Children of Israel, The Israelites — Verse 49

17:49 · al-Isra`

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وَقَالُوۤا۟ أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـٰمࣰا وَرُفَـٰتًا أَءِنَّا لَمَبۡعُوثُونَ خَلۡقࣰا جَدِیدࣰا ۝٤٩
waqālū a-idhā kunnā ʿiẓāman warufātan a-innā lamabʿūthūna khalqan jadīda
Children of Israel, The Israelites / al-Isra` (17:49)
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Abdel Haleem

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They also say, ‘What? When we are turned to bones and dust, shall we really be raised up in a new act of creation?’
waqālū a-idhā kunnā ʿiẓāman warufātan a-innā lamabʿūthūna khalqan jadīda

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Tafsir Commentary

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Refutation of Those Who do not believe in Life after Death Allah tells us about the disbelievers who think it very unlikely that the Resurrection will happen and who say, in a tone of denial, أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً وَرُفَـتاً (When we are bones and fragments.) meaning earth. This was the view of Mujahid. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that it means dust. أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقاً جَدِيداً (should we really be resurrected (to be) a new creation) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection after we have disintegrated and become nothing, and have been forgotten. Allah tells us about them elsewhere: يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى الْحَـفِرَةِ - أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـماً نَّخِرَةً - قَالُواْ تِلْكَ إِذاً كَرَّةٌ خَـسِرَةٌ (They say: "Shall we indeed be returned to (our) former state of life Even after we are crumbled bones" They say: "It would in that case, be a return with loss!") (79:10-12). And, وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ (And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation.) until the end of two Ayat. (36:78-79) Allah commands His Messenger to respond to them, so He says: قُلْ كُونُواْ حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيداً (Say (O Muhammad): "Be you stones or iron,") - which are more difficult to restore than bones and fragments, أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِى صُدُورِكُمْ (Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.) Ibn Ishaq narrated from Ibn Abi Najih from Mujahid: "I asked Ibn `Abbas about that, and he said: `This is death."' `Atiyah reported that Ibn `Umar explained of this Ayah: "If you were dead I would still resurrect you." This was also the view of Sa`id bin Jubayr, Abu Salih, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and others. This means that if you were to assume that you would become dead, which is the opposite of living, Allah will resurrect you when He wills, for nothing can stop Him when He wills a thing. أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِى صُدُورِكُمْ (Or some created thing that is yet greater (or harder) in your breasts.) Mujahid said: "This means the heavens, earth and mountains." According to another report, "Whatever you want to be, go ahead, Allah will still resurrect you after you die." فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا (Then, they will say: "Who shall bring us back (to life)") meaning, who will resurrect us if we are stones or iron or some other strong created thing قُلِ الَّذِى فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ (Say: "He Who created you first!") meaning, He Who created you when you were nothing, then you became human beings, walking about. He is able to create you anew, no matter what you have become. وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ (And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him.) 30:27 فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُؤُوسَهُمْ (Then, they will shake their heads at you) Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah said, "They will move their heads in a gesture of mockery." This view expressed by Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah is what the Arabs understand from the language, because the word used Fasayunghidun indicates an up-and-down movement Nughad. A word derived from the same root, Naghd, is used to refer to the young of the ostrich, because when it walks, it walks quickly and moves its head. The same word is used to describe a tooth when it becomes loose and is detached from its place. وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هُوَ (and say: "When will that be") This shows that they thought it very unlikely that it would happen, as Allah says: وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ (And they say: "When will this promise (i.e. Resurrection) be fulfilled, if you are truthful") (36:48) يَسْتَعْجِلُ بِهَا الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهَا (Those who believe not therein seek to hasten it the Hour) 42:18 قُلْ عَسَى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا (Say: "Perhaps it is near!") meaning, beware of it, for it is at hand and will no doubt come to you, and what will be will be. يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ (On the Day when He will call you,) meaning the Lord, may He be blessed and exalted: إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ دَعْوَةً مِّنَ الاٌّرْضِ إِذَآ أَنتُمْ تَخْرُجُونَ (When He will call you by a single call, behold, you will come out from the earth) 30:25 meaning, when He commands you to come out from the earth, for nothing can oppose Him or prevent His command from being fulfilled. Rather, it is as He says: وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلاَّ وَحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ (And Our commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye) (54:50) إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ (Verily, Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" - and it is) (16:40) فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌ وَحِدَةٌ - فَإِذَا هُم بِالسَّاهِرَةِ (But it will be only a single Zajrah. When behold, they find themselves (on the surface of the earth) alive (after their death).) (79:13-14), meaning, it will be just one definitive command, then the people will have come out from the inside of the earth to its surface, as Allah says: يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ فَتَسْتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمْدِهِ (On the Day when He will call you, and you will answer with (words of) His praise) meaning, you will all rise up in response to His command and in obedience to His will. وَتَظُنُّونَ (and you will think) means, on the Day when you rise up from your graves, إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ (that you have stayed) in this earthly abode, إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً (but a little while.) This is like the Ayah: كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا (The Day they see it, (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an afternoon or a morning.) (79:46). Allah says: يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى الصُّورِ وَنَحْشُرُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ يَوْمِئِذٍ زُرْقاً - يَتَخَـفَتُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ عَشْراً - نَّحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ يَوْماً (The Day when the Trumpet will be blown: that Day, We shall gather the blue or blind-eyed with thirst. They will speak in a very low voice to each other (saying): "You stayed not longer than ten (days)." We know very well what they will say, when the best among them in knowledge and wisdom will say: "You stayed no longer than a day!") (20:102-104). وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُواْ غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ كَذَلِكَ كَانُواْ يُؤْفَكُونَ (And on the Day that the Hour will be established, they will swear that they stayed not but an hour - thus were they ever deluded.) (30:55) قَـلَ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ - قَالُواْ لَبِثْنَا يَوْماً أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ فَاسْأَلِ الْعَآدِّينَ - قَالَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً لَّوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (He will say: "What number of years did you stay on earth" They will say: "We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account." He will say: "You stayed not but a little, if you had only known!") (23:112-114).
Tafsir al-Jalalayn
And they say in denial of the Resurrection ‘What when we are bones and fragments shall we really be raised up in a new creation?’
Tafsir Muyassar
وقال المشركون منكرين أن يُخْلَقوا خَلْقًا جديدًا بعد أن تبلى عظامهم، وتصير فُتاتًا: أئِنا لمبعوثون يوم القيامة بعثًا جديدًا؟
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
يقول تعالى مخبرا عن الكفار المستبعدين وقوع المعاد القائلين استفهام إنكار منهم لذلك "أئذا كنا عظاما ورفاتا" أي ترابا قاله مجاهد وقال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما غبارا "أئنا لمبعوثون خلقا جديدا" أي يوم القيامة بعد ما بلينا وصرنا عدما لا نذكر كما أخبر عنهم في الموضع الآخر "يقولون أئنا لمردودون في الحافرة أئذا كنا عظاما نخرة قالوا تلك إذا كرة خاسرة" وقوله تعالى "وضرب لنا مثلا ونسي خلقه" الآيتين فأمر الله سبحانه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يجيبهم.
