question, viz. why do they demand a sign of punishment when We have already given them a sign of mercy in the form of the Quran by acting upon which they can acquire eminence and become an honoured and respected people in the world? Do they not see that the Quran has brought about a wonderful transformation in the lives of its followers? Does not this fact alone constitute a sign for them? The verse further implies that God will treat the people of the Holy Prophet with mercy and that they will be led to the right path through the Quran.
981
对不信的人要求降示惩罚的迹象 (见上节经文), 这节经文以充满怜悯的口 气答复了他们。它问他们说, 安拉已经给了他们以 «古兰经» 为形式的仁慈的迹象。如果他们按照 «古兰经» 去做, 他们能达到高超的地位而成为世界上一个光荣和可敬的民族。为什么他们还要降示一个惩罚的迹象呢?
2976
Commentary:
To the demand of disbelievers for a sign of punishment, the present verse gives an answer full of pathos. It asks disbelievers the pertinent question, viz. why do they demand a sign of punishment when We have already given them a sign of mercy in the form of the Quran by acting upon which they can acquire eminence and become an honoured and respected people in the world? Do they not see that the Quran has brought about a wonderful transformation in the lives of its followers? Does not this fact alone constitute a sign for them? The verse further implies that God will treat the people of the Holy Prophet with mercy and that they will be led to the right path through the Quran.
2260
To the demand of disbelievers for a Sign of punishment (see preceding verse), the present verse gives an answer full of pathos. It asks them, why do they demand a Sign of punishment when God has already given them a Sign of mercy in the form of the Qur’an by acting upon which they can acquire eminence and become an honoured and respected people in the world.
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّبِیُّ اِنَّاۤ اَحۡلَلۡنَا لَکَ اَزۡوٰجَکَ الّٰتِیۡۤ اٰتَیۡتَ اُجُوۡرَہُنَّ وَمَا مَلَکَتۡ یَمِیۡنُکَ مِمَّاۤ اَفَآءَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡکَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّکَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمّٰتِکَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِکَ وَبَنَاتِ خٰلٰتِکَ الّٰتِیۡ ہَاجَرۡنَ مَعَکَ وَامۡرَاَۃً مُّؤۡمِنَۃً اِنۡ وَّہَبَتۡ نَفۡسَہَا لِلنَّبِیِّ اِنۡ اَرَادَ النَّبِیُّ اَنۡ یَّسۡتَنۡکِحَہَا خَالِصَۃً لَّکَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ۗ قَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا مَا فَرَضۡنَا عَلَیۡہِمۡ فِیۡۤ اَزۡوٰجِہِمۡ وَمَا مَلَکَتۡ اَیۡمٰنُہُمۡ لِکَیۡلَا یَکُوۡنَ عَلَیۡکَ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَکَانَ اللّٰہُ غَفُوۡرًا رَّحِیۡمًا
بیویاں تو سب کی حلال ہوتی ہیں۔ پھر رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی بیویوں کا ذکر اس جگہ کیوں کیا؟ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ اسی سورت کی آیت۲۹ میں فرمایا تھا کہ اے بیویو! اگر تمہارے دل میں دنیا کی خواہش ہے تو میں دنیا دے کر تم کو آزاد کر دیتا ہوں۔ اس طرح ان کا معاملہ معلق ہو گیا تھا۔ لیکن اس آیت کے اعلان کے بعد کسی ایک بیوی نے بھی نہیں کہا کہ مجھے دنیا دے کر چھوڑ دیں۔ جس سے معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ سب بیویوں کے دل میں دین کی خواہش تھی۔ دنیا کی خواہش نہیں تھی۔ اس آیت میں یہی بتایا گیا ہے کہ انہوں نے اپنے دل میں دنیا چھوڑنے اور رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے ساتھ رہنے کا فیصلہ کر لیا ہے۔
یہ صرف اجازت ہے عملًا رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اس اجازت سے فائدہ نہیں اٹھایا۔ اگر حضرت ماریہ قبطیہؓ کی مثال پیش کی جائے تو اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ حضرت ماریہؓ اور گروہ میں سے ہیں۔ اس آیت میں جنگ میں پکڑی جانے والی عورتوں کا ذکر ہے اور حضرت ماریہؓ کو مقوقس مصر نے اپنے ملک کے رواج کے مطابق لونڈی کے طور پر تحفۃً رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو بھیجا تھا۔ پس وہ اس آیت کے حکم سے باہر ہیں اور ان سے بھی رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا نکاح ثابت ہے۔
اس آیت سے ظاہر ہے کہ وہ مخالف جو کہتے ہیں کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے یہ حکم خاص طور پر اپنے لئے نازل کر لیا ہے درست نہیں کیونکہ اس آیت میں صاف لکھا ہے کہ یہ حکم تمام انبیاء کے لئے ہے۔ صرف محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے لئے نہیں۔ کیونکہ جہاں یہ فرمایا ہے کہ یہ حکم خاص تیرے لئے ہے وہاں آگے یہ بڑھا دیا ہے کہ مومنوں کے سوا۔ جس کے یہ معنے ہیں کہ مومنوں کے لئے یہ حکم نہیں۔ لیکن مومنوں کے سوا جو انبیاء ہیں ان کے لئے یہ حکم ہے خواہ وہ گذشتہ تھے یا آئندہ ہوں گے۔
ایسی کسی عورت سے رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے شادی نہیں کی۔ یہ سب احکام بطور اجازت ہیں۔ دشمن اعترض کرتا ہے کہ اپنے لئے خاص حکم آپ نے اتار لئے۔ لیکن رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے جب ان اجازتوں پر عمل ہی نہیں کیا تو دشمن کا منہ کالا ہو گیا اور اس کا یہ اعتراض باطل ہو گیا کہ اپنی خواہشات کے پورا کرنے کے لئے خاص مراعات قرآن کریم نے بیان کر دی ہیں۔ آیت نمبر۳ سے بھی ظاہر ہے کہ یہ حکم صرف بعض بیویوں کے متعلق رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی نیک رائے ظاہر کرنے کے لئے ہے آپ کے لئے کوئی خاص راستہ کھولنے کے لئے نہیں۔
’’خوب جانتے ہیں‘‘ سے مراد یہ ہے کہ اس کو تجھ پر ظاہر بھی کر دیا ہے۔ چنانچہ فرمایا ’’تاکہ تجھ پر تنگی نہ ہو‘‘ یعنی مسئلہ بتاتے وقت یہ خیال نہ ہو کہ خداتعالیٰ کی مرضی معلوم نہیں۔
This verse should be read along with vv. 29 and 30 above, in which the wives of the Holy Prophet were offered a choice between his companionship and the material benefits and comforts of life, and they preferred the Prophet’s company. The present verse, by implication, refers to that reply of the Prophet’s consorts which is recorded in the books of history but expressly nowhere in the Qur’an. Till they gave their reply, the physical relations between them and the Holy Prophet remained, as it were, in a state of suspension. While the wives of the Holy Prophet preferred his company to material goods and amenities of life, he too had great consideration for their feelings, and though he was given the choice to retain such of them as he liked (v. 52), he did not exercise the choice and retained all of them.
The Holy Prophet’s marriages were motivated by highly noble considerations and not by those imputed to him by his ignorant and ignoble critics. With the solitary exception of his marriage with
Commentary:
This verse should be read along with vv. 29 and 30 above. In those verses the wives of the Holy Prophet were offered a choice between the companionship of the Holy Prophet and the material benefits and comforts of life, but they preferred the Prophet’s company. The present verse by implication refers to that reply of the Prophet’s consorts which is recorded in the books of history but expressly nowhere in the Quran. Till they gave their reply, the marital relations between them and the Holy Prophet remained, as it were, in a state of suspension. The verse shows that while the wives of the Holy Prophet preferred his company to material goods and amenities of life, he too had great consideration for their feelings, and though he was given the choice to retain such of them as he liked (v. 52) he did not exercise the choice and in deference to his wishes God permitted him in the present verse to retain all his wives.
