The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 477
PT. 14 AN-NAHL CH. 16 لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ The state of those who do. 61 E not believe in the Hereafter is السَّوْءِ وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَى وَهُوَ evil, while Allah's attribute is الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُن نچ sublime and He is the Mighty, the Wise. 1861 R. 8. وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا And if Allah were to punish. 62 men for their wrongdoing, He تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَخِّرُهُمُ would not leave thereon a living إلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ ,and when their term is come creature, but He gives them respite till an appointed term; they cannot remain behind a single hour, nor can they go ahead of it. 1862 "30:28. 10:12; 18:59; 35:46. 7:35; 10:50. greatness, and even among those tribes only the wealthy few resorted to this barbarous practice. 1861. Commentary: The verse sets forth clearly the main purport of the chapter, i. e. those who do not believe in the life after death can have no faith in the possibility of Divine revelation. They seek to arrogate to themselves the framing of laws for their guidance. But such attempts have always ended in failure while the "word" which comes from God, being free from all defects and imperfections and being possessed of all conceivable excellences, is a safe guide. This shows the need for Divine revelation. The two attributes of "Mighty" and "Wise" point to the fact that true guidance can only come from God, for One possessed of might alone can 1685 implement all His promises and only the Wise One can find out what man really needs and only He can satisfy that need. These attributes also point to the fact that there must be a life after death. Since God is Wise, all His acts must be based upon wisdom and if there be no life after death, this life ceases to possess any purpose or object, and this should cast a reflection on the wisdom of God. Similarly, complete manifestation of the life after death, for in the event of God's might can take place only in such a manifestation taking place in this life, faith and virtue would cease to have weight or value. 1862. Commentary: This verse furnishes an answer to a possible doubt arising from the preceding verse. The doubter would