The Cow — Verse 112

The Hopes of the People of the Book Allah made the confusion of the Jews and the Christians clear, since they claim that no one will enter Paradise, unless he is a Jew or a Christian. Similarly, Allah mentioned their claims in Surat Al-Ma'idah: نَحْنُ أَبْنَاءُ اللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ (We are the children of Allah and His loved ones) (5:18). Allah refuted this false claim and informed them that they will be punished because of their sins. Previously we mentioned their claim that the Fire would not touch them for more than a few days, after which they would be put in Paradise. Allah rebuked this claim, and He said about this baseless claim, m تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ (These are their own desires). Abu Al-`Aliyah commented, "These are wishes that they wished Allah would answer, without basis." Similar was stated by Qatadah and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas. Allah then said, قُلْ (Say) meaning, "Say O Muhammad:" هَاتُواْ بُرْهَـنَكُمْ ("Produce your Burhan...") meaning, "Your proof", as Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, As-Suddi and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas stated. Qatadah said that the Ayah means, "Bring the evidence that supports your statement, إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ (if you are truthful) in your claim. " Allah then said, بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ (Yes! But whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah (i.e. follows Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin) meaning, "Whoever performs deeds in sincerity, for Allah alone without partners." In a similar statement, Allah said, فَإنْ حَآجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِىَ للَّهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ (So if they dispute with you (Muhammad ) say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me.") (3:20) Abu Al-`Aliyah and Ar-Rabi` said that, بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ (Yes! But whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah) means, "Whoever is sincere with Allah." Also, Sa`id bin Jubayr said that, بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ (Yes! But whoever submits) means, he is sincere, وَجْهَهُ (his face (himself)) meaning, in his religion. وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ (and he is a Muhsin) following the Messenger . For there are two conditions for deeds to be accepted; the deed must be performed for Allah's sake alone and conform to the Shari`ah. When the deed is sincere, but does not conform to the Shari`ah, then it will not be accepted. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَد» (Whoever performs a deed that does not conform with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected.) This Hadith was recorded by Muslim. Therefore, the good deeds of the priests and rabbis will not be accepted, even if they are sincerely for Allah alone, because these deeds do not conform with the method of the Messenger , who was sent for all mankind. Allah said regarding such cases, وَقَدِمْنَآ إِلَى مَا عَمِلُواْ مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَآءً مَّنثُوراً (And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.) (25:23) وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَآءً حَتَّى إِذَا جَآءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئاً (As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing.) (24:39) and, وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَـشِعَةٌ - عَامِلَةٌ نَّاصِبَةٌ - تَصْلَى نَاراً حَامِيَةً - تُسْقَى مِنْ عَيْنٍ ءَانِيَةٍ (Some faces, that Day will be humiliated. Laboring, weary. They will enter in the hot blazing Fire. They will be given to drink from a boiling spring) (88:2-5). When the deed conforms to the Shari`ah outwardly, but the person did not perform it sincerely for Allah alone, the deed will also be rejected, as in the case of the hypocrites and those who do their deeds to show off. Similarly, Allah said, إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُواْ إِلَى الصَّلَوةِ قَامُواْ كُسَالَى يُرَآءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلاَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً (Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salah (the prayer), they stand with laziness to be seen by people, and they do not remember Allah but little.) (4:142) and, فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُصَلِّينَ - الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَـتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ - الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَآءُونَ - وَيَمْنَعُونَ الْمَاعُونَ (So woe unto those performers of Salah (prayers) (hypocrites). Those who delay their Salah (from their stated fixed times). Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men). And withhold Al-Ma`un (small kindnesses)) (107:4-7). This is why Allah said, فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلاً صَـلِحاً وَلاَ يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدَا (So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord) (18: 110). He also said in this Ayah, بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ (Yes, but whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah (follows Allah's religion of Islamic Monotheism) and he is a Muhsin). Allah's statement, فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (Shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve) guaranteed them the rewards and safety from what they fear and should avoid. فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ (There shall be no fear on them) in the future, وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (nor shall they grieve) about what they abandoned in the past. Moreover, Sa`id bin Jubayr said, فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ "(There shall be no fear on them) in the Hereafter, and وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ (nor shall they grieve) about their imminent death." The Jews and Christians dispute among Themselves out of Disbelief and Stubbornness Allah said, وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَـرَى عَلَى شَىْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَـرَى لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَىْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَـبَ (The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); though they both recite the Scripture.) Allah explained the disputes, hatred and stubbornness that the People of the Book have towards each other. Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "When a delegation of Christians from Najran came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , the Jewish rabbis came and began arguing with them before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Rafi` bin Huraymilah said, `You do not follow anything,' and he reiterated his disbelief in Jesus and the Injil. Then a Christian man from Najran's delegation said to the Jews, `Rather, you do not follow anything,' and he reiterated his rejection of Musa's prophethood and his disbelief in the Torah. So Allah revealed the Ayah, وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَـرَى عَلَى شَىْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَـرَى لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَى شَىْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَـبَ (The Jews said that the Christians follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); and the Christians said that the Jews follow nothing (i.e. are not on the right religion); though they both recite the Scripture. )" Allah made it clear that each party read the affirmation of what they claimed to reject in their Book. Consequently, the Jews disbelieve in Jesus, even though they have the Torah in which Allah took their Covenant by the tongue of Moses to believe in Jesus. Also, the Gospel contains Jesus' assertion that Moses' prophethood and the Torah came from Allah. Yet, each party disbelieved in what the other party had. Allah said, كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ (Like unto their word, said those who know not) thus exposing the ignorance displayed by the Jews and the Christians concerning their statements that we mentioned. There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of Allah's statement, الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (who know not) For instance, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said that, كَذَلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (Like unto their word, said those said those who know not) means, "The Christians said similar statements to the Jews." Ibn Jurayj asked `Ata' "Who are those `who know not"' `Ata' said, "Nations that existed before the Jews and the Christians and before the Torah and the Gospel." Also, As-Suddi said that, قَالَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (said those who know not) is in reference to the Arabs who said that Muhammad was not following anything (i. e. did not follow a true or existing religion). Abu Ja`far bin Jarir chose the view that this Ayah is general and that there is no evidence that specifically supports any of these explanations. So interpreting the Ayah in a general way is better. Allah knows best. Allah said, فَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُواْ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ (Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection about that wherein they have been differing.) meaning, that Allah will gather them all on the Day of Return. On that Day, Allah will justly judge between them, for He is never unjust with anyone, even as little as the weight of an atom. This Ayah is similar to Allah's statement in Surat Al-Hajj (22:17), إِنَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَالَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَالصَّـبِئِينَ وَالنَّصَـرَى وَالْمَجُوسَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيـمَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (Verily, those who believe (in Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad ), and those who are Jews, and the Sabians, and the Christians, and the Majus, and those who associate partners with Allah; truly, Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Verily, Allah is over all things a Witness). Allah said, قُلْ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَنَا رَبُّنَا ثُمَّ يَفْتَحُ بَيْنَنَا بِالْحَقِّ وَهُوَ الْفَتَّاحُ الْعَلِيمُ (Say: "Our Lord will assemble us all together (on the Day of Resurrection), then He will judge between us with truth. And He is the Just Judge, the Knower of the true state of affairs.") (34:26).