The verse refers to three kinds of women whom the Holy Prophet could marry in addition to his already wedded wives: (1) Women who were taken prisoner in wars against Islam; (2) women who had migrated to Medina with the Holy Prophet, and (3) a woman who should offer herself for marriage to him. This shows that the Holy Prophet’s marriages were motivated by considerations other than sensuous gratification as his ignorant and mischievous critics try to depict. Those who had left their hearths and homes for the sake of Islam and those whose husbands had been killed in wars fighting in defence of Islam had special claim on the Holy Prophet’s consideration. It is in view of these considerations that he married most of his wives. He married Hafsah whose husband was killed in the Battle of Badr; Zainab bint Khuzaimah whose husband was killed in the Battle of Uhud; Ummi Salmah whose husband died in 4 A.H., and Ummi Habibah, daughter of Abu Sufyan, who became a widow in 5 or 6 A.H. (in exile in Abyssinia). He married Juwairiyyah and Safiyyah, both widows, in 5 A.H. and 7 A.H. respectively, seeking a union with and pacification of their tribes. It is worthy of note that a hundred families of the Banu Mustaliq were liberated by Muslims when the Holy Prophet married Juwairiyyah. Maimunah, another widow, it is said, offered herself to be taken in marriage by the Holy Prophet which offer he condescended to accept in the interest of the education and training of Muslim women. He married Zainab, the divorced wife of Zaid in 5 A.H. in order to put a stop to a foolish custom prevailing among the Arabs and in order also to assuage her wounded feelings as the respected lady had felt deeply humiliated at being divorced by Zaid. He married Mariah in 7 A.H., and thus by raising a freed slave girl to the highly eminent spiritual status of the "Mother of the Faithful", he gave a death blow to slavery. Such were the pious and righteous motives of our noble Master in marrying widows and divorced women, by no means noted for their youth or beauty, and yet his cruel and mean traducers vainly try to depict him as a person who was given to gratifying his carnal desires. They deliberately ignore the patent fact that up to the age of 25 he lived the spotless life of a celibate. Then in the prime of his youth he married a lady fifteen years his senior and lived with her a most happy life till he was an old man of fifty and she about sixty-five. After her death he married Saudah, another lady of a very advanced age. He married all his other wives, to which exception has been taken by evil-minded carpers, between 2 A.H. and 7 A.H., a period when he was constantly engaged in active fighting and his life was perpetually in danger and the fate of Islam itself hung in the balance. Could any sane person in such situation of danger and uncertainty conceive of contracting marriage after marriage from motives attributed to the Holy Prophet? After this he lived for about three years as virtual ruler of the whole of Arabia when all the comforts and amenities of life were at his disposal and yet he entered into no further marriage. Does not this fact alone establish the honesty and sincerity of the Holy Prophet’s motives in marrying his wives?
The words "if she entrusts herself to the Prophet" have been taken as specially referring to Maimunah who is reported to have offered herself to be taken into marriage by the Holy Prophet. The clause, "This provision is only for thee as against other believers," means that it was a special privilege of the Holy Prophet and was due to the special nature of his duties as a Divine Prophet. In fact, marriages of the Holy Prophet were dictated by much higher and nobler considerations than merely personal ones. The clause may also refer to the special permission granted to the Holy Prophet, to retain all his wives, after the commandment contained in 4:4 was revealed, limiting to four the number of wives allowed to Muslims at one time.
The words, "We have already made known what We have enjoined on them concerning their wives," refer to the commandment contained in 4:4.
1
بیویاں تو سب کی حلال ہوتی ہیں۔ پھر رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی بیویوں کا ذکر اس جگہ کیوں کیا؟ اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ اسی سورت کی آیت۲۹ میں فرمایا تھا کہ اے بیویو! اگر تمہارے دل میں دنیا کی خواہش ہے تو میں دنیا دے کر تم کو آزاد کر دیتا ہوں۔ اس طرح ان کا معاملہ معلق ہو گیا تھا۔ لیکن اس آیت کے اعلان کے بعد کسی ایک بیوی نے بھی نہیں کہا کہ مجھے دنیا دے کر چھوڑ دیں۔ جس سے معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ سب بیویوں کے دل میں دین کی خواہش تھی۔ دنیا کی خواہش نہیں تھی۔ اس آیت میں یہی بتایا گیا ہے کہ انہوں نے اپنے دل میں دنیا چھوڑنے اور رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے ساتھ رہنے کا فیصلہ کر لیا ہے۔
2
یہ صرف اجازت ہے عملًا رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے اس اجازت سے فائدہ نہیں اٹھایا۔ اگر حضرت ماریہ قبطیہؓ کی مثال پیش کی جائے تو اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ حضرت ماریہؓ اور گروہ میں سے ہیں۔ اس آیت میں جنگ میں پکڑی جانے والی عورتوں کا ذکر ہے اور حضرت ماریہؓ کو مقوقس مصر نے اپنے ملک کے رواج کے مطابق لونڈی کے طور پر تحفۃً رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو بھیجا تھا۔ پس وہ اس آیت کے حکم سے باہر ہیں اور ان سے بھی رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا نکاح ثابت ہے۔
3
اس آیت سے ظاہر ہے کہ وہ مخالف جو کہتے ہیں کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے یہ حکم خاص طور پر اپنے لئے نازل کر لیا ہے درست نہیں کیونکہ اس آیت میں صاف لکھا ہے کہ یہ حکم تمام انبیاء کے لئے ہے۔ صرف محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے لئے نہیں۔ کیونکہ جہاں یہ فرمایا ہے کہ یہ حکم خاص تیرے لئے ہے وہاں آگے یہ بڑھا دیا ہے کہ مومنوں کے سوا۔ جس کے یہ معنے ہیں کہ مومنوں کے لئے یہ حکم نہیں۔ لیکن مومنوں کے سوا جو انبیاء ہیں ان کے لئے یہ حکم ہے خواہ وہ گذشتہ تھے یا آئندہ ہوں گے۔
4
ایسی کسی عورت سے رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے شادی نہیں کی۔ یہ سب احکام بطور اجازت ہیں۔ دشمن اعترض کرتا ہے کہ اپنے لئے خاص حکم آپ نے اتار لئے۔ لیکن رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے جب ان اجازتوں پر عمل ہی نہیں کیا تو دشمن کا منہ کالا ہو گیا اور اس کا یہ اعتراض باطل ہو گیا کہ اپنی خواہشات کے پورا کرنے کے لئے خاص مراعات قرآن کریم نے بیان کر دی ہیں۔ آیت نمبر۳ سے بھی ظاہر ہے کہ یہ حکم صرف بعض بیویوں کے متعلق رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی نیک رائے ظاہر کرنے کے لئے ہے آپ کے لئے کوئی خاص راستہ کھولنے کے لئے نہیں۔
5
’’خوب جانتے ہیں‘‘ سے مراد یہ ہے کہ اس کو تجھ پر ظاہر بھی کر دیا ہے۔ چنانچہ فرمایا ’’تاکہ تجھ پر تنگی نہ ہو‘‘ یعنی مسئلہ بتاتے وقت یہ خیال نہ ہو کہ خداتعالیٰ کی مرضی معلوم نہیں۔
3111
Commentary:
This verse should be read along with vv. 29 and 30 above. In those verses the wives of the Holy Prophet were offered a choice between the companionship of the Holy Prophet and the material benefits and comforts of life, but they preferred the Prophet’s company. The present verse by implication refers to that reply of the Prophet’s consorts which is recorded in the books of history but expressly nowhere in the Quran. Till they gave their reply, the marital relations between them and the Holy Prophet remained, as it were, in a state of suspension. The verse shows that while the wives of the Holy Prophet preferred his company to material goods and amenities of life, he too had great consideration for their feelings, and though he was given the choice to retain such of them as he liked (v. 52) he did not exercise the choice and in deference to his wishes God permitted him in the present verse to retain all his wives.
