Those Who Drag Forth, Soul-snatchers, Those Who Pulled Out — Verse 45

You are only a warner for your warning will only benefit the one who fears it.

يسألك المشركون أيها الرسول- استخفافا- عن وقت حلول الساعة التي تتوعدهم بها. لستَ في شيء مِن علمها، بل مرد ذلك إلى الله عز وجل، وإنما شأنك في أمر الساعة أن تحذر منها مَن يخافها. كأنهم يوم يرون قيام الساعة لم يلبثوا في الحياة الدنيا؛ لهول الساعة إلا ما بين الظهر إلى غروب الشمس، أو ما بين طلوع الشمس إلى نصف النهار.

أي إنما بعثتك لتنذر الناس وتحذرهم من بأس الله وعذابه فمن خشي الله وخاف مقامه ووعيده أتبعك فأفلح وأنجح والخيبة والخسار على من كذبك وخالفك.

وقوله - تعالى - : ( إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَاهَا ) تحديد لوظيفته صلى الله عليه وسلم أى : ليست وظيفتك - أيها الرسول الكريم - معرفة الوقت الذى تقوم فيه الساعة ، فهذا أمر مرد معرفته إلى الله وحده . . وإنما وظيفتك امتثال ما أمرت به ، من بيان اقترابها ، وتفصيل أهوالها ، ودعوة الناس إلى حسن الاستعداد لها بالإيمان والعمل الصالح . .وإذا كان الأمر كذلك فلماذا ترك هؤلاء الجاهلون ما يجب عليهم من الإِيمان والعمل الصالح ، وأخذوا يسألونك عن أشياء خارجة عن وظيفتك؟وخص - سبحانه - الإِنذار بمن يخشى قيام الساعة ، مع أن رسالته صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى الناس كافة . وإنذاره إنما هو لهم جميعا ، لأن هؤلاء الذين يخشون وقوعها ، ويعملون العمل الصالح الذى ينجيهم من أهوالها ، هم الذين ينتفعون بهذا الإِنذار .

وقوله: ( إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَا ) يقول تعالى ذكره لمحمد: إنما أنت رسول مبعوث بإنذار الساعة من يخاف عقاب الله فيها على إجرامه ولم تكلف علم وقت قيامها، يقول: فدع ما لم تكلف علمَه واعمل بما أمرت به من إنذار من أُمرت بإنذاره.واختلف القرّاء في قراءة قوله: ( مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَا ) فكان أبو جعفر القارئ وابن محيصن يقرآن ( مُنْذِرٌ ) بالتنوين، بمعنى: أنه منذر من يخشاها، وقرأ ذلك سائر قرّاء المدينة ومكة والكوفة والبصرة بإضافة ( مُنْذِرُ ) إلى ( من ).والصواب من القول في ذلك عندي: أنهم قراءتان معروفتان، فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فمصيب.

"إنما أنت منذر من يخشاها"، قرأ أبو جعفر: "منذر" بالتنوين أي إنما أنت مخوف من يخاف قيامها، أي: إنما ينفع إنذارك من يخافها.

إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَا (45)وقوله : { إنما أنت منذر من يخشاها } استئناف بياني ناشىء عن جملة { فيم أنت من ذكراها إلى ربك منتهاها } وهو أن يسأل السامع عن وجه إكثار النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ذِكرها وأنها قريبة ، فأجيب بأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حظه التحذير من بَغْتَتِها ، وليس حظه الإِعلام بتعيين وقتها ، على أن المشركين قد اتخذوا إعراض القرآن عن تعيين وقتها حجة لهم على إحالتها لأنهم لجهلهم بالحقائق يحسبون أن من شأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يعلم الغيب ولذلك تكرر في القرآن تبرئة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم من ذلك كما في قوله تعالى :{ قل لا أقول لكم عندي خزائن الله ولا أعلم الغيب } [ الأنعام : 50 ] .وأفادت { إنما } قصر المخاطب على صفة الإنذار ، أي تخصيصه بحال الإِنذار وهو قصر موصوف على صفة فهو قصر إضافي ، أي بالنسبة إلى ما اعتقدوه فيه بما دل عليه إلحافهم في السؤال من كونه مطلعاً على الغيب .وقوله : { منذر من يخشاها } قرأه الجمهور بإضافة { منذر } إلى { من يخشاها } . وقرأه أبو جعفر بتنوين { منذر } على أن { من يخشاها } مفعوله .وفي إضافة { منذر } إلى { من يخشاها } أو نصبِه به إيجازُ حذف تقديره : منذرها فينتذر من يخشاها ، وقرينة ذلك حاليَّة للعلم المتواتر من القرآن بأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان ينذر جميع الناس لا يخص قوماً دون آخرين فإن آيات الدعوة من القرآن ومقامات دعوة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لم تكن إلا عامة . ولا يُعرف من يَخشى الساعة إلا بعد أن يؤمِن المُؤمن ولو عرف أحد بعينه أنه لا يؤمن أبداً لما وجهت إليه الدعوة ، فتعين أن المراد : أنه لا ينتفع بالإِنذار إلا من يخشى الساعة ومن عداه تمُرّ الدعوة بسمعه فلا يَأبَهُ بها ، فكان ذكر { من يخشاها } تنويهاً بشأن المؤمنين وإعلاناً لمزيتهم وتحقيراً للذين بقُوا على الكفر قال تعالى : { وما أنت بمسمع من في القبور إن أنت إلا نذير } [ فاطر : 22 ، 23 ] .وعلى هذا القانون يفهم لماذا وجه الخطاب بالإِيمان إلى ناس قد علم الله أنهم لا يؤمنون ، وكَشف الواقعُ على أنهم هلكوا ولم يؤمنوا مثل صناديد قريش أصحاب القليب قليببِ بدر مثل أبي جهل والوليد بن المغيرة ، ولماذا وُجه الخطاب بطلب التقوى ممن علم الله أنه لا يتقي مثل دُعّار العرب الذين أسلموا ولم يتركوا العدوان والفواحش ، ومثل أهل الردة الذين لم يكفروا منهم ولكنهم أصرّوا على منع الزكاة وقاتلهم أبو بكر رضي الله عنه ، فمن مات منهم في ذلك فهو ممن لم يتق الله لأن ما في علم الله لا يبلغ الناس إلى علمه ولا تظهر نهايته إلا بعد الموت وهي المسألة المعروفة عند المتكلمين من أصحابنا بمسألة المُوافاة .

{ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنْذِرُ مَنْ يَخْشَاهَا } أي: إنما نذارتك [نفعها] لمن يخشى مجيء الساعة، ويخاف الوقوف بين يديه، فهم الذين لا يهمهم سوى الاستعداد لها والعمل لأجلها. وأما من لا يؤمن بها، فلا يبالي به ولا بتعنته، لأنه تعنت مبني على العناد والتكذيب، وإذا وصل إلى هذه الحال، كان الإجابة عنه عبثا، ينزه الحكيم عنه [تمت] والحمد لله رب العالمين.

إنما أنت منذر من يخشاها أي مخوف ; وخص الإنذار بمن يخشى ، لأنهم المنتفعون به ، وإن كان منذرا لكل مكلف ; وهو كقوله تعالى :إنما تنذر من اتبع الذكر وخشي الرحمن بالغيب . وقراءة العامة ( منذر ) بالإضافة غير منون ; طلب التخفيف ، وإلا فأصله التنوين ; لأنه للمستقبل وإنما لا ينون في الماضي . قال الفراء : يجوز التنوين وتركه ; كقوله تعالى : بالغ أمره ، و ( بالغ أمره ) و موهن كيد الكافرين و موهن كيد الكافرين والتنوين هو الأصل ، وبه قرأ أبو جعفر وشيبة والأعرج وابن محيصن وحميد وعياش عن أبي عمرو ( منذر ) منونا ، وتكون في موضع نصب ، والمعنى نصب ، إنما ينتفع بإنذارك من يخشى الساعة . وقال أبو علي : يجوز أن تكون الإضافة للماضي ، نحو ضارب زيد أمس ; لأنه قد فعل الإنذار ، الآية رد على من قال : أحوال الآخرة غير محسوسة ، وإنما هي راحة الروح أو تألمها من غير حس

Man is between two domains. One is the present world, which is before him, and the second is the world of the Hereafter, which is hidden from view. The real test of man is that he should prefer the Hereafter to the present world. But this can be done only by one who has the courage to exercise control over the base desires of the self and not behave arrogantly.

