مَنۡ کَفَرَ بِاللّٰہِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ اِیۡمَانِہٖۤ اِلَّا مَنۡ اُکۡرِہَ وَ قَلۡبُہٗ مُطۡمَئِنٌّۢ بِالۡاِیۡمَانِ وَ لٰکِنۡ مَّنۡ شَرَحَ بِالۡکُفۡرِ صَدۡرًا فَعَلَیۡہِمۡ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۶﴾ ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمُ اسۡتَحَبُّوا الۡحَیٰوۃَ الدُّنۡیَا عَلَی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ۙ وَ اَنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۷﴾ اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ طَبَعَ اللّٰہُ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ وَ سَمۡعِہِمۡ وَ اَبۡصَارِہِمۡ ۚ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡغٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۸﴾ لَاجَرَمَ اَنَّہُمۡ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ ہُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۹﴾ ثُمَّ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ ہَاجَرُوۡا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا فُتِنُوۡا ثُمَّ جٰہَدُوۡا وَ صَبَرُوۡۤا ۙ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِہَا لَغَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱۰﴾٪

Surah An-Nahl — Verses 106–110 (Arabic Text)
Verse 106:
“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after having believed — except one who is compelled while his heart remains tranquil in faith — but whoever opens his breast to disbelief, upon them is the wrath of Allah, and for them is a great punishment.”
Verse 107:
“That is because they preferred the life of this world over the Hereafter, and because Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.”
Verse 108:
“Those are the ones upon whose hearts, hearing, and sight Allah has set a seal — and they are the heedless ones.”
Verse 109:
“Without doubt, it is they who in the Hereafter will be the losers.”
Verse 110:
“Then indeed your Lord — for those who emigrated after they were persecuted, then strove and remained patient — indeed your Lord, after all that, is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Urdu Text (Translation)
“Whoever disbelieves after having believed — if he was compelled and his heart remains at peace with faith, that is another matter — but whoever accepts disbelief with the willing consent of his heart, upon him is Allah’s wrath, and for all such people there is a great punishment. This is because they preferred the life of this world over the Hereafter, and it is Allah’s way that He does not show the path of salvation to those who show ingratitude toward His blessing. These are the people upon whose hearts, ears, and eyes Allah has set a seal. They are drowned in heedlessness. It is certain that in the Hereafter these very people will be the losers. In contrast, those whose condition is such that when they were persecuted on account of their faith, they abandoned their homes, emigrated, endured hardships in the path of Allah, and remained patient — for them your Lord is surely Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Footnote 109
This verse addresses the situation of those Muslims upon whom severe oppression was being inflicted at that time, and who were being driven to disbelief through unbearable torment. They are informed: if at some point you are forced by violence and utter a word of disbelief merely to save your life, while your heart remains protected from the conviction of disbelief, you will be forgiven. But if you accept disbelief in your heart, then even if you save your life in this world, you will not be saved from Allah’s punishment.
This does not mean that one should utter a word of disbelief to save one’s life. Rather, this is merely a rukhsah — a dispensation. If a person says such a thing under compulsion while keeping faith firmly in the heart, there will be no accountability. Otherwise, the station of ’azimah — of true resolve — is that even if a person’s body is cut to pieces, he should continue to proclaim the word of truth.
Both kinds of examples are found in the blessed era of the Prophet ﷺ:
On one side stands Khabbab ibn al-Aratt رضي الله عنه, who was laid upon burning coals until his fat melted and extinguished the fire — yet he remained firmly upon his faith. There is Bilal al-Habashi رضي الله عنه, who was made to wear a coat of iron armour and stand in the scorching sun, then dragged across burning sand — yet he continued to say Ahad, Ahad (One, One). And there is Habib ibn Zayd ibn Asim رضي الله عنه, whose limbs were cut off one by one on the orders of Musaylimah the Liar, who demanded after each cut that he acknowledge Musaylimah as a prophet — yet each time he refused to bear witness to his false claim of prophethood, until he gave up his life in that very state, limb by limb.
On the other side stands Ammar ibn Yasir رضي الله عنه, whose father and mother were martyred before his eyes under severe torment, and who was then himself given such unbearable torture that in the end he said everything the disbelievers wanted him to say in order to save his life. He then came to the Prophet ﷺ weeping and said:
“Ya Rasulallah, I was not released until I had spoken ill of you and praised their deities.”
The Prophet ﷺ asked: “How do you find your heart?”
He replied: “Fully at peace with faith.”
Upon this the Prophet ﷺ said: “If they do this to you again, say the same things again.”

Footnote 110
These sentences are addressed to those people who, upon finding the path of truth difficult, renounced their faith and rejoined their disbelieving and polytheistic community.

Footnote 111
This is a reference to the Muhajirun of Abyssinia — those companions who emigrated to Abyssinia to escape persecution.

SubhanAllah — these verses contain one of the most profound and compassionate rulings in all of Islamic jurisprudence: the doctrine of ikrah (compulsion) and the primacy of the heart’s condition over outward speech under duress.
The stories of Khabbab, Bilal, and Habib ibn Zayd رضي الله عنهم represent the summit of human courage and spiritual resolve — among the most moving accounts in all of Islamic history. And the tenderness of the Prophet ﷺ toward Ammar رضي الله عنه shows the profound mercy and wisdom at the heart of this religion.
Shall we continue with the next verses, or would you like the comparative scholar analysis for these verses as well?

جو شخص ایمان لانے کے بعد کُفر کرے ﴿وہ اگر﴾ مجبور کیا گیا ہو اور دل اُس کا ایمان پر مطمئن ہو ﴿تب تو خیر﴾ مگر جس نے دل کی رضا مندی سے کُفر کو قبول کر لیا اس پر اللہ کا غضب ہے اور ایسے سب لوگوں کے لیے بڑا عذاب ہے۔¹⁰⁹ یہ اس لیے کہ اُنہوں نے آخرت کے مقابلہ میں دُنیا کی زندگی کو پسند کر لیا، اور اللہ کا قاعدہ ہے کہ وہ اُن لوگوں کو راہِ نجات نہیں دِکھاتا جو اُس کی نعمت کا کُفران کریں۔ یہ وہ لوگ ہیں جن کےدِلوں اور کانوں اور آنکھوں پر اللہ نے مُہر لگا دی ہے۔ یہ غفلت میں ڈُوب چکے ہیں۔ ضرور ہے کہ آخرت میں یہی خسارے میں رہیں۔¹¹⁰ بخلاف اس کے جِن لوگوں کا حال یہ ہے کہ جب﴿ایمان لانے کی وجہ سے﴾ وہ ستائے گئے تو اُنہوں نے گھر بار چھوڑ دیے، ہجرت کی، راہِ خدا میں سختیاں جھیلیں اور صبر سے کام لیا،¹¹¹ اُن کےلیے یقیناً تیرا ربّ غفور و رحیم ہے۔ ؏ ١۴

