The Rising of the Dead, Resurrection — Verse 2

And nay I swear by the self-reproaching soul the one that reproaches itself even if it should expend great effort in being virtuous the response to the oath has been omitted that is to say la-tub‘athunna ‘you shall indeed be resurrected!’ as indicated by what follows

No! I swear by the blaming soul. Among the words of the commentators is that the blaming soul is the soul of the person of faith which is always in remorse for its own days and blaming itself for its own shortcomings. It strikes fear and dread into itself and looks upon itself with the eyes of disdain and abasement and says, O soul mean in aspiration and deluded, on whatever stone I strike you, you come up false. O you who fell short in the road of seeking the Real at the first step! O you who were cut off in the desert of the Law's prescription despite a thousand steeds! O you who have never seen the tip of the hair of good fortune despite a thousand candles and lamps! O you who fell into the treasury of Tibet but did not catch the scent of musk! O you who dove into the ocean with all the divers with- out finding anything at all but losing your own self! O you who came late and went back early! O you who bought the mirage of delusion in place of the wine of joy and sold your heart and religion for a price! They deemed the life of this world more worthy of love than the next world [16:107]. You'll see when the dust clears away if you're seated on a horse or an ass. * How long making the abode of delusion an abode of joy! How long making the abode of flight an abode of lodging! Wait until the jolt of Seraphiel's trumpet hides your pretty face and shows your ugly character! One swat of the Lion for a world full of carrion-eaters, one blast of the Trumpet for a hundred thousand Pharaoh-natures! [DS 182, 184] A great man was asked, “Where does the road begin?” He said, “Not with you. When you go off to the side, the road begins everywhere.” There is never a day when this call does not come from the World of Infinity: “O you whom We called but you turned away from Us! O you whom We called, morning and night, to the good fortune of companionship, but you pulled your feet back from Our street! It is We whom you can- not avoid.

No! I swear by the blaming soul. Among the words of the commentators is that the blaming soul is the soul of the person of faith which is always in remorse for its own days and blaming itself for its own shortcomings. It strikes fear and dread into itself and looks upon itself with the eyes of disdain and abasement and says, O soul mean in aspiration and deluded, on whatever stone I strike you, you come up false. O you who fell short in the road of seeking the Real at the first step! O you who were cut off in the desert of the Law's prescription despite a thousand steeds! O you who have never seen the tip of the hair of good fortune despite a thousand candles and lamps! O you who fell into the treasury of Tibet but did not catch the scent of musk! O you who dove into the ocean with all the divers with- out finding anything at all but losing your own self! O you who came late and went back early! O you who bought the mirage of delusion in place of the wine of joy and sold your heart and religion for a price! They deemed the life of this world more worthy of love than the next world [16:107]. You'll see when the dust clears away if you're seated on a horse or an ass. * How long making the abode of delusion an abode of joy! How long making the abode of flight an abode of lodging! Wait until the jolt of Seraphiel's trumpet hides your pretty face and shows your ugly character! One swat of the Lion for a world full of carrion-eaters, one blast of the Trumpet for a hundred thousand Pharaoh-natures! [DS 182, 184] A great man was asked, “Where does the road begin?” He said, “Not with you. When you go off to the side, the road begins everywhere.” There is never a day when this call does not come from the World of Infinity: “O you whom We called but you turned away from Us! O you whom We called, morning and night, to the good fortune of companionship, but you pulled your feet back from Our street! It is We whom you can- not avoid.

No! I swear by the blaming soul. Among the words of the commentators is that the blaming soul is the soul of the person of faith which is always in remorse for its own days and blaming itself for its own shortcomings. It strikes fear and dread into itself and looks upon itself with the eyes of disdain and abasement and says, O soul mean in aspiration and deluded, on whatever stone I strike you, you come up false. O you who fell short in the road of seeking the Real at the first step! O you who were cut off in the desert of the Law's prescription despite a thousand steeds! O you who have never seen the tip of the hair of good fortune despite a thousand candles and lamps! O you who fell into the treasury of Tibet but did not catch the scent of musk! O you who dove into the ocean with all the divers with- out finding anything at all but losing your own self! O you who came late and went back early! O you who bought the mirage of delusion in place of the wine of joy and sold your heart and religion for a price! They deemed the life of this world more worthy of love than the next world [16:107]. You'll see when the dust clears away if you're seated on a horse or an ass. * How long making the abode of delusion an abode of joy! How long making the abode of flight an abode of lodging! Wait until the jolt of Seraphiel's trumpet hides your pretty face and shows your ugly character! One swat of the Lion for a world full of carrion-eaters, one blast of the Trumpet for a hundred thousand Pharaoh-natures! [DS 182, 184] A great man was asked, “Where does the road begin?” He said, “Not with you. When you go off to the side, the road begins everywhere.” There is never a day when this call does not come from the World of Infinity: “O you whom We called but you turned away from Us! O you whom We called, morning and night, to the good fortune of companionship, but you pulled your feet back from Our street! It is We whom you can- not avoid.

