Women — Verse 124

Success is Only Achieved by Performing Righteous Deeds, not Wishful Thinking Qatadah said, "We were told that the Muslims and the People of the Scriptures mentioned their own virtues to each other. People of the Scriptures said, `Our Prophet came before your Prophet and our Book before your Book. Therefore, we should have more right to Allah than you have.' Muslims said, `Rather, we have more right to Allah than you, our Prophet is the Final Prophet and our Book supersedes all the Books before it.' Allah sent down, لَّيْسَ بِأَمَـنِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ (It will not be in accordance with your desires (Muslims), nor those of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof), وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِيناً مِمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ (And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah; and he is a Muhsin.) Allah then supported the argument of the Muslims against their opponents of the other religions." Similar statements were attributed to As-Suddi, Masruq, Ad-Dahhak and Abu Salih. Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on this Ayah 4:123, "The followers of various religions disputed, the people of the Tawrah said, `Our Book is the best Book and our Prophet (Musa) is the best Prophet. ' The people of the Injil said similarly, the people of Islam said, `There is no religion except Islam, our Book has abrogated every other Book, our Prophet is the Final Prophet, and you were commanded to believe in your Books and adhere to our Book.' Allah judged between them, saying, o لَّيْسَ بِأَمَـنِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ (It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor those of the People of the Scripture, whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof)." This Ayah indicates that the religion is not accepted on account of wishful thinking or mere hopes. Rather, the accepted religion relies on what resides in the heart and which is made truthful through actions. It is not true that when one utters a claim to something, he attains it merely on account of his claim. It is not true that every person who claims to be on the truth is considered as such, merely on account of his words, until his claim gains merit with proof from Allah. Hence Allah's statement, لَّيْسَ بِأَمَـنِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ (It will not be in accordance with your desires, nor those of the People of the Scripture, whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof), meaning safety will not be acquired by you or them just by wishful thinking. Rather, the key is in obeying Allah and following what He has legislated through the words of His honorable Messengers. This is why Allah said afterwards, مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ (whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof,) Similarly, Allah said, فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ - وَمَن يَعْـمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرّاً يَرَهُ (So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom, shall see it.) and it was reported that when these Ayat were revealed, they became hard on many Companions. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah said, "I said, `O Messenger of Allah! I know the hardest Ayah in the Qur'an.' He said, `What is it, O `A'ishah!' I said, مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ (whoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof,) He said, «هُوَ مَا يُصِيبُ الْعَبْدَالْمُؤْمِنَ، حَتَّى النَّكْبَةِ يُنْكَبُهَا» (That is what strikes the believing servant, even the problems that bother him.)" Ibn Jarir and Abu Dawud also recorded this Hadith. Sa`id bin Mansur recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "When the Ayah, مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا يُجْزَ بِهِ (whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof,) was revealed, it was hard on Muslims. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to them, «سَدِّدُوا وَقَارِبُوا، فَإِنَّ فِي كُلِّ مَا يُصَابُ بِهِ الْمُسْلِمُ كَفَّارَةً، حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ يُشَاكُهَا، وَالنَّـكْبَةِ يُنْكَبُهَا» (Be steadfast and seek closeness. Everything that afflicts the Muslim, even the thorn that pierces his skin and the hardship he suffers, will be an expiation for him.)" This is the wording collected by Ahmad through Sufyan bin `Uyaynah. Muslim and At-Tirmidhi also recorded it. Allah's statement, وَلاَ يَجِدْ لَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيّاً وَلاَ نَصِيراً (and he will not find any protector or helper besides Allah,) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said; "Unless he repents and Allah forgives him." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded it. Allah then said, وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّـلِحَـتَ مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ (And whoever does righteous good deeds, male or female, and is a believer). Allah mentions the recompense for evil actions and that He will surely inflict its punishment on the servant, either in this life, which is better for him, or in the Hereafter, we seek refuge with Allah from this end. We also beg Allah for our well-being in this life and the Hereafter and for His forgiveness, mercy and pardon. Allah then mentions His kindness, generosity and mercy in accepting the good deeds from His servants, whether male or female, with the condition that they embrace the faith. He also stated that He will admit the believers into Paradise and will not