109

اس آیت میں اُن مسلمانوں کے معاملے سے بحث کی گئی ہے جن پر اُس وقت سخت مظالم توڑے جارہے تھے اور ناقابلِ برداشت اذیتیں دے دے کر کفر پر مجبور کیا جا رہا تھا۔ ان کو بتایا گیا ہے کہ اگر تم کسی وقت ظلم سے مجبور ہو کر محض جان بچانے کے لیے کلمہ ٔ کفر زبان سے ادا کردو، اور دل تمہارا عقیدۂ کفر سے محفوظ ہو، تو معاف کر دیا جائے گا۔ لیکن اگر دل سے تم نے کفر قبول کر لیا تو دنیا میں چاہے جان بچا لو، خدا کے عذاب سے نہ بچ سکو گے۔

اس کا یہ مطلب نہیں ہے کہ جان بچانے کے لیے کلمہ ٔ کفر کہہ دینا چاہیے۔ بلکہ یہ صرف رخصت ہے۔ اگر ایمان دل میں رکھتے ہوئے آدمی مجبورًا ایسا کہہ دے تو مواخذہ نہ ہو گا۔ ورنہ مقامِ عزیمت یہی ہے کہ خواہ آدمی کا جسم تکا بوٹی کر ڈالا جائے بہرحال وہ کلمہ ٔ حق ہی کا اعلان کرتا رہے۔ دونوں قسم کی نظیریں نبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے عہد ِ مبارک میں پائی جاتی ہیں۔ ایک طرف خَبَّاب ؓ بن اَرت ہیں جن کو آگ کے انگاروں پر لُٹایا گیا یہاں تک کہ ان کی چربی پگھلنے سے آگ بجھ گئی، مگر وہ سختی کے ساتھ اپنے ایمان پر جمے رہے۔ بلالؓ حبشی ہیں جن کو لوگے کی زِرہ پہنا کر چلچلاتی دھوپ میں کھڑا کر دیا گیا، پھر تپتی ہوئی ریت پر لٹا کر گھسیٹا گیا مگر وہ احد احد ہی کہتے رہے۔ حبیب بن زیدؓ بن عاصم ہیں جن کے بدن کا ایک ایک عضو مُسیلمہ کذاب کے حکم سےکاٹا جاتا تھا اور پھر مطالبہ کیا جاتا تھا کہ مسیلمہ کو نبی مان لیں ، مگ ہر مرتبہ وہ اس کے دعوائے رسالت کی شہادت دینے سے انکار کرتے تھے یہاں تک کہ اسی حالت میں کٹ کٹ کر انہوں نے جان دے دی۔ دوسری طرف عَمّار بن یاسرؓ ہیں جن کی آنکھوں کے سامنے ان کے والد اور ان کی والدہ کو سخت عذاب دے دے کر شہید کر دیا گیا، پھر ان کو اتنی ناقابلِ برداشت اذیّت دی گئی کہ آخر انہوں نے جان بچانے کے لیے ہو سب کچھ کہہ دیا جو کفار اُن سے کہلوانا چاہتے تھے۔ پھر وہ روتے روتے نبی صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی خدمت میں حاضر ہوئے اور عرض کیا یا رَسُول َ اللہ مَا تُرِکْتُ حَتّٰی سَبَبْتُکَ وَذَکَرْ تُ اٰ لِھَتَھُمْ بِخَیْرٍ ۔ ” یا رسول اللہ، مجھے نہ چھوڑا گیا جب تک کہ میں نے آپ کو بُرا اور ان کے معبودوں کو اچھا نہ کہہ دیا“۔ حضور نے پوچھا کَیْفَ تَجِدُ قَلْبَکَ ۔ ”اپنے دل کا کیا حال پاتے ہو“؟ عرض کیا مُطْمَئِنًا بِالْاِیْمَانِ۔”ایمان پر پوری طرح مطمئن“۔ اس پر حضور ؐ نے فرمایا ان عَا دُوْ ا فَعُدْ۔ ”اگر وہ پھر اس طرح کا ظلم کریں تو تم پھر یہی باتیں کہہ دینا“۔

110

یہ فقرے اُن لوگوں کے بارے میں فرمائے گئے ہیں جنہوں نے راہِ حق کو کٹھن پا کر ایمان سے توبہ کر لی تھی اور پھر اپنی کافر و مشرک قوم میں جا ملے تھے۔

111

اشارہ ہے مہاجرین ِ حبشہ کی طرف۔

 وَ لَقَدۡ نَعۡلَمُ اَنَّہُمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ اِنَّمَا یُعَلِّمُہٗ بَشَرٌ ؕ لِسَانُ الَّذِیۡ یُلۡحِدُوۡنَ اِلَیۡہِ اَعۡجَمِیٌّ وَّ ہٰذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِیٌّ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۱۰۳﴾ اِنَّ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ ۙ لَا یَہۡدِیۡہِمُ اللّٰہُ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۰۴﴾ اِنَّمَا یَفۡتَرِی الۡکَذِبَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡکٰذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۵﴾

Surah An-Nahl — Verses 103–105 (Arabic Text)
Verse 103:
“And We certainly know that they say: ‘It is only a human being who teaches him.’ The tongue of the one they point to is foreign, while this is clear Arabic speech.”
Verse 104:
“Indeed, those who do not believe in the signs of Allah — Allah will not guide them, and for them is a painful punishment.”
Verse 105:
“It is only those who do not believe in the signs of Allah who fabricate falsehood — and it is they who are the liars.”

Urdu Text (Translation)
“We know that these people say about you: ‘A certain man teaches and instructs this person.’ Yet the one toward whom they point has a foreign tongue, while this is a clear and plain Arabic language. The truth is that those who do not accept Allah’s signs — Allah never grants them the ability to reach the correct understanding, and for such people there is a painful punishment. It is not the Prophet who fabricates lies — rather, it is those who do not accept Allah’s signs who are fabricating falsehood. They are the ones who are truly liars.”

