Do Not Wish for the Things Which Allah has Made Some Others to Excel In
Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Salamah said, "O Messenger of Allah! Men go to battle, but we do not go to battle, and we earn one-half of the inheritance (that men get)." Allah sent down,
وَلاَ تَتَمَنَّوْاْ مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ
(And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others). At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith. Allah's statement,
لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُواْ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ
(For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned,) indicates, according to Ibn Jarir, that each person will earn his wages for his works, a reward if his deeds are good, and punishment if his deeds are evil. It was also reported that this Ayah is talking about inheritance, indicating the fact that each person will get his due share of the inheritance, as Al-Walibi reported from Ibn `Abbas. Allah then directed the servants to what benefits them,
وَاسْأَلُواْ اللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ
(and ask Allah of His Bounty.)Therefore, the Ayah states, "Do not wish for what other people were endowed with over you, for this is a decision that will come to pass, and wishing does not change its decree. However, ask Me of My favor and I will grant it to you, for I Am Most Generous and Most Giving." Allah then said,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيماً
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.) meaning, Allah knows who deserves this life, and so He gives him riches, and whoever deserves poverty, He makes him poor. He also knows who deserves the Hereafter, and He directs him to perform the deeds that will help him to be sucessful in it, and whoever deserves failure, He prevents him from achieving righteousness and what leads to it. Hence, Allah said, m
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيماً
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything).
Do not covet that in which God has preferred some of you above others in the way of worldly affairs or religion lest it lead to mutual envy and hatred. To men a share from a reward for what they have earned for their acts in the struggle and so on and to women a share from what they have earned by way of being obedient to their spouses and guarding their private parts this was revealed when Umm Salama said ‘Would that we were men so that we could join the struggle and receive the reward they receive!’ And ask read wa-s’alū or wa-salū God of His bounty what you need and He will give it to you; God is ever Knower of all things including where merit is deserved and that for which you ask.
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation.
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation.
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation. “Your trouble is wishing that you could be like those who have taken trouble.” You fancy that the pen of the covenant was written easily for the passionate, that it wrote the inscription of friendship on their hearts gratis. But they have been wounded in spirit and heart at every moment, and they have tasted a draft laced with poison. How many nights for the sake of seeing You have I been slapped in the head by the dogs of Your street! But not just anyone is suited for His wounds, and not just anyone is worthy of suffering His pain. May God's mercy be upon those chevaliers who have made their spirits the target of His trial's arrow and recognized their hearts as the litter for His pain's burden! Then, in that trial and sorrow, they hum this tune: If my spirit is worthy of suffering your pain, this share of passion's good fortune is enough for me. Yes, everyone's wound is in the measure of his faith, and everyone's burden is in the measure of his strength. Whenever someone's strength is greater, his burden is heavier. This is the secret of the verse in which He says,
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation. “Your trouble is wishing that you could be like those who have taken trouble.” You fancy that the pen of the covenant was written easily for the passionate, that it wrote the inscription of friendship on their hearts gratis. But they have been wounded in spirit and heart at every moment, and they have tasted a draft laced with poison. How many nights for the sake of seeing You have I been slapped in the head by the dogs of Your street! But not just anyone is suited for His wounds, and not just anyone is worthy of suffering His pain. May God's mercy be upon those chevaliers who have made their spirits the target of His trial's arrow and recognized their hearts as the litter for His pain's burden! Then, in that trial and sorrow, they hum this tune: If my spirit is worthy of suffering your pain, this share of passion's good fortune is enough for me. Yes, everyone's wound is in the measure of his faith, and everyone's burden is in the measure of his strength. Whenever someone's strength is greater, his burden is heavier. This is the secret of the verse in which He says,
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty.Abū Bakr Kattānī said, �When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.�Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and �The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.� Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge.Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, �He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous isthat finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.�You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life.The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life.It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: �You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.�4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation.
ولا تتمنوا ما فضَّل الله به بعضكم على بعض، في المواهب والأرزاق وغير ذلك، فقد جعل الله للرجال نصيبًا مقدَّرًا من الجزاء بحسب عملهم، وجعل للنساء نصيبًا مما عملن، واسألوا الله الكريم الوهاب يُعْطِكم من فضله بدلا من التمني. إن الله كان بكل شيء عليمًا، وهو أعلم بما يصلح عباده فيما قسمه لهم من خير.
قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا سفيان عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد قال قالت أم سلمة يا رسول الله تغزو الرجال ولا نغزو ولنا نصف الميراث فأنزل الله "ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض" ورواه الترمذي عن ابن أبى عمر عن سفيان عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد عن أم سلمة أنها قالت: قلت يا رسول الله فذكره وقال غريب ورواه بعضهم عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد أن أم سلمة قالت يا رسول الله فذكره ورواه ابن أبي حاتم وابن جرير وابن مردويه والحاكم في مستدركه من حديث الثوري عن أبن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد قال: قالت أم سلمة يا رسول الله: لا نقاتل فنستشهد ولا نقطع الميراث فنزلت الآية ثم أنزل الله "أنى لا أضيع عمل عامل منكم من ذكر أو أنثى" الآية. ثم قال ابن أبي حاتم وكذا روى سفيان بن عيينة يعني عن ابن أبي نجيح بهذا اللفظ وروى يحيى القطان ووكيع بن الجراح عن الثوري عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد عن أم سلمة قالت: قلت يا رسول الله. وروى عن مقاتل بن حيان وخصيف نحو ذلك وروى ابن جرير من حديث ابن جرير عن عكرمة ومجاهد أنهما قالا أنزلت في أم سلمة وقال عبدالرزاق أخبرنا معمر عن شيخ من أهل مكة قال نزلت هذه الآية في قول النساء ليتنا الرجال فنجاهد كما يجاهدون ونغزو في سبيل الله عز وجل وقال ابن أبي حاتم أيضا حدثنا أحمد بن القاسم بن عطية حدثني أحمد بن عبدالرحمن حدثني أبي حدثنا أشعث بن إسحاق عن جعفر يعني ابن أبي المغيرة عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس في الآية قال: أتت امرأة إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت يا رسول الله للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين وشهادة امرأتين برجل أفنحن في العمل هكذا إن فعلت امرأة حسنة كتبت لها نصف حسنة فأنزل الله هذه الآية "ولا تتمنوا" الآية. فإنه عدل مني وأنا صنعته وقال السدى في الآية أن رجالا قالوا إنا نريد أن يكون لنا من الأجر الضعف على أجر النساء كما لنا في السهام سهمان وقالت النساء إنا نريد أن يكون لنا أجر مثل أجر الشهداء فإنا لا نستطيع أن نقاتل ولو كتب علينا القتال لقاتلنا فأبى الله ذلك ولكن قال لهم سلوني من فضلي قال ليس بعرض الدنيا. وقد روى عن قتادة نحو ذلك. وقال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس في الآية قال: ولا يتمنى الرجل فيقول ليت لو أن لي مال فلان وأهله فنهى اللّه عن ذلك ولكن يسأل الله من فضله. وقال الحسن ومحمد بن سيرين وعطاء والضحاك نحو هذا وهو الظاهر من الآية ولا يرد على هذا ما ثبت في الصحيح "لاحسد إلا في اثنتين رجل آتاه الله مالا فسلطه على هلكته في الحق فيقول رجل لو أن لي مثل ما لفلان لعملت مثله فهما في الأجر سواء" فإن هذا شيء غير ما نهت عنه الآية. وذلك أن الحديث حض على تمني مثل نعمة هذا والآية نهت عن تمنى عين نعمة هذا يقول "ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض" أي في الأمور الدنيوية وكذا الدينية لحديث أم سلمة وابن عباس وهكذا قال عطاء بن أبي رباح نزلت في النهي عن تمني ما لفلان وفي تمني النساء أن يكن رجالا فيغزون رواه ابن جرير ثم قال "للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن" أي كل له جزاء على عمله بحسبه إن خير فخير وإن شرا فشر هذا قول ابن جرير وقيل المراد بذلك في الميراث أي كل يرث بحسبه. رواه الترمذي عن ابن عباس ثم أرشدهم إلى ما يصلحهم فقال اسألوا الله من فضله لا تتمنوا ما فضلنا به بعضكم على بعض فإن هذا أمر محتوم أي إن التمني لا يجدي شيئا ولكن سلوني من فضلي أعطكم فإني كريم وهاب. وقد روى الترمذي وابن مردويه من حديث حماد بن واقد سمعت إسرائيل عن أبي إسحاق عن أبي الأحوص عن عبدالله بن مسعود قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "سلوا الله من فضله فإن الله يحب أن يسأل وإن أفضل العبادة انتظار الفرج". ثم قال الترمذي كذا رواه حماد بن واقد وليس بالحافظ رواه ابن مردوية من حديث وكيع عن إسرائيل ثم رواه من حديث قيس بن الربيع عن حكيم بن جبير عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "سلوا الله من فضله فإن الله يحب أن يسأل وإن أحب عباد الله إلى الله الذي يحب الفرج" ثم قال "إن الله كان بكل شيء عليما" أي هو عليم بمن يستحق الدنيا فيعطيه منها وبمن يستحق الفقر فيفقره وعليم بمن يستحق الآخرة فيقيضه لأعمالها وبمن يستحق الخذلان فيخذله عن تعاطي الخير وأسبابه ولهذا قال "إن الله كان بكل شيء عليما".
