Asalam alaikum
warahmatulah wabarakatuh
Surah al-'Asr – Time
Miracle Dream Tafseer - Nouman Ali Khan
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This surah is a Makki surah, made up of 3 aayaat. One of the shortest surahs',
but contains many lessons.
This is one of the Surahs' that begins with Oaths;
an Oath is used for something;
- Sacred
- Powerful
- Awe inspiring / Magnificent.
La tassubu ahadukum ad-Dahr, fa inAllaha huwa
ad-Dahr
Do not - anyone of you - curse time, because Allah is time.
This hadeeth was narrated by Muslim (5827) from Abu Hurayrah.
(al Khattabi, an-Nawawi, and Ibn Uthaymeen all said that this means that Allah
is the controller of time. [see IslamQA question no.26977.)
We should not criticize time, i.e. 'that was a horrible year.'
Ayah 1:
وَالْعَصْرِ
wa-al 'Asr
(I swear) By Time.
Allah is swearing by 'Asr, which is almost
synonymous to the word Dahr mentioned in the above hadith.
Dahr is also mentioned in the Qur'an, in surah Insaan (it is also called surah
Dahr).
هَلْ
أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ
الدَّهْرِ لَمْ
يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا
“Has there not been
over man a period of time, when he was not a thing worth mentioning?”
[al-Insaan 76:1]
So Allah by Swearing by al 'Asr implies;
1 - Allah is telling the human to reflect on
the passage of Time.
2 - Man is always in loss (ayah 2), based on the proof from ayah 1 that
time is always moving forward - and we humans can
never get back the time we have lost.
I.e. You had so much opportunities in life which you could do good in - to get
closer to Allah. You regret you didn't do them. However, we can change these
regrets into future intentions and strive to do good when opportunities come in
the future.
So the Oath and it's Response (ayah 2) are a proof for each other; Man being in loss,
and him admitting that he wasted his time.
3 - 'Asr refers to the life/durations (zamaan) of nations.
The rise and fall of nations is a proof of humans'
being in loss.
4 - The object of the Oath is a witness for the subject. I.e. Allah
calls a witness for the subject. Allah is bringing
time as a witness to the fact that many humans are in loss.
5 - Human beings' chase after the world which distract them from the
real purpose in life. (see tafseer surah at-Takathur).
People throughout history have chased after wealth, beautiful things, power
etc. People chased after all these things, thinking they will achieve success,
and while they were in that state - they died.
This same process has been repeating generation after generation, for thousands
of years, and there is one creation of Allah which has continuously been
witnessing all this. It is al 'Asr - the Time.
Time is a witness to the tragedy of the human being.
Linguistic Definition:
al 'Asr - [linguistically] time that is running out. Even salaat al 'Asr
(the prayer of 'Asr) is the last prayer of the day. (after
this it is Maghrib prayer/sunset prayer = the end of the day.)
'Asr was the time when the merchant and traveller were always in a hurry/rush,
because it was a time of danger.
Allah also swears by other Times in the Qur'an;
- وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا أَسْفَرَ
- was-subhi idha asfar - By the Morning as
it brightens [Muddathir 74:34]
- وَالْفَجْرِ -
wal fajri - I swear by the Dawn. -
[Surah Fajr 89:1]
- وَالضُّحَىٰ -
wad-duha - By the Morning Sun. -
[Surah Duha 93:1]
- وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ
- wan-nahari idha tajal-la - By the Day when
it is Brilliant. [al Layl 92:2]
But 'Asr is a time associated with Urgency.
Whatever Allah has to say now - it is a time of
Emergency. The sunset of our life is passing
by. The ending of our day/life is coming soon.
Muhammad Shafee': the Struggle of the human being
is like the one who is trying to sell ice.
It is melting away and he needs to sell it quickly and make as much sales
before the end of the day comes. Otherwise - all his valuables' and
efforts will go to waste.
[in the past - there were no Freezers, so your ice would melt into water by the
end of the day.]
