As it was mentioned in the commentary above, some of the fanatic Sonni have said that the immediate occasion for the above verse (NO.56), was the death of Hazrat Abutalib; Imam Ali's father, and an uncle whom the prophet loved tenderly, and who had supported the prophet sincerely and protected him throughout his life.

      They say that the pagan Arab's leaders persuaded him to remain true to the faith of his ancestors, and so he died a non-Muslim! If so, this incident must have been an occasion of disappointment and grief for our prophet.

      But no Muslim can ever doubt that ABUTALIB was the strongest support, and the most effective protector of Mohammad among mankind, against his enemies for life. A Persian proverb is:- ``That will come out of a JAR which the JAR contains.''

      How could then a non-Muslim be so sincere, so faithful and so protective to someone who had come to corrupt his religion.

      On the other hand, our Sonni brothers have said that the Pagans persuaded Hazrat Abutalib to stay firm with the religion of his ancestors. Will they tell us who were the ancestors of Abutalib and what was their creed? Was he not the true offspring of Abraham and Ishmael (AS)? Were his father's creed idolatry? Was their religion not called, ``HANIF'' which implies pure Monotheism?

      Childish zeal and ignorance like anything else should have a limit. Why are there some people who deliberately close their eyes not to see, and shut their ears not to hear the truth. Why do some people seek to forge false weakpoints for the lasting, infinite, super man, whom God has praised and Qurän is the explanation of his virtues, and the word of God has called him the soul of Mohammad our prophet.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE