هذا الجزء الأخير من السورة يبني على المحاور الرئيسية التي سبق بحثها، لا سيما الأخبار التاريخية الواردة في الجزء الثاني، التي تبيّن الطبيعة الحقيقية للصلة بين الله وعباده، وذلك لدحض الخرافات التي كانت متداولة بين العرب. فمن ذلك زعمهم أن الملائكة بنات الله، ومنه زعمهم أن بين الله والجن نسبًا وصلة زوجية. والسورة تعرض عليهم الآن ما كانوا يقولونه قبل أن تُبلَّغهم رسالة الله؛ إذ عبّروا عن آمال عزيزة في أن يبعث الله إليهم رسولًا، وأكّدوا أنهم سيتبعون الهدى الذي يأتيهم به ذلك الرسول. ولكنهم لما جاءهم الرسول الذي طلبوه، لجأوا إلى الكفر. وتختم السورة بإعلان وعد الله لرسله بأنهم سينتصرون، وبتنزيه الله عمّا يصفه به الكافرون، وبحمد الله رب العالمين.

This last part of the sūrah builds on the main themes already discussed, particularly the historical accounts given in the second part which explain the true nature of the relation between God and His servants to refute the superstitions circulated among the Arabs. In one such superstition the Arabs claimed that the angels were God’s daughters, and in another they alleged that a marriage relation existed between God and the jinn. The sūrah now puts before them what they said before God’s message was delivered to them. This was when they expressed dear hopes that God would send them a messenger and when they emphasized that they would follow the guidance such a messenger provided. Yet when God sent them the Messenger they asked for they resorted to disbelief. The sūrah concludes by stating God’s promise to His messengers that they will end victorious, disassociating God from all the unbelievers’ claims, and praising God, the Lord of all the worlds.

فاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ الْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ الْبَنُونَ؟ أَمْ خَلَقْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِنَاثًا وَهُمْ شَاهِدُونَ؟ أَلَا إِنَّهُم مِّنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ * وَلَدَ اللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ * أَصْطَفَى الْبَنَاتِ عَلَى الْبَنِينَ؟ * مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ؟ * أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ؟ * أَمْ لَكُمْ سُلْطَانٌ مُّبِينٌ؟ * فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ؟

Now ask the unbelievers if it be true that your Lord has daughters, while they would have sons? Or is it that We have created the angels female in their presence? Out of their falsehood they say: ‘God has begotten children.’ They are lying indeed. Would He then choose daughters in preference to sons? What is the matter with you? How do you make your judgement? Do you not reflect? Or do you, perhaps, have a clear authority? Bring your scriptures, if you are speaking the truth! (Verses 149-157)

تستعمل السورة كل الوسائل لدحض دعاوى الكافرين؛ فهي تُبيّن خرافتهم الباطلة على حقيقتها، وتبني حجتها على أساس منطقهم الخاص وكيفية عمله في بيئتهم. كانوا يفضّلون الذكور على الإناث، ويعدّون ولادة البنت نوعًا من المصيبة. ومع ذلك يزعمون في الوقت نفسه أن الملائكة إناث، وأنهم بنات الله. لذلك تأخذ السورة هذه الحجة، مستخدمةً معاييرهم هم، لتُظهر مدى سخافة دعاواهم: ﴿فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ الْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ الْبَنُونَ﴾ ؟ فإن كانت الإناث في مرتبة أدنى، فكيف ينسبون البنات إلى ربهم ويحتفظون لأنفسهم بالبنين؟ أم أنه اختار لنفسه البنات وأعطاهم البنين؟ وكلا الاحتمالين لا يقوم على عقل. وأُمر النبي ﷺ أن يسألهم عن هذه الدعوى الباطلة، وأن يسألهم كذلك عن مصدر هذه الخرافة وكيف نشأت. بعبارة أخرى: من أين جاءتهم فكرة أن الملائكة إناث؟ هل شهدوا خلقهم حتى يعرفوا جنسهم؟ ﴿أَمْ خَلَقْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِنَاثًا وَهُمْ شَاهِدُونَ﴾ (الآية 150).