روى المفسرون فى سبب نزول الآية الأولى روايات منها ما رواه الإِمام أحمد والترمذى عن مجاهد قال : قالت أم سلمة : يا رسول الله يغزو الرجال ولا نغزو ، ولنا نصف الميراث فأنزل الله - تعالى - ( وَلاَ تَتَمَنَّوْاْ مَا فَضَّلَ الله بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ على بَعْضٍ ) .وقال قتادة : كان أهل الجاهلية لا يورثون النساء ولا الصبيان ، فلما ورثوا وجعل للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين تمنى النساء أن لو جعل أنصباؤهن كأنصباء الرجال . وقال الرجال : إنا لنرجوا أن نفضل على النساء بحسناتنا فى الآخرة كما فضلنا عليهن فى الميراث فنزلت ( وَلاَ تَتَمَنَّوْاْ مَا فَضَّلَ الله بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ على بَعْضٍ ) .والتمنى المنهى عنه هنا : هو الذى يتضمن معنى الطمع فيما فى يد الغير ، والحسد له على ما أعطاه الله من مال أو جاه أو غير ذلك مما يجرى فيه التنافس بين الناس وذلك لأن التمنى بهذه الصورة يؤدى إلى شقاء النفس ، وفساد الخلق والدين ، ولأنه أشبه ما يكون بالاعتراض على قسمة الخالق العليم الخبير بأحوال خلقه وبشئون عباده .ولا يدخل فى التمنى المنهى عنه ما يسميه العلماء بالغبطة ، وهى أن يتمنى الرجل أن يكون له مثل ما عند غيره من خير دون أن ينقص شئ مما عند ذلك الغير .قال صاحب الكشاف : قوله ( وَلاَ تَتَمَنَّوْاْ ) نهوا عن التحاسد وعن تمنى ما فضل الله به بعض الناس على بعض من الجاه والمال ، لأن ذلك التفضيل قسمة من الله صادرة عن حكمة وتدبير وعلم بأحوال العباد ، وبما يصلح المقسوم له من بسط فى الرزق أو قبض ( وَلَوْ بَسَطَ الله الرزق لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْاْ فِي الأرض ) فعلى كل أحد أن يرضى بما قسم الله به ، علماً بأن ما قسم له هو مصلحته ، ولو كان خلافه لكان مفسدة له ، ولا يحسد أخاه على حظه .وقوله - تعالى - ( بَعْضٍ لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكتسبوا وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكتسبن ) تعليل للنهى السابق . أى لكل من فريقى الرجال والنساء حظ مقدر مما اكتسبوه من أعمال ، ونصيب معين فيما ورثوه أو أصابوه من أموال ، وإذا كان الأمر كذلك فلا يليق بعاقل أن يتمنى خلاف ما قسم الله له من رزق ، بل عليه أن يرضى بما قسم الله له . فالله - تعالى - هو الذى قدر أرزاق الرجال والنساء على حسب ما تقتضيه حكمته وعلمه ، وهو الذى كلف كل فريق منهم بواجبات وأعمال تليق باستعداده وتكوينه .وقوله ( واسألوا الله مِن فَضْلِهِ ) عطف على النهى . فكأنه قيل : لا تتمنوا ولا تتطلعوا إلى ما فى أيدى غيركم ، ولا تحسدوه على ما رزقه الله ، بل اجعلوا تجاهكم إلى الله وحده ، والتمسوا منه ما تشاءوه من نعمه الجليلة ، ومن حظوظ الدنيا والآخرة ، فهو القائل( مَّا يَفْتَحِ الله لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلاَ مُمْسِكَ لَهَا وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلاَ مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَهُوَ العزيز الحكيم ) وحذف المفعول من الجملة الكريمة لإِفادة العموم . أى : واسألوا الله ما شئتم من إحسانه الزائد ، وإنعامه المتكاثر حتى تطمئن نفوسكم ، ويبتعد عنها الطمع والقلق والألم .قال ابن كثير : قوله ( واسألوا الله مِن فَضْلِهِ ) أى لا تتمنوا ما فضلنا به بعضكم على بعض؛ فإن التمنى لا يجدى شيئاً ، ولكن سلونى من فضلى أعطكم فإنى كريم وهاب . روى أبو نعيم وابن مردويه عن ابن عباس قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " سلوا الله من فضله فإن الله يحب أن يسأل ، وإن أحب عباد الله إلى الله للذى يحب الفرج " .ثم ختم - سبحانه - الآية الكريمة بقوله : ( إِنَّ الله كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيماً ) أى إن الله - تعالى - كان وما زال عليما بكل شئ من شئون هذا الكون ، وقد وزع - سبحانه - أرزاقه ومواهبه على عباده بمقتضى علمه وحكمته ، فجعل فيهم الغنى والفقير ، فيحتاج بعضهم إلى بعض ، وليتبادلوا المنافع التى لا غنى لهم عنها ، وكلف كل فريق منهم بما يتناسب مع تكونيه واستعداده ( صُنْعَ الله الذي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ )
القول في تأويل قوله : وَلا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍقال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه: ولا تشتهوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض. (102)* * *وذكر أن ذلك نـزل في نساءٍ تمنين منازلَ الرجال، وأن يكون لهم ما لهم، فنهى الله عباده عن الأماني الباطلة، وأمرهم أن يسألوه من فضله، إذ كانت الأمانيّ تورِث أهلها الحسد والبغي بغير الحق. (103)* * *ذكر الأخبار بما ذكرنا:9236 - حدثنا محمد بن بشار قال، حدثنا مؤمل، قال حدثنا سفيان، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد قال: قالت أم سلمة: يا رسول الله، لا نعطَي الميراث، ولا نغزو في سبيل الله فنُقتل؟ فنـزلت: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضَّل الله به بعضكم على بعض ". (104)9237 - حدثنا أبو كريب قال، حدثنا معاوية بن هشام، عن سفيان الثوري، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، قال: قالت أم سلمة: يا رسول الله: تغزو الرجال ولا نغزو، وإنما لنا نصف الميراث! فنـزلت: وَلا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ ، ونـزلت: إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ [سورة الأحزاب: 35].9238 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا عبد الله بن صالح قال، حدثني معاوية بن صالح، عن علي بن أبي طلحة، عن ابن عباس قوله: " ولا تتمنَّوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض "، يقول: لا يتمنى الرجل يقول: " ليت أنّ لي مالَ فلان وأهلَه "! فنهى الله سبحانه عن ذلك، ولكن ليسأل الله من فضله.9239 - حدثني محمد بن عمرو قال، حدثنا أبو عاصم، عن عيسى، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد في قوله: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض "، قال: قول النساء: " ليتنا رجالا فنغزو ونبلُغ ما يبلغ الرجال "! (105)9240 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا أبو حذيفة قال، حدثنا شبل، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض "، قولُ النساء يتمنين: " ليتنا رجال فنغزو "! ثم ذكر مثل حديث محمد بن عمرو.9241 - حدثنا الحسن بن يحيى قال، أخبرنا عبد الرزاق قال، أخبرنا ابن عيينة، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، قال: قالت أم سلمة: أيْ رسول الله، أتغزو الرجال ولا نغزو، وإنما لنا نصفُ الميراث؟ فنـزلت: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله ". (106)9242 - حدثنا الحسن بن يحيى قال، أخبرنا عبد الرزاق قال: أخبرنا معمر، عن شيخ من أهل مكة قوله: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض "، قال: كان النساء يقلن: " ليتنا رجال فنجاهد كما يجاهد الرجال، ونغزو في سبيل الله "! فقال الله: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض ".9243 - حدثنا بشر بن معاذ قال، حدثنا يزيد قال، حدثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، عن الحسن قال: تتمنى مالَ فلان ومال فلان! وما يدريك؟ لعل هلاكَه في ذلك المال!9244 - حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثنا حجاج، عن ابن جريج، عن عكرمة ومجاهد: أنهما قالا نـزلت في أم سلمة ابنة أبي أمية بن المغيرة. (107)9245 - وبه قال، حدثني حجاج، عن ابن جريج، عن عطاء قال: هو الإنسان، يقول: " وددت أن لي مال فلان "! قال: وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ ، وقول النساء: " ليت أنا رجالا فنغزو ونبلغ ما يبلغ الرجال "! (108)* * *وقال آخرون: بل معنى ذلك: لا يتمنَّ بعضكم ما خصّ الله بعضًا من منازل الفضل.*ذكر من قال ذلك:9246 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسين قال، حدثنا أحمد بن مفضل قال، حدثنا أسباط، عن السدي قوله: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض "، فإن الرجال قالوا: " نريد أن يكون لنا من الأجر الضعفُ على أجر النساء، كما لنا في السهام سهمان، فنريد أن يكون لنا في الأجر أجران ". وقالت النساء: " نريد أن يكون لنا أجرٌ مثل أجر الرجال، فإنا لا نستطيع أن نقاتل، ولو كتب علينا القتال لقاتلنا "! فأنـزل الله تعالى الآية، وقال لهم: سلوا الله من فضله، يرزقكم الأعمال، وهو خير لكم.9247 - حدثني يعقوب بن إبراهيم قال، حدثنا ابن علية، عن أيوب، عن محمد قال: نُهيتم عن الأمانيّ، ودُللتم على ما هو خير منه: وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ .9248 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا عارم قال، حدثنا حماد بن زيد، &; 8-265 &; عن أيوب قال: كان محمد إذا سمع الرجل يتمنى في الدنيا قال: قد نهاكم الله عن هذا: " ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض "، ودلكم على خير منه: وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ .قال أبو جعفر: فتأويل الكلام على هذا التأويل: ولا تتمنوا، أيها الرجال والنساء، الذي فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض من منازل الفضل ودرجات الخير، وليرض أحدكم بما قسم الله له من نصيب، ولكن سَلُوا الله من فضله.* * *القول في تأويل قوله : لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَقال أبو جعفر: اختلف أهل التأويل في تأويل ذلك.فقال بعضهم: معنى ذلك: للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا، من الثواب على الطاعة، والعقاب على المعصية =" وللنساء نصيب " من ذلك مثل ذلك.*ذكر من قال ذلك:9249 - حدثنا بشر بن معاذ قال، حدثنا يزيد قال، حدثنا سعيد، عن قتادة قوله: وَلا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ ، كان أهل الجاهلية لا يورَّثون المرأة شيئًا ولا الصبيَّ شيئًا، وإنما يجعلون الميراث لمن يَحْترف وينفع ويدفع. (109) فلما نَجَزَ للمرأة نصيبها وللصبيّ نصيبه، (110) وجَعل للذكر مثل حظّ الأنثيين، قال النساء: " لو كان جعل أنصباءَنا في الميراث كأنصباء الرجال "! وقال الرجال: " إنا لنرجو أن نفضَّل على النساء بحسناتنا في الآخرة، كما فضلنا عليهن في الميراث "! فأنـزل الله: " للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن "، يقول: المرأة تُجزى بحسنتها عشر أمثالها، كما يُجْزى الرجل، قال الله تعالى: وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ .9250 - حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن أبي حماد قال، حدثني أبو ليلى قال، سمعت أبا حريز يقول: لما نـزل: لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الأُنْثَيَيْنِ ، قالت النساء: كذلك عليهم نصيبان من الذنوب، كما لهم نصيبان من الميراث! فأنـزل الله: " للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن "، يعني الذنوب = وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ ، يا معشر النساء = مِنْ فَضْلِهِ . (111)* * *وقال آخرون: بل معنى ذلك: للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا من ميراث موتاهم، وللنساء نصيب منهم.*ذكر من قال ذلك:9251 - حدثنا المثنى قال، حدثنا عبد الله بن صالح قال، حدثني معاوية بن صالح، عن علي بن أبي طلحة، عن ابن عباس قوله: " للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن "، يعني: ما ترك الوالدان والأقربون: يقول: لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الأُنْثَيَيْنِ .9252 - حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا جرير، عن أبي إسحاق، عن عكرمة أو غيره في قوله: " للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن "، قال: في الميراث، كانوا لا يورِّثون النساء.