The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving, The Merciful — Verse 27

yet there will remain the countenance of your Lord His Essence the countenance of majesty magnificence and munificence towards believers through His graces to them.

All that is upon it undergoes annihilation, and there subsists the face of thy Lord, Pos- sessor of Majesty and Generous Giving. This is the same that He says elsewhere: “What is with you runs out, but what is with God subsists” [16:96]. MuṣṬafā said, “Prefer what subsists over what undergoes annihilation.” This world is the Abode of Delusion, the afterworld the Abode of Joy. This world is the Abode of Annihilation and the afterworld the Abode of Subsistence. The breeze of intelligence does not reach those who choose what undergoes annihilation over the subsistent, who put aside the Abode of Joy and build up the Abode of Delusion. Even if the empire of the world and the empire of Adam's children were beneath your seal ring and the keys to this world's treasures given to you, the outcome of all would be annihilation, so fixing the heart on it would be an error. Listen to these words of wisdom, testaments of the sages, and words of advice of the great: “Being satisfied with words without deeds is the work of the deluded.” “Depending on the resources of others is the vocation of the indigent.” “Delighting in borrowed clothes is the custom of the idle.” “Being happy with others' robes of honor is the conduct of the unintelligent.” “Being disloyal and hoping for loyalty is the act of double-dealers.”

All that is upon it undergoes annihilation, and there subsists the face of thy Lord, Pos- sessor of Majesty and Generous Giving. This is the same that He says elsewhere: “What is with you runs out, but what is with God subsists” [16:96]. MuṣṬafā said, “Prefer what subsists over what undergoes annihilation.” This world is the Abode of Delusion, the afterworld the Abode of Joy. This world is the Abode of Annihilation and the afterworld the Abode of Subsistence. The breeze of intelligence does not reach those who choose what undergoes annihilation over the subsistent, who put aside the Abode of Joy and build up the Abode of Delusion. Even if the empire of the world and the empire of Adam's children were beneath your seal ring and the keys to this world's treasures given to you, the outcome of all would be annihilation, so fixing the heart on it would be an error. Listen to these words of wisdom, testaments of the sages, and words of advice of the great: “Being satisfied with words without deeds is the work of the deluded.” “Depending on the resources of others is the vocation of the indigent.” “Delighting in borrowed clothes is the custom of the idle.” “Being happy with others' robes of honor is the conduct of the unintelligent.” “Being disloyal and hoping for loyalty is the act of double-dealers.”

All that is upon it undergoes annihilation, and there subsists the face of thy Lord, Pos- sessor of Majesty and Generous Giving. This is the same that He says elsewhere: “What is with you runs out, but what is with God subsists” [16:96]. MuṣṬafā said, “Prefer what subsists over what undergoes annihilation.” This world is the Abode of Delusion, the afterworld the Abode of Joy. This world is the Abode of Annihilation and the afterworld the Abode of Subsistence. The breeze of intelligence does not reach those who choose what undergoes annihilation over the subsistent, who put aside the Abode of Joy and build up the Abode of Delusion. Even if the empire of the world and the empire of Adam's children were beneath your seal ring and the keys to this world's treasures given to you, the outcome of all would be annihilation, so fixing the heart on it would be an error. Listen to these words of wisdom, testaments of the sages, and words of advice of the great: “Being satisfied with words without deeds is the work of the deluded.” “Depending on the resources of others is the vocation of the indigent.” “Delighting in borrowed clothes is the custom of the idle.” “Being happy with others' robes of honor is the conduct of the unintelligent.” “Being disloyal and hoping for loyalty is the act of double-dealers.”