The verse refers to three kinds of women whom the Holy Prophet could marry in addition to his already wedded wives: (1) Women who were taken prisoner in wars against Islam; (2) women who had migrated to Medina with the Holy Prophet, and (3) a woman who should offer herself for marriage to him. This shows that the Holy Prophet’s marriages were motivated by considerations other than sensuous gratification as his ignorant and mischievous critics try to depict. Those who had left their hearths and homes for the sake of Islam and those whose husbands had been killed in wars fighting in defence of Islam had special claim on the Holy Prophet’s consideration. It is in view of these considerations that he married most of his wives. He married Hafsah whose husband was killed in the Battle of Badr; Zainab bint Khuzaimah whose husband was killed in the Battle of Uhud; Ummi Salmah whose husband died in 4 A.H., and Ummi Habibah, daughter of Abu Sufyan, who became a widow in 5 or 6 A.H. (in exile in Abyssinia). He married Juwairiyyah and Safiyyah, both widows, in 5 A.H. and 7 A.H. respectively, seeking a union with and pacification of their tribes. It is worthy of note that a hundred families of the Banu Mustaliq were liberated by Muslims when the Holy Prophet married Juwairiyyah. Maimunah, another widow, it is said, offered herself to be taken in marriage by the Holy Prophet which offer he condescended to accept in the interest of the education and training of Muslim women. He married Zainab, the divorced wife of Zaid in 5 A.H. in order to put a stop to a foolish custom prevailing among the Arabs and in order also to assuage her wounded feelings as the respected lady had felt deeply humiliated at being divorced by Zaid. He married Mariah in 7 A.H., and thus by raising a freed slave girl to the highly eminent spiritual status of the "Mother of the Faithful", he gave a death blow to slavery. Such were the pious and righteous motives of our noble Master in marrying widows and divorced women, by no means noted for their youth or beauty, and yet his cruel and mean traducers vainly try to depict him as a person who was given to gratifying his carnal desires. They deliberately ignore the patent fact that up to the age of 25 he lived the spotless life of a celibate. Then in the prime of his youth he married a lady fifteen years his senior and lived with her a most happy life till he was an old man of fifty and she about sixty-five. After her death he married Saudah, another lady of a very advanced age. He married all his other wives, to which exception has been taken by evil-minded carpers, between 2 A.H. and 7 A.H., a period when he was constantly engaged in active fighting and his life was perpetually in danger and the fate of Islam itself hung in the balance. Could any sane person in such situation of danger and uncertainty conceive of contracting marriage after marriage from motives attributed to the Holy Prophet? After this he lived for about three years as virtual ruler of the whole of Arabia when all the comforts and amenities of life were at his disposal and yet he entered into no further marriage. Does not this fact alone establish the honesty and sincerity of the Holy Prophet’s motives in marrying his wives?
The words "if she entrusts herself to the Prophet" have been taken as specially referring to Maimunah who is reported to have offered herself to be taken into marriage by the Holy Prophet. The clause, "This provision is only for thee as against other believers," means that it was a special privilege of the Holy Prophet and was due to the special nature of his duties as a Divine Prophet. In fact, marriages of the Holy Prophet were dictated by much higher and nobler considerations than merely personal ones. The clause may also refer to the special permission granted to the Holy Prophet, to retain all his wives, after the commandment contained in 4:4 was revealed, limiting to four the number of wives allowed to Muslims at one time.
The words, "We have already made known what We have enjoined on them concerning their wives," refer to the commandment contained in 4:4.
2362
This verse should be read along with vv. 29 and 30 above, in which the wives of the Holy Prophet were offered a choice between his companionship and the material benefits and comforts of life, and they preferred the Prophet’s company. The present verse, by implication, refers to that reply of the Prophet’s consorts which is recorded in the books of history but expressly nowhere in the Qur’an. Till they gave their reply, the physical relations between them and the Holy Prophet remained, as it were, in a state of suspension. While the wives of the Holy Prophet preferred his company to material goods and amenities of life, he too had great consideration for their feelings, and though he was given the choice to retain such of them as he liked (v. 52), he did not exercise the choice and retained all of them.
The Holy Prophet’s marriages were motivated by highly noble considerations and not by those imputed to him by his ignorant and ignoble critics. With the solitary exception of his marriage with
۞ تُرۡجِیۡ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ مِنۡہُنَّ وَتُـٔۡوِیۡۤ اِلَیۡکَ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ ۖ وَمَنِ ابۡتَغَیۡتَ مِمَّنۡ عَزَلۡتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیۡکَ ۚ ذٰلِکَ اَدۡنٰۤی اَنۡ تَقَرَّ اَعۡیُنُہُنَّ وَلَا یَحۡزَنَّ وَیَرۡضَیۡنَ بِمَاۤ اٰتَیۡتَہُنَّ کُلُّہُنَّ ۚ وَاللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ مَا فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِکُمۡ ۚ وَکَانَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمًا حَلِیۡمًا
一方面, 穆圣的妻子们可以在他的伴侣与生活及财产上的物质享受之间进行随意选择 (33:29-30), 而另一方面, 穆圣也可以留住或离开他的任何一个妻子。他的所有妻子们马上表明了她们的选择。她们决定与他共命运。而就穆圣方面, 则同样地显得十分体贴。他表示了把她们全都留住的打算。穆圣的这一决定使得她们非常高兴。这就是: “都满意于你所给予她们的” 这句话的含意。
اس آیت اور پہلی آیت میں یہ فرق ہے کہ سورہ ٔاحزاب کی آیت۲۹ میں تو یہ کہا گیا تھا کہ اے بیویو! اگر تمہارے دل میں دنیا کی فراخی دین کی فراخی پر مقدم ہو تو تم کہہ دو۔ میں تم کو دنیا کی فراخی دے کر رخصت کر دوں گا۔ مگر اس آیت میں یہ کہا گیا ہے کہ عورتوں نے تو فیصلہ دے دیا کہ وہ چپ رہیں اور اس طرح انہوں نے عملًا کہہ دیا کہ ہم دین پر راضی ہیں دنیا پر نہیں۔ لیکن میاں بیوی کے تعلقات کا ایک پہلو اور بھی ہوتا ہے یعنی عورت خواہ سمجھتی ہو کہ میں دین دار ہوں مگر مرد بعض باتیں اس میں ایسی دیکھتا ہے جن سے وہ اسے دنیا دار سمجھتا ہے۔ پس اس کو بھی حق ہونا چاہیے کہ اگر وہ سمجھے کہ اصل میں وہ دنی
یعنی بیویاں رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے حسن اخلاق سے واقف تھیں جب معاملہ خداتعالیٰ نے آپ پر چھوڑا تو وہ خوش ہو گئیں کہ اب جو کچھ ہوگا ٹھیک ہوگا
قرآن کریم میں بہت جگہ ’’دیا ہے‘‘ ’’دے گا‘‘ کے معنوں میں استعمال ہوا ہے اور مطلب یہ ہے کہ آئندہ جو سلوک بھی تو اُن سے کرے گا اس حکم کے ماتحت وہ اس پر خوش ہو جائیں گی اور سمجھ لیں گی کہ تو محبت اور انصاف کا سلوک کر رہا ہے۔
Whereas, on the one hand, the wives of the Holy Prophet were given the option to choose between his companionship and the material comforts of life and worldly goods (33:29, 30), on the other, the Holy Prophet was also given the choice to retain or part with any of his wives. All his wives lost no time in indicating their preference. They chose to cast in their lot with him. The Holy Prophet, on his part, was equally considerate. He signified his intention to retain all of them. This decision of the Prophet greatly pleased them. This is the meaning of the words: that they may all be pleased with that which thou hast given them.
Important Words:
ترجی (thou mayest defer) is derived from رجأ. They say أرجأ الامر i.e. he postponed, put off, deferred or delayed an affair. The Quranic expression, مرجون لامر الله (9:107) means, those about whom decision has been deferred for the decree of Allah (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Whereas on the one hand the wives of the Holy Prophet were given the option to choose between his company and the material comforts of life and worldly goods (33:29-30), on the other the Holy Prophet was also given the same choice to retain, or part with, any of his wives. All his wives lost no time in indicating their preference. They chose to cast in their lot with the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet, on his part, was equally considerate. He signified his intention to retain all of them. This decision of the Prophet greatly pleased them. This is the meaning of the words: That they may all be pleased with that which thou hast given them.
