The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 333
her to earn freedom, if possible, by paying the indemnity themselves. An additional injunction with regard to female captives of war is to the effect that such obligations should not be imposed upon them as should compel them to lead a life of vice and sin, and Muslims are warned that if they imposed such obligations on them, the responsibility for the ensuing evil consequences will be theirs and not of the female prisoners of war. These are commandments, the Surah says, which if scrupulously observed are calculated to raise the standard of morality among Muslims. The Surah then proceeds to touch upon another very important subject, viz. that the light of heavens and earth emanates from God alone. It goes on to expatiate on the significance and beauty of this subject and adds that this light is decreed to manifest itself through Muslims who are marked out for greatness and honour. It is further stated that because an obscure Law or human intellect alone forms the basis of Christian moral teaching, therefore all their efforts to reform their morals will prove futile and they will find the work of moral regeneration very difficult as no reformation is possible without a Divine Law. "Why cannot man see this patent fact," the Sūrah purports to say, "that Divine Law is full of blessing and mercy and that definitely it is not a curse. But if man, unaided by Divine guidance, cannot find the right way for himself, does it mean that God, too, cannot show him the right way? One thing, however, is quite clear that mere profession of faith can produce no good results. It is essential that Divine commandments should be observed and acted upon regardless of consideration of material benefits. " The Surah then holds out a promise to Muslims that if they carried out the programme of life which God has laid down for them, they will become the leaders of the world both in spiritual and temporal matters, and that their religion will become firmly established in the world. But they are told that when their rule and dominion is established and their cause triumphs and prevails, they should worship God, help the poor and the needy and obey the commandments of their Prophet and never allow the idea to enter their heads that their opponents can prevail against them even though the means and material at their disposal are great and their numbers large. This can and will never happen. Towards the close of the Surah Muslims are again urged to set right their family and national affairs and to be on their guard against promiscuous intermingling of the sexes. A special direction to be observed in this respect is that even prisoners of war serving as house servants and also minor children should not enter the private apartments of their masters or parents before dawn, at noon, and after nightfall. At other times all members of the household are at liberty to move about the house freely. When, however, 2247