Ayah 2:
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Inna al Insaana
La fee Khusrin
Indeed, man[kind]
is surely in loss,
Inna - no doubt (it talks to people who
might be doubtful - it removes doubt).
You would think this is referring to the disbeliever only, but it is referring
to all humans, each and every single human.
Insaan - Nisyaan - forgetfulness.
The human might be reminded he's in trouble - but soon he forgets.
Allah could use;
al Fard الفرد :
the Individual
an-Nafs النفس
- the person
an-Naas الناس
- people [collectively].
But;
Insaan الإنسان - Categorises ALL
human beings, but it is also used in the singular form - Human.
Diffusion of Responsibility:
If you talk generally to people - they assume someone else is to blame.
If you talk specifically to one person - they are more in fear because all the
blame and responsibility is upon them.
an-Naas: all mankind
Insaan: Each and every individual forgetful human being - you are in loss [in potential trouble]...
When the human hears this ayah - he thinks about himself. He forgets everybody
else, he fears for his own safety.
On Judgment Day - every human cares only for himself, except for Allah's
Messenger.
Those same people you might love and do haraam (forbidden) things for - they
will be running away from you on that Judgment Day.
When a person will want to sacrifice and throw everyone in the hellfire as a
ransom - so that he does not fall into it;
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ الْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ
يَفْتَدِي مِنْ
عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍ بِبَنِيهِ . وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَأَخِيهِ . وَفَصِيلَتِهِ الَّتِي تُؤْوِيهِ . وَمَن فِي
الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ. كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
They will be shown each other. The Day when
the criminal will desire to ransom himself with his children, his
wife and brother, and the relatives who sheltered him, and all who is on the
Earth altogether - so that it might save him. But no, it is the Flame
[hellfire.]
[Ma'arij 70:11-15]
So Allah is telling us to care about ourselves
specifically in this life by doing good, because on that Day - you will only
care about yourselves. And your good deeds in this life can
only be a source of benefit for you by Allah's Mercy on that Day.
We are in a state of Emergency. The day is ending - we need to gain as much good
(deeds) profit, before our ice melts.
Innal insaana la fee khusr.. - no doubt, the forgetful human is in loss
The companions of Allah's Messenger would never leave each other, except that
they would recite these aayaat of Surah 'Asr to each other to remind each other
not to waste time [lam yatafarraqa hattaa yaqra'a
surah 'Asr].
O Allah, make us like the noble Companions of your Messenger (sal Allah alayhi
wasalam). Ameen.
Ayah 2 continued:
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Inna al Insaana
La fee Khusrin
Indeed, man[kind]
is surely in loss,
No Doubt, the human being is in loss.
A statement can be empowered in arabic eloquence (Balagha).
This is a noun based sentence in comparison to verb based.
Verb based are usually used but if Noun form (Jumlah issmiyyah) are used
- then it has the most emphasis, because Nouns imply permanency.
Inna - no doubt. This is another
emphasis.
AL insan (THE human) - this is another emphasis which implies every human being
is in loss..
La - another Emphasis (= Surely).
It is used to swear on top of another Oath - to empower
another Oath.
fee Khusr (in
Loss) - another emphasis.
Because these [verb] terms could be used;
La khasir - ل خاسر - surely he is losing (verb form).
La qad khasira - ل قد خسر - surely he is already losing.
But by saying Khusr - it is a Noun form - which is more permanent and
powerful in useage as noun in comparison to it being in verb format.
Fee (In) - The one being in Khusr is like he is Emersed In Loss. Like he is drowning in it and
is not coming out of it.
al Madhdh-hari - the taNween ن at the end of KhusriN
makes it an INCREDIBLE Loss.
The Oath is a manifestation of Allah's intense
Anger that man is in loss.
3 Types describing Khusr are mentioned in the Qur'an;
Khusr / Khassaara / Khusraan.
Khusraan خسران - the ultimate loss.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ
And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by
good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face
[to the other direction]. He has lost
[this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the
manifest loss. [al Hajj 22:11]
Khassaar خسار - when you are in
trouble and you add to your trouble.
