435

(17) قُلْ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُم مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءاً أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً وَلاَ يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيّاً وَلاَ نَصِيراً

17. "Say: 'Who is he that shall defend you from Allah, if He desires punishment for you, or desires mercy for you?' And they shall find for themselves, apart from Allah, neither protector nor helper."

Commentary:

Mercy and punishment, or bitterness and sweetness will come to a man by the will of Allah (s.w.t.). The will of Allah concerning the appearance of man's afflictions and hardships is in this sense that, by his own authority and committing some evil deeds (like escaping from war) man draws himself toward the fire of the punishment of Allah and, since all things are done by Allah's will, these afflictions and hardships are attributed to Allah. So, this holy verse, addressing the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), announces:

Therefore, now that all your pre-destined affairs are with Him, do obey His command in the field of Holy war eagerly because it is the cause of your honour both in the world and before Him. So, if in this way martyrdom meets you, embrace it happily.

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