Nay but others will also enter Paradise namely whoever submits his purpose to God that is adheres to His commands wajh ‘face’ sc. ‘purpose’ is here mentioned because it is the most noble part of the body so that when it has submitted there is all the more reason for the other parts to follow being virtuous affirming God’s Oneness his reward is with his Lord the reward of his deeds being Paradise and no fear shall befall them neither shall they grieve in the Hereafter.

No, whosoever submits his face to God, doing the beautiful, shall have his wage with his Lord, and no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve. The work is the work of the purifiers, the good fortune the good fortune of the truthful, the con- duct the conduct of the pure, and the hard cash the hard cash in their purse. Today they are on the carpet of service with the light of recognition, tomorrow on the carpet of companionship with the joy of union. Surely We purified them with that which is pure [38:46]. He is saying, “We made them pure and brought them forth pure from the crucible of testing so that they would be worthy for the Presence,” for the Pure Presence gives access only to the pure. “Surely God is goodly and accepts only the goodly.” Nothing is of any use with the Pure Presence save pure activity and pure speech. Then you must become so purified of that pure activity that you do not seek it out in this world or the afterworld. Then you may reach God pure. Surely he shall have nearness to Us, and a beautiful return [38:40]. The secret of this talk is what was said by Abū Bakr Zaqqāq: “The defect in the purity of every purifier is to see his purity. If God desires to purify his self-purification, He will eliminate the seeing of his self-purification from his purification. Then he will be 'purified' [mukhlaṣ], not 'purifying' [mukhliṣ].” He is saying that your self-purification will be pure when it is pure of your seeing it. Know also that this self-purification is not in your hands, nor in your capacity or possession. Rather, it is a secret of the Lord placed there by the Glorified. No one is aware of it, and no one else has any access to it. The Unity says, “It is one of My secrets that I deposit in the hearts of those whom I love among My servants.” He is saying, “I choose a servant and approve him for My love, then I place my deposit in the core of his heart. Satan has no access to it so as to destroy it, nor does the soul's caprice see it so as to change it, nor does the angel reach it so as to write it down.

No, whosoever submits his face to God, doing the beautiful, shall have his wage with his Lord, and no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve. The work is the work of the purifiers, the good fortune the good fortune of the truthful, the con- duct the conduct of the pure, and the hard cash the hard cash in their purse. Today they are on the carpet of service with the light of recognition, tomorrow on the carpet of companionship with the joy of union. Surely We purified them with that which is pure [38:46]. He is saying, “We made them pure and brought them forth pure from the crucible of testing so that they would be worthy for the Presence,” for the Pure Presence gives access only to the pure. “Surely God is goodly and accepts only the goodly.” Nothing is of any use with the Pure Presence save pure activity and pure speech. Then you must become so purified of that pure activity that you do not seek it out in this world or the afterworld. Then you may reach God pure. Surely he shall have nearness to Us, and a beautiful return [38:40]. The secret of this talk is what was said by Abū Bakr Zaqqāq: “The defect in the purity of every purifier is to see his purity. If God desires to purify his self-purification, He will eliminate the seeing of his self-purification from his purification. Then he will be 'purified' [mukhlaṣ], not 'purifying' [mukhliṣ].” He is saying that your self-purification will be pure when it is pure of your seeing it. Know also that this self-purification is not in your hands, nor in your capacity or possession. Rather, it is a secret of the Lord placed there by the Glorified. No one is aware of it, and no one else has any access to it. The Unity says, “It is one of My secrets that I deposit in the hearts of those whom I love among My servants.” He is saying, “I choose a servant and approve him for My love, then I place my deposit in the core of his heart. Satan has no access to it so as to destroy it, nor does the soul's caprice see it so as to change it, nor does the angel reach it so as to write it down.

