Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 259
POSTSCRIPT-SIGN NUMBER 18 259 18. EIGHTEENTH SIGN―God Almighty has said: وَ لَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْأَقَاوِيلِ. لَاخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ. ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ. Meaning that, had this Prophet falsely attributed any sayings to Us, We would have seized him by the right hand and severed that vein which is his life-vein [i. e. jugular vein]. Although this verse has been revealed regarding the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, it is of general application, quite like the idiom of the entire Holy Quran where most of the commands and prohibitions are apparently addressed to the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, but others are also addressed in these commandments, or such commandments are exclusively meant for others as is this verse: فَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُمَا أَفْ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَ قُلْ لَهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا. Meaning that, never say unto your parents any word expressive of ennui, and do not say to them such things as lack regard for their esteem. The addressee of this verse is the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, but this commandment is, in fact, directed toward the Ummah, because the father and the mother of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had passed away when he was very young. This commandment also contains a point to pon- der, namely, that a sensible person can appreciate from this verse that if this commandment is addressed to the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, admonishing him to respect his parents and pay due regard to their exalted station in all conversation, how much respect others need to show towards their parents. This is what another verse points to: 1. Surah al-Haqqah, 69:45-47 [Publisher] 2. Surah Bani Isra'il, 17:24 [Publisher]