Thereafter, the special marks of the inmates of Paradise are described. They too have two characteristics: وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَ‌بِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ (whereas for the one who feared to stand before his Lord, and restrained his self from the [ evil ] desire, 79:40). In other words, [ 1] the first characteristic of a God-fearing person is that, in this life, he shudders at the thought of appearing before Allah to account for his deeds on the Day of Reckoning; and [ 2] forbids the baser self from its evil desires. Those who are characterised by these two qualities have the good news that the Paradise will be their abode, thus: فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ (the Paradise will be the abode....79:41) Three Levels of Suppressing [ the Base ] Self The verse under comment lays down two conditions of attaining the abode in Paradise, but carefully considered, the two conditions, in terms of consequence, are one. The first condition is the fear of accountability in the presence of Allah. The second condition is to restrain oneself from the evil desires. As a matter of fact, fear of Allah causes one to restrain oneself from evil desires. Qadi Thana'ullah Panipati has written in his Tafsir Mazhari that there are three levels of suppressing evil desires, as follows: The first level is that one avoids false beliefs which are in conflict or incompatible with express texts [ of the Holy Qur'an and established Sunnah ] and consensus of [ the righteous ] predecessors. In this level, a person deserves to be called 'Sunni Muslim'. The second level is the middle one. A person, in this stage, may think of committing sin. Then he may remember that he has to account for his deeds before Allah [ on the Day of Reckoning ]. As a result, he abandons the thought of committing sin. The complement to this level is that one abstains from doubtful things and those acts that are permissible in themselves, but there is apprehension that if committed, they may lead one to slip into impermissible acts. Sayyidna Nu` man Ibn Bashir ؓ narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said: "He who abstained from doubtful things has protected his honour and religion. He who indulged in doubtful things will eventually indulge in forbidden things." The expression 'doubtful things' signifies those acts about which one is not certain whether they are permissible or not, both possibilities being equal. Let us consider a few examples: if a person is ill and can take [ wet ] ablution, but he is not sure whether taking [ wet ] ablution in this state would be harmful. Thus the permissibility of dry ablution (tayammum) becomes doubtful. Likewise a person is able to perform prayers in a standing position, but feels great difficulty. He is now in doubt whether or not it is permissible for him to perform prayers in a sitting position. On such occasions, one should abandon the doubtful thing or act, and prefer what is definitely certain. This is taqwa and the middle course of suppressing the selfish desires. Tricks of the Base Self There are acts whose sinful nature is obvious to everyone. The selfish desires prompting to such sinful acts may be suppressed by one's deliberate efforts and firm resolution. However, there are evils prompted by one's base self even during his acts of worship and other good deeds, such as self-conceit, (` Ujb) vanity, (Kibr), and show off (Riya' ). These are such sins whose sinful nature is often not discoverable to a common person, still they are very severe and firmly ingrained evil desires of one's base self. One is at times deceived by them, because he continues to think that his actions are right. It is extremely necessary that first and foremost this lower self must be suppressed. But this cannot be achieved by one on his own. It is necessary for one to search for a perfect spiritual master (Ash-shaikhul-kamil), and hand himself over to him for guidance. He acts as the authentic guide and the only one to whom a seeker of Truth should turn in his quest and follow his advice. In turning to the spiritual master, the seeker is turning to Allah Almighty. The shaikh engages him in the spiritual struggle and endeavour [ mujahadah ] against the passions and tendencies of the lower self [` uyub-un-nafs ]. Shaikh Imam Ya` qub Karkhi (رح) says that in his young age he was a carpenter. He found laziness, and felt darkness in his inner self. So, he intended to keep fasts for a few days so that he may get rid of the laziness and darkness. Co-incidentally, one day, while he was fasting, he went up to Shaikh Imam Baha'uddin Naqshbandi. The Shaikh called for meals for his guests. He was also invited to partake of the meal, and the Shaikh said: "He is a very bad slave who is the slave of his base self that misleads him. It is better to partake of meal than to keep fast with evil desires of the base self." Shaikh Karkhi says that at that moment he realised that (by fasting) he was falling prey to self-complacence, self-conceit and pride, which the Shaikh Naqshbandi perceived. On that occasion, Shaikh Karkhi realised that a spiritual master's permission and guidance is needed to take up an optional act of worship, because the spiritual master is aware of the hidden tricks of the evil desires of the base self. If an optional act of worship will be accompanied by such motives, the will put a stop to it [ for remedial purposes ]. He asked Shaikh Naqshbandi: "If I cannot find a Shaikh who is called in Sufi terms as fani fillah and baqi billah, (the explanation is coming in the next paragraph.) what must I do?" He replied: "Recite istighfar abundantly and recite istighfar [ seek Allah's pardon ] twenty times regularly after every prayer, so that it works out to a hundred times reciting it five times a day." The Holy Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said: "Sometimes I feel my heart disturbed, and I recite istighfar [ seek Allah's pardon ] a hundred times a day." The third and the highest level of suppression of the base self is that by abundant dhikrullah [ remembrance of Allah ] and constant mujahadah [ spiritual struggle and endeavour against the evil passions ] and riyadah [ ascetic discipline ], one's self (nafs) is so much cleansed and purified that the desires that tempts him to evil are totally eliminated. This is the special stage of wilayah [ Divine friendship ], which in Sufi Terminology is called rani fillah and baqi billah. The Qur'an says regarding such people [ addressing the Shaitan ]: إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ 'My servants are such that you have no power over them [ 15:42] ' The following Tradition applies to the same category of wali : لَا یُؤمِن احَدُکُم حَتّٰی یَکُونَ ھَوَاہُ تَبعاً لِمَا جِٔتُ بِہٖ 'None of you can be a [ perfect ] believer unless his [ base ] desires of self follow my teachings.' Towards the end of the Surah, the Holy Qur'an responds to the mala fide demand of the infidels that the Holy Prophet ﷺ should let them know the exact date and time of the Day of Judgment. They are told that knowledge of the time and date is within Allah's own special prerogative. Allah's consummate wisdom did not pass the information to any angel or Prophet ﷺ . Therefore, the demand is futile. Al-hamdulillah The Commentary on Surah An-Naziat Ends here

(Thou art but a warner) you are but a warning messenger by means of the Qur'an (unto him who feareth it) to him who fears its advent.

The Day of Judgement, its Pleasures and Hell, and that its Time is not known Allah says, فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ الطَّآمَّةُ الْكُبْرَى (But when there comes the Great Catastrophe) This refers to the Day of Judgement. This has been said by Ibn `Abbas. It has been called this because it will overcome every matter. It will be frightful and horrifying. As Allah says, وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ (And the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter.) (54:46) Then Allah says, يَوْمَ يَتَذَكَّرُ الإِنسَـنُ مَا سَعَى (The Day when man shall remember what he strove for.) meaning, at that time the Son of Adam will reflect upon all of his deeds, both the good and the evil. This is as Allah says, يَوْمَئِذٍ يَتَذَكَّرُ الإِنسَـنُ وَأَنَّى لَهُ الذِّكْرَى (On the Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance avail him) (89:23) Then Allah says, وَبُرِّزَتِ الْجَحِيمُ لِمَن يَرَى (And Hell shall be made apparent for whoever sees.) meaning, it will become apparent for the onlookers, so the people will see it with their own eyes. فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَى (Then for him who transgressed) meaning, who rebels and behaves arrogantly. وَءاثَرَ الْحَيَوةَ الدُّنْيَا (And preferred the life of this world,) meaning, he gives it precedence over the matters of his religion and his Hereafter. فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِىَ الْمَأْوَى (Verily his abode will be the Hell;) meaning, his final destination will be Hell, his food will be from the tree of Zaqqum, and his drink will be from Hamim. وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى (But as for him who feared standing before his Lord and forbade himself from desire.) meaning, he fears the standing before Allah, he fears Allah's judgement of him, he prevents his soul from following its desires, and he compels it to obey its Master. فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِىَ الْمَأْوَى (Verily Paradise will be his abode.) meaning, his final abode, his destination, and his place of return will be the spacious Paradise. Then Allah says, يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَـهَا - فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكْرَاهَا - إِلَى رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَـهَآ (They ask you about the Hour -- when will be its appointed time What do you have to mention of it. To your Lord it is limited.) meaning, its knowledge is not with you, nor with any creature. Rather the knowledge of it is with Allah. He is the One Who knows the exact time of its occurrence. ثَقُلَتْ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ لاَ تَأْتِيكُمْ إِلاَّ بَغْتَةً يَسْـَلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنْهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا عِلْمُهَا عِندَ اللَّهِ (Heavy is its burden through the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you except all of a sudden. They ask you as if you have a good knowledge of it. Say: "The knowledge thereof is with Allah.") (7:187) Allah says here, إِلَى رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَـهَآ (To your Lord it is limited.) Thus, when Jibril asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the time of the last Hour he said, «مَا الْمَسْؤُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِل» (The one questioned about it knows no more than the questioner.) Allah said, إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَـهَا (You are only a warner for those who fear it,) meaning, `I sent you to warn mankind and caution them to beware of the torment and punishment of Allah. So whoever fears Allah, fears standing before Him, and His threat, then he will follow you, and thus be successful and victorious. However, whoever denies you and opposes you, then he will only suffer loss and failure.' Allah then says, كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا (The Day they see it (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an (`Ashiyyah) afternoon or its (Duha) morning.) meaning, when they stand up from their graves to go to the place of Gathering, they will feel that the period of the worldy life was short, it will seem to them that it was only the afternoon of one day. Juwaybir reported from Ad-Dahhak from Ibn `Abbas: كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُواْ إِلاَّ عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَـهَا (The Day they see it (it will be) as if they had not tarried (in this world) except an (`Ashiyyah) afternoon or its (Duha) morning.) "As for `Ashiyyah, it is the time between noon until the setting of the sun. أَوْ ضُحَـهَا (Or its (Duha) morning) what is between sunrise and midday (noon)." Qatadah said, "This refers to the time period of the worldly life in the eyes of the people when they see the Hereafter." This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat An-Nazi`at. And to Allah belongs all praise and thanks.