ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

10:43; 17:48.

17:47; 41:6.

Commentary:

For an explanation of "veils" and "deafness", see 2:8.

What the Quran calls "signs" are described by disbelievers as mere "fables of the ancients," which saying of theirs is condemned by God. This shows that in the sight of God the stories of past Prophets and past nations given in the Quran are not meant as "tales" or "stories" but as "signs", being prophecies of future events which, when fulfilled, will serve as "signs".

Commentary:

After the Battle of Badr, in which the opponents of Islam suffered a crushing defeat, they are once more invited to desist from fighting, and it is promised to them that if they cease hostilities against Islam, their past offences will be forgiven them. But they are at the same time warned that if they return to war, they will meet the same fate which the former opponents of truth met. See also 8:20 above.

6:26; 68:16; 83:14.

Commentary:

The disbelievers alleged that they could produce a composition like that of the Quran. It was, however, nothing but an empty boast on their part, which they never attempted to carry into effect; and the challenge of the Quran, which declared that they would never be able to produce even a short chapter like any chapter of the Quran, has ever remained unanswered. The disbelievers also thought that the Quran contained nothing but the tales of the ancients. The verse under comment contradicts this assertion by drawing their attention to the powerful prophecies contained in the Quran which unmistakably prove it to be the Word of God, it being beyond the power of man to produce a composition containing such powerful prophecies. The Battle of Badr, for instance, fulfilled many a mighty prophecy, foretold by the Quran (e.g 54:45-47; 34:30, 31)—a fact which rendered it impossible for man to imitate a production like it, and which fully exposed the absurdity of the assertion that the Quran was nothing but tales of the ancients.

Important Words:

شیع (parties) is the plural of شیعة (a party) which is derived from شاع meaning, it (a thing or a piece of news) became spread or disclosed. اشاع الخبر means, he spread or disclosed the news. شیع بالابل (shayya‘a) means, he (a pastor) called to the camels whereupon they (gathered together and) followed one another. شیعة of which the plural is شیع means, a separate or distinct party of men, so called from their agreeing together and following one another; the followers or assistants of a man; any people that have combined in or for an affair; any people or party whose affair or case is one and who follow one another’s opinion (Lane).

Commentary:

In the word شیع (parties or more literally, parties forming groups) all the former peoples have been spoken of as groups. This negatives the assertion of those so-called in-dependent people who describe themselves as not belonging to any group, for every man must belong to one group or another whether old or new, known or unknown. Herding, according to psychologists, is one of the strongest instincts of man, and it is in reference to this fact that the former peoples have been spoken of as forming so many شیع (parties or groups). For the meaning of the word شیع see Important Words.

The verse purports to state that the Prophet of Islam is not the first Prophet. There have been Prophets before him and God extended His protection to their teachings also. Similarly He will protect his teaching, the Quran. On the occasion of the appearance of a Prophet who brings a new Law, this protection is afforded to his teaching, among other things, by his followers being invested with political power which enables them to give a practical demonstration of the truth of his teaching. His followers may not attain to political power very early in their career, nevertheless they achieve such influence as enables them to demonstrate by actual practice the truth of his teachings. It is indeed surprising that the opponents of every Prophet have always refused to test the truth of his claim by the criteria of the history of past Prophets, which is the easiest way to ascertain the merits of any such claim. This attitude of disbelievers proves that they are not honest or earnest about ascertaining the truth but intend only to confuse the issues.

26:202.

Commentary:

The evil habit of ridiculing God’s Prophets referred to in v. 12 results in the hardening of the heart and debars the mockers from believing in their Prophet in spite of seeing clear signs in his support. The verse means to say that such has been the end of the scoffers of the Prophets in the past and such will be the end of those who mock at the Holy Prophet now.

8:32; 68:16; 83:14.

Commentary:

The verse reverts to the original theme and says that when deniers of the Unity of God and Resurrection listen to arguments in support of these doctrines, instead of giving them proper consideration they make light of them by saying that these arguments are a mere repetition of the sayings of the ancients. By such remarks they seek to divert the attention of their followers from the truth. This is a common device of the opponents of truth. They always assert that there is nothing new in the teachings of their Prophet, and think that this assertion alone constitutes a sufficient refutation of his claims. As a matter of fact, Prophets of God come to remind men of the old truths that the latter had forgotten. If the later Prophets had taught what had not been taught by their predecessors they would indeed be impostors. Of course, every Prophet presents old truths in a new garb and, if necessary, makes some additions or alterations as required by the circumstances and conditions of his age.

