Al-Hadid (The Iron)

29. So that the people of the Scripture may know that they have no power whatsoever over the Grace of Allah [and all double privileges and blessing belong to Him] and that Grace is in His Hand to bestow it on whomsoever He wills. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

The blessed Chapter opened with glorification of Allah and ends with Divine Grace. It is reflected elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an¹ that those among the People of the Scripture who believe in the Islamic faith shall be rewarded twice (ajrahum marratayn). The same theme is to be found in these blessed Verses.

Addressed to Muslims it is said that if they fear Allah and believe in the Noble Prophet of Islam, they shall also be rewarded twice, such that the people of the Scripture may not imagine that Muslims may not receive double portions of Divine Mercy and such portions solely belongs to them.

Taking into account the blessed Verses including the phrase

"Great Bounty"

(fadhl ‘adim), it is elucidated that Great Bounty connotes Guidance, Paradise, Divine Forgiving, Prophethood, Following Divine Satisfaction, and possession of accurate insight and distinction which is not employed for mundane Bounties. All-Wise Allah selects certain people to receive His Grace. Thus, Divine Grace is dependent upon His All-Wise Will rather than our imaginations.

Finally, the blessed Verse in question may be a response to the ambitions and groundless claims of some Jews and Christians claiming that Paradise and Divine Grace solely belong to them and others are deprived of them:

("And they say, 'None shall be admitted to Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.' These are their own desires. Say [O Muhammad!]: 'Produce your proof if you are truthful.'")2 .

O Lord! All Grace and Mercy are in Your Hand. Do not deprive us of such Great Grace and Mercy.