Victory only comes after succeeding in the Trials
Allah said:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ
(Or think you that you will enter Paradise) before you are tested and tried just like the nations that came before you This is why Allah said:
وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَآءُ وَالضَّرَّآءُ
(...without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments) meaning, illnesses, pain, disasters and hardships. Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Murrah Al-Hamdani, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi`, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan said that
الْبَأْسَآءِ
(Al-Ba'sa') means poverty. Ibn `Abbas said that
وَالضَّرَّآءِ
(...and Ad-Darra') means ailments.
وَزُلْزِلُواْ
(and were so shaken) for fear of the enemy, and were tested, and put to a tremendous trial. An authentic Hadith narrated that Khabbab bin Al-Aratt said, "We said, `O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Why do you not invoke Allah to support us Why do you not supplicate to Allah for us' He said:
«إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانَ أَحَدُهُمْ يُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلى مَفْرَقِ رَأْسِهِ فَيَخْلُصُ إِلى قَدَمَيْهِ لَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا بَيْنَ لَحْمِهِ وَعَظْمِهِ، لَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذلِكَ عَنْ دِينِه».
(The saw would be placed on the middle of the head of one of those who were before you (believers) and he would be sawn until his feet, and he would be combed with iron combs between his skin and bones, yet that would not make him change his religion.)
He then said:
«وَاللهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ اللهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إلى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، لَا يَخَافُ إِلَّا اللهَ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّــكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَسْتَعْجِلُون»
(By Allah! This matter (religion) will spread (or expand) by Allah until the traveler leaves San`a' to Hadramawt (both in Yemen, but at a great distance from each other) fearing only Allah and then the wolf for the sake of his sheep. You are just a hasty people.)
And Allah said:
الم - ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ - الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
(Alif-Lam-Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars.) (29:1-3)
The Companions experienced tremendous trials during the battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates). Allah said:
إِذْ جَآءُوكُمْ مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَاْ - هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِىَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُواْ زِلْزَالاً شَدِيداً - وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلاَّ غُرُوراً
(When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: "Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!") (33:10-12)
When Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, "Did you fight him (Prophet Muhammad)" He said, "Yes." Heraclius said, "What was the outcome of warfare between you" Abu Sufyan said, "Sometimes we lose and sometimes he loses." He said, "Such is the case with Prophets, they are tested, but the final victory is theirs."
Allah's statement:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم
(...without (such) (trials) as came to those who passed away before you) meaning, their way of life. Similarly, Allah said:
فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ
(Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these ـ and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them)) (43: 8) and:
وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ
(...were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah.")
They pleaded (to Allah) for victory against their enemies and invoked Him for aid and deliverance from their hardships and trials. Allah said:
أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!)
Allah said:
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً - إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً
(Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.) (94:5, 6)
So just as there is hardship, its equal of relief will soon arrive. This is why Allah said:
أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!)
The following was revealed after the Muslims suffered a trying experience Or did you suppose that you should enter Paradise without there having come upon you the like of what came upon those believers who passed away before you? of trials so that you may endure as they did; a new sentence begins here explaining the previous one They were afflicted by misery extreme poverty and hardship illness and were so convulsed by all types of tribulations that the Messenger and those who believed with him said read yaqūla or yaqūlu not expecting to see any help on account of the extreme hardship afflicting them ‘When will God’s help come?’ the help which we were promised; and God responded to them Ah but surely God’s help is nigh in coming.
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden?This is as they say:You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words.�When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.� Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head.Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it,you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485]The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, �The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,� lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9].A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: �The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.�With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need.In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird!You want to mate with a white falcon.The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of �I don't care.� The tongue of his state will say,�Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.�
بل أظننتم -أيها المؤمنون- أن تدخلوا الجنة، ولمَّا يصبكم من الابتلاء مثل ما أصاب المؤمنين الذين مضوا من قبلكم: من الفقر والأمراض والخوف والرعب، وزُلزلوا بأنواع المخاوف، حتى قال رسولهم والمؤمنون معه -على سبيل الاستعجال للنصر من الله تعالى-: متى نصر الله؟ ألا إن نصر الله قريب من المؤمنين.
يقول تعالى "أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة" قبل أن تبتلوا وتختبروا وتمتحنوا كما فعل بالذين من قبلكم من الأمم ولهذا قال "ولما يأتكم مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم مستهم البأساء والضراء" وهي الأمراض والأسقام والآلام والمصائب والنوائب. قال ابن مسعود وابن عباس وأبو العالبة ومجاهد وسعيد بن جبير ومرة الهمذاني والحسن وقتادة والضحاك والربيع والسدي ومقاتل بن حيان "البأساء" الفقر "والضراء" السقم "وزلزلوا" خوفوا من الأعداء زلزالا شديدا وامتحنوا امتحانا عظيما كما جاء في الحديث الصحيح عن خباب بن الأرت قال: قلنا يا رسول الله ألا تستنصر لنا ألا تدعو الله لنا فقال "إن من كان قبلكم كان أحدهم يوضع المنشار على مفرق رأسه فيخلص إلى قدميه لا يصرفه ذلك عن دينه ويمشط بأمشاط الحديد ما بين لحمه وعظمه لا يصرفه ذلك عن دينه" ثم قال "والله ليتمن الله هذا الأمر حتى يسير الراكب من صنعاء إلى حضرموت لا يخاف إلا الله والذئب على غنمه ولكنكم قوم تستعجلون وقال الله تعالى "ألم أحسب الناس أن يتركوا أن يقولوا آمنا وهم لا يفتنون ولقد فتنا الذين من قبلهم فليعلمن الله الذين صدقوا وليعلمن الكاذبين" وقد حصل من هذا جانب عظيم للصحابة رضي الله عنهم في يوم الأحزاب كما قال الله تعالى "إذ جاءوكم من فوقكم ومن أسفل منكم وإذ زاغت الأبصار وبلغت القلوب الحناجر وتظنون بالله الظنونا هنالك ابتلي المؤمنون وزلزلوا زلزالا شديدا وإذ يقول المنافقون والذين في قلوبهم مرض ما وعدنا الله ورسوله إلا غرورا" الآيات. ولما سأل هرقل أبا سفيان هل قاتلتموه قال: نعم. قال: فكيف كانت الحرب بينكم؟ قال: سجالا يدال علينا وندال عليه. قال: كذلك الرسل تبتلى ثم تكون لها العاقبة. وقوله "مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم" أي سنتهم كما قال تعالى "فأهلكنا أشد منهم بطشا ومضى مثل الأولين" وقوله "وزلزلوا حتى يقول الرسول والذين آمنوا معه متى نصر الله" أي يستفتحون على أعدائهم ويدعون بقرب الفرج والمخرج عند ضيق الحال والشدة. قال الله تعالى "ألا إن نصر الله قريب" كما قال "فإن مع العسر يسرا إن مع العسر يسرا" وكما تكون الشدة ينزل من النصر مثلها ولهذا قال "ألا إن نصر الله قريب" وفي حديث أبي رزين "عجب ربك من قنوط عباده وقرب غيثه فينظر إليهم قانطين فيظل يضحك يعلم أن فرجهم قريب" الحديث.
