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Ayah
Word by Word
أَمۡ
Or
يَقُولُونَ
(do) they say
ٱفۡتَرَىٰ
He has invented
عَلَى
about
ٱللَّهِ
Allah
كَذِبٗاۖ
a lie
فَإِن
But if
يَشَإِ
Allah (had) willed
ٱللَّهُ
Allah (had) willed
يَخۡتِمۡ
He would seal
عَلَىٰ
[over]
قَلۡبِكَۗ
your heart
وَيَمۡحُ
And Allah eliminates
ٱللَّهُ
And Allah eliminates
ٱلۡبَٰطِلَ
the falsehood
وَيُحِقُّ
and establishes
ٱلۡحَقَّ
the truth
بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦٓۚ
by His Words
إِنَّهُۥ
Indeed, He
عَلِيمُۢ
(is) All-Knowing
بِذَاتِ
of what
ٱلصُّدُورِ
(is in) the breasts
أَمۡ
Or
يَقُولُونَ
(do) they say
ٱفۡتَرَىٰ
He has invented
عَلَى
about
ٱللَّهِ
Allah
كَذِبٗاۖ
a lie
فَإِن
But if
يَشَإِ
Allah (had) willed
ٱللَّهُ
Allah (had) willed
يَخۡتِمۡ
He would seal
عَلَىٰ
[over]
قَلۡبِكَۗ
your heart
وَيَمۡحُ
And Allah eliminates
ٱللَّهُ
And Allah eliminates
ٱلۡبَٰطِلَ
the falsehood
وَيُحِقُّ
and establishes
ٱلۡحَقَّ
the truth
بِكَلِمَٰتِهِۦٓۚ
by His Words
إِنَّهُۥ
Indeed, He
عَلِيمُۢ
(is) All-Knowing
بِذَاتِ
of what
ٱلصُّدُورِ
(is in) the breasts
Translation
Or do they say, "He has invented about Allāh a lie"? But if Allāh willed, He could seal over your heart.1 And Allāh eliminates falsehood and establishes the truth by His words. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
Footnotes
1 - i.e., He could make you forget the Qur’ān and deprive you of it.
Tafsir
Or (am here is like bal) do they say, 'He has invented a lie against God?', in ascribing Al-Qur'an to God, exalted be He. For if God will, He can seal, He can fortify, your heart, with patience to endure the hurt they cause [you] by such sayings and otherwise - and God did this. And God will efface the falsehood, which they speak, and vindicate, confirm, the truth with His words, [the ones] revealed to His Prophet. Truly He is Knower of what is in the breasts, of what is in the hearts [of people].
Good News of the Blessings of Paradise for the People of Faith
Having mentioned the gardens of Paradise, Allah then says to His servants who believe and do righteous deeds:
ذَلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ
That is whereof Allah gives glad tidings to His servants who believe and do righteous good deeds.
meaning, this will undoubtedly come to them, because it is glad tidings from Allah to them.
قُل لاَّ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلاَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى
Say:No reward do I ask of you for this except to be kind to me for my kinship with you.
means, `say, O Muhammad, to these idolators among the disbeliever of Quraysh:I do not ask you for anything in return for this message and sincere advice which I bring to you. All I ask of you is that you withhold your evil from me and let me convey the Messages of my Lord. If you will not help me, then do not disturb me, for the sake of the ties of kinship that exist between you and I.'
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, was asked about the Ayah:
إِلاَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى
(except to be kind to me for my kinship with you).
Sa`id bin Jubayr said, To be kind to the family of Muhammad.
Ibn Abbas said, No, you have jumped to a hasty conclusion. There was no clan among Quraysh to whom the Prophet did not have some ties of kinship.
Ibn Abbas said, Except that you uphold the ties of kinship that exist between me and you.
This was recorded by Al-Bukhari.
It was also recorded by Imam Ahmad with a different chain of narration.
وَمَن يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَّزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا
And whoever earns a good righteous deed, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof,
means, `whoever does a good deed, We will increase him in good for it, i.e., in reward.'
This is like the Ayah:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـعِفْهَا وَيُوْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْراً عَظِيماً
Surely, Allah wrongs not even of the weight of a speck of dust, but if there is any good, He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward. (4:40)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate.
means, He forgives many bad deeds and increases a small amount of good deeds;
He conceals and forgives sins and He multiplies and increases the reward of good deeds.
The Accusation that the Prophet fabricated the Qur'an -- and the Response to that
Allah's saying
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا فَإِن يَشَأِ اللَّهُ يَخْتِمْ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ
Or say they:He has invented a lie against Allah! If Allah willed, He could have sealed up your heart.
means, `if you had invented any lies against Him, as these ignorant people claim,'
يَخْتِمْ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ
(He could have sealed up your heart).
means, `and thus caused you to forget what had already come to you of the Qur'an.'
This is like the Ayah:
وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الاٌّقَاوِيلِ
لاأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ
ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ
فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَـجِزِينَ
And if he had forged a false saying concerning Us (Allah), We surely would have seized him by his right hand, and then We certainly would have cut off his life artery, And none of you could have withheld Us from (punishing) him. (69:44-47)
which means, `We would have wrought the utmost vengeance upon him, and no one among mankind would have been able to protect him.'
