Topic: Despair
View Aspects
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ ٱلْبَأْسَآءُ وَٱلضَّرَّآءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ ٱلرَّسُولُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ نَصْرَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
3:143; 9:16.
2:178.
12:111.
对伊斯兰教义的接受不是一帆风顺的, 因而穆斯林被提醒, 在他们能够希望达到他们崇高的理想之前, 他们将必须通过严峻的考验、磨炼和苦难。
体现在 “什么时候安拉的帮助才会降临?” 这种可怜的呼救声并不意味着绝望与沮丧, 因为就安拉的先知和他的信者来说, 失望的态度是不可思议的, 与真实的信仰不协调的 (12:88)。实际上, 这句话构成了一个祈求--------诚挚地恳求安拉神速地赐予帮助的一种方式。
وَ لَمَّایَاْ تِکُمْ جملہ حالیہ ہے اور حال کا ترجمہ اردو میں قریب ترین ’’باوجود اس کے‘‘ یا ’’ہوکر‘‘ یا ’’بن کر‘‘ کے لفظ بڑھا کر ہی ہو سکتا ہے۔ اس جگہ ’’باوجود اس کے‘‘ کے الفاظ ہی زیادہ سجتے ہیں اور مطلب بالکل درست رہتا ہے۔
اس جگہ خدا نے نبیوں اور مومنوں پر جو مصائب آتے ہیں ان کی حکمت بتائی ہے۔ فرماتا ہے کہ ہم چاہتے تو انہیں کوئی بھی تکلیف نہ پہنچنے دیتے۔ مگر ہم نے ایسا نہیں کیا بلکہ مخالفوں کے عذاب اور تکلیفیں خدا کے نبیوں اور ان پر ایمان لانے والوں کو برابر پہنچتی رہیں اور اس میں ہماری غرض یہ تھی کہ ان کے دلوں میں دعاؤں کی تحریک زیادہ سے زیادہ پیدا ہوتی رہے اور وہ باربار ہماری طرف جھکیں تا ایک طرف ان کے دلوں میں اللہ تعالیٰ کی محبت بڑھے اور دوسری طرف جب اللہ تعالیٰ کی نصرت معجزانہ طور پر آئے تو ان کے ایمان بڑھیں اور کفار میں سے جو غور کرنے والے ہوں انہیں ہدایت حاصل ہو۔ چنانچہ فرماتا ہ
3:143; 9:16.
See 2:178.
12:111.
Acceptance of the Message of Islam was no bed of roses, and Muslims were warned that they would have to pass through fiery ordeals, trials and tribulations before they could hope to achieve their sublime ideal.
Hatta also means, "so that" (Mughni). The word has also been used in this sense in 63:8.
The pathetic cry for help embodied in the words, When will the help of Allah come, does not denote despair or despondency because an attitude of despair on the part of a Prophet of God and his followers is inconceivable, being inconsistent with true faith (12:88). The words in reality constitute a prayer—a way of earnestly beseeching God to expedite His help.
3:143; 9:16.
See 2:178.
12:111.
Important Words:
زلزلوا (violently shaken) is from زلزل or زل. They say زلزل الله الارض i.e. God made the earth quake violently or put the earth in a state of convulsion or violent motion. زلزله means, he put him or it in a state of commotion or agitation or violent motion; he put him in a state of great fear or terror. الزلزلة which is the noun-infinitive from زلزل means: (1) violent shaking or commotion; (2) earthquake. The word is also used, especially in its plural form, to denote afflictions, miseries and trials (Aqrab & Lane).
Commentary:
In the preceding two verses God promised believers a reward "without reckoning" and called upon them to strive to bring all the peoples of the world under the banner of Islam so that they might become one people. The fulfilment of this great promise and the attainment of this noble object necessitated unusual sacrifices on the part of the Faithful, to which the verse under comment fittingly draws the attention of Muslims.
Indeed, acceptance of the Message of Islam was no bed of roses, and Muslims were warned that they would have to pass through a fiery ordeal of trials and tribulations before they could hope to achieve their sublime ideal. Incidentally, they were also told that the sufferings and hardships they had already undergone were nothing as compared with the trials that were yet in store for them. They were being mentally prepared to meet the storm which was brewing in Mecca and which reached its culmination in the Battle of the Ditch.
The word الجنة literally meaning garden and translated here as "Heaven" need not necessarily refer to the Heaven vouchsafed to the Faithful in the Hereafter. The word is also used to express a state of success and prosperity in this very world. Nay, God has definitely promised in the Quran that the righteous would have جنة or Heaven even in this life (55:47). In this sense the word "Heaven" in this verse would refer to the great success and prosperity promised to Muslims in the preceding verse.
The word حتی translated as 'until' also means, so that or in order that. According to the latter signification, the verse would mean that God proves or tries the Prophet and the believers with difficulties and hardships and withholds His help from them so that they may invoke it by earnest prayers and supplication. This is a beautiful way by which God manifests His love for the Prophet and his followers. He delights in treating them like children, wishing them to beg of Him so that He may give them.
The pathetic cry for help embodied in the words, when will come the help of Allah? Does not denote despair, because an attitude of despair on the part of a Prophet of God and his followers is inconceivable, being inconsistent with true faith (12:88). The words are simply a form of prayer, a way of earnestly beseeching God to expedite His help, and not an expression denoting despair and disappointment. The reply given by God in the words, Yea, surely the help of Allah is nigh, also corroborates this interpretation; for, if the words of the Faithful had been expressive of despair, God would certainly not have answered in that loving manner but would have taken notice of it.
a
3:143; 9:16.
b
2:178.
c
12:111.
155
对伊斯兰教义的接受不是一帆风顺的, 因而穆斯林被提醒, 在他们能够希望达到他们崇高的理想之前, 他们将必须通过严峻的考验、磨炼和苦难。
156
体现在 “什么时候安拉的帮助才会降临?” 这种可怜的呼救声并不意味着绝望与沮丧, 因为就安拉的先知和他的信者来说, 失望的态度是不可思议的, 与真实的信仰不协调的 (12:88)。实际上, 这句话构成了一个祈求--------诚挚地恳求安拉神速地赐予帮助的一种方式。
1
وَ لَمَّایَاْ تِکُمْ جملہ حالیہ ہے اور حال کا ترجمہ اردو میں قریب ترین ’’باوجود اس کے‘‘ یا ’’ہوکر‘‘ یا ’’بن کر‘‘ کے لفظ بڑھا کر ہی ہو سکتا ہے۔ اس جگہ ’’باوجود اس کے‘‘ کے الفاظ ہی زیادہ سجتے ہیں اور مطلب بالکل درست رہتا ہے۔
2
اس جگہ خدا نے نبیوں اور مومنوں پر جو مصائب آتے ہیں ان کی حکمت بتائی ہے۔ فرماتا ہے کہ ہم چاہتے تو انہیں کوئی بھی تکلیف نہ پہنچنے دیتے۔ مگر ہم نے ایسا نہیں کیا بلکہ مخالفوں کے عذاب اور تکلیفیں خدا کے نبیوں اور ان پر ایمان لانے والوں کو برابر پہنچتی رہیں اور اس میں ہماری غرض یہ تھی کہ ان کے دلوں میں دعاؤں کی تحریک زیادہ سے زیادہ پیدا ہوتی رہے اور وہ باربار ہماری طرف جھکیں تا ایک طرف ان کے دلوں میں اللہ تعالیٰ کی محبت بڑھے اور دوسری طرف جب اللہ تعالیٰ کی نصرت معجزانہ طور پر آئے تو ان کے ایمان بڑھیں اور کفار میں سے جو غور کرنے والے ہوں انہیں ہدایت حاصل ہو۔ چنانچہ فرماتا ہ
a
3:143; 9:16.
b
See 2:178.
c
12:111.
221
Important Words:
زلزلوا (violently shaken) is from زلزل or زل. They say زلزل الله الارض i.e. God made the earth quake violently or put the earth in a state of convulsion or violent motion. زلزله means, he put him or it in a state of commotion or agitation or violent motion; he put him in a state of great fear or terror. الزلزلة which is the noun-infinitive from زلزل means: (1) violent shaking or commotion; (2) earthquake. The word is also used, especially in its plural form, to denote afflictions, miseries and trials (Aqrab & Lane).
Commentary:
In the preceding two verses God promised believers a reward "without reckoning" and called upon them to strive to bring all the peoples of the world under the banner of Islam so that they might become one people. The fulfilment of this great promise and the attainment of this noble object necessitated unusual sacrifices on the part of the Faithful, to which the verse under comment fittingly draws the attention of Muslims.