وبعد أن ذكر - سبحانه - حال الناس ، واختلاف سفهائهم على أنبيائهم ، واهتداء عقلائهم إلى الحق ، عقب ذلك بدعوة المؤمنين إلى الاقتداء بمن سبقهم في الصبر والثبات . فقال - تعالى - :( أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الجنة . . . )قال القرطبي : قال قتادة والسدي وأكثر المفسرين : نزلت هذه الآية في غزوة الخندق حين أصاب المسلمين ما أصابهم من الجهد والشدة والحر والبرد وسوء العيش وأنواع الشدائد ، وكانوا كما قال - تعالى - : ( إِذْ جَآءُوكُمْ مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الأبصار وَبَلَغَتِ القلوب الحناجر ) وقيل نزلت في حرب أحد ، ونظيرها - في آل عمران ( أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الجنة وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ الله الذين جَاهَدُواْ مِنكُمْ . . ) وقالت فرقة : نزلت الآية تسلية للمهاجرين حين تركوا ديارهم وأموالهم بأيدي المشركين ، وآثروا رضا الله ورسوله ، وأظهرت اليهود العداوة لرسول الله ، وأسر قوم من الأغنياء النفاق فأنزل اله ذلك تطيبا لقلوبهم .وما ذكره المفسرون في سبب نزول هذه الآية الكريمة لا يمنع عمومها ، وأنها تدعو المؤمنين في كل زمان ومكان إلى التذرع بالصبر والثبات تأسيا بمن سبقهم من المتقين حتى يفوزوا برضوان الله - تعالى - ونصره .و ( أَمْ ) هنا يرى بعضهم أنها للاستفهام الإِنكاري ، ويرى بعض آخر أنها أم المتصلة ، ويرى فريق ثالث أنها أم المنقطعة .قال الجمل : وحسب هنا من أخوات ظن تنصب مفعولين أصلهما المبتدأ والخبر ، وأن وما بعدها سادة مسد المفعولين عند سيبويه ، ومسد الأول عند الأخفش والثاني محذوف ، ومضارعها فيه وجهان : الفتح وهو القياس والكسر .و ( وَلَمَّا ) تدل على النفي مع توقع حصول المنفي بها ، كما في قول النابغة :أزف الترحل غير أن ركابنا ... لما تزل برحالنا وكن قدفنفى بلما ثم قال : وكأن قد ، أي وكأنه قد زالت .و ( البأسآء ) ما يصيب الناس في الأموال كالفقر . والضراء : ما يصيبهم في الأنفس كالمرض مشتقان من البؤس والضر .و ( وَزُلْزِلُواْ ) من الزلزلة وهي شدة التحريك وتكون في الأشخاص وفي الأحوال . فيقال :زلزلت الأرض ، أي تحركت واضطربت ، ومعنى زلزلوا : خوفوا وأزعجوا واضطربوا .والمعنى على أن ( أَمْ ) للاستفهام الإِنكاري : أظننتم أيها المؤمنون أنكم تدخلون الجنة بمجرد الإِيمان دون أن يصيبكم ما أصاب الذين سبقوكم من شداد في الأنفس والأموال ، ومن مخاوف أزعجتهم وأفزعتهم حتى بلغ الأمر برسولهم وبالمؤمنين معه أن يقولوا وهم في أقصى ما تحتمله النفوس البشرية من آلام : متى نصر الله؟!!لا - أيها المؤمنون - إني أنهاكم أن تظنوا هذا الظن ، وآمركم أن تتيقنوا من أن الظفر بدخول الجنة يستلزم منكم التأسي بمن سبقكم من المتقين في الصبر والثبات .والمعنى على أن ( أَمْ ) هنا هي المتصلة - أي المشعرة بمحذوف دل عليه الكلام - : قد خلت من قبلكم أمم أوتوا الكتاب واهتدوا إلى الحق فآذاهم الناس أذى شديدا فصبروا على ذلك أفتصبرون مثلهم على المكاره وتثبتون ثباتهم على الشدائد؟ أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة دون أن يصيبكم ما أصابهم؟والمعنى على أن ( أَمْ ) هنا منقطعة - أي تدل على الإِضراب والاستفهام معا - : لقد أوذيتم أيها المؤمنون في سبيل دينكم أذى عظيماً ، فعليكم أن تصبروا وأن تثبتوا كما فعل الذين من قلبكم ، أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة دون ابتلاء وصبر .. أي : بل أحسبتم . . إن كان هذا هو حسبانكم فهو حسبان باطل لا ينبغي لكم .وقوله - تعالى - ( مَّسَّتْهُمُ البأسآء . . ) استئناف وقع جواباً عما ينساق إليه الذهن ، كأنه قيل : كيف مثل أولئك الذين خلوا ومضوا؟ فكان الجواب مستهم البأساء . . . الخ .ومستهم أي : حلت بهم . وعبر بمستهم للإِشعار بأن تلك الشدائد قد أصابتهم بالآلام التي اتصلت بحواسهم وأجسادهم ولكنها لم تضعف إيمانهم إذ حقيقية المس اتصال الجسم بجسم آخر .قال صاحب الكشاف : وقوله : ( وَزُلْزِلُواْ ) أي : أزعجوا إزعاجاً شديداً شبيها بالزلزلة بما أصابهم من الأهوال والأفزاع " حتى يقول الرسول " أي : إلى الغاية اليت قال الرسول ومن معه فيها ( متى نَصْرُ الله ) أي بلغ بهم الضجر ولم يبق لهم صبر حتى قالوا ذلك . ومعناه طلب النصر وتمنيه ، واستطالة زمان الشدة . وفي هذه الغاية دليل على تناهي الأمر في الشدة وتماديه في العظم؛ لأن الرسل لا يقادر قدر ثباتهم واصطبارهم وضبطهم لأنفسهم ، فإذا لم يبق لهم صبر حتى ضجوا كان ذلك الغاية في الشدة التي لا مطمع وراءها " .والمراد بالرسول - كما يقول الآلوسي - الجنس لا واحد بعينه . وقيل : شعياء ، وقيل : أشعياء ، وقيل اليسع . وعلى التعيين يكون المراد من الذين خلوا قوماً بأعيانهم وهم أتباع هؤلاء الرسل " .وقوله - تعالى - : ( ألا إِنَّ نَصْرَ الله قَرِيبٌ ) استئناف على تقدير القول . أي فقيل لهم حينما التمسوا من الله النصر بعد تلك الشدائد والأهوال التي نزلت بهم : ألا إن نصر الله قريب تطيباً لأنفسهم ، وبعثا للآمال في قلوبهم .وفي هذه الجملة الكريمة ألوان من المؤكدات والمبشرات بالنصر القريب ، ويشهد لذلك التعبير بالجملة الاسمية بدل الفعلية فلم يقل - مثلا - ستنصرون والتعبير بالجملة الاسمية يدل على التوكيد . ويشهد لذلك أيضا تصدير الجملة بأداة الاستفتاح الدالة على تحقيق مضمونها وتقريره ، ووقوع إن المؤكدة بعد أداة الاستفتاح ، وإضافة النصر إلأى الله القادر على كل شيء والذي وعد عباده المؤمنين بالنصر فقال ، إنا لننصر رسلنا والذين آمنوا في الحياة الدنيا ويوم يقوم الإشهاد " .هذا ، والمتأمل في الآية الكريمة يراها قد بينت للمؤمنين أن طريق الجنة محفوف بالمكاره ، وصدق رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في قوله : " حفت الجنة بالمكاره وحفت النار بالشهوات " وأنهم لكي يصلوا إلى الجنة عليهم أن يتأسوا بالسابقين في جهادهم وصبرهم على الأذى ، فقد اقتضت سنة الله أن يجعل هذه الحياة نزالا موصولا بين الأخيار والأشرار ، ونزاعا مستمرا بين الأطهار والفجار ، وكثيرا ما يضيق البغاة على المؤمنين ، وينزلون بهم ما ينزلون من صفوف الاضطهاد إلا أن الله - تعالى - قد تكفل بأن يجعل العاقبة للمتقين .ولقد حكى لنا التاريخ أن المؤمنين السابقين قد صبروا أجمل الصبر وأسماه في سبيل إعلاء كلمة الله .روى البخاري عن خباب بن الأرت - رضي الله عنه - قال : " شكونا إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو متوسد بردة له في ظل الكعبة فقلنا : ألا تستنصر لنا؟ ألا تدعو لنا؟ فقال : قد كان من قبلكم يؤخذ الرجل فيحفر له الأرض فيجعل فيها ، فيجاء بالمنشار فيوضع على رأسه فيجعل نصفين ، ويمشط بأمشاط الحديد ما دون لحمه وعظمه ، فما يصده ذلك عن دينه . والله ليتمن الله هذا الأمر حتى يسير الراكب من صنعاء إلى حضر موت لا يخاف إلى الله والذئب على غنمه ولكنكم تستعجلون " .