The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 561
PT. 15 BANI ISRĀ'ĪL CH. 17 based on belief in the Unity of God is | شهر. (nor reproach them) ولا تنهرهما means, he chid him; he checked him, restrained him or forbade him, with rough speech. (Lane & Aqrab). (excellent) is derived from 5 which means, it was or became highly esteemed or valued; excellent, precious or rare. They say i. e. his land was or became productive or fertile. a means, he treated him with honour or courtesy. ✓✓ therefore means, generous; noble; high-born; highly esteemed or valued; excellent, precious or rare. It is the contrary of which means, ignoble; low-born, etc. (Lane & Aqrab). Commentary: With this verse begin those principles and rules of conduct by observing which a people can preserve the integrity of their organization and make it safe against disintegration and decline. In this connection pride of place is given to the maintenance of belief in the Unity and Oneness of God and refutation of shirk (setting up equals with God), because it is in the heyday of their glory and splendour that a people fall a prey to superstitious ideas and idolatrous practices. In fact shirk is at the root of all sins. Man sins because he lacks true faith in God and His attributes. Belief in the Unity of God is like a seed out of which grow all virtues. It is the pivot round which the teachings of all religions and codes of morality revolve. This belief constitutes the basis and the foundation for both the law of nature and the Law of Shari'ah. That the Law of Shari'ah is too patent a fact to need any explanation; but even the law of nature and all scientific progress are also based on it. For if it be supposed that there are more gods than one, it necessarily follows that there is more than one law of nature. But in the absence of one fixed and uniform natural law all progress of science will have come to an end, because all the discoveries and inventions made by science are due to the belief that an ordered, fixed and unchangeable system pervades the whole universe. Without such a belief man could never I have devoted his attention and labour to fathom the secrets of the unknown. The second most important precept laid down in the verse under comment concerns man's moral conduct. His obligations towards his parents form the most important part of it, because it is the parents who first of all direct our attention to God. It is in the parental mirror that the Divine attributes of Mercy, Compassion, Love and Providence are reflected and on a minor human scale are given practical expression. They point to the Being from Whom all things take their origin. The long chain of man's parentage shows that his existence is not the result of mere accident or chance. It turns our thoughts to the Great Originator and Creator. It also shows that a great and noble purpose underlies the creation of man. 1769 The commandment given in relation to God is negative. Man is told that as it is not possible for him to make a return of God's favours, he should at least refrain from shirk