The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 387
be acceptable to all peoples. Or do they mean that every people should have had a separate Prophet? This would have given rise to innumerable differences and disagreements. The disbelievers are told that these are all foolish objections and the Holy Prophet is enjoined to pay no heed to them and to continue to preach his message. After this, the Surah proceeds to invite the attention of disbelievers to the phenomenon that God had made two waters, one bitter and the other sweet, both flowing side by side. They continue their parallel course and do not mix with each other. Similarly, the Quranic teaching and the teachings of other religions will continue to exist side by side so that by comparing them to one another people might distinguish the true from the false and the sweet from the bitter. Then the Surah asks believers the very pertinent question, viz. why can't they understand this simple thing that just as all physical life springs from water, similarly all spiritual life is dependent for its existence on the life-giving water of Divine revelation? And adds that disbelievers are given to and persist in idolatrous practices. The duty of the Holy Prophet is, therefore, confined to preaching to them and admonishing them. But they will never believe in the One True God and will not worship Him to Whose Unity the whole creation bears undeniable testimony. They should understand and realize that just as the solar system gives life and light, similarly the light of virtue follows the darkness of vice. The Surah then proceeds to mention a few peculiar signs and marks of those righteous servants of God who, by acting upon the teaching of the Quran, attain the highest pinnacles of spiritual eminence. It says that the righteous servants of God seek and strive to establish peace and harmony in the world. They worship their Lord and pray to Him and return good for evil and spend their hard-earned money in good and righteous causes. They do not associate false gods with Allah, neither do they commit murder nor fornication. They do not tell lies, they shun all vain and purposeless pursuits, and when God is mentioned their hearts become filled with reverential awe. They pray that their wives and children should prove the joy of their eyes. They seek to become the leaders of the righteous and God-fearing men and do not hanker after worldly leadership. These are the blessed people who will enjoy eternal life. The Surah closes with a pointed reference to the great truth that God has created man to serve a very sublime and noble object and whosoever fails to fulfil this object will forfeit God's mercy and grace. 2301