withhold any of their righteous deeds, even the weight of a Naqir - speck on the back of a date-stone. Earlier, we discussed the Fatil - the scalish thread in the long slit of a date-stone, and both of these, along with the Qitmir -- the thin membrane over the date-stone were mentioned in the Qur'an. Allah then said, وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِيناً مِمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله (And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face to Allah.) meaning, performs the good actions in sincerity for his Lord with faith and awaiting the reward with Allah, وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ (and he is a Muhsin) following the correct guidance that Allah legislated in the religion of truth which He sent His Messenger with. These are the two conditions, in the absence of which no deed will be accepted from anyone; sincerity and correctness. The work is sincere when it is performed for Allah alone and it becomes correct when it conforms to the Shari`ah. So, the deed becomes outwardly correct with following the Sunnah and inwardly correct with sincerity. When any deed lacks either of these two conditions, the deed becomes null and void. For instance, when one lacks the pillar of sincerity in his work, he becomes a hypocrite who shows off for people. Whoever does not follow the Shari`ah, he becomes an ignorant, wicked person. When one combines both pillars, his actions will be the deeds of the faithful believers whose best deeds are accepted from them and their errors erased. Consequently, Allah said, واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفاً (And follows the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif (Monotheist). ) referring to Muhammad and his following, until the Day of Resurrection. Allah said, إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَـذَا النَّبِىُّ (Verily, among mankind who have the best claim to Ibrahim are those who followed him, and this Prophet), and, ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (Then, We have sent the Revelation to you (saying): "Follow the religion of Ibrahim the Hanif (Monotheist) and he was not of the Mushrikin). The Hanif, intentionally and with knowledge, avoids Shirk, he goes attentively to the truth, allowing no one to hinder him or stop him from it. Ibrahim is Allah's Khalil Allah's statement, وَاتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَهِيمَ خَلِيلاً (And Allah did take Ibrahim as a Khalil (an intimate friend)!) encourages following Ibrahim Al-Khalil, because he was and still is an Imam whose conduct is followed and imitated. Indeed, Ibrahim reached the ultimate closeness to Allah that the servants seek, for he attained the grade of Khalil, which is the highest grade of love. He acquired all this due to his obedience to His Lord, just as Allah has described him, وَإِبْرَهِيمَ الَّذِى وَفَّى (And of Ibrahim, the one who fulfilled), وَإِذِ ابْتَلَى إِبْرَهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَـتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ (And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim tried him with (certain) commands, which he fulfilled), and, إِنَّ إِبْرَهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَـنِتًا لِلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (Verily, Ibrahim was an Ummah, obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not one of the Mushrikin). Al-Bukhari recorded that `Amr bin Maymun said that when Mu`adh came back from Yemen, he led them in the Fajr prayer and recited, وَاتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَهِيمَ خَلِيلاً (And Allah did take Ibrahim as a Khalil!) One of the men present commented, "Surely, the eye of Ibrahim's mother has been comforted." Ibrahim was called Allah's Khalil due to his Lord's great love towards him, on account of the acts of obedience he performed that Allah loves and prefers. We should mention here that in the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave them his last speech, he said, «أَمَّا بَعْدُ، أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ فَلَوْ كُنْتُ مُتَّخِذًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ خَلِيلًا، لَاتَّخَذْتُ أَبَا بَكْرِ ابْنَ أَبِي قُحَافَةَ خَلِيلًا، وَلكِنْ صَاحِبُكُمْ خَلِيلُ الله» (O people! If I were to take a Khalil from the people of the earth, I would have taken Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah as my Khalil. However, your companion (meaning himself) is the Khalil of Allah.) Jundub bin `Abdullah Al-Bajali, `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As and `Abdullah bin Mas`ud narrated that the Prophet said, «إِنَّ اللهَ اتَّخَذَنِي خَلِيلًا، كَمَا اتَّخَذَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا» (Allah has chosen me as His Khalil, just as He has chosen Ibrahim as His Khalil.) Allah's statement, وَللَّهِ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ (And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth.) means, everything and everyone are His property, servants and creation, and He has full authority over all of this. There is no one who can avert Allah's decision or question His judgment. He is never asked about what He does due to His might, ability, fairness, wisdom, compassion and mercy. Allah's statement, وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطاً (And Allah is Ever Encompassing all things.) means, His knowledge encompasses everything and nothing concerning His servants is ever hidden from Him. Nothing, even the weight of an atom, ever escapes His observation in the heavens and earth, nor anything smaller or bigger than that.

