verse 136
Some Acts of Shirk
Allah chastises and criticizes the idolators who invented innovations, Kufr and Shirk, and called on partners and rivals with Allah among His creation, although He created every thing, all praise is due to Him. This is why Allah said,
وَجَعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ
(And they assign to Allah from that which He has created,)
مِنَ الْحَرْثِ
(of the tilth) meaning, fruits and produce,
وَالاٌّنْعَامِ نَصِيباً
(and of the cattle a share) meaning a part and a section.
فَقَالُواْ هَـذَا لِلَّهِ بِزَعْمِهِمْ وَهَـذَا لِشُرَكَآئِنَا
(and they say: “This is for Allah,” according to their claim, “and this is for our partners.”) Allah said next,
فَمَا كَانَ لِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ فَلاَ يَصِلُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ فَهُوَ يَصِلُ إِلَى شُرَكَآئِهِمْ
(But the share of their “partners” reaches not Allah, while the share of Allah reaches their “partners”!) `Ali bin Abi Talhah and Al-`Awfi narrated that Ibn `Abbas said; “When they, the enemies of Allah, would cultivate the land or collect produce, they would assign a part of it to Allah and another part to the idol. They would keep the share for the idol, whether land, produce or anything else, and preserve its division to such an extent that they would collect anything that accidentally falls from the share they assigned to Allah and add it to the share of the idol. If the water that they assigned for the idol irrigated something (a section of land, for instance) that they assigned for Allah, they would add whatever this water irrigated to the idol’s share! If the land or produce that they assigned for Allah was accidentally mixed with the share that they assigned for the idol, they would say that the idol is poor. Therefore, they would add it to the share they assigned for the idol and would not return it to the share they assigned for Allah. If the water that they assigned for Allah irrigated what they assigned for the idol they would leave it (the produce) for the idol. They also made some of their other property sacred, like the Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham, assigning them to the idols, claiming that they do so as way of seeking a means of approach to Allah. Allah said,
وَجَعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ مِمَّا ذَرَأَ مِنَ الْحَرْثِ وَالاٌّنْعَامِ نَصِيباً
(And they assign to Allah a share of the tilth and cattle which He has created…).” Similar was said by Mujahid, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented; “Every type of slaughter that they would assign for Allah, would never be eaten unless they mentioned the names of their idols when slaughtering it. Yet for what they sacrificed in the names of the idols, they would not mention Allah’s Name when slaughtering it.” He then recited the Ayah (6:136) until he reached,
سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
(Evil is the way they judge!) This Ayah means, evil is that which they determined, for they committed error in the division. Certainly, Allah is the Lord, Owner and Creator of all things and His is the dominion. All things are His property and under His supreme control, will and decree. There is no deity worthy of worship, or Lord, except Him. And even when the polytheists made this evil division, they did not preserve it, but cheated in it. Allah said in other Ayat,
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ الْبَنَـتِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَلَهُمْ مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
(And they assign daughters unto Allah — glory be to Him — and unto themselves what they desire.) 16:57, and
وَجَعَلُواْ لَهُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ جُزْءًا إِنَّ الإنسَـنَ لَكَفُورٌ مُّبِينٌ
(Yet, they assign to some of His servants a share with Him. Verily, man is indeed a manifest ingrate!) 43:15, and,
أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الاٍّنثَى – تِلْكَ إِذاً قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى
(Is it for you the males and for Him the females That indeed is a division most unfair!) 53:21-22.
verse 137
Shaytan Lured the Idolators to Kill Their Children
Allah says, just as the Shayatin lured the idolators to assign a share for Allah from what He created of agriculture and cattle – and a share for the idols, they also made it seem fair for them to kill their children, for fear of poverty, and burying their daughters alive, for fear of dishonor. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he commented;
وَكَذَلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَتْلَ أَوْلَـدِهِمْ شُرَكَآؤُهُمْ
(And so to many of the idolators, their “partners” have made fair seeming the killing of their children…) “They make killing their children attractive to them.” Mujahid said, “Idolators’ partners among the devils ordered them to bury their children for fear of poverty.” As-Suddi said, “The devils commanded them to kill their daughters so that they,
لِيُرْدُوهُمْ
(lead them to their own destruction), and to,
وَلِيَلْبِسُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ
(cause confusion in their religion.)” Allah said,
وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ
(And if Allah had willed, they would not have done so.) meaning, all this occurred by Allah’s leave, will and decree, but He dislikes these practices, and He has the perfect wisdom in every decree. He is never questioned about what He does, but they all will be questioned.
فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ
(So leave them alone with their fabrications.) meaning, avoid and abandon them and what they do, for Allah will judge between you and them.
