The Family of Imran, The House of Imran — Verse 177

Comforting the Messenger of Allah ﷺ Allah said to His Prophet, وَلاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَـرِعُونَ فِى الْكُفْرِ (And let not those grieve you who rush with haste to disbelieve) 3:176. Because the Prophet was eager for people's benefit, he would become sad when the disbelievers would resort to defiance, rebellion and stubbornness. Allah said, `Do not be saddened by this behavior,' إِنَّهُمْ لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللَّهَ شَيْئاً يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَلاَّ يَجْعَلَ لَهُمْ حَظّاً فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ (verily, not the least harm will they do to Allah. It is Allah's will to give them no portion in the Hereafter.) for He decided with His power and wisdom that they shall not acquire any share in the Hereafter, وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عظِيمٌ (For them there is a great torment.) Allah said about the disbelievers, إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُاْ الْكُفْرَ بِالإِيمَـنِ (Verily, those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith,) by exchanging disbelief for faith, لَن يَضُرُّواْ اللَّهَ شَيْئاً (not the least harm will they do to Allah.) Rather, they will only harm themselves, وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (For them, there is a painful torment.) Allah said next, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاًّنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً وَلَهْمُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ (And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. And for them is a disgraceful torment) 3:178. This statement is similar to Allah's other statements, أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ - نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ (Do they think that because We have given them abundant wealth and children, that We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not.) 23:55,56 and فَذَرْنِى وَمَن يُكَذِّبُ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ سَنَسْتَدْرِجُهُمْ مِّنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (Then leave Me Alone with such as belie this Qur'an. We shall punish them gradually from directions they perceive not.) 68:44, and, وَلاَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُمْ بِهَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـفِرُونَ (And let not their wealth or their children amaze you. Allah's plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers) 9:85. Allah then said, مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ (Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good.) 3:179, meaning, He allows a calamity to happen, and during this calamity His friend becomes known and His enemy exposed, the patient believer recognized and the sinful hypocrite revealed. This Ayah refers to Uhud, since Allah tested the believers in that battle, thus making known the faith, endurance, patience, firmness and obedience to Allah and His Messenger that the believers had. Allah exposed the hypocrites in their defiance, reverting from Jihad, and the treachery they committed against Allah and His Messenger . This is why Allah said, مَّا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَآ أَنتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ (Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good.) Mujahid commented, "He distinguished between them during the day of Uhud." Qatadah said, "He distinguished between them in Jihad and Hijrah." Allah said next, وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ (Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Unseen.) meaning, you do not have access to Allah's knowledge of His creation so that you can distinguish between the believer and the hypocrite, except by the signs of each type that Allah uncovers. Allah's statement, وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِى مِن رُّسُلِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ (but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He wills.) is similar to another Ayah, عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلاَ يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَداً - إِلاَّ مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِن رَّسُولٍ فَإِنَّهُ يَسْلُكُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ رَصَداً ((He Alone is) the All-Knower of the Unseen, and He reveals to none His Unseen. Except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen, and then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.) 72:26,27. Allah then said, فَـَامِنُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ (So believe in Allah and His Messengers.) Obey Allah and His Messenger and adhere to the law that he legislated for you, وَإِن تُؤْمِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَلَكُمْ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ (and if you believe and fear Allah, then for you there is a great reward.) The Censure of Selfishness, and Warning Against it Allah said, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ( And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty (wealth) think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them.) 3:180 Therefore, the Ayah says that the miser should not think that collecting money will benefit him. Rather, it will harm him in his religion and worldly affairs. Allah mentions the money that the miser collected on the Day of Resurrection, سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ (the things that they stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection.) Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَنْ آتَاهُ اللهُ مَالًا فَلَمْ يُؤَدِّ زَكَاتَهُ، مُثِّلَ لَهُ شُجَاعًا أَقْرَعَ، لَهُ زَبِيبَتَانِ، يُطَوَّقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، يَأْخُذُ بِلِهْزِمَتَيْهِ يَعْنِي بِشِدْقَيْهِ يَقُولُ: أَنَا مَالُكَ، أَنَا كَنْزُك» (Whoever Allah makes wealthy and he does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, then (on the Day of Resurrection) his wealth will be made in the likeness of a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite his cheeks and proclaim, `I am your wealth, I am your treasure.') The Prophet then recited the Ayah, وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ بِمَآ ءَاتَـهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ هُوَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ بَلْ هُوَ شَرٌّ لَّهُمْ ( And let not those who are stingy with that which Allah has bestowed on them of His bounty think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them), until the end. Al-Bukhari, but not Muslim, collected this Hadith using this chain of narration, Ibn Hibban also collected it in his Sahih. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Prophet said, «مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍلَا يُؤَدِّي زَكَاةَ مَالِهِ إِلَّا جُعِلَ لَهُ شُجَاعٌ أَقْرَعُ يَتْبَعُهُ، يَفِرُّ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ يَتْبَعُهُ، فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا كَنْزُك» (Every person who does not pay the Zakah due on his wealth, will have his money made into the shape of a bald-headed, poisonous male snake who will follow him. The person will run away from the snake, who will follow him and proclaim, `I am your treasure.') `Abdullah then recited the Ayah in Allah's Book that testifies to this fact, سَيُطَوَّقُونَ مَا بَخِلُواْ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ (the things that they were stingy with shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection.) This was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." Allah's statement, وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the Earth), means, وَأَنفِقُواْ مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ (and spend of that whereof He has made you trustees) 57: 7. Therefore, since all affairs are under Allah's control, then spend from your money so it will benefit you on the Day of Return, وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (and Allah is Well-Acquainted with all that you do.) with your intentions and what your hearts conceal.

