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ye down all from here; And if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from Me,56 whosoever Follows My guidance, on them Shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. "But those who reject Faith And belie Our Signs, They shall be Companions of the Fire; They shall abide therein. ,,57 SECfION 5.
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Children of Israel! call to mind The (special) favour which I bestowed Upon you, and fulfil your Covenant 5K
The Arabic word for "Repentance" (Iauba) means "turning," and the intensive word (tauwiib) for Allah's forgiveness ("Oft-Returning" or "Ever.Returning'") is from the same root. For repentance, three things are necessary: the sinner must acknowledge his wrong; he must give it up; and he must resolve to eschew it for the future. Man's nature is weak, and he may have to return again and again for mercy. So long as he does it sincerely. Allah is Oft-Returning. Most Merciful. For His grace helps out the sinner's shortcomings. 56. Note the transition from the plural "We" at the beginning of the verse to the singular "Me" later in the same verse. Allah speaks of Himself usually in the first person plural "We": it is the plural of respect and honour and is used in human language in Royal proclamations and decrees. But where a special personal relationship is expressed the singular, "I" or "Me" is used Cf. xxvi 51. etc. In spite of Man's fall, and in consequence of it, assurance of guidance is given. In case man follows the guidance he is free from any fear for the present or the future, and any grief or sorrow for the past. The soul thus freed grows nearer to Allah. 57. As their rejection of faith was deliberate and definite, so the consequences must be a punishment of an abiding character. 58. The appeal is made to Israel subjectively in terms of their own tradition. You claim to be a favoured nation: have you forgotten My favours? You claim a special Covenant with Me: I have fulfilled My part of the Covenant by bringing you out of the land of bondage and giving you Canaan, the land "flowing with milk and honey": how have you fulfilled your part of the Covenant? Do you fear for your national existence? If you fear Me, nothing else will matter.
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