And whoever does any righteous deeds whether male or female and is a believer — such shall be admitted into read passive yudkhalūna or active yadkhulūna ‘they shall enter’ Paradise and not be wronged by as much as the dint in a date-stone.

It is not your desires nor the desires of the people of the scripture. Whoever does evil shall be requited for it; and he will not find besides God any friend or helper. And whoever does righteous deeds whether male or female and is a believer-such shall be admitted into paradise and not be wronged the dint in a date-stone. Whoever plants colocynth will not harvest roses and jasmine. Whoever drinks deadly poison will not find the taste of honey. Likewise whoever squanders the duty of service will not become firmly established on the carpet of nearness. Whoever is branded with misfortune wa-man wusima bi-l-shiqwati will not be provided with the best of the best lam yurzaq al-ṣafwati. Whomever the divine decree rejects wa-man nafathu al-qaḌiyyati there is no helper for him in creation fa-lā nāṣira lahu min al-bariyyati. And whoever does righteous deeds... �Whoever labors in Our service khidma will not be kept from attaining Our blessing niʿma. Indeed whomever We have made rich in seeking Us We honor him in finding Us. Whomever We have made to drink from the cup of longing for Us We bring him to the intimacy of meeting Us.�

It is not your desires nor the desires of the people of the scripture. Whoever does evil shall be requited for it; and he will not find besides God any friend or helper. And whoever does righteous deeds whether male or female and is a believer-such shall be admitted into paradise and not be wronged the dint in a date-stone. Whoever plants colocynth will not harvest roses and jasmine. Whoever drinks deadly poison will not find the taste of honey. Likewise whoever squanders the duty of service will not become firmly established on the carpet of nearness. Whoever is branded with misfortune wa-man wusima bi-l-shiqwati will not be provided with the best of the best lam yurzaq al-ṣafwati. Whomever the divine decree rejects wa-man nafathu al-qaḌiyyati there is no helper for him in creation fa-lā nāṣira lahu min al-bariyyati. And whoever does righteous deeds... �Whoever labors in Our service khidma will not be kept from attaining Our blessing niʿma. Indeed whomever We have made rich in seeking Us We honor him in finding Us. Whomever We have made to drink from the cup of longing for Us We bring him to the intimacy of meeting Us.�

ومن يعمل من الأعمال الصالحة من ذكر أو أنثى، وهو مؤمن بالله تعالى وبما أنزل من الحق، فأولئك يدخلهم الله الجنة دار النعيم المقيم، ولا يُنْقَصون من ثواب أعمالهم شيئًا، ولو كان مقدار النقرة في ظهر النواة.

وقوله "ومن يعمل من الصالحات من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن" الآية لما ذكر الجزاء على السيئات وأنه لابد أن يأخذ مستحقها من العبدإما في الدنيا وهو الأجود له وإما في الآخرة والعياذ بالله من ذلك ونسأله العافية في الدنيا والآخرة والصفح والعفو والمسامحة شرع في بيان إحسانه وكرمه ورحمته في قبول الأعمال الصالحة من عباده ذكرانهم وإناثهم بشرط الإيمان وأنه سيدخلهم الجنة ولا يظلمهم من حسناتهم ولا مقدار النقير وهو النقرة التي في ظهر نواة التمرة وقد تقدم الكلام على الفتيل وهو الخيط الذي في شق النواة وهذا النقير وهما في نواة التمرة والقطمير وهو اللفافة التي على نواة التمرة والثلاثة في القرآن.

