The Family of Imran, The House of Imran — Verse 74

The Envy the Jews Feel Towards Muslims; Their Wicked Plots Against Muslims Allah states that the Jews envy the faithful and wish they could misguide them. Allah states that the punishment of this behavior will fall back upon them, while they are unaware. Allah criticizes them, يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ لِمَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِأَيَـتِ اللَّهِ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ (O People of the Scripture!: Why do you disbelieve in the Ayat of Allah, while you bear witness.) You know for certain that Allah's Ayat are true and authentic, يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَـطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (O People of the Scripture: Why do you mix truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know) by hiding what is in your Books about the description of Muhammad , while you know what you do. وَقَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ ءَامِنُواْ بِالَّذِي أُنزِلَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَجْهَ النَّهَارِ وَاكْفُرُواْ ءَاخِرَهُ (And a party of the People of the Scripture say: "Believe in the morning in that which is revealed to the believers, and reject it at the end of the day,) This is a wicked plan from the People of the Book to deceive Muslims who are weak in the religion. They decided that they would pretend to be believers in the beginning of the day, by attending the dawn prayer with the Muslims. However, when the day ended, they would revert to their old religion so that the ignorant people would say, "They reverted to their old religion because they uncovered some shortcomings in the Islamic religion." This is why they said next. لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ (so that they may turn back.) Ibn Abi Najih said that Mujahid commented about this Ayah, which refers to the Jews, "They attended the dawn prayer with the Prophet and disbelieved in the end of the day in order to misguide the people. This way, people would think that they have uncovered shortcomings in the religion that they briefly followed." وَلاَ تُؤْمِنُواْ إِلاَّ لِمَن تَبِعَ دِينَكُمْ ("And believe no one except the one who follows your religion.") They said, do not trust anyone with your secret knowledge, except those who follow your religion. Therefore, they say, do not expose your knowledge to Muslims in order to prevent them from believing in it and, thus, use it as proof against you. Allah replied, قُلْ إِنَّ الْهُدَى هُدَى اللَّهِ (Say: (O Prophet) "Verily, right guidance is the guidance of Allah.") Allah guides the hearts of the faithful to the perfect faith through the clear Ayat, plain proofs and unequivocal evidence that He has sent down to His servant and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ. This occurs, O you Jews, even though you hide the description of Muhammad . the unlettered Prophet whom you find in your Books that you received from the earlier Prophets. Allah's statement; أَن يُؤْتَى أَحَدٌ مِّثْلَ مَآ أُوتِيتُمْ أَوْ يُحَآجُّوكُمْ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ((And they say: ) "Do not believe that anyone can receive like that which you have received, otherwise they would engage you in argument before your Lord.") They say, "Do not disclose the knowledge that you have to the Muslims, to prevent them from learning it and thus becoming your equals. They will be even better because they will believe in it or will use it against you as evidence with your Lord, and thus establish Allah's proof against you in this life and the Hereafter." Allah said, قُلْ إِنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُ (Say: "All the bounty is in the Hand of Allah; He grants to whom He wills.) meaning, all affairs are under His control, and He gives and takes. Verily, Allah gives faith, knowledge and sound comprehension to whomever He wills. He also misguides whomever He wills by blinding his sight, mind, sealing his heart, hearing and stamping his eyes closed. Allah has the perfect wisdom and the unequivocal proofs. وَاللَّهُ وَسِعٌ عَلِيمٌيَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ (And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower." He selects for His mercy whom He wills and Allah is the Owner of great bounty.) meaning, He has endowed you, O believers, with tremendous virtue, in that He honored your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over all other prophets, and by directing you to the best Shari`ah there is.

He singles out for His mercy whom He will; God is of bounty abounding’.

