The Night — Verse 18

he who gives his wealth to purify himself offering it as a means of self purification before God exalted be He by making this payment for the sake of God exalted be He and not for show or the sake of reputation so that he or the offering stands purified in the sight of God. This verse was revealed regarding the truthful one al-siddīq Abū Bakr may God be pleased with him when he purchased Bilāl the Ethiopian who was being tortured on account of his faith and then freed him whereat the disbelievers said ‘He only did this in return for a favour which he must have owed him’ and so the following was revealed

وسيُزحزَح عنها شديد التقوى، الذي يبذل ماله ابتغاء المزيد من الخير. وليس إنفاقه ذاك مكافأة لمن أسدى إليه معروفا، لكنه يبتغي بذلك وجه ربه الأعلى ورضاه، ولسوف يعطيه الله في الجنة ما يرضى به.

قوله "الذي يؤتى ماله يتزكى" أي يصرف ماله في طاعة ربه ليزكي نفسه وماله وما وهبه الله من دين ودنيا.

ثم وصف - سبحانه - هذا الإِنسان المبالغ فى تقواه وطاعته لربه فقال : ( الذي يؤتى ماله يتزكى ) أى : هذا الإِنسان الشديد التقوى من صفاته أنه يقد ماله لغيره ، وينفقه فى وجوه البر والطاعة ، رجاء أن يكون عند ربه زاكيا ناميا ، خاليا من شبهة الرياء والتفاخر ، وأملا فى أن يتطهر به من الذنوب .فقوله ( يتزكى ) فى محل نصب على الحال من فاعل ( يؤتى ) أى : يؤتى ماله حال كونه لا يطلب من وراء ذلك إلا تزكية ماله ، وتطهير نفسه .

وقوله: ( الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى ) يقول: الذي يعطي ماله في الدنيا في حقوق الله التي ألزمه إياها، ( يَتَزَكَّى ) : يعني: يتطهر بإعطائه ذلك من ذنوبه.

( الذي يؤتي ماله ) يعطي ماله ( يتزكى ) يطلب أن يكون عند الله زاكيا لا رياء ولا سمعة ، يعني أبا بكر الصديق ، في قول الجميع .قال ابن الزبير : كان أبو بكر يبتاع الضعفة فيعتقهم ، فقال أبوه : أي بني لو كنت تبتاع من يمنع ظهرك ؟ قال : منع ظهري أريد ، فنزل : " وسيجنبها الأتقى " ، إلى آخر السورة .وذكر محمد بن إسحاق قال : كان بلال لبعض بني جمح وهو بلال بن رباح واسم أمه حمامة ، وكان صادق الإسلام طاهر القلب ، وكان أمية بن خلف يخرجه إذا حميت الظهيرة فيطرحه على ظهره ببطحاء مكة ، ثم يأمر بالصخرة العظيمة فتوضع على صدره ، ثم يقول له : لا تزال هكذا حتى تموت ، أو تكفر بمحمد ، فيقول وهو في ذلك البلاء : أحد أحد .وقال محمد بن إسحاق عن هشام بن عروة عن أبيه قال : مر به أبو بكر يوما وهم يصنعون به ذلك ، وكانت دار أبي بكر في بني جمح ، فقال لأمية ألا تتقي الله تعالى في هذا المسكين ؟ قال : أنت أفسدته فأنقذه مما ترى ، قال أبو بكر : أفعل! عندي غلام أسود أجلد منه وأقوى ، على دينك ، أعطيك ؟ قال : قد فعلت فأعطاه أبو بكر غلامه وأخذه فأعتقه ، ثم أعتق معه على الإسلام قبل أن يهاجر ست [ رقاب ] ، بلال سابعهم ، عامر بن فهيرة شهد بدرا وأحدا ، وقتل يوم بئر معونة شهيدا ، وأم عميس ، وزنيرة فأصيب بصرها حين أعتقها ، فقالت قريش : ما أذهب بصرها إلا اللات والعزى [ فقالت : كذبوا وبيت الله ما تضر اللات والعزى ] ، وما تنفعان فرد الله إليها بصرها ، وأعتق النهدية وابنتها ، وكانتا لامرأة من بني عبد الدار فمر بهما وقد بعثتهما سيدتهما تحطبان لها وهي تقول والله لا أعتقكما أبدا . فقال أبو بكر : خلا يا أم فلان ، فقالت : خلا أنت أفسدتهما فأعتقهما ، قال [ أبو بكر - رضي الله عنه - ] فبكم ؟ قالت : بكذا وكذا ، قال : قد أخذتهما وهما حرتان ، ومر بجارية بني المؤمل وهي تعذب فابتاعها فأعتقها .وقال سعيد بن المسيب : بلغني أن أمية بن خلف قال لأبي بكر في بلال حين قال : أتبيعه ؟ قال : نعم أبيعه بنسطاس عبد لأبي بكر ، صاحب عشرة آلاف دينار ، وغلمان وجوار ومواش ، وكان مشركا حمله أبو بكر على الإسلام على أن يكون ماله له ، فأبى فأبغضه أبو بكر ، فلما قال له أمية أبيعه بغلامك نسطاس اغتنمه وباعه منه ، فقال المشركون : ما فعل ذلك أبو بكر ببلال إلا ليد كانت لبلال عنده فأنزل الله :

الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى (18) وجملة { يتزكى } حال في ضمير { يؤتي } ، وفائدة الحال التنبيه على أنه يؤتي ماله لقصد النفع والزيادة من الثواب تعريضاً بالمشركين الذي يؤتون المال للفخر والرياء والمفاسد والفجور .والتزكي : تكلف الزكاء ، وهو النماء من الخير .والمَال : اسم جنس لما يختص به أحد الناس من أشياء ينتفع بذاتها أو بخراجها وغلتها مثل الأنعام والأرضين والآبار الخاصة والأشجار المختص به أربابها .ويطلق عند بعض العرب مثل أهل يثرب على النخيل .وليس في إضافة اسم الجنس ما يفيد العموم ، فلا تدل الآية على أنه آتى جميع ماله .

{ وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى } بأن يكون قصده به تزكية نفسه، وتطهيرها من الذنوب والعيوب ، قاصدًا به وجه الله تعالى، فدل هذا على أنه إذا تضمن الإنفاق المستحب ترك واجب، كدين ونفقة ونحوهما، فإنه غير مشروع، بل تكون عطيته مردودة عند كثير من العلماء، لأنه لا يتزكى بفعل مستحب يفوت عليه الواجب.

ثم وصف الأتقى فقال : " الذي يؤتي ماله يتزكى " أي يطلب أن يكون عند الله زاكيا , ولا يطلب بذلك رياء ولا سمعة , بل يتصدق به مبتغيا به وجه الله تعالى .وقال بعض أهل المعاني : أراد بقوله " الأتقى " و " الأشقى " أي التقي والشقي كقول طرفة : تمنى رجال أن أموت وإن أمت فتلك سبيل لست فيها بأوحد أي واحد ووحيد وتوضع ( أفعل ) موضع فعيل , نحو قولهم : الله أكبر بمعنى كبير , " وهو أهون عليه " [ الروم : 27 ] بمعنى هين .

The system of this world has been so formulated that here the day dawns and night also falls. Only with the occurrence of both is the system perfect. Similarly, for the proper development of a man, it is necessary that he should have hardship as well as easy circumstances. In this world, hardship befalls the servant of God in order to activate his latent capabilities. Impediments are put in his way so that he may strive to make his future brighter than his present.

