Defrauding, The Defrauders, The Cheats, Cheating — Verse 13

When Our signs of the Qur’ān are recited to him he says ‘Mere fables asātīr of the ancients!’ mere tales that were written down sutirat in ancient times asātīr is the plural of ustūra or istāra.

عذاب شديد يومئذ للمكذبين، الذين يكذبون بوقوع يوم الجزاء، وما يكذِّب به إلا كل ظالم كثير الإثم، إذا تتلى عليه آيات القرآن قال: هذه أباطيل الأولين. ليس الأمر كما زعموا، بل هو كلام الله ووحيه إلى نبيه، وإنما حجب قلوبهم عن التصديق به ما غشاها من كثرة ما يرتكبون من الذنوب. ليس الأمر كما زعم الكفار، بل إنهم يوم القيامة عن رؤية ربهم- جل وعلا- لمحجوبون، (وفي هذه الآية دلالة على رؤية المؤمنين ربَّهم في الجنة) ثم إنهم لداخلو النار يقاسون حرها، ثم يقال لهم: هذا الجزاء الذي كنتم به تكذبون.

أي إذا سمع كلام الله تعالى من الرسول يكذب به ويظن به ظن السوء فيعتقد أنه مفتعل مجموع من كتب الأوائل كما قال تعالى "وإذا قيل لهم ماذا أنزل ربكم قالوا أساطير الأولين" وقال تعالى "وقالوا أساطير الأولين اكتتبها فهي تملى عليه بكرة وأصيلا".

هذا المكذب بيوم القيامة من صفاته - أيضا - أنه ( إِذَا تتلى عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الأولين ) .أى : إذا تقرأ على هذا الكتاب آياتنا الدالة على وحدانيتنا وقدرتنا وصدق رسولنا . . قال هذه الآيات هى من أساطير الأقوام الأولين وترهاتهم وقصصهم المخترعة التى لا أصل لها .فأنت ترى أن هؤلاء المكذبين ، قد وصفهم الله -تعالى - بثلاث صفات هى : الاعتداء على الحق . والمبالغة فى ارتكاب الآثام ، والجرأة فى الافتراء والكذب ، حيث وصفوا القرآن بأنه ليس من عند الله - تعالى - .

( إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا ) يقول تعالى ذكره: إذا قُرئ عليه حججنا وأدلتنا التي بيَّنَاها في كتابنا الذي أنـزلناه إلى محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم ( قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الأوَّلِينَ ) يقول: قال: هذا ما سطَّره الأوّلون فكتبوه، من الأحاديث والأخبار.

"إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين".

إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ آَيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ (13)وجملة : { إذا تتلى عليه آياتنا قال أساطير الأولين } صفة لمعتد أو حال منه .والآيات هنا القرآن وأجزاؤه لأنّها التي تُتْلَى وتُقرأ .والأساطير : جمع أسطورة وهي القصة ، والأكثر أن يراد القصة المخترعة التي لم تقع وكان المشركون يُنَظِّرون قِصص القرآن بقصة رُستم ، وإسفنديار ، عند الفرس ، ولعل الكلمة معربة عن الرومية ، وتقدم الكلام عليه عند قوله تعالى : { يقول الذين كفروا إن هذا إلا أساطير الأولين } في سورة الأنعام ( 25 ) .والمراد بالأولين الأمم السابقة لأن الأول يطلق على السابق على وجه التشبيه بأنه أول بالنسبة إلى ثان بعده وإن كان هو قد سبقتْه أجيال ، وقد كان المشركون يصفون القرآن بذلك لِمَا سمعوا فيه من القصص التي سيقت إليهم مساق الموعظة والاعتبار ، فحسبوها من قصص الأسمار . واقتصروا على ذلك دون ما في أكثر القرآن من الحقائق العالية والحكمة ، بهتاناً منهم .وممن كانوا يقولون ذلك النضر بن الحارث وكان قد كتب قصة رستم وقصة إسفنديار وجدها في الحِيرَة فكان يحدث بها في مكة ويقول : أنا أحسن حديثاً من محمد فإنما يحدثكم بأساطير الأولين .وليس المراد في الآية خصوصه لأن كلمة كل معتد } ظاهر في عدم التخصيص .