verse 138
The Idolators Forbade Certain Types of Cattle
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, “Hijr refers to what they forbade, such as the Wasilah, and the like.” Similar was said by Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, Qatadah, `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam and others. Qatadah commented on,
وَقَالُواْ هَـذِهِ أَنْعَـمٌ وَحَرْثٌ حِجْرٌ
(They say that such and such cattle and crops are Hijr,) “It is a prohibition that the Shayatin appointed for their wealth, and a type of exaggeration and extremism that did not come from Allah.” `Abdur-Rahman Ibn Zayd bin Aslam said that, d
حِجْرٍ
(Hijr,) refers to what the idolators designated for their deities. As-Suddi said that the Ayah,
لاَّ يَطْعَمُهَآ إِلاَّ مَن نَّشَآءُ بِزَعْمِهِمْ
(And none should eat of them except those whom we allow, they claimed…) means, “They said, only those whom we choose can eat of them., and the rest are prohibited from eating them.” Similar to this honorable Ayah, Allah said,
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ مَّآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُمْ مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلاَلاً قُلْ ءَآللَّهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ تَفْتَرُونَ
(Say: “Tell me, what provision Allah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful.” Say: “Has Allah permitted you (to do so), or do you invent a lie against Allah”) 10:59, and,
مَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ مِن بَحِيرَةٍ وَلاَ سَآئِبَةٍ وَلاَ وَصِيلَةٍ وَلاَ حَامٍ وَلَـكِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ
(Allah has not instituted things like Bahirah or a Sa’ibah or a Wasilah or a Ham. But those who disbelieve invent lies against Allah, and most of them have no understanding.) 5:103 As-Suddi said that cattle forbidden to be used for burden were the Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham, as well as cattle for which the idolators did not mention Allah’s Name when slaughtering them nor when they were born. Abu Bakr bin `Ayyash said that `Asim bin Abi An-Najud said, “Abu Wa’il said to me, `Do you know the meaning of the Ayah,
وَأَنْعَـمٌ حُرِّمَتْ ظُهُورُهَا وَأَنْعَـمٌ لاَّ يَذْكُرُونَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا
(And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden, and cattle on which the Name of Allah is not pronounced.) I said, `No.’ He said, `It is the Bahirah, which they would not use to for Hajj (either by riding it or carrying things on it).”‘ Mujahid also said that they were some of the camels belonging to idolators on which Allah’s Name was not mentioned when riding, milking, carrying things, copulation or any other action.
افْتِرَآءً عَلَيْهِ
(lying against Him.) against Allah. The idolators indeed lied when they attributed this evil to Allah’s religion and Law; He did not allow them to do that nor did He approve of it,
سَيَجْزِيهِم بِمَا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ
(He will recompense them for what they used to fabricate.) against Him, and falsely attribute to Him.
verse 139
وَقَالُواْ مَا فِى بُطُونِ هَـذِهِ الأَنْعَـمِ خَالِصَةٌ لِّذُكُورِنَا
(And they say: “What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone…”) refers to milk. `Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said about this Ayah,
وَقَالُواْ مَا فِى بُطُونِ هَـذِهِ الأَنْعَـمِ خَالِصَةٌ لِّذُكُورِنَا
(And they say: “What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone…”) “It is about milk, which they prohibited for their females and allowed only their males to drink. When a sheep would give birth to a male sheep, they would slaughter it and feed it to their males, but not to their females. If the newly born lamb was a female, they would not slaughter it, but if it was stillborn, they would share in it (with their females)! Allah forbade this practice.” Similar was said by As-Suddi. Ash-Sha`bi said, “The Bahirah’s milk was only given to the men. But if any cattle from the Bahirah died, both men and women would share in eating it.” Similar was said by `Ikrimah, Qatadah and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Mujahid commented;
وَقَالُواْ مَا فِى بُطُونِ هَـذِهِ الأَنْعَـمِ خَالِصَةٌ لِّذُكُورِنَا وَمُحَرَّمٌ عَلَى أَزْوَجِنَا
(And they say: “What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females…”) “It refers to the Sa’ibah and the Bahirah.” Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid and Qatadah said that Allah’s statement,
سَيَجْزِيهِمْ وَصْفَهُمْ
(He will punish them for their attribution. ) means, uttering such falsehood. This is explained by Allah’s statement,
وَلاَ تَقُولُواْ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَـذَا حَلَـلٌ وَهَـذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لاَ يُفْلِحُونَ
(And say not concerning that which your tongues falsely utter: “This is lawful and this is forbidden.” so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper.) 16:116 Allah said,
إِنَّهُ حَكِيمٌ
(Verily, He is All-Wise.) in His actions, statements, Law and decree,
عَلِيمٌ
(All-Knower), in the actions of His servants, whether good or evil, and He will recompense them for these deeds completely.
verse 140
Allah says that those who committed these evil acts have earned the loss of this life and the Hereafter.
As for this life, they lost when they killed their children and made it difficult for themselves by prohibiting some types of their wealth, as an act of innovation that they invented on their own. As for the Hereafter, they will end up in the worst dwellings, because they used to lie about Allah and invent falsehood about Him. Allah also said,
قُلْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لاَ يُفْلِحُونَ – مَتَـعٌ فِى الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ إِلَيْنَا مَرْجِعُهُمْ ثُمَّ نُذِيقُهُمُ الْعَذَابَ الشَّدِيدَ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْفُرُونَ
(Say: “Verily, those who invent a lie against Allah will never be successful.” (A brief) enjoyment in this world! And then unto Us will be their return, then We shall make them taste the severest torment because they used to disbelieve.) 10:69-70 Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented, “If it pleases you to know how ignorant the Arabs used to be, then recite the Ayat beyond Ayah one hundred and thirty in Surat Al-An`am,
قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُواْ أَوْلَـدَهُمْ سَفَهاً بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَحَرَّمُواْ مَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللَّهُ افْتِرَآءً عَلَى اللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ
(Indeed lost are they who have killed their children, foolishly, without knowledge, and they have forbidden that which Allah has provided for them, inventing a lie against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and were not guided.)” Al-Bukhari also recorded this in the section of his Sahih on the virtues of the Quraysh.
