The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 160
CH. 3 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN that indeed is a matter of strong determination. 469 PT. 4 وَإِذْ اَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَبَ And remember when Allah. 188 took a covenant from those who لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوْنَهُ ,were given the Book, saying فَنَبَدُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ 'You shall make this Book known to the people and not conceal it. ' But "they threw it away behind their backs, and bartered it for a paltry price. Evil is that which they have purchased. 470 ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ b لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا آتَوْا Think not that those who. 189 exult in what they have done, وَيُحِبُّونَ أَنْ يُحْمَدُوا مَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا and love to be praised for what فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ they have not done-think not that they are secure from punishment. They shall suffer a grievous chastisement. 471 E 469. Commentary: "2:102. 61:3-4. Tests and trials are necessary and serve a four-fold purpose: (1) They distinguish the waverers and the weak of faith from those sincere and who, along with his followers, was not called upon to put up with abuse and hardships. 470. Commentary: The reference here is to no steadfast votaries whose faith is particular covenant, but to a general strong and firm. (2) They become a means of spiritual advancement for those sincere in faith. (3) Those who are tried come to know of the strength or otherwise of their own faith and are thus enabled to shape their conduct accordingly. (4) Trials also establish the title to reward of those deserving it. Indeed there never was a Prophet 600 covenant taken from the followers of and promulgate the Message they had every Prophet that they would preach accepted and would live up to it. The pronoun "it" in the clause, and not conceal it, may refer either to the Book or the covenant. 471. Important Words: فاز secure) is derived from) مفازة