No, whosoever submits his face to God, doing the beautiful, shall have his wage with his Lord, and no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve. The work is the work of the purifiers, the good fortune the good fortune of the truthful, the con- duct the conduct of the pure, and the hard cash the hard cash in their purse. Today they are on the carpet of service with the light of recognition, tomorrow on the carpet of companionship with the joy of union. Surely We purified them with that which is pure [38:46]. He is saying, “We made them pure and brought them forth pure from the crucible of testing so that they would be worthy for the Presence,” for the Pure Presence gives access only to the pure. “Surely God is goodly and accepts only the goodly.” Nothing is of any use with the Pure Presence save pure activity and pure speech. Then you must become so purified of that pure activity that you do not seek it out in this world or the afterworld. Then you may reach God pure. Surely he shall have nearness to Us, and a beautiful return [38:40]. The secret of this talk is what was said by Abū Bakr Zaqqāq: “The defect in the purity of every purifier is to see his purity. If God desires to purify his self-purification, He will eliminate the seeing of his self-purification from his purification. Then he will be 'purified' [mukhlaṣ], not 'purifying' [mukhliṣ].” He is saying that your self-purification will be pure when it is pure of your seeing it. Know also that this self-purification is not in your hands, nor in your capacity or possession. Rather, it is a secret of the Lord placed there by the Glorified. No one is aware of it, and no one else has any access to it. The Unity says, “It is one of My secrets that I deposit in the hearts of those whom I love among My servants.” He is saying, “I choose a servant and approve him for My love, then I place my deposit in the core of his heart. Satan has no access to it so as to destroy it, nor does the soul's caprice see it so as to change it, nor does the angel reach it so as to write it down.

No, whosoever submits his face to God, doing the beautiful, shall have his wage with his Lord, and no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve. The work is the work of the purifiers, the good fortune the good fortune of the truthful, the con- duct the conduct of the pure, and the hard cash the hard cash in their purse. Today they are on the carpet of service with the light of recognition, tomorrow on the carpet of companionship with the joy of union. Surely We purified them with that which is pure [38:46]. He is saying, “We made them pure and brought them forth pure from the crucible of testing so that they would be worthy for the Presence,” for the Pure Presence gives access only to the pure. “Surely God is goodly and accepts only the goodly.” Nothing is of any use with the Pure Presence save pure activity and pure speech. Then you must become so purified of that pure activity that you do not seek it out in this world or the afterworld. Then you may reach God pure. Surely he shall have nearness to Us, and a beautiful return [38:40]. The secret of this talk is what was said by Abū Bakr Zaqqāq: “The defect in the purity of every purifier is to see his purity. If God desires to purify his self-purification, He will eliminate the seeing of his self-purification from his purification. Then he will be 'purified' [mukhlaṣ], not 'purifying' [mukhliṣ].” He is saying that your self-purification will be pure when it is pure of your seeing it. Know also that this self-purification is not in your hands, nor in your capacity or possession. Rather, it is a secret of the Lord placed there by the Glorified. No one is aware of it, and no one else has any access to it. The Unity says, “It is one of My secrets that I deposit in the hearts of those whom I love among My servants.” He is saying, “I choose a servant and approve him for My love, then I place my deposit in the core of his heart. Satan has no access to it so as to destroy it, nor does the soul's caprice see it so as to change it, nor does the angel reach it so as to write it down.

No, whosoever submits his face to God, doing the beautiful, shall have his wage with his Lord, and no fear shall be upon them, neither shall they grieve.The work is the work of the purifiers, the good fortune the good fortune of the truthful, the con- duct the conduct of the pure, and the hard cash the hard cash in their purse. Today they are on the carpet of service with the light of recognition, tomorrow on the carpet of companionship with the joy of union. Surely We purified them with that which is pure [38:46]. He is saying, �We made them pure and brought them forth pure from the crucible of testing so that they would be worthy for the Presence,� for the Pure Presence gives access only to the pure. �Surely God is goodly and accepts only the goodly.� Nothing is of any use with the Pure Presence save pure activity and pure speech. Then you must become so purified of that pure activity that you do not seek it out in this world or the afterworld. Then you may reach God pure. Surely he shall have nearness to Us, and a beautiful return [38:40].The secret of this talk is what was said by Abū Bakr Zaqqāq: �The defect in the purity of every purifier is to see his purity. If God desires to purify his self-purification, He will eliminate the seeing of his self-purification from his purification. Then he will be 'purified' [mukhlaṣ], not 'purifying' [mukhliṣ].� He is saying that your self-purification will be pure when it is pure of your seeing it.Know also that this self-purification is not in your hands, nor in your capacity or possession. Rather, it is a secret of the Lord placed there by the Glorified. No one is aware of it, and no one else has any access to it. The Unity says, �It is one of My secrets that I deposit in the hearts of those whom I love among My servants.� He is saying, �I choose a servant and approve him for My love, then I place my deposit in the core of his heart. Satan has no access to it so as to destroy it, nor does the soul's caprice see it so as to change it, nor does the angel reach it so as to write it down.