17:95.

Commentary:

The Quran has explained all matters that concern man’s belief and conduct so completely and comprehensively that no room is left to an honest person but to accept truth and obey the Divine Call. But so perverse and wayward are disbelievers that they refuse to see reason and accept truth. Their obstinacy and hardness of heart seems to show that they will not be satisfied with anything but Divine punishment.

By the words سنة الاولین is meant the last and final Divine punishment which completely destroys disbelievers, while the expression اویاتیھم العذاب قبلا refers to intermediate punishments which come only to warn disbelievers and rouse them from their state of indifference and lethargy. The verse means to say that people to whom reference has been made in the foregoing verses will have both kinds of punishment.

7:61; 11:28; 17:95; 34:44.

17:96.

Commentary:

The disbelievers have always suffered from a superiority complex and therefore have always rejected Divine Messengers on the plea that they cannot accept the lead of one who is "only a man like ourselves."

The verse incidentally implies that belief in the existence of angels was entertained from time immemorial. As far back as Noah’s time his opponents wanted to see angels descending on them. See also 11:28.

Important Words:

ام (or) possesses a variety of meanings, some of which are the following:

It is a conjunction connected with what precedes it so that neither what precedes it nor what follows it is independent, the one of the other. It denotes interrogation or is used in a case of interrogation corresponding to the interrogative أ and meaning ای. They say أزید فی الدار ام عمرو i.e. is Zaid in the house or ‘Amr i.e. which of the two (ایھما), therefore what follows امand what precedes it compose one sentence and what follows it must correspond to what precedes it in the quality of noun and of verb. They say أ أنذرتھم ام لم تنذرھم i.e. whether thou warn them or warn them not (2:7). أ زید قائم ام قائد means, is Zaid standing or sitting? It is also used as simple interrogative in the sense of ھل as in ام کنتم شھداء i.e. were you present? (2:134)

Commentary:

The verse means to say, why do not disbelievers understand this simple thing that the Holy Prophet’s Message is no new thing. It is the same Message which from time immemorial the Prophets of God have been bringing in the world, the selfsame message which was given to the forefathers of these people.

27:69.

8:32; 16:25; 68:16; 83:14.

Important Words:

اکتتبھا (got them written down) is derived from کتب which means, he wrote. اکتتب کتاباً means, he wrote a book; he asked one to dictate it; he asked for a book or the like to be written for him; he collected it (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

See next verse.

Commentary:

Without heeding Pharaoh’s interruption mentioned in the previous verse Moses continues his argument. In the preceding verse he had referred to the vastness of God’s dominion and control in respect of space. In this verse he refers to God’s dominion in respect of time.

Important Words:

خلق (habit) is derived from خلق (khalaqa). خلقه means, he measured it or he determined its measure or proportion; he fashioned or planned it; He (God) created it or brought it into existence; he forged or fabricated a story or a lie, etc. They say صار ذالک له خلقا (khulqan) i.e. that became to him a second nature, a habit. خلق (khulq) means, habit or second nature or custom or manner; religion; a lie (Lane & Aqrab). See also 3:50.

Commentary:

This and the preceding verse show that the people of Hud treated all his admonitions and warnings with extreme contempt. Taking خلق (khulq) in the sense of 'habit' the people of ‘Ad are represented as saying to him: "There have been so-called Prophets before who also preached a so-called Divine Message and gave warning of punishment to disbelievers. It was their habit to do so. But punishment never came. So this time also there is going to be no punishment." Taking the word in the sense of 'religion' the verse would mean, "the religion which is being presented to us is nothing new. It is an old, old story which has been repeated from time immemorial" (6:26). Taking it in the sense of 'a lie' the verse would signify: "All what you say is but a pure fabrication and a lie and we are not going to be punished for rejecting a forgery."

Important Words:

جبلة (peoples) is derived from جبل. They say جبله i.e. He (God) created him. جبله علی کذا means, He (God) created him with an adaptation or a disposition to such a thing. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said جبلت القلوب علی حب من أحسن الیھا i.e. hearts have been created with a disposition to the love of him who does good to them (Hilya Abu Nu‘aim). جبله علی الامر means, he compelled him against his will to do the thing. جبلة means nature or temper; innate or natural disposition; idiosyncrasy; numerous company of men; a nation or people (Lane).

