Al-Qasas: 68

Ayah

Word by Word

وَرَبُّكَ

And your Lord

يَخۡلُقُ

creates

مَا

what

يَشَآءُ

He wills

وَيَخۡتَارُۗ

and chooses

مَا

Not

كَانَ

they have

لَهُمُ

for them

ٱلۡخِيَرَةُۚ

the choice

سُبۡحَٰنَ

Glory be

ٱللَّهِ

(to) Allah

وَتَعَٰلَىٰ

and High is He

عَمَّا

above what

يُشۡرِكُونَ

they associate (with Him)

Translation

Thy Lord does create and choose as He pleases: no choice have they (in the matter): Glory to Allah! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!

Tafsir

The Believers among the People of the Book

Allah tells:

الَّذِينَ اتَيۡنَاهُمُ الۡكِتَابَ مِن قَبۡلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُوۡمِنُونَ

Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it.

Allah tells us that the pious scholars among the People of the Book believe in the Qur'an, as He says:

الَّذِينَ اتَيۡنَـهُمُ الۡكِتَـبَ يَتۡلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَوَتِهِ أُوۡلَـيِكَ يُوۡمِنُونَ بِهِ

Those to whom We gave the Book recite it as it should be recited, they are the ones who believe therein. (2:121)

وَإِنَّ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ الۡكِتَـبِ لَمَن يُوۡمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَأ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡكُمۡ وَمَأ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ خَـشِعِينَ للَّهِ

And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah and in that which has been revealed to you, and in that which has been revealed to them, humbling themselves before Allah. (3:199)

قُلۡ ءَامِنُواۡ بِهِ أَوۡ لَا تُوۡمِنُواۡ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواۡ الۡعِلۡمَ مِن قَبۡلِهِ إِذَا يُتۡلَى عَلَيۡهِمۡ يَخِرُّونَ لِلٌّذۡقَانِ سُجَّدًا

وَيَقُولُونَ سُبۡحَانَ رَبِّنَأ إِن كَانَ وَعۡدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفۡعُولاً

Verily, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration. And they say:Glory be to our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled. (17:107-108)

وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقۡرَبَهُمۡ مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ امَنُواۡ الَّذِينَ قَالُوَاۡ إِنَّا نَصَارَى ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنۡهُمۡ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهۡبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ

وَإِذَا سَمِعُواۡ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمۡعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواۡ مِنَ الۡحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا امَنَّا فَاكۡتُبۡنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

... and you will find the nearest in love to the believers those who say:We are Christians. That is because among them are priests and monks, and they are not proud.

And when they listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized.

They say:Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses. (5:82-83)

Sa`id bin Jubayr said,

This was revealed concerning seventy priests who were sent by An-Najashi (ruler of Ethiopia). When they came to the Prophet, he recited to them:

يس

وَالۡقُرۡءَانِ الۡحَكِيمِ

Ya Sin. By the Qur'an, full of wisdom. (36:1-2) until he completed the Surah.

They began to weep, and they embraced Islam.

These other Ayat were revealed concerning them:

الَّذِينَ اتَيۡنَاهُمُ الۡكِتَابَ مِن قَبۡلِهِ هُم بِهِ يُوۡمِنُونَ

وَإِذَا يُتۡلَى عَلَيۡهِمۡ قَالُوا امَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الۡحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبۡلِهِ مُسۡلِمِينَ

Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it.

And when it is recited to them, they say:We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from Muslims.

meaning, `even before the Qur'an came we were Muslims, i.e., we believed in One God and were sincerely responding to Allah's commands.

أُوۡلَيِكَ يُوۡتَوۡنَ أَجۡرَهُم مَّرَّتَيۡنِ بِمَا صَبَرُوا

These will be given their reward twice over, because they are patient,

means, those who have this characteristic -- that they believed in the first Book and then in the second.

Allah says:

بِمَا صَبَرُوا

(because they are patient), meaning, in their adherence to the truth, for taking such thing upon oneself is not easy for people.