He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. That is, He singles out for His blessings whomsoever He will. He singles out a group for provisions, He singles out a group for the blessing of character traits, He singles out a group for the blessing of worship, others for the blessing of desire, others for the success of outwardness, others for the realiza- tion of the secret cores, others for the gift of outer skins, others for the encounter with the secrets. God says, and His words are truth: “If you count God's blessings, you will not enumerate them” [14:34].7 He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. He brought them together obscurely and did not specify anyone so that the hopeful would increase in their hope and the fearful would not remain in their fear. In the station of worship and obedience the servants will not find any states better than hope and fear, for the Lord of the Worlds praises the servants in these two states and says, “They hope for His mercy and fear His chastisement” [17:57]. He is also calling attention to the fact that even if the servants strive to the utmost in obedience and perform all the conditions of servanthood, in the end it is God's mercy that will deliver them. Concerning this the following has been narrated from the Prophet: “No one will enter the Garden by his deeds.” It was said to him, “Not even you, O Messenger of God!” He said, “Not even I, unless God envelops me with His mercy.”

He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. That is, He singles out for His blessings whomsoever He will. He singles out a group for provisions, He singles out a group for the blessing of character traits, He singles out a group for the blessing of worship, others for the blessing of desire, others for the success of outwardness, others for the realiza- tion of the secret cores, others for the gift of outer skins, others for the encounter with the secrets. God says, and His words are truth: “If you count God's blessings, you will not enumerate them” [14:34].7 He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. He brought them together obscurely and did not specify anyone so that the hopeful would increase in their hope and the fearful would not remain in their fear. In the station of worship and obedience the servants will not find any states better than hope and fear, for the Lord of the Worlds praises the servants in these two states and says, “They hope for His mercy and fear His chastisement” [17:57]. He is also calling attention to the fact that even if the servants strive to the utmost in obedience and perform all the conditions of servanthood, in the end it is God's mercy that will deliver them. Concerning this the following has been narrated from the Prophet: “No one will enter the Garden by his deeds.” It was said to him, “Not even you, O Messenger of God!” He said, “Not even I, unless God envelops me with His mercy.”

He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. That is, He singles out for His blessings whomsoever He will. He singles out a group for provisions, He singles out a group for the blessing of character traits, He singles out a group for the blessing of worship, others for the blessing of desire, others for the success of outwardness, others for the realiza- tion of the secret cores, others for the gift of outer skins, others for the encounter with the secrets. God says, and His words are truth: “If you count God's blessings, you will not enumerate them” [14:34].7 He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. He brought them together obscurely and did not specify anyone so that the hopeful would increase in their hope and the fearful would not remain in their fear. In the station of worship and obedience the servants will not find any states better than hope and fear, for the Lord of the Worlds praises the servants in these two states and says, “They hope for His mercy and fear His chastisement” [17:57]. He is also calling attention to the fact that even if the servants strive to the utmost in obedience and perform all the conditions of servanthood, in the end it is God's mercy that will deliver them. Concerning this the following has been narrated from the Prophet: “No one will enter the Garden by his deeds.” It was said to him, “Not even you, O Messenger of God!” He said, “Not even I, unless God envelops me with His mercy.”

He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. That is, He singles out for His blessings whomsoever He will. He singles out a group for provisions, He singles out a group for the blessing of character traits, He singles out a group for the blessing of worship, others for the blessing of desire, others for the success of outwardness, others for the realiza- tion of the secret cores, others for the gift of outer skins, others for the encounter with the secrets. God says, and His words are truth: “If you count God's blessings, you will not enumerate them” [14:34].7 He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. He brought them together obscurely and did not specify anyone so that the hopeful would increase in their hope and the fearful would not remain in their fear. In the station of worship and obedience the servants will not find any states better than hope and fear, for the Lord of the Worlds praises the servants in these two states and says, “They hope for His mercy and fear His chastisement” [17:57]. He is also calling attention to the fact that even if the servants strive to the utmost in obedience and perform all the conditions of servanthood, in the end it is God's mercy that will deliver them. Concerning this the following has been narrated from the Prophet: “No one will enter the Garden by his deeds.” It was said to him, “Not even you, O Messenger of God!” He said, “Not even I, unless God envelops me with His mercy.”

