(118–119) “Those who have no knowledge say, ‘Why does Allah not speak to us, or why does a sign not come to us?’ Those before them said the same as they say. Their hearts are alike. We have certainly made the signs clear for people who have certainty. Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner, and you will not be questioned about the people of Hellfire.”

That is, the ignorant among the People of the Scripture and others said, “Why does He not speak to us as He spoke to the messengers, or why does a sign not come to us?” They mean signs demanded at their own dictation, proposed according to their corrupt minds and bankrupt opinions, through which they dared to act insolently toward the Creator and arrogantly defied His messengers. Thus they said:

“We will never believe you until we see Allah openly.”

“The People of the Scripture ask you to send down a book from heaven to them. They asked Moses for something even greater than that”—and the rest of the verse.

They also said, “Why was an angel not sent down to him to be a warner alongside him? Or why was a treasure not cast down to him, or why does he not have a garden?”—and the following verses.

Likewise, His words: “They say, ‘We will never believe you until you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us’”—and the following verses.

This was their habitual way with their messengers: they demanded signs out of obstinacy, not signs by which to seek guidance. Their aim was not to discern the truth, for the messengers had already brought signs of a kind by which human beings believe. Allah Most High therefore said, “We have certainly made the signs clear for people who have certainty.” Everyone possessed of certainty has recognized in Allah’s dazzling signs and manifest proofs enough to attain certainty and dispel every doubt and misgiving.

Allah Most High then cited part of a brief and concise verse that encompasses the signs proving the Prophet’s truthfulness—peace and blessings be upon him—and the soundness of what he brought. He said, “Indeed, We have sent you with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner.” This comprises the signs he brought, which fall under three headings:

The first concerns the very fact that he was sent; the second, his life, guidance, and bearing; and the third, knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah that he brought.

The first and second are encompassed by His words, “Indeed, We have sent you,” and the third by His words, “with the truth.”

To explain the first matter—the very fact that he was sent—it is well known what condition the people of the earth were in before his mission—peace and blessings be upon him: they worshipped idols, fires, and crosses and had altered their religions, until they were enveloped in a darkness of unbelief that covered them all, except for a few remnants of the People of the Scripture who had died out shortly before his mission.

It is also known that Allah Most High did not create His creatures in vain or leave them neglected, for He is All-Wise, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, and Most Merciful. It therefore follows from His wisdom and mercy toward His servants that He sent them this great Messenger, commanding them to worship the Most Merciful alone, without any partner. The very fact that he was sent enables a rational person to recognize his truthfulness and is a great sign that he is Allah’s Messenger.

As for the second matter, whoever knows the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—fully, knows his life and guidance before his mission, and knows how he grew up embodying the most perfect qualities, and then how his noble traits and magnificent character only increased thereafter, astounding all who beheld them—whoever knows these things and carefully examines his circumstances will recognize that such qualities could belong only to perfected prophets. Allah Most High has made people’s qualities the greatest evidence by which their possessors may be known and their truthfulness or falsehood discerned.

As for the third matter, it is knowledge of what he brought—peace and blessings be upon him—namely, the magnificent sacred law and the Noble Quran, comprising truthful reports, excellent commands, the prohibition of all that is vile, and dazzling miracles. All the signs fall within these three headings.

His words, “a bearer of glad tidings,” mean that you give those who obey you glad tidings of happiness in this world and the Hereafter; and “a warner” means that you warn those who disobey you of misery and destruction in this world and the Hereafter.

“And you will not be questioned about the people of Hellfire.” That is, you bear no responsibility for them. Your duty is only to convey, and Ours is the reckoning.