Join Learn Quran Tafsir
Join Learn Quran Tafsir to get tafsir interpretation and information from Learn Quran Tafsir.
If you already have account
Join Learn Quran Tafsir
Join Learn Quran Tafsir to get tafsir interpretation and information from Learn Quran Tafsir.
You have to login to access this feature
Ayah
Word by Word
وَإِذَا
And when
جَآءَتۡهُمۡ
comes to them
ءَايَةٞ
a Sign
قَالُواْ
they say
لَن
Never
نُّؤۡمِنَ
we will believe
حَتَّىٰ
until
نُؤۡتَىٰ
we are given
مِثۡلَ
like
مَآ
what
أُوتِيَ
was given
رُسُلُ
(to the) Messengers
ٱللَّهِۘ
(of) Allah
ٱللَّهُ
Allah
أَعۡلَمُ
knows best
حَيۡثُ
where
يَجۡعَلُ
He places
رِسَالَتَهُۥۗ
His Message
سَيُصِيبُ
Will afflict
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
أَجۡرَمُواْ
committed crimes
صَغَارٌ
a humiliation
عِندَ
from
ٱللَّهِ
Allah
وَعَذَابٞ
and a punishment
شَدِيدُۢ
severe
بِمَا
for what
كَانُواْ
they used to
يَمۡكُرُونَ
plot
وَإِذَا
And when
جَآءَتۡهُمۡ
comes to them
ءَايَةٞ
a Sign
قَالُواْ
they say
لَن
Never
نُّؤۡمِنَ
we will believe
حَتَّىٰ
until
نُؤۡتَىٰ
we are given
مِثۡلَ
like
مَآ
what
أُوتِيَ
was given
رُسُلُ
(to the) Messengers
ٱللَّهِۘ
(of) Allah
ٱللَّهُ
Allah
أَعۡلَمُ
knows best
حَيۡثُ
where
يَجۡعَلُ
He places
رِسَالَتَهُۥۗ
His Message
سَيُصِيبُ
Will afflict
ٱلَّذِينَ
those who
أَجۡرَمُواْ
committed crimes
صَغَارٌ
a humiliation
عِندَ
from
ٱللَّهِ
Allah
وَعَذَابٞ
and a punishment
شَدِيدُۢ
severe
بِمَا
for what
كَانُواْ
they used to
يَمۡكُرُونَ
plot
Translation
When there comes to them a sign (from Allah), They say: "We shall not believe until we receive one (exactly) like those received by Allah's messengers." Allah knoweth best where (and how) to carry out His mission. Soon will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before Allah, and a severe punishment, for all their plots.
Tafsir
And when a sign, of the truth of the Prophet may peace and salutation be upon him, comes to them, the people of Mecca, they say, 'We will no believe, in him, until we are given the like of what God's messengers were given', in the way of a message and inspiration to us, because we are wealthier and more senior in years. God, exalted be He, says: God knows best where to place His Message (read plural [risaalaatihi, 'His Messages'] or singular [risaalatahu, 'His Message']; hayth, 'where', constitutes the direct object because of the verb [ya'lam, 'He knows'] implicit i a'lam, 'the best knower') that is to say, He knows the right place for it to be placed in, and He thus places it [there] - these people, however, are not worthy of it. Humiliation from God and a terrible chastisement shall smite those who have sinned, by saying this, for their plotting.
The Parable of the Disbeliever and the Believer
Allah says;
أَوَ مَن كَانَ مَيۡتًا فَأَحۡيَيۡنَاهُ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمۡشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن
Is he who was dead, and We gave him life, and set for him a light, whereby he can walk among men --
This is an example that Allah has given of the believer who was dead, meaning, wandering in confusion and misguidance. Then, Allah brought life to him, by bringing life to his heart with faith, guiding him to it and guiding him to obeying His Messengers,
لَهُ نُورًا يَمۡشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن
(And set for him a light whereby he can walk amongst men) for he became guided to where he should go and how to remain on the correct path.