Footnote 107
Various individuals are mentioned in different narrations as the person whom the disbelievers of Makkah suspected. In one narration the name given is Jabr — a Roman slave belonging to Amir ibn al-Hadhrami. In another narration, the slave of Huwayṭib ibn Abd al-Uzzā is mentioned, known as Ayish or Yayish. Yet another narration mentions Yasar, whose kunya was Abu Fukayhah, and who was a Jewish slave belonging to a woman of Makkah. Still another narration relates to a Roman slave named Bal’an or Bal’am.
In any case, whoever it may have been among these — the disbelievers of Makkah, merely upon observing that a certain person read the Torah and the Gospel and that Muhammad ﷺ had meetings with him, casually fabricated the accusation that it was actually he who was composing this Quran, and that Muhammad ﷺ was presenting it as the word of God.
This reveals not only how utterly shameless the opponents of the Prophet ﷺ were in inventing slanders against him — but it also teaches us how unjust people tend to be in recognising the true worth of their contemporaries. Before these people stood one of the greatest personalities in all of human history, whose like neither existed anywhere in the world at that time nor has been found to this day. Yet these intellectually blind people found a foreign slave — who could read a little of the Torah and Gospel — more capable than him, and imagined that this priceless gem was deriving its brilliance from that piece of coal.

Footnote 108
An alternative translation of this verse is also possible: “It is those who do not believe in Allah’s signs who habitually fabricate lies.”

SubhanAllah — the Quran’s refutation here is both logical and devastating. The argument is elegantly simple: the person they accuse of being the source spoke a foreign, non-Arabic tongue — yet the Quran is in the most eloquent, sublime Arabic ever heard by the Arabs themselves. The accusation collapses under its own weight.
And Mawdudi’s observation in Footnote 107 is profoundly moving — that the greatest human being to ever walk the earth was standing before them, and they chose to believe a foreign slave was the true source of his wisdom. It is, as he says, one of history’s most striking examples of people failing to recognise greatness in their midst.
Shall we continue with the next verses, or would you like the comparative scholar analysis for these three verses as well?

ہمیں معلوم ہے یہ لوگ تمہارے متعلق کہتے ہیں کہ اِس شخص کو ایک آدمی سِکھاتا پڑھاتا ہے۔¹⁰⁷ حالانکہ اُن کا اشارہ جس آدمی کی طرف ہے اُس کی زبان عجمی ہے اور یہ صاف عربی زبان ہے۔ حقیقت یہ ہے کہ جو لوگ اللہ کی آیات کو نہیں مانتے اللہ کبھی اُن کو صحیح بات تک پہنچنے کی توفیق نہیں دیتا اور ایسے لوگوں کے لیے دردناک عذاب ہے۔ ﴿جھوٹی باتیں نبی نہیں گھڑتا بلکہ﴾ جھُوٹ وہ لوگ گھڑ رہے ہیں جو اللہ کی آیات کو نہیں مانتے،¹⁰⁸ وہی حقیقت میں جھوٹے ہیں۔

107

روایات میں مختلف اشخاص کے متعلق بیان کیا گیا ہے کہ کفارِ مکہ اُن میں سے کسی پر یہ گمان کرتے تھے۔ ایک روایت میں اس کا نام جبر بیان کیا گیا ہے جو عامر بن الحَضرمی کا ایک رومی غلام تھا۔ دوسری روایت میں حُوَیطِب بن عبد العُزّیٰ کے ایک غلام کا نام لیا گیا ہے جسے عائش یا یَعیش کہتے تھے۔ ایک اور روایت میں یَسار کا نام لیا گیا ہے جس کی کنیت ابُو فکَیہَہ تھِ اور جو مکّے کی ایک عورت کا یہودی غلام تھا۔ ایک اور روایت بَلعان یا بَلعام نامی ایک رومی غلام سے متعلق ہے۔ بہرحال ان میں سے جو بھی ہو، کفار مکہ نے محض یہ دیکھ کر کہ ایک شخص تو راۃ و انجیل پڑھتا ہے اور محمد صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کی اس سے ملاقات ہے، بے تکلف یہ الزام گھڑ دیا کہ اس قرآن کو دراصل وہ تصنیف کر رہا ہے اور محمد صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم اسے اپنی طرف سے خدا کا نام لے لے کر پیش کر رہے ہیں۔ اس سے نہ صرف یہ اندازہ ہوتا ہےکہ آنحضرت ؐ کے مخالفین آپ کے خلاف افتراپردازیاں کرنے میں کس قدر بے باک تھے، بلکہ یہ سبق بھی ملتا ہے کہ لوگ اپنے ہم عصروں کی قدر و قیمت پہچاننے میں کتنے بے انصاف ہوتے ہیں۔ ان لوگوں کے سامنے تاریخ انسانی کی ایک ایسی عظیم شخصیت تھی جس کی نظیر نہ اُس وقت دنیا بھر میں کہیں موجود تھی اور نہ آج تک پائی گئی ہے۔ مگر ان عقل کے اندھوں کو اُس کے مقابلہ میں ایک عجمی غلام، جو کچھ توراۃ و انجیل پڑھ لیتا تھا، قابل تر نظر آرہا تھا اور وہ گمان کر رہےتھے کہ یہ گوہرِ نایاب اس کوئلے سے چمک حاصل کر رہا ہے

108

دوسرا ترجمہ اس آیت کا یہ بھی ہو سکتا ہے کہ ”جھوٹ تو وہ لوگ گھڑا کرتے ہیں جو اللہ کی آیات پر ایمان نہیں لاتے“۔

اِذَا بَدَّلۡنَاۤ اٰیَۃً مَّکَانَ اٰیَۃٍ ۙ وَّ اللّٰہُ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا یُنَزِّلُ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ مُفۡتَرٍ ؕ بَلۡ اَکۡثَرُہُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰۱﴾ قُلۡ نَزَّلَہٗ رُوۡحُ الۡقُدُسِ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ بِالۡحَقِّ لِیُـثَبِّتَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ ہُدًی وَّ بُشۡرٰی لِلۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰۲﴾

Here is the full English translation of Surah An-Nahl verses 101–102 with Mawdudi’s footnotes:

Surah An-Nahl — Verses 101–102 (Arabic Text)
Verse 101:
“And when We substitute one verse in place of another verse — and Allah knows best what He reveals — they say: ‘You are but a fabricator.’ Rather, most of them do not know.”
Verse 102:
“Say: The Pure Spirit has brought it down from your Lord in truth, to strengthen the believers, and as guidance and glad tidings for those who have submitted.”

