Allah guides Whom He wills
Allah says to His Messenger : `O Muhammad:
لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ
(Verily, you guide not whom you like)' meaning, `the matter does not rest with you; all that you have to do is convey the Message, and Allah will guide whom He wills, and His is the ultimate wisdom,' as He says:
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ
(Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.) (2:272)
وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.) (12:103) This Ayah is even more specific than the following:
إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.) meaning: Allah knows best who deserves to be guided and who deserves to be misguided. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that this Ayah was revealed concerning Abu Talib, the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He used to protect the Prophet, support him and stand by him. He loved the Prophet dearly, but this love was a natural love, i.e., born of kinship, not a love that was born of the fact that he was the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When he was on his deathbed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called him to Faith and to enter Islam, but the decree overtook him and he remained a follower of disbelief, and Allah's is the complete wisdom. Az-Zuhri said: "Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib narrated to me that his father, Al-Musayyib bin Hazan Al-Makhzumi, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When Abu Talib was dying, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah bin Al-Mughirah with him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«يَا عَمِّ قُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، كَلِمَةً أُحَاجُّ لَكَ بِهَا عِنْدَ الله»
(O my uncle, say La ilaha illallah, a word which I may use as evidence in your favor before Allah in the Hereafter.) Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said: `O Abu Talib, will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept urging him to say La ilaha illallah, and they kept saying, `Will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' -- until, at the very end, he said that he was on the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib, and he refused to say La ilaha illallah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«وَاللهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْك»
(By Allah, I shall certainly seek forgiveness for you unless I am told not to.) Then Allah revealed:
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِى قُرْبَى
(It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolators, even though they be of kin) (9:113). And there was revealed concerning Abu Talib the Ayah,
إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ
(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.)" This was recorded (by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the Hadith of Az-Zuhri.
The Excuses made by the People of Makkah for not believing, and the Refutation of Their Excuses
وَقَالُواْ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ
(And they say: "If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.") Allah tells us that this is the excuse which was given by some of the disbelievers for not following true guidance. They said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ
(If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.), meaning, `we are afraid that if we follow the message of guidance that you have brought, and go against the pagan Arab tribes around us, they will seek to do us harm and wage war against us, and they may snatch us away from wherever we may be.' Allah said in response to them:
أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَماً ءَامِناً
(Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary,) meaning, the excuse they give is a lie and is false, because Allah has put them in a secure city and a venerated sanctuary which has been safe from the time it was built -- how could this sanctuary be safe for them when they believed in disbelief and Shirk, and how could it not be safe for them when they become Muslims and follow the truth
يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ
(to which are brought fruits of all kinds, ) means, all kinds of fruits from the surrounding regions, from At-Ta'if and elsewhere. Similarly, the people of Makkah engaged in trade and other goods also came to their city.
رِّزْقاً مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
(a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not.) - this is why they said what they said.
The following was revealed regarding the Prophet’s longing for his uncle Abū Tālib to embrace faith You cannot guide whom you like to be guided but it is God Who guides whomever He will and He knows best those who will be guided.
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will.�O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.�Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. �O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'�O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of �I don't care.� When the Prophet said, �Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,� he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-�Would that I were a tree to be lopped�-is the pain of this talk.Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: �What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].�
إنك -أيها الرسول- لا تهدي هداية توفيق مَن أحببت هدايته، ولكن ذلك بيد الله يهدي مَن يشاء أن يهديه للإيمان، ويوفقه إليه، وهو أعلم بمن يصلح للهداية فيهديه.