The present and the previous verse contain permissive regulations for the Holy Prophet, but the Prophet did not take advantage of any one of them, nor did he put aside or divorce any of his wives.
1036
一方面, 穆圣的妻子们可以在他的伴侣与生活及财产上的物质享受之间进行随意选择 (33:29-30), 而另一方面, 穆圣也可以留住或离开他的任何一个妻子。他的所有妻子们马上表明了她们的选择。她们决定与他共命运。而就穆圣方面, 则同样地显得十分体贴。他表示了把她们全都留住的打算。穆圣的这一决定使得她们非常高兴。这就是: “都满意于你所给予她们的” 这句话的含意。
1
اس آیت اور پہلی آیت میں یہ فرق ہے کہ سورہ ٔاحزاب کی آیت۲۹ میں تو یہ کہا گیا تھا کہ اے بیویو! اگر تمہارے دل میں دنیا کی فراخی دین کی فراخی پر مقدم ہو تو تم کہہ دو۔ میں تم کو دنیا کی فراخی دے کر رخصت کر دوں گا۔ مگر اس آیت میں یہ کہا گیا ہے کہ عورتوں نے تو فیصلہ دے دیا کہ وہ چپ رہیں اور اس طرح انہوں نے عملًا کہہ دیا کہ ہم دین پر راضی ہیں دنیا پر نہیں۔ لیکن میاں بیوی کے تعلقات کا ایک پہلو اور بھی ہوتا ہے یعنی عورت خواہ سمجھتی ہو کہ میں دین دار ہوں مگر مرد بعض باتیں اس میں ایسی دیکھتا ہے جن سے وہ اسے دنیا دار سمجھتا ہے۔ پس اس کو بھی حق ہونا چاہیے کہ اگر وہ سمجھے کہ اصل میں وہ دنی
2
یعنی بیویاں رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے حسن اخلاق سے واقف تھیں جب معاملہ خداتعالیٰ نے آپ پر چھوڑا تو وہ خوش ہو گئیں کہ اب جو کچھ ہوگا ٹھیک ہوگا
قرآن کریم میں بہت جگہ ’’دیا ہے‘‘ ’’دے گا‘‘ کے معنوں میں استعمال ہوا ہے اور مطلب یہ ہے کہ آئندہ جو سلوک بھی تو اُن سے کرے گا اس حکم کے ماتحت وہ اس پر خوش ہو جائیں گی اور سمجھ لیں گی کہ تو محبت اور انصاف کا سلوک کر رہا ہے۔
3112
Important Words:
ترجی (thou mayest defer) is derived from رجأ. They say أرجأ الامر i.e. he postponed, put off, deferred or delayed an affair. The Quranic expression, مرجون لامر الله (9:107) means, those about whom decision has been deferred for the decree of Allah (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Whereas on the one hand the wives of the Holy Prophet were given the option to choose between his company and the material comforts of life and worldly goods (33:29-30), on the other the Holy Prophet was also given the same choice to retain, or part with, any of his wives. All his wives lost no time in indicating their preference. They chose to cast in their lot with the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet, on his part, was equally considerate. He signified his intention to retain all of them. This decision of the Prophet greatly pleased them. This is the meaning of the words: That they may all be pleased with that which thou hast given them.
The present and the previous verse contain permissive regulations for the Holy Prophet, but the Prophet did not take advantage of any one of them, nor did he put aside or divorce any of his wives.
2363
Whereas, on the one hand, the wives of the Holy Prophet were given the option to choose between his companionship and the material comforts of life and worldly goods (33:29, 30), on the other, the Holy Prophet was also given the choice to retain or part with any of his wives. All his wives lost no time in indicating their preference. They chose to cast in their lot with him. The Holy Prophet, on his part, was equally considerate. He signified his intention to retain all of them. This decision of the Prophet greatly pleased them. This is the meaning of the words: that they may all be pleased with that which thou hast given them.
وَاِنَّ عَلَیۡکَ لَعۡنَتِیۡۤ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الدِّیۡنِ
15:36.
15:36.
15:36.
d
15:36.
d
15:36.
c
15:36.
اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ لِلنَّاسِ بِالۡحَقِّ ۖ فَمَنِ اہۡتَدٰی فَلِنَفۡسِہٖ ۖ وَمَنۡ ضَلَّ فَاِنَّمَا یَضِلُّ عَلَیۡہَا ۖ وَمَاۤ اَنۡتَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ بِوَکِیۡلٍ
10:109; 17:16; 27:93.
Man himself is the architect of his destiny—good or bad.
10:109; 17:16; 27:93.
Commentary:
This verse like many other verses of the Quran shows that man himself is the architect of his destiny—good or bad.
e
10:109; 17:16; 27:93.
1139
人类本身是自己命运--------好的或坏的--------的建造者。
c
10:109; 17:16; 27:93.
3465
Commentary:
This verse like many other verses of the Quran shows that man himself is the architect of his destiny—good or bad.
b
10:109; 17:16; 27:93.
2579
Man himself is the architect of his destiny—good or bad.
وَلَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلًا مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ مِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ قَصَصۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ وَمِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ لَّمۡ نَقۡصُصۡ عَلَیۡکَ ۗ وَمَا کَانَ لِرَسُوۡلٍ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ بِاٰیَۃٍ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَمۡرُ اللّٰہِ قُضِیَ بِالۡحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ ہُنَالِکَ الۡمُبۡطِلُوۡنَ
13:39; 14:12.
4:165.
Though the prophecies containing warnings and threats meant for disbelievers are subject to postponement, revocation or cancellation, yet if, by closing the door of repentance upon themselves, they make themselves deserving of Divine punishment, they are punished. But it is not for the Prophet to say when and how they will be punished.
4:165.
13:39; 14:12.
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that though the prophecies containing warnings and threats meant for disbelievers are subject to postponement, revocation or cancel-lation, yet, if by closing the door of repentance, the disbelievers make themselves deserving of Divine punishment they are punished. But it is not for the Prophet to say when and how they are to be punished.
e
4:165.
f
13:39; 14:12.
1173
虽然对不信者具有警告和威吓作用的预言是可以延迟、撤回或取消的, 但是不信者如果给自己关上悔过之门, 那么, 他们就使自己应受安拉的惩罚, 他们就会受到惩罚。但是, 他们在何时和如何将被惩罚, 这却不是先知可以决定的事情。
a
4:165.
b
13:39; 14:12.
3549
Commentary:
The verse purports to say that though the prophecies containing warnings and threats meant for disbelievers are subject to postponement, revocation or cancel-lation, yet, if by closing the door of repentance, the disbelievers make themselves deserving of Divine punishment they are punished. But it is not for the Prophet to say when and how they are to be punished.
a
13:39; 14:12.
d
4:165.
2618
Though the prophecies containing warnings and threats meant for disbelievers are subject to postponement, revocation or cancellation, yet if, by closing the door of repentance upon themselves, they make themselves deserving of Divine punishment, they are punished. But it is not for the Prophet to say when and how they will be punished.
فَاِنۡ اَعۡرَضُوۡا فَمَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ حَفِیۡظًا ۖ اِنۡ عَلَیۡکَ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ ۗ وَاِنَّاۤ اِذَاۤ اَذَقۡنَا الۡاِنۡسٰنَ مِنَّا رَحۡمَۃً فَرِحَ بِہَا ۖ وَاِنۡ تُصِبۡہُمۡ سَیِّئَۃٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡہِمۡ فَاِنَّ الۡاِنۡسٰنَ کَفُوۡرٌ
11:11.
11:11.
17:84; 30:34; 39:9.
a
11:11.
b
17:84; 30:34; 39:9.
a
11:11.
تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ اللّٰہِ نَتۡلُوۡہَا عَلَیۡکَ بِالۡحَقِّ ۖ فَبِاَیِّ حَدِیۡثٍۭ بَعۡدَ اللّٰہِ وَاٰیٰتِہٖ یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
Ba‘d means, after; in spite of; contrary to or against; in addition to (Lane).
