ءَالَآءِ

4000

Important Words:

After seeing so many and so clear and invincible arguments and signs that support and substantiate the claims of the Holy Prophet, the verse says to the obstinate disbelievers, in words full of pathos, mixed with irony, how long will they continue to deny truth and wander in the wilderness of disbelief?

4055

Important Words:

آلاء (favours) is the plural of إلو (ilwun) or ألو (alwun) and إلی (ilyun) or ألی (alyun), etc., which all mean, benefit, benefaction, favour, boon or blessing; might or power; attribute or good quality. An Arab poet says:

ھم الملوک و أبناء الملوک لھم

فضل علی الناس فی الا لاء و النعم

i.e. they are kings and the sons of kings; they possess superiority over people on account of their might (or attributes) and gifts (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The dual form in تکذبان may have been used for the two classes of jinn and men referred to in v.34 below, or it may signify two classes of men only, viz. believers and disbelievers, leaders and their followers, the rich and the poor, or the white or coloured races. Or it may have been used to impart emphasis to denote the dignity of the commandment embodied in the sentence. Such dual form is generally used in the Arabic language. See also 50:25.

The Holy Prophet is reported to have said that when the verse فبأی آٓلاء ربکما تکذبان is recited the believers present should respond by the expression: اللھم ولا بشیء من آلا ئک نکذب فلک الحمد i.e. "none of Thy favours, Our Lord, do we deny and for Thee is all praise." (Ibn Kathir).

4063

Commentary:

The verse constitutes a befitting sequel to the description of the great boons and blessings bestowed upon mankind by God as mentioned in the foregoing verses.