TOWARDS THE END, the surah returns to the subject of the People of the Book, Jews and Christians, shedding some new but vital light on aspects of their history and official conduct. The Jewish elders reject both Jesus and Muhammad. They accuse Jesus of being an impostor and being born out of wedlock by an adulterous mother, while Muhammad was a bedouin with a false claim to prophethood. To the Church, Muhammad was simply a charlatan and a pretender. The surah replies to all these allegations as follows:
Those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers, and seek to make distinction between Allah and His messengers, and say: We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and seek to choose a way in between; (150) Such are disbelievers in truth; and for disbelievers We prepare a shameful doom. (151) But those who believe in Allah and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them, unto them Allah will give their wages; and Allah was ever Forgiving, Merciful. (152)
Following a short debate with the People of the Book, God addresses Prophet Muhammad:
Lo! We inspire thee as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms; (163)
The source of the revelation and guidance received by all these messengers and that received by Muhammad is one. They are all envoys of God to humanity, assigned the same basic mission which they delivered with equal honesty, care, and diligence. Muhammad's only merit over his fellow messengers was that the revelation he had received was more detailed, more profound and comprehensive in communicating with people's basic nature and instincts as well as higher aspirations. His legacy is bound to endure and the mission of enlightenment, guidance, and service to God which he launched is set to continue and persist as long as humans are due to live in this world. God has endorsed Muhammad's mission by saying: " But Allah (Himself) testifieth concerning that which He hath revealed unto thee; in His knowledge hath He revealed it; and the Angels also testify. And Allah is sufficient Witness. (166) Indeed, any detached and fair examination of the Qur'an would in fact show that it is unique among all the divinely revealed Books of all other prophets and messengers. A similar examination of Muhammad's own character, life, and work would establish that he was ideally and uniquely suited for the mission he was chosen to undertake.
As for the Qur'an's debate with the People of the Book, the surah tells us:
The people of the Scripture ask of thee that thou shouldst cause an (actual) Book to descend upon them from heaven. They asked a greater thing of Moses aforetime, for they said: Show us Allah plainly. The storm of lightning seized them for their wickedness. Then (even) after that) they chose the calf (for worship) after clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) had come unto them. And We forgave them that! And We bestowed on Moses evident authority. (153)
This could not be the attitude of a group seeking truth for its own sake. This demand could only be made by individuals with an arrogant over-reaching mentality, and so when it came from members of Mosses party, who should have known better, they were severely reprimanded and punished severely. The surah portrays the group as people who had accepted God's covenant only out of fear, and went on to renege on it and break it, to which Allah responded:
Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened - Nay, but Allah set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few - (155) And because of their disbelief and of their speaking against Mary a tremendous calumny; (156)
When Jesus became the target of slander and murderous intents, God saves him and confounded his enemies.
And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. (157) But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise. (158)
Nevertheless, for historical and other reasons, many people have come to believe in the crucifixion and salvation myths that have become a central part of Christian dogma and doctrine. This is due to ignorance, narrow-mindedness, and lack of enlightenment. God affirming the escape and eventual ascent of Jesus and his submission to Him, maintains in these verses that, were the people more enlightened, they would have taken a more sensible attitude:
But those of them who are firm in knowledge and the believers believe in that which is revealed unto thee, and that which was revealed before thee, especially the diligent in prayer and those who pay the poor-due, the believers in Allah and the Last Day. Upon these We shall bestow immense reward. (162)
Here we come to the closing verses of this surah which give decisive judgement on all the human social and religious groups mentioned earlier. The infidels and the hypocrites fare the worst, because they are bigoted and base their beliefs on myths and ignorance, and they try to mislead and confuse others. They in fact stand as obstacles to other people's endervour to know God and avail themselves of His guidance. " Lo! those who disbelieve and hinder (others) from the way of Allah, they verily have wandered far astray. (167) Lo! those who disbelieve and deal in wrong, Allah will never forgive them, neither will He guide them unto a road, "(168). Looking at the history of modern colonialism and imperialism, one can see clearly that it quite distinctly bears these two features: disbelief in God and the oppression of humankind.
Then, in such an intriguing manner, the verses address the Jews thus:
O mankind! The messenger hath come unto you with the Truth from your Lord. Therefor believe; (it is) better for you. But if ye disbelieve, still, lo! unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise. (170)
This is followed by a statement directed at the Christians, who are seen as being overwhelmed by confusion and lack of direction, which have led to their highly outlandish, self-contradictory, and paradoxical doctrines and beliefs. With respect to that, God says:
O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender. (171)
The truth is that honest inquiry into and the study of the mysteries of the universe and natural phenomena will only confirm the fact that there could only be one God. If other gods exist, then where are they? What have they created? What is their contribution to the world and what role do they play in its destiny? Where is this corporate godhead that is running our world and deciding its future? No! There are not, nor could there be, more than one God; obedience and total submission are due to Him alone, and all are obliged to thank and worship Him and nobody else. God says:
The Messiah will never scorn to be a slave unto Allah, nor will the favoured angels. Whoso scorneth His service and is proud, all such will He assemble unto Him; (172)
Excerpt from " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Muhammad al-Ghazali [ 1917 - 1996 ]
Recitation by Shaykh Saad al Ghamdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTvxgyS8HQ
Reflection and commentary by Imam Zia ul Haque
[ http://imamzia.wordpress.com/tafseer-of-surah-an-nisaa-the-women-lesson-11/ ]
Click at lesson 25, Imam Zia ul Haque starts discussion from ayat 155
I lost track of Mufti Hussain Kamani from ayat 152 onwards
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