Tafsir Al Wasit
( أو ) كونوا ( خلقا ) أى : مخلوقا سوى الحجارة والحديد ( مما يكبر ) أى : يعظم ويستبعد - ( فى صدوركم ) المظلمة - قبوله للحياة ، قل لهم : كونوا أى شئ من ذلك أو غيره إن استطعتم ، فإن الله - تعالى - لا يعجزه أن يعيدكم إلى الحياة مرة أخرى ، لكى يحاسبكم على أعمالكم ، ويجازيكم عليها بما تستحقون من عقاب .فالمقصود من الجملة الكريمة ، بيان أن قدرة الله - تعالى - لا يعجزها شئ . .قال الجمل : أجابهم الله - تعالى - بما معناه : تحولوا بعد الموت إلى أى صفة تزعمون أنها أشد منافاة للحياة ، وأبعد عن قبولها ، كصفة الحجرية والحديدية ونحوهما . فليس المراد الأمر ، بل المراد أنكم لو كنتم كذلك لما أعجزتم الله - تعالى - عن الإِعادة .وقوله - تعالى - : ( فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا ) أى : فسيقولون لك - أيها الرسول الكريم - من يعيدنا إلى الحياة مرة أخرى بعد أن نكون حجارة أو حديدا أو غيرهما؟ .وقوله - سبحانه - : ( قُلِ الذي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ) رد على جهالاتهم وإنكارهم للبعث والحساب .أى : قل لهم : الله - تعالى - الذى فطركم وخلقكم ، أول مرة ، على غير مثال سابق ، قادر على أن يعيدكم الى الحياة مرة أخرى . كما قال - تعالى - : ( وَهُوَ الذي يَبْدَأُ الخلق ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَهُ المثل الأعلى فِي السماوات والأرض وَهُوَ العزيز الحكيم ) ثم بين - سبحانه - ما يكون منهم من استهزاء وسوء أدب عندما يسمعون من الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم هذه الإِجابات السديدة ، فقال : ( فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُؤُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ متى هُوَ . . . ) .أى : فسيحركون إليك رءوسهم عندما يسمعون ردك عليهم ، ويقولون على سبيل الاستهزاء والسخرية والتكذيب : متى هو؟ أى ما ذكرته من الإِعادة بعد الموت ، أو متى هو ذلك اليوم الذى سنعود فيه إلى الحياة بعد أن نصير عظاما ورفاتا .فالجملة الكريمة تصور تصويرا بليغا ما جبلوا عليه من تكذيب بيوم القيامة ومن استهزاء بمن يذكرهم بأحوال ذلك اليوم العصيب . ومن استبعاد لحصوله كما قال - تعالى - : حكاية عنهم فى آية أخرى : ( وَيَقُولُونَ متى هذا الوعد إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ) وقوله - تعالى - : ( قُلْ عسى أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيباً ) تذييل قصد به التهديد والوعيد لهم .أى : قل لهم - أيها الرسول الكريم - على سبيل التأنيب والوعيد : عسى هذا اليوم الذى تستبعدون حصوله ، يكون قريبا جدا وقوعه .ولا شك فى أنه قريب ، لأن عسى فى كلام الله - تعالى - لما هو محقق الوقوع ، وكل ما هو محقق الوقوع فهو قريب ، ولأن الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : " بعثت أنا والساعة كهاتين " - وأشار بالسبابة والوسطى .
Tafsir al-Tabari
يقول تعالى ذكره مخبرا عن قيل هؤلاء الذين لا يؤمنون بالآخرة من مشركي قريش، وقالوا بعنتهم: (أئِذَا كُنَّا عِظاما) لم نتحطم ولم نتكسَّر بعد مماتنا وبلانا(وَرُفاتا) يعني ترابا في قبورنا.كما حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى؛ وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعا عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، يقول الله (رُفاتا) قال: ترابا.حدثنا القاسم، قال: ثنا الحسين، قال: ثني حجاج، عن ابن جريج، عن مجاهد، مثله.حدثني المثنى، قال: ثنا عبد الله، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، في قوله ( وَقَالُوا أَئِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا ) يقول: غُبارا، ولا واحد للرُّفات، وهو بمنـزلة الدُّقاق والحُطَام، يقال منه: رُفت يُرْفت رَفْتا فهو مرفوت: إذا صُير كالحُطام والرُّضاض.وقوله ( أَئِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا ) قالوا، إنكارا منهم للبعث بعد الموت: إنا لمبعوثون بعد مصيرنا في القبور عظاما غير منحطمة، ورفاتا منحطمة، وقد بَلِينا فصرنا فيها ترابا، خلقا مُنْشَأ كما كنا قبل الممات جديدا، نعاد كما بدئنا، فأجابهم جلّ جلاله يعرّفهم قُدرته على بعثه إياهم بعد مماتهم، وإنشائه لهم كما كانوا قبل بِلاهم خلقا جديدا، على أيّ حال كانوا من الأحوال، عظاما أو رُفاتا، أو حجارة أو حديدا، أو غير ذلك مما يعظُم عندهم أن يحدث مثله خَلْقا أمثالَهم أحياء، قل يا محمد كونوا حجارة أو حديدا، أو خلقا مما يكبر في صدوركم.
