The Holy Quran Text. Translation & Commentary (the Example Commentary in Brief)(volume Three)

The Eight Doors of Paradise (verse No. 19 - 24)

To complete the previous verses, some details are given here, beginning with the fact that, those who can see and understand are not equal to those who are blind and perceive not, and so are the faithful and faithless not similar to each other, and also those who understand and those who understand not. Almost all the commentators understand that this verse (NO.19) invites people to gain knowledge, and learn more and more, because those who are void of knowledge are none the better than those who are blind. Then there comes the second verse of the above group (NO.20) that

[ 329 ]

points at a brief outline of the order which those who have a mind to grasp, and an eye to perceive will pursue. They are:ِ

.ِThose who fulfil their covenant with Allah and break not their promises.

.ِTheir next programme is connection with those whom Allah has commanded to connect with. Man should always have a firm connection and fair relation with his Creator, His apostles, teachers and learned people, his own parent, family and friends, the society, and even himself. This is because man is a social creature, and is not created to live alone and in seclusion like the hermits.

.ِThey are the God-fearing, pious persons who avoid evil deeds in order to be nearer and dearer to God.

.ِThey are watchful over their behaviour for their dread of a bad reckoning and record of deeds which will make their whole life in the world to come.

.ِPatience and perseverance is their creed when they encounter with trouble and hardship.

.ِThey take care to observe well their daily prayers.

.ِThey are generous in charity whether in secret or open, and give alms from the sustenance which God has bestowed on them which consists of all sorts of physical and spiritual possessions and powers and faculties.

.ِAnd finally they are not a vengeful people, and they do their best to turn evil away with doing good. When they do something wrong, they immediately after it; do something good, in order to cancel the effect of their evil deed, and to correct their wrong. In other word it is not their creed to answer bad for bad. If a friend, or even a foe makes a mischief, they admonish him practically and by doing something good to them. The above eight sorts of conducts are in other word, eight gates of the Paradise, because the result and reward of the said righteous persons, be they man or woman, is the promised paradise of God. It is a destination and eternal abode made out of pure Mercy and mere bliss of our Gracious Lord. In Paradise the righteous will reunite with

[ 330 ]

their nears and dears like their parents, wife, and children, not due to their blood relations, but for the sake of their righteousness and piety.

وَالَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الاَْرْضِ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ (( 25 ))

25- AND THOSE WHO BREAK ALLAH'S COVENANT AFTER HIS COMPACT, AND CUT ASUNDER WHAT ALLAH COMMANDED TO JOIN WITH, AND MAKE MISCHIEF IN THE LAND; THEY ARE ON WHOM IS THE CURSE, AND FOR THEM IS THE BADNESS OF THE (LAST) ABODE.

اللهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الاْخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مَتَاعٌ(( 26 ))

26- ALLAH BROADENS THE SUSTENANCE FOR WHOM HE WILL, AND STRAITENS (IT FOR WHOM HE WILL). AND THEY REJOICED IN THIS LOWER LIFE (IN THIS WORLD), AND THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD (IN COMPARISON WITH THE LIFE) IN THE HEREAFTER IS ONLY A TRIFLING ENJOYMENT.

THE COMMENTARY THE CRIMINAL MAMMONIST (VERSE NO. 25 - 26)

Here the reference is to the contrast between evil and good, virtuous and vicious, Godly and Godless and etc. to complete the aforementioned verses and argument:ِ

[ 331 ]

``Those who break Allah's covenant after it is ratified....'' The weak points of the supporters of falsehood are of three classes that are mentioned in brief as follows:ِ

.ِThey have broken their covenant with Allah.

.ِThey have cut their connection with those whom Allah wants them to join.

.ِThe above two sins of them, result in their corruption and making mischief in the land.

The next verse implies that it is God who sustains all His creatures. To some He gives abundance and to some He gives in limited measure, according to His plan and wisdom. God's sustenance is not only the necessary food and drink for nourishment. It rather includes all means for their physical, spiritual, moral, and intellectual development, according to their needs and capacities. Here we ought to know that; if Qura"n says; increase and decrease of our sustenances is under the control of Allah, it does not mean that God will increase or decrease it without any account or reason. Allah wants His servants to obtain their sustenance by work and endeavour and through the natural means and instruments which is given to man. God does not fulfil his intentions through unnatural ways and has rules and regulations for every affair.

The ending of the above verses imply that life in this world compared with that of the next is not of any importance to be mentioned, because this our life here is a stepping-stone for our next life that begins after death.

WHO IS THE MISCHIEF - MAKER IN THE LAND

Mischief which is a translation for the Arabic, ©FASA"D¨ is the antonym of compensation, service, and good, and it is applied to all kinds of corruption. Any harm, damage, trouble or vexation caused by human agency can be counted as mischief. In otherword all the disorders and disturbances, and going to the extremes in the society are known as making mischief in the land. In the Holy Qura"n the

[ 332 ]

word, ©FASA"D¨ appears in various forms and shades of meaning. Sometimes we read it to be equal to fighting against God and His Messenger, (S 5:33) and sometimes it means to destroy and destruct farm and farmer, (S 2:205). In cases it is taken as breaking the covenant with Allah, (S 2:27). In the S10:91, Pharaoh has been called a mischief-maker in the land. Therefore we come to the conclusion that the word, FASA"Dِ©MOFSED-FIL-ARZ¨ or the mischief-maker in the land has a wide variety of shades of meaning, and their guilts too is of various grades and importance, and accordingly the punishments decreed for them varies from light to heavy.

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلاَ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَّبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّ اللهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ(( 27 ))

27- AND THE UNBELIEVERS SAY:ِ WHY HAS A SIGN NOT BEEN SENT DOWN TO HIM FROM HIS LORD!?

SAY:ِ ALLAH LEAVES TO STRAY WHOM HE WILL, AND GUIDES TO HIMSELF HE WHO TURNS (IN REPENTANCE).

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ(( 28 ))

28- THOSE WHO BELIEVED, AND THEIR HEART IS ASSURED BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH. BEHOLD! BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH, THE HEARTS CAN BE ASSURED.

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَى لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآب (( 29 ))

29- THOSE WHO BELIEVED AND DID RIGHTEOUS DEEDS, FOR THEM IS CLEANLINESS AND GOOD END.

[ 333 ]

THE COMMENTARY GOD'S REMEMBRANCE COMFORTS THE HEART. (VERSE NO. 27 - 29)

Although the unbelievers had seen many miracles of the prophet, again and again they used to bring flimsy excuses, and asked for other signs and new miracles. They expected the prophet to sit indoor, out of any work, and waiting for them to go asking for new wonders and amazing works of giants and Jinns to amuse them! This was when the prophet had clearly announced that he was only a warner and a giver of glad-tidings to the pious believer. He knew his duty to convey God's Message to His servant:ِ ``Say:ِ Allah leaves to astray who he will and guides to himself who turns in penitence.'' In fact their shortage was not on the part of miracles, but rather for their lack of faith. They had some sort of a disease in their heart which was manifesting in the form of suspicion and doubt. God will indeed guide those who return to him in repentance and with the intention of amendment, and correcting their wrongs. But Allah has said that He will leave to stray those who deliberately close their eyes and insist to go wrong. In other word, if you do not turn to God yourself, He will not force you to do that. Therefore, you have better to cease evil, and turn to your Lord in penitence and supplication, tearing off the cover of ignorance, vanity, and pride, which has covered your eyes and wisdom. Then you may observe the beauties of truth and the infinite kingdom of God.

The next verse, (NO.28) implies that; comfort and confidence of the heart, and relief of mental distress, can be obtained through the rememberance of God.

Then mention is made of the end of those who believe in Allah and do righteous deedsِthey shall abide forever in the beautiful houses of prosperity and rest in the gardens of bliss in the cleanest of

[ 334 ]

lives with all blesses and bounties.

SOME POINTS TO NOTE

Anxiety and disturbance of mind, has always appeared as a calamity in the life of man. On the other hand, confidence and comfort has been a lost object of man, and to find it out, uncountable amount of work has been done without the necessary effect. Statistics have shown that when cholera has attacked a people six person out of ten have died by fear and anxiety, and only four people were the direct victims of cholera itself! In general, anxiety and fear plays a vital role in man's stage of safety and health, and also in fortunes and misfortunes. In this relation, Qura"n, in a short verse shows how man may overcome the anxiety and disturbance of his heart; to reach a state of confidence and assurance:ِ ``Behold! By remembrance of Allah hearts can be assured.''

Anxiety may have various causes like:ِ .ِVague past. .ِUnknown and obscure future. .ِWeakness against natural calamities. .ِFeeling to be vain and useless. .ِSuspicion and fancies. .ِWorldliness and being too much engrossed and occupied in the concerns of this world. On the other hand, faith in God is always accompanied by self confidence, asceticism, and piety. In faith there is hope, and where there is hope there is life. The belief in the resurrection is also a means that removes the fear of death and going to nothingness. So if a believer, whole heartedly turns attention to God, and His power, wisdom and mercy, knowing His presence everywhere and in every time, willing to help his servant, what can disturb such a mind and make such a heart anxious?

كَذَلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّة قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ لِّتَتْلُوَا عَلَيْهِمْ الَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ

[ 335 ]

يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَنِ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ(( 30 ))

30- SO DID WE SEND YOU AMONG A NATION, BEFORE WHOM OTHER NATIONS HAVE PASSED AWAY, SO AS TO RECITE TO THEM THAT WHICH WE INSPIRE TO YOU, AND THEY BELIEVE NOT IN THE MERCIFUL.

SAY:ِ HE IS MY LORD. THERE IS NO GOD BUT HE. IN HIM I HAVE PUT MY TRUST, AND TO HIM IS MY RETURN.

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآناً سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الاَْرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى بَلْ للهِِ الاَْمْرُ جَمِيعاً أَفَلَمْ يَايْئَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ لَّوْ يَشَاءُ اللهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا تُصِيبُهُمْ بِمَا صَنَعُوا قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيباً مِّنْ دَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِىَ وَعْدُ اللهِ إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ (( 31 ))

31- AND IF IT WAS A QURA"N BY WHICH THE MOUNTAINS WERE MOVED, OR THE EARTH WAS RENT ASUNDER, OR THROUGH IT THE DEADS COULD BE SPOKEN WITH. (THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE INSPITE OF ALL THAT) BUT EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT TO ALLAH'S WILL. DO THE BELIEVERS NOT KNOW THAT IF ALLAH HAD WILLED HE WOULD HAVE GUIDED PEOPLE ALL TOGETHER? (BUT COMPULSORY GUIDANCE IS NO GUIDANCE)

AND EVERY NOW AND THEN THE UNBELIEVERS ARE AFFLICTED WITH A CALAMITY, DUE TO WHAT THEY HAVE

[ 336 ]

FABRICATED, OR IT ALIGHTS CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES, UNTIL ALLAH'S PROMISE COME TO PASS, THAT ALLAH WILL NOT FAIL HIS PROMISE.

وَلَقَدْ اسْتُهْذِىءَ بِرُسُل مِّنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ(( 32 ))

32- AND THE MESSENGERS BEFORE YOU TOO WERE SCOFFED AT, AND I RESPITED THE UNBELIEVERS, THEN I SEIZED THEM (SUDDENLY). SO; HOW WAS MY REQUITAL?

THE COMMENTARY OCCASION OF THE REVELATION (VERSE NO. 30)

Commentators have narrated that the first of the above verses (NO.30) was revealed in the occasion of HUDAYBEYEH PEACE TREATY, which occured on 6 A.H. In that treaty when the prophet dictated to Hazrat Imam Ali to write the document in the name of Allah the Merciful, the idolaters rejected, saying:ِ ``We do not know who the Merciful, (RAHMA"N) is! There also was a hot controversy about the title of, Mohammad (AS)''. The pagans insisted to remove the title of, ©MESSENGER OF GOD¨. They said:ِ ``If we knew you to be the Messenger of God, we would not fight against you.'' To this effect some of the prophet's disciples became very angry with the heathens and asked the prophet to permit them to wage a sacred war against the Meccans. So the situation in HUDAYBEYEH became very critical, and the prophet through an amazing management succeeded to extinguish the burning fire that was almost kindled. The peace treaty of HUDAYBEYEH is an important event in the history of Islam, that Qura"n has referred to in variouse verses, among which this is one.