يقول تعالى لرسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم إنك يا محمد "لاتهدي من أحببت" أي ليس إليك ذلك إنما عليك البلاغ والله يهدي من يشاء وله الحكمة البالغة والحجة الدامغة كما قال تعالى: "ليس عليك هداهم ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء". وقال تعالى: "وما أكثر الناس ولو حرصت بمؤمنين" وهذه الآية أخص من هذا كله فإنه قال: "إنك لا تهدى من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء وهو أعلم بالمهتدين" أي هو أعلم بمن يستحق الهداية ممن يستحق الغواية وقد ثبت في الصحيحين أنها نزلت في أبي طالب عم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وقد كان يحوطه وينصره ويقوم في صفه ويحبه حبا شديدا طبعيا لا شرعيا فلما حضرته الوفاة وحان أجله دعاه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى الإيمان والدخول في الإسلام فسبق القدر فيه واختطف من يده فاستمر على ما كان عليه من الكفر ولله الحكمة التامة. قال الزهري حدثني سعيد بن المسيب عن أبيه وهو المسيب بن حزن المخزومي قال: لما حضرت أبا طالب الوفاة جاءه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فوجد عنده أبا جهل بن هشام وعبدالله بن أبي أمية بن المغيرة فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "يا عم قل لا إله إلا الله كلمة أحاج لك بها عند الله" فقال أبو جهل وعبدالله بن أبي أمية يا أبا طالب أترغب عن ملة عبدالمطلب؟ فلم يزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعرضها عليه ويعودان له بتلك المقالة حتى كان آخر ما قال هو على ملة عبدالمطلب وأبى أن يقول لا إله إلا الله فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "والله لاستغفرن لك ما لم أنه عنك" فأنزل الله تعالى: "ما كان للنبي والذين آمنوا أن يستغفروا للمشركين ولو كانوا أولي قربى" وأنزل في أبي طالب "إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء" أخرجاه من حديث الزهري وهكذا رواه مسلم في صحيحه والترمذي من حديث يزيد بن كيسان عن أبي حازم عن أبي هريرة قال: لما حضرت وفاة أبي طالب أتاه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: "يا عماه قل لا إله إلا الله أشهد لك بها يوم القيامة" فقال لولا أن تعيرني بها قريش يقولون ما حمله عليه إلا جزع الموت لأقررت بها عينك لا أقولها إلا لأقر بها عينك نزل الله تعالى "إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء وهو أعلم بالمهتدين" وقال الترمذي حسن غريب لا نعرفه إلا من حديث يزيد بن كيسان ورواه الإمام أحمد عن يحيى بن سعيد القطان عن يزيد بن كيسان حدثني أبو حازم عن أبي هريرة فذكره بنحوه وهكذا قال ابن عباس وابن عمر ومجاهد والشعبي وقتادة إنها نزلت في أبي طالب حين عرض عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يقول لا إله إلا الله فأبى عليه ذلك وقال أي ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ وكان آخر ما قاله هو على ملة عبدالمطلب وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا أبو سلمة حدثنا حماد بن سلمة حدثنا عبدالله بن عثمان بن خيثم عن سعيد بن أبي راشد قال كان رسول قيصر جاء إلي قال كتب معي قيصر إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كتابا فأتيته فدفعت الكتاب فوضعه في حجره ثم قال: "ممن الرجل؟ " قلت من تنوخ قال: "هل لك في دين أبيك إبراهيم الحنيفية؟" قلت إني رسول قوم وعلى دينهم حتى أرجع إليهم فضحك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ونظر إلى أصحابه وقال: "إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء".
ثم بين - سبحانه - بعد ذلك أن الهداية منه وحده ، ورد على أقوال المشركين ، وين سنة من سننه فى خلقه ، كما بين أن ما عنده - سبحانه - أفضل وأبقى ، من شهوات الدنيا وزينتها ، فقال - تعالى - : ( إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِي . . . ) .المعنى : ( إِنَّكَ ) - أيها الرسول الكريم - ( لاَ تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) أى : لا تستطيع بقدرتك الخاصة أن تهدى إلى الإيمان من تريد هدايته إليه .( ولكن الله يَهْدِي مَن يَشَآءُ ) أى : ولكن الله - تعالى - وحده ، هو الذى يملك هداية من يشاء هدايته إلى الإيمان ، فهو - سبحانه - الخالق لكل شىء ، وقلوب العباد تحت تصرفه - تعالى - يهدى من يشاء منها ويضل من يشاء ، على حسب مشيئته وحكمته ، التى تخفى على الناس .( وَهُوَ ) - سبحانه - ( أَعْلَمُ بالمهتدين ) أى : بالقابلين للهداية المستعدين لها .فبلغ - أيها الرسول الكريم - ما كلفناك به ، ثم اترك بعد ذلك قلوب الناس إلى خالقهم ، فهو - سبحانه - الذى يصرفها كيف يشاء .قال بعض العلماء : وإن للإنسان ليقف أمام هذا الخبر ، مأخوذا بصرامة هذا الدين واستقامته ، فهذا عم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وكافله وحاميه والذائد عنه ، لا يكتب الله له الإيمان ، على شدة حبه لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وشدة حب الرسول له أن يؤمن .ذلك أنه إنما قصد إلى عصبية القرابة وحب الأبوة ، ولم يقصد إلى العقيدة ، وقد علم الله منه ذلك فلم يقدر له ما كان يحبه له صلى الله عليه وسلم ويرجوه ، فأخرج هذا الأمر - أى الهداية - من خاصة رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجعله خاصا بإرادته - سبحانه - وتقديره . وما على الرسول إلا البلاغ ، وما على الداعين بعده إلا النصيحة ، والقلوب بعد ذلك بين أصابع الرحمن والهدى والضلال وفق ما يعلمه من قلوب العباد ، واستعدادهم للهدى والضلال .
