The Criterion, The Standard — Verse 58

The Ignorance of the Idolators Allah tells us how ignorant the idolators are; instead of worshipping Allah, they worship idols which do not possess the power either to harm or benefit. They do this with no evidence or proof; the only thing that led them to do this was their own whims and desires. So they take these idols as protectors and fight for their sake, and they oppose Allah and His Messenger and the believers for their sake. Similarly Allah says: وَكَانَ الْكَـفِرُ عَلَى رَبِّهِ ظَهِيراً (and the disbeliever is ever a helper against his Lord.) meaning, he is a supporter of Shaytan against the party of Allah, but the party of Allah are the ones who will prevail, as Allah says: وَاتَّخَذُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ ءَالِهَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يُنصَرُونَ - لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌ مٌّحْضَرُونَ (And they have taken besides Allah gods, hoping that they might be helped. They cannot help them, but they will be brought forward as a troop against those who worshipped them.) (36:74-75) meaning, the gods which they worshipped instead of Allah cannot help them. These ignorant people are troops for the idols and are ready to fight for their sake and protect their sanctuaries, but in the end the victory will be for Allah and His Messenger and the believers, in this world and the Hereafter. وَكَانَ الْكَـفِرُ عَلَى رَبِّهِ ظَهِيراً (and the disbeliever is ever a helper against his Lord. ) Mujahid said: "He supports and helps the Shaytan in disobedience towards Allah. The Messenger brings Glad Tidings and Warnings Then Allah tells His Messenger: وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَـكَ إِلاَّ مُبَشِّراً وَنَذِيراً (And We have sent you only as a bearer of good news and a warner.) meaning, a bringer of good news to the believers, a warner to the disbelievers; bringing good news of Paradise to those who obey Allah, and bringing warnings of a dreadful punishment for those who go against the commandments of Allah. قُلْ مَآ أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ (Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this...") `for conveying this message and this warning, I do not ask for any reward from your wealth; I am only doing this for the sake of Allah, may He be exalted.' لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ (To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight) (81:28). إِلاَّ مَن شَآءَ أَن يَتَّخِذَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ سَبِيلاً (save that whosoever wills, may take a path to his Lord.) means, a way and a methodology to be followed. The Command to the Messenger to put his Trust in Allah, and someof His Qualities Then Allah says: وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَىِّ الَّذِى لاَ يَمُوتُ (And put your trust in the Ever Living One Who dies not,) meaning, in all your affairs, put your trust in Allah, the Ever-Living Who never dies, the One Who الاٌّوَّلُ وَالاٌّخِرُ وَالظَّـهِرُ وَالْبَـطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (is the First and the Last, the Most High and the Most Near. And He is the All-Knower of everything) (57:3). The Eternal, Ever-Lasting, Ever-Living, Self-Sufficient One, the Lord and Sovereign of all things, the One to Whom you should always turn. Allah is the One in Whom you should put your trust and to Whom you should turn for refuge, He will be sufficient for you and will be your helper and supporter, and will cause you to prevail. As Allah says: يَـأَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ (O Messenger! Proclaim which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind) (5:67). وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ (and glorify His praises,) means, combine praising Him with glorifying Him. Hence the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: «سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِك» (Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise.) So the Ayah means: be sincere in worshipping Him and putting your trust in Him. This is like the Ayat: رَّبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلاً (The Lord of the east and the west; there is no God but He. So take Him as a Trustee.) (73:9) فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ (So worship Him and put your trust in Him) (11:123). قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَـنُ ءَامَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا (Say: "He is the Most Gracious, in Him we believe, and in Him we put our trust.") (67:29) وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيراً (and sufficient is He as the All-Knower of the sins of His servants) means, by His perfect knowledge nothing is hidden from Him nor can anything be hidden from Him, not even a speck of dust's weight. الَّذِى خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ (Who created the heavens and the earth...) means, He is the Ever-Living Who never dies, He is the Creator, Sustainer and Sovereign of all things, Who by His might and power created the seven heavens with their vast height and width, and the seven earths with their great depths and density. فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ (in six Days. Then He rose over the Throne.) means, He is running all affairs and He decrees according to the truth, and He is the best of those who decide. ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ الرَّحْمَـنُ فَاسْأَلْ بِهِ خَبِيراً (Then He rose over (Istawa) the Throne. The Most Gracious! Ask Him, as He is the All-Knower.) meaning, find out about Him from one who knows most about Him, and follow him and take him as your example. It is known that there is no one who knows more about Allah than His servant and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, the absolute leader of the sons of Adam in this world and the Hereafter, who does not speak of his own desire, but conveys revelation revealed to him. What he says is true, and he is the leader whose decision counts; when there is a dispute, people are obliged to refer to him, and whatever is in accordance with his words and deeds is right, and whatever goes against them should be rejected no matter who says or does it. Allah says: فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِى شَىْءٍ ((And) if you differ in anything among yourselves...) (4:59). وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِن شَىْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ (And in whatsoever you differ, the decision thereof is with Allah) (42:10). وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقاً وَعَدْلاً (And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice) (6: 115). meaning, He has spoken the truth and is fair and just in His commands and prohibitions. Allah says here: فَاسْأَلْ بِهِ خَبِيراً (Ask Him, as He is Al-Knower.) Condemnation of the Idolators Then Allah rebukes the idolators who prostrate to idols and rivals instead of Allah: وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اسْجُدُواْ لِلرَّحْمَـنِ قَالُواْ وَمَا الرَّحْمَـنُ (And when it is said to them: "Prostrate yourselves to Ar-Rahman!" They say: "And what is Ar-Rahman") meaning: we do not know Ar-Rahman. They did not like to call Allah by His Name Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious), as they objected on the day of (the treaty of) Al-Hudaybiyyah, when the Prophet told the scribe: «اكْتُبْ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيم» (Write: "In the Name of Allah, Ar-Rahman (the Most Gracious), Ar-Rahim (the Most Merciful).") They said, "We do not know Ar-Rahman or Ar-Rahim. Write what you used to write: `Bismika Allahumma (in Your Name, O Allah)."' So Allah revealed the words: قُلِ ادْعُواْ اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُواْ الرَّحْمَـنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُواْ فَلَهُ الاٌّسْمَآءَ الْحُسْنَى (Say: "Invoke Allah or invoke Ar-Rahman, by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names) (17:110). meaning, He is Allah and He is the Most Gracious. And in this Ayah, Allah said: وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اسْجُدُواْ لِلرَّحْمَـنِ قَالُواْ وَمَا الرَّحْمَـنُ (And when it is said to them: "Prostrate yourselves to Ar-Rahman!" They say: "And what is the Ar-Rahman") meaning: we do not know or approve of this Name. أَنَسْجُدُ لِمَا تَأْمُرُنَا (Shall we fall down in prostration to that which you command us) means, "Just because you tell us to" وَزَادَهُمْ نُفُوراً (And it increases in them only aversion.) As for the believers, they worship Allah Who is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful, and they attribute divinity to Him Alone and prostrate to Him. The scholars, agree that it is allowed and approved for the reader and the listener to prostrate when he reaches this mention of prostration in Surat Al-Furqan, and Allah knows best.

