RENAISSANCE JULY 2021

7 Monthly Renaissance July 2021 Qur’ ā nic Exegesis S ū rah al-Qa ṣ a ṣ (3) Am ī n A ḥ san I ṣ l āḥī Verses (47-61) It is evident from the above verses which are addressed to the Prophet (sws) that just as the Almighty sent Moses (sws) to the Pharaoh and his people as a messenger, in a similar way, He sent Mu ḥ ammad (sws) to the Quraysh as His messenger. His messengerhood is a great boon if they give regard to it. It can also prove to be a great bane if they do not value it. In the coming verses, this subject is further emphasized: it is said that the purpose of sending this messenger is to conclusively communicate the truth to them. If they are now afflicted by some torment, they cannot say that the Almighty had not forewarned them. However, such is the situation of these people that they raise an objection on God’s messenger taught to them by the Jews– the objection as to why he was not given the kind of miracles given to Moses (sws). The Prophet (sws) is told to ask them as to when the people of Moses (sws) regarded these miracles with seriousness so that it can be expected of them to be take them seriously. Mentioned then is a praise for the People of the Book who support the Qur’ ā n in deference to the prophecies mentioned in their scriptures and who are patiently combating the uproar raised by their people. Moreover, a fear of the Quraysh has been allayed: they thought that if they accepted the message of the Qur’ ā n, they would be uprooted from the land. They are warned that if they accept this message, there is no danger for them. However, if they reject it, then they shall certainly be destroyed in accordance with the established practice of God. Readers may proceed to study the verses in this background. Text and Translation ۡ و ﻟﻮۡ ﻵﻹۤ نۡ ﺗﺼﻴۡﺒﻬﻢۡ ﻣﺼﻴ ﺒﺔٌۢ ﺑﻤﺎ ﻗﺪﻣﺖۡ ﻳۡﺪﻳۡﻬﻢۡ ﻓﻴﻘﻮۡﻟﻮۡ رﺑﻨﺎ ﻟﻮۡ ﻵﻹۤ رۡﺳﻠۡﺖ ﻟﻴۡﻨﺎ رﺳﻮۡﻵًﻹ