ism

168
73, there is the similitude of the Fly. For similitudes taken from magnificent forces of nature, expressed in exalted
language, see ii. 19 above. To God all His creation has some special meaning appropriate to itself, and some of what
we consider the lowest creatures have wonderful aptitudes, e.g., the spider of the fly. Parables like these may be an
occasion of stumbling to those "who forsake the path"; in other words those who deliberately shut their eyes to God's
Signs, and their Penalty is attributed to God, the Cause of all causes. But lest there should be misunderstanding, it is
immediately added that the stumbling and offence only occur as the result of the sinner's own choice of the wrong
course. Verses 26 and 27 form one sentence and should be read together. "Forsaking the path" is defined in ii. 27,
viz., breaking solemn covenants which the sinner's own soul had ratified, causing division among mankind, who were
meant to be one brotherhood, and doing as much mischief as possible in the life on this earth, for the life beyond will
be on another plane, where no rope will be given to evil. (2.26)
2:41 - And believe in what I reveal confirming the revelation which is with you and be not the first to
reject faith therein nor sell My Signs for a small price: and fear Me and Me alone. 59
59 You receive revelations before: now comes one confirming it: its first appeal should be to you: are you to be the first to
reject it? And reject it for what? God's Signs are worth more than all your paltry considerations. And the standard of
duty and righteousness is to be taken from God, and not from priests and customs. (2.41)
2:62 -Those who believe (in the Qur'an) and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures) and the
Christians and the Sabians and who believe in Allah and the last day and work righteousness
shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. 7677
76 Latest researches have revealed a small remnant of a religious community numbering about
2,000 souls in Lower Iraq, near Basra. In Arabic they are called Subbi (plural Subba). They
are also called Sabians and Nasoraeans; or Mandaeans, or Christians of St. John. They claim
to be Gnostics, of Knowers of the Great Life. They dress in white, and believe in frequent
immersions in water. Their Book Ginza is in a dialect of Aramaic. They have theories of
Darkness and Light as in Zoroastrianism. They use the name Uardan (Jordan) for any river.
They live in peace and harmony among their Muslim neighbors. They resemble the Sabi-un
mentioned in the Qur-an but are not probably identical with them. (2.62)
77 CF. ii. 38, where the same phrase occurs. And it recurs again and again afterwards. The point of the verse is that
Islam does not teach an exclusive doctrine, and is not meant exclusively for one people. The Jews claimed this for
themselves, and the Christians in their own origin were a sect of the Jews. Even the modern organized Christian
churches, though they have been, consciously or unconsciously, influenced by the Time-spirit, including the historical
fact of Islam, yet cling to the idea of Vicarious Atonement, which means that all who do not believe in it or who lived
previously to the death of Christ are at a disadvantage spiritually before the Throne of God. The attitude of Islam is
entirely different. Islam existed before the preaching of Muhammad on this earth: the Qur-an expressly calls Abraham
a Muslim (iii. 67). Its teaching (submission to God's will) has been and will be the teaching of Religion for all time and
for all peoples. (2.62)
78 The Mountain of Sinai (Tur-u-Sinin) a prominent mountain in the Arabian desert, in the peninsula between the two
arms of the Red Sea. Here the Ten Commandments and the Law were given to Moses. Hence it is now called the
Mountain of Moses (Jabal Musa). The Israelites encamped at the foot of it for nearly a year. The Covenant was
taken from them under many portents (Exod. xix. 5,8,16,18), which are described in Jewish tradition in great detail.
Under thunder and lightening the mountain must indeed have appeared an awe-inspiring sight above to the Camp at
its foot. And the people solemnly entered into the Covenant: all the people answered together and said, "All that the
Lord hath spoken we will do." (2.63)
2:88 - They say "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's word we need no more)."
Nay Allah's curse is on them for their blasphemy; little is it they believe. 9293
92 The Jews in their arrogance claimed that all wisdom and all knowledge of God were enclosed in their hearts. But
there were more things in heaven and earth than were dreamt of in their philosophy. Their claim was not only
arrogance but blasphemy. In reality they were men without Faith. (I take Gulfan here to be the plural of Gilafun the
wrapping or cover of a book, in which the book is preserved.) As usual, there is a much wider meaning. How many
people at all times and among all nations close their hearts to any extension of knowlege or spiritual influence
because of some little fragment which they have got and which they think is the whole of Allah's Truth? Such an
attitude shows really want of faith and is a blasphemous limitation of Allah's unlimited spiritual gifts to His creatures.
[According to another view, the verse refers to the Jewish claim that a covering had been placed over their hearts
which prevented them from grasping the message of the Prophet (peace be on him). See Ibn Kathir's commentary on
the verse. See also verse iv. 155.] (2.88)
93 The root kafara has many shades of meaning: (1) to deny God's goodness, to be ungrateful, (2) to reject Faith, deny
His revelation, (3) to blaspheme, to ascribe some limitation or attribute to God which is derogatory to His nature. In a
translation, one shade or another must be put forward according to the context, but all are implied. (2.88)
2:121 - Those to whom We have sent the book study it as it should be studied; they are the
ones that believe therein; those who reject faith therein the loss is their own.
2:126 – And remember Abraham said: "My Lord make this a City of Peace and feed its people with
fruits such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day." He said: "(Yea) and such as reject
Go to UP
168