(13) فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ وَلاَ تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىَ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنْهُمُ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَ اصْفَحْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
13. " So, for their breaking their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They alter the words (of Allah) from their places and they have neglected a part of what they were admonished with, and you shall always discover treachery in them save a few of them. Yet forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds); verily Allah loves the good-doers."
Commentary:
In the first verse of this Sura, the fulfilment of contracts was referred to. In the previous verse, the covenant of Allah (s.w.t.) with the Israelites, and the heedlessness of those people unto the Divine covenant, was pointed out. In the current verse, the effects of breaching promise is stated. Therefore, this Sura has been entitled ' the covenant ' too. However, the contents of the verses, as a whole, also warn about a great breach of promise.
Breach of promise causes deprivation from Allah's grace.(1) It is also an origine of the appearance of hard-heartedness in persons.
The Israelites have always been treacherous. They used to pervert the religion of Allah, therefore, they encontered with punishment. The verse says:
" So, for their breaking their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard. They alter the words (of Allah) from their places and they have neglected a part of what they were admonished with, and you shall always discover treachery in them save a few of them. Yet forgive them and overlook (their misdeeds); verily Allah loves the good-doers."
(1) Sura At-Taubah, No.9, verse 77 denotes that breach of promise consequences to hypocrisy
(14) وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ إِنَّا نَصَارَى أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَهُمْ فَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ فَأَغْرَيْنَا بَيْنَهُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاء إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَسَوْفَ يُنَبِّئُهُمُ اللّهُ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَصْنَعُونَ
14. " And of those who say: ' We are Christians ' We did take their covenant, but they (also like Israelites) have neglected a part of what they were admonished with. Therefore We have stirred up among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection; and soon Allah will inform them of what they have been doing."
Commentary:
In the previous verse, the words were about the breach of promise among the Children of Israel. Now, in this verse, the statement is upon the preach of promise among the Christians. That verse introduced almost all the Israelites as breachers of promise, (except a few of them). But, in this verse, from the beginning, it separates a part of the Christians as breachers of promise when it says:
" ... of those who say: ' We are Christians' ..."
This shows that the number of the deluded people among the Jews is larger than those among the Christians.
" And of those who say: ' We are Christians ' We did take their covenant, but they (also like Israelites) have neglected a part of what they were admonished with. Therefore We have stirred up among them enmity and hatred till the Day of Resurrection; and soon Allah will inform them of what they have been doing."
Explanation:
The Qur'anic term /nasara/ (Christians), mentined in this holy verse, is the plural form of the word /nasrani/, and, therein, the Christians are entitled /nasara/ since the helpers and companions of Jesus (a.s.) used to say:
"...We are helpers (in the cause) of Allah. ..." (1)
Therefore, we must take an example by the bitter results emerged from breach of promise that other people had suffered. The verse indicates that Allah took covenant from the Christians, but since they neglected it they encontered the infliction of Ahzab.
(1) Sura As-Saff, No. 61, verse 14
(15) يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ قَدْ جَاءكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُّبِينٌ
15. " O' People of the Book! Indeed Our Messenger has come to you expounding to you much of what you have been hiding of the Book, and overlooking much. Indeed there has come to you, from Allah, a Light and a clear Book."
Commentary:
Islam is a world-wide religion which invites the followers of all religions to the Truth and to itself.
Islam is the most simple and the most conciliable religion among all religions.
Hence, do take care not to be dispair of guiding and inviting people towards the Truth, and do invite the People of the Book either, though they are breachers of promise.
The manifestation of the concealed matters is a sign of knowledge of hidden things, and it is also one of the ways of knowing the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).
" O' People of the Book! Indeed Our Messenger has come to you expounding to you much of what you have been hiding of the Book, and overlooking much. ..."
However, the world of humanity with the absense of the Qur'an is dark.
"...Indeed there has come to you, from Allah, a Light and a clear Book."
(16) يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
16. " With it Allah guides whoever follows His pleasure into the ways of safety, and He brings them out of darkness towards the Light by His Will and guides them to a right path."
Commentary:
The Arabic term /salam/ (peace) is one of the Names of God (His Attributes). In this regard, the Holy Qur'an says:
" He is Allah, there is no god save He; the king, the Holy, the Peace, ..." (1)
Paradise has also been called 'Dar-us-Salam ' (the house of peace). So, guiding towards the ways of peace and safety can be rendered into the way of Allah (s.w.t.) and Paradise '. The person who wants to reach these two, should go via /subul-as-salam/, ' the ways of safety ', the which is specific to the followers of ' Truth '.
The concept of /salam/ (peace, safety) includes the peace of individuals and society, family members and offsprings, thought and soul, and, even, the peace of honour.
Only those people are guidable who try to obtain the pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.). Then, those who try to gain the ranks and the wealth of this fleeting world, and also follow their low desires and do revenge, are not guidable.
Certainly, all the ways toward safety and prosperity are found in gaining the pleasure of Allah. So, whoever tries to please other than Him, is in aberration.
However, all the various secondary ways towards the Truth, lead to the main unity. ' The ways of safety ' end to the Straight Way. Hence, all those who, by performing different accomplishments, in variety of conditions, try to gain the pleasure of Allah (s.w.t.), reach to one single proper way.
" With it Allah guides whoever follows His pleasure into the ways of safety, and He brings them out of darkness towards the Light by His Will and guides them to a right path."
However, the Qur'an is the best remedy and it can save its followers from any darkness - the darknesses of: dubious things, lusts, superstitions, crimes, agitations, and so on.
