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brought to light, not by a flourish of trumpets, but by a humble individual, unknown and unseen, who works
imperceptibly and undermines even so strong a thing as staff, on which a great man may lean; (3) work done by men
merely on the basis of brute Strength or fear, as in the case of the Jinns, will not endure. This is brought up in strong
contrast against the Power and Majesty of Allah, which will endure, which cannot be sapped, and which can only be
fully appreciated by a training of the will and heart. In the same way, in David's story above, his mighty strength as a
warrior (see ii. 251) and his skill in making armour are only to be valued when used, as it was used, in the service of
Allah, in righteous works (xxxiv. 1 1). (34.14)
35:22 - Nor are alike those that are living and those that are dead. Allah can make any that He
wills to hear; but thou canst not make those to hear who are (buried) in graves. 3905
3905 The final contrast is between the Living and the Dead; those whose future has in it the promise of growth and
fulfilment, and those who are inert and on the road to perish. With Allah everything is possible: He can give Life to the
Dead. But the human Teacher should not expect that people who are (spiritually) dead and buried will by any chance
hear his call. (35.22)
34:35 - They said: "We have more in wealth and in sons and we cannot be punished." 3842
3842 Their arrogance is openly based on their worldly power and position, their family influence, and the strength of their
man-power. Turn back again to the contrast drawn between the arrogant ones and those whom they despised, in
verses 31-33. (34.35)
35:32 - Then We have given the Book for inheritance to such of Our servants as We have chosen:
but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle
course; and some who are by Allah's leave foremost in good deeds; that is the highest Grace.
39193920
3919 The force of "then" is that of finality. The Qur-an is that last Book revealed. Or it may be here to point the contrast
between "to thee" in the last verse, i.e., the holy Prophet, in contradistinction to the People of Islam, who inherited the
Book after him. (35.32)
37:62 - Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum? 4072
4072 Cf. xvii. 60, n. 2250. This bitter tree of Hell is in contrast with the beautiful Garden of heaven with its delicious fruits.
(37.62)
38:28 - Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness the same as those who
do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil the same as those who turn
aside from the right? 4180
4180 The reference to the Hereafter at the end of verse 26 above is of a piece with the whole tenor of this Sura, which
deals with the superiority of the spiritual kingdom and the Hereafter. If there were no Hereafter, how could you
reconcile the inequalities of this world? Would not the Unbelievers be right in acting as if all Creation and all life were
futile? But there is a Hereafter and Allah will not treat the Good and Evil alike. He is just and will fully restore the
balance disturbed in this life. (38.28)
38:55 - Yea such! But for the wrongdoers will be an evil place of (final) Return! 4211
4211 This is in parallel contrast to the state of the Blessed in xxxviii. 49 above. (38.55)
38:56 - Hell! They will burn therein an evil bed (indeed to lie on)! 4212
4212 Cf. xiv. 29. This continues the parallel contrast to the state of the Blessed already described. (38.56)
38:66 - "The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all between Exalted in Might Able to enforce
His will forgiving again and again." 42204221
4220 In n. 2818 to xxii. 40, I have explained the full import of 'Aziz as a title applied to Allah, and I have expressed two of
the leading ideas involved, in the two lines here. The argument in this Sura turns upon the contrast between earthly
Power and the Divine Power: the one is impotent and the other is supreme. (38.66)
39:19 - Is then one against whom the decree of Punishment is justly due (equal to one who
eschews evil)? Wouldst thou then deliver one (who is) in the fire? 4270
4270 If a man is already steeped in sin and has rejected Allah's Grace, how can we expect Revelation to work in his soul?
(39.19)
39:22 - Is one whose heart Allah has opened to Islam so that he has received enlightenment from
Allah (no better than one hard-hearted)? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against
celebrating the praises of Allah! They are manifestly wandering (in error)! 42744275
4274 Those who listen to Allah's Message find at each stage Allah's Grace helping them more and more to expand their
spiritual understanding and to receive Allah's light, so that they travel farther and farther to their Goal in the Path of
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