رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلاَ تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لاَ تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ {194}

194. "Our Lord! and grant us what You have promised us through Your Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Verily You do not break any promise."

Commentary:

In these verses, Allah has illustrated the way and manner of 'the wise' and 'the people of understanding', such that they are qualified with these qualities: the remembrance of Allah, the thought of attaining to 'wisdom', submitting to prophets, seeking Allah's forgiveness, willing to die well, and expecting to reach the bounties of Allah and saving from disgrace and notoriety.

In the previous verses, the Faith of the wise unto Allah and the Resurrection was referred to. Now, in this verse, the belief in prophet hood is also pointed out.

"Our Lord! and grant us what You have promised by Your Messengers..."

Explanations:

1. The goal of the wise is reaching to divine graces, and saving from the Hell Fire and notoriety in the Hereafter.

2. The wise believe in all prophets and all promises of Allah.

"Our Lord! and grant us what You have promised us through Your Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection. Verily You do not break any promise."

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فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لاَ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى بَعْضُكُم مِّن بَعْضٍ فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُواْ وَأُخْرِجُواْ مِن دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُواْ فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُواْ وَقُتِلُواْ لأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِّن عِندِ اللّهِ وَاللّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ {195}

195. "So their Lord responded their prayer, (saying): 'I will not waste the work of any worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other. So, those who migrated and were driven out of their homes and suffered hurt in My way, and who fought and were killed, I will certainly cover their evil deeds, and I will certainly make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow, as a reward from Allah; and Allah! with Him (only) is the Fairest Reward."

Commentary:

The content of this verse follows the subject of the previous verses. It is about the people of understanding, the possessors of intellects, and the result of their deeds.

Upon the occasion of the revelation of this verse, it is said that once 'Umm-us- Salamah' (one of the Prophet's wives) asked the Messenger of Allah (s) that there are many statements mentioned in the Qur'an about Holy war, immigration, and self-sacrifice of men, but do women have a share in them, too ? The verse was revealed and their Lord answered this question as such:

"So their Lord responded their prayer, (saying): 'I will not waste the work of any worker among you, whether male or female..."

There are some unaware people among non-Muslims that sometimes accuse Islam by saying that Islam is the religion of males, not females, Here, this statement makes it clear that how far such people are from the Truth.

Through the next words, the verse indicates that in the process of creation all human beings relate to each other, because some of them have been born from some others, i.e., women have been created from men and men from women.

"… the one of you from the other..."

In the continuation of the verse, it concludes that:

"…So, those who migrated and were driven out of their homes and suffered hurt in My way, and who fought and were killed, I will certainly cover their evil deeds..."

Then, the Qur'an adds that besides forgiving their sins they will certainly be placed in Heaven containing of various bounties. It says:

"… and I will certainly make them enter into gardens beneath which rivers flow..."

This is a reward bestowed by Allah which is given to them, for their self-sacrifice, and it is, of course, of the best rewards. It says:

"…as a reward from Allah; and Allah! with Him (only) is the Fairest Reward."

This part of the verse is a hint to the fact that the godly rewards are not fully and completely recognized by the people in this world, but they ought to know that Allah's reward is higher and more significant than any other rewards.

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لاَ يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِي الْبِلاَدِ {196}

196. "Let not the (prosperous) going about of those who disbelieve deceive you in the cities."

Commentary:

Because of their commercial travels, the pagans of Mecca and the Jews of Medina lived in welfare. But the Muslims, as a result of leaving their wealth and properties in Mecca and emigrating to Medina, and, on the other hand, being involved with economical siege, were living in some straitened circumstances. So, the revelation of this verse caused them to console.

"Let not the (prosperous) going about of those who disbelieve deceive you in the cities."

Explanations:

1. Sending political, economical, and martial missions, or holding secret meetings and having equivocal interviews performed by the enemy, should not deceive you.

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مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ {197}

197. "(It is) a brief enjoyment! Thereafter their abode is Hell, and how bad the resting place (it is)! "

Commentary:

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a) in a tradition has said: "There is not goodness in a pleasure after which is Fire (of Hell)." [66]

The fleeting pleasures and eternal torment is for the infidels, while temporary hardships and the eternal peace and comfort belong to the believers.

"(It is) a brief enjoyment! Thereafter their abode is Hell, and how bad the resting place (it is)! "

[66] Bihar-al-Anwar, vol. 41, p. 104