The Story, Stories, The Narrative — Verse 70

Allah Alone is the One Who has the Power of Creation, Knowledge and Choice Allah tells us that He is the only One Who has the power to create and make decisions, and there is no one who can dispute with Him in that or reverse His judgement. His saying: وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخْتَارُ (And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses,) means, whatever He wills, for what He wills, happens; and what He does not will, does not happen. All things, good and bad alike, are in His Hands and will return to Him. مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ (no choice have they.) is a negation, according to the correct view. This is like the Ayah, وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلاَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْراً أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ (It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision) (33:36). Then Allah says: وَرَبُّكَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُكِنُّ صُدُورُهُمْ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ (And your Lord knows what their breasts conceal, and what they reveal.) He knows what is hidden in their hearts, just as He knows what they do openly. سَوَآءٌ مِّنْكُمْ مَّنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَنْ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِالَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ (It is the same whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day.) (13:10). وَهُوَ اللَّهُ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ (And He is Allah; La ilaha illa Huwa,) meaning, He is unique in His divinity, for none is to be worshipped besides Him, and there is no lord who can create what he wills and chooses besides Him. لَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِى الاٍّولَى وَالاٌّخِرَةِ (His is the praise, in the first and in the last,) in all that He does, He is to be praised for His justice and wisdom. وَلَهُ الْحُكْمُ (His is the decision,) that none can put back, because of His might, power, wisdom and mercy. وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (and to Him shall you be returned.) means, all of you on the Day of Resurrection, and everyone will be rewarded or punished according to his deeds, good and evil alike, and absolutely none of their deeds will be concealed from Him.

And He is God; there is no god except Him. To Him belongs all praise in the former namely the life of this world and in the latter Paradise. And to Him belongs the judgement the decree effective in the case of all things and to Him you will be returned through resurrection.

وهو الله الذي لا معبود بحق سواه، له الثناء الجميل والشكر في الدنيا والآخرة، وله الحكم بين خلقه، وإليه تُرَدُّون بعد مماتكم للحساب والجزاء.

قوله: "وهو الله لا إله إلا هو" أي هو المنفرد بالإلهية فلا معبود سواه كما لا رب يخلق ما يشاء ويختار سواه "له الحمد في الأولى والآخرة" أي في جميع ما يفعله هو المحمود عليه بعدله وحكمته "وله الحكم" أي الذي لا معقب له لقهره وغلبته وحكمته ورحمته "وإليه ترجعون" أي جميعكم يوم القيامة فيجزي كل عامل بعمله من خير وشر ولا يخفى عليه منهم خافية في سائر الأعمال.

( وَهُوَ الله ) - سبحانه - لا إله إلا هو يستحق العبادة والخضوع ( لَهُ الحمد فِي الأولى والآخرة ) .أى : فى الدنيا ، وله الحمد - أيضا - فى الآخرة ، وله وحده ( الحكم ) النافذ ( وَإِلَيْهِ ) وحده ( تُرْجَعُونَ ) للحساب لا إلى غيره .

وقوله: ( وَهُوَ اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: وربك يا محمد، المعبود الذي لا تصلح العبادة إلا له, ولا معبود تجوز عبادته غيره ( لَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الأولَى ) يعني: في الدنيا( وَالآخِرَةِ وَلَهُ الْحُكْمُ ) يقول: وله القضاء بين خلقه ( وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ) يقول: وإليه تردون من بعد مماتكم, فيقضي بينكم بالحقّ.--------------------------------------------------------

( وهو الله لا إله إلا هو له الحمد في الأولى والآخرة ) يحمده أولياؤه في الدنيا ، ويحمدونه في الآخرة في الجنة ، ( وله الحكم ) فصل القضاء بين الخلق . قال ابن عباس - رضي الله عنهما - : حكم لأهل طاعته بالمغفرة ولأهل معصيته بالشقاء ، ( وإليه ترجعون )

وَهُوَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الْأُولَى وَالْآَخِرَةِ وَلَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (70){ وَهُوَ الله لا إله إِلاَّ هُوَ } .عطف على جملة { وربك يخلق ما يشاء ويختار } [ القصص : 68 ] الآية . والمقصود هو قوله { وله الحكم } وإنما قدم عليه ما هو دليل على أنه المنفرد بالحكم مع إدماج صفات عظمته الذاتية المقتضية افتقار الكل إليه .ولذلك ابتدئت الجملة بضمير الغائب ليعود إلى المتحدث عنه بجميع ما تقدم من قوله { وكم أهلكنا من قرية بطرت معيشتها } [ القصص : 58 ] إلى هنا ، أي الموصوف بتلك الصفات العظيمة والفاعل لتلك الأفعال الجليلة . والمذكور بعنوان { ربك } [ القصص : 69 ] هو المسمى الله اسماً جامعاً لجميع معاني الكمال . فضمير الغيبة مبتدأ واسم الجلالة خبره ، أي فلا تلتبسوا فيه ولا تخطئوا بادعاء ما لا يليق باسمه . وقريب منه قوله { فذلكم الله ربكم الحق } [ يونس : 32 ] .وقوله { لا إله إلا هو } خبر ثان عن ضمير الجلالة ، وفي هذا الخبر الثاني زيادة تقرير لمدلول الخبر الأول فإن اسم الجلالة اختص بالدلالة على الإله الحق إلا أن المشركين حرفوا أو أثبتوا الإلهية للأصنام مع اعترافهم بأنها إلهية دون إلهية الله تعالى فكان من حق النظر أن يعلم أن لا إله إلا هو ، فكان هذا إبطالاً للشرك بعد إبطاله بحكاية تلاشيه عن أهل ملته يوم القيامة بقوله { وقيل ادعوا شركاءكم فدعوهم فلم يستجيبوا لهم } [ القصص : 64 ] .وأخبر عن اسم الجلالة خبراً ثانياً بقوله { له الحمد في الأولى والآخرة } وهو استدلال على انتفاء إلهية غيره بحجة أن الناس مؤمنهم وكافرهم لا يحمدون في الدنيا إلا الله فلا تسمع أحداً من المشركين يقول : الحمد للعزى ، مثلاً .فاللام في { له } للملك ، أي لا يملك الحمد غيره ، وتقديم المجرور لإفادة الاختصاص وهو اختصاص حقيقي .وتعريف { الحمد } تعريف الجنس المفيد للاستغراق ، أي له كل حمد .و { الأولى } هي الدنيا وتخصيص الحمد به في الدنيا اختصاص لجنس الحمد به لأن حمد غيره مجاز كما تقدم في أول الفاتحة .وأما الحمد في الآخرة فهو ما في قوله { يوم يدعوكم فتستجيبون بحمده } [ الإسراء : 52 ] . واختصاص الجنس به في الآخرة حقيقة .وقوله { وله الحكم } اللام فيه أيضاً للملك . والتقديم للاختصاص أيضاً . و { الحكم } : القضاء وهو تعيين نفع أو ضر للغير . وحذف المتعلق بالحكم لدلالة قوله { في الأولى والآخرة } عليه ، أي له الحكم في الدارين . والاختصاص مستعمل في حقيقته ومجازه لأن الحكم في الدنيا يثبت لغير الله على المجاز ، وأما الحكم في الآخرة فمقصور على الله . وفي هذا إبطال لتصرف آلهة المشركين فيما يزعمونه من تصرفاتها وإبطال لشفاعتها التي يزعمونها في قولهم { هؤلاء شفعاؤنا عند الله } [ يونس : 18 ] أي في الآخرة إن كان ما زعمتم من البعث .وأما جملة { وإليه ترجعون } فمسوقة مساق التخصيص بعد التعميم ، فبعد أن أثبت لله كل حمد وكل حكم ، أي أنكم ترجعون إليه في الآخرة فتمجدونه ويُجري عليكم حكمه . والمقصود بهذا إلزامهم بإثبات البعث .وتقديم المجرور في { وإليه ترجعون } للرعاية على الفاصلة وللاهتمام بالانتهاء إليه أي إلى حكمه .

وأنه هو الحاكم في الدارين، في الدنيا، بالحكم القدري، الذي أثره جميع ما خلق وذرأ، والحكم الديني، الذي أثره جميع الشرائع، والأوامر والنواهي.وفي الآخرة يحكم بحكمه القدري والجزائي، ولهذا قال: { وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ } فيجازي كلا منكم بعمله، من خير وشر.

وهو الله لا إله إلا هو له الحمد في الأولى والآخرة وله الحكم وإليه ترجعون تقدم معناه ، وأنه المنفرد بالوحدانية ، لأن جميع المحامد ، إنما تجب له وأن لا حكم إلا له وإليه المصير .

When a man denies the Truth in this life, he does so after placing his reliance on something or someone. In the Hereafter he will be asked to invoke those on whom he relied, so that they may save him from the consequences of his denial. But this will be the Day of God’s appearance and who can help anybody against God? In the world, man does not just silently accept defeat. Here he finds words to counter any argument. But all these words will prove false on the Day of Judgement. Then he will regret that, for the sake of small gains, he gave up a very great blessing. Almighty God creates human beings. Then He selects some individuals from among them for some particular work. This selection is not made on the basis of any mysterious reason, but depends on God’s own decision. Therefore, to treat such persons as holy and to give them the status of God is absolutely baseless. There is no scope for this in this world of God. Man denies the Truth on the basis of some personal (selfish) considerations, but talks as if his arguments were based on rationality. In the Hereafter this veil of pretence will be removed. At that time it will be known clearly that what he had in his heart, was very different from what he was saying—purely to maintain his prestige.