Tafseer Al-Baghawi
( وقالوا أئذا كنا عظاما ( بعد الموت ، ( ورفاتا ( قال مجاهد : ترابا وقيل : حطاما . و " الرفات " : كل ما تكسر وبلى من كل شيء كالفتات والحطام . ( أئنا لمبعوثون خلقا جديدا )
Tafseer Tanwir al-Miqbas
يجوز أن يكون جملة { وقالوا } معطوفة على جملة { قل لو كان معه آلهة كما تقولون } [ الإسراء : 42 ] باعتبار ما تشتمل عليه من قوله : كما تقولون لقصد استئصال ضلالة أخرى من ضلالاتهم بالحجّة الدامِغة ، بعد استئصال الّتي قبلها بالحجة القاطعة بقوله قل لو كان معه آلهة كما تقولون الآية وما بينهما بمنزلة الاعتراض .ويجوز أن تكون عطفاً على جملة { إذ يقول الظالمون إن تتبعون إلا رجلاً مسحوراً } [ الإسراء : 47 ] التي مضمونها مظروف للنجوى ، فيكون هذا القول مما تَنَاجَوْا به بينهم ، ثم يجهرون بإعلانه ويعُدونه حجتهم على التكذيب .والاستفهام إنكاري .وتقديم الظرف من قوله : { أئذا كنا عظاماً } للاهتمام به لأن مضمونه هو دليل الاستحالة في ظنهم ، فالإنكار متسلط على جملة { أئنا لمبعوثون }. وقوة إنكار ذلك مقيد بحالة الكون عظاماً ورفاتاً ، وأصل تركيب الجملة : أإنا لمبعوثون إذا كنا عظاماً ورفاتاً .وليس المقصود من الظرف التقييد ، لأن الكون عظاماً ورفاتاً ثابت لكل من يموت فيبعث .والبعث : الإرسال . وأطلق هنا على إحياء الموتى ، لأن الميت يشبه الماكث في عدم مبارحة مكانه .والعظام : جمع عظم ، وهوما منه تركيب الجسد للإنسان والدواب . ومعنى { كنا عظاماً } أنهم عظام لا لحم عليها .والرفات : الأشياء المرفوتة ، أي المفتتة . يقال : رفَت الشيء إذا كسره كِسراً دقيقة . ووزن فُعال يدل على مفعول أفعال التجزئة مثل الدقاق والحُطام والجُذاذ والفُتات .و { خلقاً جديداً } حال من ضمير «مبعوثون» . وذكر الحال لتصوير استحالة البعث بعد الفناء لأن البعث هو الإحياء ، فإحياء العظام والرفات محال عندهم ، وكَوْنهم خلقاً جديداً أدخل في الاستحالة .والخلق : مصدر بمعنى المفعول ، ولكونه مصدراً لم يتبع موصوفه في الجمع .
Tafseer Al Saddi
يخبر تعالى عن قول المنكرين للبعث وتكذيبهم به واستبعادهم بقولهم: { أَئِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا } أي: أجسادا بالية { أَئِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا } أي: لا يكون ذلك وهو محال بزعمهم، فجهلوا أشد الجهل حيث كذبوا رسل الله وجحدوا آيات الله وقاسوا قدرة خالق السماوات والأرض بقدرتهم الضعيفة العاجزة. فلما رأوا أن هذا ممتنع عليهم لا يقدرون عليه جعلوا قدرة الله كذلك. فسبحان من جعل خلقا من خلقه يزعمون أنهم أولو العقول والألباب مثالا في جهل أظهر الأشياء وأجلاها وأوضحها براهين وأعلاها ليرى عباده أنه ما ثم إلا توفيقه وإعانته أو الهلاك والضلال. { رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ }
Tafseer Al Qurtubi
قوله تعالى : وقالوا أئذا كنا عظاما ورفاتا أئنا لمبعوثون خلقا جديدا [ ص: 246 ] قوله تعالى : وقالوا أئذا كنا عظاما ورفاتا أي قالوا وهم يتناجون لما سمعوا القرآن وسمعوا أمر البعث : لو لم يكن مسحورا مخدوعا لما قال هذا . قال ابن عباس : الرفات الغبار . مجاهد : التراب . والرفات ما تكسر وبلي من كل شيء ; كالفتات والحطام والرضاض ; عن أبي عبيدة والكسائي والفراء والأخفش . تقول منه : رفت الشيء رفتا ، أي حطم ; فهو مرفوت .أئنا لمبعوثون خلقا جديدا أئنا استفهام والمراد به الجحد والإنكار . وخلقا نصب لأنه مصدر ; أي بعثا جديدا . وكان هذا غاية الإنكار منهم .