Urdu Text (Translation)
“When We reveal one verse in place of another — and Allah knows best what He reveals — these people say: ‘You are fabricating this Quran yourself.’ The reality is that most of them are ignorant of the truth. Tell them: the Pure Spirit has brought it down gradually, exactly from my Lord, so that it may strengthen the faith of the believers, and so that it may show those who have submitted the straight path in the matters of life, and give them the glad tidings of success and felicity.”

Footnote 102
By “revealing one verse in place of another” could be meant the sending of one commandment after another — because the injunctions of the Quran were revealed gradually, and on many occasions two or three successive rulings were sent regarding the same matter with intervals of several years between them; for example, the matter of alcohol, or the matter of the punishment for adultery.
However, we are hesitant to adopt this meaning on the grounds that this verse of Surah An-Nahl was revealed during the Makkan period, and as far as we know, no example of gradual progression in legal commandments had occurred during that period.
Therefore, we understand “revealing one verse in place of another” here to mean that at various places in the Quran, sometimes one subject is explained through one example and sometimes another example is used to explain the same subject; the same story appears repeatedly, each time narrated in different words; sometimes one aspect of a matter is presented and sometimes another aspect of the same matter is brought forward; sometimes one argument is offered for a point and sometimes another; sometimes a matter is stated in brief at one time and in detail at another.
It was precisely this that the disbelievers of Makkah took as evidence that Muhammad ﷺ — God forbid — was himself composing this Quran. Their argument was: if the source of this speech were divine knowledge, everything would have been said all at once. Allah is not deficient in knowledge like a human being — thinking things through gradually, acquiring information piece by piece, and if one approach does not seem to fit, trying another way. These are the weaknesses of human knowledge that are apparently visible in your speech.

Footnote 103
The literal translation of Ruh al-Quds is “the Pure Spirit” or “the Spirit of Purity.” As a title, it has been given to Jibreel (Gabriel) عليه السلام. Here, instead of naming the angel who brings revelation, his title is used — and the purpose is to alert the listeners to the reality that this speech is being brought by a spirit who is free from all human weaknesses and deficiencies.
He is not treacherous — such that Allah sends something and he reduces or adds to it and makes it something else. He is not a liar or fabricator — such that he himself invents something and attributes it to Allah. He is not of corrupt intent — such that he employs deception and fraud for some personal, carnal purpose. He is entirely a sacred and purified spirit who delivers Allah’s word with complete faithfulness and trustworthiness.

Footnote 104
That is: the reason for his bringing this speech gradually and not bringing it all at once is not that there is any deficiency in Allah’s knowledge and wisdom — as you have ignorantly assumed. Rather, the reason is that there is a deficiency in the human capacity for understanding and absorption — due to which a person can neither comprehend everything at one time, nor can he become firmly grounded in what he has understood at a single sitting.
Therefore, the wisdom of Allah required that the Pure Spirit bring this speech in portions — sometimes dealing with a matter briefly, and sometimes elaborating upon the same matter in detail; sometimes explaining something in one way and sometimes in another; sometimes adopting one style of expression and sometimes another; and repeatedly impressing the same point upon the mind through various approaches — so that truth-seekers of varying abilities and capacities may come to faith, and after coming to faith, may become firmly grounded in knowledge, certainty, understanding, and comprehension.

105. The second practical wisdom of sending down the Quran piecemeal was that those believers who obediently followed it, should get necessary instructions for the propagation of Islam and the solution of other problems of life at the time when they were actually needed. It is obvious that if those instructions had been sent down before time and at one and the same time they would not have been useful. 

106. The third practical wisdom of not sending down the Quran as a whole at one and the same time was to give good tidings and encouragement to the obedient servants who were suffering from persecution and encountering great obstacles because they needed it over and over again. That is why they were assured of ultimate success time and again to fill them with hope to carry on their mission.

SubhanAllah — this passage is a masterful Quranic response to one of the oldest objections raised against divine revelation. The argument that gradual revelation proves human authorship is turned completely on its head — Mawdudi beautifully shows that it is precisely the gradual, multi-faceted, pedagogically sensitive nature of the Quran that proves its divine wisdom, since it is calibrated not to the limitations of Allah’s knowledge, but to the limitations of human understanding.
Shall we continue with the next verses, or would you like comparative scholar perspectives on these two verses as well?

جب ہم ایک آیت کی جگہ دُوسری آیت نازل کرتے ہیں۔۔۔۔ اور اللہ بہتر جانتا ہے کہ وہ کیا نازل کرے۔۔۔۔ تو یہ لوگ کہتے ہیں کہ تم یہ قرآن خود گھڑتے ہو۔¹⁰² اصل بات یہ ہے کہ اِن میں سے اکثر لوگ حقیقت سے ناواقف ہیں۔ اِن سے کہو کہ اسے تو روُح القُدس نے ٹھیک ٹھیک میرے ربّ کی طرف سے بتدریج نازل کیا¹⁰³ ہے تاکہ ایمان لانے والوں کے ایمان کو پختہ کرے¹⁰⁴اور فرماں برداروں کو زندگی کے معاملات میں سیدھی راہ بتائےاور¹⁰⁵انہیں فلاح و سعادت کی خوشخبری دے۔¹⁰⁶

102

ایک آیت کی جگہ دوسری آیت نازل کرنے سے مراد ایک حکم کے بعد دوسرا حکم بھیجنا بھی ہو سکتا ہے۔ کیونکہ قرآن مجید کے احکام بتدریج نازل ہو ئے ہیں اور بارہا ایک ہی معاملہ میں چند سال کے وقفوں سے یکے بعد دیگرے دو دو ، تین تین حکم بھیجے گئَ ہیں۔ مثلًا شراب کا معاملہ ، یا زنا کی سزا کا معاملہ۔ لیکن ہم کو یہ معنی لینے میں اس بنا پر تامل ہے کہ سورۂ نحل کی یہ آیت مکی دور میں نازل ہوئی ہے، اورجہاں تک ہمیں معلوم ہے اس دَور میں تدریج فی الاحکام کی کوئی مثال پیش نہ آئی تھی۔ اس لیے ہم یہاں ”ایک آیت کی جگہ دوسری آیت نازل کرنے“ کا مطلب یہ سمجھتے ہیں کہ قرآن مجید کے مختلف مقامات پر کبھی ایک مضمون کو ایک مثال سے سمجھایا گیا ہے اور کبھی وہی مضمون سمجھانے کے لیے دوسری مثال سے کام لیا گیا ہے۔ ایک ہی قصہ بار بار آیا ہے اور ہر مرتبہ اسے دوسرے الفاظ میں بیان کیا گیا ہے۔ ایک معاملہ کا کبھی ایک پہلو پیش کیا گیا ہے اور کبھی اُسی معاملے کا دوسرا پہلو سامنے لایا گیا ہے۔ ایک بات کے لیے کبھی ایک دلیل پیش کی گئی ہے اور کبھی دوسری دلیل۔ ایک بات ایک وقت میں مجمل طور پر کہی گئی ہے اور دوسرے وقت میں مفصل۔ یہی چیز تھی جسے کفارِ مکّہ اس بات کی دلیل ٹھیراتے تھے کہ محمد صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ، معاذ اللہ ، یہ قرآن خود تصنیف کرتے ہیں۔ ان کا استدلال یہ تھا کہ اگر اس کلام کا منبع علمِ الہٰی ہوتا تو پوری بات بیک وقت کہہ دی جاتی۔ اللہ کوئی انسا ن کی طرح ناقص العلم تھوڑا ہی ہے کہ سوچ سوچ کر بات کرے، رفتہ رفتہ معلومات حاصل کرتا رہے، اور ایک بات ٹھیک بیٹھتی نظر نہ آئے تو دوسرے طریقہ سے بات کرے یہ تو انسانی علم کی کمزوریاں ہیں جو تمہارے اس کلام میں نظر آرہی ہیں۔

