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Ayah
Word by Word
وَلَا
And (let) not
يَحۡسَبَنَّ
think
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
كَفَرُوٓاْ
disbelieved
أَنَّمَا
that
نُمۡلِي
We give respite
لَهُمۡ
to them
خَيۡرٞ
(is) good
لِّأَنفُسِهِمۡۚ
for themselves
إِنَّمَا
Only
نُمۡلِي
We give respite
لَهُمۡ
to them
لِيَزۡدَادُوٓاْ
so that they may increase
إِثۡمٗاۖ
(in) sins
وَلَهُمۡ
and for them
عَذَابٞ
(is) a punishment
مُّهِينٞ
humiliating
وَلَا
And (let) not
يَحۡسَبَنَّ
think
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
كَفَرُوٓاْ
disbelieved
أَنَّمَا
that
نُمۡلِي
We give respite
لَهُمۡ
to them
خَيۡرٞ
(is) good
لِّأَنفُسِهِمۡۚ
for themselves
إِنَّمَا
Only
نُمۡلِي
We give respite
لَهُمۡ
to them
لِيَزۡدَادُوٓاْ
so that they may increase
إِثۡمٗاۖ
(in) sins
وَلَهُمۡ
and for them
عَذَابٞ
(is) a punishment
مُّهِينٞ
humiliating
Translation
And let not those who disbelieve ever think that [because] We extend their time [of enjoyment] it is better for them. We only extend it for them so that they may increase in sin, and for them is a humiliating punishment.
Tafsir
And let not the disbelievers suppose (read laa yahsabanna, 'let them not suppose', or laa tahsabanna, 'do not suppose') that what We indulge them in, that is, [that] Our indulging [them], in extending their [terms of] life and deferring them [their death], is better for their souls (in the case of the reading yahsabanna, 'let them [not] suppose', anna [of anna-maa] and its two operators stand in place of the two objects, but only in place of the second in the case of the other reading [tahsabanna], 'do [not] suppose'). We grant them indulgence, We give [them] respite, only that they may increase in sinfulness, through frequent disobedience, and theirs is a humbling chastisement, one of humiliation, in the Hereafter.
"Comforting the Messenger of Allah
Allah said to His Prophet,
وَلَا يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ
And let not those grieve you who rush with haste to disbelieve,
Because the Prophet was eager for people's benefit, he would become sad when the disbelievers would resort to defiance, rebellion and stubbornness. Allah said, `Do not be saddened by this behavior,'
إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللّهَ شَيْياً يُرِيدُ اللّهُ أَلاَّ يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظًّا فِي الاخِرَةِ
verily, not the least harm will they do to Allah. It is Allah's will to give them no portion in the Hereafter.
for He decided with His power and wisdom that they shall not acquire any share in the Hereafter.
وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
For them there is a great torment.
Allah said about the disbelievers
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُاْ الْكُفْرَ بِالاِيمَانِ
Verily, those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith,
by exchanging disbelief for faith,
لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللّهَ شَيْيًا
not the least harm will they do to Allah.
Rather, they will only harm themselves.
وَلهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
For them, there is a painful torment.
Allah said next,
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاِّاَنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِي لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمًا وَلَهْمُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgraceful torment.
This statement is similar to Allah's other statements,
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they think that because We have given them abundant wealth and children, (that) We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not. (23:55-56)
and,
فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not. (68:44)
and,
وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ
And let not their wealth or their children amaze you. Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers. (9:85)
Allah then said
مَّا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَأ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىَ يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ
Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good.
meaning, He allows a calamity to happen, and during this calamity His friend becomes known and His enemy exposed, the patient believer recognized and the sinful hypocrite revealed.
This Ayah refers to Uhud, since Allah tested the believers in that battle, thus making known the faith, endurance, patience, firmness and obedience to Allah and His Messenger that the believers had. Allah exposed the hypocrites in their defiance, reverting from Jihad, and the treachery they committed against Allah and His Messenger. This is why Allah said,
مَّا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَأ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّىَ يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ
(Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good).
Mujahid commented,
""He distinguished between them during the day of Uhud.""
Qatadah said,
""He distinguished between them in Jihad and Hijrah.""
Allah said next,
وَمَا كَانَ اللّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ
Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen.
meaning, you do not have access to Allah's knowledge of His creation so that you can distinguish between the believer and the hypocrite, except by the signs of each type that Allah uncovers.
Allah's statement,
وَلَكِنَّ اللّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِن رُّسُلِهِ مَن يَشَاء
but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He wills.
is similar to another Ayah,
عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلَ يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً
إِلاَّ مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَداً
(He Alone is) the All-Knower of the Unseen, and He reveals to none His Unseen. Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen, and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him. (72:26-27)
Allah then said,
فَأمِنُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ
So believe in Allah and His Messengers.
Obey Allah and His Messenger and adhere to the law that he legislated for you.
وَإِن تُوْمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
and if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward.
The Censure of Selfishness, and Warning Against it
Allah said
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا اتَاهُمُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ
And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty (wealth) think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them.
Therefore, the Ayah says that the miser should not think that collecting money will benefit him. Rather, it will harm him in his religion and worldly affairs.
Allah mentions the money that the miser collected on the Day of Resurrection,
سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
the things that they stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
مَنْ اتَاهُ اللهُ مَالاً فَلَمْ يُوَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ مُثِّلَ لَهُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ يَعْنِي بِشِدْقَيْهِ يَقُولُ أَنَا مَالُكَ أَنَا كَنْزُك
Whoever Allah makes wealthy and he does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, then (on the Day of Resurrection) his wealth will be made in the likeness of a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and proclaim, `I am your wealth, I am your treasure.'
The Prophet then recited the Ayah,
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَا اتَاهُمُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ
And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them, until the end.
Al-Bukhari, but not Muslim, collected this Hadith using this chain of narration, Ibn Hibban also collected it in his Sahih.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah said that the Prophet said,
مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍلَاا يُوَدِّي زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ إِلاَّ جُعِلَ لَهُ شُجَاعٌ أَقْرَعُ يَتْبَعُهُ يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ يَتْبَعُهُ فَيَقُولُ أَنَا كَنْزُك
Every person who does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, will have his money made into the shape of a bald-headed, poisonous male snake who will follow him. The person will run away from the snake, who will follow him and proclaim, `I am your treasure.'
Abdullah then recited the Ayah in Allah's Book that testifies to this fact,
سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
(the things that they were stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection).
This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, ""Hasan Sahih.""
Allah's statement,
وَلِلّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ
And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the Earth,
means,
وَأَنفِقُوا مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ
(and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees), (57:7).
Therefore, since all affairs are under Allah's control, then spend from your money so it will benefit you on the Day of Return.
وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.
with your intentions and what your hearts conceal."
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