In (the comments on) Surat Al-Baqarah, we discussed the letters which appear at the beginning of some Surahs.

[تِلْكَ ءَايَـتُ الْقُرْءَانِ وَكِتَـبٍ مُّبِينٍ]

(These are the Ayat of the Qur'an, and (it is) a Book (that is) clear.) It is plain and evident.

[هُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ]

(A guide and glad tidings for the believers.) meaning, guidance and good news may be attained from the Qur'an for those who believe in it, follow it and put it into practice. They establish obligatory prayers, pay Zakah and believe with certain faith in the Hereafter, the resurrection after death, reward and punishment for all deeds, good and bad, and Paradise and Hell. This is like the Ayat:

[قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هُدًى وَشِفَآءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ فِى ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ]

(Say: "It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears...'') (41:44).

[لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْماً لُّدّاً]

(that you may give glad tidings to those who have Taqwa, and warn with it the Ludd (most quarrelsome) people) (19: 97). Allah says here:

[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ]

(Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter,) meaning, those who deny it and think that it will never happen,

[زَيَّنَّا لَهُمْ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ فَهُمْ يَعْمَهُونَ]

(We have made their deeds fair seeming to them, so that they wander about blindly.) means, `We have made what they are doing seem good to them, and We have left them to continue in their misguidance, so they are lost and confused.' This is their recompense for their disbelief in the Hereafter, as Allah says:

[وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْئِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ]

(And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away, as they refused to believe therein for the first time) (6:110).

[أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ]

(They are those for whom there will be an evil torment.) in this world and the Hereafter.

[وَهُمْ فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ هُمُ الاٌّخْسَرُونَ]

(And in the Hereafter they will be the greatest losers.) means, no one but they, among all the people who will be gathered, will lose their souls and their wealth.

[وَإِنَّكَ لَتُلَقَّى الْقُرْءَانَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ ]

(And verily, you are being taught the Qur'an from One, All-Wise, All-Knowing.)

[وَأَنَّكَ]

(And verily, you) O Muhammad. Qatadah said:

[لَتُلَقَّى]

(are being taught) "Are receiving.''

[الْقُرْءَانَ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ عَلِيمٍ]

(the Qur'an from One, All-Wise, All-Knowing.) from One Who is Wise in His commands and prohibitions, and Who knows all things, major and minor. Whatever He says is absolute Truth, and His rulings are entirely fair and just, as Allah says:

[وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً]

(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice) (6:115).

[إِذْ قَالَ مُوسَى لاًّهْلِهِ إِنِّى آنَسْتُ نَاراً سَـَاتِيكُمْ مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ ءَاتِيكُمْ بِشِهَابٍ قَبَسٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ - فَلَمَّا جَآءَهَا نُودِىَ أَن بُورِكَ مَن فِى النَّارِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهَا وَسُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ - يمُوسَى إِنَّهُ أَنَا اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ - وَأَلْقِ عَصَاكَ فَلَمَّا رَءَاهَا تَهْتَزُّ كَأَنَّهَا جَآنٌّ وَلَّى مُدْبِراً وَلَمْ يُعَقِّبْ يمُوسَى لاَ تَخَفْ إِنِّى لاَ يَخَافُ لَدَىَّ الْمُرْسَلُونَ - إَلاَّ مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْناً بَعْدَ سُوءٍ فَإِنِّى غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ - وَأَدْخِلْ يَدَكَ فِى جَيْبِكَ تَخْرُجْ بَيْضَآءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ فِى تِسْعِ ءَايَـتٍ إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ قَوْماً فَـسِقِينَ - فَلَمَّا جَآءَتْهُمْ ءَايَـتُنَا مُبْصِرَةً قَالُواْ هَـذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ - وَجَحَدُواْ بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَآ أَنفُسُهُمْ ظُلْماً وَعُلُوّاً فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ الْمُفْسِدِينَ ]

(7. (Remember) when Musa said to his household: "Verily, I have seen a fire; I will bring you from there some information, or I will bring you a burning ember, that you may warm yourselves.'') (8. But when he came to it, he was called: "Blessed is whosoever is in the fire, and whosoever is round about it! And glorified be Allah, the Lord of all that exists.'') (9. "O Musa! Verily, it is I, Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.'') (10. "And throw down your stick!'' But when he saw it moving as if it were a snake, he turned in flight, and did not look back. (It was said:) "O Musa! Fear not: verily, the Messengers fear not in front of Me.'') (11. "Except him who has done wrong and afterwards has changed evil for good; then surely, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'') (12. "And put your hand into opening of your garment, it will come forth white without hurt. (These are) among the nine signs (you will take) to Fir`awn and his people. Verily, they are a people who are rebellious.'') (13. But when Our Ayat came to them, clear to see, they said: "This is a manifest magic.'') (14. And they belied them wrongfully and arrogantly, though they themselves were convinced thereof. So, see what was the end of the mischief-makers.)