ثم بين - سبحانه - حسن عاقبة المؤمنين فقال : ( وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصالحات مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أنثى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فأولئك يَدْخُلُونَ الجنة وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيراً ) .أى : ومن يعمل من الأعمال الصالحات سواء أكان العامل ذكرا أم أمنثى ما دام متحليا بصفة الإِيمان ، فأولئك العاملون بالأعمال الصالحة يجخلون الجنة جزاء عملهم؛ ولا ينقصون شيئا من ثواب أعمالهم ، ولو كان هذا الشئ نقيرا وهو النقطة التى تكون فى ظهر النواة ويضرب بها المثل فى القلة الحقارة .و ( مِنَ ) فى قوله ( مِنَ الصالحات ) للتبعيض أى : بعض الأعمال الصالحات لأن الإِنسان لا يستطيع أن يعمل جميع الأعمال الصالحة ، وإنما كل إنسان يعمل على قدر طاقته وقدرته ولا يكلف نفسا إلا وسعها .و ( مِن ) فى قوله ( مِن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أنثى ) للبيان . أى بيان أن الأحكام الشرعية وما يترتب عليها من ثواب يشترك فيه الرجال والنساء إلا إذا قام دليل على أن أحد الصنفين مختص بحكم معين لا يشاركه فيه الصنف الآخر .وفى ذلك إنصاف للمرأة من الظلم الذى كان واقعا عليها قبل شريعة الإِسلام العادلة .والجملة الكريمة فى موضع نصب على الحال من ضمير ( يَعْمَلْ ) .وقوله ( وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ ) قيد لإِخراج غير المؤمن لأن الكافر مهما قدم من أعمال صالحة فى الدنيا فإنها لن تنفعه فى الآخرة بسبب كفره بالدين الحق .واسم الإِشارة وهو قوله ( فأولئك ) يعود إلى من فى قوله ( وَمَن يَعْمَلْ ) باعتبار معناها .وقوله ( وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ ) بيان لفضل الله - تعالى - وعدله ، وأنه - سبحانه - ( لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَاعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْراً عَظِيماً )