Commentary:

The advent of the Holy Prophet and the revelation of the Quran both have been foretold in the previous Divine Scriptures. Prophecies to this effect are to be found in the religious scriptures of almost every faith but the Bible, being the best known and most widely read of all revealed Books before the Quran and also being its forerunner and in its pristine purity being its counterpart as a Book of Divine laws, contains the largest number of such prophecies. Here are some of those prophecies:

(1) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren; like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him (Deut. 18:18-19).

(2) And he said, the Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran and he came with ten thousands of saints; from his right hand went a fiery law for them (Deut. 33:2).

The reference in the above prophecy is to the conquest of Mecca when the Holy Prophet marched into that town at the head of an army of exactly ten thousand Companions, holding the Quran in his right hand.

(3) And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him (Isaiah 8: 15-17).

(4) The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge; O ye travelling companies of Dedanim. The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they did meet with their bread him that fled. For they fled from the swords, from the drawn swords, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. For thus hath the Lord said unto me. Within a year. According to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it (Isaiah 21: 13-17).

The reference in the above prophecy is evidently to Arabia and to the Battle of Badr when the sons of Kedar, the Quraish, suffered an ignominious defeat at the hands of Muslims and many of their great fighters and archers were killed.

(5) And thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name (Isaiah 62: 2).

The prophecy foretells of a new people bearing a new name which will be given to them by God Himself. There is only one people in the world who have a name given to them by God and they are the Muslims. It is to the fulfilment of this prophecy that the Quranic verse clearly refers, viz. "He named you Muslims before and in this Book" (22:79).

(6) I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, because the sun hath scorched me. (Song of Solomon 1: 5-6.)

How aptly this description applies to the Holy Prophet and the Arabs!

(7) God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran, Selah. His glory covered the heavens and the earth was full of his praise…He stood, and measured the earth: He beheld and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting. I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble (Habakkuk 3: 3-7).

In this prophecy mention has been made not only of the Holy Prophet but also of the country in which he was to make his appearance and of the great success that was to attend his mission and the military exploits of his Successors. The holy one whose praise filled the earth and who appeared from Paran was none else than Muhammad, the praised one. From his right hand went the fiery Law—the Quran. He measured the earth and drove asunder the nations and before his irresistible armies the mighty and long established empires were scattered like chaff before the wind and his Shari‘ah is to last forever.

(8) Jesus saith unto them, did ye never read in the scriptures? The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s dong, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (Matt. 21:42-45).

After Jesus, the spiritual kingdom was forever taken away from the House of Israel and given to another nation—the Ishmaelites who have brought forth the right fruits thereof. The Holy Prophet was the stone which the builders rejected and which became the head of the corner. The application to him of this prophecy cannot be disputed or doubted.

(9) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot hear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you (John 16: 12-14).

This prophecy too applies to the Holy Prophet of Islam. He was the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. He guided mankind to all truth because he brought the most complete and perfect Law. He glorified Jesus and all other Prophets of God (4:158-160). He did not speak of himself, but whatsoever he heard that did he speak. About him the Quran says: "Nor does he speak out of desire, it is naught but revelation that is revealed" (53:4-5).

23:84.

29:40.

27:51-52; 35:11.

17:78; 33:63; 48:24.

Commentary:

The verse warns disbelievers that if they persist in their disbelief, they will be punished like disbelievers of the Prophets of yore. It is an established and invariable Divine law that opposition to Divine laws never goes unpunished. This fact is writ large on the history of all revealed religions. This is God’s way and God’s ways never change.

15:11.

Commentary:

The verse purports to say that though earlier Prophets were rejected and opposed, yet God did not cease to send new Prophets on that account. So this system of the coming of heavenly Teachers will continue till the end of time and the jeering and opposition of disbelievers and their evil deeds will not stop it.

7:159; 10:57; 57:3.

Commentary:

In verse 16, reference was made to a class of men who spend their God-given gifts in the service of noble causes in order to win the pleasure of God, and who are anxious that they might be succeeded by a generation who should carry on their noble work. The verse under comment speaks of those unfortunate people who are born of good and righteous parents and are brought up in very healthy environments and yet lead a life of disbelief and sin.

Important Words:

ثلة (large party) is derived from ثل which means, he demolished a thing. ثلة means, a party or company of men or a large number of men. They say فلان لا یفرق بین الثلة و الثلة i.e. such a one does not distinguish between ثلة (thallatun), i.e. a flock of sheep, and ثلة (thullatun), i.e. a company of men.

Commentary:

The word الاولین may refer to the early Companions of the Holy Prophet or to the early Companions of any great Divine Reformer, preferably to the former.

8:32; 16:25; 83:14.

6:134.

8:32; 16:25; 68:16.