قَالَ نُوحٌ
رَّبِّ إِنَّهُمْ عَصَوْنِي وَاتَّبَعُوا مَن
لَّمْ يَزِدْهُ مَالُهُ وَوَلَدُهُ إِلَّا خَسَارًا
- they followed that which did not increase them in
wealth and children, except in loss [khassaara].
[Nuh 71:21]
They were already in trouble, and it added (zaada) to their trouble.
Khusr خسر
- the base form - generally - all humans are
in a state of tremendous loss.
Khasira - also implies; suffering, i.e. in business, investment, losing ALL your
money.
Also used to meant you were Conned/tricked/decieved
- leading you to a loss.
Antonym: Rahibat رهبه - increase in more
goodness / benefit and profit.
Al Insaan - (lil Jins - to all
human beings) - there is no exception - the entire category. A universal
statement.
The statement directly targets you.
az-Zamakhshari - people are in tremendous loss because of that which they
buy and sell in life (of good and bad), except for the Saaliheen (righteous).
O Allah, make us of the Saliheen (righteous), ameen.
Because the Saliheen buy for the next
life instead of for the pleasures of this life. And then they were profitable
and happy on Judgment Day, and whoever was an enemy to their buying - then he
was in loss and deaspair.
ash-Shawkani: Every human is in a state of
buying and selling than others.
He exhausts his ages (youth, middle age, seniority etc.) in purchasing
Allah's pleasure. Rushing in gathering Allah's reward.
Also refer to tafseer surah at-Takathur.
Some said; The Insaan in this ayah refers to the Kafir (disbeliever), and
others said a group of disbelievers; Waleed bin al Mugheerah, 'Aas
bin Wa'il, Aswad bin abdul Mu'tallib - those who aggressively opposed Allah's
Messenger.
ash-Shawkani - the preferred meaning is referring to the disbelievers.
al Akhfash said; - Khusr [loss] means Halaka
حالك [violent death].
Mawt موت - general death.
So the disbeliever is setting himself up for a violent death by being in this
loss.
al Farraa': A terrible ending ('uqooba عقوبة
- ones end which is scary so people take warning from it
[i.e. So the people say; 'I don't want to die like that'])
Ibn Zayd: La fee Khusr (surely in Loss) means La fee Sharr (surely in
Evil deeds).
ash-Shanqeeti: Insaan is singular but it
refers to all mankind.
Ibn Taymiyyah (as quoted by Muhammad Shafee' in Ma'arif al Qur'an):
Humanity is kept from accepting the truth of Islam by 2 obstacles;
1 - Shubuhaat (Doubts)
2 - Shahawaat (Temptations)
Either one of these lead people astray.
It is an intellectual problem (people feel answers by callers to Islam are not
satisfactory).
It is a psychological problem (people want to follow forbidden desires).
Ayah 3:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
Illa alladheena amanoo
wa AAamiloo assaalihaati watawaassaw bi-alhaqqi
watawaassaw bi-as-sabr
Except for those who have believed and done righteous
deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each
other to patience.
Wa ta waassaww bil Haqq - and they enjoin
upon each other the truth. (This get's rid of the intellectual problem.)
Wa ta waassaww bil Sabr - and they enjoin
upon each other patience. (This encourages people to remain upon the truth even
through tempting times.)
In these 2 aayaat - Allah has depicted that humans are so preoccupied by their
personal problems (kabad كبد
- toil/labour).
When humans completely immerse themselves in their own problems - they forget that the hardship they have in this life is
nothing compared to the ones which will come in the next life.
When you forget the next life - you exaggerate in your worry about the
problems of this life. Which puts you in loss, in addition to further loss
of not preparing for the next life.
Brother Nouman mention's a story in his own life; When once he was
Extremely worried:
His basement got flooded once, and he was extremely worried. So he called a
Somalian brother to help him.
The Somalian brother told him not to worry. "You cannot fight water, it
drowned Pharoah" he said. He then told his story of how when he was 5yrs
old - his village got raided in Somalia and all his family got executed. He
then hid on the back of a donkey at that age and fled to another village.