ليس الأمر كما زعموا أنَّ الجنة تختص بطائفة دون غيرها، وإنما يدخل الجنَّة مَن أخلص لله وحده لا شريك له، وهو متبع للرسول محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم في كل أقواله وأعماله. فمن فعل ذلك فله ثواب عمله عند ربه في الآخرة، وهو دخول الجنة، وهم لا يخافون فيما يستقبلونه من أمر الآخرة، ولا هم يحزنون على ما فاتهم من حظوظ الدنيا.

قال أبو العالية والربيع" بلى من أسلم وجهه لله" يقول من أخلص لله. وقال سعيد بن جبير "بلى من أسلم" أخلص "وجهه" قال دينه "وهو محسن" أي اتبع فيه الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم فإن للعمل المتقبل شرطين: أحدهما أن يكون خالصا لله وحده والآخر أن يكون صوابا موافقا للشريعة فمتى كان خالصا ولم يكن صوابا لم يتقبل ولهذا قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد" رواه مسلم من حديث عائشة عنه عليه الصلاة والسلام فعمل الرهبان ومن شابههم وإن فرض أنهم مخلصون فيه لله فإنه لا يتقبل منهم حتى يكون ذلك متابعا للرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم المبعوث إليهم وإلى الناس كافة وفيهم وأمثالهم قال الله تعالى "وقدمنا إلى ما عملوا من عمل فجعلناه هباء منثورا" وقال تعالى "والذين كفروا أعمالهم كسراب بقيعة يحسبه الظمآن ماء حتى إذا جاءه لم يجده شيئا" وقال تعالى "وجوه يومئذ خاشعة عاملة ناصبة تصلى نارا حامية تسقى من عين آنية" وروي عن أمير المؤمنين عمر رضي الله عنه أنه تأولها في الرهبان كما سيأتي وأما إن كان العمل موافقا للشريعة في الصورة الظاهرة ولكن لم يخلص عامله القصد لله فهو أيضا مردود على فاعله وهذا حال المرائين والمنافقين كما قال تعالى "إن المنافقين يخادعون الله وهو خادعهم وإذا قاموا إلى الصلاة قاموا كسالى يراءون الناس ولا يذكرون الله إلا قليلا" وقال تعالى "فويل للمصلين الذين هم عن صلاتهم ساهون الذين هم يراءون ويمنعون الماعون" ولهذا قال تعالى "فمن كان يرجو لقاء ربه فليعمل عملا صالحا ولا يشرك بعبادة ربه أحدا" وقال في هذه الآية الكريمة "بلى من أسلم وجهه لله وهو محسن" وقوله "فله أجره عند ربه ولا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون" ضمن لهم تعالى على ذلك تحصيل الأجور وآمنهم مما يخافونه من المحذور "فلا خوف عليهم" فيما يستقبلونه "ولا هم يحزنون" على ما مضى مما يتركونه كما قال سعيد بن جبير "فلا خوف عليهم" يعني في الآخرة "ولا هم يحزنون" يعني لا يحزنون للموت.

( بلى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ للَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ) .( بلى ) حرف يذكر في الجواب لإثبات المنفي في كلام سابق ، وقد صدرت الآية التي معنا بحرف ( بلى ) لإثبات ما نفوه وهو دخول غيرهم الجنة ممن لم يكن لا من اليهود ولا من النصارى ، ما دام قد أسلم وجهه لله وهو محسن .وقوله تعالى : ( مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ للَّهِ ) المراد به اتجه إليه ، وأذعن لأمره ، وأخلص له العبادة ، وأصل معناه الاستسلام والخضوع .وخص الله - تعالى - الوجه دون سائر الجوارح بذلك ، لأنه أكرم الأعضاء وأعظمها حرمة ، فإذا خضع الوجه الذي هو أكرم أعضاء الجسد فغيره من أجزاء الجسد أكثر خضوعاً .وقوله تعالى : ( وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ ) من الإِحسان ، وهو أداء العمل على وجه حسن أي : مطابق للصواب وهو ما جاء به الشرع الشريف .والمعنى : ليس الحق فيما زعمه كل فريق منكم يا معشر اليهود والنصارى من أن الجنة لكم دون غيركم ، وإنما الحق أن كل من أخلص نفسه لله ، وأتى بالعمل الصالح على وجه حسن ، فإنه يدخل الجنة ، كما قال تعالى : ( فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ عِندَ رَبِّهِ وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ) .وقد أفادت الآية الكريمة ما يأتي :( أ ) إثبات ما نفوه من دخول غيرهم الجنة .( ب ) بيان أنهم ليسوا من أهل الجنة ، إلا إذا أسلموا وجوههم لله ، وأحسنوا له العمل فيكون ذلك ترغيباً لهم في الإِسلام ، وبياناً لمفارقة حالهم لحال من يدخل الجنة ، لكي يقلعوا عما هم عليه ، ويعدلوا عن طريقتهم المعوجة .( ج ) بيان أن العمل المقبول عند الله - تعالى - يجب أن يتوفر فيه أمران :أولهما : أن يكون خالصاً لله وحده .ثانيهما : أن يكون مطابقاً للشريعة التي ارتضاها الله تعالى وهي شريعة الإِسلام .قال الإِمام ابن كثير : " فتمنى كان العمل خالصاً ولم يكن صواباً لم يتقبل ، ولهذا قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم" من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد " فعمل الرهبان ومن شابههم وإن فرض أنهم مخلصون فيه لله فإنه لا يتقبل منهم حتى يكون ذلك متابعاً للرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم المبعوث فيهم وإلى الناس كافة ، وفي أمثالهم قال الله - تعالى - : ( فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَآءً مَّنثُوراً ) وأما إن كان العمل موافقاً للشريعة في الصورة الظاهرة ، ولكن لم يخلص عاملة القصد لله ، فهو أيضاً مردود على فاعله ، وهذا حال المرائين والمنافقين ولهذا قال تعالى : ( فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُواْ لِقَآءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلاً صَالِحاً وَلاَ يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدَاً ) وبذلك تكون الآيتان الكريمتان قد أبلطتا دعوى اليهود أن الجنة لهم دون غيرهم ، وأثبتتا أن مزاعمهم هذه ما هي إلا من قبيل الأماني والأوهام وكذبتهم في أن يكون عندهم أي برهان أو دليل على ما يدعون ثم أًدرتا حكما عاما وهو أن الجنة ليست خاصة لطافئة دون أخرى ، وإنما هي لكل من أسلم وجهه لله وهو محسن .

بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِالْقَوْل فِي تَأْوِيل قَوْله تَعَالَى : { بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ } يَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ جَلّ ثَنَاؤُهُ : { بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ } أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ كَمَا قَالَ الزَّاعِمُونَ { لَنْ يَدْخُل الْجَنَّة إلَّا مَنْ كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى } وَلَكِنْ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِن , فَهُوَ الَّذِي يَدْخُلهَا وَيُنَعَّم فِيهَا . كَمَا : 1498 - حَدَّثَنِي مُوسَى , قَالَ : ثنا عَمْرو , قَالَ : ثنا أَسْبَاط , عَنْ السُّدِّيّ , قَالَ : أَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّ مَنْ يَدْخُل الْجَنَّة هُوَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ الْآيَة . وَقَدْ بَيَّنَّا مَعْنَى { بَلَى } فِيمَا مَضَى قَبْل . وَأَمَّا قَوْله : { مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ } فَإِنَّهُ يَعْنِي بِإِسْلَامِ الْوَجْه التَّذَلُّل لِطَاعَتِهِ وَالْإِذْعَان لِأَمْرِهِ . وَأَصْل الْإِسْلَام : الِاسْتِسْلَام ; لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ اسْتَسْلَمْت لِأَمْرِهِ , وَهُوَ الْخُضُوع لِأَمْرِهِ . وَإِنَّمَا سُمِّيَ الْمُسْلِم مُسْلِمًا بِخُضُوعِ جَوَارِحه لِطَاعَةِ رَبّه . كَمَا : 1499 - حَدَّثَنِي الْمُثَنَّى , قَالَ : ثنا إسْحَاق , قَالَ : ثنا ابْن أَبِي جَعْفَر , عَنْ أَبِيهِ , عَنْ الرَّبِيع : { بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ } يَقُول : أَخْلَص لِلَّهِ . وَكَمَا قَالَ زَيْد بْن عَمْرو بْن نُفَيْل : وَأَسْلَمْت وَجْهِي لِمَنْ أَسْلَمْت لَهُ الْمُزْن تَحْمِل عَذْبًا زُلَالًا يَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ : اسْتَسْلَمْت لِطَاعَةِ مَنْ اسْتَسْلَمَ لِطَاعَتِهِ الْمُزْن وَانْقَادَتْ لَهُ . وَخَصَّ اللَّه جَلّ ثَنَاؤُهُ بِالْخَبَرِ عَمَّنْ أَخْبَرَ عَنْهُ بِقَوْلِهِ : { بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ } بِإِسْلَامِ وَجْهه لَهُ دُون سَائِر جَوَارِحه ; لِأَنَّ أَكْرَم أَعْضَاء ابْن آدَم وَجَوَارِحه وَجْهه , وَهُوَ أَعْظَمهَا عَلَيْهِ حُرْمَة وَحَقًّا , فَإِذَا خَضَعَ لِشَيْءِ وَجْهه الَّذِي هُوَ أَكْرَم أَجْزَاء جَسَده عَلَيْهِ فَغَيْره مِنْ أَجْزَاء جَسَده أَحْرَى أَنْ يَكُون أَخْضَع لَهُ . وَلِذَلِكَ تَذْكُر الْعَرَب فِي مَنْطِقهَا الْخَبَر عَنْ الشَّيْء فَتُضِيفهُ إلَى وَجْهه وَهِيَ تَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ نَفْس الشَّيْء وَعَيْنه , كَقَوْلِ الْأَعْشَى : أُؤَوِّل الْحُكْم عَلَى وَجْهه لَيْسَ قَضَائِي بِالْهَوَى الْجَائِر يَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ : " عَلَى وَجْهه " : عَلَى مَا هُوَ بِهِ مِنْ صِحَّته وَصَوَابه . وَكَمَا قَالَ ذُو الرُّمَّة : فَطَاوَعْت هَمِّي