He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will.That is, He singles out for His blessings whomsoever He will. He singles out a group for provisions, He singles out a group for the blessing of character traits, He singles out a group for the blessing of worship, others for the blessing of desire, others for the success of outwardness, others for the realiza- tion of the secret cores, others for the gift of outer skins, others for the encounter with the secrets. God says, and His words are truth: �If you count God's blessings, you will not enumerate them� [14:34].7 He singles out for His mercy whomsoever He will. He brought them together obscurely anddid not specify anyone so that the hopeful would increase in their hope and the fearful would not remain in their fear. In the station of worship and obedience the servants will not find any statesbetter than hope and fear, for the Lord of the Worlds praises the servants in these two states and says, �They hope for His mercy and fear His chastisement� [17:57].He is also calling attention to the fact that even if the servants strive to the utmost in obedience and perform all the conditions of servanthood, in the end it is God's mercy that will deliver them. Concerning this the following has been narrated from the Prophet: �No one will enter the Garden by his deeds.�It was said to him, �Not even you, O Messenger of God!�He said, �Not even I, unless God envelops me with His mercy.�

إن الله يختص مِن خلقه مَن يشاء بالنبوة والهداية إلى أكمل الشرائع، والله ذو الفضل العظيم.

"والله واسع عليم يختص برحمته من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم" أي اختصكم أيها المؤمنون من الفضل بما لا يحد ولا يوصف بما شرف به نبيكم محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم على سائر الأنبياء وهداكم به إلى أكمل الشرائع.

ثم قال - تعالى - { يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ } أي يختص بالنبوة وما يترتب عليها من الهداية والنعم من يشاء من عباده .وقوله { وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ } أى هو - سبحانه - صاحب الجود العميم والفضل العظيم ، فلا عظمة تساوى عظمة فضل الله - تعالى - على خلقه ، وإنما هو وحده صاحب النعم التى لا تحصى على عباده ، فعليهم أن يشكروه وأن يفردوه بالعبادة والخضوع .وبذلك تكون الآيات الكريمة قد كشفت عن مسلك من مسالك اليهود الماكرة التى أرادوا من ورائها كيد الإسلام والمسلمين ، وفى هذا الكشف تنبيه للمسلمين إلى ما يبيته لهم هؤلاء الأعداء من شرور وآثام حتى يحذروهم .ثم حكى القرآن لونا آخر من ألوان مزاعم اليهود الباطلة ، وأقاويلهم الكاذبة ، وهو دعواهم أنهم ليس عليهم في الأميين سبيل ، أى أن كل من كان على غير ملتهم فإنه مهدور الحقوق ، ثم رد عليهم بما يدحض مزاعمهم ويثبت أنهم ليسوا أهلا لاختصاصهم بالنبوة والرحمة فقال تعالى : { وَمِنْ أَهْلِ . . . } .

القول في تأويل قوله : يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ (74)قال أبو جعفر: يعني بقوله: " يختص برحمته من يشاء "،" يفتعل " من قول القائل: " خصصت فلانًا بكذا، أخُصُّه به ". (26)* * *وأما " رحمته "، في هذا الموضع، فالإسلام والقرآن، مع النبوّة، كما:-7256 - حدثني محمد بن عمرو قال، حدثنا أبو عاصم، عن عيسى، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد: " يختص برحمته من يشاء "، قال: النبوّة، يخصُّ بها من يشاء.7257 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا أبو حذيفة قال، حدثنا شبل، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد مثله.7258 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا إسحاق قال، حدثنا عبد الله بن أبي جعفر، عن أبيه، عن الربيع: " يختص برحمته من يشاء "، قال: يختص بالنبوة من يشاء.7259 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا سويد قال، أخبرنا ابن المبارك قراءةً، عن ابن جريج: " يختص برحمته من يشاء "، قال: القرآن والإسلام.7260 - حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج، عن ابن جريج مثله.* * *=" والله ذو الفضل العظيم "، يقول: ذو فضل يتفضَّل به على من أحبّ وشاء من خلقه. ثم وصف فضله بالعِظَم فقال: " فضله عظيم "، لأنه غير مشبهه في عِظَم موقعه ممن أفضله عليه [فضلٌ] من إفضال خلقه، (27) ولا يقاربه في جلالة خطره ولا يُدانيه.-------------الهوامش :(26) انظر تفسير"يختص" فيما سلف أيضا 2: 471.(27) في المطبوعة: "غير مشبه... ممن أفضله عليه أفضال خلقه" ، وأما المخطوطة ففيها: " غير مشبهه... ممن أفضله عليه من أفضال خلقه" ، فرأيت أنه قد سقط من ناسخ المخطوطة ما زدته بين القوسين ليستقيم الكلام.