ولهذا { إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا } الدالة على الحق، و[على] صدق ما جاءت به رسله، كذبها وعاندها، و { قَالَ } هذه { أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ } أي: من ترهات المتقدمين، وأخبار الأمم الغابرين، ليس من عند الله تكبرا وعنادا.

وقراءة العامة " تتلى " بتاءين , وقراءة أبي حيوة وأبي سماك وأشهب العقيلي والسلمي : " إذا يتلى " بالياء .وأساطير الأولين : أحاديثهم وأباطيلهم التي كتبوها وزخرفوها .واحدها أسطورة وإسطارة , وقد تقدم .

Literally ‘A prison’. It means a certain place in which the record of the deeds of the wicked is preserved.

كِتَابٌ مَّرْ‌قُومٌ (A register inscribed!...83:9) The word marqum (translated above as 'inscribed' ) signifies here makhtum meaning 'sealed'. Imam Baghawi and Ibn Kathir say that this statement is not the interpretation of sijjin, but rather the explication of a phrase before that, namely: كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ‌ 'Indeed the record of deeds of the sinners is in sijjin. [ 83:7] ' It is a book inscribed and sealed. No one can add anything to it, nor can anyone remove anything from it, nor is any alteration possible in it. The place where it will be kept for safe-custody is called sijjin, and it is the place where the souls of the wicked unbelievers are gathered. كَلَّا سکتہ إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّ‌بِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ (No! But that which they used to commit has covered their hearts with rust...83:14). The word rana is derived from rain and it means 'rust' or 'dust' or 'filth'. In other words, the rust of committing many sins has covered up their hearts. Just as rust consumes the iron, and turns it into dust, in the same way, the rust of while he was on the upper horizon....53:7)

(Who, when thou readest unto him) unto al-Walid Ibn al-Mughirah (Our revelations) the Qur'an explaining the commands and prohibitions, (saith: (Mere) fables of the men of old) this is nothing but the lies and idle talk of the people of old.