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (56)يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( إِنَّكَ ) يا محمد ( لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) هدايته ( وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ) أن يهديه من خلقه, بتوفيقه للإيمان به وبرسوله. ولو قيل: معناه: إنك لا تهدي من أحببته لقرابته منك, ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء, كان مذهبا( وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) يقول جل ثناؤه: والله أعلم من سبق له في علمه أنه يهتدي للرشاد، ذلك الذي يهديه الله فيسدده ويوفقه.وذكر أن هذه الآية نـزلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أجل امتناع أبي طالب عمه من إجابته, إذ دعاه إلى الإيمان بالله, إلى ما دعاه إليه من ذلك.* ذكر الرواية بذلك:حدثنا أبو كُرَيب والحسين بن عليّ الصُّدائي, قالا ثنا الوليد بن القاسم, عن يزيد بن كيسان, عن أبي حازم, عن أبي هريرة, قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعمه عند الموت: " قُلْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله أَشْهَد لَكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ" قال: لولا أن تعيرني قريش لأقررت عينك, فأنـزل الله: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) ... الآية.حدثنا ابن بشار, قال: ثنا يحيى بن سعيد, عن يزيد بن كيسان, قال: ثني أبو حازم الأشجعي, عن أبي هريرة, قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعمه: " قُلْ لا إِله إلا اللهُ" ثم ذكر مثله.حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا أبو أسامة, عن يزيد بن كيسان سمع أبا حازم الأشجعي, يذكر عن أبي هريرة قال: لما حضرتْ وفاة أبي طالب, أتاه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: " يا عَمَّاهُ، قُلْ لا إلَهَ إلا الله " فذكر مثله, إلا أنه قال: لولا أن تعيرني قريش, يقولون: ما حمله عليه إلا جزع الموت.حدثنا ابن وكيع, قال: ثنا محمد بن عبيد, عن يزيد بن كيسان, عن أبي حازم, عن أبي هريرة, قال: قال النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم , فذكر نحو حديث أبي كُرَيب الصُّدائي.حدثنا أحمد بن عبد الرحمن بن وهب, قال: ثني عمي عبد الله بن وهب, قال: ثني يونس, عن الزهري قال: ثني سعيد بن المسيب, عن أبيه, قال: لما حضرت أبا طالب الوفاة, جاءه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم , فوجد عنده أبا جهل بن هشام, وعبد الله بن أبي أُمَيَّة بن المغيرة, فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " يا عَمّ، قُلْ لا إلَهَ إلا اللهُ كَلِمَةً أَشْهَدُ لَكَ بِها عِنْدَ اللهِ" فقال أبو جهل وعبد الله بن أبي أُمَيَّه: يا أبا طالب: أترغب عن ملَّة عبد المطَّلب؟ فلم يزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعرضها عليه, ويعيد له تلك المقالة, حتى قال أبو طالب آخر ما كلمهم: هو على ملة عبد المطلب, وأبى أن يقول: لا إله إلا الله, فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " أَمَا وَاللهِ لأسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْكَ" , فأنـزل الله مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى ، وأنـزل الله في أبي طالب, فقال لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي ) ... الآية.حدثنا محمد بن عبد الأعلى, قال: ثنا محمد بن ثور, عن معمر, عن الزهري, عن سعيد بن المسيب, عن أبيه, بنحوهحدثنا ابن وكيع, قال: ثنا ابن عيينة, عن عمرو, عن أبي سعيد بن رافع, قال: قلت لابن عمر: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) نـزلت في أبي طالب؟ قال: نعم.حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد قوله: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) قال: قول محمد لأبي طالب: " قُلْ: كَلمةَ الإخْلاص أُجَادِلُ عَنْكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ" قال محمد بن عمرو في حديثه: قال: يا ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ, أو سنة الأشياخ. وقال الحارث في حديثه: قال يا ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثني حجاج, عن ابن جُرَيج, عن مجاهد: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) قال: قال محمد لأبي طالب: " اشْهَدْ بكَلمَةِ الإخْلاصِ أُجَادلْ عَنْكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ" قال: أي ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ, فأنـزل الله ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) قال: نـزلت هذه الآية في أبي طالب.حدثنا بشر, قال: ثنا يزيد, قال: ثنا سعيد, عن قَتادة, قوله: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) ذُكر لنا أنها نـزلت في أبي طالب، قال الأصم (2) عند موته يقول لا إله إلا الله لكيما تحلّ له بها الشفاعة, فأبى عليه.حدثنا ابن حميد, قال: ثنا جرير, عن عطاء, عن عامر: لما حضر أبا طالب الموت, قال له النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: " يا عَمَّاهُ، قُلْ: لا إلَهَ إلا اللهُ أشْهَدُ لكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ" فقال له: يا ابن أخي, إنه لولا أن يكون عليك عار لم أبال أن أفعل، فقال له ذلك مرارا. فلما مات اشتدّ ذلك على النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وقالوا: ما تنفع قرابة أبي طالب منك, فقال: " بَلى، والَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِه إنَّه السَّاعَةَ لَفِي ضَحْضَاحٍ مِنَ النَّارِ عَلَيْهِ نَعْلان مِنْ نَارٍ تغْلِي مِنْهُما أُمُّ رأسِهِ, وما مِنْ أهل النَّارِ مِنْ إِنْسانٍ هُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَذابًا مِنْهُ, وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنـزل الله فيه ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) " .وقوله: ( وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) يقول: وهو أعلم بمن قضى له الهدى.كالذي حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد, قوله: ( وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) قال بمن قدّر له الهدى والضلالة.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثني حجاج, عن ابن جُرَيج, عن مجاهد, مثله.------------------------الهوامش:(2) الذي في الدر عن قتادة قال: التمس منه عند موته أن يقول.. إلخ.
قوله تعالى : ( إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ) أي : أحببت هدايته . وقيل : أحببته لقرابته ، ( ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء وهو أعلم بالمهتدين ) قال مجاهد ، ومقاتل : لمن قدر له الهدى ، نزلت في أبي طالب قال له النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : قل لا إله إلا الله ، أشهد لك بها يوم القيامة ، قال : لولا أن تعيرني قريش ، يقولون : إنما حمله على ذلك الجزع ، لأقررت بها عينك ، فأنزل الله تعالى هذه الآية .
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (56)لما ذكر معاذير المشركين وكفرهم بالقرآن ، وأعلم رسوله أنهم يتبعون أهواءهم وأنهم مجردون عن هدى الله ، ثم أثنى على فريق من أهل الكتاب أنهم يؤمنون بالقرآن ، وكان ذلك يحزن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يعرض قريش وهم أخص الناس به عن دعوته أقبل الله على خطاب نبيئه صلى الله عليه وسلم بما يسلي نفسه ويزيل كمده بأن ذكّره بأن الهدى بيد الله . وهو كناية عن الأمر بالتفويض في ذلك إلى الله تعالى .والجملة استئناف ابتدائي . وافتتاحها بحرف التوكيد اهتمام باستدعاء إقبال النبي عليه السلام على علم ما تضمنته على نحو ما قررناه آنفاً في قوله { فاعلم أنما يتبعون أهواءهم } [ القصص : 50 ] . ومفعول { أحببت } محذوف دل عليه { لا تهدي } .والتقدير : من أحببت هديه أو اهتداءه . وما صدق { من } الموصولة كل من دعاه النبي إلى الإسلام فإنه يحب اهتداءه .وقد تضافرت الروايات على أن من أول المراد بذلك أبا طالب عم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قد اغتم لموته على غير الإسلام كما في الأحاديث الصحيحة . قال الزجاج : أجمع المسلمون أنها نزلت في أبي طالب . وقال الطبري : وذكر أن هذه الآية نزلت من أجل امتناع أبي طالب عمه من إجابته إذ دعاه إلى الإيمان بالله وحده . قال القرطبي : وهو نص حديث البخاري ومسلم وقد تقدم ذلك في براءة .وهذا من العام النازل على سبب خاص فيعمه وغيره وهو يقتضي أن تكون هذه السورة نزلت عقب موت أبي طالب وكانت وفاة أبي طالب سنة ثلاث قبل الهجرة ، أو كان وضع هذه الآية عقب الآيات التي قبلها بتوقيف خاص .ومعنى { ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء } أنه يخلق من يشاء قابلاً للاهتداء في مدى معين وبعد دعوات محدودة حتى ينشرح صدره للإيمان فإذا تدبر ما خلقه الله عليه وحدده كثر في علمه وإرادته جعل منه الاهتداء ، فالمراد الهداية بالفعل . وأما قوله تعالى { وإنك لتهدي إلى صراط مستقيم } [ الشورى : 52 ] فهي الهداية بالدعوة والإرشاد فاختلف الإطلاقان .ومفعول فعل المشيئة محذوف لدلالة ما قبله عليه ، أي من يشاء اهتداءه ، والمشيئة تعرف بحصول الاهتداء وتتوقف على ما سبق من علمه وتقديره .وفي قوله { وهو أعلم بالمهتدين } إيماء إلى ذلك ، أي هو أعلم من كل أحد بالمهتدين في أحوالهم ومقادير استعدادهم على حسب ما تهيأت إليه فطرهم من صحيح النظر وقبول الخير واتقاء العاقبة والانفعال لما يلقى إليها من الدعوة ودلائلها . ولكل ذلك حال ومدى ولكليهما أسباب تكوينية في الشخص وأسلافه وأسباب نمائه أو ضعفه من الكيان والوسط والعصر والتعقل .
يخبر تعالى أنك يا محمد -وغيرك من باب أولى- لا تقدر على هداية أحد، ولو كان من أحب الناس إليك، فإن هذا أمر غير مقدور للخلق هداية للتوفيق، وخلق الإيمان في القلب، وإنما ذلك بيد اللّه سبحانه تعالى، يهدي من يشاء، وهو أعلم بمن يصلح للهداية فيهديه، ممن لا يصلح لها فيبقيه على ضلاله.وأما إثبات الهداية للرسول في قوله تعالى: { وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ } فتلك هداية البيان والإرشاد، فالرسول يبين الصراط المستقيم، ويرغب فيه، ويبذل جهده في سلوك الخلق له، وأما كونه يخلق في قلوبهم الإيمان، ويوفقهم بالفعل، فحاشا وكلا.ولهذا، لو كان قادرا عليها، لهدى من وصل إليه إحسانه، ونصره ومنعه من قومه، عمه أبا طالب، ولكنه أوصل إليه من الإحسان بالدعوة للدين والنصح التام، ما هو أعظم مما فعله معه عمه، ولكن الهداية بيد اللّه تعالى.
قوله تعالى : إنك لا تهدي من أحببت قال الزجاج : أجمع المسلمون على أنها نزلت في أبي طالب .قلت : والصواب أن يقال أجمع جل المفسرين على أنها نزلت في شأن أبي طالب عم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وهو نص حديث البخاري ومسلم ، وقد تقدم الكلام في ذلك في ( براءة ) . وقال أبو روق قوله : ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء إشارة إلى العباس . وقاله قتادة وهو أعلم بالمهتدين قال مجاهد : لمن قدر له أن يهتدي . وقيل : معنى ( من أحببت ) أي من أحببت أن يهتدي وقال جبير بن مطعم : لم يسمع أحد الوحي يلقى على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلا أبا بكر الصديق فإنه سمع جبريل وهو يقول : يا محمد اقرأ : إنك لا تهدي من أحببت ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء .
There are two types of acceptance of any proposition. One is by virtue of it being the Truth. The other by reason of it being current in one’s own circle. It is those who accept the Truth for the sake of Truth who are guided by God: it was people of this kind who placed their faith in the Quran and the Prophet in the earlier period of Islam. A number of Christians and Jews embraced the faith as soon as they heard the Quran. These were such as had been steadfast in their acceptance of the true teachings of previous prophets. They had, therefore, quickly recognised the last of the Prophets, just as they had recognised the previous prophets. But, in order to maintain their ability to do so, they had to go through various stages of ‘patience.’ They kept their minds free of those influences which render a man incapable of recognising the Truth, these being historical and social factors which create that frame of mind which causes a man to change the religion of God into the religion of a group. Man reaches the stage when he is able to recognise only the religion which he inherits from his group. He fails to recognise the religion which comes to him from outside. To keep oneself free of these influences, one has to make great psychological sacrifices. That is why this process has been called ‘patience’. Those who exercise patience will be given a double reward: one because of their sacrifice in not allowing their erstwhile faith to become a group faith, and the other because of their capacity to recognise truth on merit, in the sense that when the new prophet came before them, they recognised him and rallied to his support. It is in those who have the ability to recognise the Truth that high moral qualities develop. They are good even to those who harm them. They help others so that God may help them. They pursue a course of turning away from useless discussions, so that they may not become involved in futile debates.
Commentary
The word as am hidayah (guidance) is used for several meanings. One meaning is to show the path, which does not necessarily mean that the one shown the path will reach his destination. Another meaning of hidayah is to make one reach his destination. According to first meaning of the word it is but obvious that the Holy Prophet ﷺ and all other prophets were guides, and that imparting guidance was within their control, because it was the obligation of their duty. If they did not have the control over imparting guidance, how could have they fulfilled their obligation? Therefore, the statement made in this verse that he did not have control over guidance, relate to the second meaning of this word that is to make one reach his destination. It means that it was not his duty or obligation to put faith in one's heart in order to make him convert to Islam by his teachings and preaching. This is in the control of Allah Ta` ala only. The meaning and types of hidayah have already been discussed in detail under Surah Al-Baqarah.
