أعوذ باللّٰه من الشيطان
بِسْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(Book#1123/And The Kafir say-11)
[Those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, “This is obvious magic.”
Witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant… ?
This is an ancient falsehood.”]
www.motaher21.net
Sura:46:Al-Ahqaf
Para:26
Ayat: –1-12
46:1
حٰمٓ ۚ﴿۱﴾
Ha, Meem.
The Qur’an is a Revelation from Allah and the Universe is His True Creation
Allah says,
حم
Ha Mim.
تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ
46:2
تَنۡزِیۡلُ الۡکِتٰبِ مِنَ اللّٰہِ الۡعَزِیۡزِ الۡحَکِیۡمِ ﴿۲﴾
The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise.
Allah informs that He has revealed the Book to His servant and Messenger Muhammad — may Allah’s blessings be upon him until the Day of Judgement. Allah then describes Himself as being of unimaginable glory, possessing ultimate wisdom in His statements and actions.
Allah then says
46:3
مَا خَلَقۡنَا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ مَا بَیۡنَہُمَاۤ اِلَّا بِالۡحَقِّ وَ اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا عَمَّاۤ اُنۡذِرُوۡا مُعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away.
مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاْاَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ.
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except in truth,
meaning, not in idle play and falsehood.
..
وَأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى
and for a specified term.
meaning, for a fixed and specified duration that will not increase or decrease.
Allah continues,
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَمَّا أُنذِرُوا مُعْرِضُونَ
But those who disbelieve, turn away from that of which they are warned.
Meaning, the disbelievers are distracted from what is intended for them. Allah has indeed revealed to them a Book and sent to them a Messenger. Yet, they obstinately turn away from all of that. Therefore, they will soon realize the consequence of their behavior.
Refuting the Idolators
Allah then says
46:4
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ مَّا تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ اَرُوۡنِیۡ مَاذَا خَلَقُوۡا مِنَ الۡاَرۡضِ اَمۡ لَہُمۡ شِرۡکٌ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ ؕ اِیۡتُوۡنِیۡ بِکِتٰبٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِ ہٰذَاۤ اَوۡ اَثٰرَۃٍ مِّنۡ عِلۡمٍ اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِیۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
Say, [O Muhammad], “Have you considered that which you invoke besides Allah ? Show me what they have created of the earth; or did they have partnership in [creation of] the heavens? Bring me a scripture [revealed] before this or a [remaining] trace of knowledge, if you should be truthful.”
قُلْ
Say,
meaning, to these idolators who worship others besides Allah.
أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقُوا مِنَ الاَْرْضِ
Think you about all that you invoke besides Allah Show me what they have created of the earth?
meaning, `show me the place that they have independently created from the earth.’
أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ
Or have they a share in the heavens?
which means that they are not partners in anything in the heavens, nor on earth. They do not own even the thin membrane covering a date’s pit. The dominion and control only belong to Allah, Exalted is He. `How then would you worship others or join them as partners with Him? Who guided you to that? Who called you to that? Did He command you to do it, or is it something that you suggested yourselves?’
Thus, He says,
اِيْتُونِي بِكِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ هَذَا
Bring me a scripture prior to this?
meaning, `bring a book from among the Books of Allah that have been revealed to the Prophets, that commands you to worship these idols.’
أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ
or some trace of knowledge,
meaning, `some clear evidence justifying this way you have chosen.’
إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
if you are truthful!
meaning, `you have absolutely no evidence for that — neither textual (from revelation) nor rational.’
For this reason, some recited it;
أَوْ أَثَرَةٍ مِنْ عِلْمٍ
“or something inherited from knowledge.”
meaning, `or true knowledge that you have inherited from anyone before you.’
This is similar to Mujahid’s statement when he said,
أَوْ أَثَارَةٍ مِّنْ عِلْمٍ
(or some trace of knowledge).
“Or anyone who has inherited any knowledge.”
