The Believer and the Rebellious are not equal
Allah tells us that in His justice and generosity, on the Day of Judgement He will not judge those who believed in His signs and followed His Messengers, in the same way as He will judge those who rebelled, disobeyed Him and rejected the Messengers sent by Allah to them. This is like the Ayat:
أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ اجْتَرَحُواْ السَّيِّئَـتِ أَن نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ سَوَآءً مَّحْيَـهُمْ وَمَمَـتُهُمْ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
(Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death Worst is the judgement that they make.) (45:21),
أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الْمُتَّقِينَ كَالْفُجَّارِ
(Shall We treat those who believe and do righteous good deeds as corruptors on earth Or shall We treat those who have Taqwa as the wicked) (38:28)
لاَ يَسْتَوِى أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ
(Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise...) (59:20). Allah says:
أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِناً كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقاً لاَّ يَسْتَوُونَ
(Is then he who is a believer like him who is a rebellious Not equal are they. ) i.e., before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. `Ata' bin Yasar, As-Suddi and others mentioned that this was revealed concerning `Ali bin Abi Talib and `Uqbah bin Abi Mu`it. Hence Allah has judged between them when He said:
أَمَّا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ
(As for those who believe and do righteous good deeds,) meaning, their hearts believed in the signs of Allah, and they did as the signs of Allah dictate, i.e. righteous good deeds.
فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـتُ الْمَأْوَى
(for them are Gardens of Abode) i.e., in which there are dwellings and houses and lofty apartments.
نُزُلاً
(as an entertainment) means, something to welcome and honor a guest,
بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَوَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُواْ
(for what they used to do. And as for those who rebel,) means, those who disobeyed Allah, their dwelling place will be the Fire, and every time they want to escape from it, they will be thrown back in, as Allah says:
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُواْ أَن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا
(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein) (22:22). Al-Fudayl bin `Iyad said: "By Allah, their hands will be tied, their feet will be chained, the flames will lift them up and the angels will strike them.
وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ
(and it will be said to them: "Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.")" means, this will be said to them by way of rebuke and chastisement.
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الاٌّدْنَى دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الاٌّكْبَرِ
(And verily, We will make them taste of the near lighter torment prior to the greater torment,) Ibn `Abbas said, "The near torment means diseases and problems in this world, and the things that happen to its people as a test from Allah to His servants so that they will repent to Him." Something similar was also narrated from Ubayy bin Ka`b, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ad-Dahhak, `Alqamah, `Atiyah, Mujahid, Qatadah, `Abd Al-Karim Al-Jazari and Khusayf.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَايَـتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَآ
(And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat of his Lord, then turns aside therefrom) means, there is no one who does more wrong than the one whom Allah reminds of His signs and explains them to him clearly, then after that he neglects and ignores them, and turns away from them, forgetting them as if he does not know them. Qatadah said: "Beware of turning away from the remembrance of Allah, for whoever turns away from remembering Him will be the most misguided and the most in need, and the most guilty of sin." Allah says, warning the one who does that:
إِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ
(Verily, We shall exact retribution from the criminals.) meaning, `We shall avenge Ourselves on those who do that in the strongest possible terms.'
But as for those who transgressed by disbelieving and denying their abode shall be the Fire. Whenever they seek to exit from it they shall be brought back into it and it shall be said to them ‘Taste the chastisement of the Fire which you used to deny’.
وأما الذين خرجوا عن طاعة الله وعملوا بمعاصيه فمستقرهم جهنم، كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها، وقيل لهم -توبيخا وتقريعا-: ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون في الدنيا.
"وأما الذين فسقوا" أي خرجوا عن الطاعة فمأواهم النار كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها كقوله "كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها من غم أعيدوا فيها" الآية قال الفضيل بن عياض: والله إن الأيدي لموثقة وإن الأرجل لمقيدة وإن اللهب ليرفعهم والملائكة تقمعهم "وقيل لهم ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون" أي يقال لهم ذلك تقريعا وتوبيخا.
