بَعَثۡ
Appears 10 times in Quran
Derived Words (5)
Words derived from the stem "بَعَثۡ".
- did We send
- We did raise
- We sent
- We raised you up
- We could have surely raised
- and We raised
- We raised them up
Occurrences in Quran
Found 10 verses containing "بَعَثۡ".
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَوۡتِکُمۡ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَشۡکُرُوۡنَ
2:260; 6:123.
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَوۡتِکُمۡ۔ یعنی ہم نے تمہارے ایمانوں کو زیادہ کرکے اور تمہاری نسلوں کو بڑھا کر پھر تمہیں مضبوط کر دیا۔
2:260; 6:123.
The verse may signify that this unreasonable demand of the Israelites so arrogantly expressed brought about their spiritual and not physical death. This significance finds corroboration in the next verse wherein God says: Then We raised you up after your death, i.e. you regained respect and honour after you had lost it. Maut means, extinction of the power of growth (57:18); the loss of the feeling power (19:24); the loss of the power of reasoning (6:123); grief which embitters the life of a man (14:18); physical death (Lane).
2:260; 6:123.
Important Words:
بعثناکم (We raised you) is from بعث. They say بعثه i.e. (1) he sent him as a messenger; (2) he made him to rise; (3) he roused him up; (4) He (God) brought him to life; (5) he awoke him from sleep; (6) he instigated him to do a certain thing (Aqrab).
موتکم (your death). See notes on 2:20 and 2:29 where it has been explained that the word موت (death) includes (1) spiritual death; and (2) a state of extreme sorrow, grief, or fear, etc.
Commentary:
The verse should not be understood to mean that the Israelites were restored to life after they had actually died. The Quran strongly repudiates the idea of the dead coming to life again in this world (21:96). The death spoken of in the verse is either spiritual death or a state of extreme grief or terror brought about through dreadful punishment, etc. The Bible testifies to the "death" of which the Quran speaks, as follows: "And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee…And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf" (Exod. 32:31-35).
But God’s forgiveness soon followed; for He did not want to ruin the Israelites, but to raise them morally and spiritually and make them a grateful people.
b
2:260; 6:123.
2
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَوۡتِکُمۡ۔ یعنی ہم نے تمہارے ایمانوں کو زیادہ کرکے اور تمہاری نسلوں کو بڑھا کر پھر تمہیں مضبوط کر دیا۔
a
2:260; 6:123.
63
Important Words:
بعثناکم (We raised you) is from بعث. They say بعثه i.e. (1) he sent him as a messenger; (2) he made him to rise; (3) he roused him up; (4) He (God) brought him to life; (5) he awoke him from sleep; (6) he instigated him to do a certain thing (Aqrab).
موتکم (your death). See notes on 2:20 and 2:29 where it has been explained that the word موت (death) includes (1) spiritual death; and (2) a state of extreme sorrow, grief, or fear, etc.
Commentary:
The verse should not be understood to mean that the Israelites were restored to life after they had actually died. The Quran strongly repudiates the idea of the dead coming to life again in this world (21:96). The death spoken of in the verse is either spiritual death or a state of extreme grief or terror brought about through dreadful punishment, etc. The Bible testifies to the "death" of which the Quran speaks, as follows: "And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee…And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf" (Exod. 32:31-35).
But God’s forgiveness soon followed; for He did not want to ruin the Israelites, but to raise them morally and spiritually and make them a grateful people.
b
2:260; 6:123.
96
The verse may signify that this unreasonable demand of the Israelites so arrogantly expressed brought about their spiritual and not physical death. This significance finds corroboration in the next verse wherein God says: Then We raised you up after your death, i.e. you regained respect and honour after you had lost it. Maut means, extinction of the power of growth (57:18); the loss of the feeling power (19:24); the loss of the power of reasoning (6:123); grief which embitters the life of a man (14:18); physical death (Lane).
۞ وَلَقَدۡ اَخَذَ اللّٰہُ مِیۡثٰقَ بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرٰٓءِیۡلَ وَبَعَثۡنَا مِنۡہُمُ اثۡنَیۡ عَشَرَ نَقِیۡبًا ۖ وَّقَالَ اللّٰہُ اِنِّیۡ مَعَکُمۡ ۖ لَئِنۡ اَقَمۡتُمُ الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتَیۡتُمُ الزَّکٰوۃَ وَاٰمَنۡتُمۡ بِرُسُلِیۡ وَعَزَّرۡتُمُوۡہُمۡ وَاَقۡرَضۡتُمُ اللّٰہَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنًا لَّاُکَفِّرَنَّ عَنۡکُمۡ سَیِّاٰتِکُمۡ وَلَاُدۡخِلَنَّکُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ ۚ فَمَنۡ کَفَرَ بَعۡدَ ذٰلِکَ مِنۡکُمۡ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ السَّبِیۡلِ
2:169.
2:41, 84.
2:61; 7:161.
See 2:26.
By "twelve leaders" are meant the twelve Prophets of Israel who came after Moses. According to some authorities, these were the twelve "princes" said to have been appointed by Moses (Num. 1:5-16; 43: 3-15). See also 2:61.
2:41, 84.
2:61; 7:161.
See 2:26.
2:109.
Important Words:
نقیبا (leaders) is the verbal adjective from نقب. They say نقبه i.e. he perforated or made a hole through it. نقب فی الارض means, he went through the land. نقب عن الاخبار means, he scrutinized or examined the news. نقب علی قومه means, he acted as نقیب (leader or supervisor) over his people. نقیب means, a thing perforated or pierced through; a musical reed or pipe; the head or chief of people who investigates and superintends their affairs, takes notice of their actions and is responsible for them (Lane).
عزرتموھم (you support them) is derived from عزر. عزرہ means, he censured him; he helped him. They say عزره عن کذا i.e. he prevented or hindered him or turned him away from such a thing. عزره (‘azzarahu) means: (1) he chastised or punished or censured or corrected him, in order to turn him away from evil; (2) he aided and assisted him; he strengthened him; he aided him against his enemy by repelling the latter; (3) he treated him with reverence, respect or honour (Lane).
Commentary:
The verse contains a veiled warning to Muslims that they can expect the help of God only so long as they adhere to their covenant with Him and obey His behests.
