The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 43
PT. 26 AL-FATH CH. 48 thee thy shortcomings, past and لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبَكَ وَمَا That Allah may cover up for. 3 تَاَخَرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ may صِرَاطًا مُسْتَقِيمَان future, and that He complete His favour upon thee, and may guide thee on a right path;3818 Holy Prophet were rightly proud of being present on the occasion, and quite justified in regarding the signing of the Treaty, and not the conquest of Mecca as "the victory referred to in the present verse" (Bukhārī). According to them no victory was greater and more far- reaching in its results and effects than this Treaty (Hishām). And the Holy Prophet himself called it a victory (Baihaqi as quoted by Zurqānī). 3818. Important Words: (that He may cover up). They sayi. e. he put the goods into the bag and covered and protected them. and both infinitive nouns mean, protection and preservation. means, helmet and means, cloth worn beneath the veil to keep it clean (Lane, Mufradāt & Aqrab). See also 2:59; 14:42 & 40:56. (thy shortcomings). as means, he followed his trail, not quitting his track. therefore, signifies such natural failings or frailties as adhere to human nature. ✓ means, he committed a sin, a crime, a misdemeanour, fault, etc. According to Imām Rāghib means, such errors and mistakes as bring about a harmful result. It differs from in being either intentional or committed through inadvertence while اثم is peculiarly intentional (Lane). See also 3:17. Commentary: The verse has been deliberately misrepresented, or, through lack of knowledge of Arabic idiom and phrase, misinterpreted, by Christian missionaries as signifying that the Holy Prophet was guilty of some moral lapses. But it bears no such construction. It is an article of faith with Muslims, as enjoined by the Quran that God's Prophets are born sinless and they remain sinless throughout their lives. They are incapable of saying or doing anything contrary to Divine commandments (21:28). As they are commissioned by God to purge men of sins, they cannot themselves commit sins. And of Divine Messengers the Holy Prophet was the noblest and the purest. The Quran abounds in verses which speak in glowing terms of the purity and spotlessness of his life. Here are a few of them: 2939 (a) Say, if you love Allah, follow me; then will Allah love you (3:32). (b) Verily, Allah has conferred a favour on the believers by raising among them a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them