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ (And saved from it will be the most God-fearing one who gives his wealth [ in charity ] to become purified,....92:17-18). This verse describes the reward of the most God-fearing person, as opposed to the punishment of the most wretched in the preceding verse. The word atqa is the superlative form and signifies a man of taqwa, that is, the most God-fearing person, who spends his wealth in obedience of his Lord in order to purify himself from sins, will be kept far away from the fire of Hell. The wordings of the verse give good news, in general, to anyone who spends in Allah's cause in a state of faith, but the occasion of revelation indicates that atqa refers to Sayyidna Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ؓ in particular. Ibn Abi Hatim reports from Sayyidna 'Urwah ؓ that seven Muslims had been enslaved by the Makkan disbelievers. When they became Muslims, they were persecuted in a variety of ways. Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ spent a great amount of his money, and purchased them and set them free. Verses [ 17-21] were revealed on this occasion. [ Mazhari ]

Who giveth his wealth) in the way of Allah, i.e. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (that he may grow (in goodness)) intending by that Allah's Countenance alone,

The [one who is] most mindful of God will be spared it,! he who gives his wealth away to purify himself,He said:The one who is most mindful of God (atqā) refers to al-Ṣiddiq [Abū Bakr] , who was among people the one with the greatest awareness of God; for [other] people gave and were mindful of God, but he did not even see the ephemeral (al-fānī), keeping for himself [only] the Everlasting (al-Bāqī). Thus [when] the Messenger of God asked [him], �What did you leave for yourself?�, he replied, �God and His Messenger.� His words, Exalted is He:

