كَانَتِ

11:94,122; 39:40-41.

Important Words:

مکانتکم (as best you can). The word مکان is considered by some to have been derived from کان which means, he or it was, or he or it came into existence. مکان means, place of being or existence. مکانة means, place of being or existence; state or condition. The Arabs say مکانك و زیدا i.e. keep where thou art and approach not Zaid (Lane & Aqrab). The expression اعملوا علی مکانتکم means, do what you can; or act as best you can; or remain where you are and do your worst (Kashshaf). Some authorities, however, consider the word to have been derived from مکن in which case it signifies greatness; or high rank or standing; or honourable a place or position, especially with a king or potentate (Aqrab & Lane). In this sense the expression would mean, "You look upon yourselves to be great or high in rank. Now come and exert your full power against Islam and then see what the result will be."

Commentary:

As explained under Important Words, the expression اعملوا علی مکانتکم means, you may do your worst and exert yourselves to the utmost of your power and resources to extirpate Islam and destroy the small Muslim community but you will never succeed.

The words, Soon will you know whose will be the ultimate reward, signify, "you will soon see which of the two parties will succeed in the end." The word الدار (abode) may refer either to this world or to the next. In both cases the ultimate reward is reserved for the truthful.

6:136; 11:94; 39:40.

Commentary:

The Holy Prophet is here commanded to say to disbelievers that bootless quarrelling and fighting serves no useful purpose. Time will show who is in the right and who in the wrong by the results that the actions of Muslims and their opponents produce.

6:136; 39:40.

Important Words:

علی مکانتکم (as best you can). See 6:136.

Commentary:

The words, act as best you can, I too am acting, mean that they should go on working according to their own lights and plans, and he could work as guided by his faith. The results would show who was working in accordance with God’s will and who was seeking to defy and frustrate His purpose.

In fact, Prophets of God always ask their people to leave the matter to God and wait for His decision, but their opponents always seek to take the matter into their own hands. The result invariably is that their efforts to destroy the Prophet and his followers prove futile and they themselves are destroyed.

3:41; 21:91.

3:39; 21:90.

Important Words:

عاقراً (barren) is derived from عقر. They say عقرہ i.e. he wounded him; he wounded him much. عقر الابل means, he cut the feet of the camel. عقر النخلة means, he cut the upper part of the palm-tree so that it dried up and ceased to yield fruit. عقرت المرأةmeans, the woman became barren. عاقر is used both for man and woman and applied to a woman means, barren; that does not conceive or has ceased to conceive; and applied to a man it means, barren; that has no offspring born to him. (Lane & Aqrab).

ولیا (successor) is derived from ولی. They say ولی الرجل i.e. he helped the man; he made friends with him; he loved him. ولی فلاناًmeans, he followed such a one immediately without anyone intervening between them ولی means, a friend; beloved one, helper, master; successor or inheritor etc. (Aqrab). See also 2:108.

Commentary:

In view of the different meanings of the word ولی (successor) given under "Important Words" above, Zachariah’s prayer was for such a son as should prove his true successor and should propagate his mission and inherit the spiritual blessings that God had bestowed on the House of Israel.

3:41; 21:91.

Important Words:

عتیا (extreme limit) is derived from عتا which means, he behaved proudly and was immoderate and inordinate; he was excessively proud or corrupt; he became advanced in age. عتت الریح means, the wind blew fiercely. The Quranic expression وقد بلغت من الکبر عتیا means, And I have reached the extreme degree of old age, or hardness and dryness in the joints and the bones like dry wood. The word also signifies that state of extreme old age which is incurable (Mufradat, Lane & Aqrab).

The word غلام as stated above (v.8) implied that Zachariah would see his son grow before his eyes and that he would also be able to train and educate him. The glad tidings was indeed a source of great comfort but at the same time it was a surprise for a man who had reached such an advanced old age as Zachariah.

The words, How shall I have a son, do not express despair. V.5 above shows that Zachariah had not despaired of God’s mercy. On the contrary he had perfect faith in the power of God to grant him a son. Moreover, a true believer never despairs of God’s mercy. "None despairs of Allah’s mercy save the unbelieving people", says the Quran (12:88). The verse only expresses Zachariah’s innocent and spontaneous surprise at the greatness of the favour which God was about to bestow upon him. Every person situated as Zachariah was would be naturally surprised at the unusual glad tidings that he had received.

Important Words:

مسخناھم (We could have transformed them). They say مسخه i.e. he transformed him into an uglier shape or form; disfigured him. مسخ الناقة means, he jaded or emaciated the she-camel by constant use. مسخ الکتاب means, the writer made many mistakes in writing (Aqrab).

Commentary:

According to Ibn ‘Abbas the expression مسخناھم علی مکانتھم means, "We would have destroyed them in their houses" and according to Hasan, it signifies that all their physical and mental faculties would have become paralysed (Jarir).

6:136; 11:122.

Important Words:

مکانتکم (as you can). مکانة is considered by some to have been derived from کان which means, he or it was, or it came into existence. Thus it means, place of existence; state or condition. It may also be taken to have been derived from مکن. They say مکن عند الامیر i.e. he had a great position with the prince. In this sense of the root word مکانة would mean, greatness; high rank or standing; honourable place or position; power. The expression اعملوا علی مکانتکم would thus mean, do what you can; do your worst (Lane & Aqrab).

The verse throws out an open challenge to disbelievers to do their worst and use all their power, resources and influence to destroy Islam but they will never succeed in their evil designs. Islam is humanity’s last hope and final destiny and, therefore, its cause is bound to triumph and prevail.

Commentary:

Disbelievers would wish death to be the end of all things so that there should be no other life and no rendering of account of their actions before God.

56:5-6; 79:7.

Important Words:

کثیباً is derived from کثب. They say کثب التراب i.e. he scattered dust part over part. کثیب means, a sandhill heaped up by the wind (Lane).

مھیلا (crumbling) is derived from ھال. They say ھال علیه التراب i.e. he put the earth over it. الھیل which is infinitive noun means, sand that does not remain steady in its place. مھیل means, running sand. کثیب مھیل means, a crumbling sandhill (Aqrab).

Commentary:

The reference in the verse is to the Day of Resurrection, or to the Day of the Fall of Mecca, or to any calamitous day when catastrophic changes take place and deeply-rooted institutions totter and fall and very powerful and big and influential people are blown away like chaff before the wind.