Commentary وَرَ‌بُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَخْتَارُ‌ (And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses - 28:68). According to one interpretation of this verse, the choice referred to here is Allah's choice with regard to the divine commands, and the sense is that as Allah Ta` ala is unique in the creation of universe and no one is His partner, so is He in the issuance of His commands. He can give out any command to His creatures. But Imam Baghawi, in his commentary, and ` Allamah Ibn Al-Qayyim (رح) in the preface of Zad al-Ma` ad have adopted another interpretation according to which the choice of Allah Ta’ ala, as envisaged in this verse, relates to the prerogative of Allah Ta` ala by which He selects any one from His creatures for His favours. According to Baghawi, this was the reply given to the infidels of Makkah on their observation لَوْلَا نُزِّلَ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْ‌آنُ عَلَىٰ رَ‌جُلٍ مِّنَ الْقَرْ‌يَتَيْنِ عَظِيمٍ (Why was this Qur'an not sent down upon some man of moment in the two cities? - 43:31) that is, ` If Allah had wished to reveal this Qur'an He should have revealed it on some dignitary of Makkah or Ta'if, so that he should have had respect and reverence. What was the wisdom in revealing it on a poor orphan?' In answer to this suggestion it is said in the present verse that it is the prerogative of the Lord of universe, who has created all the creatures without any help or partner, to select any one from His creatures for the special favours He wishes to confer. It is not for you to suggest whom He should or should not select, nor is He bound to listen to your suggestions. Giving preference to one thing over the other or to one person over the other, and determination of correct standard of preference, are all Divine prerogatives Haafiz Ibn Al-Qayyim has drawn an outstanding rule from this verse that the preference given to places and things in this world are not achieved by them with their own efforts or deeds, but it is the result of direct selection and prerogative of the Creator of the universe. He has created seven skies, out of which He has given preference to highest sky over others, although the material of all is the same. Similarly, He has given preference to Jannat al- Firdaus over all other parts of the Jannah. Then, He preferred Jibra'il, Mika'il, Isra'fil, etc. over all other angels, and has placed prophets on highest pedestal among the humans. And among the prophets has given preference to more resolute ones over all other prophets. Then among the resolute, He has given preference to His Khalil Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) and Habib Muhammad ﷺ over all other resolute prophets. Then preference is given to progeny of Ismail (علیہ السلام) over all other people of the world, then to Quraish among the progeny of Ismail (علیہ السلام) and to Bani Hashim over all the Quraish, and finally to Sayyidna Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ over entire Bani Hashim. Similarly, the preference given to companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and other elders of the Ummah, is all under the control and prerogative of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta` ala, and the result of His selection. In the same way, many places of the world are preferred over other places, and many days and nights have preference over the normal days and nights. In short, the original standard of preference in the entire universe is His prerogative and selection. However, at times , human acts may also become a cause of preference in the sense that those performing righteous acts are preferred over the others, and the places where such people live or perform virtuous acts may also acquire preference over other places. This preference can be gained by sincerity of effort and righteous deeds. The gist of this discussion is that the basis of preference in the world is dependent on two things. One is beyond one's control and rests entirely on the selection of Allah Ta’ ala, and the other is within the ability of human beings and may be achieved by righteous deeds and superior morals. Allamah Ibn al-Qayyim (رح) has deliberated in great detail on this subject and has concluded that the four Rightly Guided Caliphs have precedence over all other companions of the Prophet ﷺ . Then Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ has preference over other three Caliphs. After that Sayyidna ` Umar Ibn al-Khattab ؓ has preference over the other two, and Sayyidna ` Uthman ؓ over Sayyidna 'Ali ؓ . He has proved this sequence with the help of two standards discussed above. Shah Abdul Aziz Dehlavi (رح) has also written a booklet on this subject in Persian language, which I have translated in Urdu and Arabic. Urdu translation has been published under the title (بَعض التفسصِیل لمَسٔلۃ التفضیل) and Arabic translation is included in my book Ahkam al-Qur'an, under Surah Al-Qasas. This is a research work that would be of interest to scholars.

(And He is Allah; there is no god save Him) He has no son or partner. (His is all praise) all gratitude (in the former and the latter) upon the dwellers of the earth and the dwellers of heaven; it is also said that this means: praise, favour and beneficence is upon the inhabitants of the heaven and the earth, (and His is the command) judgement between them, (and unto Him ye will be brought back) after death.