The Light — Verse 38

The Virtues of the Masjids, the Correct Etiquette, and the Virtues of Those who take care of them Having likened the heart of the believer and what it contains of guidance and knowledge to a lamp lit with good oil shining in a clear glass, Allah then states where it belongs, which is in the Masjids, the places on earth that are most beloved to Allah. The Masjids are His houses where He Alone is worshipped. So Allah says: فِى بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ (In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised,) meaning, Allah has commanded that they be established and that they be kept clean of any filth, idle talk or words or deeds that are inappropriate. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas concerning this Ayah: فِى بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ (In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised,) he said; "Allah forbade idle talk in them." This was also the view of `Ikrimah, Abu Salih, Ad-Dahhak, Nafi` bin Jubayr, Abu Bakr bin Sulayman bin Abi Hathamah, Sufyan bin Husayn and others among the scholars of Tafsir. Many Hadiths have been narrated concerning the construction of Masjids, honoring them, respecting them, and perfuming them with incense etc. This has been discussed in more detail elsewhere, and I have written a book dealing with this topic on its own, praise and blessings be to Allah. With Allah's help we will mention here a few of these Hadiths, if Allah wills. In Allah we put our trust and reliance. `Uthman bin `Affan, the Commander of the faithful, may Allah be pleased with him, said; "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: «مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا يَبْتَغِي بِهِ وَجْهَ اللهِ بَنَى اللهُ لَهُ مِثْلَهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ» (Whoever builds a Masjid seeking the Face of Allah, Allah will build for him something similar to it in Paradise.) It was narrated in the Two Sahihs. Ibn Majah narrated that `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said; "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا يُذْكَرُ فِيهِ اسْمُ اللهِ بَنَى اللهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ» (Whoever builds a Masjid in which the Name of Allah is remembered, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.) An-Nasa'i mentioned something similar. There are very many Hadiths which say this. `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to build Masjids among the houses, and to clean them and perfume them." This was recorded by Ahmad and the Sunan compilers with the exception of An-Nasa'i. Ahmad and Abu Dawud recorded a similar report from Samurah bin Jundub.Al-Bukhari said: "`Umar said: `Build for the people a place to worship Allah, and beware of using red or yellow for adornment and decoration and distracting the people thereby."' Abu Dawud narrated that Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «مَا أُمِرْتُ بِتَشْيِيدِ الْمَسَاجِدِ» (I was not commanded to Tashyid the Masjids.) Ibn `Abbas said, "Decorating them as the Jews and Christians did." Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَتَبَاهَى النَّاسُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ» (The Hour will not come until people show off in building Masjids.) It was recorded by Ahmad and the compilers of the Sunan, with the exception of At-Tirmidhi.Buraydah narrated that a man called out in the Masjid and said, "Has any body said anything about a red camel" The Prophet said: «لَا، وَجَدْتَ، إِنَّمَا بُنِيَتِ الْمَسَاجِدُ لِمَا بُنِيَتْ لَهُ» (May you never find it! The Masjids were built only for what they were built for.) This was narrated by Muslim. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «إِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مَنْ يَبِيعُ أَوْ يَبْتَاعُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَقُولُوا: لَا أَرْبَحَ اللهُ تِجَارَتَكَ، وَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مَنْ يَنْشُدُ ضَالَّةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقُولُوا: لَا رَدَّهَا اللهُ عَلَيْكَ» (If you see someone buying or selling in the Masjid, say to him, "May Allah never make your business profitable!" And if you see someone calling out about lost property, say, "May Allah never return it to you!") This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who said: "Hasan Gharib." Al-Bukhari recorded that As-Sa'ib bin Yazid Al-Kindi said, "I was standing in the Masjid and a man threw pebbles at me, so I looked and saw `Umar bin Al-Khattab who said, `Go and bring me these two men.' I went and brought them to him, and he said, `Who are you' Or, `Where do you come from' They said, `We are from At-Ta'if.' `Umar said, `If you had been from this town I would have hit you, for you are raising your voices in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ."' An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibrahim bin `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf said: "`Umar heard the voice of a man in the Masjid and said: `Do you know where you are"' This is also Sahih. Al-Hafiz Abu Ya`la Al-Musili recorded from Ibn `Umar that `Umar used to burn incense in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ every Friday. Its chain of narration is Hasan and there is nothing wrong with it, Allah knows best. It is confirmed in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «صَلَاةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الْجَمَاعَةِ تُضَعَّفُ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ وَفِي سُوقِهِ خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ ضِعْفًاوَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ إَذَا تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ لَا يُخْرِجُهُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ لَمْ يَخْطُ خَطْوَةً إِلَّا رُفِعَ لَهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةٌ وَحُطَّ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ. فَإِذَا صَلَّى لَمْ تَزَلِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ تُصَلِّي عَلَيْهِ مَا دَامَ فِي مُصَلَّاهُ: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَيْهِ، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ. وَلَا يَزَالُ فِي صَلَاةٍ مَا انْتَظَرَ الصَّلَاةَ» (A man's prayer in congregation is twenty-five times better than his prayer in his house or the marketplace. That is because if he performs Wudu' and does it well, then he goes out to go to the Masjid, and for no other purpose than to pray, he does not take one step but he increases in one level in status and one sin is removed. When he prays, the angels continue sending blessings on him as long as he is in the place where he prays, they say, "O Allah, send blessings on him, O Allah, have mercy on him." And he will remain in a state of prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer.) The following is recorded in the Sunan: «بَشِّرِ الْمَشَّائِينَ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ فِي الظُّلَمِ بِالنُّورِ التَّامِّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ» (Those who walk to the Masjids when it is dark, give them the glad tidings of complete Light on the Day of Resurrection.) When entering the Masjid, it is recommended to enter with one's right foot, and to say the supplication recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari, where it is narrated from `Abdullah bin `Amr that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say, when he entered the Masjid: «أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيمِ، وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ، مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ» (I seek refuge with Allah Almighty and with His Noble Face, and with His Eternal Domain, from the accursed Shaytan.) He (one of the narrators) asked, `Is that all' He answered, `Yes'. If he says this, the Shaytan says: "He will be protected from me all day long." Muslim recorded that Abu Humayd or Abu Usayd said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ.وَإِذَا خَرَجَ فَلْيَقُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ» (When anyone of you enters the Masjid, let him say: "O Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me. And when he comes out, let him say: "O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty.") An-Nasa'i also recorded this from them from the Prophet . Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ. وَلْيَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ، وَإِذَا خَرَجَ فَلْيُسَلِّمْ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ وَلْيَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ اعْصِمْنِي مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ» (When anyone of you enters the Masjid, let him invoke blessings on the Prophet then let him say: "O Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me." When he comes out, let him invoke blessings on the Prophet and say, "O Allah, protect me from the accursed Shaytan.") This was also recorded by Ibn Majah, as well as Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban in their Sahihs. وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ (in them His Name is remembered.) meaning, the Name of Allah. This is like the Ayat: يَـبَنِى ءَادَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ (O Children of Adam! Take your adornment to every Masjid...) 7:31 وَأَقِيمُواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَادْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ (and you should face (Him only) in each and every Masjid, and invoke Him only making your religion sincere to Him) 7:29. وَأَنَّ الْمَسَـجِدَ لِلَّهِ (And the Masjids are for Allah) 72:18. وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ (in them His Name is remembered.) Ibn `Abbas said, "This means that His Book is recited therein." يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالاٌّصَالِ (Therein glorify Him in the mornings and in the evenings.) رِجَالٌ لاَّ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـرَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ (Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah) This is like the Ayat: يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَلاَ أَوْلَـدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ (O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah.) 63:9 يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ الْبَيْعَ (O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah on Friday, hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business.) 62:9 Allah says that this world and its adornments, attractions and marketplaces should not distract them from remembering their Lord Who created them and sustains them, those who know that what is with Him is better for them than what they themselves possess, because what they have is transient but that which is with Allah is eternal. Allah says: لاَّ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـرَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَوةِ وَإِيتَآءِ الزَّكَـوةِ (Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah nor from performing the Salah nor from giving the Zakah). meaning, they give priority to obeying Allah and doing what He wants and what pleases Him over doing what they want and what pleases them. It was reported from Salim from `Abdullah bin `Umar that he was in the marketplace when the Iqamah for prayer was called, so they closed their stores and entered the Masjid. Ibn `Umar said: "Concerning them the Ayah was revealed: رِجَالٌ لاَّ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـرَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ (Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah)." This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. لاَّ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَـرَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ (Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance of Allah). `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This meant from the prescribed prayers." This was also the view of Muqatil bin Hayyan and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas. As-Suddi said: "From prayer in congregation." Muqatil bin Hayyan said, "That does not distract them from attending the prayer and establishing it as Allah commanded them, and from doing the prayers at the prescribed times and doing all that Allah has enjoined upon them in the prayer." يَخَـفُونَ يَوْماً تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالاٌّبْصَـرُ (They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned.) means, the Day of Resurrection when people's hearts and eyes will be overturned, because of the intensity of the fear and terror of that Day. This is like the Ayah: وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الاٌّزِفَةِ (And warn them of the Day that is drawing near...) 40:18, إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الأَبْصَـرُ (but He gives them respite up to a Day when the eyes will stare in horror) 14:42. وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً - إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لاَ نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَآءً وَلاَ شُكُوراً - إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْماً عَبُوساً قَمْطَرِيراً - فَوَقَـهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَومِ وَلَقَّـهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُوراً - وَجَزَاهُمْ بِمَا صَبَرُواْ جَنَّةً وَحَرِيراً (And they give food, inspite of their love for it, to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, (saying:) "We feed you seeking Allah's Face only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily, We fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible." So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them a light of beauty and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient) 76:8-12. And Allah says here: لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ (That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds,) meaning, "They are those from whom We shall accept the best of their deeds and overlook their evil deeds." وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ (and add even more for them out of His grace.) means, He will accept their good deeds and multiply them for them, as Allah says: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ (Surely, Allah wrongs not even of the weight of a speck of dust.) 4:40 مَن جَآءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا (Whoever brings a good deed shall have ten times the like thereof to his credit.) 6:160 مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا (Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan. ) 2:245 وَاللَّهُ يُضَـعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ (Allah gives manifold increase to whom He wills.) 2:261 And Allah says here: وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (And Allah provides without measure to whom He wills.)

