The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 325
PT. 2 AL-BAQARAH talked of him by way of praising him; (2) he remembered him in his heart (Aqrab & Mufradāt). See also 2:41, 153. 3 (or) is a preposition, used to convey a number of meanings, the more important being: (1) or; (2) and; (3) nay; (4) unless; (5) until (Aqrab & Lane). 5) (share) means, an abundant share in what is good (Aqrab). Commentary: The clause, celebrate the praises of Allah as you celebrated the praises of your fathers, points to a practice of pagan Arabs who used to gather together at a certain place in Minā after the performance of the rites of Pilgrimage and glorify their forefathers by reciting poems in their praise. Muslims are here bidden to glorify God instead, and praise Him as they used to praise their forefathers, and, the words "even more than that" have been added to emphasize that God's praises should transcend all, for the word 3) (or) also means, "nay". It is also possible that the word (as) in the expression (as you celebrated praises) has been used only to denote general similarity without reference degree, and the word (or) has been to used in the sense of "and". In this case the verse would mean that though in the general manner of praise your celebration of God's praises may resemble the praises with which you glorified your fathers, in degree it should excel it, being (stronger, loftier and firmer). Here is a good example of how the Quran, while retaining some old 325 CH. 2 and, customs, improved upon spiritualised them to serve the ends of Islam. also ذكر means اب as well The clause, when you have performed the acts of worship prescribed for you, celebrate the praises of Allah as you celebrated the praises of your fathers or even more than that, has yet another meaning. As the word 'remembering' and the word (father) includes mother (12:101), the clause may also signify that the rites of Pilgrimage, if performed in the right spirit, should fill the heart of man with such love for God as to make him always remember Him just as a child remembers his parents. This is why the Quran begins the word with the conjunction meaning "so" or "then", hinting that the result of the performance of the rites of Pilgrimage should be that a pilgrim should ever after remember his Creator with the fondness displayed by a child for his parents. But this is only the first stage. With holier men God's love should be even greater, as the verse hints in the words, or even more than that. Says the Holy Prophet, "The sign of true faith is that a believer's love for God and His Apostle should be greater than his love for any other being or thing" (Bukhārī). The concluding clause, i. e. of men there are some who say, 'Our Lord, grant us (good things) in this world, and such a one shall have no share in the Hereafter, points to the fact that if the pilgrim confines himself to the