Topic: After Warning
View Aspects
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
10:109; 39:42.
6:165; 35:19; 39:8; 53:39.
28:60.
惩罚不是外来的事物, 而是在人类内部产生的。事实上, 天上的报答和火狱的惩罚只是人在今生做的种种善事或恶行的许多化身和代表。因此, 在今生人是他自己命运的缔造者, 而在后世可以这样说, 他是他自己的报答者或惩罚者。
每个人都须背上他自己的十字架。任何别人代他牺牲, 对他没有好处。这节经文彻底打击了替人赎罪的这一教义的基础。
在我们这一代, 这个世界已经见到了许多瘟疫、饥馑、战争、地震, 与其他史无前例地严重的、无可比拟的大规模的、一个紧接一个的灾难来加重人类生活的苦难。这些天灾人祸来到世间之前, 安拉一定已经派来了一个警告者。
یعنی کوئی شخص جس پر جواب دہی لازمی ہو دوسرے کی جگہ جواب دہی نہیں کر سکے گا۔ نیز دیکھئے نوٹ سورۃ انعام آیت۱۶۵
10:109; 39:42.
6:165; 35:19; 39:8; 53:39.
28:60.
Punishment is not something that comes from outside but it takes its birth within man himself. In fact, the punishments and rewards of Heaven and Hell will only be so many embodiments and representations of the deeds, good or bad, of man done by him in this life. Thus in this life man is the architect of his own destiny and in the next he will be, so to say, his own rewarder or punisher.
Everyone has to bear his own cross. Nobody’s vicarious sacrifice can do him any good. The verse strikes at the root of the doctrine of atonement.
The world has, in our own generation, seen pestilences, famines, wars, earthquakes and other calamities of unprecedented severity and unparalleled magnitude in such rapid succession as to embitter human life. Before these calamities and catastrophes visited the earth, God must have raised a Warner.
10:109; 39:42.
6:165; 35:19; 39:8; 53:39.
28:60.
Commentary:
This verse further explains the purport of the previous verse. It shows that man himself benefits by his good deeds or suffers the evil consequences of his bad deeds. So whatever he does, he does for or against his own self. A murderer, in fact, murders his own self, and a thief steals his own property. Similarly when a man does good to another person, in reality he does good to himself.
Christian theological writers sometimes quote this verse in support of the doctrine that Jesus took upon himself, and suffered for, the sins of man. They argue that according to this verse a sinner cannot bear the sins of another person, but Jesus, being sinless, could and did bear other people’s sins. Without entering here into the sinlessness or otherwise of Jesus, it may be pointed out that what the verse means is only this, that man himself and no one else in his place can suffer the consequences of his actions. He has to bear his own cross; none else shall answer for him. Punishment or reward is no external thing but is another name for the consequences of man’s actions, and it is evident that where the seed is sown only there does it bear fruit. So when punishment or reward proceeds from within the doer himself, how can any other person share it with him or be responsible for it?
The verse under comment thus lends no support to the Christian doctrine of Atonement; on the contrary, it refutes and contradicts it. The Christian doctrine is based on the assumption that punishment is something external and therefore one person can atone for the sins of another person. The present verse clearly refutes this unnatural idea.
In order to meet this objection Christians hold Hell to be a material thing. It is clearly unreasonable to believe that Hell is a material thing and Heaven spiritual. Either both are material or both spiritual. If Hell is spiritual then there is no sense in one person bearing the punishment of another. No person can share the regret, grief, anger, etc., of another, because all these things take their birth within man himself and are the result of his own deeds. He can become relieved of the punishment of his deeds only when he brings about death over his baser self and a complete and genuine change takes place in him through repentance and remorse.
The verse also explains another divine law viz. God does not send down destructive punishment upon a people unless He has first raised a Warner among them. This law has also been expressly laid down in vv. 67:9, 10; 39:72; 35:38 & 28:60.
The truth of these verses has been remarkably demonstrated in our own generation. The world has seen pestilences, famines, wars, earthquakes and other calamities of unprecedented severity and unparalleled magnitude in such rapid succession as to embitter human life. But before these calamities and catastrophes visited the earth God raised in the person of Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, a Warner who warned mankind of the impending tribulation.
