The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3)

The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 479

PT. 14 AN-NAHL day, and they shall have a grievous punishment. 1864 CH. 16 وَمَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ And We have not sent down. 65 to thee the Book except that الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً thou mayest explain to them that لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُوْنَ concerning which they differ, and "as a guidance, and a mercy for a people who believe. 1865 "6:158; 12:112; 16:90. 1864. Commentary: The verse purports to say that the disbelievers of Mecca like disbelievers of former Prophets have been lulled by Satan into a false sense of security. Like their predecessors and prototypes, they labour under the delusion that they would not have to answer for their wrongdoings. They feel themselves to be secure while a terrible punishment is about to overtake them. 1865. Commentary: The verse sets forth the existence of differences among the nations of the world as a reason for Divine revelation to be sent down to them because the Divine Word alone can resolve these differences. These differences also constitute a justification for the Quranic revelation. If men could only be convinced that the Quran was the revealed word of God, they would certainly give up their own views in its favour. that The verse also suggests disbelievers cannot reasonably object to the advent of a new Prophet because a new Prophet comes only when the people cease to observe the teaching of the previous Prophet and deviate from the right path. So their deviation from the right path and their differences justify appearance of a new Prophet. the The question may be asked, if, for instance, the Jews had remained loyal to the teachings of Moses, would the Holy Prophet not have come? The question is hypothetical. In any case differences and disagreements would have continued to exist in the world and consequently there would have always remained the need for a new Divine Messenger. But God has already provided an answer to the question in the words, "Had there been in the earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, We should have certainly sent down to them from heaven an angel as a Messenger" (17:96) i. e. if all men had become pure and holy like angels, there was no need for any Prophet to come. The word of God would then have descended directly upon every individual. But since angels have never lived on this earth nor has the world ceased to be a place of sin and iniquity, the Prophets also have not 1687