﷽
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 123:*
وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
And fear the Day (of Judgement) when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.
*COMMENTARY*
Verses 122-123 (Sūra Al-Baqarah) repeat verses 47-48 (Sūra Al-Baqarah), except for a slight verbal variation in verse 123 (Sūra Al-Baqarah), which does not affect the sense. The argument about the favours to Israel is thus beautifully rounded off, and we now proceed to the argument in the favour of the Arabs as succeeding to the spiritual inheritance of Abraham.
﷽
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 124:*
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) [i.e., Allāh] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allāh) said (to him), "Verily, I am going to make you a (Imām) leader (Prophet) of mankind." [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said, "And of my offspring (to make leaders)." (Allāh) said, "My Covenant (Prophethood, etc.) includes not Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)."
*COMMENTARY*
Kalimāt: literally "words": here used in the sense of Allāh's Will or Decree or Purpose. This verse may be taken to be the sum of the verses following. In everything Abraham fulfilled Allāh's wish: he purified Allāh's house: he built the sacred refuge of the Ka'abah; he submitted his will to Allāh's, and thus became the type of Islam. He was promised the leadership of the world; he pleaded for his progeny, and his prayer was granted, with the limitation that if his progeny was false to Allāh, Allāh's promise did not reach the people who proved themselves false.
Imām: the primary sense is that of being foremost: hence it may mean:
1. Leader in religion.
2. Leader in congregational prayer.
3. Model, pattern, example.
4. A book of guidance and instructions (Qur-ān chapter xi, verse 17).
5. A book of evidence or record (Qur'an chapter xxxvi, verse 12).
Here meanings 1 and 3 are implied. In Qur'an chapter ix, verse 12 the word is applied to leaders of Unbelief or Blasphemy.
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 123:*
وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
And fear the Day (of Judgement) when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.
*COMMENTARY*
Verses 122-123 (Sūra Al-Baqarah) repeat verses 47-48 (Sūra Al-Baqarah), except for a slight verbal variation in verse 123 (Sūra Al-Baqarah), which does not affect the sense. The argument about the favours to Israel is thus beautifully rounded off, and we now proceed to the argument in the favour of the Arabs as succeeding to the spiritual inheritance of Abraham.
﷽
*Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 124:*
وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ
And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) [i.e., Allāh] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allāh) said (to him), "Verily, I am going to make you a (Imām) leader (Prophet) of mankind." [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said, "And of my offspring (to make leaders)." (Allāh) said, "My Covenant (Prophethood, etc.) includes not Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)."
*COMMENTARY*
Kalimāt: literally "words": here used in the sense of Allāh's Will or Decree or Purpose. This verse may be taken to be the sum of the verses following. In everything Abraham fulfilled Allāh's wish: he purified Allāh's house: he built the sacred refuge of the Ka'abah; he submitted his will to Allāh's, and thus became the type of Islam. He was promised the leadership of the world; he pleaded for his progeny, and his prayer was granted, with the limitation that if his progeny was false to Allāh, Allāh's promise did not reach the people who proved themselves false.
Imām: the primary sense is that of being foremost: hence it may mean:
1. Leader in religion.
2. Leader in congregational prayer.
3. Model, pattern, example.
4. A book of guidance and instructions (Qur-ān chapter xi, verse 17).
5. A book of evidence or record (Qur'an chapter xxxvi, verse 12).
Here meanings 1 and 3 are implied. In Qur'an chapter ix, verse 12 the word is applied to leaders of Unbelief or Blasphemy.
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