وبذلك نرى أن السورة الكريمة من قوله - تعالى - ( وَمِنَ الناس مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِي الحياة الدنيا ) إلى هنا ، قد بينت لنا أقسام الناس في هذه الحياة ، ودعت المؤمنين إلى أن يتمسكوا بجميع تعاليم الإِسلام ، وأن يزهدوا في زينة الحياة التي شغلت المشركين عن كل شيء سواها ، وأن يشكروا الله على هدايته إياهم إلى الحق الذي اختلف غيرهم فيه ، وأن يوطنوا أنفسهم على تحمل الآلام لكي يحقق الله لهم الآمال .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ (214)قال أبو جعفر: وأما قوله: " أم حسبتم "، كأنه استفهم بـ " أم " في ابتداء لم يتقدمه حرف استفهام، لسبوق كلام هو به متصل، (26) ولو لم يكن قبله كلام &; 4-288 &; يكون به متصلا وكان ابتداءً لم يكن إلا بحرف من حروف الاستفهام; لأن قائلا لو كان قال مبتدئًا كلامًا لآخر: " أم عندك أخوك "؟ لكان قائلا ما لا معنى له. ولكن لو قال: " أنت رجل مُدِلٌّ بقوتك أم عندك أخوك ينصرك ؟" كان مصيبًا. وقد بينَّا بعض هذا المعنى فيما مضى من كتابنا هذا بما فيه الكفاية عن إعادته.* * *فمعنى الكلام: أم حسبتم أنكم أيها المؤمنون بالله ورسله تدخلون الجنة، ولم يصبكم مثلُ ما أصاب مَن قبلكم مِن أتباع الأنبياء والرسل من الشدائد والمحن والاختبار، فتُبتلوا بما ابتُلوا واختبروا به من " البأساء "- وهو شدة الحاجة والفاقة =" والضراء " -وهي العلل والأوصاب (27) - ولم تزلزلوا زلزالهم- يعني: ولم يصبهم من أعدائهم من الخوف والرعب شدة وجهدٌ حتى يستبطئ القوم نصر الله إياهم، فيقولون: متى الله ناصرنا؟ ثم أخبرهم الله أن نصره منهم قريبٌ، وأنه مُعليهم على عدوِّهم، ومظهرهم عليه، فنجَّز لهم ما وعدهم، وأعلى كلمتهم، وأطفأ نار حرب الذين كفروا.* * *وهذه الآية - فيما يزعم أهل التأويل- نـزلت يومَ الخندق، حين لقي المؤمنون ما لَقوا من شدة الجهد، من خوف الأحزاب، وشدة أذى البرد، وضيق العيش الذي كانوا فيه يومئذ، يقول الله جل وعز للمؤمنين من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَاءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَمْ تَرَوْهَا إلى قوله: وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَا * هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالا شَدِيدًا [الأحزاب: 9-11]&; 4-289 &;* ذكر من قال نـزلت هذه الآية يوم الأحزاب:4064 - حدثني موسى بن هارون، قال: حدثنا عمرو، قال: حدثنا أسباط، عن السدي: " أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يأتكم مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم مستهم البأساء والضراء وزلزلوا "، قال: نـزل هذا يوم الأحزاب حين قال قائلهم: مَا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلا غُرُورًا [الأحزاب: 12]4065 - حدثنا الحسن بن يحيى، قال: أخبرنا عبد الرزاق، قال: أخبرنا معمر، عن قتادة في قوله: " ولما يأتكم مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم مسَّتهم البأساءُ والضراء وزلزلوا "، قال: نـزلت في يوم الأحزاب، أصاب رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه بلاءٌ وحصرٌ، فكانوا كما قال الله جل وعزّ: وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ* * *وأما قوله: " ولما يأتكم "، فإنّ عامة أهل العربية يتأوّلونه بمعنى: ولم يأتكم، ويزعمون أن " ما " صلة وحشو، وقد بينت القول في" ما " التي يسميها أهل العربية " صلة "، ما حكمها؟ في غير هذا الموضع بما أغنى عن إعادته. (28)* * *وأما معنى قوله: " مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم "، فإنه يعني: شبه الذين خلوا فمضوا قبلكم. (29)* * *وقد دللت في غير هذا الموضع على أن " المثل "، الشبه. (30)* * *وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:&; 4-290 &;4066 - حدثت عن عمار، قال: حدثنا ابن أبي جعفر، عن أبيه، عن الربيع قوله: " أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يأتكم مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم مستهم البأساء والضراء وزلزلوا "... (31)4067 - حدثنا القاسم، قال: حدثنا الحسين، قال: حدثني حجاج، عن عبد الملك بن جريج، قال قوله: " حتى يقول الرسول والذين آمنوا "، قال: هو خيرُهم وأعلمهم بالله.* * *وفي قوله: " حتى يقول الرسول "، وجهان من القراءة: الرفع، والنصب. ومن رفع فإنه يقول: لما كان يحسُن في موضعه " فعَل " أبطل عمل " حتى " فيها، لأن " حتى " غير عاملة في" فعل "، وإنما تعمل في" يفعل "، وإذا تقدمها " فعل "، وكان الذي بعدها " يفعل "، وهو مما قد فُعل وفُرغ منه، وكان ما قبلها من الفعل غير متطاول، فالفصيح من كلام العرب حينئذ الرفع في" يفعل " وإبطال عمل " حتى " عنه، وذلك نحو قول القائل: " قمت إلى فلان حتى أضربُه "، والرفع هو الكلام الصحيح في" أضربه "، إذا أراد: قمت إليه حتى ضربته، إذا كان الضرب قد كانَ وفُرغ منه، وكان القيام غيرَ متطاول المدة. فأمَّا إذا كان ما قبل " حتى " من الفعل على لفظ " فعل " متطاول المدة، وما بعدها من الفعل على لفظ غير منقضٍ، فالصحيح من الكلام نصب " يفعل "، وإعمال " حتى "، وذلك نحو قول القائل: " ما زال فلان يطلبك حتى يكلمك = وجعل ينظر إليك حتى يثبتك "، فالصحيح من الكلام - الذي لا يصح غيره- النصبُ بـ " حتى "، كما قال الشاعر: (32)مَطَــوْتُ بِهِـمْ حَـتَّى تَكِـلَّ مَطِيُّهـمْوَحَـتَّى الجِيَـادُ مَـا يُقَـدْنَ بِأَرْسَـانِ (33)&; 4-291 &; فنصب " تكل "، والفعل الذي بعد " حتى " ماض، لأن الذي قبلها من " المطو " متطاول.والصحيح من القراءة - إذْ كان ذلك كذلك-: " وزلزلوا حتى يقولَ الرسول "، نصب " يقول "، إذ كانت " الزلزلة " فعلا متطاولا مثل " المطو بالإبل ".وإنما " الزلزلة " في هذا الموضع: الخوف من العدو، لا " زلزلة الأرض "، فلذلك كانت متطاولة وكان النصبُ في" يقول " وإن كان بمعنى " فعل " أفصحَ وأصحَّ من الرفع فيه. (34)--------------الهوامش :(26) في المطبوعة : "لمسبوق كلام" وهو فاسد المعنى وذلك أن أحد شروط"أم" في الاستفهام : أن تكون نسقًا في الاستفهام لتقدم ما تقدمها من الكلام (انظر ما سلف 2 : 493) وقوله"لسبوق" هذا مصدر لم يرد في كتب اللغة ، ولكني رأيت الطبري وغيره يستعمله وسيأتي في نص الطبري بعد 2 : 240 ، 246 (بولاق) .(27) انظر معنى"البأساء والضراء" فيما سلف 3 : 349- 352 .(28) انظر ما سلف 1 : 405 ، 406/ ثم 2 : 230 ، 331 . وقوله : "صلة" أي زيادة ، كما سلف شرحها مرارا ، فاطلبها في فهرس المصطلحات .(29) انظر تفسير"خلا" فيما سلف 3 : 100 ، 128 ، 129 .(30) انظر ما سلف : 1 : 403 .(31) الأثر : 4066 - هذا أثر ناقص ، ولم أجد تمامه في مكان آخر .(32) هو امرؤ القيس .(33) ديوانه : 186 ، ومعاني القرآن للفراء 1 : 133 وسيبويه 1 : 417/ 2 : 203 ، ورواية سيبويه : "سريت بهم" وفي الموضع الثاني منه روى :"حَتَّى تَكِــــــلَّ غَـــــزِيّهم"مطا بالقوم يمطو مطوًا : مد بهم وجد في السير . يقول : جد بهم ورددهم في السير حتى كلت مطاياهم فصارت من الإعياء إلى حال لا تحتاج معها إلى أرسان تقاد بها ، وصار راكبوها من الكلال إلى إلقاء الأرسان وطرحها على الخيل . لا يبالون من تبعهم وإعيائهم ، كيف تسير ، ولا إلى أين .(34) قد استوفى الكلام في"حتى" الفراء في معاني القرآن 1 : 132- 138 واعتمد عليه الطبري في أكثر ما قاله في هذا الموضع .
