The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 380
CH. 24 AN-NŪR PT. 18 وَرَسُوْلِهِ وَإِذَا كَانُوا مَعَهُ عَلَى أَمْرِ and His Messenger, and who جَامِع لَّمُ يَذْهَبُوا حَتَّى يَسْتَأْذِنُوهُ when they are with him on common of some matter concern which has brought إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَأْذِنُونَكَ أُوليك them together, go not away until الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ. they have asked leave of him Surely those who ask leave of E فَإِذَا اسْتَأْذَنُوكَ لِبَعْضِ شَأْنِهِمْ فَأَذَنْ thee, it is they who really لِمَنْ شِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُمُ الله ojjj إِنَّ اللهَ غَفُورٌ رَّ حِيم believe in Allah and His Messenger. So, when they ask thy leave for some affair of theirs, give leave to those of them whom thou pleasest, and ask forgiveness for them of Allah. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful. 2637 2637. Important Words: (which has brought them together) is derived from which means, he collected; assembled; brought together; it comprised, comprehended or contained. They say i. e. he arranged or settled his affair. The Arabs say alowali. e. may God unite his disorganised state of affairs. means, an affair that brings people together; or a momentous or important affair on account of which people gather together as though the affair itself gathers them (Lane, Mufradāt & Aqrab). Commentary: The several preceding verses contained directions for Muslims as how to conduct themselves in affairs of social importance. The present verse, however, deals with affairs of national importance. The Muslims are enjoined that when they are with the Holy Prophet, engaged in transacting a business of national importance, they are not to leave the assembly without his permission. It may also be inferred from this verse that in affairs concerning a whole nation or community, the individual loses his independence of action. He must abide by the decision arrived at by the assembly of Muslims presided over by the Prophet, his Successor or their accepted and elected leader. When a person withdraws himself from such assembly, he, in fact, deprives himself of the opportunity to contribute his share to the good of Islam and Muslims and consequently to that extent he becomes deprived of God's grace and mercy. The Holy Prophet, therefore, has been told to ask forgiveness of Allah for such an 2294