The Record of the Wicked and some of what happens to Them Allah says truly, إِنَّ كِتَـبَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِى سِجِّينٍ (Nay! Truly, the Record of the wicked is in Sijjin.) meaning, that their final destination and their abode will be in Sijjin, which is derived from the word prison (Sijn), and here it means straitened circumstances. Thus, Allah expresses the greatness of this matter, saying; وَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ (And what will make you know what Sijjin is) meaning, it is a great matter, an eternal prison, and a painful torment. Some have said that it is beneath the seventh earth. It has been mentioned previously in the lengthy Hadith of Al-Bara' bin `Azib that the Prophet said, «يَقُول اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي رُوحِ الْكَافِرِ اكْتُبُوا كِتَابَهُ فِي سِجِّينٍ. وَسِجِّينٌ هِيَ تَحْتُ الْأَرْضِ السَّابِعَة» (Allah says concerning the soul of the disbeliever, `Record his book in Sijjin.' And Sijjin is beneath the seventh earth.)" it is known that the destination of the wicked people will be Hell, and it is the lowest of the low. For Allah says, ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَـهُ أَسْفَلَ سَـفِلِينَ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ (Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low. Save those who believe and do righteous deeds.) (95:5-6) Here Allah says, كَلاَّ إِنَّ كِتَـبَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِى سِجِّينٍ - وَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ (Nay! Truly, the Record of the wicked is in Sijjin. And what will make you know what Sijjin is) and it is full of hardship and misery. Allah says, وَإَذَآ أُلْقُواْ مِنْهَا مَكَاناً ضَيِّقاً مُّقَرَّنِينَ دَعَوْاْ هُنَالِكَ ثُبُوراً (And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction.) (25:13) Then Allah says, كِتَـبٌ مَّرْقُومٌ (A Register inscribed.) This is not an explanation of His statement, وَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ (And what will make you know what Sijjin is) It is only an explanation of the destination that will be recorded for them, which is Sijjin. Meaning, it is inscribed, written, and completed. No one can add to it and no one can remove anything from it. This was said by Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi. Then Allah said, وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ (Woe, that Day, to those who deny.) meaning, when they come to the imprisonment, Allah threatened them with, on the Day of Judgement, and the disgraceful torment. The statement, "Woe," has already been discussed previously and there is no need to repeat it here. Basically, it means destruction and devastation. This is like what is said, "Woe to so-and-so." This is similar to what has been recorded in the Musnad and the Sunan collections on the authority of Bahz bin Hakim bin Mu`awiyah bin Haydah, َ مَا سِجِّينٌ (Nay! Truly, ! TrulrsA ? the Record of the wicked is in Sijjin. And what will make you know what Sijjin is) and it is full of hardship and misery. Allah says, وَإَذَآ أُلْقُواْ مِنْهَا مَكَاناً ضَيِّقاً مُّقَرَّنِينَ دَعَوْاْ هُنَالِكَ ثُبُوراً (And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction.) (25:13) Then Allah says, كِتَـبٌ مَّرْقُومٌ (A Register inscribed.) This is not an explanation of His statement, وَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ (And what will make you know what Sijjin is) It is only an explanation of the destination that will be recorded for them, which is Sijjin. Meaning, it is inscribed, written, and completed. No one can add to it and no one can remove anything from it. This was said by Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi. Then Allah said, وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ (Woe, that Day, to those who deny.) meaning, when they come to the imprisonment, Allah threatened them with, on the Day of Judgement, and the disgraceful torment. The statement, "Woe," has already been discussed previously and there is no need to repeat it here. Basically, it means destruction and devastation. This is like what is said, "Woe to so-and-so." This is similar to what has been recorded in the Musnad and the Sunan collections on the authority of Bahz bin Hakim bin Mu`awiyah bin Haydah, who reported from his father, who reported from his grandfather that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «وَيْلٌ لِلَّذِي يُحَدِّثُ فَيَكْذِبُ لِيُضْحِكَ النَّاسَ، وَيْلٌ لَهُ وَيْلٌ لَه» (Woe unto whoever speaks, and lies in order to make the people laugh. Woe unto him, woe unto him.) Then Allah says, in explaining who are the wicked, disbelieving deniers, الَّذِينَ يُكَذِّبُونَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ (Those who deny the Day of Recompense.) meaning, they do not believe it will happen, and they do not believe in its existence. Thus, they consider it a matter that is farfetched. Allah then says, وَمَا يُكَذِّبُ بِهِ إِلاَّ كُلُّ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ (And none can deny it except every transgressor, sinner.) meaning, transgressive in his actions by doing that which is forbidden and exceeding the limits when acquiring the permissible. He is a sinner in his statements, because he lies whenever he speaks, he breaks his promises whenever he makes them, and he behaves in an abusive and wicked manner whenever he argues. Concerning Allah's statement, إِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ (When Our Ayat are recited to him, he says: "Tales of the ancients!") meaning, whenever he hears the Words of Allah from the Messenger , he denies it and has ill thoughts about it. Thus, he believes that it is a collection gathered from the books of the ancients. This is as Allah says, وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ مَّاذَآ أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ (And when it is said to