God’s purpose in raising His Messengers and sending down punishment when people reject and oppose them is that they should listen to their admonitions and reform themselves. See also 4:166; 24:48; 35:38; 39:72 & 67:9-10.
c
10:109; 39:42.
d
6:165; 35:19; 39:8; 53:39.
e
28:60.
705
惩罚不是外来的事物, 而是在人类内部产生的。事实上, 天上的报答和火狱的惩罚只是人在今生做的种种善事或恶行的许多化身和代表。因此, 在今生人是他自己命运的缔造者, 而在后世可以这样说, 他是他自己的报答者或惩罚者。
706
每个人都须背上他自己的十字架。任何别人代他牺牲, 对他没有好处。这节经文彻底打击了替人赎罪的这一教义的基础。
707
在我们这一代, 这个世界已经见到了许多瘟疫、饥馑、战争、地震, 与其他史无前例地严重的、无可比拟的大规模的、一个紧接一个的灾难来加重人类生活的苦难。这些天灾人祸来到世间之前, 安拉一定已经派来了一个警告者。
1
یعنی کوئی شخص جس پر جواب دہی لازمی ہو دوسرے کی جگہ جواب دہی نہیں کر سکے گا۔ نیز دیکھئے نوٹ سورۃ انعام آیت۱۶۵
a
10:109; 39:42.
b
6:165; 35:19; 39:8; 53:39.
c
28:60.
1945
Commentary:
This verse further explains the purport of the previous verse. It shows that man himself benefits by his good deeds or suffers the evil consequences of his bad deeds. So whatever he does, he does for or against his own self. A murderer, in fact, murders his own self, and a thief steals his own property. Similarly when a man does good to another person, in reality he does good to himself.
Christian theological writers sometimes quote this verse in support of the doctrine that Jesus took upon himself, and suffered for, the sins of man. They argue that according to this verse a sinner cannot bear the sins of another person, but Jesus, being sinless, could and did bear other people’s sins. Without entering here into the sinlessness or otherwise of Jesus, it may be pointed out that what the verse means is only this, that man himself and no one else in his place can suffer the consequences of his actions. He has to bear his own cross; none else shall answer for him. Punishment or reward is no external thing but is another name for the consequences of man’s actions, and it is evident that where the seed is sown only there does it bear fruit. So when punishment or reward proceeds from within the doer himself, how can any other person share it with him or be responsible for it?
The verse under comment thus lends no support to the Christian doctrine of Atonement; on the contrary, it refutes and contradicts it. The Christian doctrine is based on the assumption that punishment is something external and therefore one person can atone for the sins of another person. The present verse clearly refutes this unnatural idea.
In order to meet this objection Christians hold Hell to be a material thing. It is clearly unreasonable to believe that Hell is a material thing and Heaven spiritual. Either both are material or both spiritual. If Hell is spiritual then there is no sense in one person bearing the punishment of another. No person can share the regret, grief, anger, etc., of another, because all these things take their birth within man himself and are the result of his own deeds. He can become relieved of the punishment of his deeds only when he brings about death over his baser self and a complete and genuine change takes place in him through repentance and remorse.
The verse also explains another divine law viz. God does not send down destructive punishment upon a people unless He has first raised a Warner among them. This law has also been expressly laid down in vv. 67:9, 10; 39:72; 35:38 & 28:60.
The truth of these verses has been remarkably demonstrated in our own generation. The world has seen pestilences, famines, wars, earthquakes and other calamities of unprecedented severity and unparalleled magnitude in such rapid succession as to embitter human life. But before these calamities and catastrophes visited the earth God raised in the person of Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, a Warner who warned mankind of the impending tribulation.
God’s purpose in raising His Messengers and sending down punishment when people reject and oppose them is that they should listen to their admonitions and reform themselves. See also 4:166; 24:48; 35:38; 39:72 & 67:9-10.
b
10:109; 39:42.
c
6:165; 35:19; 39:8; 53:39.
d
28:60.
1600
Punishment is not something that comes from outside but it takes its birth within man himself. In fact, the punishments and rewards of Heaven and Hell will only be so many embodiments and representations of the deeds, good or bad, of man done by him in this life. Thus in this life man is the architect of his own destiny and in the next he will be, so to say, his own rewarder or punisher.