القول في تأويل قوله : وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا (124)قال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه: الذين قال لهم: لَيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِيِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ ، يقول الله لهم: إنما يدخل الجنة وينعم فيها في الآخرة، من يعمل من الصالحات من ذكوركم وإناثكم، وذكور عبادي وإناثهم، وهو مؤمن بي وبرسولي محمدٍ، مصدق بوحدانيتي وبنبوّة محمدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم وبما جاء به من عندي= لا أنتم أيها المشركون بي، المكذبون رسولي، فلا تطمعوا أن تحلّوا، وأنتم كفار، محلَّ المؤمنين بي، وتدخلوا مداخلهم في القيامة، وأنتم مكذِّبون برسولي، كما:-10535- حدثنا محمد بن الحسين قال، حدثنا أحمد بن مفضل قال، حدثنا أسباط، عن السدي قوله: " ومن يعمل من الصالحات من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن "، قال: أبى أن يقبل الإيمان إلا بالعمل الصالح، وأبَى أن يقبل الإسلام إلا بالإحسان.* * *وأما قوله: " ولا يظلمون نقيرًا "، فإنه يعني: ولا يظلم الله هؤلاء الذين يعملون الصالحات من ثوابِ عملهم، مقدارَ النُّقرة التي تكون في ظهر النَّواة في القلة، فكيف بما هو أعظم من ذلك وأكثر؟ وإنما يخبر بذلك جل ثناؤه عبادَه أنه لا يبخَسهم من جزاء أعمالهم قليلا ولا كثيرًا، ولكن يُوفِّيهم ذلك كما وعدهم. (51)* * *وبالذي قلنا في معنى " النقير "، قال أهل التأويل.*ذكر من قال ذلك:10536- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا جرير، عن منصور، عن مجاهد: " ولا يظلمون نقيرًا "، قال: النقير، الذي يكون في ظهر النواة.10537- حدثنا ابن بشار قال، حدثنا أبو عامر قال، حدثنا قرة، عن عطية قال: النقير، الذي في وسط النواة. (52)* * *فإن قال لنا قائل: ما وجه دخول: " مِن " في قوله: " ومن يعمل من الصالحات "، ولم يقل: " ومن يعمل الصالحات "؟قيل: لدخولها وجهان:أحدهما: أن يكون الله قد علم أن عبادَه المؤمنين لن يُطيقوا أن يعملوا جميع الأعمال الصالحات، فأوجب وَعده لمن عمل ما أطاق منها، ولم يحرمه من فضله بسبب ما عجزتْ عن عمله منها قوّته. (53)والآخر منهما: أن يكون تعالى ذكره أوجب وعدَه لمن اجتنب الكبائر وأدَّى الفرائض، وإن قصر في بعض الواجب له عليه، تفضلا منه على عباده المؤمنين، إذ كان الفضل به أولى، والصفح عن أهل الإيمان به أحرَى.* * *وقد تقوّل قوم من أهل العربية، (54) أنها أدخلت في هذا الموضع بمعنى الحذف، &; 9-250 &; ويتأوّله: ومن يعمل الصالحاتِ من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن . (55)وذلك عندي غير جائز، لأن دخولها لمعنًى، فغير جائز أن يكون معناها الحذف.----------------------الهوامش :(51) انظر تفسير"النقير" فيما سلف: 8 : 472-475.(52) من أول قوله: "وبالذي قلنا في معنى النقير" إلى آخر هذا الأثر ، ساقط من المخطوطة. وهذان الأثران: 10536 ، 10537 ، لم يذكرا هناك (8 : 472-475) في الآثار التي جاء فيها تفسير"النقير". وهذا أحد ضروب اختصار أبي جعفر تفسيره.(53) في المخطوطة: "منها قوله" ، وفوق"قوله""كذا" ، دليلا على أنها كانت كذلك في الأصل الذي نقل الناسخ عنه. وصواب قراءتها ما أثبت. وفي المطبوعة: "قواه" بالجمع ، وهي أيضًا حسنة.(54) ليس في المخطوطة: "قوم" ، وإثباتها لا بأس به ، وهذا الذي سيسوقه رأي بعض أهل البصرة ، كما أشار إليه مرارًا فيما سلف.(55) انظر زيادة"من" في الجحد والإثبات فيما سلف 2 : 126 ، 127 ، 442 ، 470 / 5 : 586 / 6 : 551 / 7 : 489.

قوله تعالى : ( ومن يعمل من الصالحات من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فأولئك يدخلون الجنة ولا يظلمون نقيرا ) أي : مقدار النقير ، وهو النقرة التي تكون في ظهر النواة ، قرأ ابن كثير وأبو جعفر وأهل البصرة وأبو بكر ( يدخلون ) بضم الياء وفتح الخاء هاهنا وفي سورة مريم وحم المؤمن ، زاد أبو عمرو : " يدخلونها " في سورة فاطر ، وقرأ الآخرون بفتح الياء وضم الخاء .روى الأعمش عن أبي الضحى عن مسروق قال : لما نزلت ( ليس بأمانيكم ولا أماني أهل الكتاب من يعمل سوءا يجز به ) قال أهل الكتاب : نحن وأنتم سواء ، فنزلت هذه الآية : ( ومن يعمل من الصالحات ) الآية ، ونزلت أيضا :

ووجه قوله : { من ذكر أو أنثى } قصد التعميم والردّ على من يحرم المرأة حظوظاً كثيرة من الخير من أهل الجاهلية أو من أهل الكتاب . وفي الحديث « ولْيَشْهَدْنَ الخيرَ ودعوةَ المسلمين » . و ( مِن ) لبيان الأبهام الذي في ( مَن ) الشرطية في قوله : { ومن يعمل من الصالحات } .وقرأ الجمهور { يَدْخلون } بفتح التحتية وضمّ الخاء . وقرأه ابن كثير ، وأبو عمرو ، وأبو بكر عن عاصم ، وأبو جعفر ، ورَوْح عن يعقوب بضمّ التحتيّة وفتح الخاء على البناء للنائب .

{ وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ ْ} دخل في ذلك سائر الأعمال القلبية والبدنية، ودخل أيضا كل عامل من إنس أو جن، صغير أو كبير، ذكر أو أنثى. ولهذا قال: { مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ ْ} وهذا شرط لجميع الأعمال، لا تكون صالحة ولا تقبل ولا يترتب عليها الثواب ولا يندفع بها العقاب إلا بالإيمان. فالأعمال بدون الإيمان كأغصان شجرة قطع أصلها وكبناء بني على موج الماء، فالإيمان هو الأصل والأساس والقاعدة التي يبنى عليه كل شيء، وهذا القيد ينبغي التفطن له في كل عمل أطلق، فإنه مقيد به. { فَأُولَئِكَ ْ} أي: الذين جمعوا بين الإيمان والعمل الصالح { يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ ْ} المشتملة على ما تشتهي الأنفس وتلذ الأعين { وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرًا ْ} أي: لا قليلا ولا كثيرا مما عملوه من الخير، بل يجدونه كاملا موفرا، مضاعفا أضعافا كثيرة.

قوله تعالى : ومن يعمل من الصالحات من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فأولئك يدخلون الجنة ولا يظلمون نقيراشرط الإيمان لأن المشركين أدلوا بخدمة الكعبة وإطعام الحجيج وقري الأضياف ، وأهل الكتاب بسبقهم ، وقولهم نحن أبناء الله وأحباؤه ؛ فبين تعالى أن الأعمال الحسنة لا تقبل [ ص: 341 ] من غير إيمان . وقرأ " يدخلون الجنة " الشيخان أبو عمرو وابن كثير ( بضم الياء وفتح الخاء ) على ما لم يسم فاعله . الباقون بفتح الياء وضم الخاء ؛ يعني يدخلون الجنة بأعمالهم . وقد مضى ذكر النقير وهي النكتة في ظهر النواة .

When the People of the Book, that is, believers in God and the Hereafter, become engrossed in the world, they do not do so by refusing to believe in God and the existence of the Hereafter. What they do is believe in these realities in the formal sense while, in practice, devoting all their efforts to worldly acquisition. They are very serious about the attainment of worldly honour and glory. They know that to achieve success in this world one must struggle. But for the attainment of Paradise, wishful thinking alone is believed to suffice. For instance, through the blessing of some saint, association with a certain group, recitation of some words and phrases, in short, by such cheap formulae or superficial actions, it is hoped that they will be saved from the raging fire of Hell and be ushered into Heaven. Such wishful thinking, in whatever beautiful words it may have been couched, is not going to come to their rescue. God’s system is established on such firm grounds that all divine verdicts are based on realities and not on wishful thinking. In God’s court everyone will be judged exactly in accordance with his actions. There will be nothing other than the law of justice promulgated by God Himself to influence His decisions.

Verse 124 says: وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ مِن ذَكَرٍ‌ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ نَقِيرً‌ا ﴿124﴾. It means a man or woman who does good deeds, subject to the condition that such deeds issue forth from true faith, shall certainly go to Paradise fully rewarded for all his or her deeds without being wronged in the least. The hint given here is that the People of the Book or other non-Muslims may also have some good deeds of their own, but, since their faith is not sound, therefore, those deeds of theirs are not acceptable. As for Muslims, since their faith is sound and their deeds too are good, therefore, they are the successful ones, and superior to others. Acceptability in the sight of Allah: A Criterion The fourth verse (125) lays down a criterion to help determine correctly as to who is acceptable in the sight of Allah, and who is not. This criterion has two components. Any shortfall in either of the two components makes all efforts go waste. A careful look will reveal that all strayings into error and evil, wherever they may be in this wide world, are triggered because of a shortfall in one of these two components. Compare Muslims with non-Muslims. Or, compare the different sects, groups and parties within the Muslim community itself. You will come across the same two points of reference - any deviation from either is bound to land one in disgrace.

(And whoso doeth good works) acts of obedience, relating to that which is between him and his Lord, (whether of male or female, and he (or she) is a believer) while being a believer who is genuine in his or her faith, (such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date stone) their rewards will not be diminished even if it be by the size of the dint in a date stone.