By the words "twelve leaders" are meant the twelve Prophets of Israel who came after Moses. According to some authorities, these were the twelve "Princes" said to have been appointed by Moses (Num. 1:4-16).
The words قرضاحسنا (goodly loan) may either mean good deeds for which a reward is expected from God, or voluntary contributions to help the cause of religion. The verse is addressed to the Israelites.
a
2:41, 84.
b
2:61; 7:161.
c
2:26.
d
2:169.
a
2:41, 84.
b
2:61; 7:161.
c
See 2:26.
d
2:109.
650
Important Words:
نقیبا (leaders) is the verbal adjective from نقب. They say نقبه i.e. he perforated or made a hole through it. نقب فی الارض means, he went through the land. نقب عن الاخبار means, he scrutinized or examined the news. نقب علی قومه means, he acted as نقیب (leader or supervisor) over his people. نقیب means, a thing perforated or pierced through; a musical reed or pipe; the head or chief of people who investigates and superintends their affairs, takes notice of their actions and is responsible for them (Lane).
عزرتموھم (you support them) is derived from عزر. عزرہ means, he censured him; he helped him. They say عزره عن کذا i.e. he prevented or hindered him or turned him away from such a thing. عزره (‘azzarahu) means: (1) he chastised or punished or censured or corrected him, in order to turn him away from evil; (2) he aided and assisted him; he strengthened him; he aided him against his enemy by repelling the latter; (3) he treated him with reverence, respect or honour (Lane).
Commentary:
The verse contains a veiled warning to Muslims that they can expect the help of God only so long as they adhere to their covenant with Him and obey His behests.
By the words "twelve leaders" are meant the twelve Prophets of Israel who came after Moses. According to some authorities, these were the twelve "Princes" said to have been appointed by Moses (Num. 1:4-16).
The words قرضاحسنا (goodly loan) may either mean good deeds for which a reward is expected from God, or voluntary contributions to help the cause of religion. The verse is addressed to the Israelites.
a
2:169.
c
2:41, 84.
d
2:61; 7:161.
e
See 2:26.
727A
By "twelve leaders" are meant the twelve Prophets of Israel who came after Moses. According to some authorities, these were the twelve "princes" said to have been appointed by Moses (Num. 1:5-16; 43: 3-15). See also 2:61.
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ مُّوۡسٰی بِاٰیٰتِنَاۤ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَا۠ئِہٖ فَظَلَمُوۡا بِہَا ۖ فَانۡظُرۡ کَیۡفَ کَانَ عٰقِبَۃُ الۡمُفۡسِدِیۡنَ
17:102; 28:37; 43:47.
The words "after them", contradict the popular view that Shu‘aib was a contemporary and father-in-law of Moses.
Zulm meaning to put a thing in the wrong place or to make a wrong use of it (Lane), the clause signifies that Pharaoh and his chiefs made wrong use of the Signs. The Signs were meant to engender fear of God in their hearts but instead they jeered and mocked at them.
17:102; 28:37; 43:47.
Commentary:
The clause, Then after them We sent Moses, does not mean that Moses appeared directly or immediately after the Prophets mentioned in the preceding verses. Other Messengers may have intervened between Moses and these Prophets, of whom Shu‘aib appears to be the nearest in time to Moses. In fact, the use of the words, Then after them, in the above clause only means that Moses appeared and lived sometime after them. The expression also contradicts the popular view that Shu‘aib was a contemporary and the father-in-law of Moses.
The words ظلموا بھا (they unjustly rejected them) literally meaning "they did wrong by means of the signs, or did them wrong", really signify that "they rejected the signs and treated them as lies, or they made them the means of doing wrong to men by ridiculing them and in this way deceiving the people."
The word ظلم also means, "to put a thing in the wrong place, or to make a wrong use of a thing" (Lane). Taking the word in this sense, the clause would mean, "they made a wrong use of the signs", i.e. though the signs were meant to engender fear of God in the hearts of men, the disbelievers, instead of profiting by them, jeered and mocked at them.
a
17:102; 28:37; 43:47.
511
ظُلْم (Zulm) 的意思是, 把一件东西放在错误的地方, 或错误地使用它。(Lane) 这一句意指法老和他的首长错误地使用了那些迹象。那些迹象原想在他们心中产生对安拉敬畏的心情, 但他们相反地却嘲笑那些迹象。
a
17:102; 28:37; 43:47.
999
Commentary:
The clause, Then after them We sent Moses, does not mean that Moses appeared directly or immediately after the Prophets mentioned in the preceding verses. Other Messengers may have intervened between Moses and these Prophets, of whom Shu‘aib appears to be the nearest in time to Moses. In fact, the use of the words, Then after them, in the above clause only means that Moses appeared and lived sometime after them. The expression also contradicts the popular view that Shu‘aib was a contemporary and the father-in-law of Moses.
The words ظلموا بھا (they unjustly rejected them) literally meaning "they did wrong by means of the signs, or did them wrong", really signify that "they rejected the signs and treated them as lies, or they made them the means of doing wrong to men by ridiculing them and in this way deceiving the people."
The word ظلم also means, "to put a thing in the wrong place, or to make a wrong use of a thing" (Lane). Taking the word in this sense, the clause would mean, "they made a wrong use of the signs", i.e. though the signs were meant to engender fear of God in the hearts of men, the disbelievers, instead of profiting by them, jeered and mocked at them.
b
17:102; 28:37; 43:47.
1019
The words "after them", contradict the popular view that Shu‘aib was a contemporary and father-in-law of Moses.
1020
Zulm meaning to put a thing in the wrong place or to make a wrong use of it (Lane), the clause signifies that Pharaoh and his chiefs made wrong use of the Signs. The Signs were meant to engender fear of God in their hearts but instead they jeered and mocked at them.
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہٖ رُسُلًا اِلٰی قَوۡمِہِمۡ فَجَآءُوۡہُمۡ بِالۡبَیِّنٰتِ فَمَا کَانُوۡا لِیُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِمَا کَذَّبُوۡا بِہٖ مِنۡ قَبۡلُ ۚ کَذٰلِکَ نَطۡبَعُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِ الۡمُعۡتَدِیۡنَ
30:48; 40:24.
30:48; 40:24.