It was reported in the Sahih from the Hadith of Amir Ash-Sha`bi from Abu Burdah that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said:

ثَلَثَةٌ يُوۡتَوۡنَ أَجۡرَهُمۡ مَرَّتَيۡنِ

رَجُلٌ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ الۡكِتَابِ امَنَ بِنَبِيِّهِ ثُمَّ امَنَ بِي

وَعَبۡدٌ مَمۡلُوكٌ أَدَّى حَقَّ اللهِ وَحَقَّ مَوَالِيهِ

وَرَجُلٌ كَانَتۡ لَهُ أَمَةٌ فَأَدَّبَهَا فَأَحۡسَنَ تَأۡدِيبَهَا ثُمَّ أَعۡتَقَهَا فَتَزَوَّجَهَا

There are three who will be given their reward twice:

a man among the People of the Book who believed in his Prophet then believed in me;

a slave who fulfills his duty towards Allah and towards his master; and

a man who has a slave woman and educates her and teaches her good manners, then he frees her and marries her.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah said:

On the day of the Conquest (of Makkah) I was walking alongside the Messenger of Allah as he was riding, and he said some very beautiful words, including the following:

مَنۡ أَسۡلَمَ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ الۡكِتَابَيۡنِ فَلَهُ أَجۡرُهُ مَرَّتَيۡنِ وَلَهُ مَا لَنَا وَعَلَيۡهِ مَا عَلَيۡنَا وَمَنۡ أَسۡلَمَ مِنَ الۡمُشۡرِكِينَ فَلَهُ أَجۡرُهُ وَلَهُ مَا لَنَا وَعَلَيۡهِ مَا عَلَيۡنَا

Whoever among the people of the two Books becomes Muslim, he will have his reward twice, and he has the same rights and duties as we do. Whoever among the idolators becomes Muslim will have one reward, and he has the same rights and duties as we do.

Allah's saying:

وَيَدۡرَوُونَ بِالۡحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّيَةَ

and repel evil with good,

means, they do not respond to evil in kind, rather they forgive and overlook.

وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَاهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

and spend out of what We have provided for them.

meaning, `from the lawful provision that We have given them, they spend on their families and relatives as they are required to do, and they pay Zakah and give voluntary charity.

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغۡوَ أَعۡرَضُوا عَنۡهُ

And when they hear evil vain talk, they withdraw from it,

meaning, they do not mix with the people who indulge in such talk, rather they do as Allah says:

وَإِذَا مَرُّواۡ بِاللَّغۡوِ مَرُّواۡ كِراماً

and if they pass by some evil vain talk, they pass by it with dignity. (25:72)

وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعۡمَالُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَالُكُمۡ سَلَمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَا نَبۡتَغِي الۡجَاهِلِينَ

and they say:To us our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not (the way of) the ignorant.

means, if some foolish person speaks to them in a foolish manner and says something to which it does not befit them to respond, they turn away from him and do not respond in kind with ugly speech. They never say anything but good words. Allah says of them that they say:

لَنَا أَعۡمَالُنَا وَلَكُمۡ أَعۡمَالُكُمۡ سَلَمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ لَا نَبۡتَغِي الۡجَاهِلِينَ

(To us our deeds, and to you your deeds. Peace be to you. We seek not (the way of) the ignorant),

meaning, `we do not seek the way of the ignorant and we do not like it.

Allah guides Whom He wills

Allah says to His Messenger :`O Muhammad:

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهۡدِي مَنۡ أَحۡبَبۡتَ

Verily, you guide not whom you like'

meaning, `the matter does not rest with you; all that you have to do is convey the Message, and Allah will guide whom He wills, and His is the ultimate wisdom,' as He says:

لَّيۡسَ عَلَيۡكَ هُدَاهُمۡ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهۡدِى مَن يَشَأءُ

Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. (2:272)

وَمَأ أَكۡثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُوۡمِنِينَ

And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly. (12:103)

This Ayah is even more specific than the following:

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهۡدِي مَنۡ أَحۡبَبۡتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَاء وَهُوَ أَعۡلَمُ بِالۡمُهۡتَدِينَ

Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.

meaning:Allah knows best who deserves to be guided and who deserves to be misguided.

