54.47
Abbas - Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs
(Lo! the guilty) the idolaters: Abu Jahl and his host (are in error) in manifest error in the life of the world (and madness) toil and tiredness in hell.
Indeed the guilty are in error in the destruction of being killed in this world and in a blazing fire a fire that has been set ablaze musa‘‘ara that is fiercely ignited in the Hereafter.
Allah the Exalted states that the criminals are misguided away from the truth and engulfed in confusion, because of the doubts and uncertainty they are in. This description befits every disbeliever and innovator of all types and forms of sects. Allah the Exalted said,
يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِى النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ
(The Day they will be dragged on their faces into the Fire), meaning, just as they were consumed in doubt, suspicion and hesitation, they ended up in the Fire. And just as they were misguided, they will end up being dragged on their faces, unaware of where they will be taken. They will be admonished and criticized,
ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَ
("Taste you the touch of Hell!'')
Everything was created with Qadar
Allah's statement,
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَـهُ بِقَدَرٍ
(Verily, We have created all things with Qadar.) is similar to several other Ayat,
وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ فَقَدَّرَهُ تَقْدِيراً
(He has created everything, and has measured it exactly according to its due measurements (Faqaddarahu Taqdir).) (25:2) and,
(Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High. Who has created (everything), and then proportioned it. And Who has measured (Qaddara) and then guided.)(87:1-3), i.e., He measured out the total sum (Qadar) of everything and then guided the creation to it. The Imams of the Sunnah relied on this honorable Ayah as evidence that Allah created the creation with destined limits before they were created. He knew everything that will occur before it occurred and recorded everything that will occur, before they occurred. They used this Ayah and similar Ayat and Hadiths to refute the Qadariyyah sect, who started their sect during the latter time of the Companions. I mentioned this subject in detail in my explanation on the chapter on faith of Sahih Al-Bukhari. I will mention here some Hadiths pertaining to this honorable Ayah. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "The idolators of the Quraysh came to the Messenger of Allah arguing with him and discounting the Qadar. This Ayah was revealed,
(The Day they will be dragged on their faces into the Fire: "Taste you the touch of Hell!'' Verily, We have created all things with Qadar.)'' Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. Al-Bazzar recorded that `Amr bin Shu`ayb said that his father narrated that his grandfather said, "These Ayat were revealed about those who deny Al-Qadar,
(Verily, the criminals are in error and will burn. The Day they will be dragged on their faces into the Fire: "Taste you the touch of Hell!'' Verily, We have created all things with Qadar.)'' Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded that Zurarah said that his father said that the Prophet recited this Ayah,
(These Ayat were revealed about some members of my Ummah. They will come before the end of time and deny Al-Qadar.) Ata' bin Abi Rabah said, "I went to Ibn `Abbas and found him drawing water from the well of Zamzam. The bottom of his clothes were wet with the water of Zamzam and I said to him, `They talked about Al-Qadar (some denied it).' He asked, `Have they done this' I said, `Yes.' He said, `By Allah! This Ayah was revealed only about them,
("Taste you the touch of Hell!'' Verily, We have created all things with Qadar.) They are the worst members of this Ummah. Do not visit those who fall ill among them or pray the Funeral prayer for those among them who die. If I saw one of them, I would pluck out his eyes with these two fingers of mine.''' Imam Ahmad recorded that Nafi` said, " `Abdullah bin `Umar had a friend in the area of Ash-Sham who used to write to him. `Abdullah bin `Umar wrote to him, `I was told that you started talking about Al-Qadar. Therefore, do not dare write to me any more. I heard the Messenger of Allah say,
(There will be some members of my Ummah who will deny Al-Qadar.)'' Abu Dawud collected this Hadith from Ahmad bin Hanbal. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
(Every thing is predetermined, even laziness and intelligence.) Muslim collected this Hadith using a chain of narration through Imam Malik. There is also an authentic Hadith in which the Messenger of Allah said,
(Seek the help of Allah and do not succumb to feebleness. And when an affliction strikes you, say, "Allah has decreed this, and He does as He wills.'' Do not say, "Had I done this or that, this or that would have happened, because "if'' opens the door wide for the work of Ash-Shaytan.)'' In a Hadith from `Abbas, the Messenger of Allah said to him,