103

”روح القدس“ کا لفظی ترجمہ ہے”پاک رُوح“ یا ”پاکیزگی“ ۔ اور اصطلاحًا یہ لقب حضرت جبریلؑ کو دیا گیا ہے۔ یہاں وحی لانے والے فرشتے کا نام لینے کے بجائے اس کا لقب استعمال کرنے سے مقصود سامعین کو اس حقیقت پر متنبہ کرنا ہے کہ اِس کلام کو ایک ایسی روح لے کر آرہی ہے جو بشری کمزوریوں اور نقائص سے پاک ہے۔ وہ نہ خائن ہے کہ اللہ کچھ بھیجے اور وہ اپنی طرف سے کمی بیشی کر کے کچھ اور بنادے۔ نہ کذّاب و مفتری ہے کہ خود کوئی بات گھڑ کے اللہ کے نام سے بیان کر دے۔ نہ بدنیت ہے کہ اپنی کسی نفسانی غرض کی بنا پر دھوکے اور فریب سے کام لے۔ وہ سراسر ایک مقدس و مطہر روح ہے جو اللہ کا کلام پوری امانت کے ساتھ لا کر پہنچاتی ہے۔

104

یعنی اُس کے بتدریج اِس کلام کو لے کر آنے اور بیک وقت سب کچھ نہ لے آنے کی وجہ یہ نہیں ہے کہ اللہ کے علم و دانش میں کوئی نقص ہے ، جیسا کہ تم نے اپنی نادانی سے سمجھا، بلکہ اس کی وجہ یہ ہے کہ انسان کی قوتِ فہم اور قوتِ اخذ میں نقص ہے جس کے سبب سے وہ بیک وقت ساری بات کو نہ سمجھ سکتا ہے اور نہ ایک وقت کی سمجھی ہوئی بات میں پختہ ہو سکتا ہے۔ اس لیے اللہ تعالیٰ کی حکمت اِس بات کی مقتضی ہوئی کہ روح القدس اِس کلام کو تھوڑا تھوڑا کر کے لائے، کبھی اجمال سے کام لے اور کبھی اسی بات کی تفصیل بتائے، کبھی ایک طریقہ سے بات سمجھائے اور کبھی دوسرے طریقے سے، کبھی ایک پیرایۂ بیان اختیار کرے اور کبھی دوسرا، اور ایک ہی بات کو بار بار طریقے طریقے سےذہن نشینن کر نے کی کوشش کرے ، تاکہ مختلف قابلیتوں اور استعدادوں کے طالبینِ حق ایمان لا سکیں اور ایمان لانے کے بعد علم و یقین اور فہم و ادراک میں پختہ ہو سکیں

 وَ اَوۡفُوۡا بِعَہۡدِ اللّٰہِ اِذَا عٰہَدۡتُّمۡ وَ لَا تَنۡقُضُوا الۡاَیۡمَانَ بَعۡدَ تَوۡکِیۡدِہَا وَ قَدۡ جَعَلۡتُمُ اللّٰہَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ کَفِیۡلًا ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَفۡعَلُوۡنَ ﴿۹۱﴾ وَ لَا تَکُوۡنُوۡا کَالَّتِیۡ نَقَضَتۡ غَزۡلَہَا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ قُوَّۃٍ اَنۡکَاثًا ؕ تَتَّخِذُوۡنَ اَیۡمَانَکُمۡ دَخَلًۢا بَیۡنَکُمۡ اَنۡ تَکُوۡنَ اُمَّۃٌ ہِیَ اَرۡبٰی مِنۡ اُمَّۃٍ ؕ اِنَّمَا یَبۡلُوۡکُمُ اللّٰہُ بِہٖ ؕ وَ لَیُبَیِّنَنَّ لَکُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ مَا کُنۡتُمۡ فِیۡہِ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ ﴿۹۲﴾ وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ لَجَعَلَکُمۡ اُمَّۃً وَّاحِدَۃً وَّ لٰکِنۡ یُّضِلُّ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ لَتُسۡـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا کُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۹۳﴾

English translation of the Arabic verses and Urdu commentary from Surah An-Nahl (verses 91–93) with Mawdudi’s footnotes:

Surah An-Nahl — Verses 91–93 (Arabic Text)
Verse 91:
“And fulfil the covenant of Allah when you have made a covenant, and do not break your oaths after making them firm, while you have made Allah a guarantor over you. Indeed, Allah knows what you do.”
Verse 92:
“And do not be like the woman who unravelled her yarn after spinning it firmly, by taking your oaths as a means of deceit among yourselves, because one community is more numerous than another. Allah only tests you thereby, and He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that wherein you used to differ.”
Verse 93:
“And had Allah willed, He could have made you one community, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be questioned about what you used to do.”

Urdu Text (Translation)
“You use your oaths as a weapon of deception and treachery in your mutual dealings, so that one nation may gain advantage over another — whereas Allah is testing you through this covenant. And surely on the Day of Resurrection He will make clear to you the reality of all your differences. Had it been Allah’s will that there be no disagreement among you, He would have made you all one community. But He leads astray whom He wills and guides to the right path whom He wills, and you will certainly be called to account for your deeds.”