The sūrah uses every means to refute the unbelievers’ claims; it shows their false superstition for what it is, draws its argument on the basis of their own logic and how it works in their own environment. They used to prefer boys to girls, considering the birth of a girl something of a tragedy. Yet they allege at the same time that the angels were female and that they were God’s daughters. Therefore, the sūrah takes up the argument, using their own standards to show how stupid their claims were: “Now ask the unbelievers if it be true that your Lord has daughters, while they would have sons?” If females are of a lesser rank, how could they assign daughters to their Lord and keep sons for themselves? Or was it that He chose for Himself daughters and gave them sons? Neither possibility stands to reason. The Prophet is instructed to question them about this worthless claim. He is also to ask them about the source of the superstition and how it came about. In other words, where did they get the idea that the angels were females? Did they witness their creation in order to know their sex? “Or is it that We have created the angels female in their presence?” (Verse 150)

ثم تتحدث السورة عن المشركين الذين يتداولون مثل هذه الخرافات، فتذكر الوعود التي قطعوها حين حسدوا أهل الكتب السابقة على تلقّيهم مثل هذه الرسائل. فقد كانوا يقولون إنهم لو كان عندهم موروث من معتقدات إبراهيم أو غيره من الأنبياء اللاحقين، لكان لديهم من الإيمان ما يرفع مكانتهم عند الله: ﴿وَإِن كَانُوا لَيَقُولُونَ * لَوْ أَنَّ عِندَنَا ذِكْرًا مِّنَ الْأَوَّلِينَ * لَكُنَّا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ﴾ (الآيات ١٦٧-١٦٩). ومع ذلك، فحين جاءهم أفضل الوحي الذي أنزله الله من عليائه، أعرضوا ونسوا وعودهم: ﴿فَكَفَرُوا بِهِ فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾ (الآية ١٧٠). وفي هذه الآية تهديد ضمني يليق بمن يصرّ على الكفر، وينقض ما أعلنه من أمانٍ وعهود: ﴿فَسَوْفَ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾. وعند هذا الموضع تبيّن السورة وعد الله لرسله بالنصر المؤكد.

The sūrah then speaks about the idolaters who circulate such superstitions, mentioning the promises they made when they envied the people of earlier revelations for receiving such messages. They used to say that had they had some sort of traditional beliefs inherited from Abraham or later prophets, they would have had a degree of faith that would have enhanced their position with God: “They have long been saying: If only we had before us a tradition from those of old, we would certainly he true servants of God.” (Verses 167-169) Yet when they received the best revelations ever bestowed from on high, they turned away and forgot their promises: “Yet they reject it. In time, they will come to know.” (Verse 170) The verse carries an implicit threat, which is suitable for those who persist in disbelief, going back on expressed wishes and promises: “They will come to know.” At this point the sūrah states God’s promise to His messengers of His assured help.

وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ * إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنصُورُونَ * وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ

In this way victory is assured them: “Our word has already been given to Our servants the messengers: it is they who will be helped, and it is Our forces who will surely be victorious.” (Verses 171-173)

الوعد وعدٌ حق، وكلمةُ الله تتحقق. لقد رسخت جذور الإيمان الحق في الأرض، وارتفع بناؤه رغم إنكار الكافرين، واضطهادِ المؤمنين الذي يتعرضون له، وكثيرٍ من العقبات والحواجز الأخرى. لقد زالت معتقدات المشركين والكافرين، وتضاءلت قوتهم، بينما تخاطب الدينُ الذي يبلّغه رسلُ الله العقولَ والقلوبَ. بل إن جاذبيته تبقى قوية رغم كل العوامل المعارضة. وقد أخفقت كلُّ المحاولات لقمع الإيمان الإلهي لصالح أيِّ فلسفة أو أيديولوجية أخرى، حتى في تلك المناطق التي بدأت فيها هذه المحاولات. لقد تحقق وعدُ الله لرسله. وهذه ظاهرةٌ عامة ظلت ثابتة في جميع أنحاء العالم وفي كل الأجيال.

The promise is a true promise, and God’s word is fulfilled. The roots of true faith have been firmly established on earth and its structure is raised despite the unbelievers’ rejection, the persecution to which believers are subjected as well as many other obstacles and barriers. The beliefs of idolaters and unbelievers have disappeared, their power has dwindled while the faith preached by God’s messengers appeals to people’s minds and hearts. In fact, its appeal remains strong in spite of all the opposing factors. All the attempts to suppress divine faith in favour of any other philosophy or ideology have failed, even in those areas where these started. God’s promise to His messengers has come true. This is a universal phenomenon that has remained true throughout the world and in all generations.