[48] Surah Al-Fath [The Victory]: Ayat 029

২৯. মুহাম্মদ আল্লাহর রসূল এবং তাঁর সহচরগণ কাফেরদের প্রতি কঠোর, নিজেদের মধ্যে পরস্পর সহানুভূতিশীল। আল্লাহর অনুগ্রহ ও সন্তুষ্টি কামনায় আপনি তাদেরকে রুকু ও সেজদারত দেখবেন। তাদের মুখমন্ডলে রয়েছে সেজদার চিহ্ন । তওরাতে তাদের অবস্থা এরূপ এবং ইঞ্জিলে তাদের অবস্থা যেমন একটি চারা গাছ যা থেকে নির্গত হয় কিশলয়, অতঃপর তা শক্ত ও মজবুত হয় এবং কান্ডের উপর দাঁড়ায় দৃঢ়ভাবে-চাষীকে আনন্দে অভিভুত করে-যাতে আল্লাহ তাদের দ্বারা কাফেরদের অন্তর্জালা সৃষ্টি করেন। তাদের মধ্যে যারা বিশ্বাস স্থাপন করে এবং সৎকর্ম করে, আল্লাহ তাদেরকে ক্ষমা ও মহাপুরস্কারের ওয়াদা দিয়েছেন।

Ayat 29. Muhammad ( [SAWW](PBUH)  is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of (their) prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurat (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, it then becomes thick, and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allah has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islamic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e. Paradise).

Tafseer of Surah Al-Fath Ayat 29. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are strong against Unbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves (in prayer), seeking Grace from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, (being) the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Tawrah; and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, (filling) the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward. Cf. 9:128. The devotees of Allah wage unceasing war against evil, for themselves, and for others; but to their own brethren in faith—especially the weaker ones-they are mild and compassionate: they seek out every opportunity to sympathize with them and help them. Their humility is before Allah and His Prophet and all who have authority from Allah, but they yield no power or pomp, nor do they worship worldly show or glitter. Nor is their humility before Allah a mere show for men. The traces of their earnestness and humility are engraved on their faces, i.e., penetrate their inmost being, the face being the outward sign of the inner man. If we take it in its literal sense, the traces might mean the marks left by repeated prostration on their foreheads. Moreover, a good man's face alone shows in him the grace and light of Allah; he is gentle, kind and forbearing, ever helpful, relying on Allah and possessing 'a blessed Peace and Calmness' (i.e., Sakinah: cf. 48:26; 48:18,) that can come from no other source. In the Book of Moses, which is now found in a corrupt form in the Pentateuch, the posture of humility in prayer is indicated by prostration: e.g., Moses and Aaron "fell upon their faces", Num. 16:22. The similitude in the Gospel is about how the good seed is sown and grows gradually, even beyond the expectation of the sower: "the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth now how; for the earth bring forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear"; Mark, 4:27-28. Thus Islam was preached by the Prophet; the seed seemed to human eyes lost in the ground; but it put forth its shoot, and grew, and became strong, until it was able to stand on its own legs, and its worst enemies recognized its existence and its right to live. Note how much more complete the parable is in the Qur'an. The mentality of the sowers of the seed is expressed in beautiful terms: its growth and strength filled them "with wonder and delight." I construe the particle “If as expressing not the object, but the result. The result of the wonderful growth of Islam in numbers and strength was that its enemies were confounded, and raged furiously within their own minds, a contrast to the satisfaction, wonder, and delight of the Prophet and his Companions. The pronoun in "rage at them" of course refers to the Prophet and his Companions, and goes back to the earlier words, "on their faces" etc. 

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Never a Prophet had been sent before me by Allah to his people but he had, among his people, (his) disciples and companions, who followed his ways and obeyed his command. Then there came after them their successors who proclaimed what they did not practice, and practiced what they were not commanded to do. And (he) who strove against them with his hand is a believer; he who strove against them with his heart is a believer; and he who strove against them with his tongue is a believer; and beyond that there is no grain of Faith". [Muslim Book 01, Chapter 21, Hadith # 081]

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al-Fath Ayat 29. Muhammad ( [SAWW](PBUH)  is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. This Hadith contains a very important prescription to prevent the Muslim society from all things which are forbidden in Islam. So long as Muslims adhered to it and ceaselessly and fearlessly performed their obligation of enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong, their society was largely safe from many evils and sins.