verse 141-142
Allah Created the Produce, Seed Grains and Cattle
Allah states that He created everything, including the produce, fruits and cattle that the idolators mishandled by their misguided ideas, dividing them into various designated parts, allowing some and prohibiting some. Allah said,
وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنشَأَ جَنَّـتٍ مَّعْرُوشَـتٍ وَغَيْرَ مَعْرُوشَـتٍ
(And it is He Who produces gardens Ma`rushat and not Ma`rushat,) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented, “Ma`rushat refers to what the people trellise, while `not Ma`rushat’ refers to fruits (and produce) that grow wild inland and on mountains.” `Ata’ Al-Khurasani said that Ibn `Abbas said, “Ma`rushat are the grapevines that are trellised, while `not Ma`rushat’ refers to grapevines that are not trellised.” As-Suddi said similarly. As for these fruits being similar, yet different, Ibn Jurayj said, “They are similar in shape, but different in taste.” Muhammad bin Ka`b said that the Ayah,
كُلُواْ مِن ثَمَرِهِ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ
(Eat of their fruit when they ripen,) means, “(Eat) from the dates and grapes they produce.” Allah said next,
وَءَاتُواْ حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ
(but pay the due thereof on the day of their harvest, ) Mujahid commented, “When the poor people are present (on the day of harvest), give them some of the produce.” `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Mujahid commented on the Ayah,
وَءَاتُواْ حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ
(but pay the due thereof on the day of their harvest.) “When planting, one gives away handfuls (of seed grains) and on harvest, he gives away handfuls and allows them to pick whatever is left on the ground of the harvest.” Ath-Thawri said that Hammad narrated that Ibrahim An-Nakha`i said, “One gives away some of the hay.” Ibn Al-Mubarak said that Shurayk said that Salim said that Sa`id bin Jubayr commented;
وَءَاتُواْ حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ
(but pay the due thereof on the day of their harvest,) “This ruling, giving the poor the handfuls (of seed grains) and some of the hay as food for their animals, was before Zakah became obligatory.” Allah has chastised those who harvest, without giving away a part of it as charity. Allah mentioned the story of the owners of the garden in Surat Nun,
إِنَّا بَلَوْنَـهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَآ أَصْحَـبَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُواْ لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ – وَلاَ يَسْتَثْنُونَ – فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَآئِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ – فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ – فَتَنَادَوْاْ مُصْبِحِينَ – أَنِ اغْدُواْ عَلَى حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـرِمِينَ – فَانطَلَقُواْ وَهُمْ يَتَخَـفَتُونَ – أَن لاَّ يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّسْكِينٌ – وَغَدَوْاْ عَلَى حَرْدٍ قَـدِرِينَ – فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُواْ إِنَّا لَضَآلُّونَ بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَّكُمْ لَوْلاَ تُسَبِّحُونَ قَالُواْ سُبْحَـنَ رَبِّنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـلِمِينَ فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَتَلَـوَمُونَ قَالُواْ يوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا طَـغِينَ عَسَى رَبُّنَآ أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْراً مِّنْهَآ إِنَّآ إِلَى رَبِّنَا رَغِبُونَ كَذَلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الاٌّخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُواْ يَعْلَمُونَ
(When they swore to pluck the fruits of the (garden) in the morning. Without saying: “If Allah wills.” Then there passed by on the (garden) a visitation (fire) from your Lord at night, burning it while they were asleep. So the (garden) became black by the morning, like a pitch dark night (in complete ruins). Then they called out one to another as soon as the morning broke. Saying: “Go to your tilth in the morning, if you would pluck the fruits.” So they departed, conversing in secret low tones (saying). “No poor person shall enter upon you into it today.” And they went in the morning with strong intention, thinking that they have power (to prevent the poor taking anything of the fruits therefrom). But when they saw the (garden), they said: “Verily, we have gone astray.” (Then they said): “Nay! Indeed we are deprived of (the fruits)!” The best among them said: “Did I not tell you, why say you not: `If Allah wills’.” They said: “Glory to Our Lord! Verily, we have been wrongdoers.” Then they turned one against another, blaming. They said: “Woe to us! We have transgressed. We hope that our Lord will give us in exchange a better (garden) than this. Truly, we turn to our Lord.” Such is the punishment (in this life), but truly, the punishment of the Hereafter is greater if they but knew.) 68:18-33.
Prohibiting Extravagance
Allah said,
وَلاَ تُسْرِفُواْ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
(And waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not the wasteful.) It was said that the extravagance prohibited here refers to excessive charity beyond normal amounts. Ibn Jurayj said, “This Ayah was revealed concerning Thabit bin Qays bin Shammas, who plucked the fruits of his date palms. Then he said to himself, `This day, every person who comes to me, I will feed him from it.’ So he kept feeding (them) until the evening came and he ended up with no dates. Allah sent down,
وَلاَ تُسْرِفُواْ إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ
(And waste not by extravagance. Verily, He likes not the wasteful.)” Ibn Jarir recorded this statement from Ibn Jurayj. However, thhe apparent meaning of this Ayah, and Allah knows best, is that;
كُلُواْ مِن ثَمَرِهِ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَءَاتُواْ حَقَّهُ يَوْمَ حَصَادِهِ وَلاَ تُسْرِفُواْ
(Eat of their fruit when they ripen, but pay the due thereof on the day of their harvest, and waste not…) refers to eating, meaning, do not waste in eating because this spoils the mind and the body. Allah said in another Ayah,
وكُلُواْ وَاشْرَبُواْ وَلاَ تُسْرِفُواْ
(And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance.) 7: 31 In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded a Hadith without a chain of narration; a
«كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَالْبَسُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ إِسْرَافٍ وَلَا مَخِيلَة»
(Eat, drink and clothe yourselves without extravagance or arrogance.) Therefore, these Ayat have the same meaning as this Hadith. and Allah knows best.
