ভূমিকা

“Tell those who disbelieve, if they desist (from corruptions) what has past will be forgiven for them, but if they return (thereto), then what happened to the ancients has already passed.”*** In this verse, the Prophet (S) is commanded to tell the pagans if they repent and really leave corruptions, their former sins will be forgiven.

The verse says: “Tell those who disbelieve, if they desist (from corruptions) what has past will be forgiven for them,...” And if they return to war again and persist on infidelity, Allah's way of treatment unto the former nations has been this that He has always helped the believers and has made the enemies of the religion confronted with disgrace and misfortune.

The verse says: “...but if they return (thereto), then what happened to the ancients has already passed.” When the holy verse says: /sunnat-ul-‘awwalin/ and refers ‘Allah's way of treatment’ to the ancient, it is for the reason that ‘Allah's way of treatment’ had always been executed upon them. In another occurrence, the Qur'an says: “(This is Our) course with regard to those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you...” (Surah Al-‘Isra' No. 17, verse 77).

Here, He attributes the way of treatment to His messengers, because Allah's way of treatment had been executed by them. Therefore, in the same verse, He continues saying: “...and I you shall not find a change in Our course.” Here, He attributes the way of treatment (course) to His Pure Essence, again, because, in fact, the real executor of ‘the way of treatment’ is Allah Himself.