The verse states...

The verse states:ِ `` The nomad Arabs who are far from the teaching and preaching center of Islam, are more likly to be faithless, infidels, and hypocrites; and to ignore the bounds of what Allah Has sent down to His Messenger.'' As many may think so; the word, ``ALAARAB'' is not the plural for, ``ARAB'' and according to most of the Arabic Dictionaries, it implies the nomad Arabs who lived in the tents in the deserts. VERSE NO.

98 - 99 To know that all of the Bedouins were not alike; two groups of them have been made distinct in the above verses:- A group of them due to their lack of faith regard the obligatory alms as a compulsory fine, and they look upon it as a burden. They also wait and watch disasters to befall the believers, so that they might get rid of the payment. Others of them are true believers, and feel happy that they have some contributions in solving the problems of poverty and misery in their community.

And they believe that through the payment of such alms-tax, they get nearer and nearer to God, and will also earn the prayer and well-wishing of God's Messenger; and they are indeed right in their motive.

وَالسَّابِقُونَ الاَْوَّلُونَ مِنْ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالاَْنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَان رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّات تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الاَْنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَداً ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ(( 100 )) [ 18 ] 100- AND THE FIRST OF THE OUTSTRIPPERS, (THE FOREMOST MUSLIMS) OF THE EMIGRANTS AND THE HELPERS, AND THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THEM IN GOODNESS; ALLAH IS PLEASED WITH THEM, AND THEY ARE PLEASED WITH HIM.

AND HE HAS PREPARED FOR THEM GARDENS BENEATH WHICH STREAMS FLOW. THEREIN THEY DWELL FOR EVER. THAT IS A GREAT ATTAINMENT. THE COMMENTARY THE FOREMOST MUSLIMS (VERSE NO. 100) A mention is made here of three classes of the primeval and forefront Muslims:- 1- The foremost converts who emigrated to ABYSSINIA and to MEDINA.

They were the vanguards of Islam who endangered their lives through wonderful self-sacrifices, and suffered for the cause of God painfully, having no other intention but to please Allah, their Lord God. They were persecuted wildly by the pagans of Mecca, but none of them gave up their faith, and when they found it necessary to change their field of combat, they forsook their home and hearth and even their wife and children and emigrated to Abyssinia and to Medina!

Inspite of all their sacrifice and suffering, they rejoiced in the pleasure and concent of their Lord God.

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