Tafseer - Concise Commentary of the Holy Quraan
By: Mufti Waseem Khan, Principal, Darul Uloom Trinidad and Tobago
Surah Baqarah Verses 23 - 24
Having given outstanding proofs of ‘Tauheed’ (the Oneness of Allah) and having shown clear evidences upon the prophet hood of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.), Allah goes further in verses 23 and 24 of Surah Al Baqarah to establish firm arguments which will prove the miraculous nature of the Holy Quran.
Regarding this, verse 23 and 24 states:-
If you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then bring a Surah similar to this, and do call your supporters other than Allah, if you are true.
But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then guard yourselves against the Fire, the fuel of which will be men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers.
Here, mankind (especially those who deny the Holy Quran) is given an open challenge by Allah Ta’ala, the One who Has revealed the Holy Quran. The deniers are told that if they have any doubts regarding the truth of the Holy Quran which has been revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.), then they should come forth with a chapter just like any chapter of the Holy Quran. That is, with respect to its beautiful arrangement of words, grammar, eloquence, meaning and message, they should produce any one chapter similar to that of the Holy Quran. Along with this, they should call all their helpers and supporters in this matter, to bear testimony that they have truly brought the like of the Holy Quran, and that they have been successful in accepting this challenge. Allah says ‘if you are truthful’, it means if they are truthful in their claim that the Quran has been ‘made-up’ and that it is the words of a man, then they are also human beings who have the ability over the Arabic language, hence, they should accept this challenge and produce the like of even a small Surah (chapter of the Holy Quran). The truth is that they would not be able to produce anything of this nature.
Indicating to their state of total helplessness and inability to fulfill this requirement, Allah says in verse 24:-
But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then guard yourselves against the Fire, the fuel of which will be men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers.
In this Verse, the deniers of the Holy Quran have been told that if they were not able to produce any single chapter like that of the Holy Quran, although they had the full privilege to seek the assistance of the orators, eloquent ones and the experts of literature and rhetoric, then they should fear the terrible punishment that awaits them in the hereafter.
They were also informed that just as they were unable to produce such a chapter in the past, in the same manner, they would not be able to do it at present, nor will they ever be able to do so in the future. Allah says, ‘and you will never be able to do it’. This verse clearly indicates to the fact that man will always be incapable of producing the like of the Holy Quran. This is indeed one of the great miracles of the Holy Quran in that Allah Has informed the entire mankind, with firmness and certainty, that no one will be able to bring anything like that of the Holy Quran forever and ever. And Alhamdu Lillah, this is what has happened so far, from the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.) until today, no one has accepted this challenge of the Holy Quran, and no one has been able to produce a chapter, similar to that of the Holy Quran.
Seeing that the doubters and deniers of the Holy Quran will never succeed in their endeavor, they have been given a threat by Allah to fear the terrible punishment which awaits if they do not believe in the Holy Quran. Regarding this, Allah says,
But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then guard yourselves against the Fire, the fuel of which will be men and stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. (24)
They have been told to fear the punishment of Allah and avoid the blazing fire of Hell which has been prepared as a retribution for them. They have also been informed that the fuel of the fire and the substance which makes it rage into burning flames, shall be the stones, idols and carvings which they used to worship, as well as, their own selves. That is, they will be used as the fuel for the fire of Hell and their idols and false gods will also be used in the same way. Whenever they are thrown into the fire, it’s heat and flames will increase. They should therefore take heed and beware of the terrible end that awaits them if they do not believe in the truth of the Holy Quran.