The Star — Verse 24

Or shall man that is shall every human being among them have whatever he wishes for? such as their wish that the idols intercede for them. No! It is not so.

ليس للإنسان ما تمناه من شفاعة هذه المعبودات أو غيرها مما تهواه نفسه، فلله أمر الدنيا والآخرة.

أي ليس كل من تمنى خيرا حصل له "ليس بأمانيكم ولا أماني أهل الكتاب" ما كل من زعم أنه مهتد يكون كما قال ولا كل من ود شيئا يحصل له. قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا إسحاق حدثنا أبو عوانة عن عمر بن أبي سلمة عن أبيه عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إذا تمنى أحدكم فلينظر ما يتمنى فإنه لا يدري ما يكتب له من أمنيته" تفرد به أحمد.

ثم بين - سبحانه - أن شهوات النفس ومطالبها وأمنياتها لا تتحقق إلا فى الإطار الذى يريده الله - تعالى - لها ، فقال : ( أَمْ لِلإِنسَانِ مَا تمنى فَلِلَّهِ الآخرة والأولى ) .والاستفهام هنا - أيضا - للإنكار ، ولإبطال اتباعهم للظنون ولما تهوان أنفسهم . .أى : إن هؤلاء قد اتبعوا فى ضلالهم وكفرهم الظنون والأوهام ، وما تشتهيه قلوبهم من حب للرياسة ، ومن تقليد للآباء ، ومن تطلع إلى أن هذه الأصنام ستشفع لهم عند الله - تعالى - . . مع أن وقائع الحياة وشواهدها التى يرونها بأعينهم ، تدل دلالة واضحة ، على أنه ليس كل ما يتمناه الإنسان يدركه ، وليس كل ما يريده يتحقق له . . .لأن كل شىء فى هذه الحياة مرهون بإرادته ومشيئته - سبحانه - وهو - عز وجل - صاحب الدار الآخرة ، وصاحب الدار الأولى وهى دار الدنيا ، ولا يقع فيهما إلا ما يريده .فالمقصود من الآيتين الكريمتين ، نفى ما كان يتمناه أولئك المشركون من شفاعة أصنامهم لهم يوم القيامة ، كما حكى عنهم - سبحانه - ذلك فى قوله : ( مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلاَّ لِيُقَرِّبُونَآ إِلَى الله زلفى . . ) ونفى ما كانت تتطلع إليه نفوس بعضهم ، من نزول القرآن عليه ، أو من اختصاصه بالنبوة . فقد حكى - سبحانه - عنهم قولهم : ( . . . لَوْلاَ نُزِّلَ هذا القرآن على رَجُلٍ مِّنَ القريتين عَظِيمٍ ) كما أن المقصود بها كذلك ، ترويض النفس البشرية على عدم الجرى وراء ظنونها وأهوائها ، بل عليها أن تتمسك بالحق ، وأن تعتصم بطاعة الله - تعالى - وأن تباشر الأسباب التى شرعها - سبحانه - ، ثم بعد ذلك تترك النتائج له يسيرها كيف يشاء ، فإن له الآخرة والأولى .وقدم - سبحانه - الجار والمجرور فى قوله : ( أَمْ لِلإِنسَانِ مَا تمنى ) لإفادة أن هذا التمنى هو محط الإنكار ، وأن الإنسان العاقل هو الذى لا يجرى وراء أمنياته ، وإنما هو الذى يسعى إلى تحقيق ما أمره الله - تعالى - به من تكاليف .وقدم - سبحانه - الآخرة على الأولى ، لأنها الأهم ، إذ نعيمها هو الخالد الباقى ، أما شهوات الدنيا وملذتها ، فهى مهما كثرت ، زائلة فانية .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : إِنْ هِيَ إِلا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الأَنْفُسُ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى (23)يقول تعالى ذكره: ما هذه الأسماء التي سميتموها وهي اللات والعزّى ومناة الثالثة الأخرى, إلا أسماء سميتموها أنتم وآباؤكم أيها المشركون بالله, وآباؤكم من قبلكم, ما أنـزل الله بها, يعني بهذه الأسماء, يقول: لم يبح الله ذلك لكم, ولا أذن لكم به.كما حدثني يونس, قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب, قال: قال ابن زيد, في قوله ( مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ ) ... إلى آخر الآية.وقوله ( إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلا الظَّنَّ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: ما يتبع هؤلاء المشركون في هذه الأسماء التي سموا بها آلهتهم إلا الظنّ بأنّ ما يقولون حقّ لا اليقين ( وَمَا تَهْوَى الأنْفُسُ ) يقول: وهوى أنفسهم, لأنهم لم يأخذوا ذلك عن وحي جاءهم من الله, ولا عن رسول الله أخبرهم به, وإنما اختراق من قِبل أنفسهم, أو أخذوه عن آبائهم الذين كانوا من الكفر بالله على مثل ما هم عليه منه.وقوله ( وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى ) يقول: ولقد جاء هؤلاء المشركين بالله من ربهم البيان مما هم منه على غير يقين, وذلك تسميتهم اللات والعزّى ومناة الثالثة بهذه الأسماء وعبادتهم إياها. يقول: لقد جاءهم من ربهم الهدى في ذلك, والبيان بالوحي الذي أوحيناه إلى محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم أن عبادتها لا تنبغي, وأنه لا تصلح العبادة إلا لله الواحد القهار.وقال ابن زيد في ذلك ما حدثني يونس, قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب, قال: قال ابن زيد, في قوله: ( وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى ) فما انتفعوا به.

" أم للإنسان ما تمنى "، أيظن الكافر أن له ما يتمنى ويشتهي من شفاعة الأصنام؟

أَمْ لِلْإِنْسَانِ مَا تَمَنَّى (24(إضراب انتقالي ناشىء عن قوله : { وما تهوى الأنفس } [ النجم : 23 ] .والاستفهام المقدّر بعد { أم } إنكاريّ قصد به إبطال نوال الإِنسان ما يتمناه وأن يجعل ما يتمناه باعثاً عن أعماله ومعتقداته بل عليه أن يتطلب الحق من دلائله وعلاماته وإن خالف ما يتمناه . وهذا متصل بقوله : { إن يتبعون إلا الظن وما تهوى الأنفس ولقد جاءهم من ربهم الهدى } [ النجم : 23 ] .وهذا تأديب وترويض للنفوس على تحمل ما يخالف أهواءها إذا كان الحق مخالفاً للهوى وليحمل نفسه عليه حتى تتخلق به .وتعريف { الإنسان } تعريف الجنس ووقوعه في حيّز الإِنكار المساوي للنفي جَعلَه عاماً في كل إنسان .والموصول في { ما تمنى } بمنزلة المعرّف بلام الجنس فوقوعه في حيّز الاستفهام الإِنكاري الذي بمنزلة النفي يقتضي العموم ، أي ما للإِنسان شيء مما تمنّى ، أي ليس شيء جارياً على إرادته بل على إرادة الله وقد شمل ذلك كل هوى دعاهم إلى الإعراض عن كلام الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم فشمل تمنيهم شفاعة الأصنام وهو الأهم من أحوال الأصنام عندهم وذلك ما يؤذن به قوله بعد هذا { وكم من ملك في السموات لا تغنى شفاعتهم شيئاً } [ النجم : 26 ] الآية . وتمنيَهم أن يكون الرسول ملَكاً وغير ذلك نحو قولهم : { لولا نزل هذا القرآن على رجل من القريتين عظيم } [ الزخرف : 31 ] ، وقولهم : { ائت بقرآن غير هذا أو بدله } [ يونس : 15 ] .

ولهذا أنكر تعالى على من زعم أنه يحصل له ما تمنى وهو كاذب في ذلك، فقال: { أَمْ لِلْإِنْسَانِ مَا تَمَنَّى}

أم للإنسان ما تمنى أي : اشتهى أي ليس ذلك له . وقيل : للإنسان ما تمنى من البنين ; أي يكون له دون البنات . وقيل : أم للإنسان ما تمنى من غير جزاء ! ليس الأمر كذلك . وقيل : أم للإنسان ما تمنى من النبوة أن تكون فيه دون غيره . وقيل : أم للإنسان ما تمنى من شفاعة الأصنام ; نزلت في النضر بن الحارث . وقيل : في الوليد بن المغيرة . وقيل : في سائر الكفار .

Explaining the query in verse 24, ‘Does man get all that he wants?’ Shah Abdul Qadir Dehlavi writes, ‘What does one get by worshipping deities? One gets whatever is given by God.’

