The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 430
the subject being different. This Sūrah, like its predecessor, dwells upon the need and importance of Divine revelation and points out that the Word of God possesses an appeal and magnetism which no other book is found to possess, and the Quran being complete and perfect Divine revelation, the force of its appeal and magnetic power is unrivalled and unapproachable. The followers of such a matchless book, therefore, can never fail in their mission. Another connection of this chapter with that preceding it is that towards the end of the preceding Surah disbelievers were warned that Divine punishment was about to overtake them. The warning was given in the words: And the Hour is sure to come (15:86) and so by thy Lord We will surely question them all (15:93). The present chapter warns disbelievers that the threatened punishment is about to come. The warning is couched in the words: The decree of Allah is coming (v. 2). Subject Matter The Surah opens with the subject that the time has arrived for the fulfilment of the prophecies that were made by the Holy Prophet about the downfall of disbelievers. The question of the social status and position of the person to whom this Book has been revealed is immaterial. Does not the fact of the very humble origin of man and the great moral and spiritual heights to which he subsequently rises till he becomes the manifestation of God's great powers and attributes bring home to critics of the Prophet the absurdity of their objection? If in the physical world they can reconcile themselves to this phenomenon, why does it seem to them preposterous if in the spiritual realm God has bestowed upon a person, apparently of no worldly importance, great distinction; and why do they not consider that there must have been latent in him powers and faculties which had made him deserving of this Divine favour? The Surah then proceeds to develop the theme of the need of Divine revelation and asks how the Benign and Merciful God Who has arranged to meet all the needs and requirements of man's travels and journeys in this life could have neglected to meet the needs of his last journey to the Eternal Goal. These requirements could be devised and met neither by man himself nor by the so-called gods of the idolaters. God the Almighty alone could reveal to man the right way which leads to Him and the means which render easy the journey of the spiritual wayfarer to the Eternal Abode. But if man out of his ignorance or perversity, by eschewing the straight path, creates for himself difficulties and impediments, he himself is to blame. After this the Surah answers an oft-repeated question, viz. if Messengers are sent by God, how dare anyone flout or defy them? God is All- Powerful, so He should have seen to it that His Messengers are not disobeyed. 1638