( وَأَمَّا الذين فَسَقُواْ ) أى : خرجوا عن طاعتنا ، وعن دعوة رسولنا صلى الله عليه وسلم .( فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النار ) أى : فمنزلتهم ومسكنهم ومستقرهم النار وبئس القرار .( كُلَّمَآ أرادوا أَن يَخْرُجُواُ مِنْهَآ ) هرباً من لهيبها وسعيرها وعذابها .( أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا ) مرغمين مكرهين ، وردوا إليها مهانين مستذلين .( وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ) على سبيل الزجر والتأنيب وزيادة الحسرة فى قلوبهم .( ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ النار الذي كُنتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ ) فى الدنيا ، وتستهزئون بمن ينذركم به ، ويخوفكم منه .
وقوله: (وأمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا) يقول تعالى ذكره: وأما الذين كفروا بالله، وفارقوا طاعته (فَمأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ) يقول: فمساكنهم التي يأوون إليها في الآخرة النار ( كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ ) في الدنيا(تُكَذّبُونَ) أن الله أعدّها لأهل الشرك به.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة (وأمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا) أشركوا(وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ) والقوم مكذّبون كما ترون.
"وأما الذين فسقوا فمأواهم النار كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها وقيل لهم ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون".
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ (20)و { أما الذين فسقوا } . فليست الآية نازلة في معيَّن كما قيل .و { المأوى : المكان الذي يُؤْوَى إليه ، أي يُرجع إليه .والتعريف باللام فيه للعهد ، أي مأوى المؤمنين ، قال تعالى : { عندها جنة المأوى } [ النجم : 15 ] . ولك أن تجعل اللام عوضاً عن المضاف إليه ، أي مأواهم بقرينة قوله في مقابلح { فمأواهم النار . } وإضافة { جنات } إلى { المأوى } من إضافة الموصوف إلى الصفة لقصد التخفيف وهي واقعة في الكلام وإن اختلف البصريون والكوفيون في تأويلها خلافاً لا طائل تحته ، وذلك مثل قولهم : مسجد الجامع ، وقوله تعالى : { وما كنت بجانب الغربي } [ القصص : 44 ] ، وقولهم : عِشاء الآخرةِ . والمعنى : فلهم الجنات المأوى لهم ، أي الموعودون بها .وانتصب { نزلاً } على الحال من { جنات المأوى . } والنُزُل بضمتين مشتق من النزول فيطلق على ما يُعد للنزيل من العطاء والقِرى قال في «الكشاف» : النزل : عطاء النازل ، ثم صار عاماً ، أي : يطلق على العطاء ولو بدون ضيافة مجازاً مرسلاً . قلت : ويطلق على محل نزول الضيف ولأجل هذه الإطلاقات يختلف المفسرون في المراد منه في بعض الآيات رعياً لما يناسب سياق الكلام . وفسره الزجاج في هذه الآية ونحوها بالمنزل ، وفسره في قوله تعالى : { أذلك خيرٌ نُزُلاً أم شجرة الزقوم } [ الصافات : 62 ] فقال : «يقول أذلك خير في باب الأنزال التي تمكن معها الإقامة أم نُزل أهل النار» وقد تقدم في آخر سورة آل عمران ( 163 ) ، والباء في { بما كانوا يعملون للسببية .وقوله : { كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها } تقدم نظيره في سورة الحج ( 22 ) .ويتجه في هذه الآية أن يقال : لماذا أُظهر اسم النار في قوله ذُوقُوا عذاب النار } مع أن اسم النار تقدم في قوله { فمأواهم النار } فكان مقتضى الظاهر الإضمار بأن يقال : وقيل لهم ذوقوا عذابها . وهذا السؤال أورده ابن الحاجب في «أماليه» وأجاب بوجهين : أحدهما أن سياق الآية التهديد وفي إظهار لفظ النار من التخويف ما ليس في الإضمار ، الثاني : أن الجملة حكاية لما يقال لهم يومئذ فناسب أن يحكى كما قيل لهم وليس فيما يقال لهم تقدُّم ذكر النار .
{ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ } أي: مقرهم ومحل خلودهم، النار التي جمعت كل عذاب وشقاء، ولا يُفَتَّرُ عنهم العقاب ساعة.{ كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا } فكلما حدثتهم إرادتهم بالخروج، لبلوغ العذاب منهم كل مبلغ، ردوا إليها، فذهب عنهم روح ذلك الفرج، واشتد عليهم الكرب.{ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ } فهذا عذاب النار، الذي يكون فيه مقرهم ومأواهم، وأما العذاب الذي قبل ذلك، ومقدمة له وهو عذاب البرزخ، فقد ذكر بقوله:
وأما الذين فسقوا أي خرجوا عن الإيمان إلى الكفر فمأواهم النار أي مقامهم فيها . كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها أي إذا دفعهم لهب النار إلى أعلاها ردوا إلى موضعهم فيها ؛ لأنهم يطمعون في الخروج منها . وقد مضى هذا في ( الحج ) . . وقيل لهم أي يقول لهم خزنة جهنم . أو يقول الله لهم : ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون والذوق يستعمل محسوسا ومعنى . وقد مضى في هذه السورة بيانه .
A believer (mu’min ) is one who accepts the Divine Truth and a sinner (faasiq) is one who rejects it for the sake of self-protection. These are two separate characters—entirely different from each other—and the fate of individuals who are entirely different in character cannot be the same. In the present world, one who accepts the Truth, proves that he gives prime importance to Truth. Such a person will have greatness conferred upon him in the Hereafter. As opposed to this, one who considers himself great, while ignoring the Truth, shall have a lesser position in the real life of the Hereafter.
Before approaching verse 16: تَـتَجَافٰى جُنُوْبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَّطَمَعًا (Their sides remain apart from their beds. They call their Lord with fear and hope - 16), it should be borne in mind that disbelievers, Mushriks and the deniers of the day of Qiyamah were warned in the verses previous to it. After that, starting from: اِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاٰيٰتِنَا ! (Only those people believe in Our verses - 15) mentioned there are special attributes of sincere believers and the high ranks reserved for them. Pointed to in the cited verse is one such attribute of these believers: They leave the comfort of their beds, rise and get busy with the remembrance of Allah in submission and supplication - because, they are apprehensive of His displeasure and punishment while remaining hopeful of His mercy and reward. This very combination of fear and hope keeps them returning to Dhikr and Du'a' repeatedly, anxiously and animated at the same time.
The Salah of Tahajjud
The majority of commentators takes the expression denoting the leaving of beds and getting busy with Dhikr and Du'a' to mean the Salah of Tahajjud and Nawafil that are offered after rising from sleep (which is the saying of al-Hasan, Mujahid, Malik and al-Awza'i رحمۃ اللہ علیہم). And it is supported by narrations of Hadith as well.
According to a report in the Musnad of Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i and others, Sayyidna Mu` adh Ibn Jabal v narrates: 'Once I was in the company of the Holy Prophet ﷺ on a journey. One morning during the course of the journey when I was near him, I requested: "Y Rasulallah, tell me to do something which helps me enter Paradise and keeps me away from Hell." He said, "You asked for something very difficult. But, for whomsoever Allah Ta’ ala makes it easy, for him it becomes easy." Then he said, "This is what you should do: Worship Allah and associate no one with Him, and establish Salah, and pay Zakah, and keep the fasts of Ramadan, and perform the Hajj of Baytullah." And then he said, "Here, now let me tell you about the gateways of righteousness: Fasting is a shield (that saves you from punishment). Sadaqah puts off the fire of one's sins - so does one's Salah in the middle of the night." And after having said that, he recited the cited verse of the Holy Qur'an: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ (Their sides remain apart from their beds - 16).
Sayyidna Abu ad-Darda', Qatadah and Dahhak ؓ have said that this attribute of sides remaining apart from beds also applies to those who make their Salah of ` Isha' with Jama` ah and then go on to make their Salah of Fajr with Jama` ah. And according to a narration of Sayyidna Anas ؓ appearing in Tirmidhi with sound chains of authority, this verse: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ (Their sides remain apart) was revealed about people who do not sleep before the Salah of 'Isha' and keep waiting for the Jama’ ah of ` Isha'.