Allah then says,
وَمَنْ أَضَلُّ مِمَّن يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَن لاَّ يَسْتَجِيبُ لَهُ إِلَى يَومِ الْقِيَامَةِ
وَهُمْ عَن دُعَايِهِمْ غَافِلُونَ
46:5
وَ مَنۡ اَضَلُّ مِمَّنۡ یَّدۡعُوۡا مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰہِ مَنۡ لَّا یَسۡتَجِیۡبُ لَہٗۤ اِلٰی یَوۡمِ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ وَ ہُمۡ عَنۡ دُعَآئِہِمۡ غٰفِلُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
And who is more astray than he who invokes besides Allah those who will not respond to him until the Day of Resurrection, and they, of their invocation, are unaware.
And who is more astray than those who invokes besides Allah others who will not answer them until the Day of Resurrection, and who are unaware of their invocations to them!
meaning, no one is more misguided than those who invoke idols instead of Allah, asking them for things that they cannot give — until the Day of Judgment. They (the idols) are unaware of what he asks, they can neither hear, see, or act. This is because they are inanimate, senseless stones.
Allah then says,
وَإِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ كَانُوا لَهُمْ أَعْدَاء وَكَانُوا بِعِبَادَتِهِمْ كَافِرِينَ
46:6
وَ اِذَا حُشِرَ النَّاسُ کَانُوۡا لَہُمۡ اَعۡدَآءً وَّ کَانُوۡا بِعِبَادَتِہِمۡ کٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
And when the people are gathered [that Day], they [who were invoked] will be enemies to them, and they will be deniers of their worship.
And when mankind are gathered, they will become their enemies and will deny their worship.
This is similar to Allah’s saying:
وَاتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ءالِهَةً لِّيَكُونُواْ لَهُمْ عِزّاً
كَلَّ سَيَكْفُرُونَ بِعِبَـدَتِهِمْ وَيَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ضِدّاً
They have taken gods beside Allah, that they might give them dignity.
No! They will deny their worship of them, and will be opponents to them. (19:81,82)
meaning, they will betray them when they need them the most.
(Ibrahim) Al-Khalil, peace be upon him, said:
إِنَّمَا اتَّخَذْتُمْ مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْثَـناً مَّوَدَّةَ بَيْنِكُمْ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ يَكْفُرُ بَعْضُكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ وَيَلْعَنُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً وَمَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن نَّـصِرِينَ
You have taken only idols besides Allah! The love between you is only in the life of this world. On the Day of Resurrection, you shall disown each other and curse each other, and your abode will be the Fire, and you shall have no helpers. (29:25)
46:7
وَ اِذَا تُتۡلٰی عَلَیۡہِمۡ اٰیٰتُنَا بَیِّنٰتٍ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلۡحَقِّ لَمَّا جَآءَہُمۡ ۙ ہٰذَا سِحۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ؕ﴿۷﴾
And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who disbelieve say of the truth when it has come to them, “This is obvious magic.”
Refuting Claims of the Idolators about the Qur’an and the Messenger
Allah says,
وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ ايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَاتٍ قَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلْحَقِّ لَمَّا جَاءهُمْ
And when Our Clear Ayat are recited to them, the disbelievers say of the truth when it reaches them:
Concerning the disbelief and rebellion of the idolators, Allah says that when the clear Ayat of Allah are recited to them they say;
هَذَا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
“This is plain magic!”
meaning, simple magic.
In this statement of theirs, they have lied, invented a falsehood, went astray and disbelieved
46:8
اَمۡ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ افۡتَرٰىہُ ؕ قُلۡ اِنِ افۡتَرَیۡتُہٗ فَلَا تَمۡلِکُوۡنَ لِیۡ مِنَ اللّٰہِ شَیۡئًا ؕ ہُوَ اَعۡلَمُ بِمَا تُفِیۡضُوۡنَ فِیۡہِ ؕ کَفٰی بِہٖ شَہِیۡدًۢا بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکُمۡ ؕ وَ ہُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِیۡمُ ﴿۸﴾
Or do they say, “He has invented it?” Say, “If I have invented it, you will not possess for me [the power of protection] from Allah at all. He is most knowing of that in which you are involved. Sufficient is He as Witness between me and you, and He is the Forgiving the Merciful.”
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ
Or they say:”He has fabricated it.”
They are referring to Muhammad.
Allah responds saying,
قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَلَ تَمْلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْيًا
هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ كَفَى بِهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say:”If I have fabricated it, you have no power to support me against Allah…”
which means, `if I lie against Allah and falsely claim that He sent me when He actually had not, then He would punish me with a severe punishment. No one on the earth — you or anyone else — would then be able to protect me from Him.’
