Women — Verse 167

إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ (Verily, We have inspired you...) emphasized the Prophet's prophethood and refuted the idolators and People of the Scripture who denied him. Allah said, لَّـكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَآ أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ (But Allah bears witness to that which He has sent down unto you,) meaning, even if they deny, defy and disbelieve in you, O Muhammad, Allah testifies that you are His Messenger to whom He sent down His Book, the Glorious Qur'an that, لاَّ يَأْتِيهِ الْبَـطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ (Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it, (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise.) Allah then said, أَنزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ (He has sent it down with His knowledge,) The knowledge of His that He willed His servants to have access to. Knowledge about the clear signs of guidance and truth, what Allah likes and is pleased with, what He dislikes and is displeased with, and knowledge of the Unseen, such as the past and the future. This also includes knowledge about His honorable attributes that no sent Messenger or illustrious angel can even know without Allah's leave. Similarly, Allah said, وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَآءَ (And they will never compass anything of His knowledge except that which He wills.) and, وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِهِ عِلْماً (but they will never compass anything of His knowledge.) Allah's statement, وَالْمَلَـئِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ (and the angels bear witness.) to the truth of what you came with and what was revealed and sent down to you, along with Allah's testimony to the same, وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً (And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Witness.) Allah said, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ ضَلَـلاَ بَعِيداً (Verily, those who disbelieve and prevent (others) from the path of Allah, they have certainly strayed far away.) For they are disbelievers themselves and do not follow the truth. They strive hard to prevent people from following and embracing Allah's path. Therefore, they have defied the truth, deviated, and strayed far away from it. Allah also mentions His judgment against those who disbelieve in His Ayat, Book and Messenger, those who wrong themselves by their disbelief and hindering others from His path, committing sins and violating His prohibitions. Allah states that He will not forgive them; وَلاَ لِيَهْدِيَهُمْ طَرِيقاً (nor will He guide them to a way (that is, of good).) إِلاَّ طَرِيقَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَداً (Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein forever...) and this is the exception. Allah then said, يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَكُمُ الرَّسُولُ بِالْحَقِّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَـَامِنُواْ خَيْراً لَّكُمْ (O mankind! Verily, there has come to you the Messenger with the truth from your Lord, so believe in him, it is better for you.) This Ayah means, Muhammad ﷺ has come to you with guidance, the religion of truth and clear proof from Allah. Therefore, believe in what he has brought you and follow him, for this is better for you. Allah then said, وَإِن تَكْفُرُواْ فَإِنَّ للَّهِ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (But if you disbelieve, then certainly to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth.) Allah is far too rich than to need you or your faith, and no harm could ever affect Him because of your disbelief. Allah said in another Ayah, وَقَالَ مُوسَى إِن تَكْفُرُواْ أَنتُمْ وَمَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَنِىٌّ حَمِيدٌ (And Musa said: "If you disbelieve, you and all on earth together, then verily, Allah is Rich (Free of all needs), Owner of all praise.") Allah said here, وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيماً (And Allah is Ever All-Knowing,) He knows those who deserve to be guided, and He will guide them. He also knows those who deserve deviation, and He leads them to it, حَكِيماً (All-Wise) in His statements, actions, legislation and all that He decrees.

Surely those who disbelieve in God and bar people from the way of God from the religion of Islam by concealing the descriptions of Muhammad (s) and these are the Jews they have indeed gone far astray from the truth.

[Surely those] who disbelieve, [those] who are veiled from the Truth by virtue of their errancy being, far gone.

[Surely those] who disbelieve, [those] who are veiled from the Truth by virtue of their errancy being, far gone.

