(106–112) “Surely in this is sufficient provision for a people devoted to worship. * We have sent you only as a mercy to all creation. * Say, ‘What is revealed to me is only that your God is One God. Will you then submit?’ * But if they turn away, say, ‘I have warned you all equally. I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far. * Surely He knows what is spoken openly and what you conceal. * I do not know; perhaps it is a trial for you and an enjoyment for a time.’ * He said, ‘My Lord, judge with truth. Our Lord is the Most Merciful, whose help is sought against what you allege.’”
Allah Most High praises His mighty Book—the Quran—and makes clear that it is wholly sufficient and that nothing can take its place. He says: “Surely in this is sufficient provision for a people devoted to worship.” That is, they take it as their provision for reaching their Lord and His abode of honor. It brings them to the loftiest goals and the finest aspirations. Those devoted to worship—who are the noblest of creation—have nothing beyond it to seek, for it provides all they need to know their Lord through His names, attributes, and actions; it gives truthful accounts of unseen matters; it calls to the realities of faith and the proofs of certainty; it sets forth every command and every prohibition; it makes known the faults of the soul and of one’s deeds, as well as the paths that must be followed in both the subtle and evident matters of religion; and it warns against Satan’s paths and explains the avenues by which he gains access to a person. Whoever is not enriched by the Quran, may Allah never enrich him; and whoever does not find it sufficient, may Allah never suffice him.
He then praises His Messenger, who brought the Quran, saying: “We have sent you only as a mercy to all creation.” He is the mercy bestowed as a gift upon Allah’s servants. Those who believe in him accepted this mercy, gave thanks for it, and upheld it. Others rejected it, exchanged Allah’s blessing for disbelief, and refused Allah’s mercy and favor.
“Say,” O Muhammad, “What is revealed to me is only that your God is One God,” besides whom no one deserves worship. Hence He says: “Will you then submit?” That is, will you submit to Him in worship and surrender yourselves to Him as the only true God? If they do so, let them praise their Lord for granting them this blessing, which surpasses all other favors.
“But if they turn away” from submitting to the worship of their Lord, then warn them that exemplary punishments will befall them and that punishment will descend upon them.
“Say, ‘I have warned you’”—that is, informed you of the punishment—“all equally.” In other words, my knowledge and yours concerning it are now equal. Thus, when the punishment descends upon you, do not say, “No bearer of good news or warner ever came to us.” Rather, my knowledge and yours are now equal, for I have warned and cautioned you, informed you of the outcome of disbelief, and concealed nothing from you.
“I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far”—namely, the punishment—for knowledge of when it will come belongs to Allah and its occurrence lies in His hand; I have no control over the matter.
“I do not know; perhaps it is a trial for you and an enjoyment for a time.” That is, perhaps delaying the punishment you sought to hasten is an evil for you: you may enjoy the life of this world for a time, after which your punishment will be all the greater.
“He said, ‘My Lord, judge with truth’”—that is, judge between us and the unbelieving people. Allah answered this supplication and judged between them in this world before the Hereafter through the punishments He inflicted upon the unbelievers at the Battle of Badr and elsewhere.
“Our Lord is the Most Merciful, whose help is sought against what you allege.” That is, we ask our Lord, the Most Merciful, and seek His help against your claims that you will prevail over us and that our religion will vanish. In this matter, we do not admire ourselves or rely upon our own might and power. Rather, we seek the help of the Most Merciful, who holds the forelock of every creature in His hand, and we hope that, out of His mercy, He will bring to completion that for which we sought His help. He has indeed done so, and all praise belongs to Allah.