The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 199
PT. 12 HŪD anything; a side; a lateral, or an outward, or adjacent part or portion of a thing; a region, district, quarter or tract; a part, portion, piece or bit of a thing. ✓ means, generous or noble in respect of both male and female ancestors. (plural of) means a man's father and mother and brothers and paternal uncles and any near relations whom it is unlawful for him to marry; noble or exalted men. means, the noble or exalted men or the learned men of the earth or land. means, two ends of the day i. e. morning and afternoon or the morning as well as afternoon and late afternoon (Lane & Aqrab). hours of the night that are) زلفا من الليل nearer the day). W is derived from They say i. e. he did the thing previously or beforehand. ad means, he made or brought or drew him or it near. They say i. e. he collected the things together. W which is the plural of ad; means, nearness with respect to rank, degree or station; or simply rank or grade; a portion of the first part of the night, whether small or large. It also means, hours or periods of the night commencing from the daytime, and the hours or periods of the daytime commencing from the night; or hour or period joining day and night at both ends (Lane & Aqrab). Commentary: CH. 11 suggests some methods which can help a Muslim successfully to discharge them. The first method suggested is Prayer and worship of God, because one urgently needs God's help for discharging such heavy tasks. By Prayer favourable Divine decrees come into operation. The words, Surely good works drive away the evil ones, suggest effective ways by which evils can be overcome and eradicated. The setting of a good example is one of them. It wins the hearts of men and makes them copy it. In this way the emulation of good makes evil gradually disappear. It is actions and not words that can overcome evil and efface it. Very few persons follow an independent line of action. A vast majority of them only follow and imitate others. Therefore a good example is an excellent way of establishing virtue in the world. Another method implied in these words is that we should exhort people to virtue. The proper preaching of good greatly helps men to shun evil ways. The doing of good to people and treating them with kindness is yet another method which goes a long way to inclining the hearts of men to good works. A kindly and beneficent deed done to a person in need makes him give ear to advice. This is the third way suggested in this verse. The preceding verse spoke of the In addition to these methods for the responsibilities of the Holy Prophet preaching and propagation of good, and those of his followers. As full the words, Surely good works drive acquittal of such heavy and onerous away the evil ones, also contain a responsibilities is beyond human sure guidance for the spiritual power, the verse under comment progress of the workers themselves. 1407