The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 608
that God is One and that all other noble ideals flow from this belief. The principle, second in importance to Divine Unity, is that of man's obligations to man, of which the most essential are his obligations to parents. In between these two basic commandments a Muslim is taught to subordinate all his loyalties to God and to allow no other loyalty, not even loyalty to parents, to conflict or clash with his loyalty to his Creator. But under no circumstances should he cease to be kind and considerate and respectful to theft. Next, it is stated that man's duty to God takes practical shape in the observance of Prayers and his obligations to mankind in doing good and abstaining from evil. The Surah then proceeds to say that when a true believer enters upon the noble and arduous task of preaching truth to men and calling upon them to reform themselves and give up wrong beliefs and evil practices, difficulties and impediments bar his way and he has to put up with opposition, abuse, and persecution. He is told to bear all this opposition and persecution with patience and fortitude. When he is not discouraged or dismayed by the opposition and persecution he has to face in the discharge of his great and noble task, success comes his way and large crowds of people give their allegiance to him. In the hour of public applause and acclamation he should not lose mental balance and should particularly be on his guard against conceit and arrogance. Next, the Surah refers to the laws of nature and the great powers of God implying that these laws are working in favour of Islam, and that God is at the back of the Muslims. They are, therefore, sure to win success, and the cause of Islam is sure to triumph and prosper. The Surah ends on a note of warning to disbelievers that their day of reckoning is fast approaching and that at that time their wealth and children, their influence, power, and prestige will prove of no avail to them. On the contrary, their children will accept Islam and will be proud of spending all they possess in order to promote its cause. 2522