(192–203) “And indeed, it is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds. * The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down * upon your heart so that you may be one of the warners * in a clear Arabic tongue. * And indeed, it is mentioned in the scriptures of the former peoples. * Was it not a sign for them that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognize it? * Even had We sent it down to one of the non-Arabs * and he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it. * Thus We have caused it to enter the hearts of the evildoers. * They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment. * It will come upon them suddenly, while they are unaware. * Then they will say, ‘Will we be granted a reprieve?’”
After relating the stories of the prophets and their peoples—how they called them, [what] (1) their peoples said in reply, how Allah destroyed their enemies, and how the final outcome belonged to the prophets—He then mentioned this noble Messenger, the great and chosen Prophet, and the Book he brought, which contains guidance for people of understanding. He said: “And indeed, it is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds.” The One who sent it down is the Originator of the earth and the heavens, who nurtures all creation in the upper and lower realms. Just as He nurtures them by guiding them to what benefits their worldly lives and their bodies, He also nurtures them by guiding them to what benefits their religion and their Hereafter. Among the greatest ways in which He has nurtured them is by sending down this noble Book, which ⦗598⦘ encompasses abundant good and immense virtue. It contains guidance concerning the welfare of both abodes and noble character to an extent found in no other book. His words, “And indeed, it is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds,” exalt this Book and show the great importance accorded to it: it came down from Allah and no one else, and was intended for your benefit and guidance.
“The Trustworthy Spirit brought it down.” This is Gabriel, peace be upon him, the finest and strongest of the angels. He is “the Trustworthy,” safeguarded from adding anything to it or omitting anything from it.
“Upon your heart,” O Muhammad, “so that you may be one of the warners”: that through it you may guide to the path of right guidance and warn against the path of error.
“In an Arabic tongue.” It is the finest of tongues and the language of the people to whom he was sent and whose call he undertook first and foremost—a lucid and unmistakably clear tongue. Consider how all these magnificent virtues are combined in this noble Book: it is the finest of books; it was brought down by the finest of angels to the finest of creation, upon the noblest part of him—his heart—for the finest nation ever brought forth for humankind, and in the finest, most eloquent, and most expressive of tongues: the clear Arabic tongue.
“And indeed, it is mentioned in the scriptures of the former peoples.” That is, the earlier scriptures foretold it and testified to its truth. When it was revealed in precise accordance with what they had reported, it confirmed them. Indeed, it brought the truth and confirmed the messengers.
“Was it not a sign for them” of its truth and that it is from Allah “that the scholars of the Children of Israel recognize it?” Knowledge had reached its fullest extent among them, and they had become the most learned of people; they were the specialists in this field. Whenever uncertainty arises concerning anything, it is referred to those with expertise and knowledge, and their testimony is therefore authoritative for others. Similarly, the magicians who had attained mastery of magic recognized the truth of Moses’ miracle and knew that it was not magic. After this, no regard is paid to the words of the ignorant.
“Even had We sent it down to one of the non-Arabs,” who did not understand their language and could not express its meaning to them as it should be expressed, “and he recited it to them, they would not have believed in it.” They would have said, “We do not understand what he is saying, nor do we know what he is calling us to.” They should therefore praise their Lord that it came to them through the most eloquent of creation, the one most capable of expressing intended meanings in clear words and the most sincere in advising them. They should hasten to believe in it and receive it with submission and acceptance. Yet their denial of it, without any plausible basis, is nothing but sheer disbelief and stubborn opposition—something inherited by one denying nation from another. Hence He said: “Thus We have caused it to enter the hearts of the evildoers.” That is, We introduced denial and threaded it through the hearts of the wicked just as thread is passed through a needle. Their hearts absorbed it, and it became one of their defining traits because of their wrongdoing and wickedness. Therefore, “They will not believe in it until they see the painful punishment” for their denial.
“It will come upon them suddenly, while they are unaware.” That is, it will come upon them while they are heedless, without their sensing it or anticipating its descent, so that their punishment and exemplary chastisement will be all the more severe.
“Then they will say,” at that time, “Will we be granted a reprieve?” That is, they will ask to be given time and allowed a delay, although the time for that will already have passed and the punishment will have befallen them—a punishment that will neither be lifted from them nor abate for even an hour.