Surely those who disbelieve and bar [people] from the way of God they have indeed gone far astray. Surely those who disbelieve and who have done wrong it is not for God to forgive them neither to guide them to any path except for the path of hell abiding therein forever; and for God that is an easy matter. He made their barring believers from following the truth the equivalent of their disbelief in God. [In equating these two] God most high treats the rights of His friends as seriously as He treats His own right. Then He said surely those who disbelieve and who have done wrong. He made their wrongdoing ẓulm the same as their disbelief kufr and attached to both of these the justly deserved abiding punishment. Even if wrongdoing is not like disbelief in deserving the threat of endless duration the misfortune of it is that God may abandon those who do it until they succumb to disbelief.

Surely those who disbelieve and bar [people] from the way of God they have indeed gone far astray. Surely those who disbelieve and who have done wrong it is not for God to forgive them neither to guide them to any path except for the path of hell abiding therein forever; and for God that is an easy matter. He made their barring believers from following the truth the equivalent of their disbelief in God. [In equating these two] God most high treats the rights of His friends as seriously as He treats His own right. Then He said surely those who disbelieve and who have done wrong. He made their wrongdoing ẓulm the same as their disbelief kufr and attached to both of these the justly deserved abiding punishment. Even if wrongdoing is not like disbelief in deserving the threat of endless duration the misfortune of it is that God may abandon those who do it until they succumb to disbelief.

إن الذين جحدوا نُبُوَّتك، وصدوا الناس عن الإسلام، قد بَعُدوا عن طريق الحق بُعْدًا شديدًا.

وقوله أي كفروا في أنفسهما فلم يتبعوا الحق وسعوا في صد الناس عن اتباعه والافتداء به قد خرجوا عن الحق وضلوا عنه وبعدوا منه بعدا عظيما شاسعا ثم أخبر تعالى عن حكمه في الكافرين بآياته وكتابه ورسوله الظالمين لأنفسهم بذلك وبالصد عن سبيله وارتكاب مآثمة وانتهاك محارمه بأنه لا يغفر لهم.

وقوله : ( وَصَدُّواْ ) من الصد بمعنى المنع والانصراف عن الشئ .قال الراغب : والصد قد يكون انصرافا عن الشئ وامتناعا نحو : ( يَصُدُّونَ عَنكَ صُدُوداً ) وقد يكون صرفا ومنعا نحو : ( وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشيطان أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السبيل ) والمعنى : إن الذين كفروا بالحق الذى جاءهم به محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ( وَصَدُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِ الله ) أى : وأعرضوا عن الطريق الذى أمر الله بسلوكه وهو طريق الإِسلام ولم يكتفوا بذلك بل منعوا غيرهم أيضا عن سلوكه .إنهم بفعلهم هذا ( قَدْ ضَلُّواْ ضلالا بَعِيداً ) أى : قد ضلوا - بسبب كفرهم وصدهم أنفسهم والناس عن الحق - ضلالا بلغ الغاية فى الشدة والشناعة .

القول في تأويل قوله : إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّوا ضَلالا بَعِيدًا (167)قال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه: إنّ الذين جحدوا، يا محمد، نبوتك بعد علمهم بها، من أهل الكتاب الذين اقتصصت عليك قصتهم، وأنكروا أن يكون الله جل ثناؤه أوحى إليك كتابه=" وصدوا عن سبيل الله "، يعني: عن الدين الذي بعثَك الله به إلى خلقه، وهو الإسلام. وكان صدهم عنه، قِيلُهم للناس الذين يسألونهم عن محمد من أهل الشرك: " ما نجد صفة محمد في كتابنا!"، وادعاءهم أنهم عُهِد إليهم أن النبوّة لا تكون إلا في ولد هارون ومن ذرية داود، وما أشبه ذلك من الأمور التي كانوا يثبِّطون الناس بها عن اتباع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والتصديق به وبما جاء به من عند الله.* * *وقوله: " قد ضلُّوا ضلالا بعيدًا "، يعني: قد جاروا عن قصد الطريق جورًا شديدًا، وزالوا عن المحجّة. (21)وإنما يعني جل ثناؤه بجورهم عن المحجة وضلالهم عنها، إخطاءَهم دين الله الذي ارتضاه لعباده، وابتعث به رسله. يقول: من جحد رسالة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، وصدَّ عما بُعث به من الملة من قَبِل منه، فقد ضلّ فذهب عن الدين الذي هو دين الله الذي ابتعث به أنبياءه، ضلالا بعيدًا. (22)-------------------الهوامش :(21) انظر تفسير"الصد" فيما سلف ص: 391 ، تعليق: 3 ، والمراجع هناك. وانظر تفسير"سبيل الله" في فهارس اللغة.(22) انظر تفسير"ضل ضلالا بعيدًا" فيما سلف ص: 314 ، تعليق: 2 ، والمراجع هناك.