وَانْجَلَى وَجْه بَازِل مِنْ الْأَمْر لَمْ يَتْرُك خِلَاجًا بِزَوْلِهَا يُرِيد : " وَانْجَلَى الْبَازِل مِنْ الْأَمْر فَتَبَيَّنَ " , وَمَا أَشْبَه ذَلِكَ , إذْ كَانَ حُسْن كُلّ شَيْء وَقُبْحه فِي وَجْهه , وَكَانَ فِي وَصْفهَا مِنْ الشَّيْء وَجْهه بِمَا تَصِفهُ بِهِ إبَانَة عَنْ عَيْن الشَّيْء وَنَفْسه . فَكَذَلِكَ مَعْنَى قَوْله جَلّ ثَنَاؤُهُ : { بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ } إنَّمَا يَعْنِي : بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ لِلَّهِ بَدَنه , فَخَضَعَ لَهُ بِالطَّاعَةِ جَسَده ; { وَهُوَ مُحْسِن } فِي إسْلَامه لَهُ جَسَده , { فَلَهُ أَجْره عِنْد رَبّه } . فَاكْتَفَى بِذِكْرِ الْوَجْه مِنْ ذِكْر جَسَده لِدَلَالَةِ الْكَلَام عَلَى الْمَعْنَى الَّذِي أُرِيدَ بِهِ بِذِكْرِ الْوَجْه .وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌوَأَمَّا قَوْله : { وَهُوَ مُحْسِن } فَإِنَّهُ يَعْنِي بِهِ فِي حَال إحْسَانه . وَتَأْوِيل الْكَلَام : بَلَى مَنْ أَخْلَص طَاعَته لِلَّهِ وَعِبَادَته لَهُ مُحْسِنًا فِي فِعْله ذَلِكَ .فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِالْقَوْل فِي تَأْوِيل قَوْله تَعَالَى : { فَلَهُ أَجْره عِنْد رَبّه } . يَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ جَلّ ثَنَاؤُهُ : { فَلَهُ أَجْره عِنْد رَبّه } فَلِلْمُسْلِمِ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ مُحْسِنًا جَزَاؤُهُ وَثَوَابه عَلَى إسْلَامه وَطَاعَته رَبّه عِنْد اللَّه فِي مُعَاده .وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْوَيَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ : { وَلَا خَوْف عَلَيْهِمْ } عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ وُجُوههمْ لِلَّهِ وَهُمْ مُحْسِنُونَ , الْمُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّين فِي الْآخِرَة مِنْ عِقَابه وَعَذَاب جَحِيمه , وَمَا قَدِمُوا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَعْمَالهمْ .وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَوَيَعْنِي بِقَوْلِهِ : { وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ } وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ عَلَى مَا خَلَفُوا وَرَاءَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا , وَلَا أَنْ يَمْنَعُوا مَا قَدِمُوا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ نَعِيم مَا أَعَدَّ اللَّه لِأَهْلِ طَاعَته . وَإِنَّمَا قَالَ جَلّ ثَنَاؤُهُ : { وَلَا خَوْف عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ } وَقَدْ قَالَ قَبْل : { فَلَهُ أَجْره عِنْد رَبّه } لِأَنَّ " مَنْ " الَّتِي فِي قَوْله : { بَلَى مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهه لِلَّهِ } فِي لَفْظ وَاحِد وَمَعْنَى جَمِيع , فَالتَّوْحِيد فِي قَوْله : { فَلَهُ أَجْره } لِلَّفْظِ , وَالْجَمْع فِي قَوْله : { وَلَا خَوْف عَلَيْهِمْ } لِلْمَعْنَى .

