The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 2) — Page 660
CH. 8 AL-ANFĀL PT. 9 يَايُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللهَ O ye who believe! prove not. 28 وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا آمَنكُمْ وَأَنتُم Messenger, nor prove false to تَعْلَمُونَ false to Allah and the your trusts knowingly. 1116 29. And know that possessions and your children وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَاَوْلَادُكُمْ your فِتْنَةٌ وَاَنَّ اللهَ عِنْدَةَ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمُ are but a trial and that it is Allah with Whom is a great reward. 1117 "3:187; 64:16. are weak and surrounded by dangers. obligations that he may form or enter The verse also hints that as Muslims will soon prosper and attain power, they should never forget the days of hardships through which they have passed, i. e. in the days of their power, they should never oppress the weak creatures of God but should always treat them with justice and mercy. 1116. Commentary: The verse enjoins Muslims not to act faithlessly with regard to either the commandments of God or the rights of one another. Indeed, a Muslim should always be true to God and true to his fellow beings. It is significant that when speaking of being true to God, the verse directly says, prove not false to Allah, but when speaking of men the words used are, prove not false to your trusts. This is to point out that whereas faithfulness to God is absolute and eternal, being based on the very creation of man, faithfulness to man springs from the trusts and into. 1117. Important Words: They. فتن trial is derived from) فتنة sayai. e. he tried or proved or tested him. So means, a trial meant to also 2:103, 192; 4:92 & 5:50,72. Thus separate the good from the bad. See at is anything that is a means of purification and advancement for the good and a means of exposure and downfall for the wicked. Commentary: 1100 As a (trial) is a means of purification, our possessions and our children are called a "trial" because they are a means of our spiritual purification. It is by means of them that we are able to make sacrifices in the cause of religion and humanity. If we have no wealth, we cannot give it away in the service of God or of our fellow-creatures. If we have no children, we will not be in a position to train them as good and pious men for the service of God and mankind. Moreover, if we have no children, we