Benefits of Cattle
Allah’s statement,
وَمِنَ الأَنْعَـمِ حَمُولَةً وَفَرْشًا
(And of the cattle (are some) for burden and (some smaller) for Farsh.) means, He created cattle for you, some of which are suitable for burden, such as camels, and some are Farsh. Ath-Thawri narrated that Abu Ishaq said that Abu Al-Ahwas said that `Abdullah said that `animals for burden’ are the camels that are used for carrying things, while, `Farsh’, refers to small camels. Al-Hakim recorded it and said, “Its chain is Sahih and they did not record it.” `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that `animals for burden’ refers to the animals that people ride, while, `Farsh’ is that they eat (its meat) and milk it. The sheep is not able to carry things, so you eat its meat and use its wool for covers and mats (or clothes). This statement of `Abdur-Rahman is sound, and the following Ayat testify to it,
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِمَّا عَمِلَتْ أَيْدِينَآ أَنْعـماً فَهُمْ لَهَا مَـلِكُونَ – وَذَلَّلْنَـهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوبُهُمْ وَمِنْهَا يَأْكُلُونَ
(Do they not see that We have created for them of what Our Hands have created, the cattle, so that they are their owners. And We have subdued them unto them so that some of them they have for riding and some they eat.) 36:71-72, and,
وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِى الاٌّنْعَـمِ لَعِبْرَةً نُّسْقِيكُمْ مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِ مِن بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَآئِغًا لِلشَّارِبِينَ
(And verily, in the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers.) 16:66, until,
وَمِنْ أَصْوَافِهَا وَأَوْبَارِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَآ أَثَـثاً وَمَتَـعاً إِلَى حِينٍ
(And of their wool, fur and hair, furnishings and articles of convenience, comfort for a while.) 16:80.
Eat the Meat of These Cattle, But Do Not Follow Shaytan’s Law Concerning Them
Allah said,
كُلُواْ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ
(Eat of what Allah has provided for you,) of fruits, produce and cattle. Allah created all these and provided you with them as provision.
وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَتِ الشَّيْطَـنِ
(and follow not the footsteps of Shaytan.) meaning, his way and orders, just as the idolators followed him and prohibited fruits and produce that Allah provided for them, claiming that this falsehood came from Allah.
إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ
(Surely, he is to you) meaning; Shaytan, O people, is to you,
عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
(an open enemy) and his enmity to you is clear and apparent. Allah said in other Ayat,
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَـنَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوّاً إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُواْ مِنْ أَصْحَـبِ السَّعِيرِ
(Surely, Shaytan is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. ) 35:6 and,
يَـبَنِى آدَمَ لاَ يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَـنُ كَمَآ أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَتِهِمَآ
(O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytan deceive you, as he got your parents out of Paradise, stripping them of their raiment, to show them their private parts.) 7:27 and,
أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّـلِمِينَ بَدَلاً
(Will you then take him (Iblis) and his offspring as protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you What an evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers.)18:50 There are many other Ayat on this subject.
verse 143-144
These Ayat demonstrate the ignorance of the Arabs before Islam.
They used to prohibit the usage of some of their cattle and designate them as Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham etc. These were some of the innovations they invented for cattle, fruits and produce. Allah stated that He has created gardens, trellised and untrellised, and cattle, as animals of burden and as Farsh. Allah next mentioned various kinds of cattle, male and female, such as sheep and goats. He also created male and female camels and the same with cows. Allah did not prohibit any of these cattle or their offspring. Rather, they all were created for the sons of Adam as a source for food, transportation, work, milk, and other benefits, which are many. Allah said,
وَأَنزَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ الاٌّنْعَـمِ ثَمَـنِيَةَ أَزْوَجٍ
(And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs…) 39:6 Allah said;
أَمَّا اشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ الأُنثَيَيْنِ
(…or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose…) This refutes the idolators’ statement,
مَا فِى بُطُونِ هَـذِهِ الأَنْعَـمِ خَالِصَةٌ لِّذُكُورِنَا وَمُحَرَّمٌ عَلَى أَزْوَجِنَا
(What is in the bellies of such and such cattle is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females.) 6:139 Allah said,
نَبِّئُونِي بِعِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ
(Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.) meaning, tell me with sure knowledge, how and when did Allah prohibit what you claimed is prohibited, such as the Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham etc. Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said, “Allah’s statement,
ثَمَـنِيَةَ أَزْوَجٍ مِّنَ الضَّأْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَمِنَ الْمَعْزِ اثْنَيْنِ
(Eight pairs: of the sheep two, and of the goats two…) these are four pairs,
قُلْ ءَآلذَّكَرَيْنِ حَرَّمَ أَمِ الأُنثَيَيْنِ
(Say: “Has He forbidden the two males or the two females…”) I (Allah) did not prohibit any of these.
أَمَّا اشْتَمَلَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَرْحَامُ الأُنثَيَيْنِ
(or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose) and does the womb produce but males and females So why do you prohibit some and allow some others
نَبِّئُونِي بِعِلْمٍ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ
(Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful. ) Allah is saying that all of this is allowed.” Allah said,
أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَآءَ إِذْ وَصَّـكُمُ اللَّهُ بِهَـذَا
(Or, were you present when Allah ordered you such a thing) mocking the idolators’ innovations, and their lies that Allah made sacred what they have prohibited.
فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا لِيُضِلَّ النَّاسَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
(Then who does more wrong than one who invents a lie against Allah, to lead mankind astray without knowledge.) Therefore, no one is more unjust than the people described here and
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الظَّـلِمِينَ
(Certainly, Allah guides not the people who are wrongdoers.) The person most worthy of this condemnation is `Amr bin Luhay bin Qum`ah. He was the first person to change the religion of the Prophets and designate the Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham, as mentioned in the Sahih.
verse 145
Forbidden Things
Allah commands His servant and Messenger, Muhammad ,
قُلْ
(Say) O Muhammad to those who prohibited what Allah has provided them, claiming this falsehood to be from Allah,
لاَ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوْحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ
(I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it,) This Ayah means, I do not find any animals that are prohibited, except these mentioned here. We should mention here that the prohibited things mentioned in Surat Al-Ma’idah and the Hadiths on this subject amend the meaning of this Ayah.
أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا
(or blood poured.) Qatadah commented, “Poured blood was prohibited, but the meat that still has some blood in it is allowed.” Al-Humaydi said that Sufyan narrated to us that `Amr bin Dinar narrated to us, “I said to Jabir bin `Abdullah, `They claim that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prohibited the meat of donkeys during (the day of) Khaybar.’ He said, `Al-Hakam bin `Amr narrated that from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. That scholar – refering to Ibn `Abbas – denied it, reciting the Ayah;
قُل لاَ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوْحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ
(Say: “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it…”)”‘ Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud collected it. Abu Bakr bin Marduwyah and Al-Hakim, in his Mustadrak, recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, “During the time of Jahiliyyah, the people used to eat some things and avoid some other things, because they disliked them. Later on, Allah sent His Prophet , revealed His Book, allowed what He allowed, and prohibited what He prohibited. Therefore, whatever Allah allowed is lawful and whatever He prohibited is unlawful. Whatever He did not mention, there is no sin in it.” He then recited the Ayah,
قُل لاَ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوْحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ
(Say: “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it…”) This is the wording with Ibn Marduwyah. Abu Dawud also recorded this statement, and Al-Hakim said, “Its chain is Sahih and they did not record it.” Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, “A sheep belonging to Sawdah bint Zam`ah died and she said, `O Allah’s Messenger! So-and-so (sheep) has died.’ He said,
«فَلِمَ لَا أَخَذْتُمْ مَسْكَهَا؟»
(Why did you not use its skin) She said, `Should we use the skin of a sheep that has died’ Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said,
«إِنَّمَا قَالَ اللهُ:
قُل لاَ أَجِدُ فِى مَآ أُوْحِىَ إِلَىَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلاَ أَن يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَّسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنزِيرٍ
وَإِنَّكُمْ لَا تَطْعَمُونَهُ أَنْ تَدْبَغُوهُ فَتَنْتَفِعُوا بِه»
(Allah only said, (Say: “I find not in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, except Maytah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth, or the flesh of swine….) You will not be eating it if you tan its skin and benefit from it.) So she had the sheep skinned, the skin was tanned and made into a water skin that she kept until it wore out.” Al-Bukhari and an-Nasa’i collected a similar Hadith. Allah said,
فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلاَ عَادٍ
(But whosoever is forced by necessity without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits;) Therefore, whoever is forced by necessity to eat anything that Allah has forbidden in this honorable Ayah, without transgressing his limits, then for him,
فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
(certainly, your Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) We mentioned the explanation of this Ayah in Surat Al-Baqarah. This honorable Ayah contradicts the idolators’ innovated prohibitions for certain kinds of wealth, relying merely on their misguided ideas, such as the Bahirah, Sa’ibah, Wasilah and Ham. Allah commanded His Messenger to inform them that he does not find that such types of animals are prohibited in what Allah revealed to him. In this Ayah, Allah only prohibited dead animals, poured blood, the flesh of swine and what has been slaughtered for something other than Allah. Other things were not prohibited here, but rather treated as that which does not have a ruling, i.e., permissible. Therefore, how do you — idolators — claim that such items are prohibited, and why did you prohibit them when Allah did not prohibit them
verse 146
Foods that were Prohibited for the Jews Because of their Transgression
Allah says, We forbade for the Jews every bird and animal with undivided hoof, such as the camel, ostrich, duck and goose. Allah said here,
وَمِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَالْغَنَمِ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ شُحُومَهُمَآ
(and We forbade them the fat of the ox and the sheep…) The Jews used to forbid these types of foods saying that Isra’il, or Ya`qub, used to forbid them for himself so they too forbid them. This was mentioned by As-Suddi. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said that,
إِلاَّ مَا حَمَلَتْ ظُهُورُهُمَآ
(except what adheres to their backs) refers to the fat that clings to their backs. Allah said next,
أَوِ الْحَوَايَآ
(or their Hawaya) that is, the entrails, according to Abu Ja`far bin Jarir. He also said, “The meaning here is, `And from ox and sheep, We forbade their fat for the Jews, except the fat on their backs and what the entrails carry.” `Ali bin Abi Talhah said that, Ibn `Abbas said that the, Hawaya, are the entrails. Similar was reported from Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ad-Dahhak. Allah’s statement,
أَوْ مَا اخْتَلَطَ بِعَظْمٍ
(….or is mixed up with a bone.) means, We allowed the Jews the fat that is mixed with bones. Ibn Jurayj commented, “The fat on the rump that is mixed with the tailbone was allowed for them, and also the fat on the legs, head, eyes and what adheres to the bones.” As-Suddi said similarly. Allah said,
ذَلِكَ جَزَيْنَـهُم بِبَغْيِهِمْ
(Thus We recompensed them for their rebellion.) meaning, We imposed this restriction on them as recompense for their rebellion and defying Our commandments. Allah said in another Ayah,
فَبِظُلْمٍ مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّبَـتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ وَبِصَدِّهِمْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَثِيراً
(For the wrongdoing of the Jews, We made unlawful for them certain good foods which had been lawful for them — and for their hindering many from Allah’s way) 4:160. Allah’s statement,
وِإِنَّا لَصَـدِقُونَ
(And verily, We are Truthful.) means, We were justified in the penalty We gave them. Ibn Jarir commented, “We are Truthful in what We informed you of, O Muhammad; Our forbidding these foods for them, not as they claimed, that Israel merely forbade these things for himself (so they imitated him, they claimed).”
