The Table, The Table Spread — Verse 98

Water Game is Allowed for the Muhrim Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, Sa`id bin Jubayr and others commented on Allah's statement; أُحِلَّ لَكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَحْرِ (Lawful to you is (the pursuit of) water game...) that it means, what one eats fresh from it, while, وَطَعَامُهُ (And its use for food) what is eaten dry and salted. Ibn `Abbas said that `water game' refers to what is taken from water while still alive, while, وَطَعَامُهُ (and its use for food) refers to what the water throws ashore dead. Similar statements were reported from Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, Zayd bin Thabit, `Abdullah bin `Amr, Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari, `Ikrimah, Abu Salamah bin `Abdur-Rahman, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Allah's statement, مَتَـعاً لَّكُمْ وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ (for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel,) as food and provision for you, وَلِلسَّيَّارَةِ (and those who travel, ) those who are in the sea and traveling along the sea, according to `Ikrimah. Other scholars said that water game is allowed for those who fish it from the sea, as well as, when it is salted and used as food for travelers inland. A similar statement was reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and As-Suddi and others. Imam Malik bin Anas recorded that Jabir bin `Abdullah said, "Allah's Messenger sent an army towards the east coast and appointed Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah as their commander, and the army consisted of three hundred men, including myself. We marched on until we reached a place where our food was about to finish. Abu `Ubaydah ordered us to collect all the food for our journey, and it was collected in two bags of dates. Abu `Ubaydah kept on giving us our daily ration in small amounts from it, until it was exhausted. The share of each of us used to be one date only." I (one of the narrators from Jabir) said, "How could one date suffice for you" Jabir replied, "We came to know its value when even that finished." Jabir added, "When we reached the seashore, we saw a huge fish which was like a small mountain. The army ate from it for eighteen days. Then Abu `Ubaydah ordered that two of its ribs be affixed in the ground. Then he ordered that a she-camel be ridden, and it passed under the two ribs (forming an arch) without touching them." This Hadith was also collected in the Two Sahihs. eMalik recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "A man asked Allah's Messenger ﷺ, `O Allah's Messenger! We go to sea and carry little water with us. If we use it for Wudu', we get thirsty, so should we use seawater for Wudu" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «هُوَ الطَّهُورُ مَاؤُهُ الْحِلُّ مَيْتَتُه» (Its water is pure and its dead are lawful)." The two Imams, Ash-Shafi`i and Ahmad bin Hanbal, recorded this Hadith, along with the Four Sunan compilers. Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih. This Hadith was also recorded from the Prophet by several other Companions. Hunting Land Game is Prohibited During Ihram Allah said, وَحُرِّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ صَيْدُ الْبَرِّ مَا دُمْتُمْ حُرُماً (but forbidden is land game as long as you are in a state of Ihram.) Therefore, hunting land game during Ihram is not allowed, and if someone who is in the state of Ihram hunts, he will have to pay expiation, along with the sin he earns if he does it intentionally. If he hunts by mistake, he will have to pay the expiation and is not allowed to eat from it, because this type of game is just like dead animals, be he a Muhrim or a non-Muhrim. If someone who is not in the state of Ihram hunts and gives the food to a Muhrim, the Muhrim is not allowed to eat from its meat if it was killed for him in particular. As-Sa`b bin Jaththamah said that he gave a zebra as a gift to the Prophet in the area of Waddan or Abwa', the Prophet gave it back. When the Prophet saw the effect of his returning the gift on As-Sa`b's face, he said, «إِنَّا لَمْ نَرُدَّهُ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا أَنَّا حُرُم» (We only gave it back to you because we are in a state of Ihram.) This Hadith was collected in the Two Sahihs. The Prophet thought that As-Sa`b hunted the zebra for him, and this is why he refused to take it. Otherwise, the Muhrim is allowed to eat from the game if one who is not in Ihram hunts it. For when Abu Qatadah hunted a zebra when he was not a Muhrim and offered it to those who were in the state of Ihram, they hesitated to eat from it. They asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he said, «هَلْ كَانَ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدٌ أَشَارَ إِلَيْهَا أَوْ أَعَانَ فِي قَتْلِهَا» (Did any of you point at it or help kill it) They said, "No." He said, «فَكُلُوا» (Then eat,) and he also ate from it. This Hadith is also in the Two Sahihs