* * *قال أبو جعفر: وأولى القولين في ذلك بتأويل الآية، قول من قال: معناه: للرجال نصيب من ثواب الله وعقابه مما اكتسبوا فعملوه من خير أو شر، وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن من ذلك كما للرجال.وإنما قلنا إن ذلك أولى بتأويل الآية من قول من قال: " تأويله: للرجال نصيب من الميراث، وللنساء نصيب منه "، لأن الله جل ثناؤه أخبر أن لكل فريق من الرجال والنساء نصيبًا مما اكتسب. وليس الميراث مما اكتسبه الوارث، وإنما هو مال أورثه الله عن ميّته بغير اكتساب، وإنما " الكسب " العمل، و " المكتسب ": المحترف. (112) فغير جائز أن يكون معنى الآية = وقد قال الله: " للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن ": للرجال نصيبٌ مما ورِثوا، وللنساء نصيب مما ورثن. لأن ذلك لو كان كذلك لقيل: " للرجال نصيب مما لم يكتسبوا، وللنساء نصيب مما لم يكتسبن "!!* * *القول في تأويل قوله : وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِقال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه: واسألوا الله من عونه وتوفيقه للعمل بما يرضيه عنكم من طاعته. ففضله في هذا الموضع: توفيقه ومعونته كما:- (113)9253 - حدثنا محمد بن مسلم الرازي قال، حدثنا أبو جعفر النفيلي قال، حدثنا يحيى بن يمان، عن أشعث ، عن سعيد: " واسألوا الله من فضله "، قال: العبادة، ليست من أمر الدنيا.9254 - حدثنا محمد بن مسلم قال، حدثني أبو جعفر قال، حدثنا موسى، عن ليث قال: " فضله "، العبادة، ليسَ من أمر الدنيا. (114)9255 - حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا هشام، عن ليث، عن مجاهد في قوله: " واسألوا الله من فضله "، قال: ليس بعرض الدنيا.9256 - حدثنا محمد بن الحسين قال، حدثنا أحمد بن مفضل قال، حدثنا أسباط، عن السدي: " واسألوا الله من فضله "، يرزقكم الأعمال، وهو خير لكم.9257 - حدثنا ابن وكيع قال: حدثنا أبي قال، حدثنا إسرائيل، عن حكيم بن جبير، عن رجل لم يسمه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: سلوا الله من فضله، فإنه يحب أن يسأل، وإنّ من أفضل العبادة انتظار الفَرَج. (115)* * *القول في تأويل قوله : إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا (32)قال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه: إنّ الله كان بما يصلح عباده - فيما قسم لهم من خير، ورفع بعضهم فوق بعض في الدين والدنيا، وبغير ذلك من قضائه وأحكامه فيهم =" عليما "، يقول: ذا علم. فلا تتمنوا (116) غير الذي قضى لكم، ولكن عليكم بطاعته، والتسليم لأمره، والرضى بقضائه، ومسألته من فضله.-------------------------الهوامش :(102) انظر تفسير"التمني" فيما سلف 2: 366.(103) ولكن هذا باب من القول والتشهي ، قد لج فيه أهل هذا الزمان ، وخلطوا في فهمه خلطًا لا خلاص منه إلا بصدق النية ، وبالفهم الصحيح لطبيعة هذا البشر ، وبالفصل بين ما هو أمان باطلة لا أصل لها من ضرورة ، وبالخروج من ربقة التقليد للأمم الغالبة ، وبالتحرر من أسر الاجتماع الفاسد الذي يضطرب بالأمم اليوم اضطرابًا شديدًا. ولكن أهل ملتنا ، هداهم الله وأصلح شئونهم ، قد انساقوا في طريق الضلالة ، وخلطوا بين ما هو إصلاح لما فسد من أمورهم بالهمة والعقل والحكمة ، وبين ما هو إفساد في صورة إصلاح. وقد غلا القوم وكثرت داعيتهم من ذوي الأحقاد ، الذين قاموا على صحافة زمانهم ، حتى تبلبلت الألسنة ، ومرجت العقول ، وانزلق كثير من الناس مع هؤلاء الدعاة ، حتى صرنا نجد من أهل العلم ، ممن ينتسب إلى الدين ، من يقول في ذلك مقالة يبرأ منها كل ذي دين. وفرق بين أن تحيي أمة رجالا ونساء حياة صحيحة سليمة من الآفات والعاهات والجهالات ، وبين أن تسقط الأمة كل حاجز بين الرجال والنساء ، ويصبح الأمر كله أمر أمان باطلة ، تورث أهلها الحسد والبغي بغير الحق ، كما قال أبو جعفر لله دره ، ولله بلاؤه. فاللهم اهدنا سواء السبيل ، في زمان خانت الألسنة فيه عقولها! وليحذر الذين يخالفون عن أمر الله ، وعن قضائه فيهم ، أن تصيبهم قارعة تذهب بما بقي من آثارهم في هذه الأرض ، كما ذهبت بالذين من قبلهم.(104) الحديث: 9236 - سفيان في هذا الإسناد: يجوز أن يكون الثوري ، وأن يكون ابن عيينة. فمؤمل يروي عنهما ، وكلاهما روى هذا الحديث: الثوري في الرواية عقب هذه: 9237 ، وابن عيينة في الرواية: 9241.وسيأتي تخريج الحديث في: 9241.(105) في المطبوعة: "ليتنا رجال" بالرفع ، وهو الوجه السائر ، أما المخطوطة ، فقد كتب"رجالا" ، وضبطها بالقلم ضبطًا ، ولذلك أثبتها كما هي في المخطوطة ، و"ليت" تنصب الاسم وترفع الخبر ، وبعض النحويين ينصب الاسمين جميعًا ، وأنشدوا:يــا لَيْــتَ أَيَـامَ الصَّبَـا رَوَاجِعَـاوحكى بعض النحويين: أن بعض العرب يستعمل"ليت" ، بمنزلة"وجدت" ، فيعديها إلى مفعولين ، ويجريها مجرى الأفعال ، فيقول: "ليت زيدًا شاخصًا". فرواية الخبر بالنصب ، صواب كما ترى ، لا معنى لتغييره. ولا يحمل هذا على الخطأ من الناسخ ، فالظاهر أن أبا جعفر أتى بالخبر التالي وفيه: "ليتنا رجال" ، لينبه على هذه الرواية بالنصب. وانظر ص 264 ، تعليق: 1.(106) الحديث: 9241- هو في تفسير عبد الرزاق ، ص: 41 (مخطوط مصور) ، بهذا الإسناد. وقد سبق بإسنادين آخرين: 9236 ، 9237.ورواه أحمد في المسند 6: 322 (حلبي) ، عن سفيان ، وهو ابن عيينة ، بهذا الإسناد.ورواه الترمذي 4: 88 ، عن ابن أبي عمر ، عن سفيان. وفيه: "عن مجاهد ، عن أم سلمة: أنها قالت: يغزو الرجال..." ، إلخ.ورواه الحاكم 2: 305-306 ، من طريق قبيصة بن عقبة ، عن سفيان - وهو الثوري - عن ابن أبي نجيح ، عن مجاهد: "عن أم سلمة: أنها قالت...". ورواه الواحدي في أسباب النزول ، ص 110 ، من طريق قتيبة ، عن ابن عيينة - كرواية عبد الرازق هنا ، وأحمد في المسند.فاختلفت صيغة الرواية عن مجاهد. ففي بعضها: "عن مجاهد ، قال: قالت أم سلمة". وفي بعضها: "عن مجاهد عن أم سلمة: أنها قالت".فالصيغة الأولى ظاهرها الإرسال ، لأن معناها أن مجاهدًا يحكي من قبل نفسه ما قالته أم سلمة للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فيكون مرسلا ، لأنه لم يدرك ذلك.والصيغة الثانية ظاهرها الاتصال ، لأن معناها أن مجاهدًا يذكر هذا رواية عن أم سلمة. ثم يختلفون أيضًا في وصله دون حجة.فقد قال الترمذي - بعد روايته"عن مجاهد عن أم سلمة"-: "هذا حديث مرسل. ورواه بعضهم عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد ، مرسلا: أن أم سلمة قالت كذا وكذا".وقال الحالكم - بعد روايته"عن مجاهد عن أم سلمة"-: "هذا حديث على شرط الشيخين ، إن كان سمع مجاهد من أم سلمة". ووافقه الذهبي على تصحيحه ، وأعرض عن تعليله فلم يشر إليه.وعندي - بما أرى من السياق والقرائن - أن الروايتين بمعنى واحد ، وإنما هو اختلا ، في اللفظ من تصرف الرواة. وكلها بمعنى"مجاهد عن أم سلمة". فقد ثبت اللفظان من رواية ابن عيينة. وكذا قد ثبتا في رواية الثوري ، هنا في: 9237 ، وفي رواية الحاكم. وقد نقل ابن كثير 2: 428 ، عن ابن أبي حاتم أنه قال: "وروى يحيى القطان ووكيع بن الجراح ، عن الثوري ، عن ابن أبي نجيح ، عن مجاهد ، عن أم سلمة ، قالت: قلت: يا رسول الله".وأما حكم الترمذي في روايته من طريق ابن عيينة -بأنه حديث مرسل ، فإنه جزم بلا دليل.ومجاهد أدرك أم سلمة يقينًا وعاصرها ، فإنه ولد سنة 21 ، وأم سلمة ماتت بعد سنة 60 على اليقين.والمعاصرة - من الراوي الثقة - تحمل على الاتصال ، إلا أن يكون الراوي مدلسًا. ولم يزعم أحد أن مجاهدًا مدلس ، إلا كلمة قالها القطب الحلبي في شرح البخاري ، حكاها عنه الحافظ في التهذيب 10: 44 ، ثم عقب عليها بقوله: "ولم أر من نسبه إلى التدليس". وقال الحافظ أيضًا في الفتح 6: 194 ، ردًا على من زعم أن مجاهدًا لم يسمع من عبد الله بن عمرو - : "لكن سماع مجاهد بن عبد الله من عمرو ثابت ، وليس بمدلس".فثبت عندنا اتصال الحديث وصحته. والحمد لله. والحديث ذكره ابن كثير 2: 428 ، من رواية المسند ، ثم أشار إلى روايات الترمذي ، وابن أبي حاتم ، وابن مردويه ، وابن جرير ، والحاكم.وذكره السيوطي 2: 149 ، وزاد نسبته لعبد بن حميد ، وسعيد بن منصور ، وابن المنذر.(107) الأثر: 9244 - ابن كثير 2: 429 ، والدر المنثور 2: 149 ، ولم ينسبه لغير ابن جرير.(108) في المطبوعة: "ليتنا رجال فنغزو" ، على الوجه السائر ، ولكني أثبت ما في المخطوطة ، ولم أغيره ، وهو صواب عند النحاة ، فإنهم يقولون: إن من بعض لغات العرب أن تنصب"أن" الاسم والخبر جميعًا ، قال بذلك أبو عبيد القاسم بن سلام والفراء وابن السيد وابن الطراوة. واستشهدوا بقول الشاعر إذَا الْتَـفَّ جِـنْحُ اللَّيْـلِ، فَلْتَأْتِ، وَلْتَكُنْخُطَــاكَ خِفَافًـا إنَّ حُرَّاسَـنَا أُسْـدَاوانظر التعليق السالف ص: 261 ، تعليق: 2.(109) احترف لعياله ، وحرف لعياله: سعى لهم في الكسب وطلب الرزق.(110) في المطبوعة والمخطوطة والدر المنثور 2: 149"لحق" ، واللام في المخطوطة مائلة. فرأيت أن"لحق" هنا لا معنى لها ، ولم أجدها من قبل في كلام معناه كمعنى هذا الكلام ، واجتهدت قراءتها ، ورجحت أنها"نجز". يقال: "نجز حاجته": إذا قضاها وعجلها ، كأنه قال: فلما عجل للمرأة نصيبها وقضاه.(111) الأثر: 9250 -"عبد الرحمن بن أبي حماد" انظر ما سلف عنه برقم: 3109 ، 4077 ، 6691 ، 8431 ، ورواية المثنى عنه.و"أبو ليلى" هو: "عبد الله بن ميسرة الكوفي" ، ويكنى"أبا إسحاق" ، وقد سلفت ترجمته برقم: 6920.و"أبو حريز" هو: "عبد الله بن الحسين الأزدي" قاضي سجستان. قال ابن حبان في الثقات: "صدوق" ، وقال ابن أبي عدي: "عامة ما يرويه لا يتابعه عليه أحد". وقال سعيد بن أبي مريم: "كان صاحب قياس ، وليس في الحديث شيء". مترجم في التهذيب. وكان في المطبوعة: "أبو جرير" ، وهو خطأ ، والمخطوطة غير منقوطة.(112) انظر تفسير"الكسب" و"الاكتساب" فيما سلف 2: 273 ، 274 / 3: 100 ، 101 ، 128 ، 129 / 4: 449 / 6: 131 ، 295 / 7: 327 ، 364.(113) انظر تفسير: "الفضل" فيما سلف 2: 344 / 5: 164 ، 571 / 6: 516 / 7: 299 ، 414.(114) الأثران: 9253 ، 9254-"محمد بن مسلم الرازي" ، هو المعروف بابن واره ، واسمه"محمد بن مسلم بن عثمان بن عبد الله" ، الحافظ ، كان أحد المتقنين الأمناء ، قالوا: كان ابن مسلم شيئًا عجبًا. وكان أبو زرعة الرازي لا يقوم لأحد ، ولا يجلس أحدًا في مكانه إلا ابن واره. وكان ابن واره فيه بأو شديد وعجب. مترجم في التهذيب ، وابن أبي حاتم 4 / 1 / 79 ، وتاريخ بغداد 3: 256.و"أبو جعفر النفيلي" ، هو: "عبد الله بن محمد بن علي بن نفيل القضاعي" ، روى له الأئمة. كان حافظًا ، وكان الإمام أحمد إذا رآه يعظمه. مترجم في التهذيب.(115) الأثر: 9257 -"حكيم بن جبير الأسدي" ، تكلموا فيه ، قال أحمد: "ضعيف الحديث مضطرب" ، وقال أبو حاتم: "ضعيف الحديث ، منكر الحديث ، له رأي غير محمود ، نسأل الله السلامة ، غال في التشيع".وهذا الأثر رواه الترمذي في كتاب الدعوات: 514 من طريق: بشر بن معاذ العقدي ، عن حماد بن واقد ، عن إسرائيل ، عن أبي إسحاق ، عن أبي الأحوص ، عن عبد الله بن مسعود ، ثم قال الترمذي: "هكذا روى حماد بن واقد هذا الحديث ، وحماد بن واقد ليس بالحافظ. وروى أبو نعيم هذا الحديث عن إسرائيل ، عن حكيم بن جبير ، عن رجل ، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ، وحديث أبي نعيم أشبه أن يكون أصح". وقال ابن كثير في تفسيره 2: 430 ، ونقل ما قاله الترمذي: "وكذا رواه ابن مردويه من حديث وكيع عن إسرائيل. ثم رواه من حديث قيس بن الربيع ، عن حكيم بن جبير ، عن سعيد بن جبير ، عن ابن عباس قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: سلوا الله من فضله ، فإن الله يحب أن يسأل ، وإن أحب عباد الله إلى الله الذي يحب الفرج".(116) في المخطوطة والمطبوعة: "ولا تتمنوا" ، والجيد ما أثبت.