قوله تعالى : ( يختص برحمته ) أي بنبوته ( من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيم )

وجملة { يختص برحمته من يشاء } بدل بعض من كل لجملة { إن الفضل بيد الله يؤتيه من يشاء } فإنّ رحمته بعض مما هو فضله .وجملة { والله ذو الفضل العظيم } تذييل وتقدم تفسير نظيره عند قوله تعالى : { واللَّه يختص برحمته من يشاء واللَّه ذو الفضل العظيم } في سورة [ البقرة : 105 ] .

{ يختص برحمته من يشاء } أي: برحمته المطلقة التي تكون في الدنيا متصلة بالآخرة وهي نعمة الدين ومتمماته { والله ذو الفضل العظيم } الذي لا يصفه الواصفون ولا يخطر بقلب بشر، بل وصل فضله وإحسانه إلى ما وصل إليه علمه، ربنا وسعت كل شيء رحمة وعلما.

قوله تعالى : يختص برحمته من يشاء والله ذو الفضل العظيمأي بنبوته وهدايته ; عن الحسن ومجاهد وغيرهما . ابن جريج : بالإسلام والقرآن من يشاء . قال أبو عثمان : أجمل القول ليبقى معه رجاء الراجي وخوف الخائف . والله ذو الفضل العظيم .

A community into which prophets and reformers have been born and in which religion has held sway for a considerable period of time, is often mistaken in thinking that their ethos and the truth are synonymous (that is, whatever they believe and practise is nothing but the truth). It comes to believe that guidance has something to do with a particular community rather than being a matter of principle, and is unwilling to accept such truth as has been revealed elsewhere. This was the case with the Jews. Under the influence of historical traditions, they began to believe that whoever was one of them was on the right path, and that whoever was not, was misguided. Even today, they tend to forget that truth is something that comes from God and not from an individual or a community. Although they are ostensibly adherents of a divine religion, in reality for them their community is supreme, while God is relegated to a secondary place. This mentality casts such a veil over their eyes that they become unable to see any merit outside their own fraternity. Even in the face of clear signs and arguments, they doubt the veracity of any outsider, and strongly oppose any call of truth which comes from without. In obedience to their false standards, they try to stifle such a call. They would not hesitate to adopt unjust methods to curb the activities of the preacher. They would even resort to spreading false propaganda to cast doubt upon his veracity. Going against God’s commandments, they adopt two separate criteria of behaviour, one for the members of their own community and another for outsiders.

Some from among the people of the Book chose a strategy of deception in order to mislead Muslims. According to their agreed plan, they would declare their belief in the Qur'an in the morning and then reject it in the evening. They thought that this quick about-turn would create doubts in the minds of Muslims about Qur'an and Islam and they might turn away from their faith thinking that there must be something wrong with Islam visible to such learned people who were open-minded enough to accept it first. They also made it a point to re-serve their feinted declaration of belief in Islam to hoodwink Muslims only! Their true belief, they planned, would be affirmed before none but only those who follow their own creed. The rule was: Sincerity with the later, expediency with the former! That these tricks are low is proved later in Verse 73 when the Holy Prophet ﷺ has been asked to declare that their clever moves are not going to work for them since Guidance given to servants of Allah is certainly from Allah. So, it is He who, with Guidance in His control, can make whoever He will steadfast on that Guidance. No one can succeed in weaning such a person away from it with any trick, plan or enticement whatsoever. The reason why they act in the way they do is envy, that is, they envy Muslims as to why they were given the Scripture, or they envy their supremacy in religious argument. It is because of this envy that they keep working to bring about the downfall of Islam and of the community that adheres to it. That this envy is based on not knowing the nature, timing and wisdom of Allah's grace and mercy is explained in the later part of verse 73 and in verse 74.

(He selecteth for His mercy) He chooses for His religion (whom He will) Muhammad and his Companions. (Allah is of Infinite Bounty) He is generous towards Muhammad by bestowing upon him prophethood and Islam.