The Qur’ān (25:50-52) says: “Many times have We explained this (in the) Qur’ān to them, so that they may take it to heart, but most people refuse to be anything but unbelievers. Had We so willed, We could have sent a warner to every city. Do not obey the unbelievers, but strive most vigorously against them with this Qur’ān.”
The Surah refers to the Qur’ān which, like pure rain water, descends from on high to purify people’s hearts and souls. It wonders how man warms to rain, which is essential for physical life, but does not warm to the Qur’ān which gives life to hearts and souls. “Many times… to them” refers to: (1) “We have cited the phenomenon of rainfall over and over again in the Qur’ān in order to make plain to them the Reality.” (2) “We are time and again showing them the wonderful phenomenon of the heat and drought, seasonal winds and clouds, rainfall and its life producing effects.” (3) “We go on changing the system of the distribution of rainfall throughout the world, year after year, so that the same place does not receive the same amount of rainfall every time. They see all these different phenomena with their countless different results in their daily life.”
The ayah means to impress that the wonderful system of rainfall is by itself a proof of the existence of Allah, and of His attributes. Its wonderful distribution during the year and over different parts of the earth is a clear proof that there is an All-Wise Designer. But the obstinate disbelievers do not learn any lesson from it, and persist in their ingratitude, though this has been cited in the Qur’ān repeatedly for this purpose.
It is for the disbelievers themselves to see how the rainfall brings to life dead land year after year. This clearly shows that Allah has the power to bring the dead back to life, but the disbelievers do not learn any lesson from it and persist in their irresponsible ways. In ayah 48, the “pure water” of rain refers to the blessings of Prophethood. Human history shows that whenever this blessing has been sent down, ignorance has been replaced by knowledge, injustice by justice and wickedness by righteousness. The coming of Prophets has always proved to be the indication of a moral revolution. But only those who accepted their guidance benefited from it. This is the lesson of history, yet the disbelievers reject it because of their ingratitude.
The Qur’ān aims to remind us of a truth that is well established in our nature, even though we often forget it. What makes us heedless of it is the fact that we submit to our desires: “but most people refuse to be anything but unbelievers.” (Ayah 50) This means that the mission entrusted to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ is a very tough one. He faces the whole of mankind when a great majority of them choose to follow their desires, insisting on unbelief, being ingrate, despite the presence of numerous signs pointing to the truth of faith. “Had We so willed, We could have sent a warner to every city.” (Ayah 51)
Such a course would have divided the task and made it easier to carry out. Allah, however, sent His Last Messenger to address all mankind, so as to give them the same message which remains free from local variations. Allah also gave His Messenger the Qur’ān, so as to make it the address he drove home to them: “Do not obey the unbelievers, but strive most vigorously against them with this Qur’ān.” (Ayah 52)
This Qur’ān has great power and influence. It is irresistible. When Allah’s Messenger ﷺ addressed the Arabs with it, it shook their hearts and consciences. They tried hard to counter its effects, employing every means at their disposal, but all their efforts were useless. The elders among the Quraysh told their people: “Do not listen to this Qur’ān, but rather talk frivolously about it, so that you might gain the upper hand.” (41:26) This betrayed their profound fear that the Qur’ān would touch their own hearts and the hearts of their followers and that they would embrace Islam. They were aware that it took only the reading of a couple of ayat, or perhaps a surah or two, by Muhammad ﷺ, and listeners were so affected they accepted his message. To them, it seemed like the Qur’ān had a magic effect on people.
Ibn Ishaq reports that three of the Quraysh elders, Abu Jahl, Abu Sufyan and al-Akhnas ibn Shariq went out one night to listen to the Qur’ān being recited by the Prophet ﷺ as he prayed in his home during the night. However, the three of them inevitably met. They remonstrated with one another and concluded that their action was inadvisable. But, it happened again on the next two consecutive nights. Each of them was on his own, thinking that no one would know about what he did. As the day began to break, they went back. There was no need for them to ask each other what they were doing. Therefore, “Should some of your followers see you,” one of them said, “you would stir doubts in their minds.” Nevertheless, the third night each of them went to sit outside the Prophet’s home and listen to the Qur’ān. When they met in the morning, they were ashamed of themselves. One of them suggested that they should give each other their word of honour not to listen to the Qur’ān again. They did so before going home. This is just an example of how strongly attracted they were to the Qur’ān.
They felt that it was too powerful for them. Hence, they needed to pledge their word of honour that they would not listen to it again. What they feared most was that some of their subordinates might see them so taken by the Qur’ān that they too would be unable to resist it.
Indeed, the Qur’ān embodies simple and natural facts which link hearts directly to the truth that issues forth with irresistible power. It includes scenes and images of the Day of Judgement, and others derived from the universe around us, historical accounts, scenes of the fate of past communities, and powerful arguments, all of which strike basic chords in our hearts. Indeed, we often find that a single surah affects us so powerfully as to take hold of our whole being. Indeed, the Qur’ān is often described as more powerful than great armies.
It is no wonder, therefore, that Allah ordered His Messenger ﷺ not to obey the unbelievers, and not to budge from fulfilling his task. The divine order also required the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to vigorously strive against unbelievers by means of the Qur’ān. Having been given the Qur’ān, the Prophet ﷺ was equipped with something much more forceful and compelling than any human logic. Propagation of Qur’ānic message among people and to make them understand is great jihad whether it is by mouth, pen or any other means.