And put your trust in the Living One Who does not die and make glorifications ensconced in His praise in other words say subhāna’Llāhi wa’l-hamdu li’Llāh ‘Glory be to God and praise be to God’. And He suffices as One Aware as Knower of the sins of His servants khabīran ‘One Aware’ is semantically connected to bi-dhunūbi ‘of the sins’.

وتوكل على الله الذي له جميع معاني الحياة الكاملة كما يليق بجلاله الذي لا يموت، ونزِّهه عن صفات النقصان. وكفى بالله خبيرًا بذنوب خلقه، لا يخفى عليه شيء منها، وسيحاسبهم عليها ويجازيهم بها.

ثم قال تعالى "وتوكل على الحي الذي لا يموت" أي في أمورك كلها كن متوكلا على الله الحي الذي لا يموت أبدا الذي هو "الأول والآخر والظاهر والباطن وهو بكل شيء عليم" الدائم الباقي السرمدي الأبدي الحي القيوم رب كل شيء ومليكه اجعله ذخرك وملجأك وهو الذي يتوكل عليه ويفزع إليه فإنه كافيك وناصرك ومؤيدك ومظفرك كما قال تعالى: "يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك وإن لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته والله يعصمك من الناس" وروى ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبو زرعة حدثنا عبدالله بن محمد بن علي بن نفيل قال قرأت على معقل يعني ابن عبيدالله عن عبدالله بن أبي حسين عن شهر بن حوشب قال: لقي سلمان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في بعض فجاج المدينة فسجد له فقال: "لا تسجد لي يا سلمان واسجد للحي الذي لا يموت" وهذا مرسل حسن وقوله تعالى: "وسبح بحمده" أي أقرن بين حمده وتسبيحه ولهذا كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول "سبحانك اللهم ربنا وبحمدك" أي أخلص له العبادة والتوكل كما قال تعالى: "رب المشرق والمغرب لا إله إلا هو فاتخذه وكيلا" وقال تعالى "فاعبده وتوكل عليه" وقال تعالى: "قل هو الرحمن آمنا به وعليه توكلنا" وقوله تعالى: "وكفى به بذنوب عباده خبيرا" أي بعلمه التام الذي لا يخفى عليه خافية ولا يعزب عنه مثقال ذرة.

ثم أمر - سبحانه - نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم بالاجتهاد فى تبليغ رسالته وبالتوكل عليه وحده ، فقال - تعالى - : ( وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الحي الذي لاَ يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ . . . ) .أى : سر فى طريقك - أيها الرسول الكريم - لتبليغ دعوتنا ، ولا تلتفت إلى دنيا الناس وأموالهم . وتوكل توكلا تاما على الله - تعالى - فهو الحى الباقى الذى لا يموت ، أما غيره فإنه ميت وزائل .( وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ ) أى : ونزه ربك عن كل نقص ، وأكثر من التقرب إليه بصالح الأعمال . ( وكفى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ ) ما ظهر منها وما بطن ، وما بدا منها وما استتر ( خَبِيراً ) أى عليما بها علما تاما ، لا يعزب عنه - سبحانه - مثقال ذرة منها .

يقول تعالى ذكره: وتوكل يا محمد على الذي له الحياة الدائمة التي لا موت معها، فثق به في أمر ربك وفوّض إليه, واستسلم له, واصبر على ما نابك فيه. قوله: ( وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ ) يقول: واعبده شكرا منك له على ما أنعم به عليك. قوله: ( وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا ) يقول: وحسبك بالحي الذي لا يموت خابرا بذنوب خلقه, فإنه لا يخفى عليه شيء منها, وهو محص جميعها عليهم حتى يجازيهم بها يوم القيامة.

( وتوكل على الحي الذي لا يموت وسبح بحمده ) أي : صل له شكرا على نعمه . وقيل : قل : سبحان الله ، والحمد لله . ( وكفى به بذنوب عباده خبيرا ) عالما فيجازيهم بها .

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا (58)عطف على جملة { قل ما أسألكم عليه من أجر } [ الفرقان : 57 ] أي قل لهم ذلك وتوكل على الله في دعوتك إلى الدين فهو الذي يجازيك على ذلك ويجازيهم .والتوكل : الاعتماد وإسلام الأمور إلى المتوكل عليه وهو الوكيل ، أي المتولّي مهمّات غيره ، وقد تقدم في قوله تعالى : { فإذا عزمتَ فتوكَّل على الله } في آل عمران )159 ).و { الحي الذي لا يموت } هو الله تعالى . وعدل عن اسم الجلالة إلى هذين الوصفين لما يؤذن به من تعليل الأمر بالتوكل عليه لأنه الدائم فيفيد ذلك معنى حصْر التوكل في الكون عليه ، فالتعريف في { الحي } للكامل ، أي الكامل حياته لأنها واجبة باقية مستمرة وحياة غيره معرضة للزوال بالموت ومعرضة لاختلال أثرها بالذهول كالنوم ونحوه فإنه من جنس الموت ، فالتوكل على غيره معرض للاختلال وللانخرام . وفي ذكر الوصفين تعريض بالمشركين إذ ناطوا آمالهم بالأصنام وهي أموات غير أحياء .وفي الآية إشارة إلى أن المرء الكامل لا يثق إلا بالله لأن التوكل على الأحياء المعرضين للموت وإن كان قد يفيد أحياناً لكنه لا يدوم .وأما أمره بالتسبيح فهو تنزيه الله عما لا يليق به وأول ذلك الشركة في الإلهية ، أي إذا أهمّك أمر إعراض المشركين عن دعوة الإسلام فعليك نفسك فنزه الله .والباء في { بحمده } للمصاحبة ، أي سبحه تسبيحاً مصاحباً للثناء عليه بما هو أهله . فقد جمع له في هذا الأمر التخلية والتحلية مقدِّماً التخلية لأن شأن الإصلاح أن يبدأ بإزالة النقص .وأمْر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يشمل الأمة ما لم يكن دليل على الخصوصية .وجملة { وكفى به بذنوب عباده خبيراً } اعتراض في آخر الكلام ، فيفيد معنى التذييل لما فيه من الدلالة على عموم علمه تعالى بذنوب الخلق ، ومن ذلك أحوال المشركين الذين هم غرض الكلام . ففي )ذنوب عباده )عُمومان : عمومُ ذنوبهم كلّها لإفادة الجمع المضاف عمومَ إفراد المضاف ، وعمومُ الناس لإضافة )عباد )إلى ضمير الجلالة ، أي جميِع عباده ، مع ما في صيغة )خبير )من شدة العلم وهو يستلزم العموم فكان كعموم ثالث . والكفاية : الإجزاء ، وفي فعل { كفى } إفادة أنه لا يحتاج إلى غيره وهو مستعمل في الأمر بالاكتفاء بتفويض الأمر إليه .والباء لتأكيد إسناد الفعل إلى الفاعل . وقد كثر دخول باء التأكيد بعدَ فعل الكفاية على فاعله أو مفعوله ، وتقدم في قوله تعالى : { كفى بنفسك اليوم عليك حسيباً } في سورة الإسراء )14 ). و { خبيراً } حال من ضمير { به } أي كفى به من حيث الخبرة .والعلمُ بالذنوب كناية عن لازمه وهو أنه يجازيهم على ذنوبهم ، والشرك جامع الذنوب . وفي الكلام أيضاً تعريض بتسلية الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم على ما يلاقيه من أذاهم .