قوله تعالى : ( أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ) قال قتادة والسدي : نزلت هذه الآية في غزوة الخندق حين أصاب المسلمين ما أصابهم من الجهد وشدة الخوف والبرد وضيق العيش وأنواع الأذى كما قال الله تعالى : " وبلغت القلوب الحناجر " ( 10 - الأحزاب ) وقيل نزلت في حرب أحد .وقال عطاء : لما دخل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه المدينة اشتد عليهم الضر لأنهم خرجوا بلا مال وتركوا ديارهم وأموالهم بأيدي المشركين وآثروا رضا الله ورسوله وأظهرت اليهود العداوة لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأسر قوم النفاق فأنزل الله تعالى تطييبا لقلوبهم ( أم حسبتم ) أي : أحسبتم والميم صلة قاله الفراء وقال الزجاج : بل حسبتم ومعنى الآية : أظننتم أيها المؤمنون أن تدخلوا الجنة ( ولما يأتكم ) وما صلة ( مثل الذين خلوا ) شبه الذين مضوا ( من قبلكم ) النبيين والمؤمنين ( مستهم البأساء ) الفقر والشدة والبلاء ) ( والضراء ) المرض والزمانة ) ( وزلزلوا ) أي حركوا بأنواع البلايا والرزايا وخوفوا ( حتى يقول الرسول والذين آمنوا معه متى نصر الله ) ما زال البلاء بهم حتى استبطئوا النصر .قال الله تعالى : ( ألا إن نصر الله قريب ) قرأ نافع حتى يقول الرسول بالرفع معناه حتى قال الرسول وإذا كان الفعل الذي يلي حتى في معنى الماضي ولفظه ( لفظ ) المستقبل فلك فيه الوجهان الرفع والنصب فالنصب على ظاهر الكلام لأن حتى تنصب الفعل المستقبل والرفع لأن معناه الماضي وحتى لا تعمل في الماضي .
إضراب انتقالي عن الكلام السابق فاحتاج إلى وجه مناسبة به ، فقال الطيبي أخذاً من كلام «الكشاف» : إن قوله تعالى : { كان الناس أمة واحدة } [ البقرة : 213 ] كلام ذُكرت فيه الأمم السالفة وذُكر من بعث إليهم من الأنبياء وما لَقُوا منهم من الشدائد ، ومُدْمِجٌ لتشجيع الرسول والمؤمنين على الثبات والصبر على أذى المشركين كما قال : { وكلا نقص عليك من أنباء الرسل ما نثبت به فؤادك } [ هود : 120 ] فمن هذا الوجه كان الرسول وأصحابه مُرادين من ذلك الكلام ، يدل عليه قوله : { فهدى الله الذين آمنوا } [ البقرة : 213 ] وهو المضرب عنه ببل التي تضمنّها أَمْ أي دَعْ ذلك ، أحَسِبُوا أن يدخلوا الجنة اه .وبيانه أن القصد من ذكر الأمم السالفة حيثما وقع في القرآن هو العبرة والموعظة والتحذير من الوقوع فيما وقعوا فيه بسوء عملهم والاقتداءُ في المحامد ، فكان في قوله تعالى : { كان الناس أمة واحدة } الآية إجمال لذلك وقد ختم بقوله { فهدى الله الذين آمنوا لما اختلفوا فيه من الحق بإذنه } ، ولما كان هذا الختام منقبة للمسلمين أُوقِظوا أنْ لا يُزْهَوْا بهذا الثناء فيحسبوا أنهم قضَوْا حق شكر النعمة فعقب بأن عليهم أن يصبروا لما عسى أن يعترضهم في طريق إيمانهم من البأساء والضراء اقتداء بصالحي الأمم السالفة ، فكما حذرهم الله من الوقوع فيما وقع فيه الضالون من أولئك الأمم حرضهم هنا على الاقتداء بهدي المهتدين منهم على عادة القرآن في تعقيب البشارة بالنذارة وعكس ذلك ، فيكون قوله : { أم حسبتم } إضراباً عن قوله : { فهدى الله الذين آمنوا } وليكون ذلك تصبيراً لهم على ما نالهم يوم الحديبية من تطاول المشركين عليهم بمنعهم من العُمرة وما اشترطوا عليهم للعام القابل ، ويكون أيضاً تمهيداً لقوله : { كتب عليكم القتال } [ البقرة : 216 ] الآية ، وقد روي عن أكثر المفسرين الأولين أن هذه الآية نزلت في غزوة الخندق حين أصاب المسلمين ما أصابهم من الجَهد والشدائد فتكون تلك الحادثة زيادة في المناسبة .و { أم في الإضراب كبل إلا أن أَمْ تؤذن بالاستفهام وهو هنا تقرير بذلك وإنكاره إن كان حاصلاً أي بل أحسبتم أن تدخلوا دون بلْوَى وهو حسبان باطل لا ينبغي اعتقاده .وحَسِب بكسر السين في الماضي : فعل من أفعال القلوب أخواتتِ ظن ، وفي مضارعه وجهان كسر السين وهو أجود وفتحها وهو أقيس وقد قرىء بهما في المشهور ، ومصدره الحِسبان بكسر الحاء وأصله من الحساب بمعنى العد فاستعمل في الظن تشبيهاً لجولان النفس في استخراج علم ما يقع بجولان اليد في الأشياء لتعيين عددها ومثله في ذلك فعل عَدَّ بمعنى ظن .والخطاب للمسلمين وهو إقبال عليهم بالخطاب بعد أن كان الكلام على غيرهم فليس فيه التفات ، وجعل صاحب الكشاف } التفاتا بناء على تقدم قوله{ فهدى الله الذي آمنوا لما اختلفوا فيه } [ البقرة : 213 ] وأنه يقتضي أن يقال أم حسبوا أي الذين آمنوا ، والأظهرُ أنه لما وقع الانتقال من غرض إلى غرض بالإضراب الانتقالي الحاصل بأم ، صار الكلام افتتاحاً محضاً وبذلك يُتأكد اعتبار الانتقال من أسلوب إلى أسلوب ، فالالتفات هنا غير منظور إليه على التحقيق .ودخول الجنة هنا دخولها بدون سبق عناء وبلوى ، وهو دخول الذين استوفوا كل ما وجب عليهم ولم يقصروا في شيء منه ، وإلا فإن دخول الجنة محسوب لكل مؤمن ولو لم تأته البأساء والضراء أو أتتهُ ولم يصبر عليها ، بمعنى أن الصبر على ذلك وعدم الضجر منه موجب لغفران الذنوب ، أو المراد من ذلك أن تنالهم البأساء فيصبروا ولا يرتدوا عن الدين ، لذلك فيكون دخول الجنة متوقفاً على الصبر على البأساء والضراء بهذا المعنى ، وتطرقُ هاته الحالة سنة من سنن الله تعالى في أَتْباع الرسل في أول ظهور الدين وذلك من أسباب مزيد فضائل اتباع الرسل ، فلذلك هُيِّءَ المسلمون لتلقيه من قبل وقوعه لطفاً بهم ليكون حصوله أهون عليهم .وقد لقي المسلمون في صدر الإسلام من أذى المشركين البأساءَ والضراءَ وأخرجوا من ديارهم وتحملوا مضض الغربة ، فلما وردوا المدينة لقُوا من أذى اليهود في أنفسهم وأذى المشركين في قرابتهم وأموالهم بمكة ما كدر عليهم صفو حفاوة الأنصار بهم ، كما أن الأنصار لقُوا من ذلك شدة المضايقة في ديارهم بل وفي أموالهم فقد كان الأنصار يعرضون على المهاجرين أن يتنازلوا لهم عن حظ من أموالهم .