God does not arbitrarily seal up the hearts of disbelievers; it is the disbelievers who, by their own stubborn and unjustified refusal to listen to the Word of God, deprive themselves of the ability to see and accept the truth. They are themselves the architects of their evil destiny.
30:48; 40:24.
Commentary:
This verse makes it quite clear that it is not God Who arbitrarily seals up the hearts of disbelievers but it is the disbelievers themselves who, by their stubborn and unjustified refusal to listen to the word of God, become deprived of their power to see and accept the truth. They themselves are the architects of their evil destiny and not God Who only proclaims the things already brought about by their own persistent transgression. The act of sealing up the hearts of disbelievers is attributed to God because He is the Final Judge Who pronounces the verdict.
c
30:48; 40:24.
a
30:48; 40:24.
1348
Commentary:
This verse makes it quite clear that it is not God Who arbitrarily seals up the hearts of disbelievers but it is the disbelievers themselves who, by their stubborn and unjustified refusal to listen to the word of God, become deprived of their power to see and accept the truth. They themselves are the architects of their evil destiny and not God Who only proclaims the things already brought about by their own persistent transgression. The act of sealing up the hearts of disbelievers is attributed to God because He is the Final Judge Who pronounces the verdict.
a
30:48; 40:24.
1280
God does not arbitrarily seal up the hearts of disbelievers; it is the disbelievers who, by their own stubborn and unjustified refusal to listen to the Word of God, deprive themselves of the ability to see and accept the truth. They are themselves the architects of their evil destiny.
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہِمۡ مُّوۡسٰی وَہٰرُوۡنَ اِلٰی فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَا۠ئِہٖ بِاٰیٰتِنَا فَاسۡتَکۡبَرُوۡا وَکَانُوۡا قَوۡمًا مُّجۡرِمِیۡنَ
7:104.
7:104.
7:104.
Commentary:
A Prophet of God is rejected for two reasons. Either the people to whom he preaches his Message look upon his claim as too big, thinking that God cannot speak to a man; or, behaving arrogantly, they think it to be beneath their dignity to follow his lead. This happened with Moses. Some of those to whom he delivered his Message rejected his claim because they thought it impossible that God should have condescended to speak to a mortal; others thought it incompatible with their dignity to obey a man of no consequence like Moses.
The clause, they were a sinful people, may have two meanings: (1) They were already a sinful people and therefore they rejected Moses. Taken in this sense, the words furnish the reason why they behaved with arrogance and paid no heed to the truth. (2) They became sinful in consequence of their rejection of Moses. Both interpretations explain why people reject the truth. Evil is born of evil and also leads to it; and therefore those who lead a sinful life cannot accept the truth. Again, the goodness and godliness of a person sometimes make him proud and prompt him to reject the truth. The rejection of truth is therefore no light matter, and one should think a thousand times before one rejects a claimant to prophethood.
d
7:104.
b
7:104.
1349
Commentary:
A Prophet of God is rejected for two reasons. Either the people to whom he preaches his Message look upon his claim as too big, thinking that God cannot speak to a man; or, behaving arrogantly, they think it to be beneath their dignity to follow his lead. This happened with Moses. Some of those to whom he delivered his Message rejected his claim because they thought it impossible that God should have condescended to speak to a mortal; others thought it incompatible with their dignity to obey a man of no consequence like Moses.
The clause, they were a sinful people, may have two meanings: (1) They were already a sinful people and therefore they rejected Moses. Taken in this sense, the words furnish the reason why they behaved with arrogance and paid no heed to the truth. (2) They became sinful in consequence of their rejection of Moses. Both interpretations explain why people reject the truth. Evil is born of evil and also leads to it; and therefore those who lead a sinful life cannot accept the truth. Again, the goodness and godliness of a person sometimes make him proud and prompt him to reject the truth. The rejection of truth is therefore no light matter, and one should think a thousand times before one rejects a claimant to prophethood.
b
7:104.
وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِیۡ کُلِّ اُمَّۃٍ رَّسُوۡلًا اَنِ اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ وَاجۡتَنِبُوا الطّٰغُوۡتَ ۖ فَمِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ ہَدَی اللّٰہُ وَمِنۡہُمۡ مَّنۡ حَقَّتۡ عَلَیۡہِ الضَّلٰلَۃُ ۚ فَسِیۡرُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ فَانۡظُرُوۡا کَیۡفَ کَانَ عٰقِبَۃُ الۡمُکَذِّبِیۡنَ
طَاغُوۡتَ کے معنے عربی زبان میں سرکش کے ہوتے ہیں (دیکھو مفرداتِ راغب) نیز جو شخص لوگوں کو نیکی کے راستہ سے ہٹائے۔
10:48; 13:8; 35:25.
7:31.
3:138; 6:12.
10:48; 13:8; 35:25.
7:31.
3:138; 6:12.
Commentary:
This verse supplies several answers to the objection of disbelievers mentioned in the previous verse. The first answer is that God had raised Prophets among different peoples at different times and every one of these Prophets had taught the Unity of God. If the contention of disbelievers that polytheism was permitted and countenanced by God had any basis in fact then one or other of these Prophets should have subscribed to this doctrine. But all the Prophets most vehemently denounced polytheism in every shape and form.
The second answer is implied in the words, We did raise among every people a Messenger, which mean that if God had chosen to employ force in the matter of faith, then there was no need for so many Prophets to come to convey to man the will of God. One Prophet would have sufficed through whom God would have guided to the right path those whom He desired. The long succession of Prophets who appeared among different peoples at different times to exhort them to live righteous lives constitutes a strong proof that man is created a free agent.
The third answer is contained in the injunction "shun the Evil One". If it were true that good and evil had been predetermined by God and man is only the victim of determinism, there is no sense in such an injunction, and in sending so many Prophets, for in that case every man’s course would have been predetermined. The fourth answer consists in the fact that at the appearance of every Prophet a certain number of people who before his advent are polytheists renounce their wrong doctrines and become believers in the Unity of God. In the event of man’s actions having been predetermined, he could not possibly effect a change in his beliefs or actions. The fact that on the occasion of the advent of every Prophet a certain number of disbelievers join the ranks of believers is positive proof of the fact that man has been endowed with freewill and that he is the master of his own destiny.