And according to some other reports, this verse is about people who offer nawafil between Maghrib and ` Isha' (reported by Muhammad Ibn Nasr). And about this verse, Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said: People who would, on waking up, remember Allah - lying, sitting and on sides - are also included therein.
Ibn Kathir and other Tafsir authorities have said that there is no contradiction in all these sayings. It is correct to say that this verse is inclusive of all - while the late night Salah remains the superior most. Bayan ul-Qur'an has also opted for this approach.
And Sayyidah Asma' bint Yazid ؓ narrates: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, 'when Allah Ta’ ala will gather everyone from the first to the last, a proclaimer whose call will be heard by the entire creation will call: 'This day everyone on the plains of Resurrection will find out as to who is really deserving of honor and compliment.' Then, the proclaiming angel will proclaim: '0 people assembled on the plains of Resurrection, let those rise from among you, those whose attribute was: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ (Their sides remain apart from their beds - 16) '. At this call, these people will stand up, though their number will be small. (Ibn Kathir) And some words of the same narration say that these people will be sent to Paradise without reckoning. After that, all others will stand and face reckoning. (Mazhari)
(And as for those who do evil) and as for those who were hypocrites in the life of this world, (their retreat is the Fire) as a final destination. (Whenever they desire to issue forth from thence) from the Fire, (they are brought back thither) to the Fire in shackles of iron. (Unto them it is said) the angels of the Fire say to them: (Taste the torment of the Fire which ye used to deny) in the life of the world.
The Believer and the Rebellious are not equal
Allah tells us that in His justice and generosity, on the Day of Judgement He will not judge those who believed in His signs and followed His Messengers, in the same way as He will judge those who rebelled, disobeyed Him and rejected the Messengers sent by Allah to them. This is like the Ayat:
أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ اجْتَرَحُواْ السَّيِّئَـتِ أَن نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ سَوَآءً مَّحْيَـهُمْ وَمَمَـتُهُمْ سَآءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
(Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death Worst is the judgement that they make.) (45:21),
أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ كَالْمُفْسِدِينَ فِى الاٌّرْضِ أَمْ نَجْعَلُ الْمُتَّقِينَ كَالْفُجَّارِ
(Shall We treat those who believe and do righteous good deeds as corruptors on earth Or shall We treat those who have Taqwa as the wicked) (38:28)
لاَ يَسْتَوِى أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَـبُ الْجَنَّةِ
(Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of the Paradise...) (59:20). Allah says:
أَفَمَن كَانَ مُؤْمِناً كَمَن كَانَ فَاسِقاً لاَّ يَسْتَوُونَ
(Is then he who is a believer like him who is a rebellious Not equal are they. ) i.e., before Allah on the Day of Resurrection. `Ata' bin Yasar, As-Suddi and others mentioned that this was revealed concerning `Ali bin Abi Talib and `Uqbah bin Abi Mu`it. Hence Allah has judged between them when He said:
أَمَّا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ
(As for those who believe and do righteous good deeds,) meaning, their hearts believed in the signs of Allah, and they did as the signs of Allah dictate, i.e. righteous good deeds.
فَلَهُمْ جَنَّـتُ الْمَأْوَى
(for them are Gardens of Abode) i.e., in which there are dwellings and houses and lofty apartments.
نُزُلاً
(as an entertainment) means, something to welcome and honor a guest,
بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَوَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُواْ
(for what they used to do. And as for those who rebel,) means, those who disobeyed Allah, their dwelling place will be the Fire, and every time they want to escape from it, they will be thrown back in, as Allah says:
كُلَّمَآ أَرَادُواْ أَن يَخْرُجُواْ مِنْهَا مِنْ غَمٍّ أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا
(Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein) (22:22). Al-Fudayl bin `Iyad said: "By Allah, their hands will be tied, their feet will be chained, the flames will lift them up and the angels will strike them.
وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ
(and it will be said to them: "Taste you the torment of the Fire which you used to deny.")" means, this will be said to them by way of rebuke and chastisement.
وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُمْ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ الاٌّدْنَى دُونَ الْعَذَابِ الاٌّكْبَرِ
(And verily, We will make them taste of the near lighter torment prior to the greater torment,) Ibn `Abbas said, "The near torment means diseases and problems in this world, and the things that happen to its people as a test from Allah to His servants so that they will repent to Him." Something similar was also narrated from Ubayy bin Ka`b, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ad-Dahhak, `Alqamah, `Atiyah, Mujahid, Qatadah, `Abd Al-Karim Al-Jazari and Khusayf.
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَايَـتِ رَبِّهِ ثُمَّ أَعْرَضَ عَنْهَآ
(And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayat of his Lord, then turns aside therefrom) means, there is no one who does more wrong than the one whom Allah reminds of His signs and explains them to him clearly, then after that he neglects and ignores them, and turns away from them, forgetting them as if he does not know them. Qatadah said: "Beware of turning away from the remembrance of Allah, for whoever turns away from remembering Him will be the most misguided and the most in need, and the most guilty of sin." Allah says, warning the one who does that:
إِنَّا مِنَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُنتَقِمُونَ
(Verily, We shall exact retribution from the criminals.) meaning, `We shall avenge Ourselves on those who do that in the strongest possible terms.'
But as for those who transgressed by disbelieving and denying their abode shall be the Fire. Whenever they seek to exit from it they shall be brought back into it and it shall be said to them ‘Taste the chastisement of the Fire which you used to deny’.
وأما الذين خرجوا عن طاعة الله وعملوا بمعاصيه فمستقرهم جهنم، كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها، وقيل لهم -توبيخا وتقريعا-: ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون في الدنيا.
"وأما الذين فسقوا" أي خرجوا عن الطاعة فمأواهم النار كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها كقوله "كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها من غم أعيدوا فيها" الآية قال الفضيل بن عياض: والله إن الأيدي لموثقة وإن الأرجل لمقيدة وإن اللهب ليرفعهم والملائكة تقمعهم "وقيل لهم ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون" أي يقال لهم ذلك تقريعا وتوبيخا.
( وَأَمَّا الذين فَسَقُواْ ) أى : خرجوا عن طاعتنا ، وعن دعوة رسولنا صلى الله عليه وسلم .( فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النار ) أى : فمنزلتهم ومسكنهم ومستقرهم النار وبئس القرار .( كُلَّمَآ أرادوا أَن يَخْرُجُواُ مِنْهَآ ) هرباً من لهيبها وسعيرها وعذابها .( أُعِيدُواْ فِيهَا ) مرغمين مكرهين ، وردوا إليها مهانين مستذلين .( وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ) على سبيل الزجر والتأنيب وزيادة الحسرة فى قلوبهم .( ذُوقُواْ عَذَابَ النار الذي كُنتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ ) فى الدنيا ، وتستهزئون بمن ينذركم به ، ويخوفكم منه .
وقوله: (وأمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا) يقول تعالى ذكره: وأما الذين كفروا بالله، وفارقوا طاعته (فَمأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ) يقول: فمساكنهم التي يأوون إليها في الآخرة النار ( كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ ) في الدنيا(تُكَذّبُونَ) أن الله أعدّها لأهل الشرك به.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة (وأمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا) أشركوا(وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ) والقوم مكذّبون كما ترون.
"وأما الذين فسقوا فمأواهم النار كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها وقيل لهم ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون".
