The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 123
PT. 4 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN CH. 3 demonstration to men, and a guidance and an admonition to the God-fearing. 422 هذَا بَيَان لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةٌ This the Quran is a clear. 139 لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُو الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ 140. dSlacken not, nor grieve; and you shall certainly have the upper hand, believers. 423 Commentary: if you are a5:16; 36:70. 2:3, 186; 31:4. 24:35. d4:105; 47:36. you many The clause, there have been many dispensations before you, means that there have gone before you men who followed different ways and possessed diverse characters; or there have passed before dispensations and many nations following different systems or laws. So you should journey in the earth and see what class of men were saved and who perished and what the end of those who persisted in evil was. 422. Commentary: The pronouns (this) may be taken to refer to (1) the Quran, or (2) the verse immediately preceding, or (3) the subject of repentance discussed in the foregoing verses. The word (God-fearing or righteous) does not here necessarily apply to Muslims only. It extends to all persons who earnestly desire to guard against things that are fraught with danger to their souls and who take heed of their spiritual good. It is only such persons as are likely to benefit by admonition. 563 423. Important Words: ✓ (if) is a common Arabic word giving a number of meanings: (1) if, (2) not, (3) verily, (4) because, (5) when, etc. (Lane). Commentary: The expression, Slacken not, nor grieve, embodies a very important principle of national or for that matter, personal strength, the words "slacken not" pertaining to future danger and the words "grieve not" to past errors and misfortunes. Nations fall only when, either through lack of true realization of their respon- sibilities they begin to slacken, or through brooding over the past, they give way to despair. The words warn against both these dangers. The clause, you shall certainly have the upper hand, means that if Muslims follow the above advice, they will certainly be victorious in the end. Intervening failures are indeed no failures if the final triumph is assured. Muslims had apparently met with a reverse at Uhud, so God exhorts the Faithful to let no sort of weakness get