The light mentioned here is the Qur'an, according to Ibn Abbas, as Al-Awfi and Ibn Abi Talhah reported from him.
As-Suddi said that the light mentioned here is Islam.
Both meanings are correct.
مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيۡسَ
Like him who is in the darkness,
of ignorance, desires and various types of deviation,
بِخَارِجٍ مِّنۡهَا
From which he can never come out,
for he is unable to find a way out from what he is in.
In Musnad Ahmad, it is recorded that the Prophet said;
إِنَّ اللهَ خَلَقَ خَلۡقَهُ فِي ظُلۡمَةٍ ثُمَّ رَشَّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مِنۡ نُورِهِ فَمَنۡ أَصَابَهُ ذَلِكَ النُّورُ اهۡتَدَى وَمَنَ أَخۡطَأَهُ ضَل
Allah created creation in darkness, then He showered His Light upon them. Whoever was struck by that light is guided, whoever it missed is astray.
Allah said in other Ayat,
اللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواۡ يُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَـتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۡ أَوۡلِيَأوُهُمُ الطَّـغُوتُ يُخۡرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَـتِ أُوۡلَـيِكَ أَصۡحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمۡ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ
Allah is the Guardian of those who believe. He brings them out from darkness into light. But as for those who disbelieve, their friends are Taghut, they bring them out from light into darkness. Those are the dwellers of the Fire, and they will abide therein forever. (2:257)
and,
أَفَمَن يَمۡشِى مُكِبّاً عَلَى وَجۡهِهِ أَهۡدَى أَمَّن يَمۡشِى سَوِيّاً عَلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسۡتَقِيمٍ
Is he who walks prone on his face, more rightly guided, or he who walks upright on the straight way! (67:22)
and,
مَثَلُ الۡفَرِيقَيۡنِ كَالاٌّعۡمَى وَالاٌّصَمِّ وَالۡبَصِيرِ وَالسَّمِيعِ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِيَانِ مَثَلً أَفَلَ تَذَكَّرُونَ
The parable of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seer and the hearer. Are they equal when compared! Will you not then take heed! (11:24)
and,
وَمَا يَسۡتَوِى الاٌّعۡمَى وَالۡبَصِيرُ
وَلَا الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلَا النُّورُ
وَلَا الظِّلُّ وَلَا الۡحَرُورُ
وَمَا يَسۡتَوِى الاٌّحۡيَأءُ وَلَا الاٌّمۡوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسۡمِعُ مَن يَشَأءُ وَمَأ أَنتَ بِمُسۡمِعٍ مَّن فِى الۡقُبُورِ
إِنۡ أَنتَ إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ
Not alike are the blind and the seeing. Nor are darkness and light. Nor are the shade and the sun's heat. Nor are the living and the dead. Verily, Allah makes whom He wills to hear, but you cannot make hear those who are in the graves. You are only a warner. (35:19-23)
There are many other Ayat on this subject.
We explained before why Allah mentioned the light in the singular sense and the darkness in the plural sense when we explained the Ayah at the beginning of the Surah,
وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ
(And originated the darknesses and the light). (6:1)
Allah's statement,
كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلۡكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُواۡ يَعۡمَلُونَ
Thus it is made fair seeming to the disbelievers that which they used to do.
means, We made their ignorance and misguidance appear fair to them, as Allah decreed out of His wisdom, there is no deity worthy of worship except Him alone without partners.
Evil Plots of the Leaders of the Criminals and their Subsequent Demise
Allah says:
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرۡيَةٍ أَكَابِرَ مُجَرِمِيهَا لِيَمۡكُرُواۡ فِيهَا
And thus We have set up in every town great ones of its wicked people to plot therein.