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ (20)و { أما الذين فسقوا } . فليست الآية نازلة في معيَّن كما قيل .و { المأوى : المكان الذي يُؤْوَى إليه ، أي يُرجع إليه .والتعريف باللام فيه للعهد ، أي مأوى المؤمنين ، قال تعالى : { عندها جنة المأوى } [ النجم : 15 ] . ولك أن تجعل اللام عوضاً عن المضاف إليه ، أي مأواهم بقرينة قوله في مقابلح { فمأواهم النار . } وإضافة { جنات } إلى { المأوى } من إضافة الموصوف إلى الصفة لقصد التخفيف وهي واقعة في الكلام وإن اختلف البصريون والكوفيون في تأويلها خلافاً لا طائل تحته ، وذلك مثل قولهم : مسجد الجامع ، وقوله تعالى : { وما كنت بجانب الغربي } [ القصص : 44 ] ، وقولهم : عِشاء الآخرةِ . والمعنى : فلهم الجنات المأوى لهم ، أي الموعودون بها .وانتصب { نزلاً } على الحال من { جنات المأوى . } والنُزُل بضمتين مشتق من النزول فيطلق على ما يُعد للنزيل من العطاء والقِرى قال في «الكشاف» : النزل : عطاء النازل ، ثم صار عاماً ، أي : يطلق على العطاء ولو بدون ضيافة مجازاً مرسلاً . قلت : ويطلق على محل نزول الضيف ولأجل هذه الإطلاقات يختلف المفسرون في المراد منه في بعض الآيات رعياً لما يناسب سياق الكلام . وفسره الزجاج في هذه الآية ونحوها بالمنزل ، وفسره في قوله تعالى : { أذلك خيرٌ نُزُلاً أم شجرة الزقوم } [ الصافات : 62 ] فقال : «يقول أذلك خير في باب الأنزال التي تمكن معها الإقامة أم نُزل أهل النار» وقد تقدم في آخر سورة آل عمران ( 163 ) ، والباء في { بما كانوا يعملون للسببية .وقوله : { كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها } تقدم نظيره في سورة الحج ( 22 ) .ويتجه في هذه الآية أن يقال : لماذا أُظهر اسم النار في قوله ذُوقُوا عذاب النار } مع أن اسم النار تقدم في قوله { فمأواهم النار } فكان مقتضى الظاهر الإضمار بأن يقال : وقيل لهم ذوقوا عذابها . وهذا السؤال أورده ابن الحاجب في «أماليه» وأجاب بوجهين : أحدهما أن سياق الآية التهديد وفي إظهار لفظ النار من التخويف ما ليس في الإضمار ، الثاني : أن الجملة حكاية لما يقال لهم يومئذ فناسب أن يحكى كما قيل لهم وليس فيما يقال لهم تقدُّم ذكر النار .
{ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فَسَقُوا فَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ } أي: مقرهم ومحل خلودهم، النار التي جمعت كل عذاب وشقاء، ولا يُفَتَّرُ عنهم العقاب ساعة.{ كُلَّمَا أَرَادُوا أَنْ يَخْرُجُوا مِنْهَا أُعِيدُوا فِيهَا } فكلما حدثتهم إرادتهم بالخروج، لبلوغ العذاب منهم كل مبلغ، ردوا إليها، فذهب عنهم روح ذلك الفرج، واشتد عليهم الكرب.{ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ ذُوقُوا عَذَابَ النَّارِ الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ } فهذا عذاب النار، الذي يكون فيه مقرهم ومأواهم، وأما العذاب الذي قبل ذلك، ومقدمة له وهو عذاب البرزخ، فقد ذكر بقوله:
وأما الذين فسقوا أي خرجوا عن الإيمان إلى الكفر فمأواهم النار أي مقامهم فيها . كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها أعيدوا فيها أي إذا دفعهم لهب النار إلى أعلاها ردوا إلى موضعهم فيها ؛ لأنهم يطمعون في الخروج منها . وقد مضى هذا في ( الحج ) . . وقيل لهم أي يقول لهم خزنة جهنم . أو يقول الله لهم : ذوقوا عذاب النار الذي كنتم به تكذبون والذوق يستعمل محسوسا ومعنى . وقد مضى في هذه السورة بيانه .
A believer (mu’min ) is one who accepts the Divine Truth and a sinner (faasiq) is one who rejects it for the sake of self-protection. These are two separate characters—entirely different from each other—and the fate of individuals who are entirely different in character cannot be the same. In the present world, one who accepts the Truth, proves that he gives prime importance to Truth. Such a person will have greatness conferred upon him in the Hereafter. As opposed to this, one who considers himself great, while ignoring the Truth, shall have a lesser position in the real life of the Hereafter.
