The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 214
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH PT. 1 their saying. Their hearts are alike. We have certainly made the Signs plain for a people who firmly believe. 125 120. We have sent thee with the Truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And thou wilt not be questioned about the inmates of Hell. 126 125. Commentary: قُلُوبُهُمْ قَدْ بَيَّنَا الْآيَتِ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ اِنَّا اَرْسَلْنَكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَا تُسْلُ عَنْ أَصْحُبِ الْجَحِيمِ لا 5:20; 6:49; 17:106; 33:46. This verse refers to two very unreasonable demands of the People of the Book-Jews and Christians: (1) That God should speak to them directly and tell them that the Holy Prophet was His true Messenger; (2) That they should be shown Signs of their own devising. In reply to the first demand, the Quran says that only ignorant people, unacquainted with the ways of God, make such a demand. This demand was made in the time of all the previous Prophets and was rejected as foolish. So it was unreasonable on their part to demand from the Holy Prophet something which their own Prophets had not complied with. In reply to their demand for a Sign, they are told that signs are sufficient for the guidance of right-minded people have already been shown and they could, if they so desired, profit by them, but nothing could avail an obstinate and perverse person. The fact that a demand for a Sign was made from the Holy Prophet does not 214 LUZĺZSJEŠÍ show that no Signs had been shown by him. Indeed, if such a demand be considered as proof of the absence of Signs, no Prophet could be proved to have shown any Sign; for a similar demand was made from every Prophet of God, notably Jesus (Matt. 12:38, 39). It may be also noted here that whenever disbelievers are spoken of as demanding an a) or Sign, the word means either a Sign of their own devising or a Sign in the form of divine punishment (see 21:6, 7; 6:38- 51; 13:28-33; 20:134, 135; 29:51). 126. Commentary: As to the disbelievers' demand for a Sign of punishment, the Quran says that punishment is bound to visit those who refuse to believe in the Holy Prophet, because, like all other Prophets, he was the bearer of glad tidings for believers, and a warner for his opponents. Every student of history knows how clearly this prophecy was fulfilled. The world witnessed the ruin of the Holy Prophet's adversaries in a manner