Allah says:Just as We appointed chiefs and leaders for the criminals who call to disbelief, hinder from the path of Allah, and oppose and defy you in your town, O Muhammad. Such was also the case with the Messengers before you, who were tested with the same. But the good end was always theirs.' Allah said in other Ayat,
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوّاً مِّنَ الۡمُجۡرِمِينَ
Thus have We made for every Prophet an enemy among the criminals. (25:31)
Allah said,
وَإِذَا أَرَدۡنَأ أَن نُّهۡلِكَ قَرۡيَةً أَمَرۡنَا مُتۡرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُواۡ فِيهَا
And when We decide to destroy a town, We send a definite order to those among them who lead a life of luxury, and they transgress therein. (17:16)
meaning, We command them to obey Us, but they defy the command and as a consequence, We destroy them.
It was also said that, We send a definite order,
in the last Ayah means, We decree for them, as Allah stated here
لِيَمۡكُرُواۡ فِيهَا
(to plot therein).
Ibn Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas explained the Ayah
أَكَابِرَ مُجَرِمِيهَا لِيَمۡكُرُواۡ فِيهَا
(...great ones of its wicked people to plot therein),
We give the leadership to these wicked ones and they commit evil in it. When they do this, We destroy them with Our torment.
Mujahid and Qatadah said that;
in the Ayah,
أَكَابِرَ مُجَرِمِيهَا
(great ones) refers to leaders.
I say that this is also the meaning of Allah's statements,
وَمَأ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِى قَرۡيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلاَّ قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَأ إِنَّا بِمَأ أُرۡسِلۡتُمۡ بِهِ كَـفِرُونَ
وَقَالُواۡ نَحۡنُ أَكۡثَـرُ أَمۡوَلاً وَأَوۡلَـداً وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ
And We did not send a warner to a township, but those who were given the worldly wealth and luxuries among them, said:We believe not in what you have been sent with. And they say:We have too much wealth and too many children and we are not going to suffer punishment. (34:34-35)
And,
وَكَذَلِكَ مَأ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِى قَرۡيَةٍ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلاَّ قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَأ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَأ ءَابَأءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِم مُّقۡتَدُونَ
And similarly, We sent not a warner before you to any town but the luxurious ones among them said:We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps. (43:23)
`Plot' in the Ayah (6:123) refers to beautified speech and various actions with which the evil ones call to misguidance.
Allah said about the people of Prophet Nuh, peace be upon him,
وَمَكَرُواۡ مَكۡراً كُبَّاراً
And they have plotted a mighty plot. (71:22)
Allah said,
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۡ لَن نُّوۡمِنَ بِهَـذَا الۡقُرۡءَانِ وَلَا بِالَّذِى بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ وَلَوۡ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّـلِمُونَ مَوۡقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ يَرۡجِعُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَى بَعۡضٍ الۡقَوۡلَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُواۡ لِلَّذِينَ اسۡتَكۡبَرُواۡ لَوۡلَا أَنتُمۡ لَكُنَّا مُوۡمِنِينَ
قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسۡتَكۡبَرُواۡ لِلَّذِينَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُواۡ أَنَحۡنُ صَدَدنَـكُمۡ عَنِ الۡهُدَى بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَأءَكُمۡ بَلۡ كُنتُمۡ مُّجۡرِمِينَ
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ اسۡتُضۡعِفُواۡ لِلَّذِينَ اسۡتَكۡبَرُواۡ بَلۡ مَكۡرُ الَّيۡلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذۡ تَأۡمُرُونَنَأ أَن نَّكۡفُرَ بِاللَّهِ وَنَجۡعَلَ لَهُ أَندَاداً
But if you could see when the wrongdoers will be made to stand before their Lord, how they will cast the (blaming) word one to another! Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant:Had it not been for you, we should certainly have been believers.
And those who were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak:Did we keep you back from guidance after it had come to you! Nay, but you were criminals.
Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant:Nay, but it was your plotting by night and day, when you ordered us to disbelieve in Allah and set up rivals for Him! (34:31-33)
Ibn Abi Hatim reported that Ibn Abi Umar said that Sufyan said,
Every `plot' mentioned in the Qur'an refers to actions.