Before approaching verse 16: تَـتَجَافٰى جُنُوْبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَّطَمَعًا (Their sides remain apart from their beds. They call their Lord with fear and hope - 16), it should be borne in mind that disbelievers, Mushriks and the deniers of the day of Qiyamah were warned in the verses previous to it. After that, starting from: اِنَّمَا يُؤْمِنُ بِاٰيٰتِنَا ! (Only those people believe in Our verses - 15) mentioned there are special attributes of sincere believers and the high ranks reserved for them. Pointed to in the cited verse is one such attribute of these believers: They leave the comfort of their beds, rise and get busy with the remembrance of Allah in submission and supplication - because, they are apprehensive of His displeasure and punishment while remaining hopeful of His mercy and reward. This very combination of fear and hope keeps them returning to Dhikr and Du'a' repeatedly, anxiously and animated at the same time.
The Salah of Tahajjud
The majority of commentators takes the expression denoting the leaving of beds and getting busy with Dhikr and Du'a' to mean the Salah of Tahajjud and Nawafil that are offered after rising from sleep (which is the saying of al-Hasan, Mujahid, Malik and al-Awza'i رحمۃ اللہ علیہم). And it is supported by narrations of Hadith as well.
According to a report in the Musnad of Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nasa'i and others, Sayyidna Mu` adh Ibn Jabal v narrates: 'Once I was in the company of the Holy Prophet ﷺ on a journey. One morning during the course of the journey when I was near him, I requested: "Y Rasulallah, tell me to do something which helps me enter Paradise and keeps me away from Hell." He said, "You asked for something very difficult. But, for whomsoever Allah Ta’ ala makes it easy, for him it becomes easy." Then he said, "This is what you should do: Worship Allah and associate no one with Him, and establish Salah, and pay Zakah, and keep the fasts of Ramadan, and perform the Hajj of Baytullah." And then he said, "Here, now let me tell you about the gateways of righteousness: Fasting is a shield (that saves you from punishment). Sadaqah puts off the fire of one's sins - so does one's Salah in the middle of the night." And after having said that, he recited the cited verse of the Holy Qur'an: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ (Their sides remain apart from their beds - 16).
Sayyidna Abu ad-Darda', Qatadah and Dahhak ؓ have said that this attribute of sides remaining apart from beds also applies to those who make their Salah of ` Isha' with Jama` ah and then go on to make their Salah of Fajr with Jama` ah. And according to a narration of Sayyidna Anas ؓ appearing in Tirmidhi with sound chains of authority, this verse: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ (Their sides remain apart) was revealed about people who do not sleep before the Salah of 'Isha' and keep waiting for the Jama’ ah of ` Isha'.
And according to some other reports, this verse is about people who offer nawafil between Maghrib and ` Isha' (reported by Muhammad Ibn Nasr). And about this verse, Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said: People who would, on waking up, remember Allah - lying, sitting and on sides - are also included therein.
Ibn Kathir and other Tafsir authorities have said that there is no contradiction in all these sayings. It is correct to say that this verse is inclusive of all - while the late night Salah remains the superior most. Bayan ul-Qur'an has also opted for this approach.
And Sayyidah Asma' bint Yazid ؓ narrates: The Holy Prophet ﷺ said, 'when Allah Ta’ ala will gather everyone from the first to the last, a proclaimer whose call will be heard by the entire creation will call: 'This day everyone on the plains of Resurrection will find out as to who is really deserving of honor and compliment.' Then, the proclaiming angel will proclaim: '0 people assembled on the plains of Resurrection, let those rise from among you, those whose attribute was: تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ (Their sides remain apart from their beds - 16) '. At this call, these people will stand up, though their number will be small. (Ibn Kathir) And some words of the same narration say that these people will be sent to Paradise without reckoning. After that, all others will stand and face reckoning. (Mazhari)
(And as for those who do evil) and as for those who were hypocrites in the life of this world, (their retreat is the Fire) as a final destination. (Whenever they desire to issue forth from thence) from the Fire, (they are brought back thither) to the Fire in shackles of iron. (Unto them it is said) the angels of the Fire say to them: (Taste the torment of the Fire which ye used to deny) in the life of the world.