Divine visitations that have invariably overtaken disbelievers in all ages constitute yet another very cogent proof that man has been created free and is not the object or victim of a predetermined fate because there is no sense or justification in punishment overtaking a person who is not free to act as he likes.
a
7:31.
b
3:138; 6:12.
g
10:48; 13:8; 35:25.
1
طَاغُوۡتَ کے معنے عربی زبان میں سرکش کے ہوتے ہیں (دیکھو مفرداتِ راغب) نیز جو شخص لوگوں کو نیکی کے راستہ سے ہٹائے۔
a
10:48; 13:8; 35:25.
b
7:31.
c
3:138; 6:12.
1838
Commentary:
This verse supplies several answers to the objection of disbelievers mentioned in the previous verse. The first answer is that God had raised Prophets among different peoples at different times and every one of these Prophets had taught the Unity of God. If the contention of disbelievers that polytheism was permitted and countenanced by God had any basis in fact then one or other of these Prophets should have subscribed to this doctrine. But all the Prophets most vehemently denounced polytheism in every shape and form.
The second answer is implied in the words, We did raise among every people a Messenger, which mean that if God had chosen to employ force in the matter of faith, then there was no need for so many Prophets to come to convey to man the will of God. One Prophet would have sufficed through whom God would have guided to the right path those whom He desired. The long succession of Prophets who appeared among different peoples at different times to exhort them to live righteous lives constitutes a strong proof that man is created a free agent.
The third answer is contained in the injunction "shun the Evil One". If it were true that good and evil had been predetermined by God and man is only the victim of determinism, there is no sense in such an injunction, and in sending so many Prophets, for in that case every man’s course would have been predetermined. The fourth answer consists in the fact that at the appearance of every Prophet a certain number of people who before his advent are polytheists renounce their wrong doctrines and become believers in the Unity of God. In the event of man’s actions having been predetermined, he could not possibly effect a change in his beliefs or actions. The fact that on the occasion of the advent of every Prophet a certain number of disbelievers join the ranks of believers is positive proof of the fact that man has been endowed with freewill and that he is the master of his own destiny.
Divine visitations that have invariably overtaken disbelievers in all ages constitute yet another very cogent proof that man has been created free and is not the object or victim of a predetermined fate because there is no sense or justification in punishment overtaking a person who is not free to act as he likes.
e
10:48; 13:8; 35:25.
f
7:31.
g
3:138; 6:12.
فَاِذَا جَآءَ وَعۡدُ اُوۡلٰٮہُمَا بَعَثۡنَا عَلَیۡکُمۡ عِبَادًا لَّنَاۤ اُولِیۡ بَاۡسٍ شَدِیۡدٍ فَجَاسُوۡا خِلٰلَ الدِّیَارِ ۚ وَکَانَ وَعۡدًا مَّفۡعُوۡلًا
以色列人第一次遭受惩罚是在达五德之后, 而第二次是在伊撒之后。从圣经中看到, 犹太人在穆撒之后成为一个很强大的民族, 而在达五德时代他们奠定了一个强大王国的基础并在达五德死后在已有的权力与荣誉中继续繁荣了一个时期。然后这个民族逐渐衰败, 并且大约在公元前733年亚述人征服了撒马利亚并吞并了杰兹里耳 (Jezreel) 以北所有的以色列领土。公元608年, 一支尼科 (Necho) 法老领导下的埃及军队蹂躏了巴勒斯坦, 以色列人就被埃及人统治了。(《犹太百科全書》卷6, 665页)。
然而, 他们这次丧失了暂短的权力以及他们受到的毁灭和凄凉并没有使他们改过自新。他们仍旧继续邪恶的做法和习惯。先知耶里米 (Jeremiah) 警告他们戒掉 (他们的) 恶习, 因为安拉的惩罚即将降临他们, 可是他们根本不听耶里米的多次警告。在巴比伦的尼布加尼撒王杰霍伊金 (Jehoiakim) 统治下第一次入侵巴勒斯坦并掠走了寺里的一些神器, 但城市却免受一次围攻的苦难。公元前597年, 这个城市遭到一次严重的饥荒。然而, 齐德凯 (Zedekiah) 的叛乱引起公元前587年尼布加尼撒王第二次入侵。在一年半的围攻后, 该城被攻占。齐德凯逃出城外但被俘获。他的儿子被杀掉, 他的眼睛被挖去并用锁链困住押往巴比伦。寺院、王宫和城中所有大的建筑物都被烧掉, 大祭司和其他首领都被处死, 俘虏去了许多人 (《犹太百科全書》卷6，665页和卷7, 122页 “耶路撒冷” 项下)。
یہ بنو کدنضر بادشاہِ بابل کے حملہ کا ذکر ہے جس نے فلسطین پر حملہ کرکے صد قیاہ کو شکست دی تھی اور اس کی آنکھیں نکال دی تھیں۔(دیکھو ۲سلاطین باب۲۵)
The first Divine punishment overtook the Israelites after David, and the second after Jesus. It appears from the Bible that the Jews had become a very powerful nation after Moses, and in the time of David they laid the foundations of a mighty kingdom which continued to flourish for sometime after his death in its old might and glory. Then it fell a prey to gradual decay and in about 733 B.C. Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians, who annexed the whole of Israel north of Jezreel. In 608 B.C. Palestine was ravaged by an Egyptian force under Pharaoh Necho and the Israelites came under Egyptian sway (Jew. Enc., vol. 6, p. 665). The loss of their temporal power and their destruction and desolation, however, did not induce them to mend their ways. They persisted in their old wicked practices. The Prophet Jeremiah warned them to give up their evil ways as the wrath of God was about to overtake them, but they paid no heed to Jeremiah’s warnings. In the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his firs
Important Words:
فجاسوا (and they penetrated). جاس means, he sought for or after a thing or news or tidings eagerly and with the utmost of his endeavour. They say جاسھم الاسد i.e. the lion trod upon them, or came into the midst of them and did mischief among them. The Arabs say جسنا خلال دور القوم i.e. We went to and fro or went about amidst the houses of the people. The Quranic expression فجاسوا خلال الدیار means, they went through the midst of the houses and sought for what was in them or they went to and fro among the houses in a sudden attack or they slew you amid your houses (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
The first disaster befell the Israelites after David, and the second after Jesus. It appears from the Bible that the Jews had become a very powerful nation after Moses and in the time of David they laid the foundation of a mighty kingdom which continued to flourish for some time after his death in its old might and glory. Then it fell prey to gradual decay and about 733 B.C. Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians, who annexed the whole of Israel north of Jezreel. In 608 B.C. Palestine was ravaged by an Egyptian force under Pharaoh Necho and the Israelites came under Egyptian sway (Jew. Enc., vol. 6, p. 665). The loss of their temporal power and their destruction and desolation, however, did not make them mend their ways. They continued in their old wicked practices. The Prophet Jeremiah warned them to give up their iniquities as the wrath of God was about to overtake them. These are Jeremiah’s warnings:
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee…? For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers (Jeremiah 4:14 & 31).
