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Explanatory Note
The Jews of Madinah used to raise doubts about the truth of the Prophet Muĥammad’s message, while the hypocrites, like the pagan Arabs of Makkah, were sceptical and called it into question. Therefore we find the Qur’ān challenging them all, as indeed it challenges mankind in general. The challenge starts off with emphasising an important fact by describing the Prophet Muĥammad as God’s ‘servant’. This description is significant in a number of ways: it is, first, an honour to the Prophet himself and an indication that to be a ‘servant’ of God is the highest honour a human being can attain. Second, it affirms the essence of servitude to God in the universal human context, calling on all men to submit only to God and renounce all partners that may be associated with Him. The Prophet Muĥammad, who attained the highest position of honour as a recipient of divine revelations, is also honoured by being described as a servant of God. The challenge is also related to the opening of this sūrah, which points out that the Qur’ān was composed of the very same letters the Arabs were familiar with in their language. If they were in any doubt as to its truth or veracity, they were free to produce anything, even one sūrah, comparable to it, and they could call any witnesses they wished to testify in their favour. The Prophet’s claim had already been supported by God.
أي: ولن تفعلوا ذلك أبداً، وهذه أيضاً معجزة أخرى، وهو أنه أخبر خبراً جازماً قاطعاً مقدماً غير خائف ولا مشفق أن هذا القرآن لا يعارض بمثله أبد الآبدين، ودهر الداهرين، وكذلك وقع الأمر لم يعارض من لدنه إلى زماننا هذا، ولا يمكن، وأنَّى يتأتى ذلك لأحد . ابن كثير: 1/58 [Be first to translate this...]