Allah's statement,
وَمَا يَمۡكُرُونَ إِلاَّ بِأَنفُسِهِمۡ وَمَا يَشۡعُرُونَ
But they plot not except against themselves, and they perceive (it) not.
means, the harm of their wicked plots, as well as misguiding those whom they lead astray, will only strike them.
Allah said in other Ayat,
وَلَيَحۡمِلُنَّ أَثۡقَالَهُمۡ وَأَثۡقَالاً مَّعَ أَثۡقَالِهِمۡ
And verily, they shall bear their own loads, and other loads besides their own. (29:13)
and,
وَمِنۡ أَوۡزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُمۡ بِغَيۡرِ عِلۡمٍ أَلَا سَأءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
And also of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge. Evil indeed is that which they shall bear! (16:25)
Allah said
وَإِذَا جَاءتۡهُمۡ ايَةٌ قَالُواۡ لَن نُّوۡمِنَ حَتَّى نُوۡتَى مِثۡلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللّهِ
And when there comes to them a sign they say:We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah received.
When there comes to them a sign they say,
لَن نُّوۡمِنَ حَتَّى نُوۡتَى مِثۡلَ مَا أُوتِيَ رُسُلُ اللّهِ
(We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers of Allah received.) until the angels bring us the Message from Allah, just as they brought it to the Messengers.
In another Ayah, Allah said,
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَأءَنَا لَوۡلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيۡنَا الۡمَلَـيِكَةُ أَوۡ نَرَى رَبَّنَا
And those who expect not a meeting with Us said:Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord! (25:21)
Allah's statement,
اللّهُ أَعۡلَمُ حَيۡثُ يَجۡعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ
Allah knows best with whom to entrust His Message.
means, He knows best with whom His Message should be given and which of His creatures are suitable for it.
Allah said in other Ayat,
وَقَالُوا
لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ هَذَا الۡقُرۡانُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ مِّنَ الۡقَرۡيَتَيۡنِ عَظِيمٍ
أَهُمۡ يَقۡسِمُونَ رَحۡمَةَ رَبِّكَ
And they say:Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some great man of the two towns! Is it they who would portion out the mercy of your Lord! (43:31-32)
They said, why was not this Qur'an revealed to a mighty, respectable leader, honored by us,
مِّنَ الۡقَرۡيَتَيۡنِ
(...from one of the two towns) Of Makkah and At-Ta'if. This is because they, may Allah curse them, belittled the Messenger out of envy, transgression, rebellion and defiance. Allah described them,
وَإِذَا رَأَوۡكَ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلاَّ هُزُواً أَهَـذَا الَّذِى بَعَثَ اللَّهُ رَسُولاً
And when they see you, they only mock:Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a Messenger! (25:41)
and,
وَإِذَا رَاكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواۡ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلاَّ هُزُواً أَهَـذَا الَّذِى يَذۡكُرُ الِهَتَكُمۡ وَهُمۡ بِذِكۡرِ الرَّحۡمَـنِ هُمۡ كَـفِرُونَ
And when those who disbelieved see you, they only mock at you:Is this the one who talks about your gods! While they disbelieve at the mention of the Most Gracious (Allah). (21:36)
and,
وَلَقَدِ اسۡتُهۡزِىءَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبۡلِكَ فَحَاقَ بِالَّذِينَ سَخِرُواۡ مِنۡهُمۡ مَّا كَانُواۡ بِهِ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ
Indeed Messengers were mocked before, but the scoffers were surrounded by that, whereat they used to mock. (21:41)
The Disbelievers Admit to the Prophet's Nobility of Lineage
The disbelievers did all of this although they admitted to the Prophet's virtue, honorable lineage, respectable ancestry and purity of household and upbringing, may Allah, His angels, and the believers send blessings upon him.
The disbelievers used to call the Prophet, before he received revelation, Al-Amin -- the Truthful. The leader of the Quraysh disbelievers, Abu Sufyan, had to admit to this fact when Heraclius, emperor of Rome, asked him, How honorable is his (the Prophet's) ancestral lineage among you!
Abu Sufyan answered, His ancestry is highly regarded among us.
