The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 147
PT. 1 AL-BAQARAH which means: (1) he showed submissiveness and humility. The Quran says And to Allah submits whosoever is in the heavens and the earth (13:16); (2) he fell prostrate (Mufradāt). In the verse under comment the word is used in the first mentioned sense; for, besides other reasons pointing to this significance, one cannot pass through a gate while fallen prostrate on the ground. ab (forgive us our sins) is derived from b which means: (1) he descended or came down; (2) he brought down, or caused to fall, or removed a burden, etc. means, he requested that person to take down or relieve him of his heavy burden (Aqrab). As in theology, to seek relief from a burden is to seek forgiveness of sins, the expression abs (literally the bringing down of a burden) would mean, remove our burden of sins or forgive us our sins. (We shall forgive) is derived from. They say meaning, he covered or concealed the thing. means, he put the things in the bag and thus covered and protected them. asal means, God covered up his sin and forgave it CH. 2 battle which in those days took place between the Amalekites and the Israelites in Rephidim (Exod. 17:8) which shows that the Amalekites inhabited certain parts of this land. Though the land was a desert, yet here and there habitations were also to be found (Enc. Bib. IV. 4036, 37). In fact, the presence of a desert does not preclude the existence of habitations, because even wandering tribes make here and there small habitations which, serve as meeting places for their scattered clans. As the Israelites were eager to live in inhabited places owing to the facilities they afforded and owing also to their previous mode of living, they were bidden to go to some neighbouring village where they would combine the life of the desert with that of a habitation and would be free to eat wherever they liked, as is usual in a desert place where there is no private ownership. But as this change was to bring them in contact with other people and was likely to affect their morals, they were at the same time bidden to be careful about themselves and to be submissive and obedient to God and also to pray to Him that He might means, he rectified or reformed the forgive them the sins they might matter suitably (Aqrab & Lane). commit. If they acted upon this and both infinitives, signify God's forgiveness or His protection of a person against the punishment of his sins (Mufradāt). Commentary: The Bible is here again at fault and makes no direct mention of this incident. It, however, speaks of a 147 injunction, God would be kind to them and would forgive them their sins. Nay, He would further bestow on those who acted righteously His added favours and blessings. The words "this village" need not refer to any specified village. According to the Arabic idiom the