Indeed, acceptance of the Message of Islam was no bed of roses, and Muslims were warned that they would have to pass through a fiery ordeal of trials and tribulations before they could hope to achieve their sublime ideal. Incidentally, they were also told that the sufferings and hardships they had already undergone were nothing as compared with the trials that were yet in store for them. They were being mentally prepared to meet the storm which was brewing in Mecca and which reached its culmination in the Battle of the Ditch.
The word الجنة literally meaning garden and translated here as "Heaven" need not necessarily refer to the Heaven vouchsafed to the Faithful in the Hereafter. The word is also used to express a state of success and prosperity in this very world. Nay, God has definitely promised in the Quran that the righteous would have جنة or Heaven even in this life (55:47). In this sense the word "Heaven" in this verse would refer to the great success and prosperity promised to Muslims in the preceding verse.
The word حتی translated as 'until' also means, so that or in order that. According to the latter signification, the verse would mean that God proves or tries the Prophet and the believers with difficulties and hardships and withholds His help from them so that they may invoke it by earnest prayers and supplication. This is a beautiful way by which God manifests His love for the Prophet and his followers. He delights in treating them like children, wishing them to beg of Him so that He may give them.
The pathetic cry for help embodied in the words, when will come the help of Allah? Does not denote despair, because an attitude of despair on the part of a Prophet of God and his followers is inconceivable, being inconsistent with true faith (12:88). The words are simply a form of prayer, a way of earnestly beseeching God to expedite His help, and not an expression denoting despair and disappointment. The reply given by God in the words, Yea, surely the help of Allah is nigh, also corroborates this interpretation; for, if the words of the Faithful had been expressive of despair, God would certainly not have answered in that loving manner but would have taken notice of it.
a
3:143; 9:16.
b
See 2:178.
c
12:111.
256
Acceptance of the Message of Islam was no bed of roses, and Muslims were warned that they would have to pass through fiery ordeals, trials and tribulations before they could hope to achieve their sublime ideal.
256A
Hatta also means, "so that" (Mughni). The word has also been used in this sense in 63:8.
257
The pathetic cry for help embodied in the words, When will the help of Allah come, does not denote despair or despondency because an attitude of despair on the part of a Prophet of God and his followers is inconceivable, being inconsistent with true faith (12:88). The words in reality constitute a prayer—a way of earnestly beseeching God to expedite His help.
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَيْتَةُ وَٱلدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ ٱلْخِنزِيرِ وَمَآ أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمُنْخَنِقَةُ وَٱلْمَوْقُوذَةُ وَٱلْمُتَرَدِّيَةُ وَٱلنَّطِيحَةُ وَمَآ أَكَلَ ٱلسَّبُعُ إِلَّا مَا ذَكَّيْتُمْ وَمَا ذُبِحَ عَلَى ٱلنُّصُبِ وَأَن تَسْتَقْسِمُوا۟ بِٱلْأَزْلَٰمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ فِسْقٌ ۗ ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ۚ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَٰمَ دِينًا ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍ لِّإِثْمٍ ۙ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
2:174; 6:146.
5:91.
3:20, 86.
2:174; 6:146; 16:116.
اِكْمَالْ (Ikmal) (使…完美) 和 اِتْمَامْ (Itmam--------使…完整) 是动名词。第一个与质量有关而第二个与数量有关。第一个单词表明, «古兰经» 中体现的教义和律令以最完美的方式来影响人类身体、道德和精神的发展, 而第二个单词意指凡人类所需要的它无所不包。而且, 前一个单词与人类的身体方面即自我的外形有关, 而后一个关系到他们的精神即内在的自我。与安拉完美无缺的宗教和恩惠同时述及的是有关食物的法律。为的是指出食用合法的食物是形成良好品德的一种非常重要的基础。顺便说一下, 这是最后启示的一节经文。这节经文启示后仅82天, 穆圣就逝世了。
3:20, 86.
2:174; 6:146.
2:174; 6:146; 16:116.
Ikmal (perfecting) and Itmam (completing) are noun-infinitives, the first relating to quality and the second to quantity. The first word shows that doctrines and commandments affecting the physical, moral and spiritual development of man have been embodied in the Qur’an in their most perfect form; while the second signifies that nothing which was needed by man has been left out. Again, the former word pertains to commandments relating to the physical side of man or his external self, while the latter relates to his spiritual side or his inner self. The perfection and completion of God’s religion and favour have been mentioned side by side with the law relating to eatables in order to point out that the use of lawful and good food forms one of the very important bases of good morals which in turn provide a pedestal for spiritual progress. Incidentally, the verse was the last to be revealed, the Holy Prophet having died only 82 days after its revelation.
2:174; 6:146.
5:91.
3:20, 86.
2:174; 6:146; 16:116.
Important Words:
المیتة (an animal which dies of itself). Though generally speaking everything that is dead is میتة in its specific sense, the word signifies an animal that has died of itself without being properly slaughtered (Lane). See also 2:174.
المنخنقة (that which has been strangled) is derived from خنق. They say خنقه i.e. he squeezed his or its throat that he or it might die; he squeezed his or its throat so that he or it died; he strangled or throttled or choked him or it. اختنق or انخنقmeans, he or it became throttled or strangled or choked. شاة منخنقة means, a goat or sheep strangled or throttled (Lane).
الموقوذة (that which has been beaten to death) is derived from وقذه. They say وقذه i.e. he beat or struck him or it violently till he or it became relaxed and was at the point of death; he broke his or its skull, wounding the brain; he beat him or it till he or it died. شاة موقوذة means, a goat or sheep beaten to death either with a stick or staff or stones, etc. (Lane).
المتردیة (that which has been killed by a fall) is derived from ردی. They say ردی الرجل i.e. the man perished. رداه بحجر means, he threw stones at him and hit him. تردی means, he or it fell or tumbled down into a well or a pit. It also means, he or it fell down from a mountain, or a height and died. المتردیة means, that (a goat, etc.) which falls from a mountain or a height, or falls down a well, or a pit and dies (Lane).
النطیحة (that which has been gored to death) is derived from نطح. They say نطحه i.e. he (a ram, etc.) smote him or it with his horn. النطیحة means, a sheep or goat smitten with the horn and so killed (Lane).
ماذکیتم (that which you have properly slaughtered). ذکی (dhakka) is derived from ذکی (dhaka). They say ذکت النار i.e. the fire blazed or burned brightly. ذکت الارض means, the land was or became clean and pure. ذکی النار (dhakka) means, he made the fire blaze or burn brightly. ذکی العقل means, it (medicine, etc.) sharpened the intellect. ذکی الشاة means, he slaughtered the goat in the manner prescribed by the Law of Islam (Lane).
النصب (idols) is derived from نصب which means, he set up or he fixed. النصب according to some is singular, the plural of which is انصاب; and according to others, it is plural, of which the singular is نصاب. The word means, signs or marks set up to show the way; stones set up and worshipped to the exclusion of, or in preference to, God; anything that is so worshipped; stones which the pagan Arabs set to sacrifice or slay animals before them, the name of some deity being pronounced in the killing of such animals; idol or idols; but whereas idols were generally carved and had some form or shape, النصب were simple uncarved stones (Lane & Aqrab).
ازلام (divining arrows) is the plural of زلم and is derived from the verb زلم (zalama), meaning, he cut off the protruding part of a thing, such as the nose; he made his gift small in quantity as though he had cut off something from it. زلم السھم means, he cut or pared the arrow to make it proportionate and good-looking. زلم means, an arrow without a head and without feathers. ازلام (the plural of زلم) were those divining arrows by means of which pre-Islamic Arabs sought to know what was allotted to them. On some of these arrows the word "command" and on others "prohibition" were written, while others were left blank, and all these were kept together in a suitable vessel. When anyone wanted to do a certain thing or go on a journey, he would take out one of the arrows without looking at them and then act according to the instruction of "command" or "prohibition" as the case might be. If the blank arrow came out, the experiment was repeated, till an arrow bearing the word "command" or "prohibition" was taken out (Lane).
الیوم (this day) here really signifies "now". See 1:4.
مخمصة (hunger) is derived from مخمص. They say خمص البطن i.e. the belly was or became empty, i.e. hungry. خمصت القدم means, the foot rose from the ground or was hollow in the middle of the sole, so that it did not touch it. خمصه الجوع means, hunger rendered him lank in the belly. مخمصة therefore, means, emptiness of the belly; hunger (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
This verse shows that the Quran does not consider the prosperity and predominance of Islam to be dependent on territorial conquest and the extension of material power, but on its being a perfect and complete religion. it draws the attention of Muslims to the fact that now that all the teachings needed for the moral and spiritual regeneration of man have been embodied in the Quran, it is up to them to win the premier place in the comity of nations by acting upon them and holding fast to them.