و { لمَّا أخت لم في الدلالة على نفي الفعل ولكنها مركبة من لَم ومَا النافية فأفادت توكيد النفي ، لأنها ركبت من حرفي نفي ، ومن هذا كان النفي بها مشعراً بأن السامع كان يترقب حصول الفعل المنفي بها فيكون النفي بها نفياً لحصول قريب ، وهو يشعر بأن حصول المنفي بها يكون بعد مدة ، وهذا استعمال دل عليه الاستقراء واحتجوا له بقول النابغة: ... أَزِفَ الترحُّلُ غيرَ أن ركابنالَمَّا تَزُلْ برحالنا وكأنْ قدِ ... فنفى بلما ثم قال : وكأن قد ، أي وكأنه قد زالت .والواو للحال أي أحسبتم دخول الجنة في حالة انتفاء ما يُترقب حصوله لكم من مس البأساء والضراء فإنكم لا تدخلون الجنة ذلك الدخول السالم من المحنة إلا إذا تحملتم ما هو من ذلك القبيل .والإتيان مجاز في الحصول ، لأن الشيء الحاصل بعد العدم يجعل كأنه أتى من مكان بعيد .والمثَل : المشابه في الهيئة والحالة كما تقدم في قوله تعالى : { مثلهم كمثل الذين استوقد ناراً } [ البقرة : 17 ] .و { الذين خلَوْا } هم الأمم الذين مضوا وانقرضوا وأصل { خَلَوْا } خلاَ منهم المكان فبولغ في إسناد الفعل فأسند إليهم ما هو من صفات مكانهم .و { من قبلكم } متعلق بخَلَوْا لمجرد البيان وقصد إظهار الملابسة بين الفريقين .والمس حقيقته : اتصال الجسم بجسم آخر وهو مجاز في إصابة الشيء وحلوله ، فمنه مس الشيطان أي حلول ضُر الجنة بالعقل ، ومسُّ سَقر : ما يصيب من نارها ، ومسَّه الفقر والضر : إذا حل به ، وأكثر ما يطلق في إصابة الشر قال تعالى : { وإذا مس الإنسان ضر دعا } [ الزمر : 8 ] { وإذا مس الإنسان الضر دعانا } [ يونس : 12 ] { وإذا مسه الشر فذو دعاء عريض } [ فصلت : 51 ] { ولا تمسوها بسوء } [ الأعراف : 73 ] فالمعنى هنا : حلت بهم البأساء والضراء . وقد تقدم القول في البأساء والضراء عند قوله تعالى : { والصابرين في البأساء والضراء } [ البقرة : 177 ] .وقوله : { وزلزلوا } أي أزعجوا أو اضطربوا ، وإنما الذي اضطرب نظام معيشتهم ، قال تعالى : { هنالك ابتلي المؤمنون وزلزلوا زلزالاً شديداً } [ الأحزاب : 11 ] ، والزلزلة تحرك الجسم من مكانه بشدة ، ومنه زلزال الأرض ، فوزن زلزل فُعفِل ، والتضعيف فيه دال على تكرر الفعل كما قال تعالى : { فكبكبوا فيها } [ الشعراء : 94 ] وقالوا لَمْلَم بالمكان إذا نَزل به نزولَ إقامة .و { حتى } غاية للمس والزلزاللِ ، أي بلغ بهم الأمر إلى غاية يقول عندها الرسول والذين معه متى نصر الله .ولما كانت الآية مخبرة عن مسَ حل بمن تقدم من الأمم ومنذرة بحلول مثله بالمخاطَبين وقت نزول الآية ، جاز في فعل يَقُول أن يعتبر قولَ رسول أمة سابقة أي زلزلوا حتى يقول رسول المزلْزَلين ف { آل للعهد ، أو حتى يقول كلُّ رسول لأمة سبقت فتكون أل للاستغراق ، فيكون الفعل محكياً به تلك الحالة العجيبة فيرفَع بعد حتى؛ لأن الفعل المراد به الحال يكون مرفوعاً ، وبرفععِ الفعل قرأ نافع وأبو جعفر ، وجاز فيه أن يعتبر قول رسول المخاطَبين عليه السلام فأَلْ فيه للعهد والمعنى : وزلزلوا وتزلزلون مثلهم حتى يقول الرسول فيكون الفعل منصوباً؛ لأن القول لمَّا يقَعْ وقتئذ ، وبذلك قرأ بقية العشرة ، فقراءة الرفع أنسب بظاهر السياق وقراءة النصب أنسب بالغرض المسوق له الكلام ، وبكلتا القراءتين يحصل كلا الغرضين .ومتى استفهام مستعمل في استبطاء زمان النصر .وقوله : ألا إن نصر الله قريب } كلام مستأنف بقرينة افتتاحه بأَلاَ ، وهو بشارة من الله تعالى للمسلمين بقرب النصر بعد أن حصل لهم من قوارع صدر الآية ما ملأ القلوب رُعباً ، والقصد منه إكرام هذه الأمة بأنها لا يبلغ ما يمسها مبلغ ما مس من قبلها ، وإكرامٌ للرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم بألا يحتاج إلى قول ما قالته الرسل قبله من استبطاء نصر الله بأن يجيء نصر الله لهاته الأمة قبل استبطائه ، وهذا يشير إلى فتح مكة .
يخبر تبارك وتعالى أنه لا بد أن يمتحن عباده بالسراء والضراء والمشقة كما فعل بمن قبلهم, فهي سنته الجارية, التي لا تتغير ولا تتبدل, أن من قام بدينه وشرعه, لا بد أن يبتليه، فإن صبر على أمر الله, ولم يبال بالمكاره الواقفة في سبيله, فهو الصادق الذي قد نال من السعادة كمالها, ومن السيادة آلتها.
ومن جعل فتنة الناس كعذاب الله, بأن صدته المكاره عما هو بصدده، وثنته المحن عن مقصده, فهو الكاذب في دعوى الإيمان، فإنه ليس الإيمان بالتحلي والتمني, ومجرد الدعاوى, حتى تصدقه الأعمال أو تكذبه.
فقد جرى على الأمم الأقدمين ما ذكر الله عنهم ( مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ ) أي: الفقر ( وَالضَّرَّاءُ ) أي: الأمراض في أبدانهم ( وَزُلْزِلُوا ) بأنواع المخاوف من التهديد بالقتل, والنفي, وأخذ الأموال, وقتل الأحبة, وأنواع المضار حتى وصلت بهم الحال, وآل بهم الزلزال, إلى أن استبطأوا نصر الله مع يقينهم به.
ولكن لشدة الأمر وضيقه قال ( الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ) .
فلما كان الفرج عند الشدة, وكلما ضاق الأمر اتسع، قال تعالى: ( أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ ) فهكذا كل من قام بالحق فإنه يمتحن.
فكلما اشتدت عليه وصعبت، إذا صابر وثابر على ما هو عليه انقلبت المحنة في حقه منحة, والمشقات راحات, وأعقبه ذلك, الانتصار على الأعداء وشفاء ما في قلبه من الداء، وهذه الآية نظير قوله تعالى: أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ .
وقوله [ تعالى: ] الم * أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ * وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ فعند الامتحان, يكرم المرء أو يهان.