Important Words:
بعد (after) has a variety of meanings, some of which are: after or afterwards; behind; before; yet; now; in spite of; contrary to or against; in addition to, or furthermore (Lane & Aqrab).
حدیث (word) means, a piece of information; an announcement; an important news; an account; a narration; a tradition; a thing or matter that is talked of; any discourse that one hears (Lane & Aqrab). See also 4:43.
Commentary:
In view of different meanings of the words بعد and حدیث given above under Important Words, the expression فبأی حدیث بعدہ یؤمنون would mean:
(i) In what word or discourse, after rejecting the Word of Allah and after rejecting His signs, will they believe?
(ii) In what word, contrary to the Word of Allah and His signs, will they believe?
(iii) In what word, after the Word of Allah and His signs have come, will they believe?
(iv) In spite of the fact that the Word of God and His signs have come to them, they do not believe in them. Then in what else would they believe?
3736
Important Words:
بعد (after) has a variety of meanings, some of which are: after or afterwards; behind; before; yet; now; in spite of; contrary to or against; in addition to, or furthermore (Lane & Aqrab).
حدیث (word) means, a piece of information; an announcement; an important news; an account; a narration; a tradition; a thing or matter that is talked of; any discourse that one hears (Lane & Aqrab). See also 4:43.
Commentary:
In view of different meanings of the words بعد and حدیث given above under Important Words, the expression فبأی حدیث بعدہ یؤمنون would mean:
(i) In what word or discourse, after rejecting the Word of Allah and after rejecting His signs, will they believe?
(ii) In what word, contrary to the Word of Allah and His signs, will they believe?
(iii) In what word, after the Word of Allah and His signs have come, will they believe?
(iv) In spite of the fact that the Word of God and His signs have come to them, they do not believe in them. Then in what else would they believe?
2707
Ba‘d means, after; in spite of; contrary to or against; in addition to (Lane).
لِّیَغۡفِرَ لَکَ اللّٰہُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنۡ ذَنۡۢبِکَ وَمَا تَاَخَّرَ وَیُتِمَّ نِعۡمَتَہٗ عَلَیۡکَ وَیَہۡدِیَکَ صِرٰطًا مُّسۡتَقِیۡمًا
یہ سورۃ صلح حدیبیہ کے متعلق ہے اور اس میں کہا گیا ہے کہ فتح مکہ سے پہلے ایک اور فتح آنے والی ہے یعنی حدیبیہ کی صلح۔ جس میں عرب کے بہت سے قبیلے رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے معاہدہ کریں گے۔ محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو چاہیے اس وقت عفو سے کام لیں اور جو خطائیں عرب پہلے کر چکے ہیں ان کے لئے بھی مغفرت چاہیں اور ان کے لئے بھی جو صلح حدیبیہ اور فتح مکہ کے زمانہ کے درمیان ہونے والی ہیں۔ ورنہ یہ مرادنہیں کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے کوئی گناہ کیا تھا۔ چنانچہ ہر شخص سمجھ سکتا ہے کہ جہاں بھی ذَنْب کا ذکر آتا ہے فتح کے موقعہ پر آتا ہے۔ پس ذَنْبسے مراد آپ کا کیا ہو
The verse has been deliberately misrepresented, or, through lack of knowledge of Arabic idiom and phrase, misinterpreted by some Christian writers as signifying that the Holy Prophet was guilty of moral lapses. It is an article of faith with Muslims, as enjoined by the Qur’an, that God’s Prophets are born sinless and they remain sinless throughout their lives. They do not say or do anything contrary to Divine commandments (21:28). As they are commissioned by God to purge men of sins, so they cannot possibly commit sins themselves. And of Divine Messengers the Holy Prophet was the noblest and the purest. The Qur’an abounds in verses which speak in glowing terms of the purity and spotlessness of his life (2:130; 3:32; 3:165; 6:163; 7:158; 8:25; 33:22; 48:11; 53:3, 4; 68:5 & 81:20-22). For the expression li-Yaghfira, see {2612}.
A man of such high moral stature as the Holy Prophet, who raised a whole people, sunk into the lowest depths of moral turpitude, to the highest pinnacle of spiritual eminence, could not possibly be guilty of such moral lapses as his detractors have vainly sought to impute to him. A quite simple and harmless word, Dhanb, has been taken advantage of to malign him. The word signifies such frailties as adhere to human nature, and to errors as are calculated to bring about harmful results. The verse signifies that God would protect the Holy Prophet from the harmful results that would follow in the wake of the promised victory referred to in the preceding verse, inasmuch as large masses of people would enter the fold of Islam, and naturally their moral and spiritual training and upbringing would not be of the desired standard. That is why wherever in the Qur’an success and victories are promised to the Holy Prophet, he is enjoined to seek protection of God from his Dhanb, i.e. human weaknesses wh
The words 'past and present' signify that the charges, that were levelled against the Holy Prophet in the past by the Quraish, and those that will be levelled against him in future by his enemies, will all be dispelled and he will stand completely vindicated.
Important Words:
لیغفر (that He may cover up). They say غفر المتاع i.e. he put the goods into the bag and covered and protected them. غفرانand مغفرة both infinitive nouns mean, protection and preservation. مغفر means, helmet and غفارة means, cloth worn beneath the veil to keep it clean (Lane, Mufradat & Aqrab). See also 2:59; 14:42 & 40:56.
ذنبک (thy shortcomings).ذنبه means, he followed his trail, not quitting his track. ذنب therefore, signifies such natural failings or frailties as adhere to human nature. أذنب means, he committed a sin, a crime, a misdemeanour, fault, etc. According to Imam Raghib ذنب means, such errors and mistakes as bring about a harmful result. It differs from اثم in being either intentional or committed through inadvertence while اثم is peculiarly intentional (Lane). See also 3:17.
Commentary:
The verse has been deliberately misrepresented, or, through lack of knowledge of Arabic idiom and phrase, misinterpreted, by Christian missionaries as signifying that the Holy Prophet was guilty of some moral lapses. But it bears no such construction. It is an article of faith with Muslims, as enjoined by the Quran that God’s Prophets are born sinless and they remain sinless throughout their lives. They are incapable of saying or doing anything contrary to Divine commandments (21:28). As they are commissioned by God to purge men of sins, they cannot themselves commit sins. And of Divine Messengers the Holy Prophet was the noblest and the purest. The Quran abounds in verses which speak in glowing terms of the purity and spotlessness of his life. Here are a few of them:
(a) Say, if you love Allah, follow me; then will Allah love you (3:32). (b) Verily, Allah has conferred a favour on the believers by raising among them a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His signs, and purifies them and teaches them the Book and wisdom (3:165). (c) Say, my Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds (6:163). (d) Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet, the Immaculate (sinless) One…(7:158). (e) O ye who believe! respond to Allah, and the Messenger when he (the Messenger) calls you that he may give you life (8:25). (f) Verily, you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model (33:22). (g) Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee, indeed, swear allegiance to Allah (48:11). (h) Your Companion has neither erred, nor has he gone astray, nor does he speak out of his own desire (53:3-4). (i) And thou dost surely possess very high moral excellences (68:5). (j) A noble Messenger, possessor of power, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne, one who should be obeyed and who is faithful to his trust (81:20-22).
A man of such high moral stature, as the Holy Prophet, who raised a whole people sunk into the lowest depths of moral turpitude to the highest pinnacles of spiritual eminence, could not possibly be guilty of such moral lapses as his detractors seek to impute to him.
