and a clear proof (1) that leads to the truth and guides to right conduct. For this reason the trail of blood (2) by which one is led to the slain quarry (3) is also called a basirah (4).
The verse further indicates (5) that whoever is not upon basirah is not counted among the Messenger’s followers, and that his followers are the people of insight (6). Hence His words: “I and whoever follows me.” If the intended meaning is, “I and those who follow me call to Allah,” with “whoever follows me” coordinated to the nominative pronoun in “I call” (7)—and the coordination is acceptable (8) because of the intervening separation (9)—then the verse proves that the Messenger’s followers are precisely those who invite others to Allah and to His Messenger (10).
But if it is taken as being coordinated (11) to the genitive pronoun in “my way,” that is, “this
(1) See al-Tabari, Tafsir, 12:24.
(2) The base text and manuscript B read “blame,” which is a scribal corruption, as indicated in the following note.
(3) Manuscript B reads “covenant,” which is a scribal corruption. Al-Jawhari said: “Al-Asma'i said: Basirah is a trace of blood by which one identifies the animal that has been shot” (al-Sihah, 2:592).
(4) The passage from “and it guides to right guidance” to “insight” is omitted in manuscript C.
(5) Omitted from the base text and restored from manuscripts B and C.
(6) The phrase “and that his followers are people of insight” is omitted in manuscript C.
(7) See al-Nahhas, I'rab al-Quran, 2:160; and al-Nasafi, Tafsir, 2:133.
(8) Manuscript B reads “and better” instead of “and good.”
(9) Ibn al-Qayyim said: “It is better and closer to eloquence and rhetorical effectiveness” (Miftah Dar al-Sa'adah, 1:154).
(10) The phrase “and to His Messenger” is omitted in manuscript C.
(11) Manuscript C reads “the coordinated element.”