x JONAH—YUNUS 101 man has often been a matter of comment inthe Qur'an. It is but natural, for one in suffering, to look up to some higher power, and mao by instinct and intuition is bound to have faith in the Higher Power. Rejection and negligence are mere the result of external powers working on man. We find verse 22 reverting to the same subject, but in a different manner. The polytheists could not question the integrity and the truthfulness of the Prophet. They repeated their willingaess to listen to his word, but they said his mission was unacceptable. They wished him to forge a new scripture, whose teachings should not be repugnant to their faith and that of their fore- fathers. The Prophet declared that throughout his lifetime, he had never fabricated anything to please anyone and that he was subjected to the divine decree of his Lord in delivering the revelation of the Qur’an, and that none could’ save him from the displeasure of his Lord in case he failed to recite them as thev were. ” Another clear testimony about his. Prophethood is given _ in verse 16. . le was'not a stranger to the people of Mecca. During a long span’ of forty years of his lifetime, they never found bim committing a single act of indecency. Most blame- less was his character, and. he was aly the trustwor- thy. Not a word of falsehood ever escaped his lips befure. How then, could he utter such a blasphemy, as to invent a li: ainst God saying that His Revelations were delivered to him. Could not they understand this much ? 2. . . __ Psychologists and ‘moralists opine that thé ciiai ter of | @ person once moulded in the early forty years ‘woule weather _ any storm. The character of the Prophet had been for fortv years like an open book for the ‘opponents. It was -unthinkable that be would blaspheme in his forty-first year against the Fashioner of the heavens and of the earth, before the very persons” who rejected the divine message. In that case doth’ ‘would be: implicated, one for blasphemy against God, and the. other for102 + THE TARJUMAN AL-QUR’AN CHAP, rejecting the divine message. dustice then had to be meted out to the culprits, and God dia judge. ‘The stars and unbelievers were wiped out for good, and the mission of Muhammad, the Prophet, spread throughout the globe. Refer also to verses, 21 and 44 of we chapter, ‘The Cattle’ and ‘verse 37 of the chapter, “Ibe Heights.” {15} But (O Prophet !}, when Our clear Verses are recited to them, they who do not look forward to returu unto Our Presence say, “Bring a Qur'an different from this, or alter some of its provisions.” Say : * “it is not for me to wake any changes therein us | like. 2 tollow only” that ‘which Js revealed to me.’ Indeed 1 fear chastisement of the Great Day, if 4 go against my Lord. - {10}. “Had God so pleased, I would not have recited 1f to you, aor would He have made any mention of it to. you (but His Will is that this revelation should be received by you, and.all the nations of the world should receive this guidance trom you). Already nave | dweit among you for years before the divine revelations begun to come to me, ,and had never said anything burtful to your interests, and know that what tam now communicaung to you isa revelation from God intended to reform you and equip you for great things 10 Life). Can you not understand this much?” {17JeWho 2s more upjust—be who |. “inventeth a lic against God or be who treateth Has revelations as ies? Surely the wicked s. ali not prosper.x JONAH—YUNUS 103 Verse 18 deals with the Unity of God. The note at the end of this chapter may be perused. Verse 19 is similar in meaning to verse 213 of the chapter, ‘The Cow,” and the subject would be discussed again in the chapter entitled, ‘Hid.’ [18] And ( these polytheists ) worship, instead of God, those objects which can neither help them nor harm them and (by way of reasoning) say: “These ure our intercessors with God.” Say to them: “Do you apprise God of aught in the heavens and the earth which (you fancy) He knoweth not? Glorious is He! Exalted is He, far above those. whom they have set up as peers!” [19] Mankind were at first but one united people; then. they fell at variance, (and resolved theniselves into different communities which afforded them an . opportunity to test their actions). Had not a decree of respite ‘from thy Lord gone forth ” im advance, their differences would assuredly have borne their natural results. (The fespite was afforded’ to see whether . they could return to a united life.) [20]. They say: “Why does not any revelation from his Lord come to him (announcing a doom for their having been at variance)?” Say to them {O Prophet !): “What is to befall is known only to God. . So, wait ye! 1 shall also wait - with those. who wait (to see what will befall).” “SECTION 3:° VERSES 21-30 As long as there is some s@pport from some quarters mao never likes to think of any divine assistance, but once every