He then met with a Shaykh who taught him, and the boy also travelled across
half of Africa. He learnt Engineering, and Electricity - from there he came to
America, and now helps the Muslim community.
So brother Nouman remembered that his cellar problem was nothing compared to
what this - positive minded brother - had told him of his lifestory.
When humans are preoccupied with their own lives, they lose out on 3 things;
1 - They forget the lessons/signs in the creations of Allah to remember
your Creator, what you owe Him and what you should prepare. What are the real
problems you should face and avoid?
(these responsibilities become more to you important than temporary worldly
issues). You think long term for the next life and its reality.
2 - Lessons in History - how many people came in previous generations
and have gone. This is why Allah mentions all the nations of the past by saying
wal 'Asr.
(min qabli an ya'tiya azaabun aleem - before you are given a painful punishment
- quran)
3 - Lessons of the Revelation. You forget to follow and aspire to the
guidance.
By thinking about how to upbring yourself and your family and society - you will
refer to the Qur'an and Prophetic way - since you will realise that is the best
guidance.
Shah Waliullah Dehlwi: in At-Tadhkeer bi ayyaamillah - Remembrance
of the Days of Allah.
By Allah saying; Wa-al 'Asr - We will remember the special Days of Allah.
The Days when; Allah created the human being (Adam), the Day He revealed the
Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad, the Day Allah drowned the disbelievers of Prophet
Nuh, the Day Allah destroyed Pharoah and saved Moses, the Day of Badr, the Day
when Allah spoke to Musa/Moses.
The Day of Judgment, the Day the believers will see Allah.
By saying al 'Asr - we will remember these Days so we will not want to be in
loss.
Hammeedu al-Deen Farraahi: One of the lessons of this surah is that alot of
people see historical sites, which are a sign of destroyed nations.
So when we see the legacies; the Pyramids, the
Mountain homes of Thamood, and the great buildings and nations of power who
have died - we realise that Allah destroyed them through time.
This is a reminder of; Inna al insaana la fee Khusrin - surely man is
in loss.
Allah replies to such people;
ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوا أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن
قَبْلُ مَا
لَكُم مِّن
زَوَالٍ
Were you not of those who would swear before that your time of downfall
will not come? (Ibraheem 14:44)
Even visiting the ancient sites and ruins is a reminder of; wal 'Asr (by the
time) innal insaana la fee khusr (surely man is in loss).
Humans have many sufferings, sometimes even more than animals;
Physical and also Psychological sufferings.
يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ -
O forgetful human, no doubt you are struggling to your Lord, a struggle, and
you will meet Him.
[Inshiqaq 84:6]
I.e. You feel sad when your extended family members are ill, animals do not
have this.
Allah is telling us that man is in loss in this life and the next life, unless
they have Emaan and encourage good deeds and encourage patience. For these
people - Allah has saved them from loss in this life and the next.
Remember - linguistically - all this surah is one sentence.
Ayah 3 continued - Linguistic Definitions:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
Illa alladheena amanoo
wa AAamiloo assaalihaati watawaassaw bi-alhaqqi
watawaassaw bi-as-sabr
Except for those who have believed and done righteous
deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each
other to patience.
il-laa - except (this word is used for exception).
So the majority are not those who believe, do good, enjoin the truth and enjoin
on each other patience.
The majority are losers, even if we cannot percieve it in this life.
رواه مسلم
(145) عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ
: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
: ( بَدَأَ الإِسْلامُ غَرِيبًا ، وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا ، فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ ) .
Islam began as something strange, and it will
return to something strange - so Tooba/success (or a tree called Tooba in
Paradise) to the strangers. [Sahih
Muslim. #145]
So obeying Allah in times of strangeness brings greater reward from Allah.
Because the greater the hardship - the greater the
reward.
Insaan was used in ayah 2; which is singular
[yet can also imply plural] - so people think
individually about themselves being in loss. If it was plural (al Naas)
- the human would think someone else is in loss [diffusion of responsibility].
