This verse is a complementary to the last one, in which three of the qualifications of those who will have God's Mercy on them is mentioned namely:

      1- Those who are pious.

      2- Those who pay the alms- tax.

      3- Those who believe in the signs of God.

      The verse No. 157 is the continuation of the previous one, and so, four other qualifications are added to the above attributes to make it seven all together:

      4- Those who follow the unlettered prophet.

      5- Those who respect and honour the said prophet.

      6- Those who help him.

      7- And those who follow the light (i.e. THE GLORIOUS QURAN) sent down to him.

      The Arabic word, ``OMMI'' the root word of which is OMM=MOTHER, translated here to, ``UNLETTERED'' has a threefold meaning as follows:

      1- Mecca is said to have been the mother of the towns by QURAN. Therefore, any one whose home town was or is in Mecca, may be called an OMMI, and Mohammad was born there.

      2- ``OMMI'', means illiterate, unlearned, untutored, or uninstructed. Therefore, Mohammad S.A. who did not learn reading and writing, just like a newly born from his mother, was an OMMI.

      3- One who has been raised up from among the common people, is also called an OMMI by the Arabs, and Mohammad was so.

MESSENGER OF GOD OR HIS PROPHET?

      A Messenger of God differs in rank and duty from a prophet. A prophet is inspired by God like a Messenger, but he may be a prophet without having mission to convey or a law to enforce. One may be a prophet without having even a book sent down to him. On the other hand, a Messenger, is somehow an Arch prophet, who has Messages from God to convey to His servants, accompanied by a Divine Book, and the Law. There are five of such Messengers of God altogether, or you may call them Arch Prophets:

      They are: NOAH, ABRAHAM, MOSES, JESUS, and MOHAMMAD, peace be on them all.

      On this basis, a prophet is not a Messenger, but a Messenger of God is a prophet, and hence Mohammad the Messenger of God S.A..

PROOFS OF PROPHET HOOD

      Five proofs are mentioned in this verse in order to prove Mohammad's prophet hood, and his office as a Messenger of God. These are as follows.

      1- A man unlettered, who knew no reading or writing; who was grown and brought up among a people of utmost ignorance, and in a Pagan Era, destitute of any knowledge, has brought a Book for Mankind, and has challenged the world to produce a book or even a chapter the like of it; and no one has been able to answer the challenge, and produce a Book like Mohammad's Quran throughout the past fifteen centuries!:

      ``Say: If the whole of mankind and Jinns, were to gather together to produce the like of this QURAN, they can't produce the like of it, even if they back up each other with help and support.'' QURAN S 17: 88

      2- Prophecies about him will be found in Towrجt and Gospel.

      As an instance, we read in the Bible which is accepted by the Jews, in the BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY 18: 14:

      ``Then Moses said: `In the land you are about to occupy; people follow the advice of those who practice divination, and look for the Omens; but Lord your God does not allow you to do this. Instead, He will send to you a prophet like me from among your own people and you are to obey him.''

      The Lord on the Mount said to me:

      ``I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people. I will tell him what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command. He will speak in my name and I will punish any one who refuses to obey him.''

      The only prophet who brought a Law like that of Moses, was Mohammad; and he of surety came of the house of Ishmael, the brother to Isaac, the father of Israel.

      So also in the reflex of the canonical Gospel as now accepted by the Christians, Jesus Christ has frequently promised of a comforter or helper; instances of which we cite below: THE BOOK OF JOHN 14: 26

      ``I have told you this, while I am still with you. The Helper (HOLY SPIRIT) whom the father will send in my name will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.''   JOHN 15: 26

      ``The Helper will come - the spirit who reveals the truth about God, and who comes from the father. I will send him to you and he will speak about me.''

JOHN 16: 7-15

``It is better for you that I go away because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, I will send him to you.''

      When he comes, he will prove to the people of the world, that they are wrong about sin, because they do not believe in me. They are wrong about what is right, because I am going to the father and you will not see me any more.

      I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear. When however the spirit comes who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all truth.

      He will not speak of his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears, and will tell you of things to come. He will give me glory because he will take what I say and tell it to you.''

      The Greek word, `PARACLET' which Christians interpret it to, `HELPER' or, `HOLY SPIRIT' is by Moslim translators taken to be, `PERICLYTE' which is the Greek form of AHMAD, our prophet's name.

      3- The contents of Mohammad's Message is indeed reasonable, because he enjoins good things and prohibits foul and evil things.

      4- Had he not been sent and supported by God, it would be better for him and for his throne of authority, to keep the people under their chains and burdens; and ever to add some loads over that of theirs, and not to relieve them and give them a freedom to support their free will.

      He opened the fetters of ignorance, by giving them knowledge and wisdom, and by teaching them how to know better, and how to think.

      He broke the shackles of superstitions, by replacing idolatries and false gods, with the Truth, and the only one God, by enforcing Monotheism.

      He threw away the chains of class distinctions, and race glorification, by religious Brotherhood.

      5- The contents of his religion is agreeable with the nature of mankind and compatible with man's instinct and natural aptitude.