( إن الذين كفروا وصدوا عن سبيل الله ) بكتمان نعت محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ( قد ضلوا ضلالا بعيدا ) .

يجوز أن يكون المراد بالذين كفروا هنا أهل الكتاب ، أي اليهود ، فتكون الجملة بمنزلة الفذلكة للكلام السابق الرّادّ على اليهود من التحاور المتقدّم . وصدُّهم عن سبيل الله يحتمل أن يكون من صَدّ القاصر الذي قياس مضارعه يصِدّ بكسر الصاد ، أي أعرضوا عن سبيل الله . أي الإسلام ، أو هو من صَدّ المتعدي الذي قياس مضارعه بضمّ الصاد ، أي صدّوا النّاس . وحذف المفعول لقصد التكثير . فقد كان اليهود يتعرّضون للمسلمين بالفتنة ، ويقوون أوهام المشركين بتكذيبهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ويجوز أن يكون المراد بالذين كفروا المشركين ، كما هو الغالب في إطلاق هذا الوصف في القرآن ، فتكون الجملة استئنافاً ابتدائياً ، انتقل إليه بمناسبة الخوض في مناواة أهل الكتاب للإسلام . وصدّهم عن سبيل الله ، أي صدّهم النّاس عن الدخول في الإسلام مشهور .والضلال الكفر لأنّه ضياع عن الإيمان ، الذي هو طريق الخير والسعادة ، فإطلاق الضلال على الكفر استعارة مبنيَّة على استعارة الطريق المستقيم للإيمان . ووصف الضلال بالبعيد مع أنّ البعد من صفات المسافات هو استعارة البعد لشدّة الضلال وكماله في نوعه ، بحيث لا يدرك مقداره ، وهو تشبيه شائع في كلامهم : أن يشبّهوا بلوغ الكمال بما يدلّ على المسافات والنهايات كقولهم : بَعيد الغور ، وبعيد القعر ، ولا نهاية له ، ولا غاية له ، ورجل بعيد الهمّة ، وبعيد المرمَى ، ولا منتهى لكبارها ، وبحر لا ساحل له ، وقولهم : هذا إغراق في كذا .ومن بديع مناسبته هنا أنّ الضلال الحقيقي يكون في الفيافي والموامِي ، فإذا اشتدّ التيه والضلال بَعُدَ صاحبه عن المعمور ، فكان في وصفه بالبعيد تعاهد للحقيقة ، وإيماء إلى أنّ في إطلاقه على الكفر والجهل نقلاً عرفياً .

لما أخبر عن رسالة الرسل صلوات الله وسلامه عليهم وأخبر برسالة خاتمهم محمد، وشهد بها وشهدت ملائكته -لزم من ذلك ثبوت الأمر المقرر والمشهود به، فوجب تصديقهم، والإيمان بهم واتباعهم. ثم توعد من كفر بهم فقال: { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ } أي: جمعوا بين الكفر بأنفسهم وصدِّهم الناس عن سبيل الله. وهؤلاء هم أئمة الكفر ودعاة الضلال { قَدْ ضَلُّوا ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا } وأي ضلال أعظم من ضلال من ضل بنفسه وأضل غيره، فباء بالإثمين ورجع بالخسارتين وفاتته الهدايتان