The words ikmal (perfecting) and itmam (completing) which are noun-infinitives from اکملت and اتممت (have I perfected and completed) occurring in the clause, This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you, are full of meaning and convey two different and distinct senses. The former, (i.e. perfection) relates to quality, and the latter, (i.e. completion) to quantity. The use of the word اکملت (I have perfected) with regard to the teaching of the Quran thus shows that doctrines and commandments affecting the physical, moral and spiritual development of man have been embodied in the Quran in their most perfect form; while the word اتممت (I have completed) shows that nothing which was needed by man has been left out. Again, the former, i.e. perfection, pertains to command-ments relating to the physical side of man or his external self, while the latter, i.e. completion, relates to his spiritual side or his inner self, viz. the completion of the spiritual blessings which follow the observance of the outward Law.
Thus, the verse hints that as the Divine Law has been perfected and completed in the Quran it shall not be superseded by any other Law. The Laws that preceded the Quran were meant for particular peoples and limited periods, being suited to their special requirements only. Similarly, the Prophets that preceded the Holy. Prophet of Islam were only sent to particular nations. This was quite in the fitness of things. The means of communication between different countries were then in a very undeveloped state and people living in one country knew little or nothing of the countries that lay far off from them. Moreover, nations of the earth were then in different stages of development, some being very backward and others only partially developed and the mind of man had not attained its full growth and development. Hence, the circumstances then obtaining required that separate Messengers be sent to separate nations who should give them such teachings as suited their particular needs and requirements. This state of things, however, was not to last forever, the Oneness of God presupposed oneness of mankind and it was quite natural that, when the God-given faculties of man became fully developed and the means of communication also improved so that intercourse between different nations became easier and more common, God should raise a Prophet for the whole of mankind and give him a perfect Law which should fulfil all the needs and meet all the problems of humanity
But the mere existence of a perfect Law cannot prevent the moral degeneration of humanity. So in spite of the presence of the Quran, it was necessary that heavenly Reformers should continue to appear in the world in times of degeneration, and, being inspired of God, should give new life to corrupt and degenerate humanity. In fact, the promise about the appearance of such Reformers is implied even in the words, This day have I completed My favour upon you, for if religion has been completed, it does not stand to reason that when mankind should consign God to oblivion and forget the object of their creation, God should make no provision for their regeneration. In that case, His favour upon them cannot be said to have been "completed". Thus, the very comple-tion of God’s favour upon Muslims requires that He should raise among them such Reformers as should breathe a new life into them, whenever their spiritual and moral degeneration demands it. Says the Holy Prophet, "God will raise among the Muslims at the head of each century a Reformer who would regenerate their religion for them" (Dawud, ch. on Malahim).
It may also be noted here that the perfection and completion of God’s religion and favour has been mentioned side by side with the law relating to eatables in order to point out that the use of lawful food forms one of the most important bases of good morals which in time provide a pedestal for spiritual progress.
a
2:174; 6:146.
b
5:91.
c
3:20, 86.
d
2:174; 6:146; 16:116.
370
اِكْمَالْ (Ikmal) (使…完美) 和 اِتْمَامْ (Itmam--------使…完整) 是动名词。第一个与质量有关而第二个与数量有关。第一个单词表明, «古兰经» 中体现的教义和律令以最完美的方式来影响人类身体、道德和精神的发展, 而第二个单词意指凡人类所需要的它无所不包。而且, 前一个单词与人类的身体方面即自我的外形有关, 而后一个关系到他们的精神即内在的自我。与安拉完美无缺的宗教和恩惠同时述及的是有关食物的法律。为的是指出食用合法的食物是形成良好品德的一种非常重要的基础。顺便说一下, 这是最后启示的一节经文。这节经文启示后仅82天, 穆圣就逝世了。
a
2:174; 6:146.
b
5:91.
c
3:20, 86.
d
2:174; 6:146; 16:116.
643
Important Words:
المیتة (an animal which dies of itself). Though generally speaking everything that is dead is میتة in its specific sense, the word signifies an animal that has died of itself without being properly slaughtered (Lane). See also 2:174.
المنخنقة (that which has been strangled) is derived from خنق. They say خنقه i.e. he squeezed his or its throat that he or it might die; he squeezed his or its throat so that he or it died; he strangled or throttled or choked him or it. اختنق or انخنقmeans, he or it became throttled or strangled or choked. شاة منخنقة means, a goat or sheep strangled or throttled (Lane).
الموقوذة (that which has been beaten to death) is derived from وقذه. They say وقذه i.e. he beat or struck him or it violently till he or it became relaxed and was at the point of death; he broke his or its skull, wounding the brain; he beat him or it till he or it died. شاة موقوذة means, a goat or sheep beaten to death either with a stick or staff or stones, etc. (Lane).
المتردیة (that which has been killed by a fall) is derived from ردی. They say ردی الرجل i.e. the man perished. رداه بحجر means, he threw stones at him and hit him. تردی means, he or it fell or tumbled down into a well or a pit. It also means, he or it fell down from a mountain, or a height and died. المتردیة means, that (a goat, etc.) which falls from a mountain or a height, or falls down a well, or a pit and dies (Lane).
النطیحة (that which has been gored to death) is derived from نطح. They say نطحه i.e. he (a ram, etc.) smote him or it with his horn. النطیحة means, a sheep or goat smitten with the horn and so killed (Lane).
ماذکیتم (that which you have properly slaughtered). ذکی (dhakka) is derived from ذکی (dhaka). They say ذکت النار i.e. the fire blazed or burned brightly. ذکت الارض means, the land was or became clean and pure. ذکی النار (dhakka) means, he made the fire blaze or burn brightly. ذکی العقل means, it (medicine, etc.) sharpened the intellect. ذکی الشاة means, he slaughtered the goat in the manner prescribed by the Law of Islam (Lane).
النصب (idols) is derived from نصب which means, he set up or he fixed. النصب according to some is singular, the plural of which is انصاب; and according to others, it is plural, of which the singular is نصاب. The word means, signs or marks set up to show the way; stones set up and worshipped to the exclusion of, or in preference to, God; anything that is so worshipped; stones which the pagan Arabs set to sacrifice or slay animals before them, the name of some deity being pronounced in the killing of such animals; idol or idols; but whereas idols were generally carved and had some form or shape, النصب were simple uncarved stones (Lane & Aqrab).
ازلام (divining arrows) is the plural of زلم and is derived from the verb زلم (zalama), meaning, he cut off the protruding part of a thing, such as the nose; he made his gift small in quantity as though he had cut off something from it. زلم السھم means, he cut or pared the arrow to make it proportionate and good-looking. زلم means, an arrow without a head and without feathers. ازلام (the plural of زلم) were those divining arrows by means of which pre-Islamic Arabs sought to know what was allotted to them. On some of these arrows the word "command" and on others "prohibition" were written, while others were left blank, and all these were kept together in a suitable vessel. When anyone wanted to do a certain thing or go on a journey, he would take out one of the arrows without looking at them and then act according to the instruction of "command" or "prohibition" as the case might be. If the blank arrow came out, the experiment was repeated, till an arrow bearing the word "command" or "prohibition" was taken out (Lane).
الیوم (this day) here really signifies "now". See 1:4.
مخمصة (hunger) is derived from مخمص. They say خمص البطن i.e. the belly was or became empty, i.e. hungry. خمصت القدم means, the foot rose from the ground or was hollow in the middle of the sole, so that it did not touch it. خمصه الجوع means, hunger rendered him lank in the belly. مخمصة therefore, means, emptiness of the belly; hunger (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
This verse shows that the Quran does not consider the prosperity and predominance of Islam to be dependent on territorial conquest and the extension of material power, but on its being a perfect and complete religion. it draws the attention of Muslims to the fact that now that all the teachings needed for the moral and spiritual regeneration of man have been embodied in the Quran, it is up to them to win the premier place in the comity of nations by acting upon them and holding fast to them.
The words ikmal (perfecting) and itmam (completing) which are noun-infinitives from اکملت and اتممت (have I perfected and completed) occurring in the clause, This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you, are full of meaning and convey two different and distinct senses. The former, (i.e. perfection) relates to quality, and the latter, (i.e. completion) to quantity. The use of the word اکملت (I have perfected) with regard to the teaching of the Quran thus shows that doctrines and commandments affecting the physical, moral and spiritual development of man have been embodied in the Quran in their most perfect form; while the word اتممت (I have completed) shows that nothing which was needed by man has been left out. Again, the former, i.e. perfection, pertains to command-ments relating to the physical side of man or his external self, while the latter, i.e. completion, relates to his spiritual side or his inner self, viz. the completion of the spiritual blessings which follow the observance of the outward Law.
