Thus the personality of the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and...

Thus the personality of the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and His Household)* has become a symbol of the absence of divine punishment. Intermediation through the Prophet (SAW) is a precondition for the acceptance of repentance The verse indicates two sources of access to divine nearness: one is the source of the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and His Household)* and the other is the source of repentance. Both sources are means of immunity against divine punishment.

Just as diplomats enjoy diplomatic immunity, people who repent and rely on the Prophet’s mediation enjoy divine immunity. This immunity helps in stalling punishment. But Allah has given precedence to the Prophet’s mediation over repentance as is reflected in their chronological order. First, He mentions the intermediation through the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and His Household)* , and then He mentions repentance.

The inference is transparent if one studies the verse dispassionately: repentance is actually contingent on the repentant’s relationship with the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and His Household)* . This relationship should not be a mere pretense, but it should be based on sincerity and devotion. Therefore, the repentance of only those persons will receive divine sanction who whole-heartedly believe in the integrity and finality of the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and His Household)* .

Thus their repentance is conditional. People who repent should not only believe in him as a Prophet but also sincerely believe that even today he is with us and that he will continue to be with us till the Day of Judgement. When this belief is deeply entrenched in our hearts and minds, our repentance will acquire an incredible immediacy and lead to the waiving of punishment.

Challenge of infidels and disbelievers Strangely enough, the infidels and the disbelievers cast blatant aspersions on the truth of the Holy Qur’ān. They flagrantly challenged the Holy Prophet*(Peac Be Up Him and His Household)* by saying that they did not believe in the Qur’ān and if the Qur’ān they denied was full of truth, then punishment should be inflicted on them.

As the Qur’ān says: And when they said (tauntingly), O Allah, if this (Qur’ān) that has come from You is the truth, then hurl stones on us (on account of its disobedience) or inflict on us some agonizing punishment.[2] The infidels posed this challenge to gauge the truth and veracity of the Qur’ān.