No! I swear by the blaming soul. Among the words of the commentators is that the blaming soul is the soul of the person of faith which is always in remorse for its own days and blaming itself for its own shortcomings. It strikes fear and dread into itself and looks upon itself with the eyes of disdain and abasement and says, O soul mean in aspiration and deluded, on whatever stone I strike you, you come up false. O you who fell short in the road of seeking the Real at the first step! O you who were cut off in the desert of the Law's prescription despite a thousand steeds! O you who have never seen the tip of the hair of good fortune despite a thousand candles and lamps! O you who fell into the treasury of Tibet but did not catch the scent of musk! O you who dove into the ocean with all the divers with- out finding anything at all but losing your own self! O you who came late and went back early! O you who bought the mirage of delusion in place of the wine of joy and sold your heart and religion for a price! They deemed the life of this world more worthy of love than the next world [16:107]. You'll see when the dust clears away if you're seated on a horse or an ass. * How long making the abode of delusion an abode of joy! How long making the abode of flight an abode of lodging! Wait until the jolt of Seraphiel's trumpet hides your pretty face and shows your ugly character! One swat of the Lion for a world full of carrion-eaters, one blast of the Trumpet for a hundred thousand Pharaoh-natures! [DS 182, 184] A great man was asked, “Where does the road begin?” He said, “Not with you. When you go off to the side, the road begins everywhere.” There is never a day when this call does not come from the World of Infinity: “O you whom We called but you turned away from Us! O you whom We called, morning and night, to the good fortune of companionship, but you pulled your feet back from Our street! It is We whom you can- not avoid.

أقسم الله سبحانه بيوم الحساب والجزاء، وأقسم بالنفس المؤمنة التقية التي تلوم صاحبها على ترك الطاعات وفِعْل الموبقات، أن الناس يبعثون. أيظنُّ هذا الإنسان الكافر أن لن نقدر على جَمْع عظامه بعد تفرقها؟ بلى سنجمعها، قادرين على أن نجعل أصابعه أو أنامله -بعد جمعها وتأليفها- خَلْقًا سويًّا، كما كانت قبل الموت.

وقال جوبير بلغنا عن الحسن أنه قال في قوله "ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة" قال ليس أحد من أهل السموات والأرضين إلا يلوم نفسه يوم القيامة وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا عبدالله بن صالح بن مسلم عن إسرائيل عن سماك أنه سأل عكرمة عن قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم "ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة" قال يلوم على الخير والشر لو فعلت كذا وكذا ورواه ابن جرير عن أبي كريب عن وكيع عن إسرائيل به. وقال ابن جرير حدثنا محمد بن بشار حدثنا سفيان عن ابن جريج عن الحسن بن مسلم عن سعيد بن جبير في قوله "ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة" قال تلوم على الخير والشر ثم رواه من وجه آخر عن سعيد أنه سأل ابن عباس عن ذلك فقال هي النفس اللئوم وقال على ابن أبى نجيح عن مجاهد تندم على ما فات وتلوم عليه وقال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس اللوامة المذمومة وقال قتادة "اللوامة" الفاجرة قال ابن جرير وكل هذه الأقوال متقاربة المعنى الأشبه بظاهر التنزيل أنها التي تلوم صاحبها على الخير والشر وتندم على ما فات.

