Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 68:46–52
The Pen (Al-Qalam)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(46) Do you demand some recompense from them that would weigh them down with debt? (47) Is the unseen within their grasp so that they write it down? (48) Wait patiently for your Lord’s judgement; do not be like the man who, having been swallowed by a whale, called out in distress. (49) Had his Lord’s grace not been bestowed upon him, he would have been cast away in disgrace upon that desolate shore. (50) But his Lord chose him for His own and made him one of the righteous. (51) When those who deny the truth hear the admonition, they would almost cause you to stumble with their evil eyes; and they say, ‘He is certainly mad.’ (52) Yet it is purely an admonition to mankind.
Commentary
(a) The relationship between the missionary and his addressees is a very delicate one. The missionary has to make himself pleasant-mannered unilaterally. The addressee may talk unreasonably, he may hold the missionary in contempt, and may make false allegations against him. In short, he may do anything of a discourageing nature, but the missionary must at all times abstain from negative reaction. His success is dependent upon two things—tolerance of excesses on the part of the addressee and having no expectation of material gain from him.