A quite simple and harmless word— ذنب —is taken advantage of to malign him. The word, among other things, signifies such frailties as adhere to human nature, and errors as are calculated to bring about harmful results. In this sense of the word the verse signifies that God would protect the Holy Prophet from the harmful results that would follow in the wake of the promised victory referred to in the preceding verse, inasmuch as, large masses of people would enter the fold of Islam, and naturally their moral and spiritual training and upbringing would not be of the desired standard. That is why wherever in the Quran success and victories are promised to the Holy Prophet, he is enjoined to seek protection of God from his ذنب i.e. human weakness which might stand in the way of the realization of his great mission which is the spread and expansion of Islam and the creation of a disciplined community of high morals. The fact that of the four words جناح and جرم and اثم and ذنب, which possess almost similar connotations, the first three have not been used in the Quran with regard to Prophets of God, shows that ذنب does not possess the sinister meaning which the other three words possess. Besides, according to the Quranic idiom, the expression ذنبک, if at all ذنبbe taken to signify a sin or crime, would mean "the sins attributed to thee or alleged to have been committed by thee or the sins committed against thee." Elsewhere in the Quran (5:30) a similar expression اثمی (my sin) means, the sin committed against me. Thus the verse under comment means that as a result of the great victory, i.e. the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, all the sins and crimes and faults which his enemies imputed to the Holy Prophet, viz. that he was a cheat, an impostor or forger of lies against God and man, etc., would prove to be false, inasmuch as all sorts of people by coming into contact with Muslims would find out the truth about him. Moreover, the context also supports this meaning because grant of a clear victory and the completion of Divine favour upon the Holy Prophet, referred to in this and the preceding verse do not seem to possess any relevance to the forgiveness of sins, if ذنب be taken to mean a sin. And theexpression لک may also mean "for thy sake".
The words "past and present" signify that the charges that have been levelled against the Holy Prophet in the past by the Quraish and those that will be levelled against him in future by his enemies, will all be dispelled and he will stand completely vindicated. The words seem to embody a great prophecy that in some future time the Holy Prophet will be misrepresented and misunderstood but that all misunderstandings will eventually be dissipated and Islam will shine forth in full glory, and its superiority will be established over all rival Faiths.
1
یہ سورۃ صلح حدیبیہ کے متعلق ہے اور اس میں کہا گیا ہے کہ فتح مکہ سے پہلے ایک اور فتح آنے والی ہے یعنی حدیبیہ کی صلح۔ جس میں عرب کے بہت سے قبیلے رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم سے معاہدہ کریں گے۔ محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کو چاہیے اس وقت عفو سے کام لیں اور جو خطائیں عرب پہلے کر چکے ہیں ان کے لئے بھی مغفرت چاہیں اور ان کے لئے بھی جو صلح حدیبیہ اور فتح مکہ کے زمانہ کے درمیان ہونے والی ہیں۔ ورنہ یہ مرادنہیں کہ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے کوئی گناہ کیا تھا۔ چنانچہ ہر شخص سمجھ سکتا ہے کہ جہاں بھی ذَنْب کا ذکر آتا ہے فتح کے موقعہ پر آتا ہے۔ پس ذَنْبسے مراد آپ کا کیا ہو
3818
Important Words:
لیغفر (that He may cover up). They say غفر المتاع i.e. he put the goods into the bag and covered and protected them. غفرانand مغفرة both infinitive nouns mean, protection and preservation. مغفر means, helmet and غفارة means, cloth worn beneath the veil to keep it clean (Lane, Mufradat & Aqrab). See also 2:59; 14:42 & 40:56.
ذنبک (thy shortcomings).ذنبه means, he followed his trail, not quitting his track. ذنب therefore, signifies such natural failings or frailties as adhere to human nature. أذنب means, he committed a sin, a crime, a misdemeanour, fault, etc. According to Imam Raghib ذنب means, such errors and mistakes as bring about a harmful result. It differs from اثم in being either intentional or committed through inadvertence while اثم is peculiarly intentional (Lane). See also 3:17.
Commentary:
The verse has been deliberately misrepresented, or, through lack of knowledge of Arabic idiom and phrase, misinterpreted, by Christian missionaries as signifying that the Holy Prophet was guilty of some moral lapses. But it bears no such construction. It is an article of faith with Muslims, as enjoined by the Quran that God’s Prophets are born sinless and they remain sinless throughout their lives. They are incapable of saying or doing anything contrary to Divine commandments (21:28). As they are commissioned by God to purge men of sins, they cannot themselves commit sins. And of Divine Messengers the Holy Prophet was the noblest and the purest. The Quran abounds in verses which speak in glowing terms of the purity and spotlessness of his life. Here are a few of them:
(a) Say, if you love Allah, follow me; then will Allah love you (3:32). (b) Verily, Allah has conferred a favour on the believers by raising among them a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His signs, and purifies them and teaches them the Book and wisdom (3:165). (c) Say, my Prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds (6:163). (d) Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet, the Immaculate (sinless) One…(7:158). (e) O ye who believe! respond to Allah, and the Messenger when he (the Messenger) calls you that he may give you life (8:25). (f) Verily, you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model (33:22). (g) Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee, indeed, swear allegiance to Allah (48:11). (h) Your Companion has neither erred, nor has he gone astray, nor does he speak out of his own desire (53:3-4). (i) And thou dost surely possess very high moral excellences (68:5). (j) A noble Messenger, possessor of power, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne, one who should be obeyed and who is faithful to his trust (81:20-22).
A man of such high moral stature, as the Holy Prophet, who raised a whole people sunk into the lowest depths of moral turpitude to the highest pinnacles of spiritual eminence, could not possibly be guilty of such moral lapses as his detractors seek to impute to him.
A quite simple and harmless word— ذنب —is taken advantage of to malign him. The word, among other things, signifies such frailties as adhere to human nature, and errors as are calculated to bring about harmful results. In this sense of the word the verse signifies that God would protect the Holy Prophet from the harmful results that would follow in the wake of the promised victory referred to in the preceding verse, inasmuch as, large masses of people would enter the fold of Islam, and naturally their moral and spiritual training and upbringing would not be of the desired standard. That is why wherever in the Quran success and victories are promised to the Holy Prophet, he is enjoined to seek protection of God from his ذنب i.e. human weakness which might stand in the way of the realization of his great mission which is the spread and expansion of Islam and the creation of a disciplined community of high morals. The fact that of the four words جناح and جرم and اثم and ذنب, which possess almost similar connotations, the first three have not been used in the Quran with regard to Prophets of God, shows that ذنب does not possess the sinister meaning which the other three words possess. Besides, according to the Quranic idiom, the expression ذنبک, if at all ذنبbe taken to signify a sin or crime, would mean "the sins attributed to thee or alleged to have been committed by thee or the sins committed against thee." Elsewhere in the Quran (5:30) a similar expression اثمی (my sin) means, the sin committed against me. Thus the verse under comment means that as a result of the great victory, i.e. the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah, all the sins and crimes and faults which his enemies imputed to the Holy Prophet, viz. that he was a cheat, an impostor or forger of lies against God and man, etc., would prove to be false, inasmuch as all sorts of people by coming into contact with Muslims would find out the truth about him. Moreover, the context also supports this meaning because grant of a clear victory and the completion of Divine favour upon the Holy Prophet, referred to in this and the preceding verse do not seem to possess any relevance to the forgiveness of sins, if ذنب be taken to mean a sin. And theexpression لک may also mean "for thy sake".
The words "past and present" signify that the charges that have been levelled against the Holy Prophet in the past by the Quraish and those that will be levelled against him in future by his enemies, will all be dispelled and he will stand completely vindicated. The words seem to embody a great prophecy that in some future time the Holy Prophet will be misrepresented and misunderstood but that all misunderstandings will eventually be dissipated and Islam will shine forth in full glory, and its superiority will be established over all rival Faiths.
2764
The verse has been deliberately misrepresented, or, through lack of knowledge of Arabic idiom and phrase, misinterpreted by some Christian writers as signifying that the Holy Prophet was guilty of moral lapses. It is an article of faith with Muslims, as enjoined by the Qur’an, that God’s Prophets are born sinless and they remain sinless throughout their lives. They do not say or do anything contrary to Divine commandments (21:28). As they are commissioned by God to purge men of sins, so they cannot possibly commit sins themselves. And of Divine Messengers the Holy Prophet was the noblest and the purest. The Qur’an abounds in verses which speak in glowing terms of the purity and spotlessness of his life (2:130; 3:32; 3:165; 6:163; 7:158; 8:25; 33:22; 48:11; 53:3, 4; 68:5 & 81:20-22). For the expression li-Yaghfira, see {2612}.