Those who purchase unbelief at the price of faith that is taking it in place of it they will not hurt God at all with their unbelief and there awaits them a painful chastisement alīm means mu’lim ‘painful’.

Those who purchase unbelief at the price of faith they will not hurt God at all and there awaits them a painful chastisement. If they cause harm aḌarrū it is only to themselves. If they persist aṣarrū they persist only to their own loss. We did not suffer from the distance to their abodes nor did longings drive us toward them.

Those who purchase unbelief at the price of faith they will not hurt God at all and there awaits them a painful chastisement. If they cause harm aḌarrū it is only to themselves. If they persist aṣarrū they persist only to their own loss. We did not suffer from the distance to their abodes nor did longings drive us toward them.

إن الذين استبدلوا الكفر بالإيمان لن يضروا الله شيئًا، بل ضرر فِعْلِهم يعود على أنفسهم، ولهم في الآخرة عذاب موجع.

قال تعالى مخبرا عن ذلك إخبارا مقررا "إن الذين اشتروا الكفر بالإيمان" أي استبدلوا هذا بهذا "لن يضروا الله شيئا" أي ولكن يضرون أنفسهم "ولهم عذاب أليم".

ثم أكد - سبحانه - هذا الحكم وقرره فقال : { إِنَّ الذين اشتروا الكفر بالإيمان لَن يَضُرُّواْ الله شَيْئاً وَلهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ } .والاشتراء فى الآية الكريمة بمعنى الاستبدال على سبيل الاستعارة التمثيلية فقد شبه - سبحانه - الكافر الذى يترك الحق الواضح الذى قامت الأدلة على صحته ويختار بدله الضلال الذى قامت الأدلة على بطلانه ، بمن يكون فى يده سلعة ثمينة جيدة فيتركها ويأخذ فى مقابلها سلعة رديئة فاسدة .والمعنى أن الذين استبدلوا الكفر بالإيمان ، لن يضروا دين الله ولا رسوله ولا أولياءه بشىء من الضرر ، وإنما يضرون بفعلهم هذا أنفسهم ضررا بليغا ولهم فى الآخرة عذاب مؤلم شديد الإيلام ، بسبب إيثارهم الغى على الرشد ، والكفر على الإيمان ، والشر على الخير .

