The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 37
PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH the word (belief) is the opposite of (disbelief). It is particularly used with reference to God and other fundamental objects of faith. CH. 2 (We have provided for them) رزقناهم is from i. e. he provided or he gave. means, a thing whereby one profits, or from which one derives an advantage; any article of food; any means of sustenance; anything bestowed by God on man, material or otherwise (Aqrab & Mufradāt). (they spend) is derived from ✓ : (the unseen) is derived from i. e. he or it became screened or invisible; he went far away and became separated. Thus means, anything unseen, anything invisible or hidden, anything absent or far away (Aqrab & Lane). All objects of. They sayi. e. the thing became spent up or reduced. means, he spent freely and constantly so as to reduce his wealth (Aqrab & Mufradāt). faith God, the Angels, the Books, the Prophets and the Last Day—are unseen. A revealed Book is visible as a book, but the fact that it is a revealed Book is unseen. Similarly, we see the Prophet as a human being, but the fact that he has a mission from God remains unseen. The word ✓✓C: however, is not confined to objects of faith alone. (observe) is derived from 5. They say meaning, he set the thing up, or he set the thing erect or upright. again is derived from meaning, he stood erect, or he stood up, or he stood still. means, he performed his Prayers regularly (Aqrab). also means, he performed Prayers in accordance with all the prescribed conditions (Mufradāt). Commentary: In this verse three important qualities of a (muttaqi) have been mentioned: (1) a believer in the unseen; (2) steadfast in Prayer; and (3) spending out of what God has provided for him. Of these the first relates to faith or belief which must always come first; the other two relate to actions. Belief in the unseen does not mean blind belief or belief in understood. Nothing can be farther things which cannot be grasped or. i. e صلى Prayer) is derived from) الصلوة he prayed. The word gives different meanings with reference to different objects. When used about God, it means, He showed mercy to, or bestowed praise on; used about the angels, it means, they asked forgiveness for men, etc. ; and used about man it means, he prayed. In Islam the word has generally come to mean the prescribed form of Prayer (Aqrab). 37 from the spirit of the Quran than to imagine that it demands from Muslims belief which reason and understanding do not support. The Quran strongly denounces such beliefs. True faith, according to it, is that which is supported by reason and argument (53:23; 46:5; 30:36; 6:149, 150; 25:74). Moreover, the word ✓ used in the Quran does not mean, as assumed by some hostile critics, imaginary and unreal things, but real and verified things, though unseen (49:19; 32:7). It is, therefore, wrong to suppose, as