Heraclius asked, Do you find that he lied, before he started his mission!
Abu Sufyan replied, No.
The emperor of Rome relied on the honor and purity of the Prophet to recognize the truth of his Prophethood and what he came with.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Wathilah bin Al-Asqa said that the Messenger of Allah said,
إِنَّ اللهَ اصۡطَفَى مِنۡ وَلَدِ إِبۡرَاهِيمَ إِسۡمَاعِيلَ وَاصۡطَفَى مِنۡ بَنِي إِسۡمَاعِيلَ بَنِي كِنَانَةَ وَاصۡطَفَى مِنۡ بَنِي كِنَانَةَ قُرَيۡشًا وَاصۡطَفَى مِنۡنُقرَيۡشٍ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَاصۡطَفَانِي مِنۡ بَنِي هَاشِم
Verily, Allah has chosen Ismail from the offspring of Ibrahim, Bani Kinanah from the offspring of Ismail, Quraysh from Bani Kinanah, Bani Hashim from Quraysh and, He has chosen me from Bani Hashim.
Muslim recorded this Hadith.
Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
بُعِثۡتُ مِنۡ خَيۡرِ قُرُونِ بَنِي ادَمَ قَرۡنًا فَقَرۡنًا حَتَّى بُعِثۡتُ مِنَ الۡقَرۡنِ الَّذِي كُنۡتُ فِيه
I was chosen from a succession of the best generations of the Children of Adam, until the generation I was sent in.
Allah's said,
سَيُصِيبُ الَّذِينَ أَجۡرَمُواۡ صَغَارٌ عِندَ اللّهِ وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ
Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the criminals...,
This is a stern threat and sure promise from Allah for those who arrogantly refrain from obeying His Messengers and adhering to what they came with. On the Day of Resurrection, they will suffer humiliation and eternal disgrace before Allah, because they were arrogant in the worldly life. This is why it is befitting that they earn disgrace on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah said in another Ayah,
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَخِرِينَ
Verily, those who scorn My worship, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation! (40:60),
disgrace and dishonor.
Allah said next,
وَعَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا كَانُواۡ يَمۡكُرُونَ
and a severe torment for that which they used to plot.
Since plotting usually takes place in secret and involves treachery and deceit, the disbelievers were recompensed with severe torment from Allah on the Day of Resurrection, as a just reckoning,
وَلَا يَظۡلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And your Lord treats no one with injustice. (18:49)
Allah said in another Ayah,
يَوۡمَ تُبۡلَى السَّرَايِرُ
The Day when all the secrets will be examined. (86:9)
Meaning, the secrets, hidden thoughts and intentions will be exposed.
In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah said,
يُنۡصَبُ لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ عِنۡدَ اسۡتِهِ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيَامَةِ فَيُقَالُ هَذِهِ غَدۡرَةُ فُلَنِ بۡنِ فُلَنِ بۡنِ فُلَن
A banner will be raised for every deceitful person from his anus on the Day of Resurrection, and it will say; `This is the treacherous plot of so-and-so, son of so-and-so, son of so-and-so.
The wisdom in this is that since a plot occurs in secret, and people are usually unaware of it, then on the Day of Resurrection the plot itself will become public news testifying to the actions of those who committed it
Allah said,
فَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يَهۡدِيَهُ يَشۡرَحۡ صَدۡرَهُ لِلِسۡلَمِ
And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam;
He makes Islam easy for him and strengthens his resolve to embrace it, and these are good signs.
Allah said in other Ayat,
أَفَمَن شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدۡرَهُ لِلِسۡلَـمِ فَهُوَ عَلَى نُورٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ
Is he whose breast Allah has opened to Islam, so that he is in light from His Lord (as he who is a non-Muslim). (39:22)
and,
وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيۡكُمُ الايمَـنَ وَزَيَّنَهُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمۡ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيۡكُمُ الۡكُفۡرَ وَالۡفُسُوقَ وَالۡعِصۡيَانَ أُوۡلَـيِكَ هُمُ الرَشِدُونَ
But Allah has endeared the faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience hated by you. Such are they who are the rightly guided. (49:7)
Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement,
فَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يَهۡدِيَهُ يَشۡرَحۡ صَدۡرَهُ لِلِسۡلَمِ
(And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam),
Allah says that He will open his heart to Tawhid and faith in Him.