The Tricks of the Jews, and Allah’s Curse
`Abdullah bin `Abbas narrated, “When `Umar bin Al-Khattab was told that Samurah sold liquor, he commented, `May Allah fight Samurah! Did he not know that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَعَنَ اللهُ الْيَهُودَ حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّحُومُ فَجَمَلُوهَا فَبَاعُوهَا»
(May Allah curse the Jews! The fats were forbidden for them, so they melted the fat and sold it.)” This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs. Jabir bin `Abdullah said, “In the year of the victory of Makkah, I heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying;
«إِنَّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ حَرَّمَ بَيْعَ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْتَةِ وَالْخِنْزِيرِ وَالْأَصْنَام»
(Allah and His Messenger have forbidden selling alcoholic drinks (intoxicants), dead animals, swine and idols.) He was asked, `What about the fat of dead animals They are used to dye skins, paint ships and are used as light by the people.’ He said,
«لَا هُوَ حَرَام»
(No, it is still unlawful.) He then said,
«قَاتَلَ اللهُ الْيَهُودَ إِنَّ اللهَ لَمَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ شُحُومَهَا جَمَلُوهُ ثُمَّ بَاعُوهُ وَأَكَلُوا ثَمَنَه»
(May Allah fight the Jews! When Allah forbade them the fats of animals, they melted the fat, sold it and ate its price.)” The Group recorded this Hadith.Previous Ayah
verse 147
فَقُل رَّبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَسِعَةٍ
(Say: “Your Lord is the Owner of vast mercy…”) encouraging them to seek Allah’s vast mercy and follow His Messenger,
وَلاَ يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ
(and never will His wrath be turned back from the people who are criminals.) discouraging them from defying the Messenger, the Final Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ. Allah often joins encouragement with threats in the Qur’an. Allah said at the end of this Surah:
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
(Surely, your Lord is swift in retribution, and certainly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) 6:165 Allah also said,
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
(But verily, your Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind in spite of their wrongdoing. And verily, your Lord is (also) severe in punishment.) 13:6, and
نَبِّىءْ عِبَادِى أَنِّى أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ – وَأَنَّ عَذَابِى هُوَ ٱلْعَذَابُ ٱلْأَلِيمُ
(Declare unto My servants, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. And that My torment is indeed the most painful torment.) 15:49-50, and
غَافِرِ الذَّنبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ الْعِقَابِ
(The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment.) 40:3 and,
إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ – إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِىءُ وَيُعِيدُ – وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ
(Verily, the punishment of your Lord is severe and painful. Verily, He it is Who begins and repeats. And He is Oft-Forgiving, full of love.)85:12-14. There are many other Ayat on this subject.
verse 148-150
A False Notion and its Rebuttal
Here Allah mentioned a debate with the idolators, refuting a false notion they have over their Shirk and the things that they prohibited. They said, surely, Allah has full knowledge of the Shirk we indulge in, and that we forbid some kinds of wealth. Allah is able to change this Shirk by directing us to the faith, – they claimed – and prevent us from falling into disbelief, but He did not do that. Therefore – they said Allah indicated that He willed, decided and agreed that we do all this. They said,
لَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ مَآ أَشْرَكْنَا وَلاَحَرَّمْنَا مِن شَىْءٍ
(“If Allah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything.”) Allah said in another Ayah,
وَقَالُواْ لَوْ شَآءَ الرَّحْمَـنُ مَا عَبَدْنَـهُمْ
(And they said: “If it had been the will of the Most Gracious (Allah), we should not have worshipped them (false deities)”) 43:20. Similar is mentioned in Surat An-Nahl. Allah said next,
كَذَلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ
(Likewise belied those who were before them,) for by using and relying on this understanding, the misguided ones before them were led astray. This notion is false and ungrounded, for had it been true, Allah would not have harmed them, destroyed them, aided His honorable Messengers over them, and made them taste His painful punishment.
قُلْ هَلْ عِندَكُم مِّنْ عِلْمٍ
(Say: “Have you any knowledge…”) that Allah is pleased with you and with your ways,
فَتُخْرِجُوهُ لَنَآ
(that you can produce before us.) and make it plain, apparent and clear for us. However,
إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ
(Verily, you only follow the Zann) doubts and wishful thinking,
وَإِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ تَخْرُصُونَ
(and you do nothing but lie) about Allah in the false claims that you utter. Allah said next,
قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَـلِغَةُ فَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
(Say: “With Allah is the perfect proof and argument; had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all.”) Allah said to His Prophet
قُلْ
(Say) O Muhammad, to them,
فَلِلَّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَـلِغَةُ
(“With Allah is the perfect proof and argument. ..”) the perfect wisdom and unequivocal proof to guide whom He wills and misguide whom He wills.
فَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
(had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all.) All of this happens accordng to His decree, His will, and His choice. So in this way, He is pleased with the believers, and angry with the disbelievers. Allah said in other Ayat,
وَلَوْ شَآءَ اللَّهُ لَجَمَعَهُمْ عَلَى الْهُدَى
(And had Allah willed, He could have gathered them together (all) on true guidance,) 6:35 and
وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لآمَنَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ
(And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together.) 10:99 and,
وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَعَلَ النَّاسَ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ يَزَالُونَ مُخْتَلِفِينَ
إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبّكَ لاَمْلاَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ-
(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah, but they will not cease to disagree. Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His mercy and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled: “Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinns and men all together.”) 11:118-119 Ad-Dahhak said, “No one has an excuse if he disobeys Allah. Surely, Allah has the perfect proof established against His servants.” Allah said,
قُلْ هَلُمَّ شُهَدَآءَكُمُ
(Bring forward your witnesses,) produce your witnesses,
الَّذِينَ يَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ هَـذَا
(who can testify that Allah has forbidden this.) which you have forbidden and lied and invented about Allah in this regard,
فَإِن شَهِدُواْ فَلاَ تَشْهَدْ مَعَهُمْ
(Then if they testify, do not testify with them.) because in this case, their testimony is false and untrue,
وَلاَ تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَآءَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِآيَـتِنَا وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ وَهُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
(And do not follow the vain desires of those who belie Our Ayat, and such as believe not in the Hereafter, and they hold others as equal with their Lord.) by associating others with Allah in worship and treating them as equals to Him.
