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wa-qul rabbi ghfir wa-rḥam wa-ʾanta khayru r-rāḥimīna
Say, ‘My Lord, forgive and have mercy, and You are the best of the merciful.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
23Al-Mu’minūnالمؤمنونVerse 118 of 118
The Believers23. Al-Mu’minūnالمؤمنون
Al Mu’minūn
The Believers
MeccanVerse 118 of 118
Surah al-Mu’minun - Verses 117-118
117. “And whoever invokes with Allah another god, he has no proof there of; therefore his reckoning is only with his Lord. Verily, the disbelievers will not prosper.”
118. “And (O Muhammad) say: ‘My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, (for) You are the best of the merciful ones’.”
Polytheism, in whatever form it appears, is condemned. Man’s belief and conduct must be based on intellect and logical proof A pagan or polytheist has not any logic.
(... he has no proof...)
The previous verses emphasized the Day of Resurrection and Allah’s attributes. The above noble verse emphasizes monotheism and negates any kind of polytheism. Thus, it has completed the discussion up on the origin and the Resurrection. It says:
“And whoever invokes with Allah another god, he has no proof there of; therefore his reckoning is only with his Lord...”
Indeed, polytheists only rely upon hollow claims and the reasons they advance for their beliefs include such things as the blind imitation of ancestors and various unfounded superstitions. They deny the Day of Resurrection which is based upon very clear arguments and evidence while they accept polytheism which has not been founded upon similar sound reasoning and evidence. Allah will certainly hold to account those who do not obey the command of reason, and consciously enter the deviated ways of unbelief. The verse ends with the sentence implying that the disbelievers will not be successful, and the consequence of their behaviour will be made clear in this Divine Reckoning.
The verse says:
“...verily, the disbelievers will not prosper.”
It is interesting that this Sura begins with the sentence:
“Successful indeed are the believers.”
and ends its discourse with the sentence:
“...verily the disbelievers will not prosper.”
This, in summary, is the Qur’anic perspective on the life of the believers and unbelievers. In the last verse of this Sura, the Prophet (S) is addressed and as a general conclusion it says:
“And (O Muhammad) say: ‘My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, (for) You are the best of the merciful ones’.”
The verse implies that some people are wandering on the path of polytheism and some are committing oppression and tyranny, the Prophet should rely on Allah’s grace and favour and ask His pardon and forgiveness. It is certain that this is a command for all the believers although the verse is ostensibly addressed to the holy Prophet (S). A narration says that the verses of the beginning and the end of this Sura are among the treasures of Allah’s Throne, and that anyone who puts the first three holy verses of this Sura into practice and learns advice from its last four verses will be successful.41
It is likely that the first three verses of this Sura are the first three verses that come after the sentence
“Successful indeed are the believers.”
One of them invites the believers to humility in the ritual prayer, the second invites them to refrain from what is vain and useless, and the third exhorts them to pay the alms-tax. The first verse concerns the relationship between man and Allah, the second concerns the relationship between man and himself, and the third concerns the relationship between man and society. The last four verses are those holy verses that come after verse 114. They speak of the purposefulness of the creation of Allah, the issue of Resurrection, monotheism, devotion to Allah, and focusing our attention upon Him.
Oh Allah! By the believers who are promised success in this Sura and for whom the Prophet (S) and his family are the forerunners, place us in this group and make us successful!
Oh Allah! Bestow Your pardon and forgiveness upon us, for You are The Beneficent, The Merciful.
Oh Allah! Render our destinies blissful and save us from any kind of deviation and error. Indeed, You are All-Powerful over every thing.
Footnotes