Thus, the verse hints that as the Divine Law has been perfected and completed in the Quran it shall not be superseded by any other Law. The Laws that preceded the Quran were meant for particular peoples and limited periods, being suited to their special requirements only. Similarly, the Prophets that preceded the Holy. Prophet of Islam were only sent to particular nations. This was quite in the fitness of things. The means of communication between different countries were then in a very undeveloped state and people living in one country knew little or nothing of the countries that lay far off from them. Moreover, nations of the earth were then in different stages of development, some being very backward and others only partially developed and the mind of man had not attained its full growth and development. Hence, the circumstances then obtaining required that separate Messengers be sent to separate nations who should give them such teachings as suited their particular needs and requirements. This state of things, however, was not to last forever, the Oneness of God presupposed oneness of mankind and it was quite natural that, when the God-given faculties of man became fully developed and the means of communication also improved so that intercourse between different nations became easier and more common, God should raise a Prophet for the whole of mankind and give him a perfect Law which should fulfil all the needs and meet all the problems of humanity
But the mere existence of a perfect Law cannot prevent the moral degeneration of humanity. So in spite of the presence of the Quran, it was necessary that heavenly Reformers should continue to appear in the world in times of degeneration, and, being inspired of God, should give new life to corrupt and degenerate humanity. In fact, the promise about the appearance of such Reformers is implied even in the words, This day have I completed My favour upon you, for if religion has been completed, it does not stand to reason that when mankind should consign God to oblivion and forget the object of their creation, God should make no provision for their regeneration. In that case, His favour upon them cannot be said to have been "completed". Thus, the very comple-tion of God’s favour upon Muslims requires that He should raise among them such Reformers as should breathe a new life into them, whenever their spiritual and moral degeneration demands it. Says the Holy Prophet, "God will raise among the Muslims at the head of each century a Reformer who would regenerate their religion for them" (Dawud, ch. on Malahim).
It may also be noted here that the perfection and completion of God’s religion and favour has been mentioned side by side with the law relating to eatables in order to point out that the use of lawful food forms one of the most important bases of good morals which in time provide a pedestal for spiritual progress.
a
5:91.b
3:20, 86.
c
2:174; 6:146.
d
2:174; 6:146; 16:116.
721
Ikmal (perfecting) and Itmam (completing) are noun-infinitives, the first relating to quality and the second to quantity. The first word shows that doctrines and commandments affecting the physical, moral and spiritual development of man have been embodied in the Qur’an in their most perfect form; while the second signifies that nothing which was needed by man has been left out. Again, the former word pertains to commandments relating to the physical side of man or his external self, while the latter relates to his spiritual side or his inner self. The perfection and completion of God’s religion and favour have been mentioned side by side with the law relating to eatables in order to point out that the use of lawful and good food forms one of the very important bases of good morals which in turn provide a pedestal for spiritual progress. Incidentally, the verse was the last to be revealed, the Holy Prophet having died only 82 days after its revelation.
فَلَمَّا نَسُوا۟ مَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَٰبَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتُوٓا۟ أَخَذْنَٰهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ
قرآن کریم میں اَخَذْنٰـھُمْ کے الفاظ ہیں۔ اور اَخَذَہٗ کے معنے سزا دینے کے بھی ہوتے ہیں۔ (اقرب)
5:14; 7:166.
7:96; 39:56.
Commentary:
When disbelievers became hardened and treated Divine admonition as a thing forgotten, God let them wander in their blind transgression. The words, We opened unto them the gates of all things, signify that God let them stray away and advance further and further into the evil deeds in which they were engaged. Sometimes the afflictions were removed from them for a time and they rejoiced to think that they were right in thinking that the afflictions were not due to their sins. Then the punishment of God suddenly seized them, and they gave themselves up to despair. Thus, there are two kinds of afflictions that visit disbelieving people in the days of Divine Messengers: (1) temporary afflictions that come as warnings and then pass away; (2) general disaster which finally overtakes and destroys the wicked.
a
5:14; 7:166.
b
7:96; 39:56.
2
قرآن کریم میں اَخَذْنٰـھُمْ کے الفاظ ہیں۔ اور اَخَذَہٗ کے معنے سزا دینے کے بھی ہوتے ہیں۔ (اقرب)
c
5:14; 7:166.
d
7:96; 39:56.
791
Commentary:
When disbelievers became hardened and treated Divine admonition as a thing forgotten, God let them wander in their blind transgression. The words, We opened unto them the gates of all things, signify that God let them stray away and advance further and further into the evil deeds in which they were engaged. Sometimes the afflictions were removed from them for a time and they rejoiced to think that they were right in thinking that the afflictions were not due to their sins. Then the punishment of God suddenly seized them, and they gave themselves up to despair. Thus, there are two kinds of afflictions that visit disbelieving people in the days of Divine Messengers: (1) temporary afflictions that come as warnings and then pass away; (2) general disaster which finally overtakes and destroys the wicked.
a
7:96; 39:56.
e
5:14; 7:166.
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً ثُمَّ نَزَعْنَٰهَا مِنْهُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيَـُٔوسٌ كَفُورٌ
41:52.
41:52.
a
41:52.
a
41:52.
1391
Commentary:
See the next verse.
b
41:52.
فَلَمَّا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسُوا۟ مِنْهُ خَلَصُوا۟ نَجِيًّا ۖ قَالَ كَبِيرُهُمْ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ قَدْ أَخَذَ عَلَيْكُم مَّوْثِقًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمِن قَبْلُ مَا فَرَّطتُمْ فِى يُوسُفَ ۖ فَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ ٱلْأَرْضَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْذَنَ لِىٓ أَبِىٓ أَوْ يَحْكُمَ ٱللَّهُ لِى ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلْحَٰكِمِينَ
Najiyy means, (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).
According to the Bible it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them, who refused to go back to his father without Benjamin. The word which the Qur’an has used is Kabir which means, 'big' or 'elder' and not Akbar which means, 'the eldest.' Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the bigger or elder brothers of Joseph. Moreover, Kabir does not only mean 'big' or 'elder' but also means 'leader' and 'great in estimation, rank or dignity,' and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and so applies to Judah and not to Reuben. Judah was more important than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob (Gen. 43: 8-10).
Important Words:
خلصوا (they retired) is derived from خلص which means: (1) it was or became clear or pure or unmixed. They say خلص من القومi.e. he retired or withdrew or went away from the people. The Quranic expression خلصوا نجیا means, they retired, conferring privately together (Lane).
نجیا (conferring together in private). نجى is derived from نجا and means: (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; (3) one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).
کبیر (leader) means, great in body or rank or nobility; big or full-grown; learned or most knowing; teacher or master; lord or chief; old or advanced in age, etc. (Lane). See also 11:4.
Commentary:
Christian critics of the Quran accuse it of being ignorant of even well-known facts of history, basing their criticism on the fact that it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them—as they take the word کبیر(leader) to mean—who declared that he would not go back to his father without Benjamin. It is strange that, whenever these self-styled judges of the Quran happen to come across any difference between the narrative of the Quran and that of the Bible, they complacently assume the Bible to be right, as if it is altogether free from anachronism and misstatements, while the fact is that it has been shown even by Christian writers themselves to occupy a very low place among reliable books of history. To doubt the authenticity of an historical fact related by the Quran merely on the basis that it does not agree with the Bible is, to say the least, simply capricious. But even assuming the present Biblical account to be correct, the Quranic account cannot be found fault with. The word which the Quran has used with respect to the brother who refused to go is کبیر which means, "big" or "elder" and not اکبر which means "the eldest." Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the big or elder brothers of Joseph.
Again, کبیر does not always mean "big" or "elder" but, as shown under Important Words, it also means "leader" and "great in estimation, rank or dignity," and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and applies to Judah and not to Reuben. For, according to the Bible, the misconduct of Judah’s three elder brothers had resulted in his taking precedence over them (Gen. 49:3-8). Of him Jacob said, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise…thy father’s children shall bow down before thee." (Gen. 49:8). That Judah was greater than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob is also apparent from the fact that, when Reuben offered his two sons as hostages for Benjamin, Jacob refused to send Benjamin (Gen. 42:37, 38), but when Judah said, "I will be surety for him," Jacob gave his consent (Gen. 43:9-10).
Jacob’s prediction of Judah’s superiority started the long feud which later separated Judah and Israel.
1580
Important Words:
خلصوا (they retired) is derived from خلص which means: (1) it was or became clear or pure or unmixed. They say خلص من القومi.e. he retired or withdrew or went away from the people. The Quranic expression خلصوا نجیا means, they retired, conferring privately together (Lane).
نجیا (conferring together in private). نجى is derived from نجا and means: (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; (3) one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).
کبیر (leader) means, great in body or rank or nobility; big or full-grown; learned or most knowing; teacher or master; lord or chief; old or advanced in age, etc. (Lane). See also 11:4.
Commentary:
Christian critics of the Quran accuse it of being ignorant of even well-known facts of history, basing their criticism on the fact that it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them—as they take the word کبیر(leader) to mean—who declared that he would not go back to his father without Benjamin. It is strange that, whenever these self-styled judges of the Quran happen to come across any difference between the narrative of the Quran and that of the Bible, they complacently assume the Bible to be right, as if it is altogether free from anachronism and misstatements, while the fact is that it has been shown even by Christian writers themselves to occupy a very low place among reliable books of history. To doubt the authenticity of an historical fact related by the Quran merely on the basis that it does not agree with the Bible is, to say the least, simply capricious. But even assuming the present Biblical account to be correct, the Quranic account cannot be found fault with. The word which the Quran has used with respect to the brother who refused to go is کبیر which means, "big" or "elder" and not اکبر which means "the eldest." Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the big or elder brothers of Joseph.
Again, کبیر does not always mean "big" or "elder" but, as shown under Important Words, it also means "leader" and "great in estimation, rank or dignity," and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and applies to Judah and not to Reuben. For, according to the Bible, the misconduct of Judah’s three elder brothers had resulted in his taking precedence over them (Gen. 49:3-8). Of him Jacob said, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise…thy father’s children shall bow down before thee." (Gen. 49:8). That Judah was greater than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob is also apparent from the fact that, when Reuben offered his two sons as hostages for Benjamin, Jacob refused to send Benjamin (Gen. 42:37, 38), but when Judah said, "I will be surety for him," Jacob gave his consent (Gen. 43:9-10).
Jacob’s prediction of Judah’s superiority started the long feud which later separated Judah and Israel.
1399A
Najiyy means, (1) a secret; (2) one to whom a secret is confided; one who confers with another in private; (4) the act of conferring in private (Aqrab).
1400
According to the Bible it was Judah, the fourth among the brothers, and not Reuben, the eldest of them, who refused to go back to his father without Benjamin. The word which the Qur’an has used is Kabir which means, 'big' or 'elder' and not Akbar which means, 'the eldest.' Judah, being the fourth son of Jacob, was indeed one of the bigger or elder brothers of Joseph. Moreover, Kabir does not only mean 'big' or 'elder' but also means 'leader' and 'great in estimation, rank or dignity,' and it is in this sense that the word has been used here and so applies to Judah and not to Reuben. Judah was more important than Reuben in the eyes of Jacob (Gen. 43: 8-10).
يَٰبَنِىَّ ٱذْهَبُوا۟ فَتَحَسَّسُوا۟ مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَا۟يْـَٔسُوا۟ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يَا۟يْـَٔسُ مِن رَّوْحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ
15:57; 39:54.
15:57; 39:54.
Commentary:
This verse leaves no doubt that God had informed Jacob not only of Joseph’s being alive but also of his being in Egypt. If Jacob had thought that Joseph had been devoured by a wolf or had perished in some other way, he could not at the present stage have bidden his sons search for him, particularly in Egypt.
The verse also lays down an infallible principle of success not only in spiritual but also in temporal matters viz. to avoid despair and despondency under all circumstances. Indeed, the root of most failures lies in despondency and despair. He who despairs of success can never attain his object. Indeed, he can never act as he ought to.
In the spiritual realm people who do not believe in the forgiveness of sins never feel the urge to exert themselves to the utmost and overcome them. Similarly, those who do not believe that human nature is pure and unsullied and that man has been endowed with great powers and faculties do not try to develop them to their utmost limit. The Holy Prophet inculcated this supreme lesson in his followers, saying that they should never give way to despair. He is reported to have said لکل داء دواء الاالموت i.e. For every disease there is a remedy, except death. Similarly, he said, من قال ھلك القوم فھو اھلکھم i.e. He who says that such and such people have perished, in fact he it is who causes them to perish (by creating a feeling of despair in them) (Muslim, Part II, vol. 2). Indeed all success lies in hope and action, not in vain and futile daydreaming which does not go beyond making castles in the air.
a
15:57; 39:54.
a
15:57; 39:54.
1587
Commentary:
This verse leaves no doubt that God had informed Jacob not only of Joseph’s being alive but also of his being in Egypt. If Jacob had thought that Joseph had been devoured by a wolf or had perished in some other way, he could not at the present stage have bidden his sons search for him, particularly in Egypt.
The verse also lays down an infallible principle of success not only in spiritual but also in temporal matters viz. to avoid despair and despondency under all circumstances. Indeed, the root of most failures lies in despondency and despair. He who despairs of success can never attain his object. Indeed, he can never act as he ought to.
In the spiritual realm people who do not believe in the forgiveness of sins never feel the urge to exert themselves to the utmost and overcome them. Similarly, those who do not believe that human nature is pure and unsullied and that man has been endowed with great powers and faculties do not try to develop them to their utmost limit. The Holy Prophet inculcated this supreme lesson in his followers, saying that they should never give way to despair. He is reported to have said لکل داء دواء الاالموت i.e. For every disease there is a remedy, except death. Similarly, he said, من قال ھلك القوم فھو اھلکھم i.e. He who says that such and such people have perished, in fact he it is who causes them to perish (by creating a feeling of despair in them) (Muslim, Part II, vol. 2). Indeed all success lies in hope and action, not in vain and futile daydreaming which does not go beyond making castles in the air.
a
15:57; 39:54.
1405
This verse also shows that Jacob was convinced that Joseph, Benjamin and Judah were alive in Egypt.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
2:215.
یہ حتّٰی ابتدائیہ ہے جس کے معنے’’اور‘‘ کے ہوتے ہیں اور وہی معنے ہم نے کیے ہیں۔
بعض مفسر لکھتے ہیں کہ جب رسول خدائی عذابوں کے آنے سے مایوس ہو گئے۔ لیکن ہم نے یہ ترجمہ کیا ہے کہ جب رسول لوگوں کے ایمان لانے سے مایوس ہو گئے اور کفار نے بھی یقین کر لیا کہ ان سے جھوٹ بولا جا رہا ہے۔ یعنی جو سنایا جا رہا ہے وحی الٰہی نہیں ہے بلکہ رسول کی خود ساختہ باتیں ہیں۔
2:215.
The particle hatta is sometimes used as a conjunction like wa signifying 'and' or 'even' as in Akaltus-Samaka hatta Ra’saha, i.e. I ate the fish and (even) its head (Lane).
The enemies of Prophets of God continue to increase in wickedness and opposition to them till a stage is reached when the Prophets begin to feel that those who were destined to believe had already believed and as for the rest they despair of their believing in them. But God’s Prophets never despair of God’s mercy and help (15:57). Their opponents, on the other hand, owing to the delay in the coming of Divine punishment, begin to feel secure in the thought that they will never be visited with any punishment and that the prophecies about the Prophets’ final success and about the discomfiture of their enemies were nothing but false utterances.
2:215.
Important Words:
کذبوا (they had been told a lie) is the passive plural from کذب (kadhaba) which means, he lied; or he uttered a falsehood; or he said what was untrue whether intentionally or unintentionally; he found his hopes to be false or vain. کذبه الحدیث means, he gave him a false account of the thing and said what was untrue. They say کذب الرأی i.e. he imagined the thing contrary to its real state. An Arab would say کذبتك عینك i.e. thine eye showed thee that which had no reality i.e. thou wast deceived in the vision. They say کذبته نفسه i.e. his soul made him desire things and conceive hopes that did not come to pass. کذب الرجل(kudhiba) means, the man was told a lie or a falsehood or an untruth (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Like the preceding verse, the verse under comment speaks of both the Prophets and their opponents. The first sentence speaks of the Prophets of God, and the second of their enemies. The verse purports to say that the enemies of Prophets so continue to increase in wickedness and opposition to them that a stage is reached when the Prophets begin to think that those who were destined to believe had already believed and they despair of the rest. Their opponents, on the other hand, owing to the delay in the coming of Divine punishment, begin to feel secure in the thought that they will never be visited with any punishment and that the prophecies of the Prophets about their own final success and about the discomfiture of their enemies were so many pieces of falsehood. When matters come to such a pass, God’s help comes to the Prophets and the leaders of disbelief are destroyed.
This is exactly what happens at the advent of every Prophet. The hour of final reckoning is delayed so long that disbelievers begin to have a false sense of security. Then God comes to the succour of His Prophets and makes their cause prevail.
