The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 264
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH PT. 2 اَتُوْبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَاَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ truth, it is these to whom I turn with forgiveness, and I am Oft- Returning with compassion and Merciful. 167 إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَا تُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّار Those who disbelieve and. 162 die while they are disbelievers, أُولَيكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللهِ وَالْمَلَكَةِ on them shall be the curse of وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ Allah and of angels and of men all together. 168 curse them―angels, men, elements, laws of nature and all. 167. Important Words: or "3:88. the repentance. Firstly, they should declare their repentance and turn back from their wrong course. Secondly, they should make amends practically, not only by reforming themselves but also by trying to reform those who have been misled through them. Thirdly, they should openly declare the truth which they have been hiding regarding the prophecies in their Scriptures. If they fulfilled these conditions, they would yet find God Forgiving and Merciful. (amend) is derived from which means, he or it was or became good or virtuous or just or proper. means, he reformed him he reformed himself or he amended. When is followed by the preposition (between) as in it means, he brought reconciliation between them (Aqrab). بين Commentary: about God, not being vindictive, is ever ready to pardon those who repent and rectify their mistakes. But repentance must be sincere and real. Mere verbal expression of regret is not sufficient. The evildoer must try to make full amends for the wrong committed and should promise to bring about in himself a real change in future. It is only after a real change takes place in the sinner that forgiveness is promised to him. As to the Jews who concealed prophecies regarding the Holy Prophet, the verse lays down three conditions as a proof of real 264 168. Commentary: The word (men) may either mean "all men" or "holy and virtuous men", i. e. those who deserve to be called "men" in the real sense of the word. This distinction is not arbitrary; for there is a class of men whom the Quran describes as "cattle or even worse" (7:180). The cursing of the angels and the holy men means that as angels and holy men obey their Lord and Master and never go against His wishes, they would naturally sever connections with the disbelievers the Jews— when they see Him doing the same.