It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that this Ayah was revealed concerning Abu Talib, the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah.

He used to protect the Prophet, support him and stand by him. He loved the Prophet dearly, but this love was a natural love, i.e., born of kinship, not a love that was born of the fact that he was the Messenger of Allah.

When he was on his deathbed, the Messenger of Allah called him to Faith and to enter Islam, but the decree overtook him and he remained a follower of disbelief, and Allah's is the complete wisdom.

Az-Zuhri said that Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib narrated to me that his father, Al-Musayyib bin Hazan Al-Makhzumi, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

When Abu Talib was dying, the Messenger of Allah came to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah bin Al-Mughirah with him. The Messenger of Allah said:

يَا عَمِّ قُلۡ لَاا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ كَلِمَةً أُحَاجُّ لَكَ بِهَا عِنۡدَ الله

O my uncle, say La ilaha illallah, a word which I may use as evidence in your favor before Allah (in the Hereafter).

Abu Jahl bin Hisham and Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said:

`O Abu Talib, will you leave the religion of Abdul-Muttalib'

The Messenger of Allah kept urging him to say La ilaha illallah, and they kept saying, `Will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' -- until, at the very end, he said that he was on the religion of Abdul-Muttalib, and he refused to say La ilaha illallah.

The Messenger of Allah said:

وَاللهِ لَااَسۡتَغۡفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمۡ أُنۡهَ عَنۡك

By Allah, I shall certainly seek forgiveness for you unless I am told not to.

Then Allah revealed:

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواۡ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواۡ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَلَوۡ كَانُواۡ أُوۡلِى قُرۡبَى

It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolators, even though they be of kin. (9:113)

And there was revealed concerning Abu Talib the Ayah,

إِنَّكَ لَا تَهۡدِي مَنۡ أَحۡبَبۡتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهۡدِي مَن يَشَاء

Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.

This was recorded (by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the Hadith of Az-Zuhri.

The Excuses made by the People of Makkah for not believing, and the Refutation of Their Excuses

Allah tells

وَقَالُوا إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الۡهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفۡ مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَا

And they say:If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.

Allah tells us that this is the excuse which was given by some of the disbelievers for not following true guidance.

They said to the Messenger of Allah:

إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الۡهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفۡ مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَا

(If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land),

meaning, `we are afraid that if we follow the message of guidance that you have brought, and go against the pagan Arab tribes around us, they will seek to do us harm and wage war against us, and they may snatch us away from wherever we may be.'

Allah said in response to them:

أَوَلَمۡ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمۡ حَرَمًا امِنًا

Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary,

meaning, the excuse they give is a lie and is false, because Allah has put them in a secure city and a venerated sanctuary which has been safe from the time it was built -- how could this sanctuary be safe for them when they believed in disbelief and Shirk, and how could it not be safe for them when they become Muslims and follow the truth.

يُجۡبَى إِلَيۡهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ

to which are brought fruits of all kinds,

means, all kinds of fruits from the surrounding regions, from At-Ta'if and elsewhere.

Similarly, the people of Makkah engaged in trade and other goods also came to their city.

رِزۡقًا مِن لَّدُنَّا وَلَكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ

a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not.

- this is why they said what they said

The Destruction of Towns, which are not destroyed until Evidence is established against Them

Referring to the people of Makkah, Allah says:

وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا مِن قَرۡيَةٍ بَطِرَتۡ مَعِيشَتَهَا

And how many a town have We destroyed, which was thankless for its means of livelihood!

They were arrogant transgressors who denied Allah's blessing of giving them ample provision.

This is like the Ayah,

وَضَرَبَ اللّهُ مَثَلً قَرۡيَةً كَانَتۡ امِنَةً مُّطۡمَيِنَّةً يَأۡتِيهَا رِزۡقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتۡ بِأَنۡعُمِ اللّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللّهُ لِبَاسَ الۡجُوعِ وَالۡخَوۡفِ بِمَا كَانُواۡ يَصۡنَعُونَ

وَلَقَدۡ جَاءهُمۡ رَسُولٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ الۡعَذَابُ وَهُمۡ ظَالِمُونَ

And Allah gives the example of a township (Makkah), it was secure and peaceful:its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the favors of Allah. So Allah made it taste extreme hunger (famine) and fear, because of what they did.

There has come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment seized them while they were wrongdoers. (16:112-113)

Allah said:

فَتِلۡكَ مَسَاكِنُهُمۡ لَمۡ تُسۡكَن مِّن بَعۡدِهِمۡ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً

And those are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them except a little.

Their land became empty and desolate, and you can see nothing but their dwellings.

وَكُنَّا نَحۡنُ الۡوَارِثِينَ

And verily, We have been the heirs.

Their towns became ruins, with none remaining.

Then Allah tells us of His justice and that He does not destroy anyone unjustly; on the contrary, He destroys those whom He destroys after establishing proof against them.

So, he says

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهۡلِكَ الۡقُرَى حَتَّى يَبۡعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا

And never will your Lord destroy the towns until He sends to their mother town i.e., Makkah --

رَسُولاً يَتۡلُو عَلَيۡهِمۡ ايَاتِنَا

a Messenger reciting to them Our Ayat.

This indicates that the Unlettered Prophet, Muhammad was sent from the Mother of Cities as a Messenger to all cities and towns, Arab and non-Arab alike.

This is like the Ayat:

لِّتُنذِرَ أُمَّ الۡقُرَى وَمَنۡ حَوۡلَهَا

so that you may warn the Mother of Towns and all those around it. (6:92)

قُلۡ يَأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيعًا

Say:O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah. (7:158)

لااٌّنذِرَكُمۡ بِهِ وَمَن بَلَغَ

That I may therewith warn you and whomsoever it may reach. (6:19)

وَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِهِ مِنَ الاٌّحۡزَابِ فَالنَّارُ مَوۡعِدُهُ

but those of the sects that reject it, the Fire will be their promised meeting place. (11:17)

وَإِن مِّن قَرۡيَةٍ إِلاَّ نَحۡنُ مُهۡلِكُوهَا قَبۡلَ يَوۡمِ الۡقِيَـمَةِ أَوۡ مُعَذِّبُوهَا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا

And there is not a town but We shall destroy it before the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with a severe torment. (17:58)

Allah tells us that He will destroy every town before the Day of Resurrection, as He says:

وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبۡعَثَ رَسُولاً

And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger. (17:15)

Allah has sent the Unlettered Prophet to all the towns (all of mankind), because he has been sent to the Mother of Cities, their source to which they all return.

It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet said:

بُعِثۡتُ إِلَى الاَۡحۡمَرِ وَالاَۡسۡوَد

I have been sent to the red and the black.

Prophethood ended with him, and there is no Prophet or Messenger to come after him, but his way will remain as long as night and day remain, until the Day of Resurrection.

Allah also tells that:

وَمَا كُنَّا مُهۡلِكِي الۡقُرَى إِلاَّ وَأَهۡلُهَا ظَالِمُونَ

And never would We destroy the towns unless the people thereof are wrongdoers

This World is transient and the One Whose concern is this World is not equal to the One Whose concern is the Hereafter

Allah tells:

وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَيۡءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الۡحَيَاةِ الدُّنۡيَا وَزِينَتُهَا وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيۡرٌ وَأَبۡقَى

And whatever you have been given is an enjoyment of the life of the world and its adornment, and that which is with Allah is better and will remain forever.

Allah tells us about the insignificance of this world and its contemptible adornments which are nothing in comparison to the great and lasting delights which Allah prepared for His righteous servants in the Hereafter.

