The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 2
God's mercy dominates and transcends all things but it requires the highest form of repentance to draw that mercy. Thirdly, all the chapters of the Quran from chapter 2 to chapter 9 (which are really seven in number; for, as stated above, chapter 9 is not a separate chapter but forms part of chapter 8 and was written separately only on account of the specific importance of its subject matter) deal with one kind of subject, while with chapter Yūnus (Ch. 10) begins a new group of Sūrahs, ending with Ch. 18. This second group deals with a distinct and separate theme, yet its subject matter is closely connected with that of the first group. In the first group the truth of Islam is established by reference to the Holy Prophet and his work, and an appeal is made for the acceptance of Islam in view of the superiority of its principles, the excellence of its teachings, the vastness of the spiritual knowledge which it holds out to seekers after truth, the wisdom underlying its teachings and its extraordinary impact. In the second group, comprising Surahs 10 to 18, emphasis is laid on the need of prophethood, the importance of religion and the object of the Holy Prophet's advent by referring particularly to the criteria of prophethood, the claims and history of previous Prophets and to the arguments based upon and supported by human reason and common sense. Thus the subject matter of the two groups is very closely related to one another. The only difference is that in the first group reference is made to the prophecies which were made at the advent of the Holy Prophet or which had been made by previous Prophets and were fulfilled in due time, thus bearing witness to the truth of the Holy Prophet and of Islam. In the second group the truth of Islam has been explained on its own merits and on the basis of the canons of prophethood. 1210