قوله تعالى : أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يأتكم مثل الذين خلوا من قبلكم مستهم البأساء والضراء وزلزلوا حتى يقول الرسول والذين آمنوا معه متى نصر الله ألا إن نصر الله قريبقوله تعالى : أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة " حسبتم " معناه ظننتم . قال قتادة والسدي وأكثر المفسرين : نزلت هذه الآية في غزوة الخندق حين أصاب المسلمين ما أصابهم من الجهد والشدة ، والحر والبرد ، وسوء العيش ، وأنواع الشدائد ، وكان كما قال الله تعالى : وبلغت القلوب الحناجر . وقيل : نزلت في حرب أحد ، نظيرها - في آل عمران - أم حسبتم أن تدخلوا الجنة ولما يعلم الله الذين جاهدوا منكم . وقالت فرقة : نزلت الآية تسلية للمهاجرين حين تركوا ديارهم وأموالهم بأيدي المشركين ، وآثروا رضا الله ورسوله ، وأظهرت اليهود العداوة لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وأسر قوم من الأغنياء النفاق ، فأنزل الله تعالى تطييبا لقلوبهم أم حسبتم . و " أم " هنا منقطعة ، بمعنى بل ، وحكى بعض اللغويين أنها قد تجيء بمثابة ألف الاستفهام ليبتدأ بها ، و " حسبتم " تطلب مفعولين ، فقال النحاة : " أن تدخلوا " تسد مسد المفعولين . وقيل : المفعول الثاني محذوف : أحسبتم دخولكم الجنة واقعا . و " لما " بمعنى لم . و " مثل " معناه شبه ، أي ولم تمتحنوا بمثل ما امتحن به من كان قبلكم فتصبروا كما صبروا . وحكى النضر بن شميل أن " مثل " يكون بمعنى صفة ، ويجوز أن يكون المعنى : ولما يصبكم مثل الذي أصاب الذين من قبلكم ، أي من البلاء . قال وهب : وجد فيما بين مكة والطائف سبعون نبيا موتى ، كان سبب موتهم الجوع والقمل ، ونظير هذه [ ص: 34 ] الآية الم أحسب الناس أن يتركوا أن يقولوا آمنا وهم لا يفتنون ولقد فتنا الذين من قبلهم على ما يأتي ، فاستدعاهم تعالى إلى الصبر ، ووعدهم على ذلك بالنصر فقال : ألا إن نصر الله قريب . والزلزلة : شدة التحريك ، تكون في الأشخاص وفي الأحوال ، يقال : زلزل الله الأرض زلزلة وزلزالا - بالكسر - فتزلزلت إذا تحركت واضطربت ، فمعنى زلزلوا خوفوا وحركوا . والزلزال - بالفتح - الاسم . والزلازل : الشدائد . وقال الزجاج : أصل الزلزلة من زل الشيء عن مكانه ، فإذا قلت : زلزلته فمعناه كررت زلله من مكانه . ومذهب سيبويه أن زلزل رباعي كدحرج . وقرأ نافع " حتى يقول " بالرفع ، والباقون بالنصب . ومذهب سيبويه في " حتى " أن النصب فيما بعدها من جهتين والرفع من جهتين ، تقول : سرت حتى أدخل المدينة - بالنصب - على أن السير والدخول جميعا قد مضيا ، أي سرت إلى أن أدخلها ، وهذه غاية ، وعليه قراءة من قرأ بالنصب . والوجه الآخر في النصب في غير الآية سرت حتى أدخلها ، أي كي أدخلها . والوجهان في الرفع سرت حتى أدخلها ، أي سرت فأدخلها ، وقد مضيا جميعا ، أي كنت سرت فدخلت . ولا تعمل حتى هاهنا بإضمار أن ؛ لأن بعدها جملة ، كما قال الفرزدق :فيا عجبا حتى كليب تسبنيقال النحاس : فعلى هذا القراءة بالرفع أبين وأصح معنى ، أي وزلزلوا حتى الرسول يقول ، أي حتى هذه حاله ؛ لأن القول إنما كان عن الزلزلة غير منقطع منها ، والنصب على الغاية ليس فيه هذا المعنى . والرسول هنا شعيا في قولمقاتل ، وهو اليسع . وقال الكلبي : هذا في كل رسول بعث إلى أمته وأجهد في ذلك حتى قال : متى نصر الله ؟ . وروي عن الضحاك قال : يعني محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وعليه يدل نزول الآية ، والله أعلم . والوجه الآخر في غير الآية سرت حتى أدخلها ، على أن يكون السير قد مضى والدخول الآن . وحكى سيبويه : مرض حتى لا يرجونه ، أي هو الآن لا يرجى ، ومثله سرت حتى أدخلها لا أمنع . وبالرفع قرأ مجاهد والأعرج وابن محيصن وشيبة . وبالنصب قرأ الحسن وأبو جعفر وابن أبي إسحاق وشبل وغيرهم . قال مكي : وهو الاختيار ؛ لأن جماعة القراء عليه . وقرأ الأعمش : " وزلزلوا ويقول الرسول " بالواو بدل حتى . وفي مصحف ابن مسعود : " وزلزلوا ثم زلزلوا ويقول " . وأكثر المتأولين على أن الكلام إلى آخر الآية من قول الرسول والمؤمنين ، أي بلغ الجهد بهم حتى استبطئوا النصر ، فقال الله تعالى : ألا إن نصر الله قريب . ويكون ذلك من قول الرسول على طلب استعجال [ ص: 35 ] النصر لا على شك وارتياب . و " الرسول " اسم جنس . وقالت طائفة : في الكلام تقديم وتأخير ، والتقدير : حتى يقول الذين آمنوا متى نصر الله ، فيقول الرسول : ألا إن نصر الله قريب ، فقدم الرسول في الرتبة لمكانته ، ثم قدم قول المؤمنين لأنه المتقدم في الزمان . قال ابن عطية : وهذا تحكم ، وحمل الكلام على وجهه غير متعذر . ويحتمل أن يكون " ألا إن نصر الله قريب " إخبارا من الله تعالى مؤتنفا بعد تمام ذكر القول .قوله تعالى : متى نصر الله رفع بالابتداء على قول سيبويه ، وعلى قول أبي العباس رفع بفعل ، أي متى يقع نصر الله . و " قريب " خبر " إن " . قال النحاس : ويجوز في غير القرآن ( قريبا ) أي مكانا قريبا . و " قريب " لا تثنيه العرب ولا تجمعه ولا تؤنثه في هذا المعنى ، قال الله عز وجل : إن رحمة الله قريب من المحسنين . وقال الشاعر :له الويل إن أمسى ولا أم هاشم قريب ولا بسباسة بنة يشكرافإن قلت : فلان قريب لي ثنيت وجمعت ، فقلت : قريبون وأقرباء وقرباء .
Truth, supported by clear proofs, is revealed to men, yet still they refuse to accept it. Why is this? It is because they see truth as destructive to the dream world they have built up; they view it as damaging to their own interests and honour, as threatening to the comfortable, secure lives to which they have become accustomed. But in order to be faithful to God, we are required to make sacrifices of this nature. It is the road that men are reluctant to tread, because of its dangers and difficulties. But that is the only road which leads to Paradise. The price of Paradise is one’s own self. There is only one way to earn Paradise, and that is by total self-abnegation. This involves changing the very foundation of one’s life, thinking and acting in accordance with the pattern God has laid down, and giving up former habits. This task cannot be performed without exhorting others to do good deeds, and criticising their misdeeds. People in every age have been especially averse to criticism and admonition of this nature. Teachers of truth, then, have to be prepared for adverse reactions from their congregations.
The previous verse has said how hostile the disbelievers have been to prophets (علیہم السلام) and believers and, in a way, has comforted Muslims hurt by the mockery of disbelievers that there is nothing new about this antagonism. This has been there all the time. Further from this point, the present verse recounts the enormous amount of suffering faced by past prophets and believers at the hands of hostile disbelievers. This too is to console Muslims that they should be patient against the hostility of disbelievers as ideal happiness can only be achieved by getting ready and working hard for the Hereafter.
Commentary
There are two things worth serious attention in this verse:
1. Apparently, this verse seems to indicate that nobody shall enter Paradise unless he goes through hardships and sufferings, although, Qur'anic statements and sayings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ prove that many sinners will enter Paradise simply because of the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Allah Almighty, and that they shall undergo no hardship either. This is because hardship and suffering have different levels. The lowest degree is to resist against one's own desiring self and the Satan, or to strengthen the bases of one's beliefs by countering the forces working against the true Faith. This degree of achievement is within the grasp of every Muslim. Further on, there are the middle and the higher levels. The degree of one's strenuous effort shall be the degree of one's entry in to Paradise. Thus, nobody remains untried by effort and struggle and the resulting hardship and suffering. In a hadith, the Holy Prophet ﷺ has said:
اشد الناس بلاء الانبیاء ثم الامثل فالامثل
The hardships faced by the prophets are the hardest faced by men, after that, by those closer to them.