ثم قال رداً عليهم: {بلى من أسلم وجهه} أي ليس الأمر كما قالوا، بل الحكم للإسلام وإنما يدخل الجنة من أسلم وجهه{لله} أي أخلص دينه لله، وقيل: أخلص عبادته لله، وقيل: خضع وتواضع لله.وأصل الإسلام : الاستسلام والخضوع، وخص الوجه لأنه إذا جاد بوجهه في السجود لم يبخل بسائر جوارحه.{وهو محسن} في عمله، وقيل: مؤمن، وقيل: مخلص.{فله أجره عند ربه ولا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون}.

و ( بلى ) إبطال لدعواهما . و ( بلي ) كلمة يجاب بها المنفي لإثبات نقيض النفي وهو الإثبات سواء وقعت بعد استفهام عن نفي وهو الغالب أو بعد خبر منفي نحو { أيحسب الإنسان أن لن نجمع عظامه بلى } [ القيامة : 3 ، 4 ] ، وقول أبي حية النميري :يخبرك الواشون أن لن أحبكم ... بلى وستور الله ذات المحارموقوله : { من أسلم } جملة مستأنفة عن ( بلى ) لجواب سؤال من يتطلب كيف نقض نفي دخول الجنة عن غير هذين الفريقين أريد بها بيان أن الجنة ليست حكرة لأحد ولكن إنما يستحقها من أسلم إلخ لأن قوله : { فله أجره } هو في معنى له دخول الجنة وهو جواب الشرط لأن ( من ) شرطية لا محالة . ومن قدر هنا فعلاً بعد ( بلى ) أي يدخلها من أسلم فإنما أراد تقدير معنى لا تقدير إعراب إذ لا حاجة للتقدير هنا .وإسلام الوجه لله هو تسليم الذات لأوامر الله تعالى أي شدة الامتثال لأن أسلم بمعنى ألقى السلاح وترك المقاومة قال تعالى : { فإن حاجّوك فقل أسلمت وجهي لله ومن اتبعني } [ آل عمران : 20 ] . والوجه هنا الذات عبر عن الذات بالوجه لأنه البعض الأشرف من الذات كما قال الشنفرى :إذا قطعوا رأسي وفي الرأس أكثري ... ومن إطلاق الوجه على الذات قوله تعالى : { ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرام } [ الرحمن : 27 ] . وأطلق الوجه على الحقيقة تقول جاء بالأمر على وجهه أي على حقيقته قال الأعشى :وأول الحكم على وجهه ... ليس قضاء بالهوى الجائرووجوه الناس أشرافهم ويجوز أن يكون ( أسلم ) بمعنى أخلص مشتقاً من السلامة أي جعله سالماً ومنه { ورجلاً سلماً لرجل } [ الزمر : 29 ] .وقوله : { وهو محسن } جيء به جملة حالية لإظهار أنه لا يغني إسلام القلب وحده ولا العمل بدون إخلاص بل لا نجاة إلا بهما ورحمة الله فوق ذلك إذ لا يخلو امرؤ عن تقصير .وجمع الضمير في قوله : { ولا خوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون } اعتباراً بعموم ( من ) كما أفرد الضمير في قوله : { وجهه لله وهو محسن } اعتباراً بإفراد اللفظ وهذا من تفنن العربية لدفع سآمة التكرار .

أي: قال اليهود: لن يدخل الجنة إلا من كان هودا، وقالت النصارى: لن يدخل الجنة إلا من كان نصارى، فحكموا لأنفسهم بالجنة وحدهم, وهذا مجرد أماني غير مقبولة, إلا بحجة وبرهان, فأتوا بها إن كنتم صادقين، وهكذا كل من ادعى دعوى, لا بد أن يقيم البرهان على صحة دعواه، وإلا, فلو قلبت عليه دعواه, وادعى مدع عكس ما ادعى بلا برهان لكان لا فرق بينهما، فالبرهان هو الذي يصدق الدعاوى أو يكذبها، ولما لم يكن بأيديهم برهان, علم كذبهم بتلك الدعوى. ثم ذكر تعالى البرهان الجلي العام لكل أحد, فقال: { بَلَى } أي: ليس بأمانيكم ودعاويكم, ولكن { مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ } أي: أخلص لله أعماله, متوجها إليه بقلبه، { وَهُوَ } مع إخلاصه { مُحْسِنٌ } في عبادة ربه, بأن عبده بشرعه, فأولئك هم أهل الجنة وحدهم. { فَلَهُ أَجْرُهُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ } وهو الجنة بما اشتملت عليه من النعيم، { وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ } فحصل لهم المرغوب, ونجوا من المرهوب. ويفهم منها, أن من ليس كذلك, فهو من أهل النار الهالكين، فلا نجاة إلا لأهل الإخلاص للمعبود, والمتابعة للرسول.

ثم قال تعالى : بلى ردا عليهم وتكذيبا لهم ، أي ليس كما تقولون . وقيل : إن بلى محمولة على المعنى ، كأنه قيل أما يدخل الجنة أحد ؟ فقيل : بلى من أسلم وجهه لله ومعنى أسلم استسلم وخضع . وقيل : أخلص عمله . وخص الوجه بالذكر لكونه أشرف ما يرى من الإنسان ; ولأنه موضع الحواس ، وفيه يظهر العز والذل . والعرب تخبر بالوجه عن جملة الشيء . ويصح أن يكون الوجه في هذه الآية المقصد . وهو محسن جملة في موضع الحال ، وعاد الضمير في وجهه وله على لفظ من وكذلك أجره وعاد في عليهم على المعنى ، وكذلك في يحزنون وقد تقدم .

Once the Jews had set their minds against the message of Islam as being worthless, they became alarmed by the heartfelt acclaim with which many were receiving it. They considered themselves the only ones qualified to pass decrees on truth and falsehood: how could others be allowed to believe in what they themselves had chosen to disbelieve? The first step that they took was to incite the polytheists to rise up against the Muslims. Secondly, they tried to mislead Muslim converts about their new religion, putting doubts into their minds in the hope that they would revert to the religion of their forefathers. It was only natural that this should provoke the Muslims, but God told them that this was not the time for violent reaction. Muslims should always be patient, since patience prevents one from taking negative retaliatory measures in the heat of the moment. They should be steadfast in prayers, for prayer brings one closer to God. They should never fail in the payment of the prescribed alms (zakat), for a society in which the rich are willing to share with the poor will be based on compassion; there will be a real sense of togetherness among its members. The Jews used to tell new Muslim converts that if they had to forsake their ancestral religion, they should become Jews or Christians. Being the descendants of saints and prophets throughout history, they were the ones who would go to heaven. But the Quran tells us that one does not merit entry into heaven by dint of belonging to a certain community. Everyone will be judged according to his own actions. National status is of no significance in the sight of God. To be sincere in one’s faith is to become so devoted to God that everything else assumes secondary importance. Prejudices, personal loyalties, material or worldly interests should not come in the way of responding to the call of truth.