Even though singular human (insan) was mentioned, it implied; every single human - individually - is in loss.
In the end - you might think you're on the correct way without guidance because
everyone else is doing it, but you alone will be in
Loss on Judgment Day - and none will be able to help you.
وَتَقَطَّعَتْ بِهِمُ الْأَسْبَابُ
-
All relations and means [asbaab] will be cut off for them [al
Baqarah 2:166].
But when it came to the exception, Allah did not use singular - He used the
plural instead.
These few people who will follow the truth - they will only survive if they
remain connected to the Ummah (Islamic united nation). Emaan (belief) is boosted with enjoining the truth and
enjoining good together.
Allah is telling us that uniting with the Muslims collectively will increase
you in Emaan.
Laa illaaha illAllah unites people no
matter what differing backgrounds we come from.
They have Emaan;
The fruit of Emaan = Tranquility: (even if we lose our
worldly possessions - we do not worry, we know we there is a greater good
waiting for us if we remain sincere to Allah.)
فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ
- (..then what is the life of this world in comparison to the next life
except a little?)
[at-Tawba 9:38]
You are at Peace with your life and with Allah because
you know that everything belongs to Him, so whatever you gain or lose - you are
thankful, not worrying that it is yours to lose. Rather, Allah loves you
and He is deciding what is better for you.
This is why we say;
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Who, when disaster strikes them, say; "Indeed
we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return." [Innaa lillahi
wa inna alayhi Raji'oon] (al Baqarah 2:156)
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ -
'alaa bi dhikrillahi tattma'inna al quloob -
..upon the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.
[ar-Ra'd 13:28]
When you have this Tranquility - you are not in loss, unlike the people who are
always running after this world.
The Story of a Brother in Success, and a brother in Loss
Brother Nouman mentions a story of a brother who had many many expensive cars
and they paid for them in cash so they did not have to pay for them in Riba
(usury/interest).
One day - the hurricane of Katrina happened and all them cars got destroyed.
Except one which they had escaped with.
the brother met up with Nouman and had a smile on his face. Nouman asked him
why he was smiling after this hardship? The brother told him that he now had
more time to go to the masjid instead of business, and now he sold pizza. And
he could spend more time with family.
That is success.
He also mentions the story of a Muslim boy who wanted to get married to another
girl, but she was going to get married to someone else - so he jumped off a
bridge and committed suicide. That is loss.
Tranquility is only truly gained in life through belief in Allah.
'aml - action with intent
fi'l - action without intent
Saalihaat - salaha - to reconcile
and rectify. An adjective.
Literal Translation; 'They do goods'.
al a'maal - broken plural - supposed to have feminine plural.
Ta marboota - many many good deeds.
Without the ta marboota - a few good deeds. Saalihaat - a few good deeds.
As-Saalihata الصالحات -
would imply many do good deeds.
So Allah is telling us we have to do a few good
things, atleast at the basic level. Allah is just hinting at that
(atleast a minimum). The very basics which everyone knows [i.e. salaah, zakaah,
etc] - they do them at minimum.
This word has luzoom لزوم (infinitive)
and ta'adi تعدي
in it - transitive and intransitivie.
Saalih - one that corrects.
Correct and good actions - the job and its consequence are correct with good
results. (lazim)
Muta'adi متعدي
would imply; becomes good.
I.e. The one who does them - becomes good.
This saalihaat could be a description of action,
and its consequence is being good.
So Allah is implying; if you want to be a better person - do good
actions and you will be a good person.
Good deeds are being described like medicine - which are making you better and
better, and if you abandon them good deeds - the sickness comes back.
All this is embedded in the one word; Saalihaat.
Tawwaassi - wassahu وصح /wass-ssaahu
وصاح ,
awssaahu أوصاه
- to charge someone, command them, encourage them
(i.e. emotional encouragement - heart to heart.)
i.e. "I'm telling you, make salaah, it's good for you in this life and the
next."
This is tawwaassu - from Wassiya - to leave a will - for a loved one. It
will benefit those who have gone.
