The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page cxi
GENERAL INTRODUCTION It was his voice to which men and women from the ends of the earth responded with great alacrity. In Jesus' life, not one convert came from outside Israel. All his disciples came from within a radius of 40 to 50 miles. But believers in the Prophet of Islam came from Yemen and Najd and Iran, and among them were idol-worshippers and Jews and Christians. They made such great sacrifices at the Prophet's call and exerted themselves for it so ungrudgingly that the worst enemies of Islam feel constrained to pay a tribute to their spirit of devotion and sacrifice. God Himself pays a tribute to them in the Quran thus: Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him (9:100). There are some of them, who have fulfilled their vow, and some who still wait (33:24). The Prophet's followers had to take part in wars and to make use of bows and arrows. Their horses' hoofs were like flint and their wheels like the whirlwind. To this also there is a clear reference in the Quran: By the panting chargers of the warriors, striking sparks of fire, making raids at dawn, and raising clouds of dust therewith, and penetrating thereby into the centre of the enemy forces (100:2-6). This is a description of the warriors of early Islam, and how truly does it correspond to the prophecy of Isaiah. We have in one part of the prophecy: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof (Isaiah 5:30). The Quran refers to this in 30:41 thus: "Corruption has appeared on land and sea. " That is, both human wisdom and divine teaching have become dark and both point to the need of a new teacher, bearer of a new Message from God; Also in 65:11-12 we have: Allah has indeed sent down to you an admonition-a Messenger who recites unto you the clear Signs of Allah, that he may bring those who believe and do good deeds out of darkness into light. (c) In Isaiah (8:13-17) we have: Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be lxxxv