The Jews and the Christians were hostile not only to the Muslims, but also to each other. They had forgotten the essence of religion --that is, adherence to the true and authentic doctrines, and performance of good deeds as laid down by the Shari'ah -- and had identified it with a mere affiliation to a racial or social community. Each of the two groups claimed that it had the exclusive right to go to the Paradise, without having any argument to substantiate the claim. The Jews read the Torah, while the Christians read the Evangel, and they could have easily seen that the two Books confirm each other. Each party used to assert, in its malice, that the religion of the other was baseless. This gave an excuse to the mushrikin (associators) who, in spite of their ignorance, began to say the same of both the religions. The Holy Qur'an dismisses these pretensions as mere fancy and self-delusion. It declares that other people too will go to Paradise who have, in their time, been following the Shari'ah of their own prophet, and who, now that the Holy Qur'an also has abrogated all the earlier Divine Books, follow the Islamic Shari'ah. Verse 112 lays down the general principle in this respect, which is accepted by the followers of all the Divine Books. The essence of religion, whether it be Islam or Christianity or Judaism, lies in two things. (1) One should obey Allah in one's belief as well as in one's actions. (2) This obedience should not arise from expediency, but one should surrender oneself to divine commandments in all sincerity. Moreover, it is not enough to be worthy of Paradise merely to have a sincere intention to obey Allah, and then to invent, according to one's own fancy, the modes and forms of obedience, for it is absolutely essential that the forms of worship and the modes of obedience should be no other than those which Allah Himself has appointed through the agency of His prophets -- it goes without saying that since the revelation of the Holy Qur'an this can only mean accepting and following the Islamic Shari'ah. We may add that in connection with the first of these two principles, the Holy Qur'an employs the Arabic word اَسلمَ : Aslama which signifies total submission to Allah, and in connection with the second word Muhsin محسن ، which signifies "one who performs good deeds" according to the Shari'ah. The differences between the Jews and the Christians In so far as these verses deal with the claims of the Jews and the Christians, the point of the argument is this:- Having laid down the two principles the acceptance of which makes one worthy of Paradise, the Holy Qur'an suggests that they should now try to find out who is really acting upon them. Obviously, one who keeps following an injunction even after it has been abrogated cannot be described as obedient, and hence the Jews and the Christians no longer deserve this title. After the abrogation of an injunction, obedience consists in acting upon the new injunction which has replaced the earlier one. This condition is now being fulfilled only by the Muslims who have accepted the latest and the last Prophet ؓ and his Shari'ah. Hence, they alone shall now be considered worthy of Paradise. The condition of one's being sincere in one's obedience excludes the hypocrites too, for the Sha-ri` ah counts them among the infidels, and thus assigns them to Hell. Verse 112 also announces the reward of those who act upon these principles -- on the Day of Judgment, they shall have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve, as angels will give them good tidings. As for the debates among the Jews, the Christians and the associators, Verse 113 declares that Allah will Himself decide the question finally on the Day of Judgment. In fact, the question has already been settled on the basis of what Allah has revealed in His Books as well as on the basis of rational argument; the final decision on the Day of Judgment will be of the visible kind -- those who follow the Truth will be sent to Paradise, while those who go after falsehood will be cast down in Hell. These verses provide a warning to the Muslims as well, lest they too should delude themselves like the Jews and the Christians, and suppose that merely because they belong to the social community of Muslims and can, as such, claim to be Muslims, whereby they can dispense with the need to obey Allah and to follow the Shari` ah, and yet receive the rewards Allah has promised to give to true Muslims. Even Muslims have no right to hope for these rewards until and unless they submit themselves totally, in thought and deed both, to the commandments of Allah and His Prophet ﷺ .

(Nay) it is certainly not as you have claimed, (but whoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah) whoever makes sincere his Religion and works to Allah (while doing good) in words and deeds, (his reward is with his Lord) in Paradise; (and there shall no fear come upon them) about staying eternally in hell (neither shall they grieve) about the prospect of missing Paradise.

Nay, but whoever submits his purpose to God, being virtuous...Concerning these words of God, Exalted is He, Sahl said:That is, his religion, is as it is said in Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: Who is fairer in religion than one who submitshis purpose to God? [4:125], meaning: �Than a person who dedicates (akhlaṣa) his religion purely to God�, that is, Islam and its laws. This meaning is reiterated in Sūra Luqmān: Whoever surrenders his purpose to God, and is virtuous [31:22], which means [whoever] devotes himself in religion purely to God.He was asked about His words, Exalted is He:

Nay but others will also enter Paradise namely whoever submits his purpose to God that is adheres to His commands wajh ‘face’ sc. ‘purpose’ is here mentioned because it is the most noble part of the body so that when it has submitted there is all the more reason for the other parts to follow being virtuous affirming God’s Oneness his reward is with his Lord the reward of his deeds being Paradise and no fear shall befall them neither shall they grieve in the Hereafter.