As Allah says:

مَا عِندَكُمۡ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ

Whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah will remain. (16:96)

وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ خَيۡرٌ لِّلَبۡرَارِ

and that which is with Allah is the best for the most righteous. (3:198)

وَمَا الۡحَيَوةُ الدُّنۡيَا فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مَتَـعٌ

whereas the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter is but a brief passing enjoyment. (13:26)

بَلۡ تُوۡثِرُونَ الۡحَيَوةَ الدُّنۡيَا

وَالاٌّخِرَةُ خَيۡرٌ وَأَبۡقَى

Nay, you prefer the life of this world. Although the Hereafter is better and more lasting. (87:16-17)

The Messenger of Allah said:

وَاللهِ مَا الۡحَيَاةُ الدُّنۡيَا فِي الاۡاخِرَةِ إِلاَّ كَمَا يَغۡمِسُ أَحَدُكُمۡ إِصۡبَعَهُ فِي الۡيَمِّ فَلۡيَنۡظُرۡ مَاذَا يَرۡجِعُ إِلَيۡه

By Allah, the life of this world in comparison to the Hereafter is as if one of you were to dip his finger in the sea; let him see what comes back to him.

Allah's saying:

أَفَلَ تَعۡقِلُونَ

Have you then no sense!

means, do those who prefer this world to the Hereafter have no sense!

أَفَمَن وَعَدۡنَاهُ وَعۡدًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ لَاقِيهِ كَمَن مَّتَّعۡنَاهُ مَتَاعَ الۡحَيَاةِ الدُّنۡيَا ثُمَّ هُوَ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ مِنَ الۡمُحۡضَرِينَ

Is he whom We have promised an excellent promise -- which he will find true -- like him whom We have made to enjoy the luxuries of the life of the world, then on the Day of Resurrection, he will be among those brought up!

Is the one who believes in the reward which Allah has promised in return for righteous deeds, which he will undoubtedly attain, like one who disbelieves in the meeting with Allah and in His promises and threats. He is only enjoying a few days in this life.

Mujahid and Qatadah said concerning the Ayah:

ثُمَّ هُوَ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ مِنَ الۡمُحۡضَرِينَ

(then on the Day of Resurrection, he will be among those brought up).

He will be among those who are punished.

It was said that this was revealed concerning the Messenger of Allah and Abu Jahl, or that it was revealed concerning Hamzah and Ali, and Abu Jahl.

Both views were narrated from Mujahid.

The apparent meaning is that it is more general than that.

This is like the Ayah where Allah describes a believer in Paradise looking out at his companion who is in Hell, and saying:

وَلَوۡلَا نِعۡمَةُ رَبِّى لَكُنتُ مِنَ الۡمُحۡضَرِينَ

Had it not been for the grace of my Lord, I would certainly have been among those brought forth (to Hell). (37:57)

And Allah says:

وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمَتِ الجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمۡ لَمُحۡضَرُونَ

but the Jinn know well that they have indeed to appear (before Him). (37:158)

The Idolators and Their Partners and the Enmity between Them in the Hereafter

Allah tells:

وَيَوۡمَ يُنَادِيهِمۡ فَيَقُولُ

And (remember) the Day when He will call to them and say:

Allah informs of how He will rebuke the idolators on the Day of Resurrection, when He will call them and say:

أَيۡنَ شُرَكَايِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمۡ تَزۡعُمُونَ

Where are My (so-called) partners whom you used to assert!

meaning, `where are the gods which you used to worship in the world, the idols and rivals! Can they help you or save you!' This is said in the nature of a rebuke and warning, as in the Ayah,

وَلَقَدۡ جِيۡتُمُونَا فُرَادَى كَمَا خَلَقۡنَـكُمۡ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَتَرَكۡتُمۡ مَّا خَوَّلۡنَـكُمۡ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِكُمۡ وَمَا نَرَى مَعَكُمۡ شُفَعَأءَكُمُ الَّذِينَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّهُمۡ فِيكُمۡ شُرَكَأءُ لَقَد تَّقَطَّعَ بَيۡنَكُمۡ وَضَلَّ عَنكُم مَّا كُنتُمۡ تَزۡعُمُونَ

And truly, you have come unto Us alone as We created you the first time. You have left behind you all that which We had bestowed on you. We see not with you your intercessors whom you claimed to be partners with Allah. Now all relations between you and them have been cut off, and all that you used to claim has vanished from you. (6:94)

His saying

قَالَ الَّذِينَ حَقَّ عَلَيۡهِمُ الۡقَوۡلُ

Those about whom the Word will have been fulfilled,

means the Shayatin and evil Jinn, and those who used to advocate disbelief.