1601
Everyone has to bear his own cross. Nobody’s vicarious sacrifice can do him any good. The verse strikes at the root of the doctrine of atonement.
1602
The world has, in our own generation, seen pestilences, famines, wars, earthquakes and other calamities of unprecedented severity and unparalleled magnitude in such rapid succession as to embitter human life. Before these calamities and catastrophes visited the earth, God must have raised a Warner.
وَلَوْ أَنَّآ أَهْلَكْنَٰهُم بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا لَوْلَآ أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ ءَايَٰتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَىٰ
28:48.
a
28:48.
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَٰهُم بِٱلْعَذَابِ فَمَا ٱسْتَكَانُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
6:44.
6:44.
d
6:44.
b
6:44.
2562
Important Words:
For استکانوا (humbled themselves) see 3:147.
c
6:44.
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.
وَمَآ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَرْيَةٍ إِلَّا لَهَا مُنذِرُونَ
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 28:60.
The verse refers to a Divine law that punishment does not overtake a people unless a Prophet is first sent to them and by rejecting and opposing him they render themselves deserving of it. See also 17:16; 28:60; 35:38.
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 28:60.
Commentary:
The verse refers to a divine law that punishment does not overtake a people unless a Prophet is first sent to them and by rejecting and opposing him they render themselves deserving of it. See also 17:16; 28:60; 35:38.
c
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 28:60.
934
这节经文指出安拉的一种法则: 一个民族不会遭受惩罚, 除非他先派一位先知去他们那里, 如果他们拒绝和反对他, 他们就是咎由自取。也可见17:16; 28:60; 35:38。
a
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 28:60.
2803
Commentary:
The verse refers to a divine law that punishment does not overtake a people unless a Prophet is first sent to them and by rejecting and opposing him they render themselves deserving of it. See also 17:16; 28:60; 35:38.
a
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 28:60.
2137
The verse refers to a Divine law that punishment does not overtake a people unless a Prophet is first sent to them and by rejecting and opposing him they render themselves deserving of it. See also 17:16; 28:60; 35:38.
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِىٓ أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِى ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَٰلِمُونَ
اردو میں بستی کی جمع بستیاں بغیر خاص ضرورت کے نہیں آتی اور عربی میں بستیوں سے مراد ملک ہوتا ہے۔
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 26:209.
The unusual frequency and universality of natural calamities in the form of famines, wars, earthquakes and epidemics during the last five or six decades call for the appearance of a Divine Reformer in the present time.
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 26:209.
Commentary:
Two laws have been enunciated in this verse: (1) No people are punished until God has first raised among them a Messenger who warns them of the impending punishment and exhorts them to repent and give up their evil ways. (2) No people are punished unless they have given themselves up to sin and iniquity and have completely closed the doors of repentance upon themselves.
The unusual frequency and universality of natural calamities in the form of famines, wars, earthquakes and epidemics during the last five or six decades call for the appearance of a Divine Messenger in the present time. That Divine Messenger appeared in the fullness of time in the person of Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement.
a
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 26:209.
965
最近五六十年中, 饥馑、战争、地震和瘟疫等天然灾难异乎寻常地频繁和普遍发生, 正呼求着一个现代宗教复兴者的出现。
3
اردو میں بستی کی جمع بستیاں بغیر خاص ضرورت کے نہیں آتی اور عربی میں بستیوں سے مراد ملک ہوتا ہے۔
c
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 26:209.
2920
Commentary:
Two laws have been enunciated in this verse: (1) No people are punished until God has first raised among them a Messenger who warns them of the impending punishment and exhorts them to repent and give up their evil ways. (2) No people are punished unless they have given themselves up to sin and iniquity and have completely closed the doors of repentance upon themselves.
The unusual frequency and universality of natural calamities in the form of famines, wars, earthquakes and epidemics during the last five or six decades call for the appearance of a Divine Messenger in the present time. That Divine Messenger appeared in the fullness of time in the person of Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement.
a
6:132; 11:118; 20:135; 26:209.
2226
The unusual frequency and universality of natural calamities in the form of famines, wars, earthquakes and epidemics during the last five or six decades call for the appearance of a Divine Reformer in the present time.