The Majestic Quran

67 Haven’t they considered how We made Makkah a safe place, while all around them people live in fear of being kidnapped. Will they continue believing in falsehood and deny God’s gifts? 68 Who is a greater sinner than someone who makes up lies about God or flatly rejects the truth when it comes to him? Isn’t Hell a fitting home for the disbelievers? 69 Those who strive hard for Our sake, We shall guide them along on Our ways. God is with those who do good. 1 Moses never intended to kill the Coptic, but it was to save the Israelite. 2 Literally “it won’t harm us.” 3 Al-Qurtubi mentions how, after the destruction of the Ancient Egyptians, some Israelites returned to Egypt well before the coming of Islam. Indeed, Jews continued to live there as a thriving community until the mid-twentieth century. 4 Cf 19:41. This refers to his paternal uncle. 5 This “ impenetrable shade” conjures up images of the darkness that we are told occurred when a meteorite struck our planet and brought an end to the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Or it may refer to the darkness that follows an Earthquake or a volcanic eruption. 6 The Arabic literally says, “is in the fire”. 7 Al-Qurtubi offers three alternatives for the speaker of these words: the Queen of Sheba, Solomon , or his followers. 8 Haman was the high priest of the Egyptian god Amon. Haman ranked second only to the reigning Pharaoh. (Asad) 9 Another meaning could be: “when its residents no longer recognised him.” 10 Madyan is the Biblical Midian, this is the area of the gulf of Aqaba and extended eastward towards the Dead Sea. 11 Shah Waliyallah explained this idiom; “now gather your thoughts, overcome your doubts and anxiety.” 12 In the Arabic text, the words “because of Our signs” can go with either the phrase before, or the one after. 13 Literally to give them ‘insights’. 14 The Quran and Torah. 15 This refers to the group of Jews like Abdullah ibn Salam and some Christians who became Muslims. 16 Korah is the Biblical Korah. 17 Literally: Except His face. 18 The idol is a physical structure, a visible shape that the disbeliever gives to a false idea, hence “you create a lie”. 19 ‘Mufsideen’ here refers to people who damage human society by indulgence in evil. 20 “A symbol of false beliefs and values, which in the long run are bound to be blown away by the winds of truth.” (Asad) 21 Had they used reason they would have realised the transient and fleeting nature of life.