9 Preface أَرَأَيتَ الَّذي يَنهىٰYusuf AliSeest thou one who forbids—1The words, may be applied generally to perverse humanity, which seeks not only to rebel against God’s Law, but also to prevent others from following it. There may however be a reference here to Abū Jahl, an inveterate enemy of Islam, who used, in its early days, to insult and persecute the holy Prophet and those who followed his teaching. He used, in particular, to use shameful methods to prevent the Prophet from going to the Ka‘ba for devotions, and forbid any who came under his influence, from offering prayers or performing devotions. He was arrogant and purse-proud and met his end in the battle of Badr.