ثم أمره أن يتوكل عليه ويستعين به فقال: { وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ } الذي له الحياة الكاملة المطلقة { الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ } أي: اعبده وتوكل عليه في الأمور المتعلقة بك والمتعلقة بالخلق. { وَكَفَى بِهِ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا } يعلمها ويجازي عليها.

قوله تعالى : وتوكل على الحي الذي لا يموت وسبح بحمده وكفى به بذنوب عباده خبيرا .قوله تعالى : وتوكل على الحي الذي لا يموت تقدم معنى التوكل في ( آل عمران ) وهذه السورة وأنه اعتماد القلب على الله تعالى في كل الأمور ، وأن الأسباب وسائط أمر بها من غير اعتماد عليها . وسبح بحمده أي نزه الله تعالى عما يصفه هؤلاء الكفار به من الشركاء . والتسبيح التنزيه وقد تقدم وقيل : وسبح أي : وصل له ، وتسمى الصلاة تسبيحا . وكفى به بذنوب عباده خبيرا أي عليما فيجازيهم بها .

Here ‘six Days’ means six Days of God. In the language of human beings, it may be called six stages or six periods. The Creation of the Universe in six stages indicates that it was done in a well planned manner. Whatever is brought into existence on the basis of a plan and a specific arrangement cannot be futile. In the question the stress is on the subject matter and not on the person to whom the question is put. The idea is that if a man is acquainted with God’s wonderful marvels, he will be able to tell you how High and Mighty is the Merciful God. The research undertaken by scientists in modern times partially fits the meaning of this verse. If a man learns the secrets of the universe which have come to light as a result of scientific research, he will become extremely excited, his hair will stand on end and his heart will spontaneously bow down before the Might of the Creator.

قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ‌ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ أَن يَتَّخِذَ إِلَىٰ رَ‌بِّهِ سَبِيلًا ﴿57﴾ Say, "I do not demand from you any fee, except that whoever so wills, should adopt a way to his Lord - 25:57. Allah Ta’ ala advised the Holy Prophet ﷺ to say that he has no personal interest in inviting to accept and follow Allah's message in order to be profitable in this world and the Hereafter. He does not seek any reward from them for his efforts. His reward is only that they turn towards Allah. It is but obvious that if someone moves to the righteous path it is he who will be the gainer. As for the Holy Prophet , it was his love for the people that he was striving, and has considered the gain of the people as his own. It is just like an old father asks his children to eat and drink and be merry, and declares to them that their eating and drinking is a reward for himself. It is also possible that the correct attitude of the people is taken as a reward for the Holy Prophet ﷺ because he will also be rewarded if the people take up to right path. Some authentic traditions say that if someone asks people to take up the righteous path and they oblige, then not only those who have acted righteously will be rewarded for the good acts, but also the one who has persuaded them to follow the righteous path. (Mazhari)

(And trust thou) O Muhammad (in the Living One Who dieth not) and do not trust in those living who die such as Abu Talib or Khadijah, nor trust yet in the dead who have no movement, (and hymn His praise) and pray by His command. (He sufficeth as the Knower of His bondmen's sins) He is aware of the sins of His bondmen,

Put your trust in the Living One who does not die�Ibn Sālim was asked about trust (tawakkul) and earning (kasb), and through which of these [two]people should serve [God]. He said:Trust (tawakkul) was the state of being (ḥāl) of the Messenger of God and earning was his Sunna. He only established the Sunna of earning for them due to their weakness, after they fell from the rank of trust (tawakkul), which was his state of being. However he did not demote them from the rank of seeking a living through earning, which is his Sunna. Furthermore, had it not been for that [the Sunna of earning] they would have perished. Sahl said:Whoever defames earning (kasb), has defamed the Sunna and whoever defames trust (tawakkul) has defamed faith. His words: