Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nor can any but God the Creator have created them so why do they not worship Him? Nay but they are not certain of Him for otherwise they would have believed in His Prophet.
أم خَلَقوا السموات والأرض على هذا الصنع البديع؟ بل هم لا يوقنون بعذاب الله، فهم مشركون.
أي أهم خلقوا السموات والأرض؟ وهذا إنكار عليهم في شركهم بالله وهم يعلمون أنه الخالق وحده لا شريك له ولكن عدم إيقانهم هو الذي يحملهم على ذلك.
وقوله : ( بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُونَ ) أى : هم ليسوا على يقين من أمرهم ، وإنما هم يخبطون خبط عشواء ، فهم مع اعترافهم بأن الله - تعالى - هو الذى خلقهم ، إلا أن هذا الاعتراف صار كالعدم ، لأنهم لم يعملوا بموجبه ، من إخلاص العبادة له - تعالى - والإيمان بالحق الذى جاءهم به رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - من عند خالقهم .
( أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضَ ) يقول: أخلقوا السماوات والأرض فيكونوا هم الخالقين, وإنما معنى ذلك: لم يخلقوا السماوات والأرض,( بَل لا يُوقِنُونَ ) يقول: لم يتركوا أن يأتمروا لأمر ربهم, وينتهوا إلى طاعته فيما أمر ونهى, لأنهم خلقوا السموات والأرض, فكانوا بذلك أربابا, ولكنهم فعلوا, لأنهم لا يوقنون بوعيد الله وما أعدّ لأهل الكفر به من العذاب في الآخرة.
( أم خلقوا السماوات والأرض ) فيكونوا هم الخالقين ، ليس الأمر كذلك ( بل لا يوقنون ) .
أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بَلْ لَا يُوقِنُونَ (36({ أَمْ هُمُ الخالقون * أَمْ خَلَقُواْ السماوات والارض } .وهو إضراب انتقال أيضاً ، والاستفهام المقدر بعد { أم } إنكاري ، أي ما هم الخالقون وإذ كانوا لم يدّعوا ذلك فالانكار مرتب على تنزيلهم منزلة من يزعمون أنهم خالقون .وصيغت الجملة في صيغة الحصر الذي طريقهُ تعريف الجُزأَيْن قصراً إضافياً للرد عليهم بتنزيلهم منزلة من يزعم أنهم الخالقون لا الله ، لأنهم عدُّوا من المحال ما هو خارج عن قدرتهم ، فجعلوه خارجاً عن قدرة الله ، فالتقدير : أم هم الخالقون لا نحن . والمعنى : نحن الخالقون لا هم .وحذف مفعول { الخالقون } لقصد العموم ، أي الخالقون للمخلوقات وعلى هذا جرى الطبري وقدره المفسرون عدا الطبري : أم هم الخالقون أنفسَهم كأنهم جعلوا ضمير { أم خلقوا من غير شيء } دليلاً على أن المحذوف اسم مَعاد ذلك الضمير ولا افْتراء في انتفاء أن يكونوا خالقين ، فلذلك لم يُتصدّ إلى الاستدلال على هذا الانتفاء .وجملة { أم خلقوا السموات والأرض } يظهر لي أنها بدل من جملة { أم هم الخالقون } بدلَ مفصَّل من مُجمل إن كان مفعول { الخالقون } المحذوفُ مراداً به العمومُ وكان المراد بالسماء والأرضضِ ذاتيهما مع من فيهما ، أو بَدل بعض من كل أن المراد ذاتي السماوات والأرض ، فيكون تخصيص السماوات والأرض بالذكر لعظم خلقهما .وإعادة حرف { أم } للتأكيد كما يُعاد عامل المبدَل منه فِي البدل ، والمعنى : أم هم الخالقون للسماوات والأرض .والاستفهام إنكاري والكلام كناية عن إثبات أن الله خالق السماوات والأرض .والمعنى : أن الذي خلق السماوات والأرض لا يُعجزه إعادة الأجساد بعد الموت والفناء . وهذا معنى قوله تعالى : { أو لم يروا أن اللَّه الذي خلق السماوات والأرض قادر على أن يخلق مثلهم } [ الإسراء : 99 ] أي أن يخلق أمثال أجسادهم بعد انعدامهم .{ بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُون } .إضراب إبطال على مضمون الجملتين اللتين قبله ، أي لم يُخلقوا من غير شيء ولا خَلقوا السماوات والأرض ، فإن ذلك بينّ لهم فما إنكارهم البعث إلا ناشىء عن عدم إيقانهم في مظانّ الإِيقان وهي الدلائل الدالة على إمكان البعث وأنه ليس أغرب من إيجاد المخلوقات العظيمة ، فما كان إنكارهم إياه إلا عن مكابرة وتصميم على الكفر .والمعنى : أن الأمر لا هَذا ولا ذلك ولكنهم لا يُوقنون بالبعث فهم ينكرونه بدون حجة ولا شبهة بل رانَتْ المكابرة على قلوبهم .
{ أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ } وهذا استفهام يدل على تقرير النفي أي: ما خلقوا السماوات والأرض، فيكونوا شركاء لله، وهذا أمر واضح جدا. ولكن المكذبين { لَا يُوقِنُونَ } أي: ليس عندهم علم تام، ويقين يوجب لهم الانتفاع بالأدلة الشرعية والعقلية.
أم خلقوا السماوات والأرض أي ليس الأمر كذلك فإنهم لم يخلقوا شيئا بل لا يوقنون بالحق
The realities declared on behalf of God, are all perfectly rational and reasonable. If a man pays attention to them, he can easily understand them. So why do people reject them? The reason for this is people’s disbelief in the Hereafter. People do not earnestly and actively believe that they will have to face any reckoning in the Hereafter. So, they are not serious about these matters and as such they are unable to understand them. If a man has a firm belief in the reward for good deeds, he will immediately understand matters which he hitherto found extremely difficult to appreciate.
The Believing Children of the Righteous will benefit from their relationship with their Believing Parents in Paradise
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ (And those who believed and their children followed them in belief, We will join their children with them,... 52:21) Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas ؓ reports from the Holy Prophet ﷺ who said:
"Verily, Allah elevates the ranks of the believers' children to the rank of their parents, even though the latter do not deserve the same rank as their parents deserve, so that the eyes of the parents are comforted." (Hakim, al-Baihaqi in his Sunan, al-Bazzar, Abu Nu'aim in al-Hilyah, ibn-Jarir and ibn-Abi Haim as quoted by Mazhari [ Tr.])
It is recorded in Tabarani that Said Ibn Jubair (رح) reports "Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said, [ and I think he reports this from the Holy Prophet ﷺ :
"When a person enters Paradise, he will inquire about his parents, and wife and children [ as to where they are ]. He will be told that they have not attained your grade. [ Therefore, their place is elsewhere in Paradise ]. The person will say: '0 Lord! I had worked not only for myself, but for all of them.' Allah will command that they all be kept together with him in the same rank of Paradise." (Ibn Kathir)
Hafiz Ibn-Kathir, having quoted all these Traditions, says that it is certainly Allah's grace and favour that He grants the children this blessing because of the righteous deeds of their parents. He also grants His favour to parents on account of their children's praying Allah for them. Imam Ahmad (رح) has recorded that Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ has reported the following statement of the Holy Prophet ﷺ .
"Verily, Allah shall elevate the grade of a righteous servant in Paradise, who will ask: '0 Lord! How did I earn this?' Allah will reply: 'Through your son's invoking Me to forgive you." (ibn-Kathir says that this Tradition has an authentic chain of transmitters, but was not recorded in Sahihain this way. However there is a corroborating narration (shahid) for it in Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah ؓ . [ Tr.])
وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ (...and will not curtail (the reward of) any of their deeds at all...52:21) The past perfect verb alatna is the first person plural of alata which literally means to decrease, to reduce or to diminish (Qurtubi). The verse means that for upgrading the children of the believers who died in the state of true faith, no part of the reward of their parents will be diminished for them to make up for the children's deeds. In fact, this equalization will take place as a result of Allah's grace.
Allah's Fairness to Sinners
كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ (Every person will be pledged for what he earned.) After Allah mentioned His favour of elevating the children to the ranks of their parents, even though the deeds of the former did not qualify them, He affirmed His fairness in that, He does not punish anyone for the sins of others. Therefore, every person will be responsible for his actions. No sins committed by others shall ever be added to one's load, even if committed by his parents or children. (Ibn Kathir)
(Or did they create the heavens and the earth?) It is Allah Who created them. (Nay, but they are sure of nothing!) but they deny Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an.
Affirming Tawhid and annulling the Plots of the Idolators. This is the position where Tawhid of Allah's Lordship andDivinity are affirmed
Allah the Exalted said,
أَمْ خُلِقُواْ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَـلِقُونَ
(Or were they created by nothing Or were they themselves the creators) Allah asks them, were they created without a maker or did they create themselves Neither is true. Allah is the One Who created them and brought them into existence after they were nothing. Al-Bukhari recorded that Jubayr bin Mut`im said, "I heard the Prophet recite Surat At-Tur in Al-Maghrib prayer and when he reached this Ayah,
أَمْ خُلِقُواْ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَـلِقُونَ - أَمْ خَلَقُواْ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُونَ - أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ
(Or were they created by nothing Or were they themselves the creators Or did they create the heavens and the earth Nay, but they have no firm belief. Or are with them the treasures of your Lord Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like), I felt my heart would fly away." This Hadith is collected in the Two Sahihs using various chains of narration. Jubayr bin Mut`im went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ after the battle of Badr to ransom the captured idolators. At that time, he was still an idolator. Hearing the Prophet recite this Ayah was one of the reasons that he later embraced Islam. Allah the Exalted said, o
أَمْ خَلَقُواْ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُونَ
(Or did they create the heavens and the earth Nay, but they have no firm belief.) meaning, Allah is censuring the idolators for their idolatry, while asking them if they created the heavens and earth. They knew that Allah Alone is the Creator without partners with Him. However, they fell into idolatry because they had no firm belief,
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ
(Or are with them the treasures of your Lord Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like) meanings, do they have the authority to do whatever they will in His kingdom Do they hold the keys to His treasures in their hands
أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ
(or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like) meanings, are they the tyrants who would hold the creation to account Never, Allah the Exalted and Most Honored is the Only King and Owner of the existence and He does what He wills. Allah the Exalted said,
أَمْ لَهُمْ سُلَّمٌ يَسْتَمِعُونَ فِيهِ
(Or have they a stairway, by means of which they listen.) meaning, do they have a stairway to heaven (to the place where the angels are),
فَلْيَأْتِ مُسْتَمِعُهُم بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ
(Then let their listener produce some manifest proof.) meaning, let their listener produce evidence to the truth of their actions and statements. They will never be able to do so and therefore, they have nothing and have no evidence for their stance. Allah admonishes them regarding their claim that He has daughters and that the angels are females! The pagans chose for themselves male offspring and preferred them instead of females, and when one of them would be brought the good news of a daughter being born, his face would turn dark on account of his suppressed anger! Yet, they made the angels Allah's daughters and worshipped them besides Allah,
أَمْ لَهُ الْبَنَـتُ وَلَكُمُ الْبَنُونَ
(Or has He only daughters and you have sons) Allah sends a strong warning and stern admonition to them in this Ayah and a sure promise. Allah said,
أَمْ تَسْـَلُهُمْ أَجْراً
(Or is it that you ask a wage from them) meaning, `as a remuneration for your preaching Allah's Message to them Nay, you, do not ask them for a wage,'
فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
(so that they are burdened with a load of debt), meaning, for in this situation, one will complain of the least bothersome thing and feel it difficult and burdensome for him,
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
(Or that the Unseen is with them, and they write it down) means, they do not have knowledge of the Unseen, for none in the heavens or earth knows the Unseen except Allah,
أَمْ يُرِيدُونَ كَيْداً فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هُمُ الْمَكِيدُونَ
(Or do they intend a plot But those who disbelieve are themselves plotted against!) Allah the Exalted is asking, `Do these people who utter such statements about the Messenger ﷺ and his religion seek to deceive the people and plot against the Messenger ﷺ and his Companions If they do, then let them know that their plots will only harm them. Therefore, they are being plotted against rather than being the plotters!'
أَمْ لَهُمْ إِلَـهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ سُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
(Or have they a god other than Allah Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partners (to Him).) This Ayah contains harsh refutation directed at the idolators for worshipping the idols and calling upon rivals along with Allah. Allah next glorifies His Most Honorable Self from what they ascribe to Him, their lies and idolatry,
سُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
(Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partners (to Him).)
Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nor can any but God the Creator have created them so why do they not worship Him? Nay but they are not certain of Him for otherwise they would have believed in His Prophet.
أم خَلَقوا السموات والأرض على هذا الصنع البديع؟ بل هم لا يوقنون بعذاب الله، فهم مشركون.
أي أهم خلقوا السموات والأرض؟ وهذا إنكار عليهم في شركهم بالله وهم يعلمون أنه الخالق وحده لا شريك له ولكن عدم إيقانهم هو الذي يحملهم على ذلك.
وقوله : ( بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُونَ ) أى : هم ليسوا على يقين من أمرهم ، وإنما هم يخبطون خبط عشواء ، فهم مع اعترافهم بأن الله - تعالى - هو الذى خلقهم ، إلا أن هذا الاعتراف صار كالعدم ، لأنهم لم يعملوا بموجبه ، من إخلاص العبادة له - تعالى - والإيمان بالحق الذى جاءهم به رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - من عند خالقهم .
( أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضَ ) يقول: أخلقوا السماوات والأرض فيكونوا هم الخالقين, وإنما معنى ذلك: لم يخلقوا السماوات والأرض,( بَل لا يُوقِنُونَ ) يقول: لم يتركوا أن يأتمروا لأمر ربهم, وينتهوا إلى طاعته فيما أمر ونهى, لأنهم خلقوا السموات والأرض, فكانوا بذلك أربابا, ولكنهم فعلوا, لأنهم لا يوقنون بوعيد الله وما أعدّ لأهل الكفر به من العذاب في الآخرة.
( أم خلقوا السماوات والأرض ) فيكونوا هم الخالقين ، ليس الأمر كذلك ( بل لا يوقنون ) .
أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بَلْ لَا يُوقِنُونَ (36({ أَمْ هُمُ الخالقون * أَمْ خَلَقُواْ السماوات والارض } .وهو إضراب انتقال أيضاً ، والاستفهام المقدر بعد { أم } إنكاري ، أي ما هم الخالقون وإذ كانوا لم يدّعوا ذلك فالانكار مرتب على تنزيلهم منزلة من يزعمون أنهم خالقون .وصيغت الجملة في صيغة الحصر الذي طريقهُ تعريف الجُزأَيْن قصراً إضافياً للرد عليهم بتنزيلهم منزلة من يزعم أنهم الخالقون لا الله ، لأنهم عدُّوا من المحال ما هو خارج عن قدرتهم ، فجعلوه خارجاً عن قدرة الله ، فالتقدير : أم هم الخالقون لا نحن . والمعنى : نحن الخالقون لا هم .وحذف مفعول { الخالقون } لقصد العموم ، أي الخالقون للمخلوقات وعلى هذا جرى الطبري وقدره المفسرون عدا الطبري : أم هم الخالقون أنفسَهم كأنهم جعلوا ضمير { أم خلقوا من غير شيء } دليلاً على أن المحذوف اسم مَعاد ذلك الضمير ولا افْتراء في انتفاء أن يكونوا خالقين ، فلذلك لم يُتصدّ إلى الاستدلال على هذا الانتفاء .وجملة { أم خلقوا السموات والأرض } يظهر لي أنها بدل من جملة { أم هم الخالقون } بدلَ مفصَّل من مُجمل إن كان مفعول { الخالقون } المحذوفُ مراداً به العمومُ وكان المراد بالسماء والأرضضِ ذاتيهما مع من فيهما ، أو بَدل بعض من كل أن المراد ذاتي السماوات والأرض ، فيكون تخصيص السماوات والأرض بالذكر لعظم خلقهما .وإعادة حرف { أم } للتأكيد كما يُعاد عامل المبدَل منه فِي البدل ، والمعنى : أم هم الخالقون للسماوات والأرض .والاستفهام إنكاري والكلام كناية عن إثبات أن الله خالق السماوات والأرض .والمعنى : أن الذي خلق السماوات والأرض لا يُعجزه إعادة الأجساد بعد الموت والفناء . وهذا معنى قوله تعالى : { أو لم يروا أن اللَّه الذي خلق السماوات والأرض قادر على أن يخلق مثلهم } [ الإسراء : 99 ] أي أن يخلق أمثال أجسادهم بعد انعدامهم .{ بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُون } .إضراب إبطال على مضمون الجملتين اللتين قبله ، أي لم يُخلقوا من غير شيء ولا خَلقوا السماوات والأرض ، فإن ذلك بينّ لهم فما إنكارهم البعث إلا ناشىء عن عدم إيقانهم في مظانّ الإِيقان وهي الدلائل الدالة على إمكان البعث وأنه ليس أغرب من إيجاد المخلوقات العظيمة ، فما كان إنكارهم إياه إلا عن مكابرة وتصميم على الكفر .والمعنى : أن الأمر لا هَذا ولا ذلك ولكنهم لا يُوقنون بالبعث فهم ينكرونه بدون حجة ولا شبهة بل رانَتْ المكابرة على قلوبهم .
{ أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ } وهذا استفهام يدل على تقرير النفي أي: ما خلقوا السماوات والأرض، فيكونوا شركاء لله، وهذا أمر واضح جدا. ولكن المكذبين { لَا يُوقِنُونَ } أي: ليس عندهم علم تام، ويقين يوجب لهم الانتفاع بالأدلة الشرعية والعقلية.
أم خلقوا السماوات والأرض أي ليس الأمر كذلك فإنهم لم يخلقوا شيئا بل لا يوقنون بالحق
The realities declared on behalf of God, are all perfectly rational and reasonable. If a man pays attention to them, he can easily understand them. So why do people reject them? The reason for this is people’s disbelief in the Hereafter. People do not earnestly and actively believe that they will have to face any reckoning in the Hereafter. So, they are not serious about these matters and as such they are unable to understand them. If a man has a firm belief in the reward for good deeds, he will immediately understand matters which he hitherto found extremely difficult to appreciate.
The Believing Children of the Righteous will benefit from their relationship with their Believing Parents in Paradise
وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ (And those who believed and their children followed them in belief, We will join their children with them,... 52:21) Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas ؓ reports from the Holy Prophet ﷺ who said:
"Verily, Allah elevates the ranks of the believers' children to the rank of their parents, even though the latter do not deserve the same rank as their parents deserve, so that the eyes of the parents are comforted." (Hakim, al-Baihaqi in his Sunan, al-Bazzar, Abu Nu'aim in al-Hilyah, ibn-Jarir and ibn-Abi Haim as quoted by Mazhari [ Tr.])
It is recorded in Tabarani that Said Ibn Jubair (رح) reports "Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said, [ and I think he reports this from the Holy Prophet ﷺ :
"When a person enters Paradise, he will inquire about his parents, and wife and children [ as to where they are ]. He will be told that they have not attained your grade. [ Therefore, their place is elsewhere in Paradise ]. The person will say: '0 Lord! I had worked not only for myself, but for all of them.' Allah will command that they all be kept together with him in the same rank of Paradise." (Ibn Kathir)
Hafiz Ibn-Kathir, having quoted all these Traditions, says that it is certainly Allah's grace and favour that He grants the children this blessing because of the righteous deeds of their parents. He also grants His favour to parents on account of their children's praying Allah for them. Imam Ahmad (رح) has recorded that Sayyidna Abu Hurairah ؓ has reported the following statement of the Holy Prophet ﷺ .
"Verily, Allah shall elevate the grade of a righteous servant in Paradise, who will ask: '0 Lord! How did I earn this?' Allah will reply: 'Through your son's invoking Me to forgive you." (ibn-Kathir says that this Tradition has an authentic chain of transmitters, but was not recorded in Sahihain this way. However there is a corroborating narration (shahid) for it in Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah ؓ . [ Tr.])
وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ (...and will not curtail (the reward of) any of their deeds at all...52:21) The past perfect verb alatna is the first person plural of alata which literally means to decrease, to reduce or to diminish (Qurtubi). The verse means that for upgrading the children of the believers who died in the state of true faith, no part of the reward of their parents will be diminished for them to make up for the children's deeds. In fact, this equalization will take place as a result of Allah's grace.
Allah's Fairness to Sinners
كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ (Every person will be pledged for what he earned.) After Allah mentioned His favour of elevating the children to the ranks of their parents, even though the deeds of the former did not qualify them, He affirmed His fairness in that, He does not punish anyone for the sins of others. Therefore, every person will be responsible for his actions. No sins committed by others shall ever be added to one's load, even if committed by his parents or children. (Ibn Kathir)
(Or did they create the heavens and the earth?) It is Allah Who created them. (Nay, but they are sure of nothing!) but they deny Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an.
