Tafseer Verse 22-24
Everything that affects Mankind, is duly measured and destined
Allah reminds of His measuring and deciding the destiny of all things before He created the creation,
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ فِى أَنفُسِكُمْ
(No calamity occurs on the earth nor in yourselves) meaning, `there is nothing that touches you or happens in existence,’
إِلاَّ فِى كِتَـبٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَآ
(but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees before We bring it into existence.) meaning, `before We created the creation and started life.’ Qatadah commented on this Ayah,
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِى الاٌّرْضِ
(No calamity occurs on the earth) refers to famine, while,
وَلاَ فِى أَنفُسِكُمْ
(or nor in yourselves) refers to suffering and diseases.” He also said, “We were told that every person who suffers a prick of a thorn, a twisted ankle, or a bleeding vein, has it occur on account of his sins. What Allah forgives is even more.” This great, honorable Ayah provides clear evidence to the misguidance of the cursed Qadariyyah sect, who deny Allah’s Preordaihnent and His knowledge of everything before it occurs. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say,
«قَدَّرَ اللهُ الْمَقَادِيرَ قَبلَ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ السَّموَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَة»
(Allah ordained the measures (of everything) fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.)” Muslim collected this Hadith in his Sahih with the addition:
«وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُ عَلَى الْمَاء»
(And His Throne was over the water.) At-Tirmidhi also collected it and said, “Hasan Sahih.” Allah’s statement,
إِنَّ ذلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
(Verily, that is easy for Allah.) means that He knows all things before they occur, and He records them exactly as they will occur when they occur, and this is easy for Him. Verily, Allah knows what happened, what will happen and what did not happen, and what shape and form it will take if it were to happen.
Ordering Patience and Gratitude
Allah said,
لِّكَيْلاَ تَأْسَوْاْ عَلَى مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلاَ تَفْرَحُواْ بِمَآ ءَاتَـكُمْ
(In order that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you.) meaning, `We informed you of Our encompassing knowledge, recording all things before they occur and creating all things in due measure known to Us, so that you may know that what has met you would never have missed you and what has missed you would never have met you. Therefore, do not grieve for what you have missed of fortune, because had it been destined for you, you would have achieved it.’ (It is also recited:) (وَلَا تَفْرَحُوْا بِمَا أَتَاكُمْ) (nor rejoice over that which came to you) meaning, come to you. According to the recitation,
ءَاتَـكُمُ
it means (which has been given to you.) Both meanings are related. Allah says here, `do not boast before people about what Allah has favored you with, because it is not you who earned it by your efforts. Rather, all this came your way because Allah destined them for you and provided them for you as provisions. Therefore, do not use what Allah has granted you as a reason to boast and become arrogant with others.’ Allah’s statement,
وَاللَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
(And Allah likes not prideful boasters.) meaning, who acts arrogantly with other people. `Ikrimah commented by saying, “Everyone of us feels happiness and grief. However, make your joy with gratitude and endure your grief with patience.”
Censuring the Stinginess
Allah the Exalted then said,
الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ
(Those who are misers and enjoin miserliness upon people.) meaning those who commit evil and encourage people to commit it,
وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ
(And whosoever turns away,) from abiding by Allah’s commandments and obeying Him,
فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْغَنِىُّ الْحَمِيدُ
(then Allah is Rich, Worthy of all praise.) As Musa, peace be upon him, said,
إِن تَكْفُرُواْ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ
(If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allah is Rich, Owner of all praise.)(14:8)
Tafseer Verse 25
The Prophets were given Miracles and Sent with truth and Justice
Allah the Exalted said next,
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ
(Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs) in reference to the miracles, the unequivocal evidences and the plain proofs,
وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَـبَ
(and revealed with them the Scripture) which contains the true text,
وَالْمِيزَانَ
(and the Mizan), that is, justice, according to Mujahid, Qatadah and others. This Ayah refers to the truth that is attested to by the sound, straight minds that oppose misguided opinions and ideas, just as Allah said in other Ayat,
أَفَمَن كَانَ عَلَى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِ وَيَتْلُوهُ شَاهِدٌ مِّنْهُ
(Can they (Muslims) who rely on a clear proof from their Lord, and whom a witness from Him follows it (be equal with the disbelievers).)(11:17),
فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا
(Allah’s Fitra (religion) with which He has created mankind.) (30:30), and,
وَالسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ
(And the heaven: He has raised it high, and He has set up the Mizan.)(55:7) This is why Allah said here,
لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ
(that mankind may keep up justice), truth and fairness that is found in the obedience of the Messengers, in all that they conveyed from their Lord, and following all they commanded. Surely, what the Prophets brought forth is the truth, beyond which there is no truth, just as Allah said,
وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً
(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.)(6:115), His Word is true in what it conveys, and just in all its orders and prohibitions. This is why the believers say, when they take up their rooms in Paradise and assume their high grades and lined thrones,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى هَدَانَا لِهَـذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ لَقَدْ جَآءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ
(All praise is due to Allah, Who has guided us to this, and never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.)(7:43)
The Benefits of Iron
Allah said,
وَأَنزْلْنَا الْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ
(And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power,) meaning, `We made iron a deterrent for those who refuse the truth and oppose it after the proof has been established against them.’ Allah’s Messenger ﷺ remained in Makkah for thirteen years. During that time, the revelation continued being sent to him, containing arguments against the idolators and explaining Tawhid with detail and proofs. When the evidence was established against those who defied the Messenger ﷺ, Allah decreed the Hijrah. Then He ordered the believers to fight the disbelievers using swords, using them to strike the necks and foreheads of those who opposed, rejected and denied the Qur’an. Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud recorded that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«بُعِثْتُ بِالسَّيْفِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ حَتْى يُعْبَدَ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَجُعِلَ رِزْقِي تَحْتَ ظِلِّ رُمْحِي، وَجُعِلَ الذِّلَّةُ والصَّغَارُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرِي، وَمَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُم»
(I was sent with the sword just before the Hour so that Allah be worshipped alone without partners. My provision was placed under the shadow of my spear, and those who defy my order were disgraced and humiliated, and he who imitates a people is one of them.) This is why Allah the Exalted said,
فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ
(wherein is mighty power,) in reference to weapons, such as swords, spears, daggers, arrows, shields, and so forth,
وَمَنَـفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ
(as well as many benefits for mankind,) meaning, in their livelihood, such as using it to make coins, hammers, axes, saws chisels, shovels and various tools that people use for tilting the land, sowing, cooking, making dough and manufacturing other objects necessary for their livelihood. Allah’s statement,
وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ وَرُسُلَهُ بِالْغَيْبِ
(that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion) and His Messengers in the unseen.) meaning, whose intention by carrying weapons is the defense of Allah (His religion) and His Messenger,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
(Verily, Allah is Powerful, Almighty.) meaning, surely, Allah is Powerful, Almighty, and He gives victory to those who give victory and aid to Him. However, Allah does not need mankind’s help, but He ordered Jihad to test people with each other.