The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3)

The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 544

CH. 17 BANI ISRĀ'ĪL PT. 15 لبَنِي إِسْرَاعِيْلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِي وَكِيلات guidance for the children of Israel, saying, a'Take no guardian beside Me, 1932 b whom We carried in the Ark with Noah. He was indeed a grateful servant. 1933 ذُرِّيَّةَ مَنْ حَمَلْنَا مَعَ نُوحٍ إِنَّهُ كَانَ O ye the progeny of those. 4 عَبْدًا شَكُورًا 1932. Commentary: "17:69. 19:59; 23:28. With this verse begins an account of Moses and his people. The preceding verse alluded to the Divine promise that the Holy Prophet and his followers would conquer "the Distant Mosque" and the land around it. Muslims are told here that Jerusalem and the country around it was first given to Moses and his people in accordance with Divine promise. The people of Moses lost it because they disobeyed the commandments of God. Muslims should beware lest they also break God's covenant and incur His displeasure. Towards the close of the previous chapter, reference was made to Jews, and Muslims were directed to argue with them in a way that is best (16:126). This direction implied that in their discussion with Jews, Muslims should base their arguments on principles accepted by Jews and should advance reasons in support of the truth of Islam from their own (Jewish) Scriptures. The present chapter provides an illustration of the way in which Muslims should discuss religious matters with "the People of 1752 the Book. " It refers to prophecies contained in the Jewish Scriptures which point to the corruption and degeneration of Jews and their breach of the divine covenant which made them the object of Divine punishment and tells them that now they could only save themselves by accepting the New Covenant Islam. 1933. Commentary: The verse is taken by some commentators to refer to the followers of the Holy Prophet, but primarily it refers to the followers of Moses, as the context shows. It reminds the Israelites that they should have profited by the noble example of Noah who with his followers was saved from the Deluge and was grateful to God for that great favour. They, too, were saved from drowning in the sea and should have been grateful to God for that favour but they were not. The verse may also be taken as constituting a forewarning to Muslims who are told that when, by the grace of God, they emerge safe from the storm of opposition and persecution that was raging over their heads, they should be grateful to Him.