The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 3
these Books having become abrogated, are unable to satisfy the needs and requirements of the time (4-7). Further the Surah says that there is going to be a sort of spiritual duel between the Quran and these Books and that in this duel the Quran will prove to be far superior to them and will prevail over them when set against them because it embodies teachings which the latter lack (8-12). The Surah proceeds to tell Muslims that they should banish the doubt from their minds that, in view of the numerical superiority of Jews and Christians and the preponderance of the means at their disposal, Muslims would not prevail against them, because God had already granted them predominance over enemies who were also more powerful and larger in number. The same phenomenon will be repeated now. Further, God says that national victories do not result from material means but from the superiority of national morals. Hence final victory will come to Muslims because, though they lack the former they are in ample possession of the latter (13-18). Again, the Quran says that belief in the Oneness of God forms one of the important and major means of victory, and with this Muslims have been blessed. So as Muslims possess true religion, no power on earth can defeat them (19-20). The chapter proceeds to dwell upon the theme that nobody can prevail against God and His Messenger because opposition to them means opposition to justice and justice cannot suffer defeat (21-23). Furthermore, the chapter says that the enemies of Islam labour under the delusion that their national usages and customs are superior to those of Muslims. They seem to ignore the fact that in this world there is no escape from the law of cause and effect, and they cannot hope to succeed by flouting this law (24-28). It further says that there exists a great difference between the good morals of Muslims and the bad morals of disbelievers; the former, therefore, should always be on their guard against being influenced by the depravity of the latter lest they incur God's wrath (29-31). The Surah continues the subject and develops it further when it says that the way to progress and prosperity for Muslims does not lie in imitating other peoples but in strictly following Islam and the Holy Prophet (32-33). The above statement is not an empty assertion, because history bears testimony to the fact that victory has always come by following God's Messengers (34-35). After this a clear and detailed exposition of the real subject is taken in hand with a brief reference to the beginning of Christianity, the refutation of which is the main theme here (36-64). Then the attention of the People of the Book has been drawn to the fact that when Muslims also believe in the truth of the origin and source of their faith, there is no reason for them to fight each other. On the contrary, they should both preach to disbelievers the doctrine of the Oneness 443