them: "What is it that your Lord has sent down" They say: "Tales of the men of old!") (16:24) Similarly Allah says, وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَى عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً (And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has written down: and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.") (25:5) Then Allah continues saying, كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ (Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.) meaning, the matter is not as they claim, nor as they say: "Verily, this Qur'an is tales of the ancients." Rather, it is the Word of Allah, His inspiration and His revelation to His Messenger . The only thing that blocked their hearts from believing in it is the dark covering cast over it from the many sins and wrong they committed that has covered up their hearts. Thus, Allah says, كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ (Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.) This dark covering known as Rayn overcomes the hearts of the disbelievers, the covering of Ghaym is for the righteous, and the covering of Ghayn is for those who are near to Allah. Ibn Jarir, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nisa'i, and Ibn Majah all recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, «إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا كَانَتْ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فِي قَلْبِهِ، فَإِنْ تَابَ مِنْهَا صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ، قu uA ay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.) meaning, the matter is not as they claim, nor as they say: "Verily, this Qur'an is tales of the ancients." Rather, it is the Word of Allah, His inspiration and His revelation to His Messenger . The only thing that blocked their hearts from believing in it is the dark covering cast over it from the many sins and wrong they committed that has covered up their hearts. Thus, Allah says, uuA ? "What is it that your Lord has sent down" They say: "Tales of the men of old!") (16:24) Similarly Allah says, وَقَالُواْ أَسَـطِيرُ الاٌّوَّلِينَ اكْتَتَبَهَا فَهِىَ تُمْلَى عَلَيْهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلاً (And they say: "Tales of the ancients, which he has written down: and they are dictated to him morning and afternoon.") (25:5) Then Allah continues saying, كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ (Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.) meaning, the matter is not as they claim, nor as they say: "Verily, this Qur'an is tales of the ancients." Rather, it is the Word of Allah, His inspiration and His revelation to His Messenger . The only thing that blocked their hearts from believing in it is the dark covering cast over it from the many sins and wrong they committed that has covered up their hearts. Thus, Allah says, كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ (Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.) This dark covering known as Rayn overcomes the hearts of the disbelievers, the covering of Ghaym is for the righteous, and the covering of Ghayn is for those who are near to Allah. Ibn Jarir, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nisa'i, and Ibn Majah all recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, «إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا كَانَتْ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فِي قَلْبِهِ، فَإِنْ تَابَ مِنْهَا صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ، قوَإِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ، فَذلِكَ قَوْلُ اللهِ تَعَالَى: كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ » (Verily, when the servant commits a sin, a black spot appears in his heart. If he repents from it, his heart is polished clean. However, if he increases (in the sin), the spot will continue to increase. That is the statement of Allah: ((Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.)) At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." The wording of An-Nasa'i says, «إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا أَخْطَأَ خَطِيئَةً نُكِتَ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ ، فَإِنْ هُوَ نَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ وَتَابَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ ، فَإِنْ عَادَ زِيدَ فِيهَا حَتَّى تَعْلُو قَلْبَهُ فَهُوَ الرَّانُ الَّذِي قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى: كَلاَّ بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ » (Whenever the servant commits a wrong, a black spot is put in his heart. So, if he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns to the sin, the spot will increase until it overcomes his (entire) heart, and this is the Ran that Allah mentions when He says: (Nay, but on their hearts is the Ran (covering) which they used to earn.)) Concerning Allah's statement, كَلاَّ إِنَّهُمْ عَن رَّبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَّمَحْجُوبُونَ (Nay! Surely, they will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day.) meaning, they will have a place on the Day of Judgement, and lodging in Sijjin. Along with this they will be veiled from seeing their Lord and Creator on the Day of Judgement. Imam Abu `Abdullah Ash-Shafi`i said, "In this Ayah is a proof that the believers will see Him (Allah), the Mighty and Sublime, on that Day." Concerning Allah's statement, ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُواْ الْجَحِيمِ (Then verily, they will indeed enter the burning flame of Hell.) meaning, along with this being prevented from seeing the Most Gracious, they will also be among the people of the Fire. ثُمَّ يُقَالُ هَـذَا الَّذِى كُنتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ (Then, it will be said to them: "This is what you used to deny!") (83:17) meaning, this will be said to them by way of scolding, rebuking, belittling, and humi- liation.