And Allah said:
وَيَمْحُ اللَّهُ الْبَاطِلَ
And Allah wipes out falsehood,
وَيُحِقُّ الْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَاتِهِ
and establishes the truth by His Word.
means, He establishes it and strengthens it and makes it clear by His Words, i.e., by His evidence and signs.
إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
Verily, He knows well what are in the breasts.
means, all that is hidden in the hearts of men
Allah accepts Repentance and responds to Supplications
Here Allah reminds His servants that He accepts repentance. If they turn to Him and come back to Him, then by His kindness and generosity He forgives, overlooks and conceals (their sins), as He says:
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءاً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ يَجِدِ اللَّهَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً
And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (4:110)
It was reported in Sahih Muslim that Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
The Messenger of Allah said:
اللهُ تَعَالَى أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ حِينَ يَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ كَانَتْ رَاحِلَتُهُ بِأَرْضِ فَلَةٍ فَانْفَلَتَتْ مِنْهُ وَعَلَيْهَا طَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ فَأَيِسَ مِنْهَا فَأَتَى شَجَرَةً فَاضْطَجَعَ فِي ظِلِّهَا قَدْ أَيِسَ مِنْ رَاحِلَتِهِ فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذَا هُوَ بِهَا قَايِمَةً عِنْدَهُ فَأَخَذَ بِخِطَامِهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَحِ اللْهُمَّ أَنْتَ عَبْدِي وَأَنَا رَبُّكَ أَخْطَأَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَح
Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His servant than anyone of you who loses his riding beast in a barren land, and it was carrying his food and drink; he despairs of ever finding it, so he comes to a tree and lies down in its shade, having given up all hope of finding his riding beast; then whilst he is there like that, suddenly he sees it standing near him, so he takes hold of its reins and because of his great joy he says,
O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Lord! -- i.e., he makes a mistake because of his great joy.
A similar report was also narrated in the Sahih from Abdullah bin Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him.
Allah says,
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ
And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants,
It was reported that Az-Zuhri said, concerning this Ayah, that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
The Messenger of Allah said:
اللهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ يَجِدُ ضَالَّتَهُ فِي الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي يَخَافُ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ فِيهِ الْعَطَش
Allah rejoices more over the repentance of His servant than one of you feels when he finds his lost camel in a place where he had feared that he would die of thirst.
Hammam bin Al-Harith said,
Ibn Mas`ud was asked about a man who commits immoral sins with a woman and then marries her.
He said, `There is nothing wrong with that,' and recited:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ
And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants.
وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّيَاتِ
and forgives sins,
means, He will accept repentance in the future, and He forgives past sins.
وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
and He knows what you do.
means, He knows all your deeds and actions and words, yet He still accepts the repentance of those who repent to Him
وَيَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ
And He answers those who believe and do righteous good deeds,
As-Suddi said, This means, He responds to them.
This was also the view of Ibn Jarir:
It means that He answers their supplication for themselves, their companions and their brothers.
وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ
and gives them increase of His bounty.
means, He answers their supplications and gives them more besides.
Qatadah said, narrating from Ibrahim An-Nakha`i Al-Lakhmi about the Ayah:
وَيَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ
(And He answers those who believe and do righteous good deeds,) --
(this means) they intercede for their brothers;
وَيَزِيدُهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ
(and gives them increase of His bounty.) --
(this means) they intercede for their brothers' brothers.
وَالْكَافِرُونَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ
And as for the disbelievers, theirs will be a severe torment.
-- having mentioned the believers and the great reward that is theirs, Allah then mentions the disbelievers and the severe, painful, agonizing torment that they will find with Him on the Day of Resurrection, the Day when they are brought to account.
The Reason why Provision is not Increased
Allah says here,
وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الاَْرْضِ
And if Allah were to extend the provision for His servants, they would surely rebel in the earth,
means, `if We gave them more provision than they need, this would make them rebel and transgress against one another in an arrogant and insolent manner.'
وَلَكِن يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَّا يَشَاء
إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ
but He sends down by measure as He wills. Verily, He is, in respect of His servants, the Well-Aware, the All-Seer.
means, but He gives them provision according to what is in their best interests, and He knows best about that. So He makes rich those who deserve to be rich, and He makes poor those who deserve to be poor
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا
And He it is Who sends down the rain after they have despaired,
means, after the people have given up hope that rain will fall, He sends it down upon them at their time of need.
This is like the Ayah:
وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمُبْلِسِينَ
And verily, before that (rain) -- just before it was sent down upon them -- they were in despair! (30:49)
وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُ
and spreads His mercy.
means, He bestows it upon all the people who live in that region.
Qatadah said, We were told that a man said to Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, `O Commander of the faithful, no rain has come and the people are in despair.'
Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
`Rain will be sent upon you,' and he recited:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِن بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُ
وَهُوَ الْوَلِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ
And He it is Who sends down the rain after they have despaired, and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, Worthy of all praise.
Meaning He is the One Who is in control of His creation, taking care of what will benefit them in this world and the Hereafter, and the consequences of all His decrees and actions are good, for which He is worthy of all praise.
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