The Guiding Light — Page 174
S u rah al-Baqarah, Verses 9-17 174 riders also is a pair of shai ta n , but three riders are a body of riders” (Sunan Ab u D a w u d). The meaning here is that one rider is exposed to mischief and danger and so are two riders, but three riders travelling together form a safe company. Christian critics, ever keen on finding fault with the Qur ’a n, forget the New Testament passages (Mark 8:33; 8:38 & Matt. 3:7; 23:33) where Jesus as calls a disciple satan and his opponents serpents and a generation of vipers, etc. This meaning of the word ﺷ ﻴ ﺎﻃ ني ( sha yati n ) i. e. ringleaders from among the disbelievers and hypocrites, is supported by eminent Muslim scholars like Ibn-e-‘Abb a s, Qat a dah, Muj a hid, and ‘Abdull a h bin Mas u d (Jar i r). ª ! $ # ä — Ì “ ö κ t J ó ¡ o „ ö Ν Í κ Í 5 ÷ Λ è ε ‘ ‰ ß ϑ t ƒ u ρ ’ Î û ö Ν Î γ Ï Ψ≈ u Š ø ó è Û t βθ ß γ y ϑ ÷ è t ƒ ∩∪ [2:16] Allah will punish their mockery and will let them continue in their transgression, wandering blindly. Commentary In this verse the word ﻳ ﺴﺘ-ﺰئ ( yastahzi’o ) literally meaning will mock has been used for God, and this has occasioned