The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 33
PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH showing, the right path; (2) leading up to the right path; and (3) making one follow the right path till one reaches one's goal or destination. (the righteous) is derived from which is derived from 3. They say 865, i. e. he guarded or shielded him against evil, etc. means, he was on his guard against, or he guarded himself against. means, he took it or him as a at, (shield) for himself (Aqrab). In religious language the word means, to guard oneself against sins or harmful things; or to take God as a shield for protection against sins. It is wrong, therefore, to translate the word as "fear", unless it is for want of ,means تقی or اتقا or تقوى. a better word ever guarding oneself against sins. Ubayy bin Ka'b, a distinguished Companion of the Holy Prophet, aptly explains by likening to a man who walks through thorny bushes, taking every possible care that his clothes are not caught in, and torn by, the branches (Kathīr). An Arab poet, Ibnul-Mu'tazz, has expressed the same idea in the following beautiful verses: وكبيرها ذاك التقى خل الذنوب صغيرها ض الشوك يحذر مايرى واصنع كماش فوق ار ان الجبال من الحصى لا تحقرن صغيرة i. e. "Avoid all sins both small and great that is And act like one who walks through a land full of thorny bushes, cautious of all things that one sees. Do not think lightly of small sins, for even big mountains are made up of tiny pebbles" (Kathir). A Muttaqi (righteous person), therefore, is one who is ever on his guard against sins and takes God for his 33 shield or shelter. Commentary: CH. 2 this is a perfect ذالك الكتاب The clause Book) placed in the beginning of the verse, is capable of several interpretations, the following two being more in harmony with the Quranic text: 1. This is a Complete and Perfect Book, a Book which possesses all the excellences that a complete and perfect Book should possess. 2. This is that Book or this is the Book (which you prayed for, or which was promised to you). لا ريب فيه Combined with the words لا the full clause ريب \; would mean that this Book is perfect in all respects and contains nothing of in it, i. e. nothing that may make one's mind uneasy, nothing doubtful, nothing that may cause affliction, etc. A Book claiming to be revealed and demanding acceptance in the presence of other Books which also claim Divine origin must at the very outset make such a claim to set at rest the natural question as to what was the necessity of a new Book when already so many Books existed in the world. So the Quran, in the very beginning, asserts that of all Books it alone is perfect, satisfying human needs in a perfect manner. The above claim of the Quran is capable of detailed substantiation. Briefly, however, it is founded on the comprehensiveness of its teaching. The Quran deals clearly and adequately with all important questions such as God and His attributes; the origin, nature and purpose of man; and his life here and