so that God may reward them for the best of what they did that is reward them the reward for it ahsana means husna and give them more out of His bounty; and God provides whomever He will without any reckoning one says of someone yunfiqu bi-ghayri hisābin to mean that such a person is so generous that it is as though he does not need to reckon what he spends.

ليعطيهم الله ثواب أحسن أعمالهم، ويزيدهم من فضله بمضاعفة حسناتهم. والله يرزق مَن يشاء بغير حساب، بل يعطيه مِنَ الأجر ما لا يبلغه عمله، وبلا عدٍّ ولا كيل.

أي هؤلاء من الذين يتقبل حسناتهم ويتجاوز عن سيئاتهم وقوله "ويزيدهم من فضله" أي يتقبل منهم الحسن ويضاعفه لهم كما قال تعالى "إن الله لا يظلم مثقال ذرة" الآية وقال تعالى "من جاء بالحسنة فله عشر أمثالها" الآية وقال "من ذا الذي يقرض الله قرضا حسنا" الآية وقال "والله يضاعف لمن يشاء" وقال ههنا "والله يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب" وعن ابن مسعود أنه جيء بلبن فعرضه على جلسائه واحدا واحدا فكلهم لم يشربه لأنه كان صائما فتناوله ابن مسعود فشربه لأنه كان مفطرا ثم تلا قوله "يخافون يوما تتقلب فيه القلوب والأبصار" رواه النسائي وابن أبي حاتم من حديث الأعمش عن إبراهيم عن علقمة عنه. وقال أيضا حدثنا أبي حدثنا سويد بن سعيد حدثنا علي بن مسهر عن عبدالرحمن بن إسحاق عن شهر بن حوشب عن أسماء بنت يزيد بن السكن قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إذا جمع الله الأولين والآخرين يوم القيامة جاء مناد فنادى بصوت يسمع الخلائق سيعلم أهل الجمع من أولى بالكرم ليقم الذين لا تلهيهم تجارة ولا بيع عن ذكر الله فيقومون وهم قليل ثم يحاسب سائر الخلائق" وروى الطبراني من حديث بقية عن اسماعيل بن عبدالله الكندي عن الأعمش عن أبي وائل عن ابن مسعود عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فى قوله "ليوفيهم أجورهم ويزيدهم من فضله" قال أجورهم يدخلهم الجنة ويزيدهم من فضله الشفاعة لمن وجبت له الشفاعة لمن صنع لهم المعروف في الدنيا.

