The Light of the Holy Qur'an Interpretation of Sura Al-furqan

Commentary : Verse 5.6

  1. وَقَالُوا أَسَاطِيرُ الاَوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِيَ تُمْلَي عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيل

  2. قُلْ أَنزَلَهُ الَّذِي يَعْلَمُ السّـِرَّ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيم

  3. "And they say: '(Qur'an is) the stories of the ancients he has got them written, so they are dictated before him morning and evening'."

  4. " Say: 'He sent it down Who knows the secrets in the heavens and the earth. Verily He is ever Forgiving, Merciful'."

Commentary:

Pagans both found fault with the content of the Holy Qur'an, that these are old fables, and expressed doubt about the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), that he had made copy and they considered some unreal companions for him ("... they are dictated to him ..."). The purpose of 'old fables' is whether they believed that some persons wrote for him,or they said the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) was literate and negated his being uneducated.

In these holy verses, one of their derivative analyses and meaningless pretexts about the holy Qur'an is talked about. It says:

" And they say: '(Qur'an is) the stories of the ancients he has got them written,..."

This means that he, in fact, has nothing by himself. He has no knowledge and innovation, let alone revelation and prophethood. Some persons have helped him to gather some old legends and named it heavenly book.

In order to achieve this aim, he is helped by others every day. The verse continues saying:

"...so they are dictated before him morning and evening'."

He is helped in the morning and evening when there are few people out.

This is, in fact, explanation of the false accusations that were mentioned in the previous verse.

By these short sentences, they intend to impose some weak points on the holy Qur'an: First, the holy Qur'an has got no new matter or subject and it is some old legends. Second, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) can not continue his job without others' help and every morning and evening matters must be read out to him and he writes them. Third, he can write and read and if he says that he is not educated, he is lying.

As a matter of fact, they intended to break up people who were with the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), but all wise persons who had lived for a time in that society knew well that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) had not been educated by anybody and had nothing to do with the Jews and the People of the Book. If he were inspired by others every day and night, how would it be possible to remain hidden from others? Moreover the verses of Qur'an were revealed to him in journey, among people, in solitude and in all conditions.

Additionally, the holy Qur'an was a collection of doctrinal teachings, religious ordinances, laws and some part of the story of the prophets. When all of the holy Qur'an was sent down, it was not like what was in Old and New Testaments as well as Arab superstitious legends. If we compare both of them, we see what the truth is, because those scriptures were full of superstitions while these verses were free from any superstition.

Therefore, answering these groundless accusations, the last concerned verse says:

"Say: 'He sent it down Who knows the secrets in the heavens and the earth...."

It refers to this matter that the content of this Book and its various mysteries that are about sciences, the history of former nations, laws, man's needs, even some secrets of nature and news about the future, all indicate that it is not the product of man's mind and it is not compiled by the help of such and such persons. It is in fact generated by One Who knows mysteries of heavens and the earth and nothing is out of His knowledge realm.

Nevertheless, the path of return is open to those who are liar and evil thinkers, and, in the end of the verse, it says:

"... Verily He is ever Forgiving, Merciful'."

In agreement with His Mercy, He has sent prophets and heavenly Books, and in agreement with His forgiveness, He pardons our countless sins in the light of faith and penance.

Commentary : Verse 6.7.8

  1. وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِي فِي الاَسْوَاقِ لَوْلآ اُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِير

  2. أَوْ يُلْقَي إِلَيْهِ كَنزٌ أَوْ تَكُونُ لَهُ جَنَّةٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ الظَّالِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَّسْحُور

7." And they say: 'What sort of a Messenger is this that he eats food and he walks about in the markets? Why has not an angel been sent down to him, to be a warner with him?"

  1. " Or why has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or why has he not a garden to eat of it?' And the unjust say: 'You follow none other than a man bewitched'."

Occasion of Revelation:

Imam Hassan 'Askara (a.s.) said that he asked his father, the tenth Imam, whether the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) argued against seeking pretext and reproaches of the Jews and pagans. His father said: "Yes, it happened many times, including the day when the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was sitting beside Allah's house and 'Abdullah Ibn Abi-Omayah Makhzumi came to him and, standing in front of him, said: 'Oh! Muhammad, you have made a great claim and are stating terrible words!

You think that you are the messenger of the Lord of the peoples, but it is not appropriate for the Creator of all creatures and people to have a messenger like you, a human like us. You eat like us and walk in markets as we do!' The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said: 'Oh Allah! You hear all words and speeches and know all things. You know what Your servants say. (You Yourself answer them.)' At this time the above verses were revealed and their seeking pretext were answered."[^1]

Commentary:

Since the former holy verses mentioned pagans' objections about the Glorious Qur'an and they were answered in them, the concerned verses bring about another part that is about the mission of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and it is also answered. The verse says:

" And they say: 'What sort of a Messenger is this that he eats food and he walks about in the markets? ..."

They wanted to say that what a prophet he is. He needs food as other people need. He walks in markets for business and buying what he needs. This is neither the tradition of the messengers nor the custom of the kings, while he wants both to declare Divine invitation and to rule us!

They fundamentally believed that the outstanding persons must not go by themselves to market for buying what they need, but they must send servants and agents for this matter.

Then they said:

"... Why has not an angel been sent down to him, to be a warner with him?"

Very well! Suppose that a man can be a messenger of Allah, but why is he poor and destitute?

The verse says:

" Or why has not a treasure been bestowed on him, or why has he not a garden to eat of it?'..."

They did not get satisfied only with these and finally they accused him of insanity. In the end of the verse we read:

[^1] Nur-uth-Thaqalyn, Vol. 4, p. 6

" ... And the unjust say: 'You follow none other than a man bewitched'."

They believed that sorcerers can influence the intellect and intelligence of individuals and own the faculty of reasoning!

It is understood from the above holy verses that they found some illusive faults with the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and in every phase they retreated from their views.

They first believed that the messenger must be an angel. That he eats food and walks in markets shows that he is not an angel.

Then they said that if he is not an angel, an angel must be sent by Allah for helping him.

Again they took retrograde step and said that supposing Allah's prophet is a man, a treasure must be sent down to him from the heaven, so that it will be a reason for the matter that he is supported by Allah!

In the last phase they said supposing he has none of these, but he must be at least not a poor man. Like a wealthy farmer he must have a garden for marinating him. But he has none of these and still he is saying that he is a prophet.

As a conclusion, they said that his great claim in such conditions is the sign of insanity!!