verse 151
Ten Commandments
Dawud Al-Awdy narrated that, Ash-Sha`bi said that, `Alqamah said that Ibn Mas`ud said, “Whoever wishes to read the will and testament of the Messenger of Allah on which he placed his seal, let him read these Ayat,
قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئاً
(Say: “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him…”) until,
لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
(…so that you may have Taqwa) 6:153.” In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, “In Surah Al-An`am 6, there are clear Ayat, and they are the Mother of the Book (the Qur’an).” He then recited,
قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ
(Say: “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from…”) Al-Hakim said, “Its chain is Sahih, and they did not record it.” In his Mustadrak Al-Hakim also recorded that `Ubadah bin As-Samit said, “The Messenger of Allah said,
«أَيُّكُمْ يُبَايِعُنِي عَلَى ثَلَاث»
(Who among you will give me his pledge to do three things) He then recited the Ayah,
قُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ
(Say: “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from…”) until the end of the Ayat. He then said,
«فَمَنْ وَفَى فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللهِ وَمَنِ انْتَقَصَ مِنْهُنَّ شَيْئًا فَأَدْرَكَهُ اللهُ بِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَانَتْ عُقُوبَتهُ، وَمَنْ أَخَّرَ إِلَى الْآخِرَةِ فَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللهِ إِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَفَا عَنْه»
(Whoever fulfills (this pledge), then his reward will be with Allah, but whoever fell into shortcomings and Allah punishes him for it in this life, then that will be his recompense. Whoever Allah delays (his reckoning) until the Hereafter, then his matter is with Allah. If He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him.)” Al-Hakim said, “Its chain is Sahih and they did not record it.” As for the explanation of this Ayah, Allah said to His Prophet and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ: Say, O Muhammad, to those idolators who worshipped other than Allah, forbade what Allah provided them with and killed their children, following their opinions and the lures of the devils,’
قُلْ
(Say) to them
تَعَالَوْاْ
(Come) come here, come close
أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ
(I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from. ) meaning, I will inform you about what your Lord has forbidden for you in truth, not guessing or wishful thinking. Rather, it is revelation and an order from Him.
Shirk is Forbidden
أَلاَّ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئاً
(Join not anything in worship with Him;) this Allah has ordained, for He said at the end of the Ayah,
ذلِكُمْ وَصَّـكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
(This He has commanded you that you may understand.) In the the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«أَتَانِي جِبْرِيلُ فَبَشَّرَنِي أَنَّهُ مَنْ مَاتَ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْئًا مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ، قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ؟ قَالَ: وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ، قُلْتُ: وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ؟ قَالَ: وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ، قُلْت: وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ؟ قَالَ: وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ وَإِنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْر»
(Jibril came to me and conveyed the good news that, “Whoever among your followers dies, worshipping none along with Allah, will enter Paradise.” I said, “Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse” He said, “Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse.” I said, “Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse” He said, “Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse.” I said, “Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse” He said, “Even if he stole or committed illegal sexual intercourse or even if drank alcohol.”) Some of the Musnad and Sunan compilers recorded that Abu Dharr said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«يَقُولُ تَعَالَى: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي فَإِنِّي أَغْفِرُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي،وَلَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الْأَرْضِ خَطِيئَةً أَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً مَا لَمْ تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا، وَإِنْ أَخْطَأْتَ حَتَّى تَبْلُغَ خَطَاَياكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَك»
(Allah said, `O Son of Adam! As long as you supplicate to Me and hope of Me, I will forgive whatever you committed, and it will be easy for Me to do that. And even if you brought the earth’s fill of sins to Me, I will bring forth its fill of forgiveness, as long as you do not associate anything or anyone in worship with Me. And even if you err and your errors accumulate until they reach the boundaries of the sky and you then ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive you.’) This subject is also mentioned in the Qur’an, for Allah said,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ
(Verily, Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills, sins other than that.) 4:116 Muslim recorded a Hadith in the Sahih that reads,
«مَنْ مَاتَ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّـة»
(Whoever dies associating none with Allah will enter Paradise.) There are many Ayat and Hadiths on this subject.
The Order for Kindness to Parents
Allah said next,
وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا
(be kind and dutiful to your parents;) meaning, Allah has commanded and ordered you to be kind to your parents. Allah said in another Ayah,
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّـهُ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَـناً
(And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents.) 17:23 Allah often mentions obeying Him and being dutiful to parents together. Allah said,
وَوَصَّيْنَا الإِنْسَـنَ بِوَلِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْناً عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِى عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِى وَلِوَلِدَيْكَ إِلَىَّ الْمَصِيرُ – وَإِن جَـهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلاَ تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَـحِبْهُمَا فِى الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفاً وَاتَّبِعْ سَبِيلَ مَنْ أَنَابَ إِلَىَّ ثُمَّ إِلَىَّ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَأُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
(Give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination. But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in this world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do.) 31:14-15 Therefore, Allah ordered children to be dutiful and kind to their parents, even if they were idolators. Allah also said,
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـقَ بَنِى إِسْرءِيلَ لاَ تَعْبُدُونَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا
(And (remember) when We took a covenant from the Children of Israel, (saying): Worship none but Allah and be dutiful and kind to parents.) 2:83 There are several Ayat on this subject. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Mas`ud said, “I asked Allah’s Messenger ﷺ about which deed is the best. He said,
«الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا»
(The prayer, when it is performed on time.) I said, `Then’ He said,
«بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْن»
(Being dutiful to parents.) I asked, `Then’ He said,
«الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ الله»
(Jihad in Allah’s cause.) Ibn Mas`ud said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said these words to me, and had I asked him for more, he would have said more.”