والمراد بالنفس اللوامة : النفس التقية المستقيمة التى تلوم ذاتها على ما فات منها ، فهى - مهما أكثرت من فعل الخير - تتمنى أن لو ازدادت من ذلك ، ومهما قللت من فعل الشر ، تمنت - أيضا - أن لو ازدادت من هذا التقليل .قال ابن كثير : عن الحسن البصرى فى هذه الآية : إن المؤمن والله ما نراه إلا يلوم نفسه ، يقول : ما أردت بكلمتى؟ ما أردت بأكلتى؟ . . وإن الفاجر قدما ما يعاتب نفسه .وفى رواية عن الحسن - أيضا - ليس أحد من أهل السموات والأرض إلا يلوم نفسه يوم القيامة .

حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله: ( لا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ) قال: أقسم بهما جميعا.وقال آخرون: بل أقسم بيوم القيامة، ولم يقسم بالنفس اللوّامة. وقال: معنى قوله: ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) ولست أقسم بالنفس اللوّامة.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قال: قال الحسن: أقسم بيوم القيامة، ولم يقسم بالنفس اللوّامة.وأولى الأقوال في ذلك عندي بالصواب قول من قال: إن الله أقسم بيوم القيامة وبالنفس اللوّامة، وجعل " لا " ردا لكلام قد كان تقدّمه من قوم، وجوابا لهم.وإنما قلنا ذلك أولى الأقوال بالصواب؛ لأن المعروف من كلام الناس في محاوراتهم إذا قال أحدهم: لا والله، لا فعلت كذا، أنه يقصد بلا ردّ الكلام، وبقوله: والله، ابتداء يمين، وكذلك قولهم: لا أقسم بالله لا فعلت كذا; فإذا كان المعروف من معنى ذلك ما وصفنا، فالواجب أن يكون سائر ما جاء من نظائره جاريا مجراه، ما لم يخرج شيء من ذلك عن المعروف بما يجب التسليم له. وبعد: فإن الجميع من الحجة مجمعون على أن قوله: ( لا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ) قسم فكذلك قوله: ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) إلا أن تأتي حجة تدل على أن أحدهما قسم والآخر خبر. وقد دللنا على أن قراءة من قرأ الحرف الأوّل لأقسم بوصل اللام بأقسم قراءة غير جائزة بخلافها ما عليه الحجة مجمعة، فتأويل الكلام إذا: لا ما الأمر كما تقولون أيها الناس من أن الله لا يبعث عباده بعد مماتهم أحياء، أقسم بيوم القيامة، وكانت جماعة تقول: قيامة كل نفس موتها.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا أبو كُريب، قال: ثنا وكيع، عن سفيان ومسعر، عن زياد بن علاقة، عن المغيرة بن شعبة، قال: يقولون: القيامة القيامة، وإنما قيامة أحدهم: موته.قال ثنا وكيع، عن مسعر وسفيان، عن أبي قبيس، قال: شهدت جنازة فيها علقمة، فلما دفن قال: أما هذا فقد قامت قيامته.وقوله: ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) اختلف أهل التأويل في تأويل قوله: ( اللَّوَّامَةِ ) فقال بعضهم: معناه: ولا أقسم بالنفس التي تلوم على الخير والشرّ.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا محمد بن بشار، قال: ثنا مؤمل، قال: ثنا سفيان، عن ابن جريج، عن الحسن بن مسلم، عن سعيد بن جبير، في قوله: ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) قال: تلوم على الخير والشرّ.حدثنا أبو كريب، قال: ثنا وكيع، عن إسرائيل، عن سِماك، عن عكرِمة ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) قال: تلوم على الخير والشرّ.حدثنا ابن حميد، قال: ثنا جرير، عن مغيرة، عن أبي الخير بن تميم، عن سعيد بن جُبير، قال: قلت لابن عباس ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) قال: هي النفس اللئوم.وقال آخرون: بل معنى ذلك: أنها تلوم على ما فات وتندم.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى، وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعا عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، قوله: ( بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) قال: تندم على ما فات وتلوم عليه.وقال آخرون: بل اللوّامة: الفاجرة.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) أي: الفاجرة.وقال آخرون: بل هي المذمومة.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالح، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، في قوله: ( وَلا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ ) يقول: المذمومة.وهذه الأقوال التي ذكرناها عمن ذكرناها عنه وإن اختلفت بها ألفاظ قائليها، فمتقاربات المعاني، وأشبه القول في ذلك بظاهر التنـزيل أنها تلوم صاحبها على الخير والشرّ وتندم على ما فات، والقرّاء كلهم مجمعون على قراءة هذه بفصل " لا " من أقسم.

( ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة ) بالألف ، وكذلك قرأ عبد الرحمن الأعرج ، على معنى أنه أقسم بيوم القيامة ، ولم يقسم بالنفس [ اللوامة ] والصحيح أنه أقسم بهما جميعا و " لا " صلة فيهما أي أقسم بيوم القيامة وبالنفس اللوامة .وقال أبو بكر بن عياش : هو تأكيد للقسم كقولك : لا والله .وقال الفراء : " لا " رد كلام المشركين المنكرين ، ثم ابتدأ فقال : أقسم بيوم القيامة وأقسم بالنفس اللوامة .وقال المغيرة بن شعبة : يقولون : القيامة ، وقيامة أحدهم موته . وشهد علقمة جنازة فلما دفنت قال : أما هذا فقد قامت قيامته .( ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة ) قال سعيد بن جبير وعكرمة : تلوم على الخير والشر ، ولا تصبر على السراء والضراء .وقال قتادة : اللوامة : الفاجرة .وقال مجاهد : تندم على ما فات وتقول : لو فعلت ، ولو لم أفعل .قال الفراء : ليس من نفس برة ولا فاجرة إلا وهي تلوم نفسها ، إن كانت عملت خيرا قالت : هلا ازددت ، وإن عملت شرا قالت : يا ليتني لم أفعل قال الحسن : هي النفس المؤمنة ، قال : إن المؤمن - والله - ما تراه إلا يلوم نفسه ، ما أردت بكلامي ؟ ما أردت بأكلتي ؟ وإن الفاجر يمضي قدما لا يحاسب نفسه ولا يعاتبها .وقال مقاتل : هي النفس الكافرة تلوم نفسها في الآخرة على ما فرطت في أمر الله في الدنيا .

وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ (2) وصيغة لا أقسم } صيغة قسم ، أدخل حرف النفي على فعل { أقسم } لقصد المبالغة في تحقيق حُرْمة المقسَم به بحيث يُوهِم للسامع أن المتكلم يهم أن يقسم به ثم يترك القسم مخافة الحنث بالمقسم به فيقول : لا أقسم به ، أي ولا أقسم بأعزَّ منه عندي ، وذلك كناية عن تأكيد القَسم وتقدم عند قوله تعالى : { فلا أقسم بمواقع النجوم } في سورة الواقعة ( 75 ) .وفيه محسن بديعي من قبيل ما يسمى تأكيد المدح بما يشبه الذم . وهذا لم نذكره فيما مضى ولم يذكره أحد .والقسم بيوم القيامة } باعتباره ظرفاً لما يجري فيه من عدل الله وإفاضة فضله وما يحضره من الملائكة والنفوس المباركة .وتقدم الكلام على { يوم القيامة } غير مرة منها قوله تعالى : { ويوم القيامة يردون إلى أشد العذاب } في سورة البقرة ( 85 ) .

{ وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ } وهي جميع النفوس الخيرة والفاجرة، سميت { لوامة } لكثرة ترددها وتلومها وعدم ثبوتها على حالة من أحوالها، ولأنها عند الموت تلوم صاحبها على ما عملت ، بل نفس المؤمن تلوم صاحبها في الدنيا على ما حصل منه، من تفريط أو تقصير في حق من الحقوق، أو غفلة، فجمع بين الإقسام بالجزاء، وعلى الجزاء، وبين مستحق الجزاء.

ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة لا خلاف في هذا بين القراء ، وهو أنه أقسم سبحانه بيوم القيامة تعظيما لشأنه ولم يقسم بالنفس . وعلى قراءة ابن كثير أقسم بالأولى ولم يقسم بالثانية .وقيل : ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة رد آخر وابتداء قسم بالنفس اللوامة . قال الثعلبي : والصحيح أنه أقسم بهما جميعا .ومعنى : بالنفس اللوامة أي بنفس المؤمن الذي لا تراه إلا يلوم نفسه ، يقول : ما أردت بكذا ؟ فلا تراه إلا وهو يعاتب نفسه ; قاله ابن عباس ومجاهد والحسن وغيرهم . قال الحسن : هي والله نفس المؤمن ، ما يرى المؤمن إلا يلوم نفسه : ما أردت بكلامي ؟ ما أردت بأكلي ؟ ما أردت بحديث نفسي ؟ والفاجر لا يحاسب نفسه .وقال مجاهد : هي التي تلوم على ما فات وتندم ، فتلوم نفسها على الشر لم فعلته ، وعلى الخير لم لا تستكثر منه . وقيل : إنها ذات اللوم . وقيل : إنها تلوم نفسها بما تلوم عليه غيرها ; فعلى هذه الوجوه تكون اللوامة بمعنى اللائمة ، وهو صفة مدح ; وعلى هذا يجيء القسم بها سائغا حسنا . وفي بعض التفسير : إنه آدم - عليه السلام - لم يزل لائما لنفسه على معصيته التي أخرج بها من الجنة . وقيل : اللوامة بمعنى الملومة المذمومة عن ابن عباس أيضا - فهي صفة ذم وهو قول من نفى أن يكون قسما ; إذ ليس للعاصي خطر يقسم به ، [ ص: 86 ] فهي كثيرة اللوم . وقال مقاتل : هي نفس الكافر يلوم نفسه ، ويتحسر في الآخرة على ما فرط في جنب الله . وقال الفراء : ليس من نفس محسنة أو مسيئة إلا وهي تلوم نفسها ; فالمحسن يلوم نفسه أن لو كان ازداد إحسانا ، والمسيء يلوم نفسه ألا يكون ارعوى عن إساءته .

Man has the innate capacity to distinguish between good and evil. By his very nature he wants anyone indulging in evil to be punished and anyone doing righteous deeds to be rewarded. It is this consciousness which is called in the Quran the self-reproaching soul or an-nafs al-lawwamah. This faculty bears testimony at the psychological level to the reality of the world of the Hereafter. If, in spite of this inner testimony, an individual does not fulfill its demands, it means that he negates what he has already accepted.

Interpretation of Lawwarnah Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas, Hasan al-Basri and others have expressed the view that Allah has sworn an oath by the self-reproaching conscience in order to show honour for the believing souls who take account of their deeds, regret, and feel sorry for, their shortcomings and reproach themselves. Three kinds of Nafs The foregoing interpretation of An-nafs-ul-lawwamah embraces An-nafs-ul-mutma` innah. The two terms are titles of a God-fearing person. In Sufi terminology, we come across the following concepts. The noble Sufis say that man in his nature goes through three stages of human development. The first stage is called ] An-nafs-ul-ammarah 'the self that tempts (to evil) ' as said by the Holy Qur'an: اِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَاَمَّارَةٌۢ بِالسُّوْۗءِ '...Surely, man's inner self often incites to evil_[ 12:53] ' The second stage of development is called An-nafs-ul-lawwamah 'the self that blames' - translated above as 'the self-reproaching conscience'. The first stage is developed into the second stage when the traveler perform righteousness, and exerts himself in riyadah 'ascetic discipline' and mujahadah 'spiritual struggle'. This Self is conscious of its own imperfections. It regrets its evils and shortcomings, but it is not completely cut off from the evils. The third and highest stage of development is called An-nafs-ul-mutma'innah 'the self at peace'. This self develops into this stage when it progressively performs righteousness and attains Divine nearness and applies the sacred laws of Shari` ah so rigorously that Shari'ah becomes his nature and develops a natural hatred for anything contrary to Shari` ah . The title of the self at this stage is mutma'innah.

(Nay, I swear by the accusing soul (that this Scripture is true)) and I swear by every righteous and sinful soul that will blame itself on the Day of Resurrection. As for the righteous soul, it will say: if only I did more righteous works. And as for the sinful soul, it will say: if only I abstained from committing sins. Both souls will say this upon seeing the reward and punishment awaiting each one of them respectively. It is also said that the accusing soul in question is the soul that reproaches itself; and it is also said: it is the soul that repents of its sins and reproaches itself for what it had committed; and it is also said it is the sinful, disbelieving soul.

Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection.! And nay, I swear by the self-reproaching soul!The evil-inciting self (nafs ammāra bi�l-sūʾ) is [here in the form of] the blaming self (nafs lawwāma). It is a companion (qarīna) to avarice (ḥirṣ) and [far-fetched] hope (amal). Then he said:He [God] has simply forbidden you from obeying ⸢the Enemy [Satan]⸣, from being deluded by the world, and from letting yourself be deceived by the lower self. God, Exalted is He, said, Verily the soul is ever inciting to evil [12:53]; and He said: So do not let the life of this world deceive you [31:33]; and He also said: Truly Satan is an enemy to you [35:6].His words, Exalted is He:

Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Oath about the Final Return on the Day of Resurrection and the Refutation against the Plots It has been mentioned previously on more than one occasion that if the thing that is being sworn about is something that is being negated, then it is permissible to use the word "La" (Nay) before the oath to emphasize the negation. Here, what is being sworn about is the affirmation of the final abode and the refutation against the claim of the ignorant that the resurrection of bodies will not occur. This is why Allah says, لاَ أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ - وَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ (Nay! I swear by the Day of Resurrection. And nay! I swear by An-Nafs Al-Lawwamah.) Qatadah said, "This means, I swear by both of these things." This has also been reported from Ibn `Abbas and Sa`id bin Jubayr. Concerning the Day of Judgement, it is well known what it is. In reference to An-Nafs Al-Lawwamah, Qurrah bin Khalid reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basri that he said about this Ayah, "Verily, by Allah, we think that every believer blames himself. He says (questioning himself), `What did I intend by my statement What did I intend by my eating What did I intend in what I said to myself' However, the sinner proceeds ahead and he does not blame himself." Ibn Jarir recorded from Sa`id bin Jubayr that he said concerning Allah's statement, وَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِ (And nay! I swear by An-Nafs Al-Lawwamah) "He criticizes himself in good and bad." Similar has been reported from `Ikrimah. Ibn Abi Najih reported from Mujahid: "He is sorry for what he missed (of good deeds) and he blames himself for it." Allah said; أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنسَـنُ أَلَّن نَّجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُ (Does man think that We shall not assemble his bones) meaning, `on the Day of Judgement does he think that We are not able to return his bones and gather them from their various places' بَلَى قَـدِرِينَ عَلَى أَن نُّسَوِّىَ بَنَانَهُ (Yes, We are able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers.) meaning, `does man think that We will not gather his bones Surely, We will gather them and We are quite able to put together his fingertips. This means Our power is suitable to gather (and recreate) them, and if We wished We could surely resurrect him with more than what he originally had. We could make his Banan, which are the tips of his fingers, all equal (in length).' Concerning Allah's statement, بَلْ يُرِيدُ الإِنسَـنُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَهُ (Nay! Man desires to break out ahead of himself.) Sa`id reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "This means to proceed forward." Mujahid said about, لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَهُ (to break out ahead of himself.) "This means that he wants to proceed ahead following his own whims." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "This refers to the disbeliever who denies the Day of Reckoning." Ibn Zayd said the same thing. Thus, Allah says after this, يَسْـَلُ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَـمَةِ (He asks: "When will be this Day of Resurrection") meaning, he says when will the Day of Judgement be His question is only a question of denying its occurrence, and rejecting its existence. This is as Allah says, وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَى هَـذَا الْوَعْدُ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ قُل لَّكُم مِّيعَادُ يَوْمٍ لاَّ تَسْتَـَخِرُونَ عَنْهُ سَاعَةً وَلاَ تَسْتَقْدِمُونَ (And they say: "When is this promise if you are truthful" Say: "The appointment to you is for a Day, which you cannot put back for an hour nor put forward.") (34:29-30) Here Allah says, فَإِذَا بَرِقَ الْبَصَرُ (So, when Bariqa the sight.) Abu `Amr bin Al-`Ala' recited this Ayah as Bariqa with a Kasrah under the letter Ra, which means to be diminished. That which he (Abu `Amr) has said resembles the statement of Allah, لاَ يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ (Their gaze returning not towards them.) (14:43) meaning, they will be looking this way and that way in horror. Their gaze will not be able to rest upon anything due to the severity of the terror on that Day. Others recited it as Baraqa with a Fathah over the letter Ra, and its meaning is close to the first recitation (Bariqa). The intent here is that the eyes will be dazzled, humbled, diminished, and humiliated on the Day of Judgement due to the severity of the horrors and the greatness of the matters that they will witness on that Day. Concerning Allah's statement, وَخَسَفَ الْقَمَرُ (And the moon will be eclipsed.) meaning, its light will go away. وَجُمِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ (And the sun and moon will be joined together.) Mujahid said, "They will be rolled up." In explaining this Ayah, Ibn Zayd recited the following Ayat, إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ - وَإِذَا النُّجُومُ انكَدَرَتْ (When the sun is wound round and its light is lost and is overthrown, and when the stars fall.) (81:1,2) It has been reported from Ibn Mas`ud that he recited the Ayah as, (وَجُمِعَ بَيْنَ الشَّمْسِ وَالْقَمَرِ) (and the sun and the moon will be joined between each other.) Allah said, يَقُولُ الإِنسَـنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ الْمَفَرُّ (On that Day man will say:"Where (is the refuge) to flee") meaning, the human will see these horrors on the Day of Judgement and he will want to flee. He will say, "Where (is the place) to flee to" This means, where is the escape or refuge Allah then says, كَلاَّ لاَ وَزَرَ - إِلَى رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمُسْتَقَرُّ (No! There is no refuge! Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day.) Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Sa`id bin Jubayr and several others of the Salaf said, "There will be no salvation." This Ayah is similar to Allah's statement, مَا لَكُمْ مِّن مَّلْجَأٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِّن نَّكِيرٍ (You will have no refuge on that Day nor there will be for you any denying.) (42:47) meaning, `there will be no place for you to hide.' This is like what Allah says here, لاَ وَزَرَ (There is no refuge.) meaning, `there will be no place for you to seek shelter.' Thus, Allah says, إِلَى رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمُسْتَقَرُّ (Unto your Lord will be the place of rest that Day.) meaning, the place of return and the final destination. The Deeds of Man will be placed before Him on the Day of Judgement Then Allah says, يُنَبَّأُ الإِنسَـنُ يَوْمَئِذِ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ (On that Day man will be informed of what he sent forward, and what he left behind.) meaning, he will be informed of all of his deeds, the old of them and the recent of them, the first of them and the last of them, the small of them and the large of them. This is as Allah says, وَوَجَدُواْ مَا عَمِلُواْ حَاضِرًا وَلاَ يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا (And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with injustice.) (18:49) Likewise, Allah says here, بَلِ الإِنسَـنُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ - وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ (Nay! Man will be well informed about himself, though he may put forth his excuses.) meaning, he will be a witness against himself, knowing full well what he did, even though he will try to make excuses and deny it. This is as Allah says, اقْرَأْ كَتَـبَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا ((It will be said to him): "Read your book. You are sufficient as a reckoner against yourself this Day.") `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, بَلِ الإِنسَـنُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ (Nay! Man will be well informed about himself.) "His hearing, his sight, his two hands, his two legs and his limbs." Qatadah said, "This means he is a witness against himself." In another narration from Qatadah he said, "By Allah! If you wish to see him, you would see him as someone who sees the shortcomings of the people and their sins, yet he is heedless of his own sins." It used to be said, "Verily, it is written in the Injil: `O Son of Adam, do you see the small splinters in the eye of your brother and disregard the tree stump that is in your eye, so you do not see it"' Mujahid said, وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ (Though he may put forth his excuses.) "This means, even though he argues in defense of it, he is a witness against it." Qatadah said, وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ (Though he may put forth his excuses.) "Even though he will try to make false excuses on that Day, they will not be accepted from him." As-Suddi said, وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ (Though he may put forth his excuses.) "This means his argument." This is as Allah says, ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِتْنَتُهُمْ إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ (There will then be no Fitnah for them but to say: "By Allah, our Lord, we were not those who joined others in worship with Allah.") (6:23) Allah also says, يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ أَلاَ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْكَـذِبُونَ (On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you (O Muslims). And they think that they have something. Verily, they are liars!) (58:18) Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas: وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ (Though he may put forth his excuses.) "This is apologizing. Haven't you heard that Allah said, لاَ يَنفَعُ الظَّـلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ (The Day when their excuses will be of no profit to wrongdoers.) (40:52) and He says, وَأَلْقَوْاْ إِلَى اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ السَّلَمَ (And they will offer submision to Allah on that Day.) (16:87) and He says, فَأَلْقَوُاْ السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ (Then they will (falsely) submit: "We used not to do any evil.") (16:28) and their statement, وَاللَّهِ رَبِّنَا مَا كُنَّا مُشْرِكِينَ (By Allah, our Lord, we were not those who joined others in worship with Allah.) (6:23)"