It is similar to Allah’s saying,
قُلْ إِنِّى لَن يُجِيرَنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَداً إِلاَّ بَلَغاً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِسَـلَـتِهِ
Say:”None can protect me from Allah, nor would I find a refuge except in Him. (My duty) is only to convey from Allah and (deliver) His Messages.” (72:22-23)
Allah says,
وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الاٌّقَاوِيلِ
لاأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ
ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ
فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَـجِزِينَ
And if he made up a false saying concerning Us, We surely would have seized him by the right hand. Then we would have cut off his life artery. And none of you could withhold Us from (punishing) him. (69:44-47)
Thus, Allah says here,
قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَلَ تَمْلِكُونَ لِي مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْيًا
هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ كَفَى بِهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ
Say:”If I have fabricated it, still you have no power to support me against Allah. He knows best of what you say among yourselves concerning it (i.e. this Qur’an)! Sufficient is He as a witness between me and you!…”
This is a severe threat, intimidation and warning for them.
Allah then says,
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
This is an encouragement for them to repent and turn to Allah. It means, `despite all of this, if you turn back and repent, Allah will accept your repentance, pardon you, forgive you, and have mercy upon on.’
This is similar to Allah’s saying in Surah Al-Furqan,
وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَى عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلً
قُلْ أَنزَلَهُ الَّذِى يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً
And they say:”(This Book is) legends of the ancients that he has written down, and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.”
Say:”It has been sent down by the One Who knows every secret within the heavens and the earth. Truly, He is ever Forgiving and Merciful.” (25:5-6)
Allah then says
46:9
قُلۡ مَا کُنۡتُ بِدۡعًا مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ وَ مَاۤ اَدۡرِیۡ مَا یُفۡعَلُ بِیۡ وَ لَا بِکُمۡ ؕ اِنۡ اَتَّبِعُ اِلَّا مَا یُوۡحٰۤی اِلَیَّ وَ مَاۤ اَنَا اِلَّا نَذِیۡرٌ مُّبِیۡنٌ ﴿۹﴾
Say, “I am not something original among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow that which is revealed to me, and I am not but a clear warner.”
قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنْ الرُّسُلِ
Say:”I am not a new thing among the Messengers…”
which means, `I am not the first Messenger who ever came to the world. Rather, Messengers came before me. Therefore, I am not an unprecedented incident that should cause you all to reject me and doubt my being sent to you. Indeed, Allah has sent before me all of the Prophets to various nations.’
Allah then says,
وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ
nor do I know what will be done with me or with you.
Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn Abbas that he said,
“It (this Ayah) was followed in revelation by,
لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ
(That Allah may forgive for you your sins of the past and future). (48:2)
Similarly, Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, and Qatadah all said that
this Ayah was abrogated by the Ayah;
لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ
(That Allah may forgive for you your sins of the past and future). (48:2)
They said that when the latter Ayah was revealed, one of the Muslims said to Allah’s Messenger, “Allah has declared what He will do for you. But what will He do for us?’ Then Allah revealed;
لِيُدْخِلَ الْمُوْمِنِينَ وَالْمُوْمِنَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الاَْنْهَارُ
(That He may admit the believing men and the believing women to Gardens under which rivers flow). (48:5) This is what they said. That which has been confirmed in the Sahih is that the believers said, “May you enjoy that, O Allah’s Messenger! But what do we get” So Allah revealed this Ayah.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Kharijah bin Zayd bin Thabit, reported that Umm Al-`Ala’ — a woman from the Ansar who had given her pledge of loyalty to Allah’s Messenger — said,
“When the Ansar drew lots regarding taking in the Muhajirun to dwell with them, our lot was to have `Uthman bin Maz`un. Later, `Uthman fell sick in our house, so we nursed him until he died, and we wrapped him in his garments (for burial). Allah’s Messenger then came in, and I said, `O Abu As-Sa’ib! May Allah have mercy on you. I bear witness that Allah has indeed honored you.’
Allah’s Messenger asked,
وَمَا يُدْرِيكِ أَنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى أَكْرَمَه
How do you know that Allah has honored him?
I said, `I do not know — may my father and mother both be ransoms for you!’