2. The second point one must note here concerns the prophets and their followers. That they reached a point of suffering when they cried out as to when will the help of Allah come, was not because of any doubt since that would be against the dignity of their station. In fact, the call was made in the background of Allah's promised help for which the time and place was left undetermined. As such, using these words in a state of distress indicated the desire for early help. Making such a prayer is not against one's trust in Allah (tawakkul تَوَکَّل) or against the station of prophet hood. On the contrary, the fact is that Allah Almighty favours the earnest supplication of his servants. Who else other than the prophets and the pious of the community would be more deserving of what Allah likes?
(Or think ye) O group of believers!-referring here to 'Uthman [Ibn 'Affan] and his fellow believers-(that ye will enter Paradise while yet there hath not come unto you the like of (that which came to) those who passed away before you?) i.e. without being tried as were the believers who came before you. (Affliction) fear, calamities, hardships (and adversity) sickness, pain and hunger (befell them) visited them, (they were shaken as with an earthquake) in hardship, (till the Messenger (of Allah)) until their Messenger (and those who believed along with him) those who believed in him (said: When cometh Allah's help) over the enemy? Allah said to that Prophet: (Now surely Allah's help) over your enemy by means of your safety (is near).
�And were so shaken [in spirit]� That is, their willing was through Him, they were fearful because of Him, and were wary of God�s ruse (makr), Mighty and Majestic is He; �that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, �When will God�s help come?� Ah, but surely God�s help is nigh.Sahl was asked concerning these words, �Did they ask this because they found that help slow in arriving?� He replied:No, but when they lost hope in their own devising (tadbīr) they said, �When will God�s help come?� Hence, when God, Exalted is He, saw that they had given up on their own power (ḥawl), strength (quwwa) and devising (tadbīr), and saw their display of neediness for Him, and [their admission that] they had no means without Him, He responded to them with His words, Ah, but surely God�s help is nigh.Sahl further said:Affliction (balāʾ) and well-being (ʿāfiya) are from God, Mighty and Majestic is He. The commandand prohibition are from Him; protection and the granting of success are from Him; and reward and punishment are from Him. However, actions are attributed (manṣūba) to the children of Adam, so whoever performs a good action must express gratitude to merit thereby an increase [in goodness]; and whoever performs a wicked act must seek forgiveness, so that he thereby merits forgiveness. Affliction from God is of two kinds: an affliction of mercy and an affliction of punishment. An affliction of mercy leads the afflicted person to show his utter need (iftiqār) for God, Mighty and Majestic is He, and leads him to the abandonment of devising(tadbīr). However, an affliction of punishment leads the afflicted person [to rely] on his own choice (ikhtiyār) and devising.Sahl was then asked, �Which is more difficult, patience (ṣabr) in [a state of] well-being or patience during adversity?� He replied:Asking for safety (salāma) in times of security is more difficult than asking for safety in [a state of] fear.[On the same subject] Sahl said regarding His words, And if anyone believes in God, [God] guides his heart [aright] [64:11], �[Whoever] believes in God and that his affliction comes from God, will find his heart guided by God to the expectation of relief (intiẓār al-faraj) from Him�.His words:[5:2] �Help one another to righteousness and mindfulness of God�That is, to the performance of the obligatory acts, for righteousness (birr) is faith (īmān), and the performance of obligatory acts is a branch (farʿ) of faith.
The following was revealed after the Muslims suffered a trying experience Or did you suppose that you should enter Paradise without there having come upon you the like of what came upon those believers who passed away before you? of trials so that you may endure as they did; a new sentence begins here explaining the previous one They were afflicted by misery extreme poverty and hardship illness and were so convulsed by all types of tribulations that the Messenger and those who believed with him said read yaqūla or yaqūlu not expecting to see any help on account of the extreme hardship afflicting them ‘When will God’s help come?’ the help which we were promised; and God responded to them Ah but surely God’s help is nigh in coming.
Victory only comes after succeeding in the Trials
Allah said:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ
(Or think you that you will enter Paradise) before you are tested and tried just like the nations that came before you This is why Allah said:
وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَآءُ وَالضَّرَّآءُ
(...without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments) meaning, illnesses, pain, disasters and hardships. Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Murrah Al-Hamdani, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi`, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan said that
الْبَأْسَآءِ
(Al-Ba'sa') means poverty. Ibn `Abbas said that
وَالضَّرَّآءِ
(...and Ad-Darra') means ailments.
وَزُلْزِلُواْ
(and were so shaken) for fear of the enemy, and were tested, and put to a tremendous trial. An authentic Hadith narrated that Khabbab bin Al-Aratt said, "We said, `O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Why do you not invoke Allah to support us Why do you not supplicate to Allah for us' He said:
«إِنَّ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ كَانَ أَحَدُهُمْ يُوضَعُ الْمِنْشَارُ عَلى مَفْرَقِ رَأْسِهِ فَيَخْلُصُ إِلى قَدَمَيْهِ لَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ مَا بَيْنَ لَحْمِهِ وَعَظْمِهِ، لَا يَصْرِفُهُ ذلِكَ عَنْ دِينِه».
(The saw would be placed on the middle of the head of one of those who were before you (believers) and he would be sawn until his feet, and he would be combed with iron combs between his skin and bones, yet that would not make him change his religion.)
He then said:
«وَاللهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ اللهُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إلى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، لَا يَخَافُ إِلَّا اللهَ وَالذِّئْبَ عَلى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّــكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَسْتَعْجِلُون»
(By Allah! This matter (religion) will spread (or expand) by Allah until the traveler leaves San`a' to Hadramawt (both in Yemen, but at a great distance from each other) fearing only Allah and then the wolf for the sake of his sheep. You are just a hasty people.)
And Allah said:
الم - ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ - الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
(Alif-Lam-Mim. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars.) (29:1-3)
The Companions experienced tremendous trials during the battle of Al-Ahzab (the Confederates). Allah said:
إِذْ جَآءُوكُمْ مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَاْ - هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِىَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُواْ زِلْزَالاً شَدِيداً - وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلاَّ غُرُوراً
(When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harboring doubts about Allah. There, the believers were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: "Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!") (33:10-12)
When Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan, "Did you fight him (Prophet Muhammad)" He said, "Yes." Heraclius said, "What was the outcome of warfare between you" Abu Sufyan said, "Sometimes we lose and sometimes he loses." He said, "Such is the case with Prophets, they are tested, but the final victory is theirs."
Allah's statement:
مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم
(...without (such) (trials) as came to those who passed away before you) meaning, their way of life. Similarly, Allah said:
فَأَهْلَكْنَآ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُم بَطْشاً وَمَضَى مَثَلُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ
(Then We destroyed men stronger (in power) than these ـ and the example of the ancients has passed away (before them)) (43: 8) and:
وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ
(...were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the help of Allah.")
They pleaded (to Allah) for victory against their enemies and invoked Him for aid and deliverance from their hardships and trials. Allah said:
أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!)
Allah said:
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً - إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً
(Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief.) (94:5, 6)
So just as there is hardship, its equal of relief will soon arrive. This is why Allah said:
أَلاَ إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
(Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near!)
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden? This is as they say: You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words. “When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.” Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head. Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it, you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485] The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, “The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,” lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9]. A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: “The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.” With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need. In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird! You want to mate with a white falcon. The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of “I don't care.” The tongue of his state will say, “Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.”