Sahih Muslim has reported that this verse was revealed about the Holy Prophet ﷺ 's uncle, Abu Talib. It was his great desire that Abu Talib should accept the faith. It was for this desire that he was advised that it was not within his control to put faith in anybody's heart. It is observed in Ruh ul-Ma’ ani that one should abstain from discussing or passing judgment unnecessarily on the subject of acceptance of faith or otherwise by Abu Talib, because this may hurt the Holy Prophet ﷺ 's feelings for his natural love toward his uncle. (وَاللہُ سبحانَہُ و تعالیٰ اَعلَم)
(Lo! thou) O Muhammad (guidest not) know not (whom thou lovest) i.e. whom you love to accept faith: i.e. Abu Talib, (but Allah guideth) He gives success and leads (whom He will) to His religion: Abu Bakr, 'Umar and their fellow believers. (And He is best aware of those who walk aright) to His religion.
Allah guides Whom He wills
Allah says to His Messenger : `O Muhammad:
لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ
(Verily, you guide not whom you like)' meaning, `the matter does not rest with you; all that you have to do is convey the Message, and Allah will guide whom He wills, and His is the ultimate wisdom,' as He says:
لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ
(Not upon you is their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills.) (2:272)
وَمَآ أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
(And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.) (12:103) This Ayah is even more specific than the following:
إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.) meaning: Allah knows best who deserves to be guided and who deserves to be misguided. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that this Ayah was revealed concerning Abu Talib, the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He used to protect the Prophet, support him and stand by him. He loved the Prophet dearly, but this love was a natural love, i.e., born of kinship, not a love that was born of the fact that he was the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. When he was on his deathbed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called him to Faith and to enter Islam, but the decree overtook him and he remained a follower of disbelief, and Allah's is the complete wisdom. Az-Zuhri said: "Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib narrated to me that his father, Al-Musayyib bin Hazan Al-Makhzumi, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "When Abu Talib was dying, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah bin Al-Mughirah with him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«يَا عَمِّ قُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، كَلِمَةً أُحَاجُّ لَكَ بِهَا عِنْدَ الله»
(O my uncle, say La ilaha illallah, a word which I may use as evidence in your favor before Allah in the Hereafter.) Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umayyah said: `O Abu Talib, will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ kept urging him to say La ilaha illallah, and they kept saying, `Will you leave the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib' -- until, at the very end, he said that he was on the religion of `Abdul-Muttalib, and he refused to say La ilaha illallah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«وَاللهِ لَأَسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْك»
(By Allah, I shall certainly seek forgiveness for you unless I am told not to.) Then Allah revealed:
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُواْ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُواْ أُوْلِى قُرْبَى
(It is not (proper) for the Prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the idolators, even though they be of kin) (9:113). And there was revealed concerning Abu Talib the Ayah,
إِنَّكَ لاَ تَهْدِى مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ
(Verily, you guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.)" This was recorded (by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from the Hadith of Az-Zuhri.
The Excuses made by the People of Makkah for not believing, and the Refutation of Their Excuses
وَقَالُواْ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ
(And they say: "If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.") Allah tells us that this is the excuse which was given by some of the disbelievers for not following true guidance. They said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:
إِن نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدَى مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ أَرْضِنَآ
(If we follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land.), meaning, `we are afraid that if we follow the message of guidance that you have brought, and go against the pagan Arab tribes around us, they will seek to do us harm and wage war against us, and they may snatch us away from wherever we may be.' Allah said in response to them:
أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّهُمْ حَرَماً ءَامِناً
(Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary,) meaning, the excuse they give is a lie and is false, because Allah has put them in a secure city and a venerated sanctuary which has been safe from the time it was built -- how could this sanctuary be safe for them when they believed in disbelief and Shirk, and how could it not be safe for them when they become Muslims and follow the truth
يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ
(to which are brought fruits of all kinds, ) means, all kinds of fruits from the surrounding regions, from At-Ta'if and elsewhere. Similarly, the people of Makkah engaged in trade and other goods also came to their city.
رِّزْقاً مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
(a provision from Ourselves, but most of them know not.) - this is why they said what they said.
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will. “O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.” Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. “O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'” O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of “I don't care.” When the Prophet said, “Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,” he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-“Would that I were a tree to be lopped”-is the pain of this talk. Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: “What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].”
Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest, but God guides whomsoever He will.�O MuḤammad, guidance is one of the characteristics of lordhood, so it is not proper for anyone described by mortal nature.�Giving the success of felicity and the realization of guidance is a characteristic of lordhood. Human nature has no access to it, and no one is suited for this attribute other than the majestic Unity. �O MuḤammad, you have the eminence of prophethood, the rank of messengerhood, the beauty of mediation, the praiseworthy station [17:79], and the Visited Pool. You are the Seal of the Prophets, the master of the messengers, the interceder for the sinners, and the candle of earth and heaven. The reins of your steed have passed beyond the heavens, and the courtyard of the Splendorous Throne was made the place for the soles of your feet. But guiding the servants and showing them the road to faith is not your work, nor is it in your hands. Surely thou dost not guide whom thou lovest. We drive those We want into the desert of bewilderment and We drag those We want by the chain of severity. In the beginninglessness beginning and in what preceded all prec- edents, We placed the crown of felicity on the heads of the folk of good fortune, and We beat this drum: 'These are in the Garden, and I don't care.' We wrote the inscription of wretchedness on the foreheads of another group, and We struck this knocker: 'These are in the Fire, and I don't care.'�O chevalier, no attribute of God inflicts more pain than the attribute of �I don't care.� When the Prophet said, �Would that MuḤammad's Lord had not created MuḤammad,� he was wailing in fear of these words. What was said by Abū Bakr-�Would that I were a tree to be lopped�-is the pain of this talk.Beautiful words were spoken by the Pir of the Tariqah: �What does the work is not that some- one has indolence and someone else has deeds. What does the work is that someone is unworthy in the Beginningless. The greatest of the abandoned ones, called Iblis, was busy in the workshop of deeds for many years. The folk of the Dominion were all beating the drum of his good fortune. They did not know that a garment of a different color had been woven for him in the workshop of the Beginningless. In the workshop of his deeds they saw scissors and silk, but from the workshop of the Beginningless appeared a black kilim: 'And he was one of the unbelievers' [2:34].�
القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ (56)يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( إِنَّكَ ) يا محمد ( لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) هدايته ( وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ) أن يهديه من خلقه, بتوفيقه للإيمان به وبرسوله. ولو قيل: معناه: إنك لا تهدي من أحببته لقرابته منك, ولكن الله يهدي من يشاء, كان مذهبا( وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) يقول جل ثناؤه: والله أعلم من سبق له في علمه أنه يهتدي للرشاد، ذلك الذي يهديه الله فيسدده ويوفقه.وذكر أن هذه الآية نـزلت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من أجل امتناع أبي طالب عمه من إجابته, إذ دعاه إلى الإيمان بالله, إلى ما دعاه إليه من ذلك.* ذكر الرواية بذلك:حدثنا أبو كُرَيب والحسين بن عليّ الصُّدائي, قالا ثنا الوليد بن القاسم, عن يزيد بن كيسان, عن أبي حازم, عن أبي هريرة, قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعمه عند الموت: " قُلْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله أَشْهَد لَكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ" قال: لولا أن تعيرني قريش لأقررت عينك, فأنـزل الله: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) ... الآية.حدثنا ابن بشار, قال: ثنا يحيى بن سعيد, عن يزيد بن كيسان, قال: ثني أبو حازم الأشجعي, عن أبي هريرة, قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لعمه: " قُلْ لا إِله إلا اللهُ" ثم ذكر مثله.حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا أبو أسامة, عن يزيد بن كيسان سمع أبا حازم الأشجعي, يذكر عن أبي هريرة قال: لما حضرتْ وفاة أبي طالب, أتاه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: " يا عَمَّاهُ، قُلْ لا إلَهَ إلا الله " فذكر مثله, إلا أنه قال: لولا أن تعيرني قريش, يقولون: ما حمله عليه إلا جزع الموت.حدثنا ابن وكيع, قال: ثنا محمد بن عبيد, عن يزيد بن كيسان, عن أبي حازم, عن أبي هريرة, قال: قال النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم , فذكر نحو حديث أبي كُرَيب الصُّدائي.حدثنا أحمد بن عبد الرحمن بن وهب, قال: ثني عمي عبد الله بن وهب, قال: ثني يونس, عن الزهري قال: ثني سعيد بن المسيب, عن أبيه, قال: لما حضرت أبا طالب الوفاة, جاءه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم , فوجد عنده أبا جهل بن هشام, وعبد الله بن أبي أُمَيَّة بن المغيرة, فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " يا عَمّ، قُلْ لا إلَهَ إلا اللهُ كَلِمَةً أَشْهَدُ لَكَ بِها عِنْدَ اللهِ" فقال أبو جهل وعبد الله بن أبي أُمَيَّه: يا أبا طالب: أترغب عن ملَّة عبد المطَّلب؟ فلم يزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعرضها عليه, ويعيد له تلك المقالة, حتى قال أبو طالب آخر ما كلمهم: هو على ملة عبد المطلب, وأبى أن يقول: لا إله إلا الله, فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: " أَمَا وَاللهِ لأسْتَغْفِرَنَّ لَكَ مَا لَمْ أُنْهَ عَنْكَ" , فأنـزل الله مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى ، وأنـزل الله في أبي طالب, فقال لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي ) ... الآية.حدثنا محمد بن عبد الأعلى, قال: ثنا محمد بن ثور, عن معمر, عن الزهري, عن سعيد بن المسيب, عن أبيه, بنحوهحدثنا ابن وكيع, قال: ثنا ابن عيينة, عن عمرو, عن أبي سعيد بن رافع, قال: قلت لابن عمر: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) نـزلت في أبي طالب؟ قال: نعم.حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد قوله: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) قال: قول محمد لأبي طالب: " قُلْ: كَلمةَ الإخْلاص أُجَادِلُ عَنْكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ" قال محمد بن عمرو في حديثه: قال: يا ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ, أو سنة الأشياخ. وقال الحارث في حديثه: قال يا ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثني حجاج, عن ابن جُرَيج, عن مجاهد: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) قال: قال محمد لأبي طالب: " اشْهَدْ بكَلمَةِ الإخْلاصِ أُجَادلْ عَنْكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ" قال: أي ابن أخي ملة الأشياخ, فأنـزل الله ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) قال: نـزلت هذه الآية في أبي طالب.حدثنا بشر, قال: ثنا يزيد, قال: ثنا سعيد, عن قَتادة, قوله: ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ ) ذُكر لنا أنها نـزلت في أبي طالب، قال الأصم (2) عند موته يقول لا إله إلا الله لكيما تحلّ له بها الشفاعة, فأبى عليه.حدثنا ابن حميد, قال: ثنا جرير, عن عطاء, عن عامر: لما حضر أبا طالب الموت, قال له النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: " يا عَمَّاهُ، قُلْ: لا إلَهَ إلا اللهُ أشْهَدُ لكَ بِها يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ" فقال له: يا ابن أخي, إنه لولا أن يكون عليك عار لم أبال أن أفعل، فقال له ذلك مرارا. فلما مات اشتدّ ذلك على النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وقالوا: ما تنفع قرابة أبي طالب منك, فقال: " بَلى، والَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِه إنَّه السَّاعَةَ لَفِي ضَحْضَاحٍ مِنَ النَّارِ عَلَيْهِ نَعْلان مِنْ نَارٍ تغْلِي مِنْهُما أُمُّ رأسِهِ, وما مِنْ أهل النَّارِ مِنْ إِنْسانٍ هُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَذابًا مِنْهُ, وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنـزل الله فيه ( إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) " .وقوله: ( وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) يقول: وهو أعلم بمن قضى له الهدى.كالذي حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد, قوله: ( وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ) قال بمن قدّر له الهدى والضلالة.حدثنا القاسم, قال: ثنا الحسين, قال: ثني حجاج, عن ابن جُرَيج, عن مجاهد, مثله.------------------------الهوامش:(2) الذي في الدر عن قتادة قال: التمس منه عند موته أن يقول.. إلخ.
There are two types of acceptance of any proposition. One is by virtue of it being the Truth. The other by reason of it being current in one’s own circle. It is those who accept the Truth for the sake of Truth who are guided by God: it was people of this kind who placed their faith in the Quran and the Prophet in the earlier period of Islam. A number of Christians and Jews embraced the faith as soon as they heard the Quran. These were such as had been steadfast in their acceptance of the true teachings of previous prophets. They had, therefore, quickly recognised the last of the Prophets, just as they had recognised the previous prophets. But, in order to maintain their ability to do so, they had to go through various stages of ‘patience.’ They kept their minds free of those influences which render a man incapable of recognising the Truth, these being historical and social factors which create that frame of mind which causes a man to change the religion of God into the religion of a group. Man reaches the stage when he is able to recognise only the religion which he inherits from his group. He fails to recognise the religion which comes to him from outside. To keep oneself free of these influences, one has to make great psychological sacrifices. That is why this process has been called ‘patience’. Those who exercise patience will be given a double reward: one because of their sacrifice in not allowing their erstwhile faith to become a group faith, and the other because of their capacity to recognise truth on merit, in the sense that when the new prophet came before them, they recognised him and rallied to his support. It is in those who have the ability to recognise the Truth that high moral qualities develop. They are good even to those who harm them. They help others so that God may help them. They pursue a course of turning away from useless discussions, so that they may not become involved in futile debates.