ثم بين - سبحانه - الأسباب التى حملتهم على الإكثار من هذه الطاعات فقال ( لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ الله أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُواْ وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِّن فَضْلِهِ ) .أى : إنهم يكثرون من تسبيح الله بالغدو والآصال ، دون أن يشغلهم عن ذلك أى شاغل ، لأنهم يرجون منه - سبحانه - أن يجزيهم أحسن الجزاء على أعمالهم ، وأن يزيدهم من فضله وإحسانه ، بما يليق بكرمه وامتنانه ." والله " - تعالى - " يرزق من يشاء " أن يرزقه " بغير حساب " أى : بدون حدود ، ولا قيود ، وبدون حصر لما يعطيه ، لأن خزائنه لا تنقص ولا تنفد ، حتى يحتاج إلى عد وحساب لما يخرج منها .فالجملة الكريمة تذييل قصد به التقرير للزيادة التى يتطلع إليها هؤلاء الرجال الصالحون ، ووعد منه - عز وجل - بأنه سيرزقهم رزقا يزيد عما يتوقعونه .وبذلك نرى الآيات قد طوفت بنا مع نور الله - عز وجل - ومثلت له بما من شأنه أن يجعل النفوس يشتد استمساكها بالحق الذى جاء به رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من عند ربه ، ومدحت مدحا عظيما أولئك الرجال الأخيار ، الذين يكثرون من طاعة الله - تعالى - فى بيوته التى أمر برفعها ، دون أن يشغلهم عن ذلك شاغل ، وبشرتهم بالعطاء الواسع الذى سيعطيهم الله إياه بفضله وكرمه .

وقوله: ( لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا ) يقول: فعلوا ذلك، يعني أنهم لم تلههم تجارة ولا بيع عن ذكر الله، وأقاموا الصلاة، وآتوا الزكاة، وأطاعوا ربهم؛ مخافة عذابه يوم القيامة، كي يثيبهم الله يوم القيامة بأحسن أعمالهم التي عملوها في الدنيا، ويزيدهم على ثوابه إياهم على أحسن أعمالهم التي عملوها في الدنيا من فضله، فَيُفْضل عليهم عن عنده بما أحبّ من كرامته لهم.وقوله: ( وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: يتفضل على من شاء وأراد من طوْله وكرامته، مما لم يستحقه بعمله، ولم يبلغه بطاعته ( بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ ) ، يقول: بغير محاسبة على ما بذل له وأعطاه.

( ليجزيهم الله أحسن ما عملوا ) يريد : أنهم اشتغلوا بذكر الله وإقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة ليجزيهم الله أحسن ما عملوا ، أي بأحسن ما عملوا ، يريد : يجزيهم بحسناتهم ، وما كان من مساوئ أعمالهم لا يجزيهم بها ، ( ويزيدهم من فضله ) ما لم يستحقوه بأعمالهم ، ( والله يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب ) ثم ضرب لأعمال الكفار مثلا فقال تعالى :

لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ (38)ويتعلق قوله : { ليجزيهم الله أحسن ما عملوا } ب { يخافون } ، أي كان خوفهم سبباً للجزاء على أعمالهم الناشئة عن ذلك الخوف .والزيادة : من فضله هي زيادة أجر الرهبان إن آمنوا بمحمد صلى الله عليه وسلم حينما تبلغهم دعوته لما في الحديث الصحيح : « أن لهم أجرين » أو هي زيادة فضل الصلاة في المساجد إن كان المراد بالبيوت مساجد الإسلام .وجملة : { والله يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب } تذييل لجملة : { ليجزيهم الله } . وقد حصل التذييل لما في قوله : { من يشاء } من العموم ، أي وهم ممن يشاء الله لهم الزيادة .والحساب هنا بمعنى التحديد كما في قوله : { إن الله يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب } في سورة آل عمران ( 37) . وأما قوله : { جزاء من ربك عطاء حساباً } [ النبأ : 36 ] فهو بمعنى التعيين والإعداد للاهتمام بهم . والتجارة : جلب السلع للربح في بيعها ، والبيع أعم وهو أن يبيع أحد ما يحتاج إلى ثمنه .وقرأ الجمهور : { يسبح } بكسر الموحدة بالبناء للفاعل و { رجال } فاعله . وقرأ ابن عامر وأبو بكر عن عاصم بفتح الموحدة على البناء للمجهول فيكون نائب الفاعل أحد المجرورات الثلاثة وهي { له فيها بالغدو } ويكون { رجال } فاعلاً بفعل محذوف من جملة هي استئناف . ودل على المحذوف قوله : { يسبّح } كأنه قيل : من يسبحه؟ فقيل : يُسبح له رجال . على نحو قول نهشل بن حَريّ يرثي أخاه يزيد :لِيُبْكِ يزيدُ ضارعٌ لخصومة ... ومختبطٌ مما تُطيح الطوائحوجملة : { لا تلهيهم تجارة } وجملة : { يخافون } صفتان ل { رجال } ، أي لا يشغلهم ذلك عن أداء ما وجب عليهم من خوف الله { وإقام الصلاة } الخ وهذا تعريض بالمنافقين .و { إقام } مصدر على وزن الإفعال . وهو معتل العين فاستحق نقل حركة عينه إلى الساكن الصحيح قبله وانقلاب حرف العلة ألفاً إلا أن الغالب في نظائره أن يقترن آخره بهاء تأنيث نحو إدامة واستقامة . وجاء مصدر { إقام } غير مقترن بالهاء في بعض المواضع كما هنا . وتقدم معنى إقامة الصلاة في صدر سورة البقرة ( 3) .وانتصب { يوماً } من قوله : { يخافون يوماً } على المفعول به لا على الظرف بتقدير مضاف ، أي يخافون أهواله .وتقلّب القلوب والأبصار : اضطرابها عن مواضعها من الخوف والوجل كما يتقلب المرء في مكانه . وقد تقدم في قوله تعالى : { ونقلب أفئدتهم وأبصارهم } في سورة الأنعام ( 110) . والمقصود من خوفه : العمل لما فيه الفلاح يومئذٍ كما يدل عليه قوله : { ليجزيهم الله أحسن ما عملوا } . لمّا جرى ذكر أعمال المتقين من المؤمنين وجزائهم عليها بقوله تعالى : { يسبح له فيها بالغدو والآصال رجال }

{ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا } والمراد بأحسن ما عملوا: أعمالهم الحسنة الصالحة، لأنها أحسن ما عملوا، لأنهم يعملون المباحات وغيرها، فالثواب لا يكون إلا على العمل الحسن، كقوله تعالى: { لِيُكَفِّرَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَسْوَأَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ ما كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ } { وَيَزِيدُهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ } زيادة كثيرة عن الجزاء المقابل لأعمالهم، { وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ } بل يعطيه من الأجر ما لا يبلغه عمله، بل ولا تبلغه أمنيته، ويعطيه من الأجر بلا عد ولا كيل، وهذا كناية عن كثرته جدا.

