The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 33
PT. 3 ĀL-E-‘IMRĀN CH. 3 قُلْ إِنْ تُخْفُوا مَا فِي صُدُورِكُمْ اَوْ تُبْدُوهُ Say, “Whether you conceal. 30 what is in your breasts or reveal يَعْلَمُهُ اللهُ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمواتِ وَمَا it, Allah knows it; and He فِي الْأَرْضِ وَاللهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And Allah has power to do all things. '320 "27:75; 28:70. tenacious or niggardly of it. means, the soul; the spirit; the mind; the body; a person or being; a person's or being's self; brother or relative, or one belonging to one's own religion; purpose, will or desire; punishment, etc. (Aqrab & Lane). Commentary: With the advent of political power to Islam, as promised in the preceding verses, the contracting of political alliances became necessary for the Muslim State. The verse under comment embodies the guiding principle that no Muslim state should enter into any treaty or alliance with a non-Muslim state which should in any way injure, or conflict with, the interests of other Muslim states. The interests of Islam should transcend all other interests. The phrase, in preference to believers, means: (1) that Muslims should not form friendly relations with disbelievers in preference to believers, shunning the latter and seeking the former; (2) that they should not form any connection with disbelievers in a way that may harm the interests of Muslims. They are, 473 however, free to contract friendly relations with such non-Muslims as are friendly to them, according to the exigencies of time and circumstances (60:9, 10). The verse also instructs Muslims to be on their guard against the plots and machinations of disbelievers. The expression, except that you refers not to the power of the enemy cautiously guard against them, but to his cunning against which Muslims should always be on their guard. rendered as ويحذركم الله نفسه The clause And Allah cautions you against His punishment, may also be translated as "and Allah cautions or warns you concerning Himself", meaning that if you do not faithfully accept the guidance of God, and make friends with disbelievers in preference to believers, you will lose God, Who I will in that case have no connection with you. 320. Commentary: This and the succeeding verse are addressed to the enemies of Islam. They are warned that all their open or secret machinations against Islam