The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 575
PT. 15 BANI ISRĀ'ĪL CH. 17 قُل لَّوْ كَانَ مَعَةَ أَلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُوْلُوْنَ إِذَا Say, had there been other. 43 gods with Him, as they say, then they (idolaters) would have surely sought out a way to the Owner of the Throne. 1972 لابْتَغَوْا إِلَى ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلًا سُبْحَنَهُ وَتَعَلَى عَمَّا يَقُولُونَ عُلُوًّا كَبِيرًا Holy is He, and exalted far. 44 above that which they say. 1973 "6:101; 39:68. exhaustively with all questions of importance it is quite natural and even necessary that it should revert, time and again, to the relevant points which bear on the main theme. No reasonable person can call this repetition. Repetition is objectionable only when it serves no useful purpose, but when it is intended to throw light upon a question from a new angle of vision or to refute a new objection no sane and intelligent person can object to it. 1972. Commentary: This verse furnishes an illustration of the fact that when the Quran reverts to a subject it does so to deal with it in a new light. The verse has reverted to the subject of setting up equals with God. But here it gives quite a new argument in its refutation. It demolishes the claim of idolaters that they worship their idols to seek nearness to God through their mediation (39:4) by saying that if by this worship they had really sought nearness to God, they should have achieved this object but there are no signs of any one of them ever having attained nearness to God. Incidentally some light may be thrown on some of the signs and marks which a person who has established real connection with God must possess: (a) his prayers are accepted; (b) he becomes very much immune from sin or indulgence in vain discourse; (c) he enjoys a sort of Divine protection and (d) he treats God's creatures with kindness and benevolence and lives peacefully and amicably with them, i. e. he is at peace with God and man. Idolaters are completely devoid of all these characteristics of God's beloved and His Elect. The expression, they (idolaters) would have surely sought out a way be understood to mean that if the to the Owner of the Throne, may also false gods of idolaters had possessed help idolaters would have learnt from any truth or power, then with their the Supreme Lord of the Throne some way or means to counteract and The fact, therefore, that the Prophet nullify the Holy Prophet's efforts. marched from success to success and all their schemes and machinations failed to furnishes proof positive of the fact impede his progress that these so-called gods possess no truth or power. 1783 1973. Commentary: It is inconsistent with the dignity and greatness of God to grant