ليجزيهم الله أحسن ما عملوا فذكر الجزاء على الحسنات ، ولم يذكر الجزاء على السيئات وإن كان يجازي عليها لأمرين : أحدهما : أنه ترغيب ، فاقتصر على ذكر الرغبة . الثاني : أنه في صفة قوم لا تكون منهم الكبائر ؛ فكانت صغائرهم مغفورة . ويزيدهم من فضله يحتمل وجهين : أحدهما : ما يضاعفه من الحسنة بعشر أمثالها . الثاني : ما يتفضل به من غير جزاء . والله يرزق من يشاء بغير حساب أي من غير أن يحاسبه على ما أعطاه ؛ إذ لا نهاية لعطائه . وروي أنه لما نزلت هذه الآية أمر رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ببناء مسجد قباء ، فحضر عبد الله بن رواحة فقال : يا رسول الله ، قد أفلح من بنى المساجد ؟ قال : نعم ، يابن رواحة قال : وصلى فيها قائما وقاعدا ؟ قال : نعم ، يابن رواحة ، قال : ولم يبت لله إلا ساجدا ؟ قال : نعم ، يابن رواحة كف عن السجع فما أعطي عبد شرا من طلاقة في لسانه ؛ ذكره الماوردي .

In stark contrast to the person who revives his inner natural urge and consequently is blessed with the wealth of faith, there exists the other type whose ‘oil’ does not become ignited by the fire of Truth. Of the second type, are those who follow a concocted religion. They build a palace of false hopes and are happy in it. Thus they live with their misconceptions till they are overtaken by death, which suddenly dispels the magical spell of their misconceptions. They then realise that what they thought of as their goal until now, was nothing but a pit of destruction. Another category consists of open rebels and rejecters of Truth. Disregarding God’s guidance, they become utter failures and grope in the dark forever.

Toward the end of the verse their reward is described that they shall be graced with the best reward for their actions by Allah Ta’ ala, and then the verse says: وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ (and will give them more out of His grace - 38). It means that their reward will not end with the recompense against the good actions, but some extra reward will also be given on His own وَاللَّـهُ يَرْ‌زُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ‌ حِسَابٍ (and Allah gives whom He wills without counting - 38), that is neither Allah is bound by any rule nor does His treasure gets depleted. He grants unlimited sustenance to whomever He likes. So far the righteous believers were described whose chests are the niches for the Nur of guidance and who readily accept the Nur of guidance. In verses 39 and 40 those disbelievers are being described who were given in their nature the Nur of guidance by Allah Ta’ ala, but when Allah's revelation reached them to lit them up, they turned away to reject it and lost the Nur to stay in the darkness. Since the disbelievers and atheists are of two types, therefore, two examples are related here. One category is that of those disbelievers who believe in the Dooms Day and Hereafter, and have faith that some of their good acts, according to their own reckoning, will be rewarded in the Hereafter. The second category is that of atheists, who do not believe in the Hereafter and the Dooms Day. The example of the deeds of the first category is that of a mirage, which is nothing but illusion of sight. In a level plain the shining sand creates the illusion of water from a distance, and as a thirsty person approaches near it, the illusion (mirage) disappears, leaving the thirsty completely exhausted, who ultimately dies of thirst. Similarly, a disbeliever's deeds are like a mirage which he considers of value and benefit, but in actual fact they are no better than an illusion, like mirage, and as a thirsty person discovers the illusion when it is too late, in the same way the disbelievers will find out their blunder in the Hereafter, when it will be of no avail. The second category of deeds is that of atheists or infidels, for which the example of a deep ocean is given, which is completely dark. In the first place it is dark because of its depth, then it is covered by a big wave which is also enshrouded by another wave, and over that there is a mass of dark cloud. In short there is darkness over darkness, so much so that if someone takes out his hand, he cannot have even a glimpse of it. The inference to be drawn from this example is that those infidels who deny the coming of the Dooms Day, the Reckoning and the Hereafter are devoid of even the illusive Nur, which the first category of disbelievers had. Although they too did not possess the useful Nur of guidance, but at least they were under the illusion that they had done some good deeds which will help them in the Hereafter, but the latter category did not deem it necessary to work for the Hereafter, since they had no belief in it. Hence, they will have nothing but darkness and complete darkness with them on the Dooms Day.

(That Allah may reward them with the best of what they did) in the life of this world, (and increase reward for them of His bounty) for each one nine rewards. (Allah giveth blessings without stint to whom He will) He gives to whom He will without measure, or count or ever reminding them of what He gives them as a favour.