The words, when the Messengers despaired, cannot be taken to mean that the Prophet despair of the help of God. This inference is obviously wrong and is belied by v. 88 of this very Surah wherein we have, none despairs of Allah’s mercy save the unbelieving people. As a matter of fact, Prophets never despair of God’s help. They only sometimes despair of their people believing in them, and this happens when the latter continue turning a deaf ear to their preaching.
Similarly, the words, they thought that they had been told a lie, do not mean that the Prophets thought so. The words only mean that their enemies thought so. The Prophets cannot entertain any doubt about the truth of their prophecies and of the promises of ultimate success made to them by God. Their faith in God is invincible; it stands on the firm rock of certitude. The pronoun "they" thus refers, not to the Prophets, but to their opponents mentioned in the previous verse. According to Arabic idiom it is allowable to use in the same sentence pronouns referring to different antecedents when the nouns to which they refer are clear from the context. But if the pronoun "they" be taken to refer to the Prophets, the sentence, they thought that they had been told a lie, would mean that wishful thinking and overconfidence in the help of God had made the Prophets interpret the Word of God containing promises of success in such a way as to believe in the very early triumph of their cause which, however, was not so ordained by God. Thus their own minds, as it were, lied to them or held out to them false hopes, by placing on the Word of God an interpretation which it did not bear.
The words, they thought that they had been told a lie, may also mean that the hopes that the Prophets had entertained about the repentance of their opponents turned out to be false. When at a certain stage the hostility of their opponents temporarily slackened, the Prophets began to entertain the hope that they would repent of their past misdeeds and would accept the truth, but that hope turned out to be a delusion. Taken in this sense, these words also serve as an explanation of the words "the Messengers despaired." See the different meanings of the word کذبوا under Important Words.
c
2:215.
1
یہ حتّٰی ابتدائیہ ہے جس کے معنے’’اور‘‘ کے ہوتے ہیں اور وہی معنے ہم نے کیے ہیں۔
2
بعض مفسر لکھتے ہیں کہ جب رسول خدائی عذابوں کے آنے سے مایوس ہو گئے۔ لیکن ہم نے یہ ترجمہ کیا ہے کہ جب رسول لوگوں کے ایمان لانے سے مایوس ہو گئے اور کفار نے بھی یقین کر لیا کہ ان سے جھوٹ بولا جا رہا ہے۔ یعنی جو سنایا جا رہا ہے وحی الٰہی نہیں ہے بلکہ رسول کی خود ساختہ باتیں ہیں۔
a
2:215.
1610
Important Words:
کذبوا (they had been told a lie) is the passive plural from کذب (kadhaba) which means, he lied; or he uttered a falsehood; or he said what was untrue whether intentionally or unintentionally; he found his hopes to be false or vain. کذبه الحدیث means, he gave him a false account of the thing and said what was untrue. They say کذب الرأی i.e. he imagined the thing contrary to its real state. An Arab would say کذبتك عینك i.e. thine eye showed thee that which had no reality i.e. thou wast deceived in the vision. They say کذبته نفسه i.e. his soul made him desire things and conceive hopes that did not come to pass. کذب الرجل(kudhiba) means, the man was told a lie or a falsehood or an untruth (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Like the preceding verse, the verse under comment speaks of both the Prophets and their opponents. The first sentence speaks of the Prophets of God, and the second of their enemies. The verse purports to say that the enemies of Prophets so continue to increase in wickedness and opposition to them that a stage is reached when the Prophets begin to think that those who were destined to believe had already believed and they despair of the rest. Their opponents, on the other hand, owing to the delay in the coming of Divine punishment, begin to feel secure in the thought that they will never be visited with any punishment and that the prophecies of the Prophets about their own final success and about the discomfiture of their enemies were so many pieces of falsehood. When matters come to such a pass, God’s help comes to the Prophets and the leaders of disbelief are destroyed.
This is exactly what happens at the advent of every Prophet. The hour of final reckoning is delayed so long that disbelievers begin to have a false sense of security. Then God comes to the succour of His Prophets and makes their cause prevail.
The words, when the Messengers despaired, cannot be taken to mean that the Prophet despair of the help of God. This inference is obviously wrong and is belied by v. 88 of this very Surah wherein we have, none despairs of Allah’s mercy save the unbelieving people. As a matter of fact, Prophets never despair of God’s help. They only sometimes despair of their people believing in them, and this happens when the latter continue turning a deaf ear to their preaching.
Similarly, the words, they thought that they had been told a lie, do not mean that the Prophets thought so. The words only mean that their enemies thought so. The Prophets cannot entertain any doubt about the truth of their prophecies and of the promises of ultimate success made to them by God. Their faith in God is invincible; it stands on the firm rock of certitude. The pronoun "they" thus refers, not to the Prophets, but to their opponents mentioned in the previous verse. According to Arabic idiom it is allowable to use in the same sentence pronouns referring to different antecedents when the nouns to which they refer are clear from the context. But if the pronoun "they" be taken to refer to the Prophets, the sentence, they thought that they had been told a lie, would mean that wishful thinking and overconfidence in the help of God had made the Prophets interpret the Word of God containing promises of success in such a way as to believe in the very early triumph of their cause which, however, was not so ordained by God. Thus their own minds, as it were, lied to them or held out to them false hopes, by placing on the Word of God an interpretation which it did not bear.
The words, they thought that they had been told a lie, may also mean that the hopes that the Prophets had entertained about the repentance of their opponents turned out to be false. When at a certain stage the hostility of their opponents temporarily slackened, the Prophets began to entertain the hope that they would repent of their past misdeeds and would accept the truth, but that hope turned out to be a delusion. Taken in this sense, these words also serve as an explanation of the words "the Messengers despaired." See the different meanings of the word کذبوا under Important Words.
c
2:215.
1417A
The particle hatta is sometimes used as a conjunction like wa signifying 'and' or 'even' as in Akaltus-Samaka hatta Ra’saha, i.e. I ate the fish and (even) its head (Lane).
1418
The enemies of Prophets of God continue to increase in wickedness and opposition to them till a stage is reached when the Prophets begin to feel that those who were destined to believe had already believed and as for the rest they despair of their believing in them. But God’s Prophets never despair of God’s mercy and help (15:57). Their opponents, on the other hand, owing to the delay in the coming of Divine punishment, begin to feel secure in the thought that they will never be visited with any punishment and that the prophecies about the Prophets’ final success and about the discomfiture of their enemies were nothing but false utterances.
قَالُوا۟ بَشَّرْنَٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْقَٰنِطِينَ
Commentary:
In answer to Abraham the messengers said that the glad tidings they had conveyed to him were from God and that if it had not been so, they had no right to give any tidings to him, the word حق (truth) also meaning both God and right. So they were giving to him the news on the basis of the truth that had been communicated to them from God in keeping with the appropriateness of the occasion. The words, be not therefore of those who despair, make it clear that these guests of Abraham were men and not angels, for if they had been angels, they would not have addressed such words to him, being well aware of the strong faith and the great spiritual eminence of Abraham. It was, however, possible for human beings to address him like that on account of their ignorance of his spiritual eminence.
1759
Commentary:
In answer to Abraham the messengers said that the glad tidings they had conveyed to him were from God and that if it had not been so, they had no right to give any tidings to him, the word حق (truth) also meaning both God and right. So they were giving to him the news on the basis of the truth that had been communicated to them from God in keeping with the appropriateness of the occasion. The words, be not therefore of those who despair, make it clear that these guests of Abraham were men and not angels, for if they had been angels, they would not have addressed such words to him, being well aware of the strong faith and the great spiritual eminence of Abraham. It was, however, possible for human beings to address him like that on account of their ignorance of his spiritual eminence.
قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ
12:88.
12:88.
12:88.
Commentary:
Abraham felt naturally hurt at the words, be not therefore of those who despair. He thought it an insult to his faith that anybody should think of him as despairing of God’s grace. Therefore, he strongly repudiated the implication and was not slow in expressing his justified indignation at it. It is worthy of note here that, whereas on the one hand Abraham was so hospitable that immediately on the arrival of the messengers he brought for them a roasted calf and, when they refrained from partaking of it, he feared that they were displeased with him for some unconscious failure on his part to accord them the honour they deserved as his guests (11:70-71); on the other hand, he indignantly protested against their remarks when the same guests seemed, inadvertently, to question his faith in God. Such is the jealousy and deep regard which the Prophets have for God.
Abraham meant to say that he had made the enquiry simply to ascertain whether it was glad tidings from God or only a conjecture, but now that he had come to know that the message was from God, he could have no possible doubt regarding its fulfilment.
a
12:88.
a
12:88.