قوله تعالى : ( ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض ) الآية ، قال مجاهد : قالت أم سلمة : يا رسول الله إن الرجال يغزون ولا نغزو ولهم ضعف ما لنا من الميراث ، فلو كنا رجالا غزونا كما غزوا وأخذنا من الميراث مثل ما أخذوا . فنزلت هذه الآية .وقيل : لما جعل الله عز وجل للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين في الميراث ، قالت النساء : نحن أحق وأحوج إلى الزيادة من الرجال ، لأنا ضعفاء وهم أقوى وأقدر على طلب المعاش ، فأنزل الله تعالى : ( ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض )وقال قتادة والسدي لما نزل قوله : ( للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين ) قال الرجال إنا لنرجو أن نفضل على النساء بحسناتنا في الآخرة فيكون أجرنا على الضعف من أجر النساء كما فضلنا عليهن في الميراث فقال الله تعالى : ( للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا ) من الأجر ( وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن )معناه : أن الرجال والنساء في الأجر في الآخرة سواء ، وذلك أن الحسنة تكون بعشر أمثالها يستوي فيها الرجال والنساء ، وإن فضل الرجال في الدنيا على النساء .وقيل : معناه للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا من أمر الجهاد وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن من طاعة الأزواج وحفظ الفروج ، يعني إن كان للرجال فضل الجهاد فللنساء فضل طاعة الأزواج وحفظ الفروج .قوله تعالى : ( واسألوا الله من فضله ) قرأ ابن كثير والكسائي وسلوا ، وسل ، وفسل إذا كان قبل السين واو أو فاء بغير همز ، ونقل حركة الهمزة إلى السين ، والباقون بسكون السين مهموزا . فنهى الله تعالى عن التمني لما فيه من دواعي الحسد ، والحسد أن يتمنى زوال النعمة عن صاحبه ويتمناها لنفسه ، وهو حرام ، والغبطة أن يتمنى لنفسه مثل ما لصاحبه وهو جائز . قال الكلبي : لا يتمنى الرجل مال أخيه ولا امرأته ولا خادمه ، ولكن ليقل اللهم ارزقني مثله ، وهو كذلك في التوراة كذلك في القرآن . قوله : ( واسألوا الله من فضله ) قال ابن عباس : واسألوا الله من فضله : أي : من رزقه ، قال سعيد بن جبير : من عبادته ، فهو سؤال التوفيق للعبادة ، قال سفيان بن عيينة : لم يأمر بالمسألة إلا ليعطي . ( إن الله كان بكل شيء عليما ) .
عطف على جملة : { لا تأكلوا أموالكم بينكم بالباطل ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم } [ النساء : 29 ] .والمناسبة بين الجملتين المتعاطفتين : أنّ التمنّي يحبّب للمُتمنّي الشيء الذي تمنّاه ، فإذا أحبّه أتْبَعَه نفسه فرام تحصيله وافتُتن به ، فربما بعثه ذلك الافتتان إلى تدبير الحيل لتحصيله إن لم يكن بيده ، وإلى الاستئثار به عن صاحب الحقّ فيغمض عينه عن ملاحظة الواجب من إعطاء الحقّ صاحبه وعن مناهي الشريعة التي تضمّنتها الجمل المعطوف عليها . وقد أصبح هذا التمنّي في زماننا هذا فتنة لِطوائف من المسلمين سرت لهم من أخلاق الغلاة في طلب المساواة ممّا جرّ أمما كثيرة إلى نحلة الشيوعية فصاروا يتخبَّطون لطلب التساوي في كلّ شيء ويعانون إرهاقاً لم يحصّلوا منه على طائل .فالنهي عن التمنّي وتطلّع النفوس إلى ما ليس لها جاء في هذه الآية عامّا ، فكان كالتذييل للأحكام السابقة لسدّ ذرائعها وذرائع غيرها ، فكان من جوامع الكلم في درء الشرور . وقد كان التمنّي من أعظم وسائل الجرائم ، فإنّه يفضي إلى الحسد ، وقد كان أوّل جرم حصل في الأرض نشأ عن الحسد . ولقد كثر ما انتبهت أموال ، وقتلت نفوس للرغبة في بسطة رزق ، أو فتنة نساء ، أو نوال مُلك ، والتاريخ طافح بحوادث من هذا القبيل .والذي يبدو أنّ هذا التمنّي هو تمنّي أموال المثرين ، وتمنّي أنصباء الوارثين ، وتمنّي الاستئثار بأموال اليتامى ذكورهم وإناثهم ، وتمنّي حرمان النساء من الميراث ليناسب ما سبق من إيتاء اليتامى أموالهم . وإنصاف النساء في مُهورهنّ ، وترك مضارّتهنّ إلجاء إلى إسقاطها ، ومن إعطاء أنصباء الورثة كما قسم الله لهم . وكلّ ذلك من تفضيل بعض الناس على بعض في الرزق .وقد أبدى القفّال مناسبة للعطف تندرج فيما ذكرته . وفي «سنن الترمذي» عن مجاهد ، عن أمّ سلمة أنّها قالت : «يا رسول الله يغزو الرجال ولا يغزو النساء ، وإنّما لنا نصف الميراث ، فأنزل الله { ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض } » . قال الترمذي : هذا حديث مرسل . قال ابن العربي : ورواياته كلّها حسان لم تبلغ درجة الصحّة . قلت : لمّا كان مرسلا يكون قوله : فأنزل الله { ولا تتمنوا } إلخ . من كلام مجاهد ، ومعناه أنّ نزول هذه الآية كان قريباً من زمن قول أمّ سلمة ، فكان في عمومها ما يردّ على أمّ سلمة وغيرها .وقد رويت آثار : بعضها في أنّ هذه الآية نزلت في تمنّي النساء الجهاد؛ وبعضها في أنّها نزلت في قول امرأة «إنّ للذكر مثل حظّ الأنثيين وشهادة امرأتين برجل أفنحن في العمل كذلك»؛ وبعضها في أنّ رجالاً قالوا : إنّ ثواب أعمالنا على الضعف من ثواب النساء؛ وبعضها في أنّ النساء سألن أجر الشهادة في سبيل الله وقلن لو كُتب علينا القتال لقاتلنا .وكلّ ذلك جزئيات وأمثلة ممّا شمله عموم { ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض } .والتمنّي هو طلب حصول ما يعسر حصوله للطالب . وذلك له أحوال؛ منها أن يتمنّى ما هو من فضل الله غير ملتفت فيه إلى شيء في يد الغير ، ولا مانع يمنعه من شرع أو عادة ، سواء كان ممكن الحصول كتمنّي الشهادة في سبيل الله ، أم كان غير ممكن الحصول كقول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَلَوَدِدْتُ أني أقْتَلُ في سبيل الله ثم أُحيى ثم أقتل ثم أُحيى ثم أقتل " . وقوله صلى الله عليه وسلم " ليتنا نرى إخواننا " يعني المسلمين الذين يجيئون بعده .ومنها أن يتمنّى ما لا يمكن حصوله لمانع عادي أو شرعي ، كتمنّي أمّ سلمة أن يغزو النساء كما يغزو الرجال ، وأن تكون المرأة مساوية الرجل في الميراث؛ ومنها أن يتمنّى تمنيّا يدلّ على عدم الرضا بما ساقه الله والضجر منه ، أو على الاضطراب والانزعاج ، أو على عدم الرضا بالأحكام الشرعية .ومنها أن يتمنّى نعمة تماثل نعمة في يد الغير مع إمكان حصولها للمتمنّي بدون أن تسلب من التي هي في يده كتمنّي عِلم مثل علم المجتهد أو مال مثل مال قارون .ومنها أن يتمنّى ذلك لكن مثله لا يحصل إلاّ بسلب المنعَم عليه به كتمنّي مُلك بلدة معيّنة أو زوجة رجل معيّن .ومنها أن يتمنّى زوال نعمة عن الغير بدون قصد مصيرها إلى المتمنّي .وحاصل معنى النهي في الآية أنّه : إمّا نهي تنزيه لتربية المؤمنين على أن لا يشغلوا نفوسهم بما لا قبل لهم بنواله ضرورة أنّه سمّاه تمنّيا ، لئلا يكونوا على الحالة التي ورد فيها حديث : " يتمنى على الله الأماني " ويكون قوله : { واسألوا الله من فضله } إرشاد إلى طلب الممكن ، إذ قد علموا أنّ سؤال الله ودعاءه يكون في مرجوّ الحصول ، وإلاّ كان سوء أدب .