The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 490
PT. 14 مَوْلهُ " أَيْنَمَا يُوَجْهُةُ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ CH. 16 AN-NAHL over anything, and he is a burden to his master; brings no good. Can he be equal هَلْ يَسْتَوِى هُوَ وَمَنْ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ whithersoever he sends him, he to him who enjoins justice and who is himself on the straight path? 1877 R. 11. وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍة وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَوتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَمَا And to Allah belongs the. 78 unseen of the heavens and the "11:124; 18:27; 35:39. recognized and suitably rewarded. 1877. Commentary: This verse contains another parable concerning the Holy Prophet and his enemies. It says that the Prophet's enemies are mute and dumb. All sorts of crimes and sins are committed before their eyes, but they do not even open their lips to condemn them or to dissuade or check people from them. They have never said a word to safeguard the honour of God, their Lord and Master. It is only the Prophet who has always raised his voice against sin and iniquity. Again, says the verse, if the Prophet's adversaries could not bid others to do good works and not associate equals with God, they could, at least do good works themselves and declare the Holiness of God by their own example. But they did none of these things. They could neither carry their own burdens nor help others carry their burdens. But the Holy Prophet not only himself practised virtue but exhorted and enjoined others to be just, equitable and God-fearing. Therefore he, and not they, deserved to be chosen for Divine favours. The theme in this and the preceding verse is the same, but these two verses refer to two different classes of disbelievers. The preceding verse refers to such disbelievers as are slaves to superstitious beliefs and idolatrous practices and customs and though possessing the means and the ability to do some useful and effective work, abstain from doing it for fear of incurring public opprobrium; while the present verse refers to such disbelievers as are not only slaves to superstitious practices but also lack the means and the ability to do any good work. As contrasted with these two classes of disbelievers the Holy Prophet is not only free from all sorts of superstitious beliefs and foolish customs but is also endowed with great natural powers. He uses his great God-given gifts in the service of mankind while disbelievers are a burden and a sort of a stigma on the Holiness of God Who has created them. 1698