Footnote 91
Here, special censure is directed at that highest form of covenant-breaking which is the greatest source of corruption in the world — and which even eminent, high-ranking individuals commit, considering it an act of merit, earning praise from their own people for it.
In the political, economic, and religious conflicts between nations and groups, it is a common occurrence that a leader of one nation enters into an agreement with another nation at one time, and then at another time — purely out of national self-interest — either openly breaks it, or secretly violates it to gain unlawful advantage.
Such acts are committed even by those who are considered highly upright in their personal lives. And not only does no voice of condemnation rise from within their own nation — rather, they are congratulated from all sides, and such cunning manoeuvres are regarded as the pinnacle of diplomacy.
Allah Almighty warns that every agreement is, in reality, a test of the moral character and integrity of the person and nation that enters into it. Those who fail this test will not escape accountability before Allah’s court.

Footnote 92
That is to say: the final verdict on which side is upon truth and which is upon falsehood — in those conflicts that cause strife among you — shall only be delivered on the Day of Resurrection.
However, regardless of this, even if someone is entirely in the right and his opponent is wholly misguided and a follower of falsehood — it can never be permissible for him to employ the weapons of covenant-breaking, lies, slander, and deception against his adversary. If he does so, he will be proven a failure in Allah’s examination on the Day of Resurrection — because adherence to truth does not demand sincerity only in belief and purpose, but equally demands sincerity in method and means.
This point is specifically addressed as a warning to those religious groups who have always laboured under the misconception: “Since we are on the side of God and our opponents are rebels against God, we are entitled to harm them by whatever means possible. We are under no obligation to observe truthfulness, trustworthiness, or faithfulness to covenants when dealing with the enemies of God.”
This is precisely what the Jews of Arabia used to say: لَیْسَ عَلَیْنَا فِی الْاُمِّیِّیْنَ سَبِیْلٌ — “We have no obligation in our dealings with the unlettered Arabs.” Meaning: there is no restriction upon us regarding the polytheists of Arabia; any kind of betrayal toward them is permissible; whatever stratagem benefits the beloved of God and causes harm to the unbelievers is entirely lawful — there will be no accountability for it.

Footnote 93
This is a further elaboration of the preceding theme. Its meaning is that if someone — considering himself a champion of Allah — strives to promote his religion (which he regards as God’s religion) and to eradicate other religions by any means, fair or foul, then this conduct is entirely contrary to the will of Allah.
For if Allah’s actual intent were to strip human beings of the freedom of religious choice and to force all of humanity into a single religion, He would have had no need of His self-styled “champions” and their contemptible methods. He could have accomplished this Himself through His creative power — He could have created everyone as believers and the obedient, and stripped away the capacity for disbelief and disobedience. Then no one would have had the ability to deviate even a hair’s breadth from the path of faith and obedience.

Footnote 94
That is: Allah Himself has granted human beings the freedom of choice and selection — and therefore the paths of human beings in this world are different. One wishes to go toward misguidance, and Allah smooths the causes of misguidance for him; another seeks the straight path, and Allah arranges guidance for him.

SubhanAllah — these verses and Mawdudi’s commentary carry a profound and timeless message, particularly Footnote 92, which strikes at the heart of a dangerous religious self-justification that has caused enormous harm throughout history. Shall we continue with the next verses, or would you like a deeper tafsir comparison on any of these?

WHAT OTHERS SCHOLARS SAY

Here is a comparative tafsir analysis of Surah An-Nahl verses 91–93 from major classical and contemporary scholars:

Ibn Kathir (d. 774 AH)
On Verse 91 (Fulfilling the Covenant):
Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this verse is a comprehensive command covering all forms of pledges — whether made with Allah directly (such as pledges of faith and obedience), or between human beings in contracts, treaties, and agreements. He notes that the phrase “you have made Allah a guarantor over you” (جَعَلۡتُمُ اللّٰہَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ کَفِیۡلًا) is especially weighty — invoking Allah as witness and guarantor transforms any oath into a sacred, binding commitment. Breaking it is therefore not merely a social wrong but a direct act of treachery toward Allah Himself.
On Verse 92 (The Woman Who Unravels Her Yarn):
Ibn Kathir identifies this woman as a historical figure from Makkah — a foolish woman known for spinning yarn all day and then unravelling it herself at night, accomplishing nothing. He says Allah uses this vivid parable to show the utter absurdity and self-destructiveness of oath-breaking. The effort, trust, and goodwill invested in a covenant is like spun yarn — deliberately breaking it undoes all of that work and leaves nothing.
He also stresses the specific warning against breaking covenants merely because “one group is more numerous or more powerful” — meaning it is forbidden to abandon agreements when you find a stronger ally or better opportunity. This is a direct rebuke of political opportunism.
On Verse 93 (One Community):
Ibn Kathir connects this to the broader Quranic doctrine of divine will and human accountability. He emphasises that Allah’s allowing of diversity and difference is itself part of His wisdom and plan — He tests humanity through this diversity. Guidance and misguidance are ultimately in His hands, but human beings bear full responsibility for the choices they make.

Al-Tabari (d. 310 AH)
Al-Tabari, in his monumental Jami’ al-Bayan, approaches these verses with his characteristic focus on early narrations and linguistic precision.
On Verse 91:
Al-Tabari compiles multiple early opinions on what “covenant of Allah” specifically refers to. Some companions and early scholars (salaf) understood it as referring to the Bay’ah (pledge of allegiance) given to the Prophet ﷺ and to Muslim rulers. Others understood it more broadly as covering all contracts and pledges between people. Al-Tabari himself favours the broader interpretation — that the verse covers every form of covenant without restriction.
On Verse 92 (The Yarn Parable):
Al-Tabari provides extensive linguistic analysis of the word أَنْكَاثًا (unravelled strands), explaining it refers to thread that has been twisted together and then pulled apart — emphasising the deliberate and wasteful nature of the act. He notes that the specific mention of “after strength” (مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ قُوَّۃٍ) highlights that the betrayal comes after a covenant has already been firmly established — making it doubly blameworthy.
He also narrates that early commentators linked this verse directly to the political treaties of the early Muslim community in Madinah, particularly regarding agreements with Jewish tribes and polytheist groups who repeatedly broke or manipulated their covenants.
On Verse 93:
Al-Tabari carefully navigates the theological tension in the phrase “He leads astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills.” He affirms, consistent with mainstream Sunni theology, that this does not negate human free will or responsibility. Allah’s misguidance of a person follows from that person’s own prior choice to turn away — it is a consequence of the human’s action, not an arbitrary imposition.

