12-105 And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by! yet they turn away from it.a
وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ ءَايَةٍۢ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ (۱۰۵)
12-105a: كَأَيِّن – اَیّ is a letter of interrogation, as in أَيُّهُمْ يَكْفُلُ مَرْيَمَ (which of them will have Mary in his charge) (3:44); أَيُّهُمْ أَشَدُّ عَلَى ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ عِتِيًّۭا (those most rebellious against the Beneficent) (19:69) and similarly in أَيًّۭا مَّا تَدْعُوا۟ (By whatever (name) you call on Him) (17:110). When in a call, there is a ل on the caller, then یا is added to اَیُّھَا in the masculine and اَیَّتُھا in the feminine form, as in یٰایّہا الناس – يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ as in أَيَّتُهَا ٱلْعِيرُ (O caravan) (12:70). It would not be correct to say: یٰا الناس or یٰا الرجل . In كَأَيِّن the letter ك creates a simile, likening or a comparison and اَیّ is a letter of interrogation and ن is in the place of nunation, and all these are in place of one word which means رُبَّ that is many (LA).
Because the objective of this section is to counsel, hence as a preamble attention is drawn to the negligent and inattentive condition of the ordinary people who pass by many signs but do not reflect on them and just pass by them with their eyes closed. Two people may see the same thing and one may consider it unimportant while another may draw valuable lessons from it. Hence it is counseled that one should learn from every sign and profit from every narration.
12-106 And most of them believe not in Allah without associating others (with Him).
وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ (۱۰۶)
12-106a: The disbelievers of Arabia believed in Allah but at the same time set up partners with Him. As a matter of fact, there is no polytheistic nation in the world that does not admit to the oneness of God. The people of Arabia despite worshipping, stones, trees and idols, and Hindus despite their millions of male and female deities and idols still accept that there is one God. This is because the oneness of God is part of human nature, and the testimony of nature cannot be denied. However this testimony of nature has been adulterated with human desires that has resulted in the creation of thousands of other Lords. The saddest condition though is of the Muslims who had been cleansed of all forms of polytheism and made to stand with strict monotheism, but while professing the oneness of Allah, they too have mixed it with many kinds of polytheistic practices. The partnership with Allah created by مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ (him who takes his desires for his god) (45:23) is concealed, but manifest partnerships like worshipping pirs and graves have hollowed the roots of the Muslim nation. Polytheism is mentioned here because those who indulge in polytheistic practices give up on using their eyes and intellect and therefore cannot reflect on the signs of Allah as mentioned in the previous verse. The Muslims too by indulging in the worship of pirs have ceased to use their intellect and hence do not benefit from, or take a lesson from the tribulations that are besetting them.
12-107 Do they then feel secure from the coming to them of an all-encompassing chastisement from Allah or from the coming to them of the hour suddenly, while they perceive not?
أَفَأَمِنُوٓا۟ أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَـٰشِيَةٌۭ مِّنْ عَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةًۭ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ (۱۰۷)
12-108 Say: This is my way: I call to Allah, with certain knowledge — I and those who follow me. And glory be to Allah! and I am not of the polytheists.a
قُلْ هَـٰذِهِۦ سَبِيلِىٓ أَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا۠ وَمَنِ ٱتَّبَعَنِى ۖ وَسُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ (۱۰۸)
12-108a: The mention of the widespread admixture of polytheistic practices with monotheism is followed in this verse with the pronouncement that the way of the Holy Prophet is pure monotheism free of any form of polytheism. The strongest statement made here is that the Holy Prophet has certain knowledge of the principles on which he stands, and that not only he, but his followers too see this way to be the truth and adhere to it with certain knowledge. So, the discipleship of the Holy Prophet creates certainty of belief. Alas, how many are there who through the blessing of the Holy Prophet’s discipleship can claim to be in the position of being certain in their belief. They lack knowledge of the evidence proving the truth of their religion. Most outsiders know more about this then Muslims although it is incumbent on every Muslim to have full knowledge of the evidence regarding the truth of his religion so that being certain of his religion he can invite others to his religion as well.
12-109 And We sent not before thee any but men, from the people of the towns, to whom We sent revelation. Have they not then travelled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is best for those who keep their duty. Do you not then understand?
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًۭا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ (۱۰۹)
12-110 Until, when the messengers despaired and (the people) thought that they were told a lie, Our help came to them, and whom We pleased was delivered. And Our punishment is not averted from the guilty people.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا ٱسْتَيْـَٔسَ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا۟ جَآءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّىَ مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ (۱۱۰)
12-110a: Many commentators have misinterpreted the pronouns in this verse. The reference in ظَنُّوٓا۟ (thought) is to the people to whom the messengers were sent, that is the people were given so much latitude that they began to think that the promises of punishment made by the messengers were lies. Accordingly, it is stated in the Mufradat:
ظنَّ الۡمُرسَلُ الیہم ان المُرۡسَلَ قد کَذَ بُو ھم فیما اَخۡبر و ھم به انّہم اِنۡ لم یُؤمنوا بِہِم نَزَلَ بھم العذابُ ا اِنَّمَا ظَنُّوا ذٰلك مِن المہالِ اللّٰہ تعالیٰ اِیّا ھُم وَ اِمۡلائهٖ لہم
(The people to whom the messengers were sent thought that the messengers had lied to them when they had said that if you do not believe in us, you will be punished. This thinking is the result of the latitude and the long time (to repent) that Allah allowed them).
By the despair of the messengers is only meant that when the people stopped paying attention to the propagation of the messengers, the messengers thought that the people will most certainly not believe. At such moments, assistance comes from God, and in reality it is only the assistance that comes when no resources are left and there is despair on all sides that the assistance can truly be called assistance from God.
12-111 In their histories there is certainly a lesson for men of understanding. It is not a narrative which could be forged, but a verification of what is before it, and a distinct explanation of all things, and a guide and a mercy to a people who believe.a
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌۭ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًۭا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ (۱۱۱)
12-111a: What is meant by the Quran being وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ (an explanation of all things): مَا كَانَ that is مَا كَانَ القرٰان (Quran is not) a deception because it testifies to the truth of previous revelations۔ Second, it gives the details of all the principles of religion which are left in abstract form in the previous scriptures, such as the Unity of Allah, prophethood, heaven and hell, predestination etcetera. The amount of light shed on these issues in the Quran is unparalleled by any other scripture as the other scriptures do not have even a fraction of the details given in the Quran. The Quran has not only described these issues in detail not seen in previous Books but it also includes supporting evidence so that every claim is supported and every false doctrine is contradicted by rational arguments. As far as subsidiary tenets are concerned, the door for discussing them is open forever. The Holy Prophet explained many of these issues but the need for discussion, debate and decisions on such issues will keep on rising in the future as well. The third thing that is stated is that the Quran shows the right path to everyone, and the fourth thing is that those who believe in the Quran, will find that it becomes a source of blessing for them.
Bayan-ul-Quran 