The Jinn — Verse 24

Such that when they see hattā is for inceptiveness but also entailing a purposive sense to an implied preceding clause that is to say they persist in their disbelief until they come to see … what they are promised of chastisement they will then know at the moment that it befalls them either on the day of Badr or on the Day of Resurrection who is weaker in supporters and fewer in numbers in assistants is it them or the believers — according to the former reading? Or is it Me or them according to the latter. Some of them said ‘When will this promise be fulfilled?’ whereupon the following was revealed

حتى إذا أبصر المشركون ما يوعدون به من العذاب، فسيعلمون عند حلوله بهم: مَن أضعف ناصرًا ومعينًا وأقل جندًا؟

أي حتى إذا رأى هؤلاء المشركين من الجن والإنس ما يوعدون يوم القيامة فسيعلمون يومئذ من أضعف ناصرا وأفل عددا هم أم المؤمنون الموحدون للّه تعالى؟ أي بل المشركون لا ناصر وهم بالكلية وهم أقل عددا من جنود الله عز وجل.

وقوله - سبحانه - : ( حتى إِذَا رَأَوْاْ مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِراً وَأَقَلُّ عَدَداً ) تهديد ووعيد للكافرين بسبب استهزائهم بالمؤمنين ، فقد حكى القرآن عن الكفار أنهم قالوا : ( نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌ مُّنتَصِرٌ ) ( وَقَالُواْ نَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ أَمْوَالاً وَأَوْلاَداً وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ ) وقالوا : ( متى هذا الوعد إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ) و ( حتى ) هنا حرف ابتداء ، وهى متعلقة بمحذوف دل عليه الكلام ، وهو سخرية الكافرين من المؤمنين و ( إذا ) اسم زمان للمستقبل مضمن معنى الشرط ، وهى فى محل نصب بجوابه الذى هو قوله ( فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ ) .والمعنى : أن هؤلاء الكفار لا يزالون على ما هم عليه من غرور وعناد وجحود . . حتى إذا رأوا ما يوعدون من العذاب فى الدنيا والآخرة ( فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ ) حينئذ من هو أضعف جندا وأقل عددا ، أهم المؤمنون - كما يزعم هؤلاء الكافرون -؟ أم أن الأمر سيكون على العكس؟ لا شك أن الأمر سيكون على العكس ، وهو أن الكافرين فى هذا اليوم سيكونون فى غاية الضعف والذلة والهوان .وجئ بالجملة التى أضيف إليها لفظ " إذا " فعلا ماضيا ، للتنبيه على تحقق الوقوع . والآية الكريمة تشير إلى خيبة هؤلاء الكافرين ، وتلاشى آمالهم . . فإنهم فى هذا اليوم سيفقدون الناصر لهم ، كما أنهم سيفقدونه من جهة أنفسهم ، لأنهم مهما كثر عددهم ، فهم مغلوبون .

وقوله: (حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: إذا عاينوا ما يعدهم ربهم من العذاب وقيام الساعة (فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًا ) أجند الله الذي أشركوا به، أم هؤلاء المشركون به.

"حتى إذا رأوا ما يوعدون"، يعني العذاب يوم القيامة، "فسيعلمون"، عند نزول العذاب، "من أضعف ناصراً وأقل عدداً"، أهم أم المؤمنون.

حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًا (24)كانوا إذا سمعوا آيات الوعد بنصر الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم والمسلمين في الدنيا والآخرة ، وآيات الوعيد للمشركين بالانهزام وعذاب الآخرة وعذاب الدنيا استسخروا من ذلك وقالوا : { وما نحن بمعذبين } [ سبأ : 35 ] ، ويقولون : { متى هذا الفتح إن كنتم صادقين } [ السجدة : 28 ] ، ويقولون : { متى هذا الوعد إن كنتم صادقين } [ يونس : 48 ] ، وقالوا : { ربنا عجل لنا قطنا قبل يوم الحساب } [ ص : 16 ] ، فهم مغرورون بالاستدراج والإِمهال فلذلك عقب وعيدهم بالغاية المفادة من { حَتى } ، فالغاية هنا متعلقة بمحذوف يدل عليه الكلام من سخرية الكفار من الوعيد واستضعافهم المسلمين في العَدد والعُدد فإن ذلك يفهم منه أنهم لا يزالون يحسبون أنهم غالبون فائزون حتى إذا رأوا ما يوعدون تحققوا إخفاق آمالهم .و { حتى } هنا ابتدائية وكلما دخلت { حتى } في جملة مفتتحة ب { إذا } ف { حتى } للابتداء وما بعدها جملة ابتدائية . وذهب الأخفش وابن مالك إلى أن { حتى } في مثله جارة وأن { إذا } في محل جرّ وليس ببعيد .واعلم أن { حتى } لا يفارقها معنى الغاية كيفما كان عمل { حتى } .و { إذَا } اسم زمان للمستقبل مضمن معنى الشرط وهو في محل نصب بالفعل الذي في جوابه وهو { فسيعلمون } .وعلى رأي الأخفش وابن مالك { إذا } محل جر ب { حتى } . واقتران جملة { سيعلمون } بالفاء دليل على أن { إذا } ضُمّن معنى الشرط ، واقتران الجواب بسين الاستقبال يصرف الفعل الماضي بعد { إذا } إلى زمن الاستقبال . وجيء بالجملة المضاف إليها { إذا } فعلاً ماضياً للتنبيه على تحقيق وقوعه .وفعل { سيعلمون } معلق عن العمل بوقوع الاستفهام بعده وهو استعمال كثير في التعليق لأن الاستفهام بما فيه من الإبهام يكون كناية عن الغرابة بحيث يسأل الناس عن تعيين الشيء بعد البحث عنه .وضعفُ الناصر وهَن لهم من جهة وهَن أنصارهم ، وقلة العدد وهَنٌ لهم من جانب أنفسهم ، وهذا وعيد لهم بخيبة غرورهم بالأمن من غلب المسلمين في الدنيا فإنهم كانوا يقولون : { نحن جميع منتصر } [ القمر : 44 ] . وقالوا : { نحن أكثر أموالاً وأولاداً } [ سبأ : 35 ] .

{ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ } أي: شاهدوه عيانا، وجزموا أنه واقع بهم، { فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ } في ذلك الوقت حقيقة المعرفة { مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًا } حين لا ينصرهم غيرهم ولا أنفسهم ينتصرون، وإذ يحشرون فرادى كما خلقوا أول مرة.

قوله تعالى : حتى إذا رأوا ما يوعدون ، حتى هنا مبتدأ ، أي حتى إذا رأوا ما يوعدون من عذاب الآخرة ، أو ما يوعدون من عذاب الدنيا ، وهو القتل ببدر فسيعلمون حينئذ من أضعف ناصرا أهم أم المؤمنون . وأقل عددا معطوف .

The messenger of Truth is apparently a common man. Therefore, the people who are affected by his call turn upon him. They forget that any action against him amounts to action against God Himself. And who can be successful by taking action against God?

وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّـهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّـهِ أَحَدًا (...and that masajid (mosques) belong to Allah; so, do not invoke anyone along with Allah....72:18). The word masajid is the plural of masjid. Here the word could be taken in its popular sense, that is, mosques or places of worship dedicated for the performance of prayers. In this case, it would mean that all mosques belong to Allah, dedicated to His sole worship and therefore we are not permitted to call on anyone else besides Allah, like the Jews and Christians commit shirk in their places of worship. In sum, the mosques must be kept clear of all false beliefs and vile deeds. The word masajid could also have another sense. It could be the plural of masjad, with the letter jim carrying fath, in which case it would be masdar mimi 'infinitivity' and mean 'to prostrate or prostration'. The verse in this sense would signify that worship is reserved exclusively for Allah. It is not permitted to prostrate to anyone, because if he calls on anyone else for help, it is as though he is prostrating to him which must be avoided.

(Till (the day)) He says: wait for them until the day (when they shall behold that which they are promised) of chastisement; (but then they will know for certain) this is a threat from Allah to them (who is weaker in allies and less in multitude) who has less helpers.

The Command to worship Allah Alone and shun Shirk Allah commands His servants to single Him out alone for worship and that none should be supplicated to along with Him, nor should any partners be associated with Him. As Qatadah said concerning Allah's statement, وَأَنَّ الْمَسَـجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلاَ تَدْعُواْ مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَداً (And the Masjids are for Allah, so invoke not anyone along with Allah.) "Whenever the Jews and Christians used to enter their churches and synagogues, they would associate partners with Allah. Thus, Allah commanded His Prophet to tell them that they should single Him out alone for worship." Ibn Jarir recorded from Sa`id bin Jubayr that he said concerning this verse, وَأَنَّ الْمَسَـجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلاَ تَدْعُواْ مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَداً (And the Masjids are for Allah, so invoke not anyone along with Allah.) "The Jinns said to the Prophet of Allah , `How can we come to the Masjid while we are distant - meaning very far away - from you And how can we be present for the prayer while we are far away from you' So Allah revealed this Ayah, وَأَنَّ الْمَسَـجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلاَ تَدْعُواْ مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَداً (And the Masjids are for Allah, so invoke not anyone along with Allah.)" The Jinns crowding together to hear the Qur'an Allah said, وَأَنَّهُ لَّمَا قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُواْ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَداً (And when the servant of Allah stood up invoking Him in prayer they just made round him a dense crowd as if sticking one over the other.) Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas, "When they heard the Prophet reciting the Qur'an they almost mounted on top of him due to their zeal. When they heard him reciting the Qur'an they drew very near to him. He was unaware of them until the messenger (i.e., Jibril) came to him and made him recite, قُلْ أُوحِىَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ (Say: "It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinn listened.") (72:1) They were listening to the Qur'an." This is one opinion and it has been reported from Az-Zubayr bin Al-`Awwam. Ibn Jarir recorded from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "The Jinns said to their people, لَّمَا قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُواْ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَداً (when the servant of Allah stood up invoking Him in prayer they just made round him a dense crowd as if sticking one over the other.) )" This is the second view and it has also been reported from Sa`id bin Jubayr. Al-Hasan said, "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up and said none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and he called the people to their Lord, the Arabs almost crowded over him together (against him)." Qatadah said concerning Allah's statement, وَأَنَّهُ لَّمَا قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُواْ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَداً (when the servant of Allah stood up invoking Him in prayer they just made round him a dense crowd as if sticking one over the other.) "Humans and Jinns both crowded together over this matter in order to extinguish it. However, Allah insisted upon helping it, supporting it and making it victorious over those who opposed it." This is the third view and it has also been reported from Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Ibn Zayd. It was also the view preferred by Ibn Jarir. This view seems to be the most apparent meaning of the Ayah due to Allah's statement which follows it, قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُو رَبِّى وَلاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَداً (Say: "I invoke only my Lord, and I associate none as partners along with Him.") meaning, when they harmed him, opposed him, denied him and stood against him in order to thwart the truth he came with, and to unite against him, the Messenger ﷺ said to them إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُو رَبِّى (I invoke only my Lord,) meaning, `I only worship my Lord alone, and He has no partners. I seek His help and I put my trust in Him.' وَلاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ أَحَداً (and I associate none as partners along with Him.) The Messenger ﷺ does not have Power to harm or give Guidance Concerning Allah's statement, قُلْ إِنِّى لاَ أَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرّاً وَلاَ رَشَداً (Say: "It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the right path.") meaning, `say: I am only a man like you all and I have received revelation. I am only a servant among the servants of Allah. I have no control over the affairs of your guidance or your misguidance. Rather all of these things are referred to Allah.' Then he (the Prophet) says about himself that no one can save him from Allah either. This means, `if I disobey Allah, then no one would be able to rescue me from His punishment.' وَلَنْ أَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَداً (and nor can I find refuge except in Him.) Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi all said, "No place to escape to." It is only obligatory upon the Messenger ﷺ to convey the Message Concerning Allah's statement, إِلاَّ بَلاَغاً مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرِسَـلَـتِهِ ((Mine is) but conveyance from Allah and His Messages,) This is an exception related to the previous statement, لَن يُجِيرَنِى مِنَ اللَّهِ أَحَدٌ (None can protect me from Allah's punishment,) meaning, `nothing can save me from Him and rescue me except my conveyance of the Message that He has obligated me to carry out.' This is as Allah says, يَـأَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ (O Messenger! Proclaim which has been sent down to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His Message. Allah will protect you from mankind.) (5:67) Then Allah says, وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَداً (and whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.) meaning, `I will convey unto you all the Messages of Allah, so whoever disobeys after that, then his reward will be the fire of Hell wherein he will abide forever.' This means, they will not be able to avoid it nor escape from it. Then Allah says, حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْاْ مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِراً وَأَقَلُّ عَدَداً (Till, when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who it is that is weaker concerning helpers and less important concerning numbers.) meaning, until these idolators from the Jinns and humans see what has been promised to them on the Day of Judgement. Then on that day, they will know who's helpers are weaker and fewer in number -- them or the believers who worship Allah alone. This means that the idolators have no helper at all and they are fewer in number than the soldiers of Allah.