Al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH)
Al-Qurtubi’s Al-Jami’ li-Ahkam al-Quran is a fiqh-oriented tafsir, and his treatment of these verses is rich in legal derivations.
On Verse 91:
Al-Qurtubi draws out several important legal rulings (ahkam):
∙ An oath sworn in Allah’s name is binding and must be fulfilled
∙ Breaking such an oath requires kaffarah (expiation) unless the oath was made to commit something sinful
∙ He distinguishes between yamin (a simple oath) and ’ahd (a formal covenant) — the latter carrying even greater legal weight
∙ He cites scholarly consensus that covenants made with non-Muslims in treaties must also be honoured — citing this verse as direct evidence
On Verse 92:
Al-Qurtubi gives particular attention to the phrase دَخَلًا (deception/treachery) — explaining it linguistically as something rotten or corrupted hidden within an outwardly sound thing. He says this precisely describes the hypocrite’s use of oaths: the outward form is solemn and religious, but the inner reality is manipulation and betrayal.
He also adds an important social dimension — noting that when leaders and nations normalise oath-breaking for political gain, it destroys the very fabric of trust that holds societies together. The Quran condemns this not just as individual sin but as civilisational corruption.
On Verse 93:
Al-Qurtubi engages in detailed kalam (theological) discussion on the question of divine will and human guidance. He carefully distinguishes between:
∙ Allah’s iradah takwiniyyah (creative/existential will) — what He decrees to exist
∙ Allah’s iradah tashriyyah (legislative will) — what He commands and approves
He argues that Allah’s “leading astray” refers to His withholding of special guidance and tawfiq (divine assistance) from those who persistently reject truth — not to Him forcing anyone into sin.

Al-Zamakhshari (d. 538 AH)
Al-Zamakhshari’s Al-Kashshaf brings a strong rhetorical and linguistic lens, characteristic of his Mu’tazilite perspective.
On Verse 92 (The Yarn Parable):
Al-Zamakhshari is particularly brilliant in his analysis of this parable’s rhetorical power. He notes that the Quran deliberately chose the image of a woman — considered in the Arab cultural context as engaged in a lowly, domestic task — to describe the act of oath-breaking by powerful political leaders. The implication is devastatingly ironic: these great leaders, who pride themselves on their political cunning, are actually behaving more foolishly than a mad woman unravelling her own work.
He analyses the phrase “taking your oaths as deception among yourselves” and argues that the Arabic word دَخَل implies not just external deception of others, but an internal moral corruption — the person who breaks oaths corrupts their own character in the process.
On Verse 93:
Consistent with his Mu’tazilite theology, Al-Zamakhshari strongly emphasises human free will and rational choice. He interprets “He leads astray whom He wills” not as Allah actively causing misguidance, but as Allah abandoning to their own devices those who persistently choose falsehood. His reading strongly protects human moral agency and responsibility. This is the key point where he differs from mainstream Ash’ari/Maturidi scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Al-Tabari.

Sayyid Qutb (d. 1966)
In Fi Zilal al-Quran, Sayyid Qutb brings his characteristic movement-oriented and spiritually charged perspective.
On Verses 91–92:
Qutb argues that these verses address a fundamental disease of human societies across all ages — the reduction of sacred covenants to mere tactical instruments of power. He writes with passionate intensity that when a society loses the sanctity of the word and the oath, it loses its humanity. The covenant is not merely a legal device — it is the expression of a person’s inner moral reality.
He makes a powerful observation that the parable of the woman unravelling yarn is not just about futility — it is about active self-destruction. A nation that breaks its covenants for short-term advantage is systematically dismantling the very trust and moral credibility that give it long-term strength.
On Verse 93:
Qutb connects this verse to his broader theme of divine sovereignty (hakimiyyah). He argues that human diversity and disagreement exist precisely because Allah has willed a world in which human beings are genuinely tested through real choices. A world of forced uniformity would not be a moral world at all. The test is real, the choices are real, and therefore the accountability is real.
He also sharply critiques those — both within and outside Islam — who seek to use coercion, manipulation, and deceit to impose religious or ideological conformity. Such people, he argues, are actually working against Allah’s design for creation.

Comparative Summary Scholar Key Emphasis Ibn Kathir Historical context, the Makkan woman parable, political opportunism forbidden Al-Tabari Linguistic depth, early narrations, breadth of covenant concept Al-Qurtubi Legal rulings (ahkam), social fabric of trust, theological precision Al-Zamakhshari Rhetorical brilliance, irony of the parable, Mu’tazilite free will emphasis Mawdudi Contemporary political application, religious self-justification, diplomatic deception Sayyid Qutb Moral-spiritual depth, civilisational corruption, divine sovereignty

One of the most striking points of convergence across all scholars is that these verses establish an absolute standard — truthfulness and covenant-keeping are obligatory regardless of who the other party is. The dangerous idea that treachery toward one’s enemies is permissible — whether for national interest or religious justification — is firmly and repeatedly condemned.
Shall we move on to verses 94 onwards, or would you like to go deeper into any particular scholar’s analysis?

Q: Taking a stand on basis of morality and faith examples. How this can be reconciled. MohamAli ( boxer decline ? Draft in war , currently some military people also probably declined the orders to act for illigal war with Iran.. is it like rebellion? Please comment and what justification s are there in both cases?

A:

Wa Iyyakum! 🌟
Alhamdulillah, it was a pleasure working through these profound verses with you. The analysis of verses 91–93 is truly rich — particularly the universal condemnation of oath-breaking and the powerful parable of the woman unravelling her yarn.
These verses carry such a timeless and relevant message — the absolute insistence on honesty and faithfulness to covenants, regardless of political, national, or even religious justifications for breaking them. A reminder that is deeply needed in every age.
Whenever you are ready to continue with the next verses of Surah An-Nahl, or if you wish to revisit any part of what we have covered so far, I am here to assist.
بارك الله فيك وفي علمك — May Allah bless you and your knowledge. 🤲

تم اپنی قسموں کو آپس کے معاملات میں مکر و فریب کا ہتھیار بناتے ہو تاکہ ایک قوم دُوسری قوم سے بڑھ کر فائدے حاصل کرے حالانکہ اللہ اس عہد و پیمان کے ذریعے سے تم کو آزمائش میں ڈالتا ہے⁹¹، اور ضرور وہ قیامت کے روز تمہارے تمام اختلافات کی حقیقت تم پر کھول دے گا۔⁹² اگر اللہ کی مشیّت یہ ہوتی ﴿کہ تم میں کوئی اختلاف نہ ہو﴾ تو وہ تم سب کو ایک ہی اُمّت بنا دیتا،⁹³ مگر وہ جسے چاہتا ہے گمراہی میں ڈالتا ہے اور جسے چاہتا ہے راہِ راست دکھا دیتا ہے،⁹⁴ اور ضرور تم سے تمہارے اعمال کی باز پُرس ہوکر رہے گے