This is the same as was reported from Abu Malik and several others, and it is sound.
Allah's statement,
فَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يَهۡدِيَهُ يَشۡرَحۡ صَدۡرَهُ لِلِسۡلَمِ
(and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted),
refers to inability to accept guidance, thus being deprived of beneficial faith.
وَمَن يُرِدۡ أَن يُضِلَّهُ يَجۡعَلۡ صَدۡرَهُ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا
and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted,
كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاء
as if he is climbing up to the sky.
because of the heaviness of faith on him.
Sa`id bin Jubayr commented that in this case,
(Islam) finds every path in his heart impassable.
Al-Hakam bin Aban said that Ikrimah narrated from Ibn Abbas that he commented on:
كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِي السَّمَاء
(...as if he is climbing up to the sky),
Just as the Son of Adam cannot climb up to the sky, Tawhid and faith will not be able to enter his heart, until Allah decides to allow it into his heart.
Imam Abu Jafar bin Jarir commented:
This is a parable that Allah has given for the heart of the disbeliever, which is completely impassable and closed to faith. Allah says, the example of the disbeliever's inability to accept faith in his heart and that it is too small to accommodate it, is the example of his inability to climb up to the sky, which is beyond his capability and power.
He also commented on Allah's statement,
كَذَلِكَ يَجۡعَلُ اللّهُ الرِّجۡسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يُوۡمِنُونَ
Thus Allah puts the Rijs (wrath) on those who believe not.
Allah says that just as He makes the heart of whomever He decides to misguide, closed and constricted, He also appoints Shaytan for him and for his likes, those who refused to believe in Allah and His Messenger. Consequently, Shaytan lures and hinders them from the path of Allah.
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas said that,
Rijs, refers to Shaytan,
Mujahid said that;
Rijs,refers to all that does not contain goodness.
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that,
Rijs, means, `torment'
After Allah mentioned the way of those who were themselves led to stray from His path and who hindered others from it, He emphasized the honor of the guidance and religion of truth that He sent His Messenger with.
Allah said next,
وَهَـذَا صِرَاطُ رَبِّكَ مُسۡتَقِيمًا
And this is the path of your Lord leading straight.
that is, Islam, that We have legislated for you, O Muhammad, by revealing this Qur'an to you, is Allah's straight path.
قَدۡ فَصَّلۡنَا الايَاتِ
We have detailed Our Ayat...,
We have explained the Ayat and made them clear and plain,
لِقَوۡمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
for a people who take heed.
those who have sound comprehension and understand what Allah and His Messenger convey to them
لَهُمۡ دَارُ السَّلَمِ
For them will be the abode of peace, (Paradise),
عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ
with their Lord.
on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah described Paradise as `the abode of peace', because its residents are safe due to their access to the straight path, which conforms to the way of the Prophets. And just as their way was not wicked, they earned the abode of peace (which is free from all wickedness).
وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمۡ
And He will be their Wali.
Protector, Supporter and Helper.
بِمَا كَانُواۡ يَعۡمَلُونَ
because of what they used to do.
As reward for their good deeds, Allah has favored them and been generous with them, and awarded them Paradise
Allah says, `Mention, O Muhammad, in what you convey and warn,' that,
وَيَوۡمَ يِحۡشُرُهُمۡ جَمِيعًا
on the Day when He will gather them (all) together.
gather the Jinns and their loyal supporters from mankind who used to worship them in this life, seek refuge with them, obey them and inspire each other with adorned, deceitful speech.
