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Ayah
Word by Word
وَإِذَا
And when
تُتۡلَىٰ
are recited
عَلَيۡهِمۡ
to them
ءَايَٰتُنَا
Our Verses
بَيِّنَٰتٖ
clear
قَالَ
say
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
كَفَرُواْ
disbelieved
لِلَّذِينَ
to those who
ءَامَنُوٓاْ
believed
أَيُّ
Which
ٱلۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ
(of) the two groups
خَيۡرٞ
(is) better
مَّقَامٗا
(in) position
وَأَحۡسَنُ
and best
نَدِيّٗا
(in) assembly
وَإِذَا
And when
تُتۡلَىٰ
are recited
عَلَيۡهِمۡ
to them
ءَايَٰتُنَا
Our Verses
بَيِّنَٰتٖ
clear
قَالَ
say
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
كَفَرُواْ
disbelieved
لِلَّذِينَ
to those who
ءَامَنُوٓاْ
believed
أَيُّ
Which
ٱلۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ
(of) the two groups
خَيۡرٞ
(is) better
مَّقَامٗا
(in) position
وَأَحۡسَنُ
and best
نَدِيّٗا
(in) assembly
Translation
When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, the Unbelievers say to those who believe, "Which of the two sides is best in point of position? Which makes the best show in council?"
Tafsir
And when Our manifest, evident (bayyinaatin, 'manifest', is a circumstantial qualifier) signs, in Al-Qur'an, are recited to them, namely, [to] the believers and the disbelievers, those who disbelieve say to those who believe, 'Which of the two parties - us or you - is better in station, in lodging and abode (read as maqaaman, it is [derived] from [the first form] qaama, 'he stood'; read as muqaaman, it is [derived] from the [fourth form] aqaama, 'he took up residence') and more excellent in assembly?' (nadiyyan, meaning the place in which a folk assemble and converse). They [the disbelievers] mean 'we [are the better of the two parties]', and so we will fare better than you. God, exalted be He, says:
Everyone will be brought to Hell, then the Righteous will be saved
Ibn Jarir reported from Abdullah that he said concerning Allah's statement,
وَإِن مِّنكُمۡ إِلاَّ وَارِدُهَا
There is not one of you but will pass over it.
The bridge over Hell is like the sharp edge of a sword. The first group to cross it will pass like a flash of lightning. The second group will pass like the wind. The third group will pass like the fastest horse. The fourth group will pass like the fastest cow. Then, the rest will pass while the angels will be saying, `O Allah save them, save them.'
This narration has supporting narrations similar to it from the Prophet in the Two Sahihs and other collections as well. These narrations have been related by Anas, Abu Sa`id, Abu Hurayrah, Jabir and other Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Ahmad also recorded that Umm Mubashshar, the wife of Zayd bin Harithah, said,
The Messenger of Allah was in the house of Hafsah when he said,
لَاا يَدۡخُلُ النَّارَ أَحَدٌ شَهِدَ بَدۡرًا وَالۡحُدَيۡبِيَّة
No one who was present at the battles of Badr and Hudaybiyyah (of the Muslims) will enter into the Hellfire.
Then, Hafsah said, Doesn't Allah say,
وَإِن مِّنكُمۡ إِلاَّ وَارِدُهَا
(There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell);),
The Messenger of Allah replied by reciting,
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا
(Then We shall save those who had Taqwa).
In the Two Sahihs there is a Hadith reported from Az-Zuhri, from Sa`id from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said,
لَاا يَمُوتُ لاِاَحَدٍ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِينَ ثَلَاثَةٌ مِنَ الۡوَلَدِ تَمَسُّهُ النَّارُ إِلاَّ تَحِلَّةَ الۡقَسَم
No one of the Muslims who has had three children, who all died, will be touched by the Hellfire, except for an oath that must be fulfilled.
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on Allah's statement,
وَإِن مِّنكُمۡ إِلاَّ وَارِدُهَا
(There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell);),
The passing of the Muslims (over the Hellfire) means their passing over a bridge that is over it. But the passing of the idolators over the Hellfire refers to their admission to the Fire.
As-Suddi reported from Murrah, from Ibn Mas`ud, that he said concerning Allah's statement,
كَانَ عَلَى رَبِّكَ حَتۡمًا مَّقۡضِيًّا
this is with your Lord; a Hatman decree.
An oath that must be fulfilled.
Mujahid said,
Hatman means preordainment.
Ibn Jurayj said the same.
Concerning Allah's statement
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا
Then We shall save those who had Taqwa.