Affirming Tawhid and annulling the Plots of the Idolators. This is the position where Tawhid of Allah's Lordship andDivinity are affirmed
Allah the Exalted said,
أَمْ خُلِقُواْ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَـلِقُونَ
(Or were they created by nothing Or were they themselves the creators) Allah asks them, were they created without a maker or did they create themselves Neither is true. Allah is the One Who created them and brought them into existence after they were nothing. Al-Bukhari recorded that Jubayr bin Mut`im said, "I heard the Prophet recite Surat At-Tur in Al-Maghrib prayer and when he reached this Ayah,
أَمْ خُلِقُواْ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَـلِقُونَ - أَمْ خَلَقُواْ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُونَ - أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ
(Or were they created by nothing Or were they themselves the creators Or did they create the heavens and the earth Nay, but they have no firm belief. Or are with them the treasures of your Lord Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like), I felt my heart would fly away." This Hadith is collected in the Two Sahihs using various chains of narration. Jubayr bin Mut`im went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ after the battle of Badr to ransom the captured idolators. At that time, he was still an idolator. Hearing the Prophet recite this Ayah was one of the reasons that he later embraced Islam. Allah the Exalted said, o
أَمْ خَلَقُواْ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ بَل لاَّ يُوقِنُونَ
(Or did they create the heavens and the earth Nay, but they have no firm belief.) meaning, Allah is censuring the idolators for their idolatry, while asking them if they created the heavens and earth. They knew that Allah Alone is the Creator without partners with Him. However, they fell into idolatry because they had no firm belief,
أَمْ عِندَهُمْ خَزَآئِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ
(Or are with them the treasures of your Lord Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like) meanings, do they have the authority to do whatever they will in His kingdom Do they hold the keys to His treasures in their hands
أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ
(or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like) meanings, are they the tyrants who would hold the creation to account Never, Allah the Exalted and Most Honored is the Only King and Owner of the existence and He does what He wills. Allah the Exalted said,
أَمْ لَهُمْ سُلَّمٌ يَسْتَمِعُونَ فِيهِ
(Or have they a stairway, by means of which they listen.) meaning, do they have a stairway to heaven (to the place where the angels are),
فَلْيَأْتِ مُسْتَمِعُهُم بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ
(Then let their listener produce some manifest proof.) meaning, let their listener produce evidence to the truth of their actions and statements. They will never be able to do so and therefore, they have nothing and have no evidence for their stance. Allah admonishes them regarding their claim that He has daughters and that the angels are females! The pagans chose for themselves male offspring and preferred them instead of females, and when one of them would be brought the good news of a daughter being born, his face would turn dark on account of his suppressed anger! Yet, they made the angels Allah's daughters and worshipped them besides Allah,
أَمْ لَهُ الْبَنَـتُ وَلَكُمُ الْبَنُونَ
(Or has He only daughters and you have sons) Allah sends a strong warning and stern admonition to them in this Ayah and a sure promise. Allah said,
أَمْ تَسْـَلُهُمْ أَجْراً
(Or is it that you ask a wage from them) meaning, `as a remuneration for your preaching Allah's Message to them Nay, you, do not ask them for a wage,'
فَهُم مِّن مَّغْرَمٍ مُّثْقَلُونَ
(so that they are burdened with a load of debt), meaning, for in this situation, one will complain of the least bothersome thing and feel it difficult and burdensome for him,
أَمْ عِندَهُمُ الْغَيْبُ فَهُمْ يَكْتُبُونَ
(Or that the Unseen is with them, and they write it down) means, they do not have knowledge of the Unseen, for none in the heavens or earth knows the Unseen except Allah,
أَمْ يُرِيدُونَ كَيْداً فَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ هُمُ الْمَكِيدُونَ
(Or do they intend a plot But those who disbelieve are themselves plotted against!) Allah the Exalted is asking, `Do these people who utter such statements about the Messenger ﷺ and his religion seek to deceive the people and plot against the Messenger ﷺ and his Companions If they do, then let them know that their plots will only harm them. Therefore, they are being plotted against rather than being the plotters!'
أَمْ لَهُمْ إِلَـهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ سُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
(Or have they a god other than Allah Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partners (to Him).) This Ayah contains harsh refutation directed at the idolators for worshipping the idols and calling upon rivals along with Allah. Allah next glorifies His Most Honorable Self from what they ascribe to Him, their lies and idolatry,
سُبْحَـنَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
(Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partners (to Him).)