Allah’s Messenger then said,
أَمَّا هُوَ فَقَدْ جَاءَهُ الْيَقِينُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَإِنِّي لَاَرْجُو لَهُ الْخَيْرَ وَاللهِ مَا أَدْرِي وَأَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي
As for him, certainty (death) has reached him from his Lord, and I surely wish well for him. But by Allah, even though I am Allah’s Messenger, I do not know what will happen to me (after death).
I then said,
`Never will I claim a person to be pious after this.’
This incident caused me some distress, and I went to sleep thereafter. I saw in my dream that `Uthman owned a running water spring. I went to Allah’s Messenger and told him about that. Allah’s Messenger said,
ذَاكِ عَمَلُه
That was his (good) deeds.”
Al-Bukhari recorded this Hadith but Muslim did not.
In one of the narrations, Allah’s Messenger said,
مَا أَدْرِي وَأَنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ مَا يُفْعَلُ بِه
Even though I am Allah’s Messenger, I do not know what will happen to him.
This and similar texts indicate that it is not allowed to declare that a specific person will enter Jannah except for those who were distinctly indicated by Allah or his Messenger. Examples of those are the Ten,
Ibn Sallam,
Al-Ghumaysa’,
Bilal,
Suraqah,
Abdullah bin `Amr bin Haram (Jabir’s father),
the Seventy Recitors (of Qur’an) who were assassinated near the Well of Ma`unah,
Zayd bin Harithah,
Ja`far,
Ibn Rawahah,
and other similar individuals,
may Allah be pleased with them.
Allah then says,
إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلاَّ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ
I only follow that which is revealed to me,
which means, `I only follow what Allah has revealed to me of the revelation.’
وَمَا أَنَا إِلاَّ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ
and I am but a plain warner.
meaning, `my warnings are obvious to every person with sound intellect and reason.’ And Allah knows best
46:10
قُلۡ اَرَءَیۡتُمۡ اِنۡ کَانَ مِنۡ عِنۡدِ اللّٰہِ وَ کَفَرۡتُمۡ بِہٖ وَ شَہِدَ شَاہِدٌ مِّنۡۢ بَنِیۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِیۡلَ عَلٰی مِثۡلِہٖ فَاٰمَنَ وَ اسۡتَکۡبَرۡتُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ ﴿٪۱۰﴾
Say, “Have you considered: if the Qur’an was from Allah, and you disbelieved in it while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to something similar and believed while you were arrogant… ?” Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
The Qur’an is Allah’s True Speech and the Position of the Disbelievers and the Muslims towards it
Allah says,
قُلْ
Say,
meaning, `O Muhammad to these idolators who disbelieve in the Qur’an.’
أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِن كَانَ
Tell me! If it was, (meaning, this Qur’an).
مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَكَفَرْتُم بِهِ
from Allah, and you disbelieved in it,
meaning, `what do you think that Allah will do to you if this Book that I have come to you with is actually revealed to me from Him in order that I convey it to you, and yet you disbelieve in it and deny it
وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ
عَلَى مِثْلِهِ
(at the same time), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar,
meaning, `the previous Scriptures that were revealed to the Prophets before me all testify to its truthfulness and authenticity. They have prophecied, well in advance, about things similar to that which this Qur’an informs of.’
Concerning Allah’s statement,
فَأمَنَ
and believed,
`this person who testified to its truthfulness from the Children of Israel, due to his realization that it was the truth.’
وَاسْتَكْبَرْتُمْ
while you rejected (the truth)!
`whereas you have arrogantly refused to follow it.’
Masruq said:
“That witness believed in his Prophet and Book, while you disbelieved in your Prophet and Book.”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Verily, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
The witness here refers to any witness in general. It includes Abdullah bin Salam and other from them as well. For indeed, this Ayah was revealed in Makkah before Abdullah bin Salam had accepted Islam.
