The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 611
CH. 17 PT. 15 98. "And he whom BANI ISRĀ'ĪL guides, is the only one rightly وَمَنْ يَهْدِ اللهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۚ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ Allah فَلَنْ تَجِدَلَهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِهِ guided; but as for those whom He causes to perish, thou wilt وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِمَةِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ find for them no helpers beside b b عُمْيَا وَ بُكُمَا وَ صُمَّا مَأْوِيهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ Him. And on the Day of Resurrection We shall gather them together on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf. Their abode will be Hell; every time it abates, We shall increase for them the flame. 2026 a7:179; 18:18; 39:37-38. 6:129; 19:69. extraordinary natural gifts and faculties as not to need Divine revelation at all for his guidance. The answer here given is that God being the Creator of mankind knows full well how limited or self-sufficient are their natural gifts and so when He sends a Messenger, it is not for them to judge whether a Prophet should or should not have been sent to them but whether or not the claimant is a true Messenger. If, tested by God's own tangible evidence, his claim is proved true, then both these objections fall to the ground and it has to be accepted that man is neither too unimportant to be the recipient of God's word nor too self-sufficient not to need revelation. 2026. Commentary: In this verse believers are assured that they should not feel discouraged كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنُهُمْ سَعِيرًا today may become its devoted votaries tomorrow. The decision as to who deserves to be guided in the end and who will forever remain wedded to disbelief rests entirely in God's own hands. One thing, however, is certain: truth shall ultimately prevail. So there is no cause for believers to be disheartened at the opposition shown by disbelievers. The words "on their faces" have also been used in 54:49 where we have, On the day when they will be dragged into the Fire on their faces. So the words in the verse under comment may also mean that disbelievers "shall be dragged on their faces" into the fire i. e. they shall be humbled, disgraced and severely punished. Some sayings of the Holy Prophet also throw light on the meaning of the words, "on their faces. " He is reported to have said, ان الذي امشهم على ارجلهم قادر على ان يمشيهم على وجوههم | at the obstinacy and waywardness of disbelievers because those who are the inveterate enemies of the truth 1819 i. e. He Who has made men walk on their feet can also make them move