with various wordings. Ibn Kathir only mentioned Ayat 96 to 99 here and explained the better part of Ayah number 96, but he did not mention the explanation of the rest of that Ayah or the other Ayat (97 to 99). This is the case in all of the copies of his Tafsir in existence, and he might have forgotten to do that, for it is less likely that all who copied this book forgot to copy only this part. So we used a summary of the Tafsir of these Ayat from the Imam of Tafsir, Ibn Jarir At-Tabari. We tried to summarize At-Tabari's eloquent words to the best of our ability, by Allah's help and leave. وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ الَّذِى إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَV (And have Taqwa of Allah to Whom you shall be gathered back. ) Allah says, fear Allah, O people, and beware of His might, by obeying what He commands you and avoiding what He prohibits for you in these Ayat revealed to your Prophet . These Ayat forbid Khamr, gambling, Al-Ansab and Al-Azlam, along with hunting land game and killing it while in the state of Ihram. To Allah will be your return and destination, and He will punish you for disobeying Him and will reward you for obeying Him. جَعَلَ اللَّهُ الْكَعْبَةَ الْبَيْتَ الْحَرَامَ قِيَاماً لّلنَّاسِ (Allah has made the Ka`bah, the Sacred House, an asylum of security and benefits for mankind,) Allah says, Allah made the Ka`bah, the Sacred House, an asylum of safety for the people who have no chief to prevent the strong from transgressing against the weak, the evil from the good-doers, and the oppressors from the oppressed. وَالشَّهْرَ الْحَرَامَ وَالْهَدْىَ وَالْقَلَـئِدَ (And also the Sacred Month and the animals of offerings and the garlanded.) Allah says that He made these symbols an asylum of safety for the people, just as He made the Ka`bah an asylum of safety for them, so that He distinguishes them from each other, for this is their asylum and symbol for their livelihood and religion. Allah made the Ka`bah, the Sacred Month, the Hady, the garlanded animals and people an asylum of safety for the Arabs who used to consider these symbols sacred. Thus, these symbols were just like the chief who is obeyed by his followers, and who upholds harmony and public safety. As for the Ka`bah, it includes the entire sacred boundary. Allah termed it "Haram" because He prohibited hunting its game and cutting its trees or grass. Similarly, the Ka`bah, the Sacred Month, the animals of offerings and the garlands were the landmarks of existing Arabs. These symbols were sacred during the time of Jahiliyyah and the people's affairs were guided and protected by them. With Islam they became the symbols of their Hajj, their rituals, and the direction of the prayer. i.e., the Ka`bah in Makkah. ذلِكَ لِتَعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (that you may know that Allah has knowledge of all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and that Allah is the All-Knower of each and everything.) Allah says; O people, I made these symbols an asylum for you, so that you know that He Who made these symbols that benefit your life and provide you with security, also knows everything in the heavens and earth that brings about your immediate or eventual benefit. Know that He has perfect knowledge of everything and that none of your deeds or affairs ever escapes His observation; and He will count them for you so that He rewards those who do good with the same and those who do evil in kind. اعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (Know that Allah is severe in punishment and that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) Allah says, know that your Lord, Who has perfect knowledge of whatever is in the heavens and earth, and Who is never unaware of your deeds - public or secret - is severe in punishment for those who disobey and defy Him. He also pardons the sins of those who obey and repent to Him, more Merciful than to punish them for the sins that they repented from. مَّا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلاَّ الْبَلَـغُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ (The Messenger's duty is but to convey. And Allah knows all that you reveal and all that you conceal.) This is a warning from Allah for His servants in which He says: Our Messenger ﷺ, whom We sent to you, has only to convey Our Message and then the reward for the obedience, and punishment for the disobedience is on Us. The obedience of those who accept Our Message never escapes Our knowledge, just as in the case of those who disobey and defy Our Message. We know what one of you does, demonstrates physically, announces, and utters with his tongue, and what you hide in your hearts, be it of faith, disbelief, certainty, doubt or hypocrisy. He Who is so capable, then nothing that the hearts conceal, nor any of the apparent acts of the souls in the heavens and earth could escape His knowledge. In His Hand, alone, is the reward and punishment, and He is worthy to be feared, obeyed and never disobeyed.

Know that God is severe in punishment of His enemies and that God is Forgiving to His friends Merciful to them.

Know that God is intense in punishment and that God is forgiving, ever-merciful. He is intense in punishment toward the enemies and forgiving, ever-merciful toward the friends.5 The intense in punishment is severity and harshness toward the enemies. The forgiving, ever- merciful is caresses and generosity for the friends. He combined severity and gentleness in one verse so that the servant would live in fear and hope between severity and gentleness. When he looks at severity, he fears, and when he sees gentleness, he hopes. Fear is the fortress of faith, the antidote to caprice, and the weapon of the faithful. Hope is the steed of service, the supplies for striving, and the provision of worship. It has also been said that the servant's faith and certainty have two wings: fear and hope. How can a bird fly with one wing? In the same way, the faithful cannot travel the road of the religion in fear without hope or in hope without fear. True faith is like a balance: One pan is fear, the other pan hope, and the beam is love. The pans are hung from knowledge. Just as a balance must have pans, so hope and fear must have knowledge, which is why He put Know that at the beginning of the verse. Fear without knowledge is the fear of the Khawarij, hope without knowledge is the hope of the Murji'ah, and love without knowledge is the love of libertines.

Know that God is intense in punishment and that God is forgiving, ever-merciful. He is intense in punishment toward the enemies and forgiving, ever-merciful toward the friends.5 The intense in punishment is severity and harshness toward the enemies. The forgiving, ever- merciful is caresses and generosity for the friends. He combined severity and gentleness in one verse so that the servant would live in fear and hope between severity and gentleness. When he looks at severity, he fears, and when he sees gentleness, he hopes. Fear is the fortress of faith, the antidote to caprice, and the weapon of the faithful. Hope is the steed of service, the supplies for striving, and the provision of worship. It has also been said that the servant's faith and certainty have two wings: fear and hope. How can a bird fly with one wing? In the same way, the faithful cannot travel the road of the religion in fear without hope or in hope without fear. True faith is like a balance: One pan is fear, the other pan hope, and the beam is love. The pans are hung from knowledge. Just as a balance must have pans, so hope and fear must have knowledge, which is why He put Know that at the beginning of the verse. Fear without knowledge is the fear of the Khawarij, hope without knowledge is the hope of the Murji'ah, and love without knowledge is the love of libertines.

Know that God is intense in punishment and that God is forgiving, ever-merciful. He is intense in punishment toward the enemies and forgiving, ever-merciful toward the friends.5 The intense in punishment is severity and harshness toward the enemies. The forgiving, ever- merciful is caresses and generosity for the friends. He combined severity and gentleness in one verse so that the servant would live in fear and hope between severity and gentleness. When he looks at severity, he fears, and when he sees gentleness, he hopes. Fear is the fortress of faith, the antidote to caprice, and the weapon of the faithful. Hope is the steed of service, the supplies for striving, and the provision of worship. It has also been said that the servant's faith and certainty have two wings: fear and hope. How can a bird fly with one wing? In the same way, the faithful cannot travel the road of the religion in fear without hope or in hope without fear. True faith is like a balance: One pan is fear, the other pan hope, and the beam is love. The pans are hung from knowledge. Just as a balance must have pans, so hope and fear must have knowledge, which is why He put Know that at the beginning of the verse. Fear without knowledge is the fear of the Khawarij, hope without knowledge is the hope of the Murji'ah, and love without knowledge is the love of libertines.

Know that God is intense in punishment and that God is forgiving, ever-merciful. He is intense in punishment toward the enemies and forgiving, ever-merciful toward the friends.5 The intense in punishment is severity and harshness toward the enemies. The forgiving, ever- merciful is caresses and generosity for the friends. He combined severity and gentleness in one verse so that the servant would live in fear and hope between severity and gentleness. When he looks at severity, he fears, and when he sees gentleness, he hopes. Fear is the fortress of faith, the antidote to caprice, and the weapon of the faithful. Hope is the steed of service, the supplies for striving, and the provision of worship. It has also been said that the servant's faith and certainty have two wings: fear and hope. How can a bird fly with one wing? In the same way, the faithful cannot travel the road of the religion in fear without hope or in hope without fear. True faith is like a balance: One pan is fear, the other pan hope, and the beam is love. The pans are hung from knowledge. Just as a balance must have pans, so hope and fear must have knowledge, which is why He put Know that at the beginning of the verse. Fear without knowledge is the fear of the Khawarij, hope without knowledge is the hope of the Murji'ah, and love without knowledge is the love of libertines.

Know that God is intense in punishment and that God is forgiving, ever-merciful.He is intense in punishment toward the enemies and forgiving, ever-merciful toward the friends.5 The intense in punishment is severity and harshness toward the enemies. The forgiving, ever-merciful is caresses and generosity for the friends. He combined severity and gentleness in one verse so that the servant would live in fear and hope between severity and gentleness. When he looks at severity, he fears, and when he sees gentleness, he hopes. Fear is the fortress of faith, the antidote to caprice, and the weapon of the faithful. Hope is the steed of service, the supplies for striving, and the provision of worship.It has also been said that the servant's faith and certainty have two wings: fear and hope. How can a bird fly with one wing? In the same way, the faithful cannot travel the road of the religion in fear without hope or in hope without fear. True faith is like a balance: One pan is fear, the other pan hope, and the beam is love. The pans are hung from knowledge. Just as a balance must have pans, so hope and fear must have knowledge, which is why He put Know that at the beginning of the verse. Fear without knowledge is the fear of the Khawarij, hope without knowledge is the hope of the Murji'ah, and love without knowledge is the love of libertines.

اعلموا -أيها الناس- أن الله جل وعلا شديد العقاب لمن عصاه، وأن الله غفور رحيم لمن تاب وأناب.

ثم قال تعالى:" يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" هذا تأديب من الله تعالى لعباده المؤمنين ونهى لهم عن أن يسألوا عن أشياء مما لا فائدة لهم في السؤال والتنقيب عنها لأنها إن أظهرت لهم تلك الأمور ربما ساءتهم وشق عليهم سماعها كما جاء في الحديث أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال "لا يبلغني أحد عن أحد شيئا إني أحب أن أخرج إليكم وأنا سليم الصدر" وقال البخاري: حدثنا منذر بن الوليد بن0 عبدالرحمن الجارودي حدثنا أبي حدثنا شعبة عن موسى بن أنس عن أنس بن مالك قال: خـطب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم خطبة ما سمعت مثلها قط وقال فيها "لو تعلمون ما أعلم لضحكتم قليلا ولبكيتم كثيرا" قال فغطى أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وجوههم لهم حَنين فقال رجل من أبي؟ قال فلان فنزلت هذه الآية" لا تسألوا عن أشياء" رواه النضر وروح بن عبادة عن شعبة وقد رواه البخاري في غير هذا الموضع ومسلم وأحمد والترمذي والنسائي من طرق عن شعبة بن الحجاج به. و قال ابن جرير: حدثنا بشر حدثنا يزيد حدثنا سعيد عن قتادة في قوله "يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" الآية قال فحدثنا أن أنس بن مالك حدثه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم سألوه حتى أحفوه بالمسألة فخرج عليهم ذات يوم فصعد المنبر فقال "لا تسألوني اليوم عن شيء إلا بينته لكم" فأشفق أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يكون بين يدي أمر قد حضر فجعلت لا ألتفت يمينا ولا شمالا إلا وجدت كلا لافا رأسه في ثوبه يبكي فأنشأ رجل كان يلاحي فيدعي إلى غير أبيه فقال يا نبي الله من أبي؟ قال "أبوك حذافة" قال ثم قام عمر أو قال فأنشأ عمر فقال رضينا بالله ربا وبالإسلام دينا وبمحمد رسولا عائذا بالله أو قال أعوذ بالله من شر الفتن قال: وقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "لم أر في الخير والشر كاليوم قط صورت الجنة والنار حتى رأيتهما دون الحائط " أخرجاه من طريق سعيد ورواه معمر عن الزهري عن أنس بنحو ذلك أو قريبا منه. قال الزهري: فقالت أم عبدالله بن حذافة ما رأيت ولدا أعق منك قط أكنت تأمن أن تكون أمك قد قارفت ما قارف أهل الجاهلية فتفضحها على رءوس الناس فقال والله لو ألحقني بعبد أسود للحقته. وقال ابن جرير أيضا: حدثنا الحارث حدثنا عبدالعزيز حدثنا قيس عن أبي حصين عن أبي صالح عن أبي هريرة قال: خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو غضبان محمار وجهه حتى جلس على المنبر فقام إليه رجل فقال: أين أنا قال "في النار" فقام آخر فقال من أبي؟ فقال "أبوك حذافة" فقام عمر بن الخطاب فقال: رضينا بالله ربا وبالإسلام دينا وبمحمد صلى الله عليه وسلم نبيا وبالقرآن إماما إنا يا رسول الله حديثو عهد بجاهلية وشرك والله أعلم من آباؤنا قال فسكن غضبه ونزلت هذه الآية" يا أيها الذين آمنو لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" الآية إسناده جيد وقد ذكر هذه القصة مرسلة غير واحد من السلف منهم أسباط عن السدي أنه قال في قوله تعالى" يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" قال غضب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوما من الأيام فقام خطيبا فقال "سلوني فإنكم لا تسألوني عن شيء إلا أنبأتكم به" فقام إليه رجل من قريش من بني سهم يقال له عبدالله بن حذافة وكان يطعن فيه فقال يا رسول الله من أبي؟ فقال "أبوك فلان" فدعاه لأبيه. فقام إليه عمر بن الخطاب فقبّل رجله وقال: يا رسول الله رضينا بالله ربا وبك نبيا وبالإسلام دينا وبالقرآن إماما فاعف عنا عفا الله عنك فلم يزل به حتى رضي فيومئذ قال "الولد للفراش وللعاهر الحجر" ثم قال البخاري حدثنا الفضل بن سهل حدثنا أبو النضر حدثنا أبو خيثمة حدثنا أبو الجويرية عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: كان قوم يسألون رسول الله- صلى الله عليه وسلم- استهزاءً فيقول الرجل من أبي؟ ويقول الرجل تضل ناقته أين ناقتي؟ فأنزل الله فيهم هذه الآية" يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" حتى فرغ من الآية كلها تفرد به البخاري. وقال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا منصور بن وردان الأسدي حدثنا علي بن عبدالأعلى عن أبيه عن أبي البختري وهو سعيد بن فيروز عن علي قال: لما نزلت هذه الآية" ولله على الناس حج البيت من استطاع إليه سبيلا" قالوا: يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أفي كل عام؟ فسكت قال: ثم قالوا أفي كل عام ؟ فقال "لا ولو قلت نعم لوجبت ولو وجبت لما استطعتم" فأنزل الله" يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" الآية وكذا رواه الترمذي وابن ماجه من طريق منصور بن وردان به وقال الترمذي: غريب من هذا الوجه وسمعت البخاري يقول أبو البختري لم يدرك عليا وقال ابن جرير: حدثنا أبو كريب حدثنا عبدالرحيم بن سليمان عن إبراهيم بن مسلم الهجري عن أبي عياض عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إن الله كتب عليكم الحج" فقال رجل أفي كل عام يا رسول الله؟ فأعرض عنه حتى عاد مرتين أو ثلاثا فقال "من السائل ؟ " فقال فلان فقال "والذي نفسي بيده لو قلت نعم لوجبت ولو وجبت عليكم ما أطقتموه ولو تركتموه لكفرتم" فأنزل الله عز وجل" يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" حتى ختم الآية. ثم رواه ابن جرير من طريق الحسين بن واقد عن محمد بن زياد عن أبي هريرة وقال فقام محصن الأسدي وفي رواية من هذه الطريق عكاشة بن محصن وهو أشبه وإبراهيم بن مسلم الهجري ضعيف. وقال ابن جرير أيضا: حدثني زكريا بن يحيي بن أبان المصري حدثنا أبو زيد عبدالعزيز أبي الغمر حدثنا ابن مطيع- معاوية بن يحيي- عن صفوان بن عمرو حدثني سليم بن عامر قال: سمعت أبا أمامة الباهلي يقول: قام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الناس فقال "كتب عليكم الحج" فقام رجل من الأعراب فقال: أفي كل عام ؟ قال فعلا كلام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأسكت وأغضب واستغضب ومكث طويلا ثم تكلم فقال "من السائل؟ " فقال الأعرابي أنا ذا فقال "ويحك ماذا يؤمنك أن أقول نعم والله لو قلت نعم لوجبت ولو وجبت لكفرتم ألا إنه إنما أهلك الذين من قبلكم أئمة الحرج والله لو أني أحللت لكم جميع ما في الأرض وحرمت عليكم منها موضع خف لوقعتم فيه" قال فأنزل الله عند ذلك" يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تسألوا عن أشياء إن تبد لكم تسؤكم" إلى آخر الآية في إسناده ضعف وظاهر الآية النهي عن السؤال عن الأشياء التي إذا علم بها الشخص ساءته فالأولى الإعراض عنها وتركها وما أحسن الحديث الذي رواه الإمام أحمد حيث قال: حدثنا حجاج قال: سمعت إسرائيل بن يونس عن الوليد بن أبي هاشم مولى الهمداني عن زيد بن زائد عن عبدالله بن مسعود قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لأصحابه "لا يبلغني أحد عن أحد شيئا فإني أحب أن أخرج إليكم وأنا سليم الصدر" الحديث وقد رواه أبو داود والترمذي من حديث إسرائيل قال أبو داود عن الوليد وقال الترمذي عن إسرائيل عن السدي عن الوليد بن أبي هاشم به ثم قال الترمذي غريب من هذا الوجه وقوله تعالى" وإن تسألوا عنها حين ينزل القرآن تبد لكم" أي وإن تسألوا عن هذه الأشياء التي نهيتم عن السؤال عنها حين ينزل الوحي علي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم تبين لكم وذلك على الله يسير ثم قال" عفا الله عنها" أي عما كان منكم قبل ذلك" والله غفور حليم" وقيل المراد بقوله" وإن تسألوا عنها حين ينزل القرآن تبد لكم" أي لا تسألوا عن أشياء تستأنفون السؤال عنها فلعله قد ينزل بسبب سؤالكم تشديد أو تضييق وقد ورد في الحديث "أعظم المسلمين جرما من سأل عن شيء لم يحرم فحرم من أجل مسألته" ولكن إذا نزل القرآن بها مجملة فسألتم عن بيانها بينت لكم حينئذ لاحتياجكم إليها" عفا الله عنها" أي ما لم يذكره في كتابه فهو مما عفا عنه فاسكتوا أنتم عنها كما سكت عنها وفي الصحيح عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال "ذروني ما تركتكم فإنما أهلك من كان قبلكم كثرة سؤالهم واختلافهم على أنبيائهم" وفي الحديث الصحيح أيضا "إن الله تعالى فرض فرائض فلا تضيعوها وحد حدودا فلا تعتدوها وحرم أشياء فلا تنتهكوها وسكت عن أشياء رحمة بكم غير نسيان فلا تسألوا عنها".

ثم رهب الله - تعالى - عباده من عقابه؛ ورغبهم في ثوابه فقال : ( اعلموا أَنَّ الله شَدِيدُ العقاب وَأَنَّ الله غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ) .أي : اعلموا - أيها الناس - أن الله شديد العقاب لمن انتهك حرماته ، وتجاوز حدوده وأنه - سبحانه - واسع المغفرة والرحمة لمن أطاعه وتاب إليه توبة صادقة .وفي تصدير الآية الكريمة بفعل الأمر ( اعلموا ) تنبيه شديد إلى أهمية ما سيلقى عليهم من أمر أو نهي ، حتى يستقر في قلوبهم ، ويرسخ في نفوسهم ، فيسهل عليهم تنفيذه .وجمع - سبحانه - بين الترهيب والترغيب ، حتى يكون المؤمن بين الرجاء والخوف ، فلا يقنط من رحمة الله ولا يجترئ على ارتكاب ما يغضبه - سبحانه - .

القول في تأويل قوله : اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (98)قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره: اعلموا، أيها الناس، أن ربكم الذي يعلم ما في السموات وما في الأرض, ولا يخف عليه شيء من سرائر أعمالكم وعلانيتها, وهو يُحْصيها عليكم لمجازيكم بها, شديد عقابُه من عصاه وتمرَّد عليه، على معصيته إياه= وهو غفور لذنوب من أطاعه وأنابَ إليه، فساترٌ عليه، وتاركٌ فضيحته بها= رحيم به أن يعاقبه على ما سلف من ذنوبه بعد إنابته وتوبته منها. (108)-----------------الهوامش :(108) انظر تفسير"شديد العقاب" و"غفور" و"رحيم" فيما سلف من فهارس اللغة.

وقوله عز وجل " اعلموا أن الله شديد العقاب وأن الله غفور رحيم " .

استئناف ابتدائي وتذييل لما سبق من حظر الصيد للمحرم وإباحة صيد البحر والامتنان بما جعل للكعبة من النعم عليهم ليطمئنّوا لِما في تشريع تلك الأحكام من تضييق على تصرّفاتهم ليعلموا أنّ ذلك في صلاحهم ، فذيل بالتذكير بأنّ الله منهم بالمرصاد يجازي كل صانع بما صنع من خير أو شر . وافتتاح الجملة ب { اعلموا } للاهتمام بمضمونها كما تقدّم عند قوله تعالى : { واتقوا الله واعلموا أنّكم ملاقوه } في سورة البقرة ( 223 ) . وقد استوفى قوله : إن الله شديد العقاب وأن الله غفور رحيم } أقسام معاملته تعالى فهو شديد العقاب لمن خالف أحكامه وغفور لمن تاب وعمل صالحاً . وافتتاح الجملة بلفظ { اعلموا } للاهتمام بالخبر كما تقدّم عند قوله تعالى : { واعلموا أنّكم ملاقوه } في سورة البقرة ( 223 ) .

{ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ } أي: ليكن هذان العلمان موجودين في قلوبكم على وجه الجزم واليقين، تعلمون أنه شديد العقاب العاجل والآجل على من عصاه، وأنه غفور رحيم لمن تاب إليه وأطاعه.فيثمر لكم هذا العلمُ الخوفَ من عقابه، والرجاءَ لمغفرته وثوابه، وتعملون على ما يقتضيه الخوف والرجاء.

قوله تعالى : اعلموا أن الله شديد العقاب تخويف وأن الله غفور رحيم ترجية ، وقد تقدم هذا المعنى .

It has been recorded in the traditions that when the order regarding Hajj was received, the Prophet Muhammad said in a sermon ‘O, people! Hajj has been made compulsory for you.’ On hearing this, a person from the Banu Asad tribe got up and asked: ‘O, Prophet of God! Is it for every year?’ The Prophet Muhammad was very angry and said, ‘By the Lord in whose hands my life is! Had I said “‘Yes”, it would have become compulsory for every year, and having become compulsory for every year, you would not have been able to perform it every year and thus committed denial of truth.’ So, leave out whatever I leave out. When I order anything to be done, do it, and when I prohibit you from doing anything, don’t do it.’ (Tafsir ibn Kathir).

In the second verse (98), it was said اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ‌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ(Be sure that Allah is severe in punishment and that Allah is Most Forgiving, Very Merciful). This is telling us that the prescribed injunctions of Halal (lawful) and حَرَام haram (unlawful) are based on ideal wisdom and consideration. As long as they are obeyed and followed, they would bring nothing but good for the person who does just that. However, electing to do what is contrary to them is nothing but embracing the worst of curse and punishment. Along with the warning, it was also said that, should someone commit a sin forgetfully or heedlessly, then, Allah Ta` ala does not punish instantly, instead of which, the doors of Allah's forgiveness stay open for those who repent and feel ashamed of what they have done.

(Know that Allah is severe in punishment) towards him who declares lawful that which Allah has made unlawful, (but that Allah (also) is Forgiving) He overlooks mistakes, (Merciful) towards the person who repents.