2765
A man of such high moral stature as the Holy Prophet, who raised a whole people, sunk into the lowest depths of moral turpitude, to the highest pinnacle of spiritual eminence, could not possibly be guilty of such moral lapses as his detractors have vainly sought to impute to him. A quite simple and harmless word, Dhanb, has been taken advantage of to malign him. The word signifies such frailties as adhere to human nature, and to errors as are calculated to bring about harmful results. The verse signifies that God would protect the Holy Prophet from the harmful results that would follow in the wake of the promised victory referred to in the preceding verse, inasmuch as large masses of people would enter the fold of Islam, and naturally their moral and spiritual training and upbringing would not be of the desired standard. That is why wherever in the Qur’an success and victories are promised to the Holy Prophet, he is enjoined to seek protection of God from his Dhanb, i.e. human weaknesses wh
2766
The words 'past and present' signify that the charges, that were levelled against the Holy Prophet in the past by the Quraish, and those that will be levelled against him in future by his enemies, will all be dispelled and he will stand completely vindicated.
یَمُنُّوۡنَ عَلَیۡکَ اَنۡ اَسۡلَمُوۡا ۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّوۡا عَلَیَّ اِسۡلٰمَکُمۡ ۖ بَلِ اللّٰہُ یَمُنُّ عَلَیۡکُمۡ اَنۡ ہَدٰٮکُمۡ لِلۡاِیۡمٰنِ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ
3:165.
3:165.
3:165.
Commentary:
True and sincere faith is the most precious possession of a Muslim. By accepting Islam he does no favour to anybody; on the contrary, it is a favour of God that one is guided to the Truth.
c
3:165.
c
3:165.
3854
Commentary:
True and sincere faith is the most precious possession of a Muslim. By accepting Islam he does no favour to anybody; on the contrary, it is a favour of God that one is guided to the Truth.
c
3:165.
قَدۡ کَانَتۡ لَکُمۡ اُسۡوَۃٌ حَسَنَۃٌ فِیۡۤ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ وَالَّذِیۡنَ مَعَہٗۤ اِذۡ قَالُوۡا لِقَوۡمِہِمۡ اِنَّا بُرَءٰٓؤُا مِنۡکُمۡ وَمِمَّا تَعۡبُدُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ کَفَرۡنَا بِکُمۡ وَبَدَا بَیۡنَنَا وَبَیۡنَکُمُ الۡعَدٰوَۃُ وَالۡبَغۡضَآءُ اَبَدًا حَتّٰی تُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَحۡدَہٗۤ اِلَّا قَوۡلَ اِبۡرٰہِیۡمَ لِاَبِیۡہِ لَاَسۡتَغۡفِرَنَّ لَکَ وَمَاۤ اَمۡلِکُ لَکَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ۖ رَّبَّنَا عَلَیۡکَ تَوَکَّلۡنَا وَاِلَیۡکَ اَنَبۡنَا وَاِلَیۡکَ الۡمَصِیۡرُ
قرآن کریم میں دوسری جگہ آتا ہے کہ منافقوں کے لئے بھی استغفار نہ کرو۔ یہ اس کے اُلٹ نہیں۔ کیونکہ اس آیت سے صرف یہ نکلتا ہے کہ ابراہیمؑ کے چچا جن کا یہاں ذکر ہے منافق نہ تھے۔ بلکہ مذہب کے بارہ میں فریب خوردہ تھے۔ پس چونکہ نیک نیتی سے شرک کرتے تھے ان کے لئے استغفار جائز تھا۔ لیکن سورۃ توبہ کی آیت۱۱۴ سے پتہ لگتا ہے کہ ایک وقت ایسا آیا کہ حضرت ابراہیم علیہ السلام کو پتہ لگ گیا کہ ان کا چچا دُبدھا میں نہیں بلکہ سچے مذہب کا واقعی دشمن ہے تب انہوں نے اس سے براءت ظاہر کردی۔
19:48.
60:7.
6:79; 43:27.
Abraham’s example has been mentioned here to emphasize that whenever it becomes clear that a certain person or persons are inimically disposed towards truth and are bent upon extirpating it, all friendly relations with them are to be given up. The expression, Kafarna Bikum, which is generally translated as 'we disbelieve all that you believe in' may also mean, We have nothing to do with you; the expression, Kafara Bikadha, meaning, he declared himself to be clear or quit of such a thing (Lane).
60:7.
6:79; 43:27.
9:114; 19:48; 26:87.
Commentary:
Abraham, as elsewhere stated in the Quran (11:76), was a model of forbearance and tender-heartedness. His example has been mentioned here to emphasize the fact that whenever it becomes clear that a certain person or people are inimically disposed towards Truth and are bent upon extirpating it, all friendly relations with them are to be given up. The verse also implies that when God has brought into being a better brotherhood—the Brotherhood of Faith—than blood relationships, then why should Muslims be anxious to have friendly relations with those who are the enemies of God and His Prophet?
The expression کفرنا بکم which is generally translated as, "we disbelieve all that you believe" may also mean, "we have nothing to do with you;" the words کفر بکذا meaning, he declared himself to be clear or quit of such a thing (Lane).
a
60:7.
b
6:79; 43:27.
c
19:48.
1
قرآن کریم میں دوسری جگہ آتا ہے کہ منافقوں کے لئے بھی استغفار نہ کرو۔ یہ اس کے اُلٹ نہیں۔ کیونکہ اس آیت سے صرف یہ نکلتا ہے کہ ابراہیمؑ کے چچا جن کا یہاں ذکر ہے منافق نہ تھے۔ بلکہ مذہب کے بارہ میں فریب خوردہ تھے۔ پس چونکہ نیک نیتی سے شرک کرتے تھے ان کے لئے استغفار جائز تھا۔ لیکن سورۃ توبہ کی آیت۱۱۴ سے پتہ لگتا ہے کہ ایک وقت ایسا آیا کہ حضرت ابراہیم علیہ السلام کو پتہ لگ گیا کہ ان کا چچا دُبدھا میں نہیں بلکہ سچے مذہب کا واقعی دشمن ہے تب انہوں نے اس سے براءت ظاہر کردی۔
a
60:7.
b
6:79; 43:27.
c
9:114; 19:48; 26:87.
4213
Commentary:
Abraham, as elsewhere stated in the Quran (11:76), was a model of forbearance and tender-heartedness. His example has been mentioned here to emphasize the fact that whenever it becomes clear that a certain person or people are inimically disposed towards Truth and are bent upon extirpating it, all friendly relations with them are to be given up. The verse also implies that when God has brought into being a better brotherhood—the Brotherhood of Faith—than blood relationships, then why should Muslims be anxious to have friendly relations with those who are the enemies of God and His Prophet?
The expression کفرنا بکم which is generally translated as, "we disbelieve all that you believe" may also mean, "we have nothing to do with you;" the words کفر بکذا meaning, he declared himself to be clear or quit of such a thing (Lane).
a
19:48.
b
60:7.
c
6:79; 43:27.
3029
Abraham’s example has been mentioned here to emphasize that whenever it becomes clear that a certain person or persons are inimically disposed towards truth and are bent upon extirpating it, all friendly relations with them are to be given up. The expression, Kafarna Bikum, which is generally translated as 'we disbelieve all that you believe in' may also mean, We have nothing to do with you; the expression, Kafara Bikadha, meaning, he declared himself to be clear or quit of such a thing (Lane).