Allah will proclaim then,
يَا مَعۡشَرَ الۡجِنِّ قَدِ اسۡتَكۡثَرۡتُم مِّنَ الاِنسِ
O you assembly of Jinn! Many did you mislead of men,
So the Ayah;
قَدِ اسۡتَكۡثَرۡتُم مِّنَ الاِنسِ
(Many did you mislead of men) refers to their misguiding and leading them astray.
Allah also said;
أَلَمۡ أَعۡهَدۡ إِلَيۡكُمۡ يبَنِى ءَادَمَ أَن لاَّ تَعۡبُدُواۡ الشَّيطَـنَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمۡ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
وَأَنِ اعۡبُدُونِى هَـذَا صِرَطٌ مُّسۡتَقِيمٌ
وَلَقَدۡ أَضَلَّ مِنۡكُمۡ جِبِلًّ كَثِيراً أَفَلَمۡ تَكُونُواۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ
Did I not command you, O Children of Adam, that you should not worship Shaytan. Verily, he is a plain enemy to you. And that you should worship Me. That is the straight path. And indeed he (Shaytan) did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand. (36:60-62)
and,
وَقَالَ أَوۡلِيَأوُهُم مِّنَ الاِنسِ رَبَّنَا اسۡتَمۡتَعَ بَعۡضُنَا بِبَعۡضٍ
and their friends among the people will say:Our Lord! We benefited one from the other...
The friends of the Jinns among humanity will give this answer to Allah, after Allah chastises them for being misguided by the Jinns.
Al-Hasan commented,
They benefited from each other when the Jinns merely commanded and mankind obeyed.
Ibn Jurayj said,
During the time of Jahiliyyah, a man would reach a land and proclaim, `I seek refuge with the master (Jinn) of this valley,' and this is how they benefited from each other. They used this as an excuse for them on the Day of Resurrection.
Therefore, the Jinns benefit from humans since humans revere the Jinns by invoking them for help. The Jinns would then proclaim, We became the masters of both mankind and the Jinns.
وَبَلَغۡنَا أَجَلَنَا الَّذِيَ أَجَّلۡتَ لَنَا
but now we have reached our appointed term which You did appoint for us.
meaning, death, according to As-Suddi.
قَالَ النَّارُ مَثۡوَاكُمۡ
He (Allah) will say:The Fire be your dwelling place...
where you will reside and live, you and your friends,
خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا
you will dwell therein forever.
and will never depart except what Allah may will.
إِلاَّ مَا شَاء اللّهُ
.
except as Allah may will.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَليمٌ
Certainly your Lord is All-Wise, All-Knowing.
The Wrongdoers Are the Supporters of Each other
Allah says;
وَكَذَلِكَ نُوَلِّي بَعۡضَ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعۡضًا بِمَا كَانُواۡ يَكۡسِبُونَ
And thus We do make the wrongdoers supporters of one another, because of that which they used to earn.
Ma`mar said that Qatadah commented on this Ayah,
Allah makes the wrongdoers supporters for each other in the Fire by following one another into it.
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on Allah's statement,
وَكَذَلِكَ نُوَلِّي بَعۡضَ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعۡضًا
(And thus We do make the wrongdoers supporters of one another),
It refers to the wrongdoers of the Jinns and mankind.
He then recited,
وَمَن يَعۡشُ عَن ذِكۡرِ الرَّحۡمَـنِ نُقَيِّضۡ لَهُ شَيۡطَاناً فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ
And whosoever turns away blindly from the remembrance of the Most Gracious (Allah), We appoint for him Shaytan to be a companion to him. (43:36)
He said next -- concerning the meaning of the Ayah;
We appoint the wrongdoer of the Jinns over the wrongdoer of mankind.
A poet once said,
There is no hand, but Allah's Hand is above it, and no wrongdoer but will be tested by another wrongdoer.
The meaning of this honorable Ayah thus becomes:
`Just as We made this losing group of mankind supporters of the Jinns that misguided them, We also appoint the wrongdoers over one another, destroy them by the hands of one another, and take revenge from them with one another. This is the just recompense for their injustice and transgression.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