وإمّا نهي تحريم ، وهو الظاهر من عطفه على المنهيات المحرّمة ، فيكون جريمة ظاهرة ، أو قلبية كالحسد ، بقرينة ذكره بعد قوله : { لا تأكلوا أموالكم بينكم بالباطل ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم } [ النساء : 29 ] .فالتمنّي الأوّل والرابع غير منهي عنهما ، وقد ترجم البخاري في صحيحه «باب تمني الشهادة في سبيل الله وباب الاغتباط في العلم والحكمة» ، وذكر حديث : " لا حسد إلاّ في اثنتين : رجل آتاه الله مالا فسلّطه على هَلَكته في الحقّ ، ورجل آتاه الله الحكمة فهو يقضي بها ويعلّمها الناس " . وأمّا التمنّي الثاني والثالث فمنهي عنهما لأنّهما يترتّب عليهما اضطراب النفس وعدم الرضا بما قسم الله والشكّ في حكمة الأحكام الشرعية .وأمّا التمنّي الخامس والسادس فمنهي عنهما لا محالة ، وهو من الحسد ، وفي الحديث " لا تسأل المرأة طلاقَ أختها لتستفرغ صحفتها "ولذلك نهي عن أن يخطب الرجل على خطبة أخيه ، إلاّ إذ كان تَمَنِّيه في الحالة الخامسة تمنّيَ حصول ذلك له بعد من هي بيده بحيث لا يستعجل موته . وقد قال أبو بكر ، لمّا استَخْلَف عمر ، يخاطب المهاجرين : «فكلّكم ورم أنفه يريد أن يكون له الأمر دونه» .والسادس أشدّ وهو شرّ الحسدين إلاّ إذا كان صاحب النعمة يستعين به على ضرّ يلحق الدين أو الأمّة أو على إضرار المتمنّي .ثم محلّ النهي في الآية : هو التمنّي ، وهو طلب ما لا قبل لأحد بتحصيله بكسبه ، لأنّ ذلك هو الذي يبعث على سلوك مسالك العداء ، فأمّا طلب ما يمكنه تحصيله من غير ضرّ بالغير فلا نهي عنه ، لأنّه بطلبه ينصرف إلى تحصيله فيحصل فائدة دينية أو دنيوية ، أمّا طلب ما لا قبل له بتحصيله فإن رجع إلى الفوائد الأخروية فلا ضير فيه .وحكمة النهي عن الأقسام المنهي عنها من التمنّي أنّها تفسد ما بين الناس في معاملاتهم فينشأ عنها التحاسد ، وهو أوّل ذنب عُصي الله به ، إذْ حسد إبليس آدم ، ثم ينشأ عن الحسد الغيظ والغضب فيفضي إلى أذى المحسود ، وقد قال تعالى : { ومن شر حاسد إذا حسد } [ الفلق : 5 ] . وكان سبب أوّل جريمة في الدنيا الحسد : إذ حسد أحد ابني آدم أخاه فقتله ، ثم إنّ تمنّي الأحوال المنهي عنها يَنْشأ في النفوس أوّلَ ما ينشأ خاطراً مجرّدا ، ثم يربو في النفس رويداً رويداً حتّى يصير ملكة ، فتدعو المرء إلى اجترام الجرائم ليشفي غلّته ، فلذلك نهوا عنه ليزجروا نفوسهم عند حدوث هاته التمنّيات بزاجر الدين والحكمة فلا يَدعوها تربو في النفوس . وما نشأت الثورات والدعايات إلى ابتراز الأموال بعناوين مختلفة إلاّ من تمنّي ما فضّل به الله بعض الناس على بعض ، أو إلاّ أثر من آثار ما فضّل الله به بعض الناس على بعض .وقوله : { بعضكم على بعض } صالح لأن يكون مراداً به آحاد الناس ، ولأن يكون مراداً به أصنافهم .وقوله : { للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا } الآية : إن أريدَ بذكر الرجال والنساء هنا قصد تعميم الناس مثل ما يُذكر المشرق والمغرب ، والبر والبحر ، والنجد والغَوْر ، فالنهي المتقدّم على عمومه . وهذه الجملة مسوقة مساق التعليل للنهي عن التمنّي قطعاً لعذر المُتمَنّين ، وتأنيساً بالنهي ، ولذلك فصلت؛ وإن أريد بالرجال والنساء كلاّ من النوعين بخصوصه بمعنى أنّ الرجال يختصّون بما اكتسبوه ، والنساء يختصصن بما اكتسبن من الأموال ، فالنهي المتقدّم متعلّق بالتمنّي الذي يفضي إلى أكلّ أموال اليتامى والنساء ، أي ليس للأولياء أكل أموال مواليهم وولاياهم إذ لكلّ من هؤلاء ما اكتسب . وهذه الجملة علّة لجملة محذوفة دلّت هي عليها ، تقديرها : ولا تتمنّوا فتأكلوا أموال مواليكم .والنصيب : الحظّ والمقدار ، وهو صادق على الحظ في الآخرة والحظّ في الدنيا ، وتقدّم آنفاً .والاكتساب : السعي للكسب ، وقد يستعار لحصول الشيء ولو بدون سعي وعلاججٍ . و ( مِن ) للتبعيض أو للابتداء ، والمعنى يحتمل أن يكون استحقّ الرجال والنساء كلّ حظّه من الأجر والثواب المنجرّ له من عمله ، فلا فائدة في تمنّي فريق أن يعمل عمل فريق آخر ، لأنّ الثواب غير منحصر في عمل معيَّن ، فإنّ وسائل الثواب كثيرة فلا يسوءكم النهي عن تمنّي ما فضّل الله به بعضكم على بعض . ويحتمل أنّ المعنى : استحقّ كلّ شخص ، سواء كان رجلاً أم امرأة ، حظّه من منافع الدنيا المنجرّ له ممّا سعى إليه بجهده ، أو الذي هو بعض ما سعى إليه ، فتمنّي أحد شيئاً لم يسع إليه ولم يكن من حقوقه ، هو تمنّ غير عادل ، فحَقَّ النهي عنه؛ أو المعنى استحقّ أولئك نصيبهم ممّا كسبوا ، أي ممّا شُرع لهم من الميراث ونحوه ، فلا يحسد أحدٌ أحداً على ما جعل له من الحقّ ، لأنّ الله أعلم بأحقّيّة بعضكم على بعض .وقوله : { وسئلوا الله من فضله } إن كان عطفاً على قوله : { للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا } الخ ، الذي هو علّة النهي عن التمنّي ، فالمعنى : للرجال مَزاياهم وحقوقهم ، وللنساء مزاياهنّ وحقوقهنّ ، فمن تمنّى ما لم يُعَدَّ لصنفه فقد اعتدى ، لكن يسأل الله من فضله أن يعطيه ما أعدّ لصنفه من المزايا ، ويجعل ثوابه مساوياً لثواب الأعمال التي لم تُعدّ لصنفه ، كما قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم للنساء : « لكن أفضل الجهاد حجّ مبرور » وإن كان عطفاً على النهي في قوله : و { لا تتمنوا } فالمعنى : لا تتمنّوا ما في يد الغير واسألوا الله من فضله فإنّ فضل الله يسع الإنعام على الكلّ ، فلا أثر للتمنّي إلاّ تعب النفس . وقرأ الجمهور : { واسألوا } بإثبات الهمزة بعد السين الساكنة وهي عين الفعل وقرأه ابن كثير ، والكسائي بفتح السين وحذف الهمزة بعد نقل حركتها إلى السين الساكن قبلها تخفيفاً .وقوله : { إن الله كان بكل شيء عليماً } تذييل مناسب لهذا التكليف ، لأنّه متعلّق بعمل النفس لا يراقِب فيه إلاّ ربّه .
ينهى تعالى المؤمنين عن أن يتمنى بعضهم ما فضل الله به غيره من الأمور الممكنة وغير الممكنة. فلا تتمنى النساء خصائص الرجال التي بها فضلهم على النساء، ولا صاحب الفقر والنقص حالة الغنى والكمال تمنيا مجردا لأن هذا هو الحسد بعينه، تمني نعمة الله على غيرك أن تكون لك ويسلب إياها. ولأنه يقتضي السخط على قدر الله والإخلاد إلى الكسل والأماني الباطلة التي لا يقترن بها عمل ولا كسب. وإنما المحمود أمران: أن يسعى العبد على حسب قدرته بما ينفعه من مصالحه الدينية والدنيوية، ويسأل الله تعالى من فضله، فلا يتكل على نفسه ولا على غير ربه. ولهذا قال تعالى: { لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا } أي: من أعمالهم المنتجة للمطلوب. { وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ } فكل منهم لا يناله غير ما كسبه وتعب فيه. { وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ } أي: من جميع مصالحكم في الدين والدنيا. فهذا كمال العبد وعنوان سعادته لا من يترك العمل، أو يتكل على نفسه غير مفتقر لربه، أو يجمع بين الأمرين فإن هذا مخذول خاسر. وقوله: { إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا } فيعطي من يعلمه أهلا لذلك، ويمنع من يعلمه غير مستحق.
