The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 175
PT. 17 AL-ANBIYA' 41. Nay, it will come upon them unawares so that it will utterly confound them; and they will not be able to repel it, nor will they be given respite. 2381 42. "And Messengers indeed been mocked at before CH. 21 بَلْ تَأْتِيهِم بَغْتَةً فَتَبْهَتُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ رَدَّهَا وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ وَلَقَدِ اسْتَهْزِئَ بِرُسُلِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ have فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِيْنَ سَخِرُوا مِنْهُمْ مَّا كَانُوا thee, but that whereat they بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ قُلْ مَنْ يَكْلَؤُكُمْ بِالَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَن بَلْ هُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ رَبِّهِمْ mocked encompassed those of them who scoffed. 2382 R. 4. 43. Say, 'Who can protect you by night and by day from the Gracious God? Yet they turn "36:50; 67:28. 6:11; 13:33. 11:9; 46:27. d18:102; 21:3; 26:6. of the present verse also lends support to the inference that the allusion in the word "fire" is to "the fire of war. " The disbelievers ignited that fire and were themselves consumed in it. They were destroyed by the weapon which they employed against the believers. They drew the sword against Islam and by the sword they perished. them and blindly accept their lead. 2381. Commentary: The reference in the verse may be to the Fall of Mecca when the Quraish were taken completely by surprise and were utterly confounded. The sign of punishment which they demanded came upon them suddenly in the form of the fall of their capital city the centre of disbelief and idolatry. 2382. Commentary: The verse makes mention of two The words, the fire from their faces, signify the punishment that they will see in front of them i. e. the punishment whose signs will be apparent and manifest; and the words things which never fail to occur when "nor from their backs" signify the a Prophet preaches his message: (a) punishment that will come upon them the message is held up to scorn and from behind their backs i. e. the the Prophet himself is mocked and punishment which will overtake them jeered at; and (b) the jeering and suddenly and unawares. Moreover, mocking of the scoffers always the punishment will overwhelm all of recoils on their own heads and they them their leaders who are their themselves become the laughing- faces and the ordinary folk who follow | stock of the world. 2089