11 When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the
earth" they say: "Why we only want to make peace!"
12 Of a surety they are the ones who make mischief but they realize (it) not. 35
13 When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe" they say:
"Shall we believe as the fools believe?" nay of a surety they are the fools buy
they do not know. 36
14 When they meet those who believe they say: "We believe" but when they are
alone with their evil ones they say: "We are really with you we (were) only
jesting." 37
15 Allah will throw back their mockery on them and give them rope in their trespasses; so
they will wander like blind ones (to and fro).
16 These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless
and they have lost true direction.
17 Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him
Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see. 38
18 Deaf dumb and blind they will not return (to the path).
19 Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky; in it are zones of
darkness and thunder and lightning they press their fingers in their ears to keep out the
stunning thunder-clap the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the
rejecters of Faith! 39
20 The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (helps) them they
walk therein and when the darkness grows on them they stand still. And if Allah willed He
could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things.
Commentry:
35 Much mischief is caused (sometimes unwittingly) by people
who think that they have a mission of peace, when they have not even a true perception of
right and wrong. By their blind arrogance they depress the good and encourage the evil.
(2.12)
36 This is another phase of the hypocrite and the cynic.
"Faith" he says, "is good enough to fools." But his cynicism may be
the greatest folly in the eyes of God. (2.13)
37 A deeper phase of insincerity is actual duplicity. But it never pays
in the end. If we compare such a man to a trader, he loses in the bargain. (2.14)
38 The man wanted light; he only kindled a fire. It produced a blaze, and
won the applause of all around. But it did not last long. When the flame when out as was
inevitable, the darkness was worse than before. And they all lost their way. So hypocrisy,
deception, arrogant compromise with evil, cynicism, or duplicity may win temporary
applause. But the true light of faith and sincerity is wanting, and therefore it must
mislead and ruin all concerned. In the consternation they cannot speak or hear each other,
and of course they cannot see; so they end like the deliberate rejecters of Faith (ii. 7),
wildly groping about, dumb, deaf and blind. (2.17)
39 A wonderfully graphic and powerful simile applying to those who reject
Faith. In their self-sufficiency they are undisturbed normally. But what happens when a
great storm breaks over them? They cover their ears against thunder-claps and the
lightning nearly blinds them. They are in mortal fear, but God encompasses them around -
even them, for He at all times encompasses all. He gives them rope. In the intervals of
deafening noise and blinding flashes, there are moments of steady light and these
creatures take advantage of them, but again they are plunged into darkness. Perhaps they
curse; perhaps they think that the few moments of effective light are due to their own
intelligence! How much wiser would they be if they humbled themselves and sought the light
of God! (2.19)
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