This is similar to the statement of Allah,
وَإِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ إِنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّنَأ إنَّا كُنَّا مِن قَبْلِهِ مُسْلِمِينَ
And when it is recited to them, they say:”We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed, even before it we have been Muslims.” (28:53)
It is also similar to Allah’s saying,
قُلْ ءَامِنُواْ بِهِ أَوْ لَا تُوْمِنُواْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلٌّذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا
وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَأ إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولاً
Verily! Those who were given knowledge before it — when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration,
and they say:”Exalted is our Lord! Truly, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled.” (17:107-108)
It has been narrated from Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said,
“I have not heard Allah’s Messenger say about anyone walking on the surface of the earth that he is of the people of Jannah — except for Abdullah bin Salam. Concerning him the following Ayah was revealed,
وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٌ مِّن بَنِي إِسْرَايِيلَ
عَلَى مِثْلِهِ
((at the same time), a witness from among the Children of Israel has testified to something similar)”
This has been recorded in the Two Sahihs and An-Nasa’i.
Similarly, Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Ikrimah, Yusuf bin Abdullah bin Salam, Hilal bin Yasaf, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri, Malik bin Anas and Ibn Zayd all said that this refers to Abdullah bin Salam.
Allah then says
46:11
وَ قَالَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لِلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَوۡ کَانَ خَیۡرًا مَّا سَبَقُوۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡہِ ؕ وَ اِذۡ لَمۡ یَہۡتَدُوۡا بِہٖ فَسَیَقُوۡلُوۡنَ ہٰذَاۤ اِفۡکٌ قَدِیۡمٌ ﴿۱۱﴾
And those who disbelieve say of those who believe, “If it had [truly] been good, they would not have preceded us to it.” And when they are not guided by it, they will say, “This is an ancient falsehood.”
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِلَّذِينَ امَنُوا لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَّا سَبَقُونَا إِلَيْهِ
And those who disbelieve say of those who believe:”Had it been good, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us to it!”
which means that those who disbelieve say of those who believe in the Qur’an:”Had it (the Qur’an) been any good, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us to it!”
By that, they meant Bilal, `Ammar, Suhayb, Khabbab, may Allah be pleased with them, and others like them of the weak, the male servants, and female servants.
The pagans said this only because they thought that they held a high status with Allah, and that He took special care of them. By that, they made a great and obvious error, as Allah says:
وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـوُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن بَيْنِنَأ
Thus have We tried some of them with others, that they might say:”Is it these whom Allah has favored from among us?” (6:53)
meaning, they wonder how could those weaklings be the ones who were guided from among them.
Thus, Allah says,
لَوْ كَانَ خَيْرًا مَّا سَبَقُونَا إِلَيْهِ
(Had it been good, they (the weak and poor) would not have preceded us to it!)
Contrary to this is the position of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah:They say about any act or saying that has not been reported from the Companions:
“It is an innovation. If there was any good in it, they would have preceded us in doing it, because they have not left off any of the good characteristics except that they hurried to perform them.”
Allah continues,
وَإِذْ لَمْ يَهْتَدُوا بِهِ
And when they have not been guided by it, (meaning, the Qur’an).
فَسَيَقُولُونَ هَذَا إِفْكٌ قَدِيمٌ
they say:”This is an ancient falsehood!”
meaning, an old lie. They mean by this that the Qur’an has been quoted and taken from the ancient people, thereby belittling the Qur’an and its followers. This is clear arrogance, as Allah’s Messenger said:
بَطَرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاس
(Arrogance is) rejecting the truth and belittling the people.
Allah then says
46:12
وَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ کِتٰبُ مُوۡسٰۤی اِمَامًا وَّ رَحۡمَۃً ؕ وَ ہٰذَا کِتٰبٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّسَانًا عَرَبِیًّا لِّیُنۡذِرَ الَّذِیۡنَ ظَلَمُوۡا ٭ۖ وَ بُشۡرٰی لِلۡمُحۡسِنِیۡنَ ﴿ۚ۱۲﴾
And before it was the scripture of Moses to lead and as a mercy. And this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good.
وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَى
And before this was the Scripture of Musa, (and it was the Tawrah).
إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً
وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ
as a guide and mercy. And this is a Book, (meaning, the Qur’an).
مُّصَدِّقٌ
confirming,
meaning, that which came before it of the previous Books.
لِّسَانًا عَرَبِيًّا
in the Arabic tongue,
means that it is eloquent and clear.
لِّيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُحْسِنِينَ
to warn those who do wrong, and as glad tidings for the doers of good.
meaning, it contains a warning to the disbelievers and glad tidings for the believers.
Allah then says
For getting Quran app: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ihadis.quran