The Matter of Guidance and other than it is in the Hand of Allah, and Allah's Warning about the Hell Qatadah said, إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَى (Truly, on Us is (to give) guidance.) "This means, We will explain what is lawful and what is prohibited." Others have said that it means, "Whoever traverses upon the path of guidance, then he will reach Allah (i.e., in the Hereafter)." They consider this Ayah like Allah's saying, وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ (And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight path.) (16:9) This has been mentioned by Ibn Jarir. Allah said; وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلاٌّخِرَةَ وَالاٍّولَى (And truly, unto Us (belong) the last (Hereafter) and the first (this world).) This means, `they both belong to Us and I (Allah) am in complete control of them.' Then Allah says, فَأَنذَرْتُكُمْ نَاراً تَلَظَّى (Therefore I have warned you of a Fire Talazza.) Mujahid said, "Blazing." Imam Ahmad recorded from Simak bin Harb that he heard An-Nu`man bin Bashir giving a sermon, in which he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ giving a sermon, in which he said: «أَنْذَرْتُكُمُ النَّار» (I have warned you of the Fire.) And he said it in such a voice that if a man was in the marketplace he could hear it from where I am standing now. And he said it (with such force) that the garment that was on his shoulder fell down to his feet." Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Ishaq that he heard An-Nu`man bin Bashir giving a sermon, in which he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, «إِنَّ أَهْوَنَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ تُوضَعُ فِي أَخْمَصِ قَدَمَيْهِ جَمْرَتَانِ يَغْلِي مِنْهُمَا دِمَاغُه» (Verily, the person to be punished lightest of the people of the Fire on the Day of Judgement will be a man who will have placed on the soles of his feet two coals that will cause his brain to boil.)" Imam Al-Bukhari also recorded this narration. Muslim recorded that Abu Ishaq narrated from An-Nu`man bin Bashir that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ أَهْوَنَ أَهْلِ النَّارِ عَذَابًا مَنْ لَهُ نَعْلَانِ وَشِرَاكَانِ مِنْ نَارٍ يَغْلِي مِنْهُمَا دِمَاغُهُ كَمَا يَغْلِي الْمِرْجَلُ، مَا يَرَى أَنَّ أَحَدًا أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ عَذَابًا، وَإِنَّهُ لَأَهْوَنُهُمْ عَذَابًا» (Verily, the lightest punishment received by the people of the Hellfire will be a man who will have two sandals whose straps will be made of fire that will cause his brain to boil just as a cauldron boils. Yet he will not think that anyone is receiving a torment more severe than him, even though he will be receiving the lightest punishment of them.) Allah says, لاَ يَصْلَـهَآ إِلاَّ الاٌّشْقَى (None shall enter it save the most wretched.) meaning, none will enter surrounded by it on all sides except the most wretched. Then Allah explains who this (the most wretched) is by His saying, الَّذِى كَذَّبَ (Who denies) meaning, in his heart. وَتَوَلَّى (and turns away.) meaning, from acting with his limbs and performing deeds according to their pillars. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كُلُّ أُمَّتِي يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّـةَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلَّا مَنْ أَبَى» (All of my followers will enter Paradise on the Day of Judgement except for whoever refuses.) They (the Companions) said, "Who would refuse, O Messenger of Allah" He replied, «مَنْ أَطَاعَنِي دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ، وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَقَدْ أَبَى» (Whoever obeys me, he will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me, then he has refused.) Al-Bukhari also recorded this Hadith. Allah then says, وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الاٌّتْقَى (And those with Taqwa will be far removed from it.) meaning, the righteous, pure, most pious person will be saved from the Fire. Then He explains who he is by His saying, الَّذِى يُؤْتِى مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى (He who gives of his wealth for self-purification.) meaning, he spends his wealth in obedience of his Lord in order to purify himself, his wealth and whatever Allah has bestowed upon him of religion and worldly things. وَمَا لاًّحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى (And who has (in mind) no favor from anyone to be paid back.) meaning, giving his wealth is not done so that he may gain some favor from someone wherein they return some good to him, and therefore he gives to get something in return. He only spends his wealth ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الاٌّعْلَى (to seek the Face of his Lord, the Most High) meaning, hoping to attain the blessing of seeing Him in the final abode in the Gardens of Paradise. Allah then says, وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَى (He, surely, will be pleased.) meaning, indeed those with these characteristics will be pleased. The Cause of this Revelation and the Virtue of Abu Bakr Many of the scholars of Tafsir have mentioned that these Ayat were revealed about Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. Some of them even mentioned that there is a consensus among the Qur'anic commentators concerning this. There is no doubt that he is included in the meaning of these Ayat, and that he is the most deserving of the Ummah to be described with these characteristics in general, for indeed, the wording of these Ayat is general. As in Allah's saying, وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الاٌّتْقَى - الَّذِى يُؤْتِى مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى - وَمَا لاًّحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى (And those with Taqwa will be far removed from it. He who gives of his wealth for self-purification. And who has (in mind) no favor from anyone to be paid back.) However, he (Abu Bakr) was the first and foremost of this Ummah to have all of these characteristics and other praiseworthy characteristics as well. For verily, he was truthful, pious, generous, charitable, and he always spent his wealth in obedience of His Master (Allah) and in aiding the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. How many Dirhams and Dinars did he spend seeking the Face of His Most Noble Lord. And did not consider any of the people as owning him some favor that he needed to get compensation for. Rather, his virtue and kindness was even shown towards leaders and chiefs from all the other tribes as well. This is why `Urwah bin Mas`ud, who was the chief of the Thaqif tribe, said to him on the day of the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, "By Allah, if I did not owe you a debt, which I have not paid you back for, I would have responded to you (i.e., your call to Islam)." Abu Bakr As-Siddiq became angry with him for saying such a thing (i.e., I owe you something). So if this was his position with the chiefs of the Arabs and the heads of the tribes, then what about those other than them. Thus, Allah says, وَمَا لاًّحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى - إِلاَّ ابْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الاٌّعْلَى - وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَى (And who has (in mind) no favor from anyone to be paid back. Except to seek the Face of his Lord, the Most High. He, surely, will be pleased.) And in the Two Sahihs it is recorded that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَنْ أَنْفَقَ زَوْجَيْنِ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ دَعَتْهُ خَزَنَةُ الْجَنَّةِ يَاعَبْدَاللهِ، هَذَا خَيْر» (Whoever equipped two riding animals in the way of Allah, the Gatekeepers of Paradise will call to him saying, "O servant of Allah! This is good.") So Abu Bakr said, "O Messenger of Allah! The one who is called from them will not have any need. Will there be anyone who will be called from all of them" The Prophet replied, «نَعَمْ ، وَأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنْهُم» (Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Layl, and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.