Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 67 and 68

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*Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 67:*

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ

O Messenger (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him])! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind. Verily, Allah guides not the people who disbelieve.

#COMMENTARY

Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) had many difficulties to contend with, many enemies and dangers to avoid. His mission must be fulfilled. And he must- as he did- go forward and proclaim that message and fulfill his mission, trusting to Allāh for protection, and unconcerned if people who had lost all sense of right rejected it or threatened him.

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*Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 68:*

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ تُقِيمُوا التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَيَزِيدَنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنْهُم مَّا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا فَلَا تَأْسَ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Say (O Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]) "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! You have nothing (as regards guidance) till you act according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to you from your Lord (the Quran)." Verily, that which has been sent down to you (Muhammad [Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him]) from your Lord increases in many of them their obstinate rebellion and disbelief. So be not sorrowful over the people who disbelieve.

#COMMENTARY

In Sūra Al-Maeda, verse 26, Moses was told not to sorrow over a rebellious people. Here Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) is told not to sorrow over people without Faith. The second situation is even more trying than the first. Rebellion may be a passing phase. Want of faith is an attitude of mind that is well-nigh hopeless. Yet the Prophet (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him] patiently reasoned with them and bore their taunts and insults. If, the argument runs, you do not believe in anything, even in the things that you may be expected to believe in, how can you receive in Faith Allāh's Message that has come in another form? In fact your jealousy adds to your obstinacy and unbelief!