[ 337 ]

MORE ABOUT HUDAYBEYEH PEACE TREATY

(Owing to the importance of the incident of HUDAYBEYEH, for the kind notice of our dear readers, we give more detail about the event. I have quoted the following narration from the important references like: 1) SEEREH-IBN-HESHA"M. 2) KA"MIL-IBN-ASIR, V2:138 and BOHAR-AL-ANVA"R, V20:353. On the 13th of march 628 A.D.= ZILQAAD 6.AH. the prophet set out along with a party of 1400 men to perform the rites of the Lesser Pilgrimage, (UMREH). In order to show to all, that his only object of the journey is the pilgrimage, the prophet and all his followers wore the white GARB of the which is named, ©EHRA"M¨. They also separated and marked several camels to be sacrificed as one of the rituals. They made for Mecca, and travelled as far as Esfan, a place between JOHFEH and MECCA.

When the Meccans were informed of Mohammad's approach in accompany with what they took it for a large army, and ready for a surprise attack; they were agitated and called for an emergency mobilization, and immediately prepared a good defensive force. A battalion of their armed forces wore clothes made out of leopard's skin, which to them it meant, ©defence up to death¨! They also took with them their wives and children as a vowe not to turn their back to Muslims in the fight. Then they sent a cavalry of 200 warriors commanded by Khalid-ibn-Valid. to bar the way and not let Mohammad and Muslims to enter Mecca.

When the prophet was informed of their preprations, he said:ِ ``Woe is unto GHORAISH! War has eaten these people! Why do they not leave me alone with the rest of Arabs? Then if the Arabs destroyed me they lose nothing. If I vanquished them no harm is done to GHORAISH. Upon my Lord I will fight for the cause of Allah so long as I live; either to win or to die on it.'' Then, Aslam who was well acquainted with the round about and the ways to Mecca, by the order of the prophet, led Muslims through some zigzags, and unusual ways across the hilly county, to a plane at

[ 338 ]

the north edge of the SACRED TERRITORY. (HARAM) called HUDAYBEYEH, one day of march to the north of Mecca. There in the Hudaybeyeh, at once the camels stopped going forward inspite of being threatened and encouraged! Muslims said the poor creatures were thoroughly exhausted, but the prophet said:ِ ``No! Not so as you think. Rather He who prevented the elephants of ABRAHA to approach the house of God has halted the camels. We shall station here. To-day I will observe our bonds of relationship by considering all the enemy's request.'' Then delegations and messengers were sent and exchanged between two parties, Meccan beat KHARASH-IBN-OMAYEH, the prophet's representative to them savagely and wounded him harshly, but the prophet showed patience. After that, GHORAISH sent a cavalry of fifty soldiers on patrol about the camp of Muslims in order to kidnap some believers to keep them as hostages! But Muslims were in full attention, and captured all of them and took them to the prophet hands tied. To show his good will to Ghoraish, the prophet pardoned them all and let them free to go back. This gentle behaviour of the prophet had a very good effect on both friend and foe.

Following the release of the cruising group of the enemy, the prophet ordered OMAR-IBN-KHATTA"B to go to Mecca, and have a talk with the idolaters. Omar refused to obey the prophet with the objection that he had not an influential family in Mecca to support him in hazards. Omar then nominated OTHMA"N-IBN-AFFAN his simple hearted friend to go on that errand!