The Israelites paid no heed to Jeremiah’s warnings. So "the Lord was very angry with them and removed them out of His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah only" (2 Kings 17:18). In the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his first invasion of Palestine and carried off some of the Temple vessels, but the city was spared the rigours of a siege. In 597 B.C. also, the city was invested and fell victim to a severe famine. The rebellion of Zedekiah, however, caused a second invasion in 587 B. C., and after a siege of a year and a half, the city was taken by storm. King Zedekiah fled from the city but was taken prisoner. His sons were slain and his eyes were put out and he was bound in fetters and carried off to Babylon. The Temple, the King’s palace and all the great buildings in the city were burnt down, the chief priests and other leaders were put to death and many people were carried off in captivity (Jew. Enc., vol. 6, p. 665 & vol. 7, p. 122 under Jerusalem).
Thus was fulfilled the promise about the first of the two warnings held out to the Israelites by Moses to which the present verse refers. The following passages of the Bible contain Moses’ warnings to the Jews:
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young: and he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he hath destroyed thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustest, throughout all thy lands: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thy own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee…And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to naught; and yet ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. (Deut. 28:15; 49-53; 63-64).
699
以色列人第一次遭受惩罚是在达五德之后, 而第二次是在伊撒之后。从圣经中看到, 犹太人在穆撒之后成为一个很强大的民族, 而在达五德时代他们奠定了一个强大王国的基础并在达五德死后在已有的权力与荣誉中继续繁荣了一个时期。然后这个民族逐渐衰败, 并且大约在公元前733年亚述人征服了撒马利亚并吞并了杰兹里耳 (Jezreel) 以北所有的以色列领土。公元608年, 一支尼科 (Necho) 法老领导下的埃及军队蹂躏了巴勒斯坦, 以色列人就被埃及人统治了。(《犹太百科全書》卷6, 665页)。
然而, 他们这次丧失了暂短的权力以及他们受到的毁灭和凄凉并没有使他们改过自新。他们仍旧继续邪恶的做法和习惯。先知耶里米 (Jeremiah) 警告他们戒掉 (他们的) 恶习, 因为安拉的惩罚即将降临他们, 可是他们根本不听耶里米的多次警告。在巴比伦的尼布加尼撒王杰霍伊金 (Jehoiakim) 统治下第一次入侵巴勒斯坦并掠走了寺里的一些神器, 但城市却免受一次围攻的苦难。公元前597年, 这个城市遭到一次严重的饥荒。然而, 齐德凯 (Zedekiah) 的叛乱引起公元前587年尼布加尼撒王第二次入侵。在一年半的围攻后, 该城被攻占。齐德凯逃出城外但被俘获。他的儿子被杀掉, 他的眼睛被挖去并用锁链困住押往巴比伦。寺院、王宫和城中所有大的建筑物都被烧掉, 大祭司和其他首领都被处死, 俘虏去了许多人 (《犹太百科全書》卷6，665页和卷7, 122页 “耶路撒冷” 项下)。
1
یہ بنو کدنضر بادشاہِ بابل کے حملہ کا ذکر ہے جس نے فلسطین پر حملہ کرکے صد قیاہ کو شکست دی تھی اور اس کی آنکھیں نکال دی تھیں۔(دیکھو ۲سلاطین باب۲۵)
1935
Important Words:
فجاسوا (and they penetrated). جاس means, he sought for or after a thing or news or tidings eagerly and with the utmost of his endeavour. They say جاسھم الاسد i.e. the lion trod upon them, or came into the midst of them and did mischief among them. The Arabs say جسنا خلال دور القوم i.e. We went to and fro or went about amidst the houses of the people. The Quranic expression فجاسوا خلال الدیار means, they went through the midst of the houses and sought for what was in them or they went to and fro among the houses in a sudden attack or they slew you amid your houses (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
The first disaster befell the Israelites after David, and the second after Jesus. It appears from the Bible that the Jews had become a very powerful nation after Moses and in the time of David they laid the foundation of a mighty kingdom which continued to flourish for some time after his death in its old might and glory. Then it fell prey to gradual decay and about 733 B.C. Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians, who annexed the whole of Israel north of Jezreel. In 608 B.C. Palestine was ravaged by an Egyptian force under Pharaoh Necho and the Israelites came under Egyptian sway (Jew. Enc., vol. 6, p. 665). The loss of their temporal power and their destruction and desolation, however, did not make them mend their ways. They continued in their old wicked practices. The Prophet Jeremiah warned them to give up their iniquities as the wrath of God was about to overtake them. These are Jeremiah’s warnings:
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee…? For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers (Jeremiah 4:14 & 31).
The Israelites paid no heed to Jeremiah’s warnings. So "the Lord was very angry with them and removed them out of His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah only" (2 Kings 17:18). In the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his first invasion of Palestine and carried off some of the Temple vessels, but the city was spared the rigours of a siege. In 597 B.C. also, the city was invested and fell victim to a severe famine. The rebellion of Zedekiah, however, caused a second invasion in 587 B. C., and after a siege of a year and a half, the city was taken by storm. King Zedekiah fled from the city but was taken prisoner. His sons were slain and his eyes were put out and he was bound in fetters and carried off to Babylon. The Temple, the King’s palace and all the great buildings in the city were burnt down, the chief priests and other leaders were put to death and many people were carried off in captivity (Jew. Enc., vol. 6, p. 665 & vol. 7, p. 122 under Jerusalem).