Killing Children is Forbidden
Allah said,
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلَـدَكُمْ مِّنْ إمْلَـقٍ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ
(Kill not your children because of poverty, We shall provide sustenance for you and for them.) After Allah commanded kindness to parents and grandparents, He next ordered kindness to children and grandchildren. Allah said,
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلَـدَكُمْ مِّنْ إمْلَـقٍ
(kill not your children because of poverty,) because the idolators used to kill their children, obeying the lures of the devils. They used to bury their daughters alive for fear of shame, and sometimes kill their sons for fear of poverty. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, “I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, `Which sin is the biggest’ He said,
«أَنْ تَجْعَلَ للهِ نِدًّا وَهُوَ خَلَقَك»
(To call a rival for Allah, while He Alone created you.) I said, `Then what’ He said,
«أَنْ تَقْتُلَ وَلَدَكَ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ مَعَك»
(To kill your son for fear that he might share your food.’) I said, `Then what’ He said,
«أَنْ تُزَانِي حَلِيلَةَ جَارِك»
(To commit adultery with your neighbor’s wife.) Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the Ayah,
وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهَا ءَاخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ
(And those who invoke not any other god along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse…) 25:68.” Allah’s statement,
مِّنْ إمْلَـقٍ
(Because of Imlaq) refers to poverty, according to Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, As-Suddi and others. The Ayah means, do not kill your children because you are poor. Allah said in Surat Al-Isra’,
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ أَوْلادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَـقٍ
(And do not kill your children for fear from Imlaq.) 17:31, that is, do not kill your children for fear that you might become poor in the future. This is why Allah said,
نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُم
(We shall provide sustenance for them and for you) 17:31, thus mentioning the provision of the children first, meaning, do not fear poverty because of feeding your children. Certainly, their provision is provided by Allah. Allah said,
نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ
(We provide sustenance for you and for them,) thus starting with parents, because this is the appropriate subject here and Allah knows. Allah said next,
وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الْفَوَحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ
(Come not near Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly) Allah said in a similar Ayah,
قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُواْ بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَـناً وَأَن تَقُولُواْ عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
(Say: “(But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawahish (immoral sins) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.”) 7:33 We also explained this meaning in the explanation of the Ayah,
وَذَرُواْ ظَـهِرَ الإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ
(Leave sin, open and secret) 6:120. The Two Sahihs recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا أَحَدٌ أَغْيَرَ مِنَ اللهِ، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَن»
(None is more jealous than Allah. This is why He has forbidden the immoral sins committed openly or secretly.) `Abdul-Malik bin `Umayr said that Warrad narrated that Al-Mughirah said that Sa`d bin `Ubadah said, “If I see a man with my wife (committing adultery), I will kill him with the sword.” When the matter came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he said,
«أَتَعْجَبُونَ مِنْ غَيْرةِ سَعْدٍ؟ فَوَاللهِ لَأَنَا أَغْيَرُ مِنْ سَعْدٍ، وَاللهُ أَغْيَرُ مِنِّي، مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَن»
(Do you wonder at Sa`d’s jealousy By Allah, I am more jealous than Sa`d, and Allah is more jealous than I. This is why He has forbidden the immoral sins committed openly and in secret.) This Hadith is in the Two Sahihs).
The Prohibition of Unjustified Killing
Allah said,
وَلاَ تَقْتُلُواْ النَّفْسَ الَّتِى حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ
(And kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islamic law).) This part of the Ayah emphasizes this prohibition in specific, although it is included in the immoral sins committed openly and in secret. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِىءٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ، إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: الثَّيِّبُ الزَّانِي، وَالنَّفْسُ بِالنَّفْسِ، وَالتَّارِكُ لِدِينِهِ الْمُفَارِقُ لِلْجَمَاعَة»
(The blood of a Muslim person who testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is prohibited, except for three offenses: a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse, life for life, and whoever reverts from the religion and abandons the Jama`ah (the community of faithful believers).) There is a prohibition, a warning and a threat against killing the Mu`ahid, i.e., non-Muslims who have a treaty of peace with Muslims. Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Prophet said,
«مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهِدًا لَمْ يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًّا»
(Whoever killed a person having a treaty of protection with Muslims, shall not smell the scent of Paradise, though its scent is perceived from a distance of forty years. ) Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said,
«مَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهِدًا لَهُ ذِمَّةُ اللهِ وَذِمَّةُ رَسُولِهِ فَقَدْ أَخْفَرَ بِذِمَّةِ اللهِ، فَلَا يَرَحْ رَائِحَةَ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَيُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا»
(Whoever killed a person having a treaty of protection with the Muslims, and who enjoys the guarantee of Allah and His Messenger, he will have spoiled the guarantee of Allah for him. He shall not smell the scent of Paradise though its smell is perceived from a distance of seventy years.) Ibn Majah and At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith, and At-Tirmidhi said, “Hasan Sahih.” Allah’s statement,
ذلِكُمْ وَصَّـكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
(This He has commanded you that you may understand.) means, this is what He has commanded you that you may comprehend His commandments and prohibitions.