In a Wassiyya - You are leaving these important words because you are
about to die, so you don't have alot of time left, so people need to hear your
last words.
This word signifies; sincere loving advice, Urgency,
telling the truth.
Wassiyya also implies - when you die, you pass on alot of your valuable
wealth and property to someone else.
So Allah is using this word to imply that we give sincere, loving,
and valuable advice.
You are handing them a treasure of advice which will really be of benefit to
them, just like wealth and property is benficial to the inheritor.
The second implication of Tawwaassaw is; things that are done mutually
(ishtiraaq) - when you give someone good advice, they might advise you back.
They might even reply to you back in a loud voice i.e. "Well you don't
do that other good!"
So you would humble yourself and say; "Yes, i should be doing that
aswell".
I.e. It is a two way sharing of advice, which - if you give, you should be
waiting to recieve back aswell.
The Story of 'Umar ibn al Khattab
We see many examples of this in the character and life of 'Umar bin al Khattab.
This is why he would always say "Everybody knows more than 'Umar."
Once, he was walking by a house and he looks through the window (he would only
do this to forbid the evil or to enjoin the good) and sees a man drinking
alcohol. So he breaks through and tells him it is Haraam (forbidden).
He says - I did 1 haraam, but you did 3 haraams'.
You first looked into my house (invaded my privacy), second you came into my
house without my permission, and third - you made an assumption about me
drinking alcohol without proof.
Umar said; You're right, and he walks away.
A few weeks pass by; and Umar is giving a khutbah/speech in the Masjid, and the
same man walks in to the Masjid. He sits at the back.
After the Khutbah finished - Umar met up with the man quietly and said that
I stopped looking into peoples houses and i didn't tell anyone about you
either.
So the man replied - ever since that day - i've stopped drinking [alcohol].
You advise someone, and they advise you back. Even if they advise you in a way
which you don't like.
Because even if there is a truth in it - you accept it. This shows sincerety in
following the truth.
This is part of the Tawwaasiy.
ash-Shawkani: These people gather and combine between Emaan and good
action.
Emaan and good deeds work together. They Both strengthen each other.
When you fulfill all the 4 attributes - then you have stronger Emaan (belief,
good deeds, enjoining truth and patience.)
If you have none - you probably don't have Emaan.
قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الْإِيمَانُ فِي
قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ لَا
يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَالِكُمْ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet]
believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered
your hearts. And if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you
from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
[Hujuraat 49: 14]
az-Zamakhshari:
tawaassaw bil haqq - includes tawheed, obedience to Allah and His
Messenger, being distant for worldly ambitions, and inclination to the
hereafter.
ash-Shawkani:
they enjoin and advise each other with the truth that deserves to be
established and implemented.
Qatadah: bil haqq (with truth) refers to advising
each other with the Qur'an.
Reminding each other through the Qur'an.
With tawheed, and most people understand it to be any good and any truth to be
lived by.
Ibn Katheer: aladheena aamanoo (believe - with their hearts), wa
'amilu as-salihaat (do good deeds - with their limbs), and they enjoin each
other to the truth by doing and enjoining on others to do acts of obedience and
to abandon all that is forbidden, and they enjoin
each other to perseverance against all calamities and they held to and advised
to Emaan with perseverance whenever they were tortured for enjoining the truth.
ash-Shanqeeti; tawwaassaw bil haq - telling
each other about the truth after doing good deeds.
The 'amil as-saalihaat was good deeds - general ('aam), and enjoining the truth
was khaas (specific).
az-Zamakhshari: Watawaasaw bis-sabr (enjoin
upon each other perseverence) - sabr
over whatever Allah tests His slave with, perseverence in obedience to
Allah, and in times of temptation.
Allah put sabr at the end and haq first, and enjoining the haq as more
important. And more noble.
ash-Shanqeeti: as-Sabireen - whenever a
situation of patience is required - this person is patient. Through all
circumstances.
We should strive to be of the Sabireen. O Allah, make us of the Sabireen,
ameen.
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