قوله تعالى : ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا وللنساء نصيب مما اكتسبن واسألوا الله من فضله إن الله كان بكل شيء عليمافيه أربع مسائل :الأولى : روى الترمذي عن أم سلمة أنها قالت : يغزو الرجال ولا يغزو النساء وإنما لنا نصف الميراث ؛ فأنزل الله تعالى : ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض . قال مجاهد : وأنزل فيها إن المسلمين والمسلمات ، وكانت أم سلمة أول ظعينة قدمت المدينة مهاجرة . قال أبو عيسى : هذا حديث مرسل ، ورواه بعضهم عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد ، مرسل أن أم سلمة قالت كذا . وقال قتادة : كان الجاهلية لا يورثون النساء ولا الصبيان ؛ فلما ورثوا وجعل للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين تمنى النساء أن لو جعل أنصباؤهن كأنصباء الرجال . وقال الرجال : إنا لنرجو أن نفضل على النساء بحسناتنا في الآخرة كما فضلنا عليهن في الميراث ؛ فنزلت ، ولا تتمنوا ما فضل الله به بعضكم على بعض .الثانية : قوله تعالى : " ولا تتمنوا " : التمني نوع من الإرادة يتعلق بالمستقبل ، كالتلهف نوع منها يتعلق بالماضي ؛ فنهى الله سبحانه المؤمنين عن التمني ؛ لأن فيه تعلق البال ونسيان الأجل . وقد اختلف العلماء هل يدخل في هذا النهي الغبطة ، وهي أن يتمنى الرجل أن يكون له حال صاحبه وإن لم يتمن زوال حاله . والجمهور على إجازة ذلك : مالك وغيره ؛ وهي المراد عند بعضهم في قوله عليه السلام لا حسد إلا في اثنتين رجل آتاه الله القرآن فهو يقوم به آناء الليل وآناء النهار ورجل آتاه الله مالا فهو ينفقه آناء الليل وآناء النهار . فمعنى قوله [ ص: 143 ] : لا حسد أي : لا غبطة أعظم وأفضل من الغبطة في هذين الأمرين . وقد نبه البخاري على هذا المعنى حيث بوب على هذا الحديث ( باب الاغتباط في العلم والحكمة ) قال المهلب : بين الله تعالى في هذه الآية ما لا يجوز تمنيه ، وذلك ما كان من عرض الدنيا وأشباهها . قال ابن عطية : وأما التمني في الأعمال الصالحة فذلك هو الحسن ، وأما إذا تمنى المرء على الله من غير أن يقرن أمنيته بشيء مما قدمنا ذكره فذلك جائز ؛ وذلك موجود في حديث النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في قول : وددت أن أحيا ثم أقتل .قلت : هذا الحديث هو الذي صدر به البخاري كتاب التمني في صحيحه ، وهو يدل على تمني الخير وأفعال البر والرغبة فيها ، وفيه فضل الشهادة على سائر أعمال البر ؛ لأنه عليه السلام تمناها دون غيرها ، وذلك لرفيع منزلتها وكرامة أهلها ، فرزقه الله إياها ؛ لقوله : ما زالت أكلة خيبر تعاودني الآن أوان قطعت أبهري . وفي الصحيح : إن الشهيد يقال له تمن فيقول أتمنى أن أرجع إلى الدنيا حتى أقتل في سبيلك مرة أخرى . وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتمنى إيمان أبي طالب وإيمان أبي لهب وصناديد قريش مع علمه بأنه لا يكون ؛ وكان يقول : واشوقاه إلى إخواني الذين يجيئون من بعدي يؤمنون بي ولم يروني . وهذا كله يدل على أن التمني لا ينهى عنه إذا لم يكن داعية إلى الحسد والتباغض ، والتمني المنهي عنه في الآية من هذا القبيل ؛ فيدخل فيه أن يتمنى الرجل حال الآخر من دين أو دنيا على أن يذهب ما عند الآخر ، وسواء تمنيت مع ذلك أن يعود إليك أو لا . وهذا هو الحسد بعينه ، وهو الذي ذمه الله تعالى بقوله : أم يحسدون الناس على ما آتاهم الله من فضله ويدخل فيه أيضا خطبة الرجل على خطبة أخيه وبيعه على بيعه ؛ لأنه داعية الحسد والمقت . وقد كره بعض العلماء الغبطة وأنها داخلة في النهي ، والصحيح جوازها على ما بينا ، وبالله توفيقنا . وقال الضحاك : لا يحل لأحد أن يتمنى مال أحد ، ألم تسمع الذين قالوا : يا ليت لنا مثل ما أوتي قارون إلى أن قال : وأصبح الذين تمنوا مكانه بالأمس حين خسف به وبداره وبأمواله لولا أن من الله علينا لخسف بنا وقال الكلبي : لا يتمن الرجل مال أخيه ولا امرأته ولا خادمه ولا دابته ؛ ولكن ليقل : اللهم ارزقني مثله . وهو كذلك في التوراة ، وكذلك قوله في القرآن واسألوا الله من فضله . وقال ابن عباس : نهى الله سبحانه أن يتمنى الرجل مال فلان [ ص: 144 ] وأهله ، وأمر عباده المؤمنين أن يسألوه من فضله . ومن الحجة للجمهور قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم : إنما الدنيا لأربعة نفر : رجل آتاه الله مالا وعلما فهو يتقي فيه ربه ويصل به رحمه ويعلم لله فيه حقا فهذا بأفضل المنازل ، ورجل آتاه الله علما ولم يؤته مالا فهو صادق النية يقول لو أن لي مالا لعملت فيه بعمل فلان فهو بنيته فأجرهما سواء الحديث . . . وقد تقدم . خرجه الترمذي وصححه .وقال الحسن : لا يتمن أحدكم المال وما يدريه لعل هلاكه فيه ؛ وهذا إنما يصح إذا تمناه للدنيا ، وأما إذا تمناه للخير فقد جوزه الشرع ، فيتمناه العبد ليصل به إلى الرب ، ويفعل الله ما يشاء .الثالثة : قوله تعالى : للرجال نصيب مما اكتسبوا يريد من الثواب والعقاب وللنساء كذلك ؛ قال قتادة . فللمرأة الجزاء على الحسنة بعشر أمثالها كما للرجال . وقال ابن عباس : المراد بذلك الميراث . والاكتساب على هذا القول بمعنى الإصابة ، للذكر مثل حظ الأنثيين ؛ فنهى الله عز وجل عن التمني على هذا الوجه لما فيه من دواعي الحسد ؛ ولأن الله تعالى أعلم بمصالحهم منهم ؛ فوضع القسمة بينهم على التفاوت على ما علم من مصالحهم .الرابعة : قوله تعالى : واسألوا الله من فضله روى الترمذي عن عبد الله قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : سلوا الله من فضله فإنه يحب أن يسأل وأفضل العبادة انتظار الفرج وخرج أيضا ابن ماجه عن أبي هريرة قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : من لم يسأل الله يغضب عليه . وهذا يدل على أن الأمر بالسؤال لله تعالى واجب ؛ وقد أخذ بعض العلماء هذا المعنى فنظمه فقال :الله يغضب إن تركت سؤاله وبني آدم حين يسأل يغضبوقال أحمد بن المعذل أبو الفضل الفقيه المالكي فأحسن :التمس الأرزاق عند الذي ما دونه إن سيل من حاجبمن يبغض التارك تسآله جودا ومن يرضى عن الطالبومن إذا قال جرى قوله بغير توقيع إلى كاتبوقد أشبعنا القول في هذا المعنى في كتاب " قمع الحرص بالزهد والقناعة " . وقال سعيد بن جبير : واسألوا الله من فضله العبادة ، ليس من أمر الدنيا . وقيل : سلوه التوفيق للعمل بما يرضيه . وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها أنها قالت : سلوا ربكم حتى الشبع ؛ فإنه إن لم ييسره الله عز وجل لم يتيسر . وقال سفيان بن عيينة : لم يأمر بالسؤال إلا ليعطي .[ ص: 145 ] وقرأ الكسائي وابن كثير : " وسلوا الله من فضله " بغير همز في جميع القرآن . الباقون بالهمز . " واسألوا الله " . وأصله بالهمز إلا أنه حذفت الهمزة للتخفيف . والله أعلم .
Disparity, i.e. the difference between individuals in this world, is in accordance with God’s creation plan. Some are physically and mentally less endowed than others; some are born in favourable and some in unfavourable conditions; some have powerful resources and some barely exist with just minimal resources. The latter become jealous of the former, finding them in a superior position. This situation leads to envy, enmity and conflict in social life. But it is totally wrong to make an assessment of oneself or of others judging solely by externals, as these are of importance only in this world. One receives them only to leave them behind. The issues of real importance, i.e. success and achievement in the Hereafter, have nothing to do with worldly possessions. Success in the Hereafter depends rather on those actions which have been performed in this world with the sole intention of seeking God’s pleasure. It is, therefore, most wise to insulate oneself from envy, and to pray to God for strength, and to continue to direct one’s efforts towards success in the Hereafter. Wherever a group of people live together, whether as a family or as a country, it is necessary to have a leader to take charge. Authority will undisputedly rest in one single person. According to God’s plan for this world, man has been chosen to become the head of the family and has been endowed with the inborn abilities needed to discharge this responsibility. The biological and physiological differences between man and woman are in conformity with God’s creation plan. If there are some who wish to go against God’s plan, they will only cause perversion and discord. For, nature will continue to go ahead creating men and women according to the divine scheme of things, whereby men will be endowed with the qualities needed as protectors and guardians and women will have the quality of submission to be able to assist them without prejudice to the faculties that nature has endowed them with. But, if men and women are given opposite and conflicting roles to perform in social activities, the result will be nothing but perversion in social life.
In the injunctions of inheritance appearing previously, it was mentioned that, given the conditions, for a male there is a share equal to that of two females. There are other proved aspects of male precedence as well. So, Sayyidah Umm Salmah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہا once said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ Our share in the inheritance is half. Then, there are such and such elements of difference between us and men...'
Her purpose was not to raise an objection. Rather, she wished to be a man and to deserve the merits restricted for men. There were other women who wished: Had we been men, we would have taken part in Jihad and the merit of Jihad would have been ours.'
A woman asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ 'A man gets a double share in the inheritance and the witness of a woman is half as compared with a man - does that mean that we shall be getting a half reward for all of our acts of worship?' Thereupon, the present verse was revealed in which an answer to both these statements has been given. The answer to Sayyidah Umm Salmah ؓ was given by 'and do not covet...' and the answer to the last-mentioned woman was given by 'for men there is a share...'
Coveting the Unacquirable
In this verse (32), coveting things, traits and merits given to others has been prohibited, for they are not acquirable by effort. The reason is that when a man finds himself lacking in wealth, comfort, beauty, merit, knowledge and similar other states of being, he naturally experiences a surge of envy which urges him to come, at least, at par with that person, or, if possible, be ahead. But, he does not always have the capability or power to make his wish come true because there are merits and excellences which have nothing to do with man's own efforts and acquisitions. They are simply the blessings of nature, for example, being a man or being the scion of a prophet's family or having been born in the family of a ruler or having been born beautiful. So, one who does not have access to these blessings - can never obtain them by effort even-if he were to spend a whole life-time devoted to that pursuit. A woman cannot become a man, nor can one choose to be born in the family of a prophet, or change his physique - become tall and handsome, acquire All beautiful features of his choice - because, this is not within his power. He simply cannot acquire these in the real sense, no matter how much he struggles with his medicines, treatments and devices. Consequently, when he finds himself incapable of matching the other person, his inner self starts playing with the idea that it would be wonderful if such blessings were snatched away from him (the other person) as well, so that, he too becomes either equal or lower than him. This is envy, a terribly, shameful and damaging trait of human morals, which is the cause of so many disputes, disturbances, killings and ravages in this world.
This verse of the Holy Qur'an closes the doors of disorders by saying: وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّـهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ. It means that Allah Almighty, in His infinite wisdom, has blessed people with all sorts of merits and excellences. He gave someone a particular quality, then gave someone else yet another quality; less to some, more to some others. In this matter, everyone. should rest pleased with his or her destiny and stay clear from the envious desire to become the possessor of the other person's merits and excellences, for the end-result of this game of desires is nothing but a biting sense of personal loss, and of course, that awful sin of envy.
It may sound a little simple, but the truth of the matter is that anyone Allah Almighty elects to be a man should be grateful for it, and anyone He elects to be a woman should be pleased with being just that, realizing that, had she been a man, may be, she could have failed to fulfill the responsibilities placed on a man, and would have thus ended up being a sinner. Then, anyone created beautiful by Allah Almighty should be all the more grateful for having been so blessed; and, anyone lesser in looks should also not grieve thinking of the good that may lie hidden behind this destiny, for being blessed with beauty does not necessarily guarantee good. It might have the recipient land into some unwelcome state of trial or corruption. Again, anyone who is a true lineal descendant of the Holy Prophet ﷺ should thank Allah Almighty for the great blessing of this lineal connection; and, anyone who does not have this connection should neither worry about it, nor should he go about longing for it, because this is something which cannot be acquired by effort, and if one still insists on coveting it, what he would get involved with will be nothing but sin and the gain he would make would be nothing but a broken heart and an aching soul. So, rather than pine for a lineage one does not have, the best policy is to think about one's own doings. Let these be good and righteous. Once a person enhances himself with such spiritual strengths, he can be ahead of those with higher or better lineage.
Striving to excel others in good deeds is different
There are verses of the Holy Qur'an and the sayings of the noble Prophet ﷺ which exhort people to excel each other in good deeds. In other words, this is an open field in which it is all right to look at the trail of merits and excellence left by others. Indeed, people have been persuaded to make all possible efforts to acquire them. Now, this relates to deeds within man's control, and which can be acquired by learning, training and working. For example, if a person is impressed with someone's intellectual merits, practical life and excel-lent morals, he can, by all means, strive to acquire these qualities. This is very desirable, and praiseworthy. As such, the present verse does not contradict it. In fact, the later part of the same verse (32), that is لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا ۖ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْ , is actually supporting this view. It means that men will get a share of what they acquired with their effort and conduct, and the same will be true for women who will get a share of what they acquired with their effort and conduct. One is not likely to miss the hint here - that effort and struggle in the acquisition of merits and perfections do not go waste. On the contrary, every man and woman will definitely get a return, a share of his or her effort. From here, we also know that desiring to have someone's intellectual-moral excellence as combined with his model practical conduct, and then going ahead to see the fruition of these desires through effort and struggle, is certainly desirable and praiseworthy. Removed in the process here is an error which is committed by a lot of people who tend to do things not knowing what they are doing. Some of them become so devoted to their desire to acquire merits which cannot be acquired that they ruin their otherwise peaceful life right here in this mortal world. And if, bad come to worse, they are fired with envy, that is, they start wishing - 'if I do not have this blessing, may this be taken away from the other' - then, the very chances of salvation in the life to come also stand destroyed because of the grave sin of envy committed by him.
Moreover, there are another kind of people as well who lack courage, avoid action, or just have no sense of honour and shame, who do not even try to acquire merits which can be acquired. Such people, when approached with good counsel, would come back immediately, blaming their destiny and fate which is no more than an effort to camouflage their own timidity and inertia. The present verse has resolved this problem by stating a wise and just rule which is: Man's effort is ineffective in acquiring merits which he does not control, such as, being high-born or handsome. Merits like these should be resigned to fate and one must be content with the divinely determined state he is in, and be grateful to Allah Almighty. Coveting anymore than that is absurd, ineffectual, meddlesome - an act which leaves behind nothing but a handful of sorrows.
As for merits which can be acquired by effort, wishing to have them is useful, only if such a wish is supported by the necessary struggle to achieve. Let us keep in mind that the verse carries the promise that the effort so made will not be wasted and everyone will get a share of what he or she worked for.
Referring back to injunctions prohibiting. the unjust use of someone's property and the unjust taking of someone's life (29), Tafsir al-Bahr al-Mishit points out that this verse aims to seal the very source of these crimes, and it is for this purpose that instructions have been given to stop people from coveting others who are ahead of them in wealth, comfort or influence. A little thought will reveal that theft, robbery and other illegitimate ways of usurping someone's property, or to kill and destroy, are crimes which sprout from one particular emotional attitude. A person, when he finds the other ahead of him in wealth and other material acquisitions, first feels the pinch in his heart wishing to come at par with him, or even wishes to become superior to him. Then, it is the intensity of this desire which pushes him all the way to go ahead and commit these crimes. The Holy Qur'an, as said earlier, has blocked the source of these crime by blocking the very desire of the unacquirables and the unobtainables of life.
To ask for Allah's grace is the ideal way
After that, the verse moves on to instruct by saying: وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّـهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ ; (And pray to Allah for His grace). It means, 'when you see someone excel in one or the other graces of life,' the ideal conduct is, 'not to wish to come at par with the other person in respect of that particular excellence, but that you should pray to Allah asking for graces and blessings. from Him.' The reason is that Allah's grace appears in different forms for everyone. For some, wealth is a blessing from God for, if they were to become paupers, they might have fallen victims to sin and disbelief. For some others, grace lies in the very pecuniary circum-stances they are in, for if they were to turn rich, they might have succumbed to thousands of sins. Similarly, for some, grace appears in the form of power and influence, while for some others, the unremembered and the unattended, the grace of Allah manifests itself in that very state. A look at the reality of things around would have told him that power and influence, if these were to be his lot, might have caused his falling into many a sin. Therefore, the verse instructs - when you ask Allah, do not ask for some fixed quality of life, instead, ask for His grace so that He, in his His infinite wisdom, opens the doors of His blessings on you.
Trust His Wisdom and Knowledge
The verse concludes by saying: إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا (Surely, Allah is All-Knowing in respect of everything.) Here, the hint is that the arrangement of things made by Allah Almighty is the very quintessence of wisdom and justice. Whoever has been created and sustained in whatever condition it may be is an arrangement perfectly matched with the ideal demand of wisdom and justice. But, man is not fully aware of the consequences of what he does. This is something only Allah knows best and thus He also knows how suitable it is to keep anyone in a given condition.
The law of inheritance: Reiteration of the wisdom in it
While describing the background in which the present verse was revealed, which appears in the introductory remarks preceding the Commentary, it was stated that some women, when they found out that men have beers given a share equal to that of two women, wished they were men so that they too would be getting a doubled share. In a relevant manner, the law of inheritance was reiterated in the second verse (33) and it was tersely said that all shares determined therein are based on perfect wisdom and justice. Since human reason cannot encompass the totality of factors that contribute to the order or disorder of the created universe, it is obvious that it cannot arrive precisely at those elements of wisdom which have been taken Into consideration in determining the laws of Allah Almighty. Therefore, whosoever has been allotted whatsoever share should be pleased with it, and be grateful for it.
Inheriting through pledge
The giving of a share on the basis of a pledge mentioned at the end of verse 33 refers to a practice during the initial period of Islam. This was later abrogated by the verse وَأُولُو الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ (As for the womb - relatives, some of them are closer to some...) (33:6) Now, if other heirs exist, a pledge or mutual contract between two parties does not affect the inheritance in any manner whatsoever.
(And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others) Allah says: a man should not covet the wealth, mount or wife of his brother nor, in fact, anything that his brother may possess. Rather you should ask of Allah abundant bounty and say: �O Allah provide us with the like of, or better than, what you have provided him with�, while consigning the matter to Allah. It is also said that this verse was revealed about Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) because she said to him: �if only it is prescribed unto us as it is prescribed unto men so that we get rewarded as men do�. Allah prohibited such talk, saying: covet not the thing in which Allah has made a group of you excel over others, such as praying in congregation, attending the Friday Prayer, participating in military expeditions, jihad, enjoining good and forbidding evil. In this verse (some of you) and (others) refers to men and women. Allah then explained the reward that men and women earn for their works, saying: (Unto men a fortune) a reward (from that which they have earned) of works of goodness, (and unto women a fortune) a reward (from that which they have earned) of works of goodness in their homes. (But ask Allah of His bounty) Ask Allah to give you success and protection. (Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things) good and bad, reward and punishment, success and otherwise.
Do Not Wish for the Things Which Allah has Made Some Others to Excel In
Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Salamah said, "O Messenger of Allah! Men go to battle, but we do not go to battle, and we earn one-half of the inheritance (that men get)." Allah sent down,
وَلاَ تَتَمَنَّوْاْ مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ
(And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others). At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith. Allah's statement,
لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُواْ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْنَ
(For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned,) indicates, according to Ibn Jarir, that each person will earn his wages for his works, a reward if his deeds are good, and punishment if his deeds are evil. It was also reported that this Ayah is talking about inheritance, indicating the fact that each person will get his due share of the inheritance, as Al-Walibi reported from Ibn `Abbas. Allah then directed the servants to what benefits them,
وَاسْأَلُواْ اللَّهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ
(and ask Allah of His Bounty.)Therefore, the Ayah states, "Do not wish for what other people were endowed with over you, for this is a decision that will come to pass, and wishing does not change its decree. However, ask Me of My favor and I will grant it to you, for I Am Most Generous and Most Giving." Allah then said,
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيماً
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.) meaning, Allah knows who deserves this life, and so He gives him riches, and whoever deserves poverty, He makes him poor. He also knows who deserves the Hereafter, and He directs him to perform the deeds that will help him to be sucessful in it, and whoever deserves failure, He prevents him from achieving righteousness and what leads to it. Hence, Allah said, m
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيماً
(Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything).
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation.
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation.
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation. “Your trouble is wishing that you could be like those who have taken trouble.” You fancy that the pen of the covenant was written easily for the passionate, that it wrote the inscription of friendship on their hearts gratis. But they have been wounded in spirit and heart at every moment, and they have tasted a draft laced with poison. How many nights for the sake of seeing You have I been slapped in the head by the dogs of Your street! But not just anyone is suited for His wounds, and not just anyone is worthy of suffering His pain. May God's mercy be upon those chevaliers who have made their spirits the target of His trial's arrow and recognized their hearts as the litter for His pain's burden! Then, in that trial and sorrow, they hum this tune: If my spirit is worthy of suffering your pain, this share of passion's good fortune is enough for me. Yes, everyone's wound is in the measure of his faith, and everyone's burden is in the measure of his strength. Whenever someone's strength is greater, his burden is heavier. This is the secret of the verse in which He says,
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty. Abū Bakr Kattānī said, “When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and “The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.” Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge. Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, “He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous is that finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.” You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life. The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life. It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: “You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.”4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation. “Your trouble is wishing that you could be like those who have taken trouble.” You fancy that the pen of the covenant was written easily for the passionate, that it wrote the inscription of friendship on their hearts gratis. But they have been wounded in spirit and heart at every moment, and they have tasted a draft laced with poison. How many nights for the sake of seeing You have I been slapped in the head by the dogs of Your street! But not just anyone is suited for His wounds, and not just anyone is worthy of suffering His pain. May God's mercy be upon those chevaliers who have made their spirits the target of His trial's arrow and recognized their hearts as the litter for His pain's burden! Then, in that trial and sorrow, they hum this tune: If my spirit is worthy of suffering your pain, this share of passion's good fortune is enough for me. Yes, everyone's wound is in the measure of his faith, and everyone's burden is in the measure of his strength. Whenever someone's strength is greater, his burden is heavier. This is the secret of the verse in which He says,
Do not wish for that whereby God has preferred some of you over others. Men shall have a portion of what they have earned, and women shall have a portion of what they have earned. But ask God of His bounty.Abū Bakr Kattānī said, �When someone has the opinion that he will arrive without expending ef- fort, he is a wisher, and when someone has the opinion that he will arrive by expending effort, he is a drudge.�Whoever fancies that he will reach the goal without toiling is a wisher, and �The incapable are those who follow their own caprice and wish for God.� Whoever fancies that he will reach the Sought by toil and by seeking the Sought is a drudge.Shaykh al-Islām Anṣārī said, �He is not found by seeking, but the seeker finds. Until he finds Him, he will not seek. Whatever can be found by seeking is of little worth. The servant finds the Real before the seeking, but for him seeking is the earliest step. The recognizer finds seeking from finding, not finding from seeking. In the same way, the obedient person finds obedience from self-purification, not self-purification from obedience; he finds the cause from the meaning, not the meaning from the cause. O God, since finding You is before the seeking and the seeker, I am seeking because unsettledness has overpowered me. The seeker is seeking and the Sought is obtained before the seeking. This is a most marvelous business! What is even more marvelous isthat finding has become hard cash when seeking has not yet arisen. The Real is seen but the curtain of exaltedness is in place.�You are a sea of loveliness, a wave of beauty, the law of generous acts, the essence of life.The lovers seeking You are full of longing like Alexander seeking the water of life.It has also been said that the meaning of the verse is this: �You wish for the station of the masters without traveling in their path, clinging to their conduct, and practicing their practices.�4 You want the state of the great ones, but you have not gone on the great ones' road. You search for the Kaabah of union with eyes that have not undertaken struggle. You see the great good fortune of the friends, but you have not seen their tribulation.
Disparity, i.e. the difference between individuals in this world, is in accordance with God’s creation plan. Some are physically and mentally less endowed than others; some are born in favourable and some in unfavourable conditions; some have powerful resources and some barely exist with just minimal resources. The latter become jealous of the former, finding them in a superior position. This situation leads to envy, enmity and conflict in social life. But it is totally wrong to make an assessment of oneself or of others judging solely by externals, as these are of importance only in this world. One receives them only to leave them behind. The issues of real importance, i.e. success and achievement in the Hereafter, have nothing to do with worldly possessions. Success in the Hereafter depends rather on those actions which have been performed in this world with the sole intention of seeking God’s pleasure. It is, therefore, most wise to insulate oneself from envy, and to pray to God for strength, and to continue to direct one’s efforts towards success in the Hereafter. Wherever a group of people live together, whether as a family or as a country, it is necessary to have a leader to take charge. Authority will undisputedly rest in one single person. According to God’s plan for this world, man has been chosen to become the head of the family and has been endowed with the inborn abilities needed to discharge this responsibility. The biological and physiological differences between man and woman are in conformity with God’s creation plan. If there are some who wish to go against God’s plan, they will only cause perversion and discord. For, nature will continue to go ahead creating men and women according to the divine scheme of things, whereby men will be endowed with the qualities needed as protectors and guardians and women will have the quality of submission to be able to assist them without prejudice to the faculties that nature has endowed them with. But, if men and women are given opposite and conflicting roles to perform in social activities, the result will be nothing but perversion in social life.
In the injunctions of inheritance appearing previously, it was mentioned that, given the conditions, for a male there is a share equal to that of two females. There are other proved aspects of male precedence as well. So, Sayyidah Umm Salmah رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہا once said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ Our share in the inheritance is half. Then, there are such and such elements of difference between us and men...'
Her purpose was not to raise an objection. Rather, she wished to be a man and to deserve the merits restricted for men. There were other women who wished: Had we been men, we would have taken part in Jihad and the merit of Jihad would have been ours.'
A woman asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ 'A man gets a double share in the inheritance and the witness of a woman is half as compared with a man - does that mean that we shall be getting a half reward for all of our acts of worship?' Thereupon, the present verse was revealed in which an answer to both these statements has been given. The answer to Sayyidah Umm Salmah ؓ was given by 'and do not covet...' and the answer to the last-mentioned woman was given by 'for men there is a share...'
Coveting the Unacquirable
In this verse (32), coveting things, traits and merits given to others has been prohibited, for they are not acquirable by effort. The reason is that when a man finds himself lacking in wealth, comfort, beauty, merit, knowledge and similar other states of being, he naturally experiences a surge of envy which urges him to come, at least, at par with that person, or, if possible, be ahead. But, he does not always have the capability or power to make his wish come true because there are merits and excellences which have nothing to do with man's own efforts and acquisitions. They are simply the blessings of nature, for example, being a man or being the scion of a prophet's family or having been born in the family of a ruler or having been born beautiful. So, one who does not have access to these blessings - can never obtain them by effort even-if he were to spend a whole life-time devoted to that pursuit. A woman cannot become a man, nor can one choose to be born in the family of a prophet, or change his physique - become tall and handsome, acquire All beautiful features of his choice - because, this is not within his power. He simply cannot acquire these in the real sense, no matter how much he struggles with his medicines, treatments and devices. Consequently, when he finds himself incapable of matching the other person, his inner self starts playing with the idea that it would be wonderful if such blessings were snatched away from him (the other person) as well, so that, he too becomes either equal or lower than him. This is envy, a terribly, shameful and damaging trait of human morals, which is the cause of so many disputes, disturbances, killings and ravages in this world.
This verse of the Holy Qur'an closes the doors of disorders by saying: وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوْا مَا فَضَّلَ اللَّـهُ بِهِ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ. It means that Allah Almighty, in His infinite wisdom, has blessed people with all sorts of merits and excellences. He gave someone a particular quality, then gave someone else yet another quality; less to some, more to some others. In this matter, everyone. should rest pleased with his or her destiny and stay clear from the envious desire to become the possessor of the other person's merits and excellences, for the end-result of this game of desires is nothing but a biting sense of personal loss, and of course, that awful sin of envy.
It may sound a little simple, but the truth of the matter is that anyone Allah Almighty elects to be a man should be grateful for it, and anyone He elects to be a woman should be pleased with being just that, realizing that, had she been a man, may be, she could have failed to fulfill the responsibilities placed on a man, and would have thus ended up being a sinner. Then, anyone created beautiful by Allah Almighty should be all the more grateful for having been so blessed; and, anyone lesser in looks should also not grieve thinking of the good that may lie hidden behind this destiny, for being blessed with beauty does not necessarily guarantee good. It might have the recipient land into some unwelcome state of trial or corruption. Again, anyone who is a true lineal descendant of the Holy Prophet ﷺ should thank Allah Almighty for the great blessing of this lineal connection; and, anyone who does not have this connection should neither worry about it, nor should he go about longing for it, because this is something which cannot be acquired by effort, and if one still insists on coveting it, what he would get involved with will be nothing but sin and the gain he would make would be nothing but a broken heart and an aching soul. So, rather than pine for a lineage one does not have, the best policy is to think about one's own doings. Let these be good and righteous. Once a person enhances himself with such spiritual strengths, he can be ahead of those with higher or better lineage.
Striving to excel others in good deeds is different
There are verses of the Holy Qur'an and the sayings of the noble Prophet ﷺ which exhort people to excel each other in good deeds. In other words, this is an open field in which it is all right to look at the trail of merits and excellence left by others. Indeed, people have been persuaded to make all possible efforts to acquire them. Now, this relates to deeds within man's control, and which can be acquired by learning, training and working. For example, if a person is impressed with someone's intellectual merits, practical life and excel-lent morals, he can, by all means, strive to acquire these qualities. This is very desirable, and praiseworthy. As such, the present verse does not contradict it. In fact, the later part of the same verse (32), that is لِّلرِّجَالِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبُوا ۖ وَلِلنِّسَاءِ نَصِيبٌ مِّمَّا اكْتَسَبْ , is actually supporting this view. It means that men will get a share of what they acquired with their effort and conduct, and the same will be true for women who will get a share of what they acquired with their effort and conduct. One is not likely to miss the hint here - that effort and struggle in the acquisition of merits and perfections do not go waste. On the contrary, every man and woman will definitely get a return, a share of his or her effort. From here, we also know that desiring to have someone's intellectual-moral excellence as combined with his model practical conduct, and then going ahead to see the fruition of these desires through effort and struggle, is certainly desirable and praiseworthy. Removed in the process here is an error which is committed by a lot of people who tend to do things not knowing what they are doing. Some of them become so devoted to their desire to acquire merits which cannot be acquired that they ruin their otherwise peaceful life right here in this mortal world. And if, bad come to worse, they are fired with envy, that is, they start wishing - 'if I do not have this blessing, may this be taken away from the other' - then, the very chances of salvation in the life to come also stand destroyed because of the grave sin of envy committed by him.
Moreover, there are another kind of people as well who lack courage, avoid action, or just have no sense of honour and shame, who do not even try to acquire merits which can be acquired. Such people, when approached with good counsel, would come back immediately, blaming their destiny and fate which is no more than an effort to camouflage their own timidity and inertia. The present verse has resolved this problem by stating a wise and just rule which is: Man's effort is ineffective in acquiring merits which he does not control, such as, being high-born or handsome. Merits like these should be resigned to fate and one must be content with the divinely determined state he is in, and be grateful to Allah Almighty. Coveting anymore than that is absurd, ineffectual, meddlesome - an act which leaves behind nothing but a handful of sorrows.
As for merits which can be acquired by effort, wishing to have them is useful, only if such a wish is supported by the necessary struggle to achieve. Let us keep in mind that the verse carries the promise that the effort so made will not be wasted and everyone will get a share of what he or she worked for.
Referring back to injunctions prohibiting. the unjust use of someone's property and the unjust taking of someone's life (29), Tafsir al-Bahr al-Mishit points out that this verse aims to seal the very source of these crimes, and it is for this purpose that instructions have been given to stop people from coveting others who are ahead of them in wealth, comfort or influence. A little thought will reveal that theft, robbery and other illegitimate ways of usurping someone's property, or to kill and destroy, are crimes which sprout from one particular emotional attitude. A person, when he finds the other ahead of him in wealth and other material acquisitions, first feels the pinch in his heart wishing to come at par with him, or even wishes to become superior to him. Then, it is the intensity of this desire which pushes him all the way to go ahead and commit these crimes. The Holy Qur'an, as said earlier, has blocked the source of these crime by blocking the very desire of the unacquirables and the unobtainables of life.
To ask for Allah's grace is the ideal way
After that, the verse moves on to instruct by saying: وَاسْأَلُوا اللَّـهَ مِن فَضْلِهِ ; (And pray to Allah for His grace). It means, 'when you see someone excel in one or the other graces of life,' the ideal conduct is, 'not to wish to come at par with the other person in respect of that particular excellence, but that you should pray to Allah asking for graces and blessings. from Him.' The reason is that Allah's grace appears in different forms for everyone. For some, wealth is a blessing from God for, if they were to become paupers, they might have fallen victims to sin and disbelief. For some others, grace lies in the very pecuniary circum-stances they are in, for if they were to turn rich, they might have succumbed to thousands of sins. Similarly, for some, grace appears in the form of power and influence, while for some others, the unremembered and the unattended, the grace of Allah manifests itself in that very state. A look at the reality of things around would have told him that power and influence, if these were to be his lot, might have caused his falling into many a sin. Therefore, the verse instructs - when you ask Allah, do not ask for some fixed quality of life, instead, ask for His grace so that He, in his His infinite wisdom, opens the doors of His blessings on you.
Trust His Wisdom and Knowledge
The verse concludes by saying: إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا (Surely, Allah is All-Knowing in respect of everything.) Here, the hint is that the arrangement of things made by Allah Almighty is the very quintessence of wisdom and justice. Whoever has been created and sustained in whatever condition it may be is an arrangement perfectly matched with the ideal demand of wisdom and justice. But, man is not fully aware of the consequences of what he does. This is something only Allah knows best and thus He also knows how suitable it is to keep anyone in a given condition.
The law of inheritance: Reiteration of the wisdom in it
While describing the background in which the present verse was revealed, which appears in the introductory remarks preceding the Commentary, it was stated that some women, when they found out that men have beers given a share equal to that of two women, wished they were men so that they too would be getting a doubled share. In a relevant manner, the law of inheritance was reiterated in the second verse (33) and it was tersely said that all shares determined therein are based on perfect wisdom and justice. Since human reason cannot encompass the totality of factors that contribute to the order or disorder of the created universe, it is obvious that it cannot arrive precisely at those elements of wisdom which have been taken Into consideration in determining the laws of Allah Almighty. Therefore, whosoever has been allotted whatsoever share should be pleased with it, and be grateful for it.
Inheriting through pledge
The giving of a share on the basis of a pledge mentioned at the end of verse 33 refers to a practice during the initial period of Islam. This was later abrogated by the verse وَأُولُو الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ (As for the womb - relatives, some of them are closer to some...) (33:6) Now, if other heirs exist, a pledge or mutual contract between two parties does not affect the inheritance in any manner whatsoever.
(And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others) Allah says: a man should not covet the wealth, mount or wife of his brother nor, in fact, anything that his brother may possess. Rather you should ask of Allah abundant bounty and say: �O Allah provide us with the like of, or better than, what you have provided him with�, while consigning the matter to Allah. It is also said that this verse was revealed about Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (pbuh) because she said to him: �if only it is prescribed unto us as it is prescribed unto men so that we get rewarded as men do�. Allah prohibited such talk, saying: covet not the thing in which Allah has made a group of you excel over others, such as praying in congregation, attending the Friday Prayer, participating in military expeditions, jihad, enjoining good and forbidding evil. In this verse (some of you) and (others) refers to men and women. Allah then explained the reward that men and women earn for their works, saying: (Unto men a fortune) a reward (from that which they have earned) of works of goodness, (and unto women a fortune) a reward (from that which they have earned) of works of goodness in their homes. (But ask Allah of His bounty) Ask Allah to give you success and protection. (Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things) good and bad, reward and punishment, success and otherwise.