OTHMA"N, accepted the dangerous task, and at first he went to one of his influential relatives named ABA"N-IBN-SAEED and sought his refuge. He then conveyed the prophet's message to the pagans which they strictly rejected. For having the respite of ABA"N the idolater gave the permission of performing the rites of HAJJ, but when he refused their favour, saying:ِ ``Without the prophet, I won't do it!'' His denial made the idolaters very angry. So they beat him hardly and put him in a jail! Then a rumour spread everywhere, that Ghoraish had killed OTHMA"N who was the prophet's minister. The believers said, ``If that be true we

[ 339 ]

won't leave here until we avenge him and punish the pagans.'' Then the prophet stood at the shade of a big tree that was there, and Muslims came to him one by one and pledged to fight over for his cause till the last beat of their heart. The oath of fealty was taken under that tree with much enthusiasm, any great sincerity. This was a wonderful demonstration of faith in that critical occasion. So the following verse of Qura"n revealed to that effect:ِ Q S 48:18ِ19 ``Allah was pleased with the believers when they took an oath of fealty to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, and so He sent down tranquility to them, and He rewarded them with a near victory, and with many gains that they shall acquire besides. Mighty is Allah and wise.''

In the Islam's history this is known as the, PLEDGE OF PLEASURE OR THE, PLEDGE OF UNDER THE TREE. When GHORAISH heard of the pledge they trembled with fear and soon after they sent SOHAIL-IBN-AMR with full authority on an embassy to negotiate on a peace treaty. The prophet who was indeed a peaceful kind and compassionate man welcomed Sohail and after a long meeting and discussion both parties compounded and agreed on the following articles:ِ

.ِThe two parties were to abandon all sorts of hostilities against each other for a period of 10 years. .ِMuslims performance of the rites of pilgrimage was to be postponed for the next year. .ِMohammad had to send back any Meccans who would come to him without the consent of his protector or guardian. This term did not include the free Muslims. .ِAll the tribes and individuals were free to enter into alliance with either of the two parties.

Mohammad (AS) himself was illiterate and therefore at the prepration of the above peace document HAZRAT IMAM ALI (AS) was the clerk who wrote whatever the prophet dictated. When he began to write the peace pact in the name of Allah the

[ 340 ]

Merciful, the pagans objected saying we know not who the Merciful is! So they wrote it in the name of Allah. Then the prophet told HAZRAT IMAM ALI to write:ِ ``This is an agreement between Mohammad the Messenger of God and SOHAIL-IBN-OMAR.'' Sohail objected and said:ِ ``Had we recognized you as a Messenger of God, we would not have so much troubles with you, therefore blot out your title from the compact and just write down:ِ From MOHAMMAD-IBN-ABDULLAH. The prophet said to HAZRAT ALI (AS); write it as they want. But Imam Ali said to the prophet:ِ It is indeed very painful and difficult for me to erase the title of truth from your name, that I have not the least amount of doubt that you are God's Messenger. So I beg you to exempt and excuse me from erasing your title.'' So the prophet blotted off his title of; ©MESSENGER OF GOD¨ with his own hand, and then sighed and said to HAZRAT ALI (AS):ِ ``O, Ali! There will come a time when the same thing will happen to you, and you shall be compelled to blot out your title too!''

This prediction was realized in the Battle of Seffain, when HAZRAT ALI was compelled to erase his rightful and legitimate title of AMIR-AL-MOAMENIN the detail of which is to be read in all the history books of Islam.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE) OCCASION OF REVELATION (VERSE NO. 31)

A group of the idolaters had a meeting held in front of KAABEH to discuss their problems with Mohammad (AS) who ridiculed their idols and claimed to be the Messenger of God. They asked the prophet to take part in that meeting, and to answer some questions they had. With the hope of guiding them out of that spiritual darkness they were in, the prophet went to them, and after some arguments they said to Mohammad (AS):ِ ``If you really want us follow you and be a good Muslim, then move the

[ 341 ]

mountains by your Holy Qura"n, and make spirings of water to gush out of them; in order to prepare enough farm lands for all of us.'' They then added:ِ ``Have you not cited in your Qura"n that the mountains obeyed David and the winds were subservient to Solomon, and Jesus Christ raised the dead!? If you are a truthful prophet, then raise up our fore grand father, GHASI-IBN-CLUB so that we may ask him if you are right.'' Then the above verse (NO.31) was sent down in answer to them saying:ِ ``Whatever you do for them they will not believe you; even if you bring down to them a Qura"n by which the mountains could be moved, or the earth could be rent asunder, or through it the deads could be raised to speak with them, they would not believe you inspite of all that and more!''

