Overview (Verses 90 - 99)

The True Concept of God
 
Having refuted all the idolaters’ claims about God, taking to Himself a son or partners, the sūrah states in all clarity the true principle of God’s oneness as explained by His Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
 
Nay, We have revealed to them the truth; and yet, they are certainly lying. Never did God take to Himself any offspring, nor has there ever been any deity alongside Him. Had there been any, each deity would surely have taken away his own creation, and they would surely have tried to establish superiority over one another. Limitless in His glory is God, far above all that which they attribute to Him. He knows all that is beyond the reach of human perception, and all that can be witnessed. Sublimely exalted is He above anything they associate as partner with Him. (Verses 90-92)
 
Note how this statement employs different methods and styles. First, all argument with the idolaters is closed, and an emphatic assertion of their lying is given: “Nay, We have revealed to them the truth; and yet, they are certainly lying.” (Verse 90) Then follow some of the details of their lies: “Never did God take to Himself any offspring, nor has there ever been any deity alongside Him.” (Verse 91) Irrefutable proof is then stated rendering all their claims false and showing the absurdity of pagan beliefs based on associating partners with God: “Had there been any each deity would surely have taken away his own creation.” (Verse 91) Each deity would stress his independence and conduct the affairs of his creation according to his own law. Thus, every part of the universe, and every group of creatures would have a different basis and laws. There would be no common code applying to them all. Hence, those deities “would surely have tried to establish superiority over one another.” (Verse 91) Such superiority could take the form of a more sophisticated law operating in a particular part of the universe. However, the universe as a whole cannot function properly unless it is subject to a single law that applies to all its parts and all creatures living in it.
 
None of this multiplicity is found in the universe, where consistency of structure proves the oneness of its Creator, and inner harmony testifies to its being run by a single will. Indeed, we clearly see that all parts of the universe function in perfect harmony: “Limitless in His glory is God, far above all that which they attribute to Him.” (Verse 91)
 
“He knows all that is beyond the reach of human perception, and all that can be witnessed.” (Verse 92) None other than God has any authority over any part of His creation, knowing anything that is unknown to God. “Sublimely exalted is He above anything they associate as a partner with Him.” (Verse 92)
 
At this point, the sūrah stops addressing or speaking about them. It now turns its attention to God’s Messenger, commanding him to appeal to God so that he is not placed with such people, if he ever witnesses the fulfilment of the warnings of suffering they have been given. He is further instructed to seek refuge with His Lord from the evil ones, satans, so as not to be irritated by or become fed up at what the unbelievers claim:
 
Say: My Lord! If it be Your will to show me that which they are warned against, then, my Lord, do not let me be one of those wrongdoing folk.’ We are most certainly able to show you that which We promise them. Repel evil with that which is best. We are fully aware of all that they say. And say: ‘My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the promptings of the evil ones; and I seek refuge with You, my Lord, lest they come near me.’ (Verses 93-98)
 
The Prophet is certainly not going to be with the wrongdoers when God inflicts on them a severe punishment in fulfilment of His warnings. But this prayer which he is instructed to repeat serves as a further precaution. It is also meant as a lesson to all believers so that they do not slacken. They should also be on their guard, attending to their duties, seeking refuge with God and praying to Him to bestow His grace on them.
 
God is certainly able to fulfil what He has warned the wrongdoers of, and to make it all happen during the lifetime of His Messenger: “We are most certainly able to show you that which We promise them.” (Verse 95) He certainly showed him some of it in the Battle of Badr and then when Makkah surrendered to Islam.
 
However, at the time of the revelation of this sūrah, the Prophet was still in Makkah enduring with his followers much persecution from the idolaters. The policy followed by the Muslim community then, in implementation of God’s instructions, was to repel a bad thing with something better. Muslims also had to demonstrate their patience in the face of adversity, leaving their destiny entirely to God: “Repel evil with that which is best. We are fully aware of all that they say.” (Verse 96)
 
The Prophet was certainly immune to any promptings or persuasion by evil ones. However, here he is instructed to pray for protection against all this in an urgent appeal for further immunity against their evil. Being the perfect role model for all Muslims in all generations, his appeal provides a lead for them to follow. They should also seek refuge with God against all temptation put in their way by the evil ones. Indeed the Prophet is instructed to appeal to God for protection against such evil people corning near him in any way. “I seek refuge with You, my Lord, lest they come near me.” (Verse 98)
 
This may also be interpreted as an appeal lest they come near him at the time of his death. This sense is strengthened by the verse that follows: “When death approaches any of them, he says: My Lord! Let me return [to life].” (Verse 99) This follows the Qur’ānic method that ensures an easy flow from one point to another.