Or do you reckon that you will enter the Garden?This is as they say:You can't speak the words of the good so easily- it is not so easy, easy, to speak their words.�When someone is too timid to engage with fearful things, he will not reach his hopes.� Are you not aware that joining is found in breaking off, life in death, and desires in not reaching your desires? The moth reaches union with the candle when it burns, and the candle finds life when it loses its head.Religion's pain is indeed marvelous, for when you suffer it,you will be like a candle-better once your head's cut off. [DS 485]The high Firdaws is a sweet garden and meadow, but the road there is difficult, a rosebed full of thorns. MuṣṬafā said, �The Garden is surrounded by disliked things,� lest the nobodies and the unqualified claim familiarity. Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? [39:9].A simile for this rule is the ocean: It was made the resting place for precious pearls and night- brightening gems, and then sharks and huge fish were made the veil of those pearls and gems. Two men set out, pulled into the field of seeking by love for gems. They go to the ocean's shore and see its difficulties, and dread appears in them because of the danger of those sharks. Of the two men who see the terrors and difficult states, one is afraid and he steps back from seeking and declares himself quit of his own words. He had a wish, but his attribute of manliness was not complete. He fancied that this work could be finished merely by wishing and that he could reach the treasure without suffering. The exalted Shariah gives the answer: �The religion is not reached with wishfulness and self-adornment.�With Me you must have a hidden mystery, with Me you must always have need.In truth, black crow, you're a fine bird!You want to mate with a white falcon.The other man is the possessor of desire. Passion for the beauty of that night-brightening pearl cleanses his intellect of the ocean's terrors, so he does not give those meanings access to himself. Hour by hour and moment by moment that beauty discloses itself to him, so he becomes more en- tranced and more passionate. He goes head first into the ocean. If felicity assists him and success- giving becomes his friend, that night-brightening pearl will fall into the grasp of his seeking. If the opposite happens, the sharks will take his life as booty and his name will be written in the register of �I don't care.� The tongue of his state will say,�Each month two thousand of the passionate like me are killed, and not one lets out a sigh.�
يخبر تبارك وتعالى أنه لا بد أن يمتحن عباده بالسراء والضراء والمشقة كما فعل بمن قبلهم, فهي سنته الجارية, التي لا تتغير ولا تتبدل, أن من قام بدينه وشرعه, لا بد أن يبتليه، فإن صبر على أمر الله, ولم يبال بالمكاره الواقفة في سبيله, فهو الصادق الذي قد نال من السعادة كمالها, ومن السيادة آلتها.
ومن جعل فتنة الناس كعذاب الله, بأن صدته المكاره عما هو بصدده، وثنته المحن عن مقصده, فهو الكاذب في دعوى الإيمان، فإنه ليس الإيمان بالتحلي والتمني, ومجرد الدعاوى, حتى تصدقه الأعمال أو تكذبه.
فقد جرى على الأمم الأقدمين ما ذكر الله عنهم ( مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ ) أي: الفقر ( وَالضَّرَّاءُ ) أي: الأمراض في أبدانهم ( وَزُلْزِلُوا ) بأنواع المخاوف من التهديد بالقتل, والنفي, وأخذ الأموال, وقتل الأحبة, وأنواع المضار حتى وصلت بهم الحال, وآل بهم الزلزال, إلى أن استبطأوا نصر الله مع يقينهم به.
ولكن لشدة الأمر وضيقه قال ( الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ) .
فلما كان الفرج عند الشدة, وكلما ضاق الأمر اتسع، قال تعالى: ( أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ ) فهكذا كل من قام بالحق فإنه يمتحن.
فكلما اشتدت عليه وصعبت، إذا صابر وثابر على ما هو عليه انقلبت المحنة في حقه منحة, والمشقات راحات, وأعقبه ذلك, الانتصار على الأعداء وشفاء ما في قلبه من الداء، وهذه الآية نظير قوله تعالى: أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ .
وقوله [ تعالى: ] الم * أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لا يُفْتَنُونَ * وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ فعند الامتحان, يكرم المرء أو يهان.
Truth, supported by clear proofs, is revealed to men, yet still they refuse to accept it. Why is this? It is because they see truth as destructive to the dream world they have built up; they view it as damaging to their own interests and honour, as threatening to the comfortable, secure lives to which they have become accustomed. But in order to be faithful to God, we are required to make sacrifices of this nature. It is the road that men are reluctant to tread, because of its dangers and difficulties. But that is the only road which leads to Paradise. The price of Paradise is one’s own self. There is only one way to earn Paradise, and that is by total self-abnegation. This involves changing the very foundation of one’s life, thinking and acting in accordance with the pattern God has laid down, and giving up former habits. This task cannot be performed without exhorting others to do good deeds, and criticising their misdeeds. People in every age have been especially averse to criticism and admonition of this nature. Teachers of truth, then, have to be prepared for adverse reactions from their congregations.
The previous verse has said how hostile the disbelievers have been to prophets (علیہم السلام) and believers and, in a way, has comforted Muslims hurt by the mockery of disbelievers that there is nothing new about this antagonism. This has been there all the time. Further from this point, the present verse recounts the enormous amount of suffering faced by past prophets and believers at the hands of hostile disbelievers. This too is to console Muslims that they should be patient against the hostility of disbelievers as ideal happiness can only be achieved by getting ready and working hard for the Hereafter.
Commentary
There are two things worth serious attention in this verse:
1. Apparently, this verse seems to indicate that nobody shall enter Paradise unless he goes through hardships and sufferings, although, Qur'anic statements and sayings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ prove that many sinners will enter Paradise simply because of the grace, mercy and forgiveness of Allah Almighty, and that they shall undergo no hardship either. This is because hardship and suffering have different levels. The lowest degree is to resist against one's own desiring self and the Satan, or to strengthen the bases of one's beliefs by countering the forces working against the true Faith. This degree of achievement is within the grasp of every Muslim. Further on, there are the middle and the higher levels. The degree of one's strenuous effort shall be the degree of one's entry in to Paradise. Thus, nobody remains untried by effort and struggle and the resulting hardship and suffering. In a hadith, the Holy Prophet ﷺ has said:
اشد الناس بلاء الانبیاء ثم الامثل فالامثل
The hardships faced by the prophets are the hardest faced by men, after that, by those closer to them.
2. The second point one must note here concerns the prophets and their followers. That they reached a point of suffering when they cried out as to when will the help of Allah come, was not because of any doubt since that would be against the dignity of their station. In fact, the call was made in the background of Allah's promised help for which the time and place was left undetermined. As such, using these words in a state of distress indicated the desire for early help. Making such a prayer is not against one's trust in Allah (tawakkul تَوَکَّل) or against the station of prophet hood. On the contrary, the fact is that Allah Almighty favours the earnest supplication of his servants. Who else other than the prophets and the pious of the community would be more deserving of what Allah likes?
�And were so shaken [in spirit]� That is, their willing was through Him, they were fearful because of Him, and were wary of God�s ruse (makr), Mighty and Majestic is He; �that the Messenger and those who believed with him said, �When will God�s help come?� Ah, but surely God�s help is nigh.Sahl was asked concerning these words, �Did they ask this because they found that help slow in arriving?� He replied:No, but when they lost hope in their own devising (tadbīr) they said, �When will God�s help come?� Hence, when God, Exalted is He, saw that they had given up on their own power (ḥawl), strength (quwwa) and devising (tadbīr), and saw their display of neediness for Him, and [their admission that] they had no means without Him, He responded to them with His words, Ah, but surely God�s help is nigh.Sahl further said:Affliction (balāʾ) and well-being (ʿāfiya) are from God, Mighty and Majestic is He. The commandand prohibition are from Him; protection and the granting of success are from Him; and reward and punishment are from Him. However, actions are attributed (manṣūba) to the children of Adam, so whoever performs a good action must express gratitude to merit thereby an increase [in goodness]; and whoever performs a wicked act must seek forgiveness, so that he thereby merits forgiveness. Affliction from God is of two kinds: an affliction of mercy and an affliction of punishment. An affliction of mercy leads the afflicted person to show his utter need (iftiqār) for God, Mighty and Majestic is He, and leads him to the abandonment of devising(tadbīr). However, an affliction of punishment leads the afflicted person [to rely] on his own choice (ikhtiyār) and devising.Sahl was then asked, �Which is more difficult, patience (ṣabr) in [a state of] well-being or patience during adversity?� He replied:Asking for safety (salāma) in times of security is more difficult than asking for safety in [a state of] fear.[On the same subject] Sahl said regarding His words, And if anyone believes in God, [God] guides his heart [aright] [64:11], �[Whoever] believes in God and that his affliction comes from God, will find his heart guided by God to the expectation of relief (intiẓār al-faraj) from Him�.His words:[5:2] �Help one another to righteousness and mindfulness of God�That is, to the performance of the obligatory acts, for righteousness (birr) is faith (īmān), and the performance of obligatory acts is a branch (farʿ) of faith.