قوله تعالى : إن الذين كفروا وصدوا عن سبيل الله قد ضلوا ضلالا بعيدا[ ص: 381 ] قوله تعالى : إن الذين كفروا يعني اليهود أي ظلموا . وصدوا عن سبيل الله أي عن اتباع الرسول محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم بقولهم : ما نجد صفته في كتابنا ، وإنما النبوة في ولد هارون وداود ، وإن في التوراة أن شرع موسى لا ينسخ . قد ضلوا ضلالا بعيدا لأنهم كفروا ومع ذلك منعوا الناس من الإسلام .

However, according to the requirements of the age, different prophets received different kinds of succour from God. This is still how God functions, so that those of his servants who came forward to spread His message will likewise, according to their circumstances, receive special divine succour, in order that they may effectively continue to carry out their dawah responsibilities. At the time when the Prophet Muhammad was chosen as a Messenger by God, the Jews enjoyed the status of representatives of the divine religion. For their part, they had supposed themselves to be the chosen people, the sole custodians of divine religion. As such, they occupied all the religious positions of honour. Not wishing to acknowledge any other’s greatness save their own, they refused to believe that the Arab prophet had been sent by God to communicate His message to mankind. They thought that they had a monopoly over religion; that, if they did not testify to a person’s being a representative of God, he would lack all credibility. They had forgotten that this was God’s universe, its system tended by God’s obedient angels. Thus the real validation comes from God, and is supported by the entire system of the universe. Indeed, it is God, with His entire universe, who supports His messenger, rather than someone’s self-styled suppositions.

Then comes verse رُّ‌سُلًا مُّبَشِّرِ‌ينَ وَمُنذِرِ‌ينَ (-- Messengers giving good tidings and warning...) which succinctly tells that Almighty Allah consistently sent messengers to convey good tidings to all believers and to warn all disbelievers so that there remains no room for the excuse that they did not know the will of God and His Messengers --had they known about it, they would have certainly followed it! Now, that Almighty Allah has sent messengers with miracles and His messengers have shown the straight path of truth, the option of not accepting the true faith cannot be accepted from anyone, under any pretext or excuse. Such is the nature of Divine Revelation. Wahy is an absolute argument, final, conclusive and disarming. No argument stands operative against it. In fact, all arguments lie surrendered under its weight. And this is the wisdom of Allah and His modus operandi. It has been narrated by Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ عنہما that a group of Jews came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ . He said to them: Surely, you do know that I am a true messenger of Ajllah? They refused to accept that whereupon came the following verse (166): لَّـٰكِنِ اللَّـهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَا أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ. 'But Allah bears witness (to your prophethood) through what He has revealed to you ...' The verse addressed to the Holy Prophet ﷺ declares that Allah is a witness to his prophet-hood through the miraculous Qur'an, a perfect message from out of His Knowledge. The Book has been revealed to him with full realization that he is deserving of it, and the angels too join in the testimony. After the very witnessing of the All-Knowing, All-Aware Allah, there is nothing left to argue about. The text, after having confirmed the veracity of the glorious Qur'an and the noble Prophet ﷺ ، turns to those who still deny them, conceal his character traits and circumstantial indicators of his appearance present in the Torah .and, sordidly enough, try to keep others away from the true faith by bringing out before them things which are not there or things .which have .been jumbled together to distort the truth. For such people, there shall be no forgiveness and no guidance either. Thus, it becomes very clear that guidance or the ability to find the straight path depends on following the Holy Prophet ﷺ and straying away, whatever be its nature, is nothing but hostility towards him. This, then, comprehensively refutes all erroneous ideas of the Jews.

(Lo! those who disbelieve) in Muhammad and the Qur'an (and hinder) people (from the way of Allah) from Allah's religion and His obedience, (they verily have wandered far astray) from guidance.