Of course...

Of course, Almighty God has, also given him (the Prophet) some distinction so that people may not say that the messenger also is like us. He has knowledge and power with him. He must also have a miracle. So they brought dead persons to life and so on. Reverting to our discussion, these three persons said, Our Lord knows that most surely we are messengers to you. *** *** That is Allah knows and He testifies that we are His messengers towards you.

Your denial and your giving a lie to us causes no effect on the main point, that is, on our being the Messengers. And nothing devolves on us but a clear deliverance (of the message). *** *** Our responsibility and duty is no more than to convey His message to you in a clear manner. We are only entrusted by God Almighty to bring God’s invitation to you explicitly. You may accept it or not. We have conveyed the concepts of monotheism and hereafter to you.

The people turn back and utter nonsense: They said: Surely we augur evil from you; if you do not desist, we will certainly stone you, and there shall certainly afflict you a painful chastisement from us. *** *** Meaning: We think you are inauspicious and a cause of trouble for us. If you do not leave, we will stone you to death. And we will torture you painfully.

A tanner falls unconscious in perfume market In Tafsir Ruhul Bayan, in explanation of this verse, a story poem is mentioned and we shall quote it here due to its relevance: It is said that once a tanner, along with a street sweeper (both of whom were accustomed to dirt and bad smell), came to a market and passed by the shops of perfumers. When the fragrance of perfume reached the nose of the poor tanner, he gave a sigh and fell unconscious.

The perfume sellers sprinkled essence of rose and other fragrant flowers on his face, which worsened the condition of the poor tanner. When his companion (the sweeper) saw this, he at once understood the matter. He went aside, brought some dirt and put it near the nose of his companion who soon recovered. People gathered round him and asked, “O competent physician! What is this wonderful medicine that cured this man?” The sweeper said, “I am neither Plato nor Aristotle.

The fact is that our engagement is always with dirt and dirty things. What have we to do with flowers and fragrance and the smell of roses?” This story hints at the humanity of man and his being conversant with the higher world. O resident of paradise!