The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3)

The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 469

CH. 16 PT. 14 AN-NAHL 47. Or that He will not seize them in their going to and fro so أوْ يَأْخُذَهُمُ فِي تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ that they shall not be able to frustrate God's plans?1848 اَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ عَلَى تَخَوفِ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ Or that He will not seize. 48 لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمُ them by a process of gradual destruction? Your Lord is indeed Compassionate, Merciful. 1849 them. How clearly fulfilled was the prophecy embodied in this verse about disbelievers of Mecca is writ large on the pages of history. Every punishment that overtook disbelievers came to them from quarters from which they least expected it. This was particularly the case in the catastrophe which befell them after the Treaty of Hudaibiyyah. The Meccans suffered from the illusion that the terms of that treaty meant a great moral victory for them. But it proved to be the beginning of their end. The treaty laid down that any Meccan who became converted to Islam and went to Medina would be sent back to Mecca. The strict observance of this condition by the Holy Prophet proved a blessing in disguise for the cause of Islam. After the treaty it was not possible for those Meccans who became converted to Islam to go to Medina, nor could they remain at Mecca. They therefore established a settlement between Mecca and Medina, free from the control of the Medinite rule and beyond the reach of the Meccans. Their hostile activities against the enemies of their faith compelled Meccans to request the Holy Prophet to revoke that part of the treaty which prevented converts to Islam from going to Medina and settle there. The breach of the terms of the treaty by Meccans later on, however, led to the invasion and conquest of Mecca by the Holy Prophet. All these eventualities entirely unexpected and came upon the Meccans as bolts from the blue. 1848. Commentary: were The verse means to say that the frequent journeying of disbelievers and their free and unrestricted movements in the land should not invincible and that their glory will lead them to think that their might is of theirs will result in the destruction never depart. These very movements Battle of Badr was the result of the of their political power. In fact, the Meccans having sent out an armed force to provide escort for the trade caravan which was returning from Syria and which was likely to have a clash with Muslims. The battle proved to be the beginning of destruction of the power of the Quraish of Mecca. 1849. Important Words: 1677 (process of gradual destruction)