(Know that if the Ummah were to all gather their strength to cause you some benefit that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to bring you that benefit. And if they gather their strength to bring a harm to you that Allah has not written on you, they will never be able to harm you. The pens have gone dry and the Books of Record have been closed.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Ubadah bin Al-Walid bin Ubadah said that his father said to him, "I went to `Ubadah when he was ill, and I thought that he was going to die. So I said, `O my father, advise us and make the best effort in this regard.' He said, `Help me sit up,' and when he was helped up, he said, `O my son! Know that you will not taste the delight of Faith or earn true knowledge in Allah until you believe in Al-Qadar, the good and the not so good parts of it.' I asked, `O my father! How can I know (or believe in) Al-Qadar, the good and the not so good parts of it' He said, `When you know that what has missed you, would never have come to you and what has befallen you would never have missed you. O my son! I heard the Messenger of Allah say,
(The first thing Allah created was the Pen, right after that commanded it, `Record!' and the Pen recorded everything that will occur until the Day of Resurrection.) O my son! If you die not having this belief, you will enter the Hellfire.''' At-Tirmidhi also recorded it and said: "Hasan Sahih Gharib.'' It is confirmed in Sahih Muslim from `Abdullah bin `Amr that the Messenger of Allah said,
(And Our commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye.) This is information about the execution of His will in His creation, just as He informed us the execution of His decree in them,
وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلاَّ وَحِدَةٌ
(And Our commandment is but one) meaning, `We only command a thing once, without needing to repeat the command; and whatever We command comes to existence faster than the blinking of an eye without any delay, not even for an instant.' Allah said,
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَـعَكُمْ
(And indeed, We have destroyed your likes), i.e. the earlier nations who denied their Messengers,
فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ
(then is there any that will remember) meaning, is there any that will receive admonition by remembering the humiliation and torment that Allah decreed for them
(And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire, as was done in the past with the people of their kind.)(34:54) Allah's statement,
وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِى الزُّبُرِ
(And everything they have done is noted in Az-Zubur.) meaning, everything they did is recorded in the Books of Record entrusted to the angels, peace be upon them,
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ
(And everything, small and large,) meaning, of their actions,
مُّسْتَطَرٌ
(is written down.) everything that they do is recorded and written in their Record of deeds, which leave nothing, whether large or small, but it is recorded and counted. Imam Ahmad recorded that `A'ishah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
(O `A'ishah! Beware of small sins, because there is someone assigned by Allah who records them.) An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah also collected this Hadith.
The Good End for Those with Taqwa
Allah said,
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـتٍ وَنَهَرٍ
(Verily, those who have Taqwa, will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers.), unlike the end that the miserable are facing, loss, confusion and being dragged in the Fire on their faces, as well as being disgraced, punished and threatened. Allah said,
فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ
(In a seat of truth,) in the Dwelling of Allah's honor, encompassed by His pleasure, favors, bounties, generosity and compassion,
عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرِ
(near the Muqtadir King.) meaning with the Magnificent King Who created everything and measured its destiny; He is able to grant them whatever they wish and ask for. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Prophet said,
(Verily, the just will be with Allah on podiums of light, to the right of Ar-Rahman, and both of His Hands are right. They are those who are just and fair in their judgement and with their families and those whom they are responsible for.) Muslim and An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith.
This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Iqtarabat (Al-Qamar). All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and success and immunity from error come from Him.
54.41-48
Maududi - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an
The address here is directed to the Quraish, as if to say; "When the other nation have been punished for adopting disbelief and showing stubbornness and denying the Truth, why would you not be punished if you adopted the same attitude and conduct ? For you are not a special people in any way."
