Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page 59
Ash-Shu‘ar a ’ 59 gives the account of some Divine Messengers and opens this account with the story of Moses, who in pursuance of Divine command succeeded in taking the Israelites out of Egypt. To illustrate further that truth always triumphs in the long run and opposition to it comes to grief, the S u rah gives a brief account of Prophets Abraham, Noah, H u d, Sa li h , Lot and Shu‘aib. Abraham demonstrated to his people the folly and futility of idol-worship. His account is followed by that of Noah whose people rejected him on the ground that he sought to remove all social distinctions. He was followed by H u d and Sa li h. Both these Divine Prophets tried hard to make their people realise that it was not material pomp and power but good morals and spiritual strength upon which really depended their life and prosperity but their peoples threw their preaching and warnings to the wind. The peoples of Lot and Shu‘aib fared no better. The former indulged in an unnatural vice and the latter were dishonest in their commercial dealings. Towards the end the S u rah reverts to the subject with which it had commenced, viz. that the Qur’ a n is the revealed Word of God and that it gives sound and solid arguments to prove this claim, and adds that the Prophets of yore had testified to its truth and that the learned men of Israel also are convinced in their heart of hearts that it is God’s own revealed Word because it fulfils the prophecies which are contained in their Scriptures. The S u rah invites disbelievers to ponder over the teachings of the Qur’ a n and to see that if they could have been the work of satans or could the Holy Prophet himself have produced them. It further says that the teachings of the Qur’ a n bear close resemblance to those of the earlier Scriptures, and satanic people evidently could have no access to their Divine Source. Satans descend only upon liars and sinners and upon those who forge lies and coin and copy falsehood. The poets derive inspiration from these votaries of falsehood and are in turn followed by men of low morals and of no fixed principles. They and their followers take delight in tall, meaningless talk, but do not act upon what they profess and preach. The S u rah closes with enjoining the Holy Prophet to continue to preach the Unity and Oneness of God to his people and educate and train them for the promotion of the cause of Islam. He is further enjoined to trust in the Almighty and Merciful God under Whose protection and fostering care he passes his days, and Who will very soon end the state of dispersion of Muslims and will bring them together in a place where they will live in peace and prosperity and will worship the One True God in perfect safety and security.