All that is upon it undergoes annihilation, and there subsists the face of thy Lord, Pos- sessor of Majesty and Generous Giving. This is the same that He says elsewhere: “What is with you runs out, but what is with God subsists” [16:96]. MuṣṬafā said, “Prefer what subsists over what undergoes annihilation.” This world is the Abode of Delusion, the afterworld the Abode of Joy. This world is the Abode of Annihilation and the afterworld the Abode of Subsistence. The breeze of intelligence does not reach those who choose what undergoes annihilation over the subsistent, who put aside the Abode of Joy and build up the Abode of Delusion. Even if the empire of the world and the empire of Adam's children were beneath your seal ring and the keys to this world's treasures given to you, the outcome of all would be annihilation, so fixing the heart on it would be an error. Listen to these words of wisdom, testaments of the sages, and words of advice of the great: “Being satisfied with words without deeds is the work of the deluded.” “Depending on the resources of others is the vocation of the indigent.” “Delighting in borrowed clothes is the custom of the idle.” “Being happy with others' robes of honor is the conduct of the unintelligent.” “Being disloyal and hoping for loyalty is the act of double-dealers.”

All that is upon it undergoes annihilation, and there subsists the face of thy Lord, Pos- sessor of Majesty and Generous Giving.This is the same that He says elsewhere: �What is with you runs out, but what is with God subsists� [16:96]. MuṣṬafā said, �Prefer what subsists over what undergoes annihilation.� This world is the Abode of Delusion, the afterworld the Abode of Joy. This world is the Abode of Annihilation and the afterworld the Abode of Subsistence.The breeze of intelligence does not reach those who choose what undergoes annihilation over the subsistent, who put aside the Abode of Joy and build up the Abode of Delusion. Even if the empire of the world and the empire of Adam's children were beneath your seal ring and the keys to this world's treasures given to you, the outcome of all would be annihilation, so fixing the heart on it would be an error. Listen to these words of wisdom, testaments of the sages, and words of advice of the great:�Being satisfied with words without deeds is the work of the deluded.� �Depending on the resources of others is the vocation of the indigent.� �Delighting in borrowed clothes is the custom of the idle.��Being happy with others' robes of honor is the conduct of the unintelligent.� �Being disloyal and hoping for loyalty is the act of double-dealers.�

كل مَن على وجه الأرض مِن الخلق هالك، ويبقى وجه ربك ذو العظمة والكبرياء والفضل والجود. وفي الآية إثبات صفة الوجه لله تعالى بما يليق به سبحانه، دون تشبيه ولا تكييف.

يخبر تعالى أن جميع أهل الأرض سيذهبون ويموتون أجمعون وكذلك أهل السماوات إلا من شاء الله ولا يبقى أحد سوى وجهه الكريم فإن الرب تعالى وتقدس لا يموت بل هو الحي الذي لا يموت أبدا قال قتادة أنبأ بما خلق ثم أنبأ أن ذلك كله فان وفي الدعاء المأثور: يا حي يا قيوم يا بديع السموات والأرض يا ذا الجلال والإكرام لا إله إلا أنت برحمتك نستغيث أصلح لنا شأننا كله ولا تكلنا إلى أنفسنا طرفة عين ولا إلى أحد من خلقك وقال الشعبي إذا قرأت "كل من عليها فان" فلا تسكت حتى تقرأ "ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرام" وهذه الآية كقوله تعالى "كل شيء هالك إلا وجهه" وقد نعت تعالى وجهه الكريم في هذه الآية الكريمة بأنه ذو الجلال والإكرام أي هو أهل أن يجل فلا يعصى وأن يطاع فلا يخالف كقوله تعالى "واصبر نفسك مع الذين يدعون ربهم بالغداة والعشي يريدون وجهه" وكقوله إخبارا عن المتصدقين "إنما نطعمكم لوجه الله" قال ابن عباس ذو الجلال والإكرام ذو العظمة والكبرياء ولما أخبر تعالى عن تساوي أهل الأرض كلهم في الوفاة وأنهم سيصيرون إلى الدار الآخرة فيحكم فيهم ذو الجلال والإكرام بحكمه العدل.

( ويبقى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ) وذاته بقاء لا تغير معه ولا زوال ، فهو - سبحانه - ( ذُو الجلال ) أى : ذو العظمة والاستغناء المطلق ( والإكرام ) أى : والفضل التام ، والإحسان الكامل .وقال - سبحانه - : ( ويبقى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ) ولم يقل ويبقى وجه ربكما . كما فى قوله : ( فَبِأَيِّ آلاء رَبِّكُمَا . . ) .لأن الخطاب للنبى - صلى الله عليه وسلم - على سبيل التكريم والتشريف ، ويدخل تحته كل من يتأتى له الخطاب على سبيل التبع .قال القرطبى : لما نزلت هذه الآية قالت الملائكة هلك أهل الأرض ، فنزلت ( كُلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلاَّ وَجْهَهُ ) فأيقنت الملائكة بالهلاك .وقوله : ( ويبقى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ) أى : ويبقى الله ، فالوجه عبارة عن وجوده وذاته ، قال الشاعر :قضى على خلقه المنايا ... فكل شىء سواه زائلوهذا الذى ارتضاه المحققون من علمائنا . .

ويبقى وجه ربك يا محمد ذو الجلال والإكرام; وذو الجلال والإكرام من نعت الوجه فلذلك رفع ذو. وقد ذُكر أنها في قراءة عبد الله بالياء، ( ذي الجَلال والإكْرام ) على أنه من نعت الربّ وصفته.

" ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال "، ذو العظمة والكبرياء، " والإكرام "، مكرم أنبيائه وأوليائه بلطفه مع جلاله وعظمته.

وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ (27(و { وجه ربك } : ذاته ، فذكر الوجه هنا جار على عرف كلام العرب . قال في «الكشاف» : والوجه يعبر به عن الجملة والذات ا ه .وقد أضيف إلى اسمه تعالى لفظ الوجه بمعان مختلفة منها ما هنا ومنها قوله : { فأينما تولوا فثم وجه الله } [ البقرة : 115 ] وقوله : { إنما نطعمكم لوجه الله } [ الإنسان : 9 ] .وقد علم السامعون أن الله تعالى يستحيل أن يكون له وجه بالمعنى الحقيقي وهو الجزء الذي في الرأس .واصطلح علماء العقائد على تسمية مثل هذا بالمتشابه وكان السلف يحجمون عن الخوض في ذلك مع اليقين باستحالة ظاهره على الله تعالى ، ثم تناوله علماء التابعين ومن بعدهم بالتأويل تدريجاً إلى أن اتضح وجه التأويل بالجرْي على قواعد علم المعاني فزال الخفاء ، واندفع الجفاء ، وكلا الفريقين خيرة الحنفاء .وضمير المخاطب في قوله : { وجه ربك } خطاب للنبيء صلى الله عليه وسلم وفيه تعظيم لقدر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كما تقدم غير مرة .والمقصود تبليغه إلى الذين يتلى عليهم القرآن ليذكَّروا ويعتبروا . ويجوز أن يكون خطاباً لغير معينّ ليعمّ كل مخاطب .ولما كان الوجه هنا بمعنى الذات وصف ب { ذو الجلال } ، أي العظمة و { الإكرام } ، أي المنعم على عباده وإلا فإن الوجه الحقيقي لا يضاف للإِكرام في عرف اللغة ، وإنما يضاف للإِكرام اليد ، أي فهو لا يفقد عبيده جلاله وإكرامه ، وقد دخل في الجلال جميع الصفات الراجعة إلى التنزيه عن النقص وفي الإِكرام جميع صفات الكمال الوجودية وصفات الجمال كالإِحسان .وتفريع { فبأي آلاء ربكما تكذبان } إنما هو تفريع على جملة { ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرام } كما علمت من أنه يتضمن معاملة خلقه معاملة العظيم الذي لا تصدر عنه السفاسف ، الكريم الذي لا يقطع إنعامه ، وذلك من الآلاء العظيمة .

ويبقى الحي الذي لا يموت { ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ } أي: ذو العظمة والكبرياء والمجد، الذي يعظم ويبجل ويجل لأجله، والإكرام الذي هو سعة الفضل والجود، والداعي لأن يكرم أولياءه وخواص خلقه بأنواع الإكرام، الذي يكرمه أولياؤه ويجلونه، [ويعظمونه] ويحبونه، وينيبون إليه ويعبدونه،