(1) Sura Al-Hashr, No. 59, verse 23
(17) لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَآلُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيْئًا إِنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُهْلِكَ الْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ وَمَن فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاء وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
17. " Indeed, they have disbelieved who said: ' Verily Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary '. Say: ' Who can hold anything against Allah, if He intends to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on the earth? And to Allah belongs the domintion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them two. He creates what He pleases; and Allah is All-Powerful over all things."
Commentary:
Christians have some groundless claims about Allah to which the Qur'an hints:
1- Trinity (the father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost). The Qur'an says: "... do not say (Allah is) a Trinity ..." (1)
2- The Lord of creation, one of the three gods (the father) whom the Qur'an rejects: "...who say: " Verily Allah is the third of the three,'..." (2)
3- Saying that God, Jesus and the Ghost are the same, upon which this verse is a rejection.
The Qur'anic phrase: "...He creates what He pleases; ..., mentioned in the above verse, refers to the creation of Jesus (a.s.) without a father, and the creation of Adam without parents.
Islam disagrees infidelity, idolatry, and superstition in whatever ideology they may be.
If Jesus is God, then how he was slain (as: you believe), and the cross became the sign of oppression? God is an Essence that cannot be attempted against.
" Indeed, they have disbelieved who said: ' Verily Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary '. Say: ' Who can hold anything against Allah, if He intends to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on the earth? And to Allah belongs the domintion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them two. He creates what He pleases; and Allah is All-Powerful over all things."
(1) Sura An-Nisa', No. 4, verse 171
(2) Sura Al-Ma'idah, No. 5, verse 73
(18) وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى نَحْنُ أَبْنَاء اللّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ قُلْ فَلِمَ يُعَذِّبُكُم بِذُنُوبِكُم بَلْ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ يَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَاء وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَاء وَلِلّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَإِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ
18. " And the Jews and the Christians say: ' We are the sons of Allah and His beloved ones.' Say: ' Why does He then punish you for your sins ?' Nay, you are mortals of those He has created. He forgives whom He pleases, and punishes whom He pleases. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them two, and unto Him is the ultimate return (of all)."
Commentary:
It is cited in the commentary of the Qur'an by Fakhr-i-Razi that some of the Jews said: " We are the sons of Allah and his belaved "when the Messenger of Allah invited them to embrace Islam. (1)
The Jews and the Christians did not consider themselves the real sons of God, but they imagined a kind of formal adoption for themselves. The Arabic phrase /abna'-ul-lah/ (the sons of Allah) is an implicit declaration of their undue expectation and extravagance in ambitions.
This fact should also be mentioned that racial superiority, privilege demanding, knowing right only themselves and their own party, and applying ' relationship instead of regulations, totally are forbidden.
Another fact is that: neither any person nor a nation nor a race should absolutely be assured of the forgiveness of Allah, nor despaired of His favour. But, the bold Jews, with those crimes they committed, inspite of having those abundant Divine signs, still knew themselves the spicific friends of Allah.
Slaying prophets, concealing the glad tidings upon the advent of the Prophet of Islam (p.b.u.h.), breach of promises, perverting the heavenly Books, being afraid of entering the city, worshipping the Calf, seeking for excuses, gluttionie, and being impatient regarding the uniformity of their food (Manna and Salwa) are some example of their crimes.
Also, for the wrath of Allah upon them, there are some example of divine retribution such as: moving the mount from its place, being wondered for forty years, transformation and humiliation.
The verse says:
" And the Jews and the Christians say: ' We are the sons of Allah and His beloved ones.' Say: ' Why does He then punish you for your sins ?' Nay, you are mortals of those He has created. He forgives whom He pleases, and punishes whom He pleases. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them two, and unto Him is the ultimate return (of all)."
(1) This claim is also mentioned in the Bood of John, one of the Books of the New Testament, Chapter 8, No. 41
(19) يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ عَلَى فَتْرَةٍ مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا جَاءنَا مِن بَشِيرٍ وَلاَ نَذِيرٍ فَقَدْ جَاءكُم بَشِيرٌ وَنَذِيرٌ وَاللّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
19." O' People of the Book! Indeed Our Messenger has come to you to explain (things) to you after a cessation of the (mission of the) messengers, any warner '; but, indeed, there has come to you a giver of gladtidings and a warner; and Allah is All-Powerful over all things.
Commentary:
The intermission between the time of Hadrat Messiah (Jesus Christ) (a.s.) and the advent of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) lasted about six hundred years.
During the time when there exists not an appointed Divine prophet, the glob is not empty of Allah's Authority, because the prophets' successors have always existed. As the words of Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) indicates, the earth never lacks godly authority whether he has power or not, because the way of Allah should not be concealed for those who want to pave it.(1)
Hence, the existence of the time of intermission between coming one prophet after the former does not mean that people are left to themselves.
" O' People of the Book! Indeed Our Messenger has come to you to explain (things) to you after a cessation of the (mission of the) messengers, any warner '; but, indeed, there has come to you a giver of gladtidings and a warner; and Allah is All-Powerful over all things."
By the way, the intermissions, whether they are long or short, are certainly useful in the system of divine educational arrangements. There are several examples of this meaning in the length of the history of prophets. for instance: the separation of Moses from people, the spiritual retirement of prophets, the cease of revelation unto the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), and minor occultation and major occultation are some distinguished references for the idea.
(1) Nahajul-Balaqah, saying No. 147