1760
Commentary:
Abraham felt naturally hurt at the words, be not therefore of those who despair. He thought it an insult to his faith that anybody should think of him as despairing of God’s grace. Therefore, he strongly repudiated the implication and was not slow in expressing his justified indignation at it. It is worthy of note here that, whereas on the one hand Abraham was so hospitable that immediately on the arrival of the messengers he brought for them a roasted calf and, when they refrained from partaking of it, he feared that they were displeased with him for some unconscious failure on his part to accord them the honour they deserved as his guests (11:70-71); on the other hand, he indignantly protested against their remarks when the same guests seemed, inadvertently, to question his faith in God. Such is the jealousy and deep regard which the Prophets have for God.
Abraham meant to say that he had made the enquiry simply to ascertain whether it was glad tidings from God or only a conjecture, but now that he had come to know that the message was from God, he could have no possible doubt regarding its fulfilment.
h
12:88.
وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ كَانَ يَـُٔوسًا
17:68.
See 17:68.
Commentary:
The verse means to say that Muslims were subjected to tortures and suffered all sorts of hardships for thirteen long years, but they bore them with fortitude and patience. The case of disbelievers, however, is different. When their turn came to be visited with Divine punishment they would give way to despair, because they had no faith in God.
c
17:68.
a
See 17:68.
2013
Commentary:
The verse means to say that Muslims were subjected to tortures and suffered all sorts of hardships for thirteen long years, but they bore them with fortitude and patience. The case of disbelievers, however, is different. When their turn came to be visited with Divine punishment they would give way to despair, because they had no faith in God.
c
17:68.حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَابًا ذَا عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ إِذَا هُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ
6:45.
6:45.
Man is so constituted that when he is in comfort and easy circumstances, he throws all caution to the winds and begins to indulge in unseemly conduct. But when his transgression and wicked pursuits produce evil results, he gives himself up to despair.
6:45.
Important Words:
مبلسون (they are in despair) is active participle from أبلس which means, he despaired or gave up hope of God’s mercy; he became broken-spirited; he was or became silent, returning no reply by reason of grief or despair; he was or became confounded or perplexed and unable to see argument; etc. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:35.
Commentary:
One of the objects for which God sends down afflictions and visitations on rejecters of truth is that they should become humble and by repenting of their evil ways and by listening to the Divine Message should draw God’s mercy on themselves. The time of a heavenly Messenger is particularly marked by heavenly visitations. On the other hand, in time of prosperity, people are proud and arrogant and become entirely engrossed in worldly affairs. They pay little heed to the voice of truth. So God afflicts them with miseries and misfortunes in order that their pride might be broken. Elsewhere the Quran says: "And indeed We sent Messengers to peoples before thee, then We afflicted them with poverty and adversity that they might humble themselves" (6:43). But such is the perversity of human nature that in spite of afflictions man persists in his wicked ways and refuses to give ear to the Divine Messenger; respite and reprieve only increase him in transgression. When, however, Divine punishment overtakes him then he is all despair.
Besides the present verse the Quran adverts again and again to the subject that persistent rejection of Divine Message never goes unpunished. It has also not omitted to throw adequate light on factors which intimately concern the subject of Divine punishment, viz. (1) while awarding punishment to a wrong-doing person God takes into consideration all the various circumstances and conditions which contributed and led to the commission of the evil deeds (7:9). (2) Everyone has to carry his own cross and no one else but the guilty person himself has to account and suffer for his evil deeds (6:165). (3) The punishment of the evil deed is strictly commensurate with the nature and scope of the crime (42:41). (4) No intercession can benefit the guilty person and no ransom is taken from him (2:49). (5) But God’s mercy always outweighs His wrath (7:157). (6) When good deeds outnumber evil ones, the entire punishment is remitted (7:9)."
e
6:45.
a
6:45.
2563
Important Words:
مبلسون (they are in despair) is active participle from أبلس which means, he despaired or gave up hope of God’s mercy; he became broken-spirited; he was or became silent, returning no reply by reason of grief or despair; he was or became confounded or perplexed and unable to see argument; etc. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 2:35.
Commentary:
One of the objects for which God sends down afflictions and visitations on rejecters of truth is that they should become humble and by repenting of their evil ways and by listening to the Divine Message should draw God’s mercy on themselves. The time of a heavenly Messenger is particularly marked by heavenly visitations. On the other hand, in time of prosperity, people are proud and arrogant and become entirely engrossed in worldly affairs. They pay little heed to the voice of truth. So God afflicts them with miseries and misfortunes in order that their pride might be broken. Elsewhere the Quran says: "And indeed We sent Messengers to peoples before thee, then We afflicted them with poverty and adversity that they might humble themselves" (6:43). But such is the perversity of human nature that in spite of afflictions man persists in his wicked ways and refuses to give ear to the Divine Messenger; respite and reprieve only increase him in transgression. When, however, Divine punishment overtakes him then he is all despair.
Besides the present verse the Quran adverts again and again to the subject that persistent rejection of Divine Message never goes unpunished. It has also not omitted to throw adequate light on factors which intimately concern the subject of Divine punishment, viz. (1) while awarding punishment to a wrong-doing person God takes into consideration all the various circumstances and conditions which contributed and led to the commission of the evil deeds (7:9). (2) Everyone has to carry his own cross and no one else but the guilty person himself has to account and suffer for his evil deeds (6:165). (3) The punishment of the evil deed is strictly commensurate with the nature and scope of the crime (42:41). (4) No intercession can benefit the guilty person and no ransom is taken from him (2:49). (5) But God’s mercy always outweighs His wrath (7:157). (6) When good deeds outnumber evil ones, the entire punishment is remitted (7:9)."
d
6:45.
2010
Man is so constituted that when he is in comfort and easy circumstances, he throws all caution to the winds and begins to indulge in unseemly conduct. But when his transgression and wicked pursuits produce evil results, he gives himself up to despair.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِقَآئِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَئِسُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَتِى وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
18:106; 30:17; 32:11.
اصل میں تو اللہ تعالیٰ کی ملاقات مومنوں کو ہوتی ہے۔ مگر کافروں کے لئے وہ عذاب کی صورت میں ظاہر ہوتی ہے۔ اور جب کبھی ان کے دل میں ندامت پیدا ہو تو رحم اور معافی کی تدبیروں کے ذریعہ سے ظاہر ہوتی ہے۔ پس اس آیت کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ جو لوگ اللہ تعالیٰ کی ملاقات کے منکر ہوتے ہیں درحقیقت وہ یہ سمجھتے ہیں کہ خداتعالیٰ کبھی ہمیں معاف نہیں کرے گا اور رحمت کے ذریعہ سے اپنا جلوہ ہم پر ظاہر نہیں کرے گا۔ پس خداتعالیٰ بھی ان کے یقین کے مطابق ان سے سلوک کرتا ہے اور دردناک عذاب میں مبتلا کرتا ہے۔
18:106; 30:17; 32:11.
18:106; 30:17; 32:11.
c
18:106; 30:17; 32:11.
4
اصل میں تو اللہ تعالیٰ کی ملاقات مومنوں کو ہوتی ہے۔ مگر کافروں کے لئے وہ عذاب کی صورت میں ظاہر ہوتی ہے۔ اور جب کبھی ان کے دل میں ندامت پیدا ہو تو رحم اور معافی کی تدبیروں کے ذریعہ سے ظاہر ہوتی ہے۔ پس اس آیت کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ جو لوگ اللہ تعالیٰ کی ملاقات کے منکر ہوتے ہیں درحقیقت وہ یہ سمجھتے ہیں کہ خداتعالیٰ کبھی ہمیں معاف نہیں کرے گا اور رحمت کے ذریعہ سے اپنا جلوہ ہم پر ظاہر نہیں کرے گا۔ پس خداتعالیٰ بھی ان کے یقین کے مطابق ان سے سلوک کرتا ہے اور دردناک عذاب میں مبتلا کرتا ہے۔
a
18:106; 30:17; 32:11.
d
18:106; 30:17; 32:11.
وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُبْلِسُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
6:45.
6:45.
6:45.
Important Words:
For یبلس (seized with despair) see 2:35.
Commentary:
Taking the word الساعة (Hour) as referring to the day of the Battle of Badr, the word یبلس portrays the mental anguish of the Quraish on that day. It says that they were simply dumbfounded. They had not the faintest idea of the crushing defeat they suffered at the hands of the poor, almost unarmed, and ill-provisioned, handful of Muslims, whom they had expelled from their hearths and homes hardly a year ago. Their idols and associate-gods, as is mentioned in the next verse, did not and could not come to their help.
e
6:45.
b
6:45.
2999
Important Words:
For یبلس (seized with despair) see 2:35.