القول في تأويل قوله : إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الْكُفْرَ بِالإيمَانِ لَنْ يَضُرُّوا اللَّهَ شَيْئًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (177)قال أبو جعفر: يعني بذلك جل ثناؤه المنافقين الذين تقدَّم إلى نبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم فيهم: أن لا يحزنه مسارعتهم إلى الكفر، فقال لنبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن هؤلاء الذين ابتاعوا الكفر بإيمانهم فارتدوا عن إيمانهم بعد دخولهم فيه، (21) ورضوا بالكفر بالله وبرسوله، عوضًا من الإيمان، لن يضروا الله بكفرهم وارتدادهم عن إيمانهم شيئًا، بل إنما يضرون بذلك أنفسهم، بإيجابهم بذلك لها من عقاب الله ما لا قِبل لها به.* * *وإنما حث الله جل ثناؤه بهذه الآيات من قوله: وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ إلى هذه الآية، عبادَه المؤمنين على إخلاص اليقين، ولانقطاع إليه في أمورهم، والرضى به ناصرًا وحدَه دون غيره من سائر خلقه= ورغَّب بها في جهاد أعدائه وأعداء دينه، وشجَّع بها قلوبهم، وأعلمهم أن من وليه بنصره فلن يخذل ولو اجتمع عليه جميعُ من خالفه وحادَّه، وأن من خذله فلن ينصره ناصرٌ ينفعُه نصرُه، ولو كثرت أعوانه ونصراؤه، (22) كما:-8265 - حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا سلمة، عن ابن إسحاق: " إن الذين اشتروا الكفر بالإيمان "، أي: المنافقين=" لن يضروا الله شيئًا ولهم عذاب أليم "، أي: موجع. (23)8266 - حدثني محمد بن عمرو قال، حدثنا أبو عاصم، عن عيسى، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد قال: هم المنافقون.------------------------------الهوامش:(21) انظر تفسير"الاشتراء" فيما سلف 1: 312 - 315 / 2: 341 ، 342 / 3: 228.(22) في المطبوعة: "أو نصراؤه" ، والصواب ما في المخطوطة.(23) الأثر: 8265 - سيرة ابن هشام: 3: 128 ، وهو تتمة الآثار التي آخرها: 8263. وليس في سيرة ابن هشام تفسير"أليم".

( إن الذين اشتروا ) استبدلوا ( الكفر بالإيمان لن يضروا الله شيئا ) وإنما يضرون أنفسهم ، ( ولهم عذاب أليم )

تكرير لجملة { إنهم لن يضروا الله شيئاً } قصد به ، مع التأكيد ، إفادةُ هذا الخبر استقلالاً للاهتمام به بعد أن ذكر على وجه التعليل لتسلية الرسول . وفي اختلاف الصلتين إيماء إلى أنّ مضمون كل صلة منهما هو سبب الخبر الثابت لمَوصُولها ، وتأكيد لقوله : { إنهم لن يضروا الله شيئاً } المتقدّم ، كقول لبيد: ...كدُخان نارٍ سَاطِع أسْنَامُهابعد قوله :كدُخان مُشْعَلَةٍ يُشَبّ ضِرامُهامع زيادة بيان اشتهارهم هم بمضمون الصلة .والاشتراء مستعار للاستبدال كما تقدّم في قوله تعالى : { أولئك الذين اشتروا الضلالة بالهدى } في سورة [ البقرة : 16 ] .

كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم حريصا على الخلق، مجتهدا في هدايتهم، وكان يحزن إذا لم يهتدوا، قال الله تعالى: { ولا يحزنك الذين يسارعون في الكفر } من شدة رغبتهم فيه، وحرصهم عليه { إنهم لن يضروا الله شيئا } فالله ناصر دينه، ومؤيد رسوله، ومنفذ أمره من دونهم، فلا تبالهم ولا تحفل بهم، إنما يضرون ويسعون في ضرر أنفسهم، بفوات الإيمان في الدنيا، وحصول العذاب الأليم في الأخرى، من هوانهم على الله وسقوطهم من عينه، وإرادته أن لا يجعل لهم نصيبا في الآخرة من ثوابه. خذلهم فلم يوفقهم لما وفق له أولياءه ومن أراد به خيرا، عدلا منه وحكمة، لعلمه بأنهم غير زاكين على الهدى، ولا قابلين للرشاد، لفساد أخلاقهم وسوء قصدهم. ثم أخبر أن الذين اختاروا الكفر على الإيمان، ورغبوا فيه رغبة من بذل ما يحب من المال، في شراء ما يحب من السلع { لن يضروا الله شيئا } بل ضرر فعلهم يعود على أنفسهم، ولهذا قال: { ولهم عذاب أليم } وكيف يضرون الله شيئا، وهم قد زهدوا أشد الزهد في الإيمان، ورغبوا كل الرغبة بالكفر بالرحمن؟! فالله غني عنهم، وقد قيض لدينه من عباده الأبرار الأزكياء سواهم، وأعد له -ممن ارتضاه لنصرته- أهل البصائر والعقول، وذوي الألباب من الرجال الفحول، قال الله تعالى: { قل آمنوا به أو لا تؤمنوا إن الذين أوتوا العلم من قبله إذا يتلى عليهم يخرون للأذقان سجدا } الآيات.

قوله تعالى : إن الذين اشتروا الكفر بالإيمان لن يضروا الله شيئا ولهم عذاب أليمقوله تعالى : إن الذين اشتروا الكفر بالإيمان تقدم في البقرة لن يضروا الله شيئا كرر للتأكيد . وقيل : أي من سوء تدبيره استبدال الإيمان بالكفر وبيعه به ; فلا يخاف جانبه ولا تدبيره . وانتصب شيئا في الموضعين لوقوعه موقع المصدر ; كأنه قال : لن يضروا الله ضررا قليلا ولا كثيرا . ويجوز انتصابه على تقدير حذف الباء ; كأنه قال : لن يضروا الله بشيء .

The real problem is that, being veiled from our eyes, life is not what it appears to be. People are concerned with saving themselves from ‘hell’ (the difficulties and problems of this world) and devote all their attention to attaining the ‘paradise’ of this world. But it would be wiser to aim for the Paradise of the next world and in so doing save oneself from the Hell of the next world. Wealth, property and the trappings of honour are things that everyone can see with his own eyes. That is why man relentlessly pursues these goals, exerting himself to the utmost, so as not to be deprived of them. But the actual human dilemma is the question of the Hereafter. This real problem has been screened from our eyes, because human beings have to be put to the test by God. However, God has His way of informing people of it. This is done by selecting His messengers from amongst men, so that they may make people aware of the realities beyond death. The real test of man is to discover the truth in the message of the preacher (da‘i) appointed by God. He may see the actual reality in a verbal message. He may hear the divine voice in the voice of a human being. God speaks through His messengers—human beings. Now man has to acknowledge a man like himself as one receiving the divine message.

Previous verses mentioned the treachery and ill-will of the hypocrites. The present verses comfort the Holy Prophet ﷺ asking him not to grieve over the mischief made by the disbelievers for they cannot harm him in any way. The last verse (178) carries a refutation of the false notion about disbelievers: How can they, while obviously prospering in the present world, be regarded as victims of Allah's wrath and rejection?

(Those who purchase disbelief at the price of faith) those who preferred disbelief to faith: the hypocrites (harm Allah not at all) they do not harm Allah by choosing disbelief, (but theirs will be a painful doom) whose agony will spread to their hearts.