This is a specific prophecy that was made five years before the hijrah, saying that the hosts of the Quraish who waxed proud of their strength would soon be put to rout by the Muslims. At that time no one could imagine how such a revolution would take place in the near future. Such was the helplessness of the Muslims that a group of them had already left the country and taken refuge in Habash and the rest of the believers lay besieged in Shi'b Abi Talib, and were being starved by the Quraish boycott and siege. Under such conditions no one could imagine that within only the next seven years the tables were going to turn. The pupil of Hadrat 'Ahdullah bin 'Abbas, has related that Hadrat 'Umar used to say : "When this verse of Surah Al-Qamar was sent down. I wondered what hosts it is that would be routed. But when in the Battle of Badr the pagan Quraish were routed and they were fleeing from the battlefield, I saw the Messenger of Allah in his armor rushing forward and reciting this verse: Sa-yuhzam-al -jam'u yuwallun-ad-dubur Then only did I realize that this was the defeat that had been foretold." (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim).
(Lo! the guilty are in error and madness… Lo! We have created every thing by measure) [54:47-49]. Abu’l-Qasim ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad al-Sarraj informed us (by dictation)> Abu Muhammad ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Musa al-Ka‘bi> Hamdan ibn Salih al-Ashajj> ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Abi Rawwad> Sufyan al-Thawri> Ziyad ibn Isma‘il al-Makhzumi> Muhammad ibn ‘Abbad ibn Ja‘far> Abu Hurayrah who said: "The Quraysh came to dispute the question of Destiny. Allah, exalted is He, therefore revealed (Lo! the guilty are in error and madness… Lo! We have created every thing by measure)". This was narrated by Muslim from Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah> Waki‘> Sufyan. By Allah, I bear witness that Abu’l-Harith Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Rahim al-Hafiz informed us in Jurjan; he said: "By Allah, I bear witness that Abu Nu‘aym Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Bazzaz informed us; he said: ‘By Allah, I bear witness that I heard ‘Ali ibn Jandal saying: ‘By Allah, I bear witness that I heard Abu’l-Hasan Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ubayy in Khurasan say: ‘By Allah, I bear witness that I heard ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Saqr al-Hafiz say: ‘By Allah, I bear witness that I heard ‘Ufayr ibn Ma‘dan say: ‘by Allah, I bear witness that I heard Salim ibn ‘Amir say: ‘By Allah, I bear witness that I heard Abu Umamah al-Bahili say: ‘By Allah, I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, say: ‘This verse was revealed about the deniers of Destiny (al-Qadariyyah): (Lo! the guilty are in error and madness… Lo! We have created every thing by measure). Abu Bakr ibn al-Harith related to us> ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Asfahani> Jarir ibn Harun> ‘Ali al-Tanafisi> ‘Ubayd Allah ibn Musa> Bahr al-Saqa’> A Shaykh from Quraysh> ‘Ata’ who said: "The bishop of Najran came to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: ‘O Muhammad, you claim that sins are created by measure and that the seas and heaven are also created by measure. If it is true that the seas and heaven are created by measure, sins nevertheless cannot be’. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: ‘You are Allah’s adversaries!’ And then Allah, exalted is He, revealed (Lo! the guilty are in error and madness) up to His words (Lo! We have created every thing by measure)". Abu Bakr informed us> ‘Abd Allah> ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hasan> Ahmad ibn al-Khalil> ‘Abd Allah ibn Raja’ al-Azdi> ‘Amr ibn ‘Ala’, the brother of Abu ‘Amr ibn al-‘Ala’> Khalid ibn Salamah al-Qurashi> Sa‘id ibn ‘Amr ibn Ja‘dah al-Makhzumi> Ibn Abi Zurarah al-Ansari> his father who related that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, read this verse (Lo! the guilty are in error and madness) and then said: "This verse was revealed about some future people from amongst this community who will deny the Destiny of Allah, exalted is He". Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Hiri informed us> Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Ma‘qili> Abu ‘Utbah Ahmad ibn al-Faraj> Baqiyyah> Ibn Thawban> Bakir ibn Usayd> his father who said: "I was with Muhammad ibn Ka‘b when he said: ‘If you ever see me talk about Destiny, then tie me up for I am then a madman. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, these verses have not been revealed except about madmen’. Then he recited (Lo! the guilty are in error and madness… Lo! We have created every thing by measure)".
