.
The background for the next Verses:
The next Verses 3:14-15, state the attractive assets of this perishable world, and indicate that these are only the proud and haughty people, who because of their love for this world and its goods, create ‘Fitnah’ or trouble so as to revert the simple believers by indulging them in Mutashabiha’t. They have been advised to accept Islam so as to achieve the everlasting assets and beauty of the Paradise.
In 3:18, there is ‘The Great Witness’ provided by Almighty Allah Himself, particularly to the Christians, that there is no God but Allah alone. The angels and the scholars have also been honored in this Verse, providing witnesses about the Oneness of God (as against the belief of the Christians in ‘the Trinity of God’).
In 3:19, it has been stated that the only religion before Allah is Islam. And in 3:85, a warning has been issued that no religion other than Islam will be accepted, since Muhammad (peace be upon him), the leader of Islam, is the Prophet for the entire universe and for all times to come (5:3; 34:28; 17:90 ; 21:107; 25:1; 33:40).
Verse No. 81 of this Surah on ‘Aal-e-Imran’ states the great promise taken from all the Prophets and through them from their followers for believing and supporting the Last Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him), when he comes and declares his Prophet-hood.
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3:14-3:17 THE PERISHABLE BEAUTY OF THIS WORLD
VERSUS THE EVERLASTING BEAUTY OF PARADISE
3:14 “ Beautified (and made attractive) for the people is (their) love for women, children, abundant gold and silver, horses with marks (of special breed), cattle and (splendid) agricultural farms. These are just the (simple) goods of this world. And with Allah is the excellent (everlasting) return (in the form of Paradise).”
3:15 “ Say (Holy Prophet)! Should I let you know about the thing better than this? For those, who fear Allah (and accept Islam wholeheartedly), there are with their Lord, the Gardens (of Paradise) under which the rivers flow, where they will live for ever and will have pure wives as well as the Pleasure of Allah therein. And Allah is All-Watchful Over (His) slaves.”
3:16 “They (i.e. the believers) pray (humbly): ‘ Our Lord! We have, of course believed (accepted Islam), so (please) forgive our sins, and protect us from the torment of the Fire (of Hell).
3:17 “ They are those, who are steadfast (while facing troubles for Islam) and are truthful, and who worship with great humility and spend (in the Way of Allah) as well as seek forgiveness at ‘Tahajjud’.”