Tazkirul Quran
Man’s first existence clearly proves the possibility of his second existence, or re-creation, on the Day of Judgement. One who believes in the first creation of man has no real argument to back up his denial of man’s second creation in the Hereafter. Furthermore, the concept of man’s second creation is not at all difficult to understand for those who regard human beings as an amalgam of material elements, for the cells in the human body keep on breaking down and being replaced by new ones. In this world known to us, man’s material existence is repeatedly terminated only to be rebuilt again and again through this continuous replacement of cells. In this way, man’s body continually renews itself. It is said that every ten years the cells in our body replace themselves and a new body comes into being. The truth is what we already believe in and comprehend before death through our knowledge of the functioning of cells, i.e. what we have time and again experienced before death. Doomsday is, in actual fact, the name of that day when the veil of the unseen is torn asunder and God in all His Power and Majesty appears before us. When this happens, the deniers will also be compelled to do what a true believer does today, namely, believe in God and life in the Hereafter. At that time all humanity will rush towards God in acknowledgement of His power and greatness.
Ma'arif-ul-Quran
Commentary Can Magic affect a Prophet? A prophet being affected by magic is as possible as being affected by sickness. Therefore, blessed prophets are not devoid of or detached from human characteristics. For instance, they could be wounded, run temperature or feel pain. Similarly, they could also be affected by magic because, that too, is triggered by the influence of physical causes, such as those of the Jinn. And it also stands proved from Hadith that there was an occasion when the Holy Prophet ﷺ was affected by magic. As for the disbelievers calling him 'bewitched' ('mashur' ) in verse 47 which the Qur'an has refuted for the reason that they really meant to call him 'insane.' (Bayan al-Qur'an) Therefore, the Hadith of magic is not contradictory.1 1. Moreover, the magic or sorcery can affect a prophet only to cause a physical illness. It can never have an adverse effect on performing their functions as prophets. The disbelievers used to call the Holy Prophet ﷺ t 'bewitched person' in this later sense which was totally impossible in his case, while the hadith refers to the physical illness suffered by the Holy Prophet ﷺ which was caused by an act of magic. (Muhammad Taqi Usmani) The subject taken up in the first two verses (45, 46) has a particular event as a background. According to al-Qurtubi reporting on the authority of Sayyidna Said ibn Jubayr ؓ ، when Surah al-Masad/al-Lahab (iii) beginning with: تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ was revealed in the Qur'an, it also condemned the wife of Abu Lahab. She went to the place where the Holy Prophet ﷺ used to sit with his Companions. At that time, Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ was present there. Noticing her coming well ahead of her arrival, he said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ "if you move away from here, it will be better. This woman has a sharp tongue. She will say things which may cause you pain." He said, "no, Allah Ta` ala will put a curtain between me and her." So, she reached there but when she could not see the Holy Prophet ﷺ anywhere around, she turned towards Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ and said, your companion has satirized us in poetry." Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ said, "By Allah, he is no composer of poetry, much less that of the kind in which people are satirized (hajw)." Thereupon, she left in a huff saying, "you are no more than a verifier for him." After she was gone, Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ submitted, "didn't she see you?" He said, "as long as she was here, an angel kept obstructing the view between me and her." A Qur'anic formula of remaining hidden from enemy sight 'On occasions when the Holy Prophet ﷺ wished to remain hidden from the sight of the Mushriks,' says Sayyidna Ka` b ؓ ، 'he would recite three verses of the Holy Qur’ an. Such was its effect that the disbelievers were unable to see him.' Those three verses are: 1. إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرً‌ا (Surely, We have put covers on their hearts, so that they do not understand it, and deafness in their ears - Surah al-Kahf, 18:57). 2. أُولَـٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِ‌هِمْ (Those are the ones Allah has put a seal on whose hearts and hearing and vision - Surah an-Nahl, 16:108). 3. أَفَرَ‌أَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَـٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَىٰ بَصَرِ‌هِ غِشَاوَةً (Have you seen the one who has taken his own desire as god while Allah has let him go astray because of knowledge [ his or His ] and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and placed over his vision a veil - Surah al-Jathiyah, 45:23). Sayyidna Ka'b ؓ says that he related this thing about the Holy Prophet ﷺ to a Syrian who had to go to adjoining Byzantium on a certain business. He went there and stayed for a long time until the local disbelievers started harassing him. When he escaped from there, they pursued him. At that time, he remembered that narrative and recited the three verses identified there. It so happened as if a screen was placed on their eyes why they could not see this person who was walking on the same pathway the enemies were passing by. Imam Tha` labi says that he related this narrative of Sayyidna Ka` b ؓ to a resident of the town of R'ay. It so happened that he was put under arrest by the disbelievers of Dailam. For some time he remained under detention with them. One day he got his chance to escape. They pursued him, but this person also recited those three verses. The effect was immediate. Allah Ta’ ala screened their eyes in a manner that they were unable to see him - though, they were walking side by side with their clothes touching his clothes. Imam al-Qurtubi (رح) says that the verses from Surah Ya Sin which were recited by the Holy Prophet ﷺ at the time of Hijrah may also be added to the three verses cited above. This was when the Mushsriks of Makkah had besieged his house. He recited those verses and went right through them. In fact, he went by throwing dust on their heads and none of them knew anything about it. Those verses of Surah Ya Seen are: بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ يس ﴿1﴾ وَالْقُرْ‌آنِ الْحَكِيمِ ﴿2﴾ إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْ‌سَلِينَ ﴿3﴾ عَلَىٰ صِرَ‌اطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿4﴾ تَنزِيلَ الْعَزِيزِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ ﴿5﴾ لِتُنذِرَ‌ قَوْمًا مَّا أُنذِرَ‌ آبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ ﴿6﴾ لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِ‌هِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿7﴾ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلَالًا فَهِيَ إِلَى الْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ ﴿8﴾ وَجَعَلْنَا مِن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُ‌ونَ ﴿9﴾ With the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the Very-Merciful Ya Seen. By the wise Qur'an, surely you [ 0 Muhammad ] are from among the messengers, on a straight path. [ This is ] a revelation of the Mighty, the Very Merciful, that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are unaware. The word has already taken effect against most of them, so they do not believe. Surely, We have placed shackles on their necks reaching down to their chins, so they are with heads forced high up. And We have placed before them an obstruction and behind them an obstruction and covered them, so they do not see - Surah Ya Seen, 36: 1-9) Imam al-Qurtubi (رح) says that he himself went through an incident in the Manthur Castle of al-Qartubah in his own country of al-Andalus (Spain). I ran in front of the enemy and sat in a corner. The enemy sent two horsemen after me. I was on open grounds. There was nothing to obstruct the view between us. But, I was reciting these verses of Surah Ya Sin. Both these horsemen passed by me. Then they went back towards where they had come from, saying, 'this person must be some devil,' because they could not see me. Allah Ta’ ala had turned them blind as far as I was concerned. (Qurtubi)
Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn 'Abbas
(And they say) i.e. al-Nadr Ibn al-Harth and his host: (When we are) rotten (bones and fragments) scattered dust, (shall we, forsooth, be raised up) shall we be revived (as a new creation) shall the spirit be renewed in us after death?
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