(101–102) “When We substitute one verse for another—and Allah knows best what He sends down—they say, ‘You are only a fabricator.’ Rather, most of them do not know. Say, ‘The Holy Spirit brought it down from your Lord in truth to strengthen those who believe, and as guidance and glad tidings for the Muslims.’”
Allah Most High states that those who deny this Quran seize upon whatever they think supports their case: Allah Most High is the Sovereign, the All-Wise, who prescribes rulings and, in His wisdom and mercy, replaces one ruling with another. Yet when they witness this, they malign the Messenger and the message he brought, saying, “You are only a fabricator.” Allah Most High replies, “Rather, most of them do not know.” They are ignorant, possessing no knowledge of their Lord or His law. It is well known that an ignorant person’s uninformed criticism carries no weight, for criticizing something presupposes knowledge of it and of what it contains that may warrant praise or criticism.
For this reason, Allah Most High explains His wisdom in this, saying, “Say, ‘The Holy Spirit brought it down.’” This refers to Gabriel, the sanctified messenger, who is free from every defect, betrayal, and affliction.
“In truth”: that is, it was sent down in truth and contains truth in its reports, commands, and prohibitions. No one can therefore level any valid criticism against it, for once it is known to be the truth, it follows that whatever opposes or contradicts it is false.
“To strengthen those who believe”: as its verses are revealed and come to them successively, from time to time, the truth continues to reach their hearts little by little until their faith becomes firmer than towering mountains. Moreover, they know that it is the truth. Thus, when He prescribes one ruling and then abrogates it, they know that He has replaced it with one equal to it or better for them, and that its abrogation accords with divine wisdom and reason alike.
“And as guidance and glad tidings for the Muslims”: that is, it guides them to the realities of things, makes clear to them ⦗450⦘ truth from falsehood and guidance from misguidance, and gives them glad tidings of a good reward in which they shall abide forever. Moreover, whenever it was revealed little by little, it provided them with greater guidance and glad tidings than if it had come to them all at once and their attention had become scattered among its contents. Rather, Allah sends down a ruling and [greater] glad tidings (1); once they understand it, grasp it, recognize what is intended by it, and fully absorb it, He sends down another like it, and so on. Through it, therefore, the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—attained a tremendous rank. Their character and natural dispositions were transformed, and they adopted qualities, habits, and deeds by which they surpassed those who came before and after them.
The best and most fitting course for those who came after them was to be nurtured by its teachings, embody its moral qualities, illuminate the darkness of error and ignorance with its light, and take it as their guide in every circumstance. In this way, their religious and worldly affairs would be set aright.