Various Types of Zann إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنَّ الظَّنَّ لَا يُغْنِي مِنَ الْحَقِّ شَيْئًا (and conjecture is of no use in [ the matter on Truth.... 53:28) The Arabic word ظَن Zann is used in several different senses, and one of them is baseless thoughts. This is the sense in which it is employed in the verse, because baseless thoughts were the cause of idolatry. And the verse purports to remove the cause. Zann is also used as the antonym of yaqin. Yaqin refers to assured or definitive knowledge about something that really exists, not the figment of someone's imagination. In this case, there is no room for any doubt or suspicion, as for instance knowledge gained from the Qur'an and Prophetic Traditions uninterruptedly reported by an indefinite number of people or by such a large number that it is impossible that they should agree upon falsehood. As opposed to this certain knowledge, zann is sometime used for the knowledge that is based on a proof, and not on baseless thoughts, but the proof is not so certain as may rule out other possibilities, as for example, injunctions based on general narratives of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . The first type of injunctions is referred to as qat'iyyat or yaqiniyyat and the second type is referred to as zanniyyat. This type of Zann is recognized by Shari` ah. There is ample evidence in Qur'an and Sunnah of its recognition. The entire Ummah concurs that it is obligatory to act upon it. The above verse when denouncing zann, refers to the first type of zann which connotes baseless thoughts. Thus there is no contradiction.

(Or shall man) the people of Mecca (have what he coveteth) i.e. that the idols and angels will intercede for them?

Refuting Idolatry, Al-Lat and Al-`Uzza Allah the Exalted rebukes the idolators for worshipping idols and taking rivals to Him. They built houses for their idols to resemble the Ka`bah built by Prophet Ibrahim, Allah's Khalil. أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ اللَّـتَ (Have you then considered Al-Lat,) Al-Lat was a white stone with inscriptions on. There was a house built around Al-Lat in At-Ta'if with curtains, servants and a sacred courtyard around it. The people of At-Ta'if, the tribe of Thaqif and their allies, worshipped Al-Lat. They would boast to Arabs, except the Quraysh, that they had Al-Lat. Ibn Jarir said, "They derived Al-Lat's name from Allah's Name, and made it feminine. Allah is far removed from what they ascribe to Him. It was reported that Al-Lat is pronounced Al-Lat because, according to `Abdullah bin `Abbas, Mujahid, and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Al-Lat was a man who used to mix Sawiq (a kind of barley mash) with water for the pilgrims during the time of Jahiliyyah. When he died, they remained next to his grave and worshipped him." Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said about Allah's statement, اللَّـتَ وَالْعُزَّى (Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza.) "Al-Lat was a man who used to mix Sawiq for the pilgrims." Ibn Jarir said, "They also derived the name for their idol Al-`Uzza from Allah's Name Al-`Aziz. Al-`Uzza was a tree on which the idolators placed a monument and curtains, in the area of Nakhlah, between Makkah and At-Ta'if. The Quraysh revered Al-`Uzza." During the battle of Uhud, Abu Sufyan said, "We have Al-`Uzza, but you do not have Al-`Uzza." Allah's Messenger ﷺ replied, «قُولُوا: اللهُ مَوْلَانَا وَلَا مَوْلَى لَكُم» (Say, "Allah is Our Supporter, but you have no support.") Manat was another idol in the area of Mushallal near Qudayd, between Makkah and Al-Madinah. The tribes of Khuza`ah, Aws and Khazraj used to revere Manat during the time of Jahiliyyah. They used to announce Hajj to the Ka`bah from next to Manat. Al-Bukhari collected a statement from `A'ishah with this meaning. There were other idols in the Arabian Peninsula that the Arabs revered just as they revered the Ka`bah, besides the three idols that Allah mentioned in His Glorious Book. Allah mentioned these three here because they were more famous than the others. An-Nasa'i recorded that Abu At-Tufayl said, "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ conquered Makkah, he sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to the area of Nakhlah where the idol of Al-`Uzza was erected on three trees of a forest. Khalid cut the three trees and approached the house built around it and destroyed it. When he went back to the Prophet and informed him of the story, the Prophet said to him, «ارْجِعْ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تَصْنَعْ شَيْئًا» (Go back and finish your mission, for you have not finished it.) Khalid went back and when the custodians who were also its servants of Al-`Uzza saw him, they started invoking by calling Al-`Uzza! When Khalid approached it, he found a naked woman whose hair was untidy and who was throwing sand on her head. Khalid killed her with the sword and went back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, who said to him, «تِلْكَ الْعُزَّى» (That was Al-`Uzza!)" Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated, "Al-Lat belonged to the tribe of Thaqif in the area of At-Ta'if. Banu Mu`attib were the custodians of Al-Lat and its servants." I say that the Prophet sent Al-Mughirah bin Shu`bah and Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb to destroy Al-Lat. They carried out the Prophet's command and built a Masjid in its place in the city of At-Ta'if. Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Manat used to be the idol of the Aws and Khazraj tribes and those who followed their religion in Yathrib (Al-Madinah). Manat was near the coast, close to the area of Mushallal in Qudayd. The Prophet sent Abu Sufyan Sakhr bin Harb or `Ali bin Abi Talib to demolish it. Ibn Ishaq said that Dhul-Khalasah was the idol of the tribes of Daws, Khath`am and Bajilah, and the Arabs who resided in the area of Tabalah. I say that Dhul-Khalasah was called the Southern Ka`bah, and the Ka`bah in Makkah was called the Northern Ka`bah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Jarir bin `Abdullah Al-Bajali to Dhul-Khalasah and he destroyed it. Ibn Ishaq said that Fals was the idol of Tay' and the neighboring tribes in the Mount of Tay', such as Salma and Ajja. Ibn Hisham said that some scholars of knowledge told him that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent `Ali bin Abi Talib to Fals and he destroyed it and found two swords in its treasure, which the Prophet then gave to `Ali as war spoils. Muhammad bin Ishaq also said that the tribes of Himyar, and Yemen in general, had a house of worship in San`a' called Riyam. He mentioned that there was a black dog in it and that the religious men who went with Tubba` removed it, killed it and demolished the building. Ibn Ishaq said that Ruda' was a structure of Bani Rabi`ah bin Ka`b bin Sa`d bin Zayd Manat bin Tamim, which Al-Mustawghir bin Rabi`ah bin Ka`b bin Sa`d demolished after Islam. In Sindad there was Dhul-Ka`bat, the idol of the tribes of Bakr and Taghlib, the sons of the Wa'il, and also the Iyad tribes. Refuting the Idolators Who appoint Rivals to Allah and claim that the Angels were Females Allah the Exalted said, أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ اللَّـتَ وَالْعُزَّى - وَمَنَوةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الاٍّخْرَى (Have you then considered Al-Lat, and Al-`Uzza. And Manat, the other third), then Allah said, أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الاٍّنثَى (Is it for you the males and for Him the females) Allah asked the idolators, `do you choose female offspring for Allah and give preference to yourselves with the males If you made this division between yourselves and the created, it would be, قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَى (a division most unfair!)' meaning, it would be an unfair and unjust division. `How is it then that you make this division between you and Allah, even though this would be foolish and unjust, if you made it between yourselves and others' Allah the Exalted refutes such innovated lies, falsehood and atheism they invented through worshipping the idols and calling them gods, إِنْ هِىَ إِلاَّ أَسْمَآءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم (They are but names which you have named -- you and your fathers) of your own desire, مَّآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـنٍ (for which Allah has sent down no authority.) meaning, proof, إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الاٌّنفُسُ (They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire,) they have no proof, except their trust in their forefathers who took this false path in the past, as well as, their lusts and desires to become leaders, and thereby gain honor and reverence for their forefathers, وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى (whereas there has surely come to them the guidance from their Lord!), meaning, Allah has sent them Messengers with the clear truth and unequivocal evidence. However, they did not adhere to or follow the guidance that came to them through the Prophets. Wishful Thinking does not earn One Righteousness Allah the Exalted said, أَمْ لِلإِنسَـنِ مَا تَمَنَّى (Or shall man have what he wishes), asserting that not everyone gets the goodness that he wishes, لَّيْسَ بِأَمَـنِيِّكُمْ وَلا أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ (It will not be in accordance with desires (of Muslims), nor those of the People of Scripture.)(4:123) Allah says, not everyone who claims to be guided is truly guided, and not everyone gets what he wishes for himself. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِذَا تَمَنَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَنْظُرْ مَا يَتَمَنَّى، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا يُكْتَبُ لَهُ مِنْ أُمْنِيَّتِه» (When one of you wishes for something, let him be careful with what he wishes for, because he does not know what part of his wish will be written for him.)Only Ahmad collected this Hadith. Allah's statement, فَلِلَّهِ الاٌّخِرَةُ والاٍّولَى (But to Allah belongs the last and the first.) meaning, all matters belong to Allah and He is the King and Owner of this world and the Hereafter, Who does what He will in both lives. Whatever He wills, occurs and whatever He does not will, never occurs. No Interecession except with Allah's Leave Allah said, وَكَمْ مِّن مَّلَكٍ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ لاَ تُغْنِى شَفَـعَتُهُمْ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ مِن بَعْدِ أَن يَأْذَنَ اللَّهُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَرْضَى (And there are many angels in the heavens, whose intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He wills and is pleased with.) As He said; مَن ذَا الَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ (Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission )(2:255) and, وَلاَ تَنفَعُ الشَّفَـعَةُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ (Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits.) (34:23) `If this is the case with the angels who are close to Him, how can you, O ignorant ones, hope for Allah to grant you the intercession of the idols and rivals you worship with Him without having His permission or any divine legislation permitting you to worship them' Rather, Allah has forbidden idol worshipping by the tongues of all of His Messengers and He revealed this prohibition in all of His Books.