رَبَّنَا هَوُلَاء الَّذِينَ أَغۡوَيۡنَا أَغۡوَيۡنَاهُمۡ كَمَا غَوَيۡنَا تَبَرَّأۡنَا إِلَيۡكَ مَا كَانُوا إِيَّانَا يَعۡبُدُونَ

Our Lord! These are they whom we led astray. We led them astray, as we were astray ourselves. We declare our innocence before You. It was not us they worshipped.

They will testify against them and say that they led them astray, then they will declare their innocence of their worship.

This is like the Ayat:

وَاتَّخَذُواۡ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ءالِهَةً لِّيَكُونُواۡ لَهُمۡ عِزّاً

كَلَّ سَيَكۡفُرُونَ بِعِبَـدَتِهِمۡ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ضِدّاً

And they have taken gods besides Allah, that they might give them honor, power and glory. Nay, but they will deny their worship of them, and become opponents to them. (19:81-82)

وَمَنۡ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدۡعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لاَّ يَسۡتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَوۡمِ الۡقِيَـمَةِ وَهُمۡ عَن دُعَأيِهِمۡ غَـفِلُونَ

وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُواۡ لَهُمۡ أَعۡدَاءً وَكَانُواۡ بِعِبَادَتِهِمۡ كَـفِرِينَ

And who is more astray than one who calls besides Allah, who will not answer him till the Day of Resurrection, and who are (even) unaware of their calls to them!

And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worshipping. (46:5-6)

Ibrahim Al-Khalil, peace be upon him, said to his people:

إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذۡتُمۡ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوۡثَـناً مَّوَدَّةَ بَيۡنِكُمۡ فِى الۡحَيَوةِ الدُّنۡيَا ثُمَّ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيَـمَةِ يَكۡفُرُ بَعۡضُكُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ وَيَلۡعَنُ بَعۡضُكُمۡ بَعۡضاً

You have taken idols instead of Allah. The love between you is only in the life of this world, but on the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other, and curse each other. (29:25)

إِذۡ تَبَرَّأَ الَّذِينَ اتُّبِعُواۡ مِنَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُواۡ وَرَأَوُاۡ الۡعَذَابَ وَتَقَطَّعَتۡ بِهِمُ الَاسۡبَابُ

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُواۡ لَوۡ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنۡهُمۡ كَمَا تَبَرَّوُواۡ مِنَّا كَذَلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ اللّهُ أَعۡمَالَهُمۡ حَسَرَاتٍ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَمَا هُم بِخَارِجِينَ مِنَ النَّارِ

When those who were followed disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them. And those who followed will say:If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would disown (declare ourselves as innocent from) them as they have disowned (declared themselves as innocent from) us. Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire. (2:166-167)

Allah says

وَقِيلَ ادۡعُوا شُرَكَاءكُمۡ

And it will be said (to them):Call upon your partners,

meaning, `to save you from the predicament you are in, as you hoped that they would do in this world.'

فَدَعَوۡهُمۡ فَلَمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُوا لَهُمۡ وَرَأَوُا الۡعَذَابَ

and they will call upon them, but they will give no answer to them, and they will see the torment.

means, they will realize for sure that they are inevitably destined for the Fire.

His saying:

لَوۡ أَنَّهُمۡ كَانُوا يَهۡتَدُونَ

If only they had been guided!

means, when they see the punishment with their own eyes, they will wish that they had been among the guided in this world.

This is like the Ayah,

وَيَوۡمَ يَقُولُ نَادُواۡ شُرَكَأيِىَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمۡتُمۡ فَدَعَوۡهُمۡ فَلَمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُواۡ لَهُمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَا بَيۡنَهُم مَّوۡبِقاً

وَرَأَى الۡمُجۡرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّواۡ أَنَّهُمۡ مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمۡ يَجِدُواۡ عَنۡهَا مَصۡرِفًا

And the Day He will say:Call those partners of Mine whom you claimed.

