Ansaruddin-SEPT-OCT-2016

DARSUL QUR’AN
When the help of Allah comes and the victory, and thou seest entering the religion of Allah in troops, Glorify thy
Lord, with His praise and seek forgiveness of Him. Surely, He is oft-returning with compassion. (Sura Al-Nasar)
Introduction
Commentary
This is a Medinite Sura in the sense that it was The Holy Prophet (saw) is here enjoined that since
revealed after Hijra in the Medinite period, but is God’s promise has been fulfilled and large masses of
a Meccan Sura in the sense that it was revealed at people have begun to enter the fold of Islam, he
Mecca on the occasion of the Last Pilgrimage, only should give thanks to his Lord for fulfilling His
about 70 or 80 days before the Holy Prophet’s promise about victory, sing His praises and seek His
death. All relevant historical data, coupled with protection and forgiveness.
reliable traditions are supported by such eminent
The expression has a very wide significance.
authority as ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar, one of the very
The Holy Prophet is here told that since victory has
early and distinguished Companions of the Holy
come to him and Islam has become predominant in the
Prophet (saw) have assigned this date to its
land and his erstwhile enemies have become his devoted
revelation. This was the last whole Sura to be
servants, he should ask God to forgive them the grave
revealed, though the last verse with which the
wrongs they had done to him in the past. This seems to
Quranic revelation came to an end was the 4th
be the meaning and significance of the injunction to the
verse of Sura Al-Maidah, viz: “This day have those
Holy Prophet to seek God’s forgiveness. Or the Holy
who disbelieve despaired or harming your religion.
Prophet might have been enjoined to ask God’s
So fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have
protection against weaknesses and shortcomings they
perfected your religion for you and completed My
might find their way into the Muslim community on
favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as
account of lack of adequate training or education for the
religion.” In the preceding Sura disbelievers were
new converts. It is significant that whenever mention is
plainly told that as their outlook on life, their ideals
made in the Qur’an of a destined victory or some great
and principles, their religious practices and mode
success falling to the Holy Prophet, he is generally told
and manner of worship were quite different from
to ask God’s forgiveness and to seek His protection. This
those of believers, there was no possibility of a
clearly shows that he is enjoined here to ask for God’s
compromise between the two. They shall reap the
forgiveness and to seek His protection not for himself
consequences of their deeds while the Muslims will
but for others; he is asked to pray that whenever there
enjoy the fruits of their labour. In the present Sura
was any danger of his followers deviating from Islamic
believers are told that the victory promised to them
principles or precepts, God may save them from such a
has already come and people have joined the fold of
crisis. Thus there is no question here of the Prophet’s
Islam in large numbers. Therefore, they,
asking forgiveness for any of his own actions. According
particularly the Holy Prophet, should give thanks
to the Qur’an, he enjoyed complete immunity from
to his Lord, extol His praises and seek protection
every moral lapse or deviation from the right course
from Him against shortcomings and moral
(53:3).
weaknesses that generally find their way into a new
movement at a time when large groups of people The expression, “He is Oft-Returning with
join its fold, because, in view of a vast number of compassion,” holds a message of hope to the Holy
new converts and owing to lack of adequate Prophet (saw). He is told that whenever there was any
number of experienced teachers to teach them the danger of his followers deviating from the path of Islam
essentials of the new movement, they fail to and falling victims to moral decay on a large scale, God
comprehend and assimilate properly its teaching or will return to them with compassion and will raise from
imbibe its spirit.
among them a reformer who will lead them to the right
path.
2 Ansaruddin Sept - Oct 2016