رِجَالٌ

Important Words:

اعراف (elevated places) is the plural of عرف ‘urf (an elevated place) which is substantive from عرف. They say عرف الشیء i.e. he knew the thing; he was or became acquainted with the thing; he knew it by means of the five senses; or he knew it by mental perception or reflection. They say عرف علی القوم i.e. he was or became manager or superintendent of the affairs of the people, being acquainted with their circumstances. عرف (‘urf) means, goodness, favour, bounty and a thing freely given; good fellowship with others; an elevated sand; an elevated place; an elevated or overtopping back of anything high (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

It is generally men of high dignity and distinguished position that are seated on elevated places. According to Hasan and Mujahid, the men on the elevated places will be the elite among the believers or the most learned among them; according to Kirmani, they will be the Martyrs. Some others think that they will be the Prophets and this appears to be the most correct view. The men seated on elevated places will not only command a better view, but on account of their high rank and position, will also be better informed. They will know the rank and station of every person from his very appearance.

The words, These will not have yet entered it, refer to those would-be dwellers of Heaven who will not have yet entered it, but will be hoping to do so soon. The people on the elevated places will recognize them as dwellers of Heaven even though they will not have yet entered it.

It is a commonly held, but nevertheless a wrong, view that the men on the A‘raf (elevated places) will be those middling persons whose case will not have yet been decided, it being, as it were, still under consideration. But if such had been the case, they could not have rebuked the inmates of the Fire in the manner in which they are represented to be doing in 7:49 below. There is also no sense in placing middling persons on elevated places while the true believers, including Martyrs, Prophets, etc., occupy the lower ones.

Commentary:

According to some traditions the words, A mosque which was founded upon piety from the very first day is surely more worthy, refer to a mosque at Quba which was built on the site where the Holy Prophet had alighted before entering Medina on the day of his arrival from Mecca; while, according to others, these words refer to the Mosque which the Holy Prophet himself built at Medina and which later came to be known as مسجد النبی i.e. "the Mosque of the Prophet." The wording of the verse seems to support the latter view.

63:10.

Commentary:

The verse constitutes a great testimonial to the righteousness and goodness of the Holy Prophet’s Companions and to their love for God and their liking for His remembrance. They are men, says the verse, of flesh and bones. They have their worldly ambitions and aspirations, their professions and avocations. They are not monks and hermits cut apart from the world. Yet amidst all their material pursuits and engagements they do not neglect to discharge their duties to God and man. This certificate of merit which the Companions of the Holy Prophet received from Allah, their Divine Lord and Master, has been referred to in several other places in the Quran, viz. "Those who, if We establish them in the earth will observe Prayer and pay the Zakah and enjoin good and forbid evil" (22:42), and "Their sides keep away from their beds; and they call upon their Lord in fear and hope, and spend out of what We have bestowed upon them" (32:17). It is because of this life of righteousness and service of humanity that "Allah was well pleased with them, and they were well pleased with Him" (58:23).

Important Words:

نحبه (his vow). نحب (nahbun) is derived from نحب (nahaba). They say نحب الرجل i.e. the man vowed; he put himself under an obligation to do a thing; he laid a bet or wager. نحب (nahbun) means, a vow, or a great vow; a great bet, a wager; an important matter; a great danger; death; the soul; sleep; violence; fatness; ambition; avarice; purpose; a game of chance. They say قضی نحبه i.e. he died; he fulfilled his obligation; he redeemed or fulfilled his pledge or vow; he was slain in the way of God (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse constitutes a great memorial to the fidelity, sincerity and steadfastness in faith of the Holy Prophet’s disciples. Never did the followers of a Prophet receive from God such certificate of good conduct and faithfulness. Just as the Master was unique among all Divine Messengers in discharging his prophetic duties, so were his Companions matchless in fulfilling the role assigned to them.

8:35; 16:89; 22:26; 43:38.

2:197.

Important Words:

معرة (blame) is derived from عر (‘arra). They say عرت الابل i.e. the camels were or became mangy or scabby. عرہ means, he did to him an abominable thing; he did to him what he disliked; he disgraced him. عرہ بشر means, he aspersed him or charged or upbraided him with evil, or he wronged him. معرة means, a cause of reviling or being reviled; a crime or sin that is noxious like mange or scab; a foul or abominable thing; a cause of grief or vexation; disgrace; annoyance, hurt, harm or injury (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The verse means that though the Meccans gloated over the terms of the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah which, in their ignorance, they thought were very advantageous to them and humiliating for Muslims, and though the latter feeling that the terms were being forcibly wrung from them were crestfallen and did not know that in reality the terms had laid the foundations of a very prosperous and bright future for Islam, yet God had His own design in not permitting the fight to take place. There was a nucleus of Muslims in Mecca and if the fight had taken place, the Muslim army would have unknowingly killed their own brethren in faith, thereby causing great injury to their own cause, and earning obloquy and opprobrium for themselves. In fact, from whatever angle the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah may be viewed it was indeed a great victory.

6:129.

Important Words:

رھقاً (arrogance) is derived from رھق (rahiqa) which means, he was or became stupid and frivolous; he did wrong, abominable things; he told a lie. رھق (rahqun) means, wrongdoing, injustice, tyrannical conduct; sin; levity; compelling or urging a person to do a thing which he is not able to do; folly; arrogance or pride (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

As the word رجال is used only with regard to human beings, the verse shows that "a company of the jinn,” mentioned in this and in Surah Ahqaf were human beings and not any other species of creation. Moreover, جن here may signify big or influential men and إنس lowly and humble ones who by following the former and seeking their protection increase their conceit and arrogance.