Thus was fulfilled the promise about the first of the two warnings held out to the Israelites by Moses to which the present verse refers. The following passages of the Bible contain Moses’ warnings to the Jews:
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young: and he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he hath destroyed thee. And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustest, throughout all thy lands: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thy own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee…And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to naught; and yet ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. (Deut. 28:15; 49-53; 63-64).
1593
The first Divine punishment overtook the Israelites after David, and the second after Jesus. It appears from the Bible that the Jews had become a very powerful nation after Moses, and in the time of David they laid the foundations of a mighty kingdom which continued to flourish for sometime after his death in its old might and glory. Then it fell a prey to gradual decay and in about 733 B.C. Samaria was conquered by the Assyrians, who annexed the whole of Israel north of Jezreel. In 608 B.C. Palestine was ravaged by an Egyptian force under Pharaoh Necho and the Israelites came under Egyptian sway (Jew. Enc., vol. 6, p. 665). The loss of their temporal power and their destruction and desolation, however, did not induce them to mend their ways. They persisted in their old wicked practices. The Prophet Jeremiah warned them to give up their evil ways as the wrath of God was about to overtake them, but they paid no heed to Jeremiah’s warnings. In the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his firs
ثُمَّ بَعَثۡنٰہُمۡ لِنَعۡلَمَ اَیُّ الۡحِزۡبَیۡنِ اَحۡصٰی لِمَا لَبِثُوۡۤا اَمَدًا
There seemed to be two parties among the early Christians: (a) Those who did not like to dissemble or dissimulate and knowing no compromise with unbelief and idolatry suffered persecution for their faith with patience and fortitude. These people had to seek refuge in caves. (b) Those who thinking prudence to be the better part of valour concealed their faith and saved themselves from persecution. "Two parties" may also refer to the persecutors and the persecuted.
Important Words:
امدا (the time) is from امد (amida). They say ضرب له امدا i.e. he assigned or appointed for him or it a term or limit. بلغ امدہmeans, he or it reached or attained his or its utmost or extreme extent, term etc. امد means, time considered with regard to its end; the utmost or the extreme extent, term, limit, point or reach; the period of life which one has reached; each of the two terms of the life of a man, i.e. the time of his birth and the time of his death; the starting place and the finish (of horses in a race); any space of time; a space of time of unknown limit; a particular time etc. The difference between امدand زمان is that whereas the former is time considered with regard to its end, the latter is time considered with regard to both its end and its beginning. Similarly, the difference between امد and ابد is that while the former means time limited in duration, the latter means time everlasting. The Arabs say الدنیا امد والاخرة ابد i.e. the present state of existence is limited in duration, but the final state of existence is everlasting (Lane & Mufradat).
Commentary:
There were two parties among the early Christians: (a) Those who did not like to dissemble or dissimulate and knowing no compromise with unbelief and idolatry suffered persecution for their faith with patience and fortitude. These people had to seek refuge in caves: (b) Those who thinking prudence to be the better part of valour, concealed their faith and saved themselves from persecution. Of these two parties the one which suffered most were in a better position to remember the duration of the period of their persecution. Or it may be that the words "two parties" refer to the persecutors and the persecuted.
2053
Important Words:
امدا (the time) is from امد (amida). They say ضرب له امدا i.e. he assigned or appointed for him or it a term or limit. بلغ امدہmeans, he or it reached or attained his or its utmost or extreme extent, term etc. امد means, time considered with regard to its end; the utmost or the extreme extent, term, limit, point or reach; the period of life which one has reached; each of the two terms of the life of a man, i.e. the time of his birth and the time of his death; the starting place and the finish (of horses in a race); any space of time; a space of time of unknown limit; a particular time etc. The difference between امدand زمان is that whereas the former is time considered with regard to its end, the latter is time considered with regard to both its end and its beginning. Similarly, the difference between امد and ابد is that while the former means time limited in duration, the latter means time everlasting. The Arabs say الدنیا امد والاخرة ابد i.e. the present state of existence is limited in duration, but the final state of existence is everlasting (Lane & Mufradat).
Commentary:
There were two parties among the early Christians: (a) Those who did not like to dissemble or dissimulate and knowing no compromise with unbelief and idolatry suffered persecution for their faith with patience and fortitude. These people had to seek refuge in caves: (b) Those who thinking prudence to be the better part of valour, concealed their faith and saved themselves from persecution. Of these two parties the one which suffered most were in a better position to remember the duration of the period of their persecution. Or it may be that the words "two parties" refer to the persecutors and the persecuted.
1669
There seemed to be two parties among the early Christians: (a) Those who did not like to dissemble or dissimulate and knowing no compromise with unbelief and idolatry suffered persecution for their faith with patience and fortitude. These people had to seek refuge in caves. (b) Those who thinking prudence to be the better part of valour concealed their faith and saved themselves from persecution. "Two parties" may also refer to the persecutors and the persecuted.
وَکَذٰلِکَ بَعَثۡنٰہُمۡ لِیَتَسَآءَلُوۡا بَیۡنَہُمۡ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ کَمۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡ ۖ قَالُوۡا لَبِثۡنَا یَوۡمًا اَوۡ بَعۡضَ یَوۡمٍ ۚ قَالُوۡا رَبُّکُمۡ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثۡتُمۡ فَابۡعَثُوۡۤا اَحَدَکُمۡ بِوَرِقِکُمۡ ہٰذِہٖۤ اِلَی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ فَلۡیَنۡظُرۡ اَیُّہَاۤ اَزۡکٰی طَعَامًا فَلۡیَاۡتِکُمۡ بِرِزۡقٍ مِّنۡہُ وَلۡیَتَلَطَّفۡ وَلَا یُشۡعِرَنَّ بِکُمۡ اَحَدًا
2:260; 23:113, 114.