ويبقى وجه ربك أي ويبقى الله ، فالوجه عبارة عن وجوده وذاته سبحانه ، قال الشاعر :قضى على خلقه المنايا فكل شيء سواه فانيوهذا الذي ارتضاه المحققون من علمائنا : ابن فورك وأبو المعالي وغيرهم . وقال ابن عباس : الوجه عبارة عنه كما قال : ويبقى وجه ربك ذو الجلال والإكرام وقال أبو المعالي : وأما الوجه فالمراد به عند معظم أئمتنا وجود الباري تعالى ، وهو الذي ارتضاه شيخنا . ومن الدليل على ذلك قوله تعالى : ويبقى وجه ربك والموصوف بالبقاء عند تعرض الخلق للفناء وجود الباري تعالى . وقد مضى في ( البقرة ) القول في هذا عند قوله تعالى : فأينما تولوا فثم وجه الله وقد ذكرناه في ( الكتاب الأسنى ) مستوفى . قال القشيري : قال قوم هو صفة زائدة على الذات لا تكيف ، يحصل بها الإقبال على من أراد الرب تخصيصه [ ص: 151 ] بالإكرام . والصحيح أن يقال : وجهه وجوده وذاته ، يقال : هذا وجه الأم ووجه الصواب وعين الصواب . وقيل : أي يبقى الظاهر بأدلته كظهور الإنسان بوجهه . وقيل : وتبقى الجهة التي يتقرب بها إلى الله .ذو الجلال الجلال عظمة الله وكبرياؤه واستحقاقه صفات المدح ، يقال : جل الشيء أي عظم وأجللته أي عظمته ، والجلال اسم من جل .والإكرام أي هو أهل لأن يكرم عما لا يليق به من الشرك ، كما تقول : أنا أكرمك عن هذا ، ومنه إكرام الأنبياء والأولياء . وقد أتينا على هذين الاسمين لغة ومعنى في الكتاب الأسنى مستوفى . وروى أنس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : ألظوا ب " يا ذا الجلال والإكرام " . وروي أنه من قول ابن مسعود ، ومعناه : الزموا ذلك في الدعاء . قال أبو عبيد : الإلظاظ : لزوم الشيء والمثابرة عليه . ويقال : الإلظاظ الإلحاح . وعن سعيد المقبري أن رجلا ألح فجعل يقول : اللهم يا ذا الجلال والإكرام ! اللهم يا ذا الجلال والإكرام ! فنودي : إني قد سمعت فما حاجتك ؟ .

Nothing in this world possesses creative power i.e. the objects on which things depend for their continued existence are not self-created. This shows the boundless power of the Creator. The signs of God in this world are so many that it is not possible for any thinking individual to ignore them. But man is such a transgressor that, even when surrounded by a host of signs, he denies them.

وَجْهُ رَ‌بِّكَ (...your Lord's Countenance ....55:27). The word wajh [ Face ], according to majority of the exegetes, stands for the 'Being of Allah'. The attached second person pronoun in rabb-i-ka [=your Lord ] refers to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . It is a great honour for him that he should be remembered by Allah in special ways when praising him, as for instance, ` abduhu (His servant). Here, Allah, the Lord of lords, declares His direct special relationship with the Holy Prophet ﷺ and addresses him thus: rabb-i-ka [ your Lord ]. According to the well-known exegetes, the verse purports to convey that since everything [ including jinn and mankind ] dwelling on earth will be reduced to nothing, and the heavenly bodies all brought to naught, and the whole material universe made non-existent, still human reason demands that there should be a Being who should remain and who should never die. Such a Being is Allah Who created the whole universe and Who is the First and the Final Cause of all things. He alone will abide because He is Self-Subsisting, All-Sustaining, Independent and Besought of all. The word fana' has two possible meanings: [ 1] everything is potentially subject to decay and death and is eventually destined to perish, having no capacity for permanence and immortality; and [ 2] all things will actually pass away on Doomsday. Other exegetes have interpreted the phrases وَجْهُ رَ‌بِّكَ 'your Lord's Countenance' to mean 'your side', that is, out of all existent beings only those things will attain permanence that are on the side of Allah. This includes the Being of Allah and His Attributes. It also includes the actions and conditions of Allah's creation that remain firmly attached to Allah and is never separated from Him in any situation. In sum, the verse means: 'Everything that man, jinn and angels do for Allah's pleasure will remain under His care and protection and as such will attain permanence, never to perish.' This interpretation is supported by another verse: مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّـهِ بَاقٍ (What is with you shall end and what is with Allah shall last....16:96). The phrase 'what is with you' refers to 'wealth and power, comfort and discomfort, love and hatred'. All these states and matters are transitory and must perish. The phrase 'what is with Allah' refers to 'man's actions and states which remain firmly attached to Allah and is never separated from Him in any situation are destined to last, never to perish. Allah, the Pure and Most Exalted, knows best! ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَ‌امِ (...full of majesty, full of honour...55:27). In other words, the Lord is the Master of Greatness, Grandeur and Tremendousness. This is Allah's Majesty that overwhelms His creation and fills them with awe. The Lord is also the Master of Honour, signifying that those who benefit by the great favours Allah has bestowed upon them and walk in the path of truth and righteousness will be granted more favours by the Lord of Honour. Despite being the Lord of Greatness and Majesty, Allah is not like the worldly kings and rulers who would not pay attention to others or the indigent people. He grants their petition and invocation. The next verse [ to be analysed in the forthcoming paragraph ] bears testimony to this interpretation. The current phrase under discussion constitutes one of those special Attributes of Allah which if a suppliant were to invoke before calling upon Allah for help, protection, inspiration and a host of other things, the supplication will be readily granted as recorded in Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Musnad of Ahmad. Ibn ` Amir, has transmitted that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: اَلِظُّوا بِیَا ذَا الجَلَال وَالاِکرَام (Persist [ in invoking Allah ] with '0 Lord of Majesty and Honour'." The imperative alizzu is derived from the infinitive ilzaz which means 'to continue firmly in some course of action'. [ Mazhari ]