Then they will cry unto them, but they will not answer them, and We shall put a Mawbiq (a barrier) between them. And the criminals, shall see the Fire and apprehend that they have to fall in it. And they will find no way of escape from there. (18:52-53)

Their attitude towards the Messengers on the Day of Resurrection

Allah says:

وَيَوۡمَ يُنَادِيهِمۡ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَا أَجَبۡتُمُ الۡمُرۡسَلِينَ

And the Day He will call to them, and say:What answer gave you to the Messengers!

The first call will be concerning the issue of Tawhid, which includes evidences of the Prophethood --

`What was your response to the Messengers who were sent to you! How did you deal with them!'

This is like the questions which will be asked of a person in his grave:`who is your Lord who is your Prophet and what is your religion!'

The believer will testify that there is no God except Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, but the disbelievers will say, Oh, oh, I do not know.

So he will have no answer on the Day of Resurrection except to remain silent, because whoever is blind in this world (i.e., does not see Allah's signs and believes not in Him), will be blind in the Hereafter, and more astray.

Allah says:

فَعَمِيَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ الاَۡنبَاء يَوۡمَيِذٍ فَهُمۡ لَا يَتَسَاءلُونَ

Then the news of a good answer will be obscured to them on that Day, and they will not be able to ask one another.

Mujahid said:

The proof will be obscured from them,

so they will not be able to ask one another for help by virtue of their blood ties.

Allah's saying

فَأَمَّا مَن تَابَ وَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا

But as for him who repented, believed, and did righteous deeds,

means, in this world.

فَعَسَى أَن يَكُونَ مِنَ الۡمُفۡلِحِينَ

then perhaps he will be among those who are successful.

means, on the Day of Resurrection.

And the word; perhaps (`Asa), when used in reference to Allah, may He be exalted, implies that the thing described will inevitably come to pass, and this will undoubtedly happen by the grace and mercy of Allah

Allah Alone is the One Who has the Power of Creation, Knowledge and Choice

Allah tells us that He is the only One Who has the power to create and make decisions, and there is no one who can dispute with Him in that or reverse His judgement.

His saying:

وَرَبُّكَ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَاء وَيَخۡتَارُ

And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses,

means, whatever He wills, for what He wills, happens; and what He does not will, does not happen. All things, good and bad alike, are in His Hands and will return to Him.

مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الۡخِيَرَةُ

سُبۡحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ

no choice have they.

is a negation, according to the correct view.

This is like the Ayah,

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُوۡمِنٍ وَلَا مُوۡمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمۡراً أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الۡخِيَرَةُ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِمۡ

It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. (33:36)

سُبۡحَانَ اللَّهِ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ

Glorified is Allah, and exalted above all that they associate.

Then Allah says:

وَرَبُّكَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمۡ وَمَا يُعۡلِنُونَ

And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal, and what they reveal.

He knows what is hidden in their hearts, just as He knows what they do openly.

سَوَاءٌ مِّنۡكُمۡ مَّنۡ أَسَرَّ الۡقَوۡلَ وَمَنۡ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡتَخۡفٍ بِالَّيۡلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ

It is the same whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day. (13:10)

وَهُوَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ

And He is Allah; La ilaha illa Huwa,

meaning, He is unique in His divinity, for none is to be worshipped besides Him, and there is no lord who can create what he wills and chooses besides Him.

لَهُ الۡحَمۡدُ فِي الاُۡولَى وَالاۡخِرَةِ

His is the praise, in the first and in the last,

in all that He does, He is to be praised for His justice and wisdom.

وَلَهُ الۡحُكۡمُ

His is the decision,

that none can put back, because of His might, power, wisdom and mercy.

وَإِلَيۡهِ تُرۡجَعُونَ

and to Him shall you be returned.

means, all of you on the Day of Resurrection, and everyone will be rewarded or punished according to his deeds, good and evil alike, and absolutely none of their deeds will be concealed from Him.