In God's infinite power, things like moving the mountains, and raising the deads to speak is more than easy, but God always knows better what is to be done and what is not to be done. He is not waiting for His poor creatures to dictate to Him what to do or how to do a work. Those who believe in Him are sure enough that God will arrange things and order His world for the best. After all; the duty of a Messenger of God, is to convey God's Message, and warn people against evil deeds, and to prove to them that evil has its eventual evil consequences, although man may not see that for a certain time.

Truth is light and behaves like light. If you throw some ashes upon a bright point on which the sun shines, you won't be able to conceal the light by your handful of ashes because the light will jump upon your ashes. So is the case with Mohammad's truth. He found it not necessary to do the work of a tractor in moving the mountain or digging a well to gush water out. He was the last of the prophets and the Message that had been revealed before him through the successive apostles that were sent to mankind one after another. Therefore the advent of prophet Mohammad (AS) was the stepping-stone for the unification of the world, and God's will be done.

[ 342 ]

WHY THE STRESS FALLS SO MUCH ON AL - RAHMA"N (THE MERCIFUL?)

Arabs did not like the word Merciful to be attributed to God, and it was not customary among them to call Allah with such attributes. On the contrary the prophet always gave special emphasis to this name (AL-RAHMA"N) because he believed that God's Mercy covers all His creatures and includes all, be they believers or unbelievers! He naturally wondered why the people believed not in a Lord whose Mercy embraces all His creatures and is something general. Another point to note here is that; some people by reference to the above verse (NO.31), say; that the prophet Mohammad (AS) has had no miracle other than Qura"n! We have repeatedly mentioned in this our book that a miracle is to uncover the face of a truth, and it is not a play-toy or a boasting means in the hands of a prophet. Such childish miracles that the obstinate pagans asked for, like turning the mountains into gold and silver or moving them forward and backward were only objections for hiding their feeling of disapproval and opposition, which was supported by mere ignorance. Had he turned the mountains into gold for them, gold would become cheaper than stone or soil.

The last verse (NO.32) is a good support for the idea that the pagans were only scoffing at the prophet by asking for such miracles:ِ

``And the Messengers before you, too, were scoffed at....''

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى كُلِّ نَفْس بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَجَعَلُوا للهِِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ فِي الاَْرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِر مِنْ الْقَوْلِ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنْ السَّبِيلِ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَاد (( 33 ))

33- THEN HE WHO STANDS (ON WATCH) OVER EVERY SOUL AND ALL THAT IT EARNS? (IS HE LIKE HIM WHO CANNOT BE

[ 343 ]

SO?) AND YET THEY ASCRIBED TO ALLAH PARTNERS! SAY:ِ NAME THEM! OR DO THEY INFORM HIM OF WHAT HE KNOWS NOT IN THE EARTH? OR BY THE APPEARANCE OF (MEANINGLESS) WORD? RATHER THEIR FOUL DEVICE HAS BEEN ADORNED FOR THE UNBELIEVERS, AND ARE BARRED FROM THE WAY.

AND WHOM ALLAH LEAVES TO STRAY, NO ONE CAN GUIDE HIM.

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَعَذَابُ الاْخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ اللهِ مِنْ وَاق(( 34 ))

34- FOR THEM IS A TORMENT IN THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD, AND THE TORMENT OF THE LAST, (i.e. THE LIFE TO COME) IS HARDER. AND THERE IS NO PROTECTOR FOR THEM FROM ALLAH.

THE COMMENTARY HOW DO YOU COMPARE IDOLS WITH GOD!? (VERSE NO. 33 - 34)

The argument goes back to monotheism once again; that, how would you compare the Lord God, who is the guardian of all the creatures, standing on watch over every soul and all that it earns, with an inanimate idol which is carved out of a stone!? It seems as if the verse wants to say:ِ ``God stands overhead watching with full knowledge of what we do, while He keeps an account of our conducts and a record of what we have earned. Then how can we associate any partner with such a sacred and supreme being!?'' The verse then says:ِ ``Just

[ 344 ]