(There remaineth but the Countenance of thy Lord) dies not; and it is also said that this means: the righteous works which are performed for the sake of Allah's Countenance will not perish (of Might) Who possesses might and sovereignty (and Glory) and who also possesses forgiveness and beneficence.

Allah is the Ever Living, Free of all Need Allah states that all the residents of earth will perish and die. The residents of the heavens will die, except whomever Allah wills. Only Allah's Honorable Face will remain, because our Lord, the Exalted, the Blessed, is the Ever Living Who never dies. Qatadah said, "First, Allah mentioned His creatures and then He said that all of this will perish." And in the reported supplication: `O You the Ever Living Who sustains all that exists! O You Who created the heavens and the earth without precedence. O You, Who Owns the glory and the honor, none has the right to be worshipped except You. We seek refuge with Your mercy. Grant Us success in all of our matters. Please, do not abandon us to rely on ourselves even for an instant nor on any of Your creation." Ash-Sha`bi said, "When you have recited, كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ (Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish.) do not stop, continue reading, وَيَبْقَى وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلْـلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ (And the Face of your Lord Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram will remain forever.)" This Ayah is similar to Allah's statement, كُلُّ شَىْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلاَّ وَجْهَهُ (Everything will perish save His Face.)(28:88) In this Ayah, Allah describes His Noble Face as being Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram, indicating that He is Worthy of being revered, and thus, never defied; and obeyed, and thus, never disobeyed, وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ (And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face.)(18:28), And as He said about those giving charity: إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ (We feed you seeking Allah's Face only.)(76:9) Ibn `Abbas commented on the meaning of Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram, by saying, "Owner of greatness and pride." After Allah stated that all of the inhabitants of the earth will die and end up in the Hereafter when He, Dhul-Jalal wal-Ikram, will judge them by His fair judgement, He said, فَبِأَىِّ ءَالاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ (Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny) Allah said, يَسْأَلُهُ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأْنٍ (Whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth begs of Him. Every day He is (engaged) in some affair.) In this Ayah, Allah affirms that He is Rich, Free of all wants for anyone else and that all creatures stand in need of Him, in all conditions and situations. They all seek His help willingly or unwillingly. Everyday, He is engaged in some affair. Al-A`mash reported from Mujahid, from `Ubayd bin `Umayr, كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأْنٍ (Every day He is (engaged) in some affair.) He said, "Of His affairs is that He answers the supplicant, or gives to the one requesting, or removing adversity, or cures the one seeking to be cured."