Commentary:
Taking the word الساعة (Hour) as referring to the day of the Battle of Badr, the word یبلس portrays the mental anguish of the Quraish on that day. It says that they were simply dumbfounded. They had not the faintest idea of the crushing defeat they suffered at the hands of the poor, almost unarmed, and ill-provisioned, handful of Muslims, whom they had expelled from their hearths and homes hardly a year ago. Their idols and associate-gods, as is mentioned in the next verse, did not and could not come to their help.
e
6:45.
وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةً فَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَقْنَطُونَ
10:22; 41:51, 52; 42:49.
10:22; 41:51, 52; 42:49.
10:22; 41:51-52; 42:49.
Important Words:
یقنطون (are in despair) is formed from قنط which means, he despaired. قانط which is active participle from this root means, one who despairs of God’s mercy. The Arabs say قنط ماءہ عنا i.e. he withheld or debarred his water from us. قنوط (infinitive noun) means, complete despair (Lane & Aqrab).
d
10:22; 41:51, 52; 42:49.
c
10:22; 41:51-52; 42:49.
3016
Important Words:
یقنطون (are in despair) is formed from قنط which means, he despaired. قانط which is active participle from this root means, one who despairs of God’s mercy. The Arabs say قنط ماءہ عنا i.e. he withheld or debarred his water from us. قنوط (infinitive noun) means, complete despair (Lane & Aqrab).
c
10:22; 41:51, 52; 42:49.
وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمُبْلِسِينَ
آیت کے شروع میں واؤ کا لفظ ہے۔ جس کے معنے’’اور‘‘ کے ہیں۔ مگر یہ اردو میں نہیں سجتا۔ اور اس کے حذف کرنے سے معنوں میں فرق نہیں آتا اس لئے ہم نے اسے حذف کر دیا ہے۔
1
آیت کے شروع میں واؤ کا لفظ ہے۔ جس کے معنے’’اور‘‘ کے ہیں۔ مگر یہ اردو میں نہیں سجتا۔ اور اس کے حذف کرنے سے معنوں میں فرق نہیں آتا اس لئے ہم نے اسے حذف کر دیا ہے۔
۞ قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
12:88; 15:57.
The verse holds out a message of hope and good cheer to the sinners. It encourages optimism and kills despair and despondency. It denounces and condemns pessimism because pessimism lies at the root of most sins and failures in life. Again and again the Qur’an gives a promise of Divine mercy and forgiveness (6:55; 7:157; 12:88; 15:57; 18:59) than which there could be no greater message of solace and comfort for the grieved and the heavy-laden.
12:88; 15:57.
Commentary:
The present is one of the most beautiful verses of the Quran. It holds out a message of hope and good cheer to those who have wronged their souls. It encourages optimism and kills despair and despondency. It denounces and condemns pessimism because pessimism lies at the root of most sins and failures in life. Again and again the Quran gives a promise of Divine mercy and forgiveness. "Despair not of the mercy of Allah," it says, "for none despair of Allah’s mercy save the disbelieving people" (12:88). Again it says: "And who can despair of the mercy of his Lord save those who go astray" (15:57). There could be no greater message of solace and comfort for the grieved and the heavy-laden than this. The God of Islam is "Most Forgiving, full of mercy" (18:59). "He has taken it upon Himself to show mercy" (6:55). "His mercy encompasses all things" (7:157). Such is the God of Islam. He can and does forgive the sins of His servants and does not need the vicarious sacrifice of anyone for this purpose. He only requires a change of heart on the part of the sinner. According to Islam, the sinner is never beyond redemption. The Holy Prophet has beautifully explained this verse in one of his sayings, viz. من قال ھلک الناس فھو أھلکھم i.e. "He who says that the people have gone to ruin, it is he who, in fact, leads them to ruin" (Muslim).
a
12:88; 15:57.
1143
这节经文给所有有罪的人一个充满希望和高兴的消息。这个消息鼓舞起乐观的情绪并且去除了失望的心情。它谴责悲观主义, 因为悲观主义是形成生活中大部分罪恶和失败的根源。«古兰经» 一再述及安拉永久仁慈和宽恕的许约 (6:55; 7:157; 12:88; 15:57; 18:59)。对于悲痛和心情沉重的人来说, 没有比这样的许约更大的并充满着安慰作用的消息了。
a
12:88; 15:57.
3475
Commentary:
The present is one of the most beautiful verses of the Quran. It holds out a message of hope and good cheer to those who have wronged their souls. It encourages optimism and kills despair and despondency. It denounces and condemns pessimism because pessimism lies at the root of most sins and failures in life. Again and again the Quran gives a promise of Divine mercy and forgiveness. "Despair not of the mercy of Allah," it says, "for none despair of Allah’s mercy save the disbelieving people" (12:88). Again it says: "And who can despair of the mercy of his Lord save those who go astray" (15:57). There could be no greater message of solace and comfort for the grieved and the heavy-laden than this. The God of Islam is "Most Forgiving, full of mercy" (18:59). "He has taken it upon Himself to show mercy" (6:55). "His mercy encompasses all things" (7:157). Such is the God of Islam. He can and does forgive the sins of His servants and does not need the vicarious sacrifice of anyone for this purpose. He only requires a change of heart on the part of the sinner. According to Islam, the sinner is never beyond redemption. The Holy Prophet has beautifully explained this verse in one of his sayings, viz. من قال ھلک الناس فھو أھلکھم i.e. "He who says that the people have gone to ruin, it is he who, in fact, leads them to ruin" (Muslim).
a
12:88; 15:57.
2584
The verse holds out a message of hope and good cheer to the sinners. It encourages optimism and kills despair and despondency. It denounces and condemns pessimism because pessimism lies at the root of most sins and failures in life. Again and again the Qur’an gives a promise of Divine mercy and forgiveness (6:55; 7:157; 12:88; 15:57; 18:59) than which there could be no greater message of solace and comfort for the grieved and the heavy-laden.
لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ
2:87; 40:50, 51.
2:87; 40:50, 51.
a
2:87; 40:50, 51.
e
2:87; 40:50-51.
3689
Important Words:
For فتر see 5:20 and for مبلسون, 2:35.
c
2:87; 40:50, 51.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ قَوْمًا غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَدْ يَئِسُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ ٱلْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْقُبُورِ
58:15.
مراد یہ ہے کہ جن لوگوں پر خداتعالیٰ ناراض نہیں ہوتا وہ اپنی دشمنی میں حد سے نہیں بڑھتے۔ لیکن جن پر خداتعالیٰ ناراض ہوتا ہے وہ اپنی دشمنی میں حد سے بڑھ جاتے ہیں اور اس وجہ سے ان سے تعلق رکھنا ناجائز ہو جاتا ہے۔
58:15.
The words, they (disbelievers) have indeed despaired of the Hereafter,mean that they have no faith in the Hereafter, just as they have no faith that dead will ever come to life. The word "they" may particularly apply to the Jews, since the expression, with whom Allah is wroth, has been used about the Jews in several verses of the Qur’an.
58:15.
Commentary:
The verse sums up the subject matter of the Surah, viz. that there could be no real union of hearts without community of ideals and principles and that the beliefs and ideas of believers and disbelievers are poles apart from each other. The last sentence of the verse may mean that disbelievers have despaired of the Hereafter i.e. they have absolute no faith in the Hereafter, just as they have no faith that the dead would ever again come to life. The word "they" may also refer to the Jews, since the expression "with whom Allah is wroth," has been used about the Jews in several verses of the Quran.
a
58:15.
3
مراد یہ ہے کہ جن لوگوں پر خداتعالیٰ ناراض نہیں ہوتا وہ اپنی دشمنی میں حد سے نہیں بڑھتے۔ لیکن جن پر خداتعالیٰ ناراض ہوتا ہے وہ اپنی دشمنی میں حد سے بڑھ جاتے ہیں اور اس وجہ سے ان سے تعلق رکھنا ناجائز ہو جاتا ہے۔
a
58:15.
4221
Commentary:
The verse sums up the subject matter of the Surah, viz. that there could be no real union of hearts without community of ideals and principles and that the beliefs and ideas of believers and disbelievers are poles apart from each other. The last sentence of the verse may mean that disbelievers have despaired of the Hereafter i.e. they have absolute no faith in the Hereafter, just as they have no faith that the dead would ever again come to life. The word "they" may also refer to the Jews, since the expression "with whom Allah is wroth," has been used about the Jews in several verses of the Quran.
a
58:15.
3033
The words, they (disbelievers) have indeed despaired of the Hereafter,mean that they have no faith in the Hereafter, just as they have no faith that dead will ever come to life. The word "they" may particularly apply to the Jews, since the expression, with whom Allah is wroth, has been used about the Jews in several verses of the Qur’an.