اِنَّا سَنُلۡقِیۡ عَلَیۡکَ قَوۡلًا ثَقِیۡلًا
“重大的言辞” 一句可以表示: «古兰经» 教义孕育着最崇高的含意。而且重要得不能取代, 不能乱用。«古兰经» 的一字一句都不能有所变动、修改、修正。由常常引用的圣训来看, 每当有一个启示降临于穆圣的时候, 他的精神即受触动, 觉得一种奇异的兴奋, 因此哪怕在极其寒冷的日子, 额上也会滴下大颗汗水, 并觉得身有重负 (《布哈里》)。«古兰经» 的启示是“重大责任的言辞”, 所以穆圣的感情的激发是由于这种感觉。
The expression, 'a weighty Word,' may signify: 'The Quranic teaching is pregnant with the highest import. It is too weighty to be displaced or dislocated.' No word or letter of the Qur’an can be changed, altered or amended. According to an oft-quoted Hadith, whenever a revelation descended upon the Holy Prophet, he went into a trance and felt a peculiar sensation so that even on an extremely cold day large drops of sweat fell from his forehead and he felt a dead-weight of his body (Bukhari). The Quranic revelation being 'a weighty Word,' the Holy Prophet’s paroxysm was due to this sensation.
Commentary:
قولا ثقیلا may have any one of the following meanings: (a) The Quran is pregnant with the highest import. (b) It is too heavy to be displaced or dislocated i.e. the Quranic Teaching will continue to guide mankind and no other teaching would ever take its place or improve upon it. (c) No word or letter of the Quran could be changed, altered or amended. (d) The Quran will break all opposition and (e) no single book or a collection of books could encompass all the knowledge contained in it. Briefly, the collective and concerted effort of all mankind will not be able to produce a Book like the Quran.
According to an oft-quoted hadith, the Holy Prophet, whenever a revelation descended upon him, went into a trance and felt a peculiar sensation so that even on an extremely cold day big drops of sweat fell from his forehead and he felt a dead weight of his body (Bukhari). The Quranic revelation being "a weighty word", his paroxysm was due to this sensation.
1511
“重大的言辞” 一句可以表示: «古兰经» 教义孕育着最崇高的含意。而且重要得不能取代, 不能乱用。«古兰经» 的一字一句都不能有所变动、修改、修正。由常常引用的圣训来看, 每当有一个启示降临于穆圣的时候, 他的精神即受触动, 觉得一种奇异的兴奋, 因此哪怕在极其寒冷的日子, 额上也会滴下大颗汗水, 并觉得身有重负 (《布哈里》)。«古兰经» 的启示是“重大责任的言辞”, 所以穆圣的感情的激发是由于这种感觉。
4417
Commentary:
قولا ثقیلا may have any one of the following meanings: (a) The Quran is pregnant with the highest import. (b) It is too heavy to be displaced or dislocated i.e. the Quranic Teaching will continue to guide mankind and no other teaching would ever take its place or improve upon it. (c) No word or letter of the Quran could be changed, altered or amended. (d) The Quran will break all opposition and (e) no single book or a collection of books could encompass all the knowledge contained in it. Briefly, the collective and concerted effort of all mankind will not be able to produce a Book like the Quran.
According to an oft-quoted hadith, the Holy Prophet, whenever a revelation descended upon him, went into a trance and felt a peculiar sensation so that even on an extremely cold day big drops of sweat fell from his forehead and he felt a dead weight of his body (Bukhari). The Quranic revelation being "a weighty word", his paroxysm was due to this sensation.
3151
The expression, 'a weighty Word,' may signify: 'The Quranic teaching is pregnant with the highest import. It is too weighty to be displaced or dislocated.' No word or letter of the Qur’an can be changed, altered or amended. According to an oft-quoted Hadith, whenever a revelation descended upon the Holy Prophet, he went into a trance and felt a peculiar sensation so that even on an extremely cold day large drops of sweat fell from his forehead and he felt a dead-weight of his body (Bukhari). The Quranic revelation being 'a weighty Word,' the Holy Prophet’s paroxysm was due to this sensation.
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡقُرۡاٰنَ تَنۡزِیۡلًا
«古兰经» 是逐步地一点一点地启示的, 时间长达二十三年。这个逐步的过程有着双重目的。它有助于信者学习、记忆、吸收, 并有助于信者遵照 «古兰经» 教义塑造他们的人生。这种逐步的过程, 其目的也是为了满足变化着的环境的日益增大的要求, 以及加强穆斯林的信仰和信念, 因为在中间阶段他们就有机会目睹 «古兰经» 较早时候所作的预言的实现。«古兰经» 的逐步启示也实现了以下 «圣经» 上的预言 («以赛亚书» 28:10-13): “他居然还想一课一课、一行一行、一个字一个字的教导我们呢! 假如你们不听我的话, 上帝要打发外国人, 用奇异的语言来教训你们。他给你们安宁和舒适, 你们却拒绝听从他。现在上主要一课一课、一行一行、一个字一个字的教训你们了。” («以赛亚书» 28:10-13)
The Qur’an was revealed gradually and piecemeal. Its revelation spread over a period of 23 years. This gradual process served a double purpose. It helped believers to learn, remember and assimilate it and to mould their lives in accordance with its teachings. The gradual process was also intended to meet the increasing needs of changing circumstances and to strengthen the belief and conviction of Muslims, since, during the interval they had the opportunities to witness fulfilment of prophecies made earlier in the Qur’an. The piecemeal revelation of the Qur’an also fulfilled the following biblical prophecy:
"For, it is precept upon precept; line upon line, here a little and there a little; for, with strange lips and another tongue will he speak to this people" (Isa. 28: 10).
Commentary:
The Quran was revealed gradually and piecemeal. Its revelation spread over a period of 23 years. This gradual process served two great purposes. It helped believers to learn, remember and assimilate it and to mould their lives in accordance with its teaching. The gradual process was also intended to meet the increasing needs of changing circumstances and to strengthen the belief and conviction of Muslims, since, during the interval, they had opportunities to witness fulfilment of prophecies made earlier in the Quran. The piecemeal revelation of the Quran also fulfilled the following Biblical prophecy, viz. "For it is precept upon precept; line upon line, here a little and there a little: for with strange lips and another tongue will he speak to this people" (Isaiah 28:11). The construction of the verse and the words used in the Biblical prophecy are expressive of Divine purpose in the gradual revelation of the Quran.
1554
«古兰经» 是逐步地一点一点地启示的, 时间长达二十三年。这个逐步的过程有着双重目的。它有助于信者学习、记忆、吸收, 并有助于信者遵照 «古兰经» 教义塑造他们的人生。这种逐步的过程, 其目的也是为了满足变化着的环境的日益增大的要求, 以及加强穆斯林的信仰和信念, 因为在中间阶段他们就有机会目睹 «古兰经» 较早时候所作的预言的实现。«古兰经» 的逐步启示也实现了以下 «圣经» 上的预言 («以赛亚书» 28:10-13): “他居然还想一课一课、一行一行、一个字一个字的教导我们呢! 假如你们不听我的话, 上帝要打发外国人, 用奇异的语言来教训你们。他给你们安宁和舒适, 你们却拒绝听从他。现在上主要一课一课、一行一行、一个字一个字的教训你们了。” («以赛亚书» 28:10-13)
4494
Commentary:
The Quran was revealed gradually and piecemeal. Its revelation spread over a period of 23 years. This gradual process served two great purposes. It helped believers to learn, remember and assimilate it and to mould their lives in accordance with its teaching. The gradual process was also intended to meet the increasing needs of changing circumstances and to strengthen the belief and conviction of Muslims, since, during the interval, they had opportunities to witness fulfilment of prophecies made earlier in the Quran. The piecemeal revelation of the Quran also fulfilled the following Biblical prophecy, viz. "For it is precept upon precept; line upon line, here a little and there a little: for with strange lips and another tongue will he speak to this people" (Isaiah 28:11). The construction of the verse and the words used in the Biblical prophecy are expressive of Divine purpose in the gradual revelation of the Quran.
3200
The Qur’an was revealed gradually and piecemeal. Its revelation spread over a period of 23 years. This gradual process served a double purpose. It helped believers to learn, remember and assimilate it and to mould their lives in accordance with its teachings. The gradual process was also intended to meet the increasing needs of changing circumstances and to strengthen the belief and conviction of Muslims, since, during the interval they had the opportunities to witness fulfilment of prophecies made earlier in the Qur’an. The piecemeal revelation of the Qur’an also fulfilled the following biblical prophecy:
"For, it is precept upon precept; line upon line, here a little and there a little; for, with strange lips and another tongue will he speak to this people" (Isa. 28: 10).