这节经文看来指的是已经遍布全世界的西方基督教国家。“我唤起了他们” 这句话, 指的是那些国家在将来注定要作出的巨大进展。“他们中一个人说: ‘你们逗留了多长时间?’” 这些话意指, 基督教国家开始觉得现在是他们自己奋发和甩掉自己的没有生气状态的时候了。这种觉醒发生在十字军东侵的时代, 那时英国、法国和德国的君主联合起来, 整个欧洲联合向穆斯林进攻要从他们手中夺取圣地。按照阿拉伯习惯用语的意思, ‘一天或少於一天’ 这一用语意指一段不肯定的时期。«古兰经» 其他经文中 (20:103-104) 定为一千年, 这一时期是西方基督教国家的休眠时期。20:103-104节经文中的 “十天” 代表十个世纪, 而这些经文中的 “蓝眼睛的” 这些字指的是一般有着蓝眼睛的西方民族。不列颠在东方权力的基础是在17世纪开始时奠定的, 这是众所周知的历史事实 (“March of Man”)。这一时期差不多在穆圣之后一千年。
当山洞中的居住者看到迫害他们的浪潮已经平静下来时, 他们派了一个人到城里用旧的硬币买些食物并且看看情况对他们怎样。طَعَامْ (Ta‘am) 可以意指诸如小麦、大麦、小米、枣子等粮食 (Lane)。这指的是西方国家到世界各地的商业远征。
欧洲的商人在做生意的时候特别显得文雅和有礼貌的样子。“他要有礼貌地” 这些字, 看来指的就是他们的这一特征。这一用语也可意为, “让他们自己行动谨慎。”
“但绝不要使任何人知道你们” 这些话, 指的是西方的势力悄悄地、趁人不备地渗透进东方。
یعنی جب اصحاب الکہف پر زمانہ کی تاریخ روشن ہوگئی اور انہوں نے نسبتاً کچھ امن پایا تو اپنے پرانے سکے دے کر انہوں نے اپنے میں سے بعض کو خوراک خریدنے کے لئے بھیجا۔
2:260; 23:113, 114.
The verse seems to refer to the Christian nations of the West after they had spread all over the world. The words, We raised them up, refer to the great progress which these nations were destined to make in the future. The words, One of them said, 'How long have you tarried,' signify that Christian nations would begin to feel that it was now time for them to bestir themselves and shake off their lethargy. This awakening took place in the time of the Crusades when the monarchs of England, France and Germany made common cause and the whole of Europe united to make a concerted attack upon Muslims to wrest the Holy Land from their hands. According to Arabic idiom the words 'a day or part of a day' denote an indefinite period. Elsewhere the Qur’an (20:103, 104) has specified as one thousand years the period during which Christian nations of the West remained in a state of sleep or inactivity. "Ten days" in 20:103, 104 stand for ten centuries and the words "blue-eyed" in these verses refer
When the Dwellers of the Cave saw that the wave of persecution against them had subsided, they sent one of their members to the city with some old coins to buy provisions and to find out how matters stood with regard to them. Ta‘am may signify such articles of food as wheat, barley, millet, dates, etc. (Lane). This refers to the commercial expeditions of the Western nations to all parts of the world.
European businessmen have a special knack for being gentle and courteous in their commercial dealings. To this characteristic of theirs the expression, And let him be courteous, seems to refer. It also means, 'Let him conduct himself with caution.'
The words, but let him not inform anyone about you, refer to the quiet and unobtrusive penetration of the Western influence in the East.
2:260; 23:113-114.
Commentary:
Like its predecessor this verse also speaks not of early Christians who took shelter in "the cave" but of the Christian nations of the west after they had spread all over the world. The words, "We raised them up", refer to the great progress which these nations were destined to make in future. It is a peculiarity of the Quranic style that it uses the past tense for events which are to take place in future in order to emphasize the inevitability and certainty of their occurrence. The words mean to say that the day is sure to come when God will bring about an awakening among these people who are now asleep.
The words, one of them said; How long have you tarried, signify that Christian nations would begin to feel that it was now time for them to bestir themselves and shake off their lethargy. This awakening took place in the time of the Crusades when the Monarchs of England, France and Germany made common cause and the whole of Europe combined to make a concerted attack upon Muslims to wrest the Holy Land from their hands.
The expression, یوما او بعض یوم i.e. a day or part of a day, does not mean that the Dwellers of the Cave were not certain as to how long they remained asleep. According to Arabic idiom the expression denotes an indefinite period of time. Elsewhere the Quran has specified as one thousand years the period for which Christian nations of the west remained in a state of sleep or inactivity. In vv. 20:103,104 we have, The day when the trumpet will be blown. And on that day We shall gather the sinful together blue-eyed. They will talk to one another in a low tone: You tarried only ten days, The words "ten days" here stand for ten centuries and the word زرقا (blue-eyed) clearly refers to the peoples of the west who generally have blue eyes. It is a well-known historical fact that the foundations of British power in the east were laid in the beginning of the seventeenth century, in about 1611 A.D., when a British commercial company was allowed to open its first industrial concern in Surat and began to do business in the Bay of Bengal (March of Man, published by Enc. Brit. Society). This period approximates to one thousand years after the Holy Prophet began to preach his Mission in 611 A. D. The secret of the British power in subsequent centuries lay in their success in obtaining a foothold in the East. Other European nations only followed in the wake of the British people.
The word طعاما (provisions) in the verse under comment does not mean 'cooked food' as is generally misunderstood. It possesses a much wider significance and may mean, wheat, barley, millet, dates or other articles of food (Lane). The words, and let him bring you provisions thereof, refer to the import of Indian articles of food, especially wheat, by European countries for about 200 years. European businessmen had a special knack of being gentle and courteous in their commercial dealings. To this characteristic of theirs the expression ولیتلطف (and let him be courteous) refers.
The words, and let him not inform any one about you, refer to the quiet and unobtrusive penetration of Western influence in the East, particularly in India—the undivided India of pre-Partition days.
b
2:260; 23:113, 114.
748
这节经文看来指的是已经遍布全世界的西方基督教国家。“我唤起了他们” 这句话, 指的是那些国家在将来注定要作出的巨大进展。“他们中一个人说: ‘你们逗留了多长时间?’” 这些话意指, 基督教国家开始觉得现在是他们自己奋发和甩掉自己的没有生气状态的时候了。这种觉醒发生在十字军东侵的时代, 那时英国、法国和德国的君主联合起来, 整个欧洲联合向穆斯林进攻要从他们手中夺取圣地。按照阿拉伯习惯用语的意思, ‘一天或少於一天’ 这一用语意指一段不肯定的时期。«古兰经» 其他经文中 (20:103-104) 定为一千年, 这一时期是西方基督教国家的休眠时期。20:103-104节经文中的 “十天” 代表十个世纪, 而这些经文中的 “蓝眼睛的” 这些字指的是一般有着蓝眼睛的西方民族。不列颠在东方权力的基础是在17世纪开始时奠定的, 这是众所周知的历史事实 (“March of Man”)。这一时期差不多在穆圣之后一千年。
749
当山洞中的居住者看到迫害他们的浪潮已经平静下来时, 他们派了一个人到城里用旧的硬币买些食物并且看看情况对他们怎样。طَعَامْ (Ta‘am) 可以意指诸如小麦、大麦、小米、枣子等粮食 (Lane)。这指的是西方国家到世界各地的商业远征。
750
欧洲的商人在做生意的时候特别显得文雅和有礼貌的样子。“他要有礼貌地” 这些字, 看来指的就是他们的这一特征。这一用语也可意为, “让他们自己行动谨慎。”
751
“但绝不要使任何人知道你们” 这些话, 指的是西方的势力悄悄地、趁人不备地渗透进东方。
3
یعنی جب اصحاب الکہف پر زمانہ کی تاریخ روشن ہوگئی اور انہوں نے نسبتاً کچھ امن پایا تو اپنے پرانے سکے دے کر انہوں نے اپنے میں سے بعض کو خوراک خریدنے کے لئے بھیجا۔
a
2:260; 23:113-114.
2060
Commentary:
Like its predecessor this verse also speaks not of early Christians who took shelter in "the cave" but of the Christian nations of the west after they had spread all over the world. The words, "We raised them up", refer to the great progress which these nations were destined to make in future. It is a peculiarity of the Quranic style that it uses the past tense for events which are to take place in future in order to emphasize the inevitability and certainty of their occurrence. The words mean to say that the day is sure to come when God will bring about an awakening among these people who are now asleep.
The words, one of them said; How long have you tarried, signify that Christian nations would begin to feel that it was now time for them to bestir themselves and shake off their lethargy. This awakening took place in the time of the Crusades when the Monarchs of England, France and Germany made common cause and the whole of Europe combined to make a concerted attack upon Muslims to wrest the Holy Land from their hands.
The expression, یوما او بعض یوم i.e. a day or part of a day, does not mean that the Dwellers of the Cave were not certain as to how long they remained asleep. According to Arabic idiom the expression denotes an indefinite period of time. Elsewhere the Quran has specified as one thousand years the period for which Christian nations of the west remained in a state of sleep or inactivity. In vv. 20:103,104 we have, The day when the trumpet will be blown. And on that day We shall gather the sinful together blue-eyed. They will talk to one another in a low tone: You tarried only ten days, The words "ten days" here stand for ten centuries and the word زرقا (blue-eyed) clearly refers to the peoples of the west who generally have blue eyes. It is a well-known historical fact that the foundations of British power in the east were laid in the beginning of the seventeenth century, in about 1611 A.D., when a British commercial company was allowed to open its first industrial concern in Surat and began to do business in the Bay of Bengal (March of Man, published by Enc. Brit. Society). This period approximates to one thousand years after the Holy Prophet began to preach his Mission in 611 A. D. The secret of the British power in subsequent centuries lay in their success in obtaining a foothold in the East. Other European nations only followed in the wake of the British people.
The word طعاما (provisions) in the verse under comment does not mean 'cooked food' as is generally misunderstood. It possesses a much wider significance and may mean, wheat, barley, millet, dates or other articles of food (Lane). The words, and let him bring you provisions thereof, refer to the import of Indian articles of food, especially wheat, by European countries for about 200 years. European businessmen had a special knack of being gentle and courteous in their commercial dealings. To this characteristic of theirs the expression ولیتلطف (and let him be courteous) refers.
The words, and let him not inform any one about you, refer to the quiet and unobtrusive penetration of Western influence in the East, particularly in India—the undivided India of pre-Partition days.
a
2:260; 23:113, 114.
1678
The verse seems to refer to the Christian nations of the West after they had spread all over the world. The words, We raised them up, refer to the great progress which these nations were destined to make in the future. The words, One of them said, 'How long have you tarried,' signify that Christian nations would begin to feel that it was now time for them to bestir themselves and shake off their lethargy. This awakening took place in the time of the Crusades when the monarchs of England, France and Germany made common cause and the whole of Europe united to make a concerted attack upon Muslims to wrest the Holy Land from their hands. According to Arabic idiom the words 'a day or part of a day' denote an indefinite period. Elsewhere the Qur’an (20:103, 104) has specified as one thousand years the period during which Christian nations of the West remained in a state of sleep or inactivity. "Ten days" in 20:103, 104 stand for ten centuries and the words "blue-eyed" in these verses refer
1679
When the Dwellers of the Cave saw that the wave of persecution against them had subsided, they sent one of their members to the city with some old coins to buy provisions and to find out how matters stood with regard to them. Ta‘am may signify such articles of food as wheat, barley, millet, dates, etc. (Lane). This refers to the commercial expeditions of the Western nations to all parts of the world.
1680
European businessmen have a special knack for being gentle and courteous in their commercial dealings. To this characteristic of theirs the expression, And let him be courteous, seems to refer. It also means, 'Let him conduct himself with caution.'
1681
The words, but let him not inform anyone about you, refer to the quiet and unobtrusive penetration of the Western influence in the East.
وَلَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَبَعَثۡنَا فِیۡ کُلِّ قَرۡیَۃٍ نَّذِیۡرًا
Commentary:
The Holy Prophet’s Message was for the whole world. The verse purports to say that God could have raised a Messenger in every town but the Holy Prophet’s time was not the time for raising tribal Prophets, because by the improvement in the means of communication nations of the world had become united into one people. The oneness of humanity required one Prophet for the whole of mankind and such was Muhammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam.
2683
Commentary:
The Holy Prophet’s Message was for the whole world. The verse purports to say that God could have raised a Messenger in every town but the Holy Prophet’s time was not the time for raising tribal Prophets, because by the improvement in the means of communication nations of the world had become united into one people. The oneness of humanity required one Prophet for the whole of mankind and such was Muhammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam.