Interpretation of Sura al-Furqan - Verses 5-6

5. "And they say: '(Qur'an is) the stories of the ancients he has got them written, so they are dictated before him morning and evening'."

6. " Say: 'He sent it down Who knows the secrets in the heavens and the earth. Verily He is ever Forgiving, Merciful'."

Commentary

Pagans both found fault with the content of the Holy Qur'an, that these are old fables, and expressed doubt about the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), that he had made copy and they considered some unreal companions for him ("... they are dictated to him ..."). The purpose of 'old fables' is whether they believed that some persons wrote for him,or they said the Prophet(p.b.u.h.) was literate and negated his being uneducated.

In these holy verses, one of their derivative analyses and meaningless pretexts about the holy Qur'an is talked about. It says:

" And they say: '(Qur'an is) the stories of the ancients he has got them written,..."

This means that he, in fact, has nothing by himself. He has no knowledge and innovation, let alone revelation and prophethood. Some persons have helped him to gather some old legends and named it heavenly book.

In order to achieve this aim, he is helped by others every day. The verse continues saying:

"...so they are dictated before him morning and evening'."

He is helped in the morning and evening when there are few people out.

This is, in fact, explanation of the false accusations that were mentioned in the previous verse.

By these short sentences, they intend to impose some weak points on the holy Qur'an: First, the holy Qur'an has got no new matter or subject and it is some old legends. Second, the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) can not continue his job without others' help and every morning and evening matters must be read out to him and he writes them. Third, he can write and read and if he says that he is not educated, he is lying.

As a matter of fact, they intended to break up people who were with the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), but all wise persons who had lived for a time in that society knew well that the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) had not been educated by anybody and had nothing to do with the Jews and the People of the Book. If he were inspired by others every day and night, how would it be possible to remain hidden from others? Moreover the verses of Qur'an were revealed to him in journey, among people, in solitude and in all conditions.

Additionally, the holy Qur'an was a collection of doctrinal teachings, religious ordinances, laws and some part of the story of the prophets. When all of the holy Qur'an was sent down, it was not like what was in Old and New Testaments as well as Arab superstitious legends. If we compare both of them, we see what the truth is, because those scriptures were full of superstitions while these verses were free from any superstition.

Therefore, answering these groundless accusations, the last concerned verse says:

"Say: 'He sent it down Who knows the secrets in the heavens and the earth...."

It refers to this matter that the content of this Book and its various mysteries that are about sciences, the history of former nations, laws, man's needs, even some secrets of nature and news about the future, all indicate that it is not the product of man's mind and it is not compiled by the help of such and such persons. It is in fact generated by One Who knows mysteries of heavens and the earth and nothing is out of His knowledge realm.

Nevertheless, the path of return is open to those who are liar and evil thinkers, and, in the end of the verse, it says:

"... Verily He is ever Forgiving, Merciful'."

In agreement with His Mercy, He has sent prophets and heavenly Books, and in agreement with His forgiveness, He pardons our countless sins in the light of faith and penance.

Adapted from the book: "Interpretation of Sura al-Furqan" by: "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and A Group of Scholars"