Al-Qalam (The Pen)

51. Those who disbelieve would almost cause your death with their eyes when they hear this Qur’an and they say: “He is insane!”

52. But this Qur’an is but a Reminder to all the worlds.

The closing Verses of the Chapter resumes the point mentioned in the opening of the Chapter regarding the false ascription of insanity to the Noble Prophet (S) by his enemies, saying the disbelievers would almost cause his death with their eyes upon hearing the Qur’anic Verses and falsely claim that he is insane.

The Arabic verbal form la-yuzliqunaka, derived from z-l-q (“tumble down, fall down”) denotes that they would make you slip, namely cause your death. There are some Qur’an exegetes maintaining that upon hearing the Majestic Qur’anic Verses, the Noble Prophet’s (S) enemies get into such rage and look daggers at him as if they would intend to make him slip and destroy him.

Some hold that the blessed Verse makes a reference to the evil eye in which some people believe and say that some eyes have certain secret powers through which they may cause ailment and death. Some also maintain that the expression connotes wrathful looks, though such light headed people are unaware of the truth and accord contradictory ascriptions to him.

The last blessed Verse of the Chapter is saying that this Qur’an is but an awakening and a reminder to the worlds whose teachings and warnings are enlightening, its illustrations are meaningful, its encouragements and glad tidings are promising to the spirit and all in all it awakens the neglectful and reminds them of their obligations.

How one may falsely claim that the Messenger of Allah is insane? The Arabic word dhikr denotes reminder as the Holy Qur’an serves as a Reminder to all. However, some Qur’an exegetes take it in the sense of sharaf (“eminence, dignity, glory, honor”) holding that the Holy Qur’an is a source of eminence to all the world, though the former sense seems to better fit into the context.

O Lord! Protect us from the evil of evil doers and the enemies’ deceits!

O Lord! Grant us steadfastness and forbearance in whose light we may obtain Your Satisfaction!

O Lord! Bestow upon us the capacity of making use of Your Bounties prior to their being substituted by deprivation consequent to ingratitude!

Amen! O Lord of the worlds!