When all of the creatures passed over the Hellfire, and those disbelievers and the disobedient people who are destined to fall into it because of their disobedience, Allah will save the believers and the righteous people from it because of their deeds.
Therefore, their passing over the bridge and their speed will be based upon their deeds that they did in this life.
Then, the believers who performed major sins will be allowed intercession. The angels, the Prophets and the believers will all intercede. Thus, a large number of the sinners will be allowed to come out of Hell. The fire will have devoured much of their bodies, except the places of prostration on their faces. Their removal from the Hellfire will be due to the faith in their hearts.
The first to come out will be he who has the weight of a Dinar of faith in his heart. Then, whoever has the next least amount after him. Then, whoever is next to that after him, and so forth. This will continue until the one who has the tiniest hint of faith in his heart, equal to the weight of an atom.
Then, Allah will take out of the Fire whoever said La ilaha illallah, even one day of his entire life, even if he never performed any good deed.
After this, no one will remain in the Hellfire, except those it is obligatory upon to remain in the Hellfire forever.
This has been reported in many authentic Hadiths from the Messenger of Allah.
This is why Allah says,
ثُمَّ نُنَجِّي الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّنَذَرُ الظَّالِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيًّا
Then We shall save those who had Taqwa. And We shall leave the wrongdoers in it, Jithyya
The Disbelievers boast over Their good Fortune in the World
Allah says,
وَإِذَا تُتۡلَى عَلَيۡهِمۡ ايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ امَنُوا أَيُّ الۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ
And when Our clear Ayat are recited to them, those who disbelieve say to those who believe:Which of the two groups has the,
Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the clear, evident Ayat of Allah are recited to the disbelievers, they reject them and turn away. They say about those who believe, while boasting to them and arguing that their false religion is correct,
خَيۡرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحۡسَنُ نَدِيًّا
best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan.
This means the best houses, with the loftiest levels and the finest Nadiyyan, which are meeting rooms for men to gather and discuss matters.
Thus, this means that their meeting rooms are full of more people who come to attend. In this they were saying, How can we be upon falsehood while we are in this manner of successful living!
These people were actually those who were concealed in the house of Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam and its likes from the other houses.
This is as Allah says about them,
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۡ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواۡ لَوۡ كَانَ خَيۡراً مَّا سَبَقُونَأ إِلَيۡهِ
And those who disbelieve say of those who believe:Had it been a good thing, they (the weak and the poor) would not have preceded us thereto! (46:11)
Nuh's people said,
أَنُوۡمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرۡذَلُونَ
Shall we believe in you, when the weakest (of the people) follow you! (26:111)
And Allah says,
وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعۡضَهُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ لِّيَقُولواۡ أَهَـوُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيۡهِم مِّن بَيۡنِنَأ أَلَيۡسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعۡلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ
Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say:Is it these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored among us! Does not Allah know best those who are grateful! (6:53)
This is why Allah refuted their doubts:
وَكَمۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَا قَبۡلَهُم مِّن قَرۡنٍ
And how many a generations have We destroyed before them!
This means, How many nations and generations did We destroy of those who denied (this message) due to their disbelief.
...
هُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ أَثَاثًا وَرِيۡيًا
who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance.
This means that they were better than these present people in wealth, possessions, looks and appearance.
Al-A`mash reported from Abu Zibyan, who reported from Ibn Abbas that he said concerning the Ayah,
خَيۡرٌ مَّقَامًا وَأَحۡسَنُ نَدِيًّا
(best dwellings and finest Nadiyyan),
Position (Maqam) means home,
Nadi means place of gathering,
wealth refers to material possessions and
outward appearance is how they look physically.
Al-Awfi said that Ibn Abbas said,
Position (Maqam) means dwelling,
Nadi means place of gathering and the blessing and happiness that they were living in.
This is as Allah says about the people of Fir`awn when He destroyed them and related the story of their situation in the Qur'an,
كَمۡ تَرَكُواۡ مِن جَنَّـتٍ وَعُيُونٍ
وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ
How many gardens and springs that they (Fir`awn's people) left behind, and green crops and honored places (Maqam). (44:25-26)
Therefore,
position (Maqam) refers to their dwellings and splendid bounties, and
Nadi is the places of gathering and meeting where they used to congregate.
Allah said while relating the story to His Messenger of what happened with the people of Lut,
وَتَأۡتُونَ فِى نَادِيكُمُ الۡمُنۡكَرَ
And practice Al-Munkar (evil deeds) in your meeting places (Nadiyakum). (29:29)
The Arabs call a place of gathering a Nadi.
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