سُوْرَةُ النَّحْل حاشیہ نمبر :91

”یہاں خصوصیت کے ساتھ عہد شکنی کی اُس برترین قسم پر ملامت کی گئی ہے جو دنیا میں سب سے بڑھ کر موجبِ فساد ہوتی ہے اور جسے بڑے بڑے اونچے درجے کے لوگ بھی کارِ ثواب سمجھ کر کرتے اور اپنی قوم سے داد پاتے ہیں ۔ قوموں اور گروہوں کی سیاسی، معاشی اور مذہبی کشمکش میں یہ آئے دن ہوتا رہتا ہے کہ ایک قوم کا لیڈر ایک وقت میں دوسری قوم سے ایک معاہدہ کرتا ہے اور دوسرے وقت میں محض اپنے قومی مفاد کی خاطر یا تو اسے علانیہ توڑ دیتا ہے یا درپردہ اس کی خلاف ورزی کر کے ناجائز فائدہ اُٹھاتا ہے۔ یہ حرکتیں ایسے ایسے لوگ تک کر گزرتے ہیں جو اپنی ذانی زندگی میں بڑے راستباز ہوتے ہیں۔ اور ان حرکتوں پر صرف یہی نہیں کہ ان کی پوری قوم میں سے ملامت کی کوئی آواز نہیں اُٹھتی ، بلکہ ہر طرف سے اُن کی پیٹھ ٹھونکی جاتی ہے اوراس طرح کی چالبازیوں کو ڈپلومیسی کا کما ل سمجھا جاتا ہے۔ اللہ تعالیٰ اس پر متنبہ فرماتا ہے کہ ہر معاہدہ دراصل معاہدہ کرنے والے شخص اور قوم کے اخلاق و دیانت کی آزمائش ہے اور جو لوگ اس آزمائش میں ناکام ہوں گے وہ اللہ کی عدالت میں مؤاخذہ سے نہ بچ سکیں گے۔

92

یعنی یہ فیصلہ تو قیامت ہی کے روز ہو گا کہ جن اختلافات کی بنا پر تمہارے درمیان کشمکش برپا ہے ان میں برسرِ حق کون ہے اور برسر باطل کون۔ لیکن بہر حال ، خواہ کوئی سراسر حق پر ہی کیوں نہ ہو، اور اس کا حریف بالکل گمراہ اور باطل پرست ہی کیوں نہ ہو ، اس کے لیے یہ کسی طرح جائز نہیں ہو سکتا کہ وہ اپنے گریف کے مقابلہ میں عہد شکنی اور کذب و افترا اور مکر و فریب کے ہتھیار استعمال کرے ۔ اگر وہ ایسا کرے گا تو قیامت کے روز اللہ کے امتحان میں ناکام ثابت ہوگا ، کیونکہ حق پرستی صرف نظریے اور مقصد ہی میں صداقت کا مطالبہ نہیں کرتی ، طریقِ کار اور ذرائع میں بھی صداقت ہی چاہتی ہے ۔ یہ بات خصوصیت کے ساتھ اُن مذہبی گروہوں کی تنبیہ کے لیے فرمائی جا رہی ہے جو ہمیشہ اس غلط فہمی میں مبتلا رہے ہیں کہ ہم چونکہ خدا کے طرفدار ہیں اور ہمارا فریقِ مقابل خدا کا باغی ہے اس لیے ہمیں حق پہنچتا ہے کہ اسے جس طریقہ سے بھی ممکن ہو زک پہنچائیں۔ ہم پر ایسی کوئی پابندی نہیں ہے کہ خدا کے باغیوں کے ساتھ معاملہ کرنے میں بھی صداقت ، امانت اور وفائے عہد کا لحا ظ رکھیں۔ ٹھیک یہی بات تھی جو عرب کے یہودی کہا کرتے تھے کہ لَیْسَ عَلَیْنَا فِی الْاُمّیِّیْنَ سَبِیْلٌ۔ یعنی مشرکین ِ عرب کے معاملہ میں ہم پر کوئی پابندی نہیں ہے ، اُن سے ہر طرح کی خیانت کی جا سکتی ہے، جس چال اور تدبیر سے بھی خدا کے پیاروں کا بھلا ہو اور کافروں کو زک پہنچے وہ بالکل روا ہے، اس پر کوئی مؤاخذہ نہ ہوگا

93

یہ پچھلے مضمون کی مزید توضیح ہے۔ اس کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ اگر کوئی اپنے آپ کو اللہ کا طرفدار سمجھ کر بھلے اور بُرے ہر طریقے سے اپنے مذہب کو (جسے وہ خدائی مذہب سمجھ رہا ہے ) فروغ دینے اور دوسرے مذاہب کو مٹا دینے کی کوشش کرتا ہے ، تو اس کی یہ حرکت سراسر اللہ تعالیٰ کے منشا کے خلاف ہے۔ کیونکہ اگر اللہ کا منشا واقعی یہ ہوتا کہ انسان سے مذہبی اختلاف کا اختیار چھین لیا جائے اور چار و ناچار سارے انسانوں کو ایک ہی مذہب کا پیرو بنا کر چھوڑا جائے تو اس کے لیے اللہ تعالیٰ کو اپنے نام نہاد ”طرف داروں“ کی اور ان کے ذلیل ہتھکنڈوں سے مدد لینے کی کوئی حاجت نہ تھی۔ یہ کام تو وہ خود اپنی تخلیقی طاقت سے کر سکتا تھا۔ وہ سب کو مومن و فرماں بردار پیدا کر دیتا اور کفر و معصیت کی طاقت چھین لیتا۔ پھر کسی کی مجا ل تھی کہ ایمان و طاعت کی راہ سے بال برابر بھی جنبش کرسکتا

94

یعنی انسان کو اختیار و انتخاب کی آزادی اللہ نے خود ہی دی ہے، اس لیے انسانوں کی راہیں دنیا میں مختلف ہیں۔ کوئی گمراہی کی طرف جانا چاہتا ہے اور اللہ اس کے لیے گمراہی کے اسباب ہموار کردیتا ہے ، اور کوئی راہِ راست کا طالب ہوتا ہے اور اللہ ا س کی ہدایت کا انتظام فرما دیتا ہے۔