Three Questions by a Christian and their Answers — Page 24
24 both were shown by the Holy Prophet sa , with the exception of the signs of warning which had been shown to earlier people and had been rejected by them, because they did not consider them to be miracles. A careful look at the verses under consideration makes it clear that the first two meanings cannot be correct. It would be wrong to understand from this verse that God will not send any of the numerous signs of warning which He can send, nor will He send any of the numerous signs of chas- tisement as are beyond human perception and are within His limitless power, merely because earlier people had rejected them. It is evident that earlier people rejected only those signs which they had witnessed, for how can something be rejected which has not been seen? While it is in the power of God to show such extraordinary signs as no man can deny, and to which everyone has to submit, and while He has the power to show every sign, and the signs of His power are infinite and limitless, how can it be correct to say that all of them have been seen and rejected within a short period of time! The fact is that only a limited number of signs could have been shown in a limited period of time. Therefore, the correct meaning of the verse is that it is futile to send again the signs which have been seen and rejected by earlier unbe- lievers. This is the meaning which emerges when the verse is seen in its true context. Here God refers to the she-camel of Tham u d, and this reference shows that the verse relates only to signs of warning which were shown and rejected in the past. This is the third and true meaning of the verse.