Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Alif. Lam. Mim.): '(Alif. Lam. Mim.) He says: I am Allah, I know; it is also said that it is an oath by which Allah swore.

(These are revelations of the wise Scripture) this surah consists of verses of the Qur'an which explain the lawful and the unlawful, the commands and prohibitions,

(A guidance) from error (and a mercy) shielding from chastisement (for the good) for the sincere ones who believe in Allah's divine Oneness,

(Those who establish worship) those who perform the five daily prayers with their obligatory ritual ablution, bowing, prostration and that which is enjoined in them within their prescribed times (and pay the poor-due) from their wealth (and have sure faith in the Hereafter) and believe in resurrection after death.

(Such have guidance) have a clear sight and honour (from their Lord. Such are the successful) they are saved from Allah's wrath and chastisement.

(And of mankind) the reference here is to al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith (is he who payeth for mere pastime of discourse) discourse of falsehood, books on legends, on the sun, the stars, mathematics and singing; it is also said this means: associating partners with Allah, (that he may mislead) by means of it (from Allah's way) from Allah's religion and obedience (without knowledge) or proof, (and maketh it the butt of mockery. For such there is a shameful doom) for these, there is a severe chastisement.

(And when Our revelations) which explain the commands and prohibitions (are recited unto him he turneth away in his pride) too proud to accept faith (as if he heard them not, as if there were a deafness in his ears. So give him) O Muhammad (tidings of a painful doom) and he was killed in captivity on the Day of Badr.

(Lo! those who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur'an (and do good works) acts of obedience between them and their Lord, (for them are Gardens of Delight) whose delight is endless,

(Wherein they will abide) for eternity, never to die or leave it. (It is a promise of Allah) to the believers (in truth) truly. (He is the Mighty) in His kingdom and dominion, (the Wise) in His command and decree.

(He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see) it is also said that this means: He created the heavens with supports that you cannot see, (and hath cast into the earth) and created in the earth (firm hills) firm mountains as supports for it, (so that it quake not with you; and He hath dispersed therein) He created and spread in the earth (all kinds of beasts) possessed of spirits. (And We send down water) rain (from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein) in the earth.

(This is the Creation of Allah) this is the creation which I have created. (Now show me that which those (ye worship) beside Him) i.e. the idols (have created. Nay, but the wrong-doers) the idolaters (are in error manifest) in manifest error!

(And verily We gave Luqman wisdom) knowledge, understanding and right words and actions, (saying: Give thanks unto Allah) by declaring His Oneness and obeying Him; (and whosoever giveth thanks) for His blessings through declaring His divine Oneness and obeying Him, (he giveth thanks for (the good of) his soul) for the reward of his soul. (And whosoever refuseth) and whoever is ungrateful towards His blessings, (lo! Allah is Absolute) free of need for his thanks, (Owner of Praise) for His actions.

(And (remember) when Luqman said unto his son) Salam, (when he was exhorting him) when he was enjoining him to do good and forbidding him to engage in evil: (O my dear son! Ascribe no partners unto Allah. Lo! to ascribe partners (unto Him) is a tremendous wrong) it is a great sin which is punished by Allah.

(And We have enjoined upon man) the reference here is to Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqas (concerning his parents) that he should be dutiful to them. (His mother beareth him) in her womb (in weakness upon weakness) and hardship upon hardship, the more the child grows in her womb the harder it is for her, (and his weaning is in two years. Give thanks unto Me) through believing in My divine Oneness and by obeying Me (and unto thy parents) by looking after them. (Unto Me is the journeying) your destination and the destination of your parents.

(But if they strive with thee to make thee) if they want or command you to (ascribe unto Me as partner that of which thou hast no knowledge) that it is My partner while you know that it is not My partner, (then obey them not) regarding idolatry. (Consort with them in the world kindly) with kindness and beneficence, (and follow the path of him who repenteth unto Me) the religion of him who betakes himself to Me and obeys me, i.e. Muhammad (pbuh). (Then unto Me will be your return) and the return of your parents, (and I shall tell you what ye used to do) of good or evil.

Allah then went back to Luqman's exhortation, saying: (O my dear son! Lo! though it) i.e. a good deed; it is also said that it refers to provision (be but the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock) beneath the earth, (or in the heavens) or above the heavens, (or in the earth) or in the belly of the earth, (Allah will bring it forth) to the one it is destined wherever he might be. (Allah is Subtile) in bringing it forth, (Aware) of its location.

(O my dear son! Establish worship) perform the prescribed prayer (and enjoin kindness) through the profession of Allah's divine Oneness and beneficence (and forbid iniquity) idolatry and foul words and deeds, (and persevere whatever may befall thee) throughout. (Lo! That) i.e. enjoining good and forbidding evil; it is also said that this refers to steadfastness (is of the steadfast heart of things) of the best and most resolute of things.

(Turn not thy cheek in scorn towards folk) do not turn your face away from people out of pride and haughtiness towards them; it is also said that this means: do not belittle the poor among Muslims, (nor walk with pertness the land) displaying hubris and pretentiousness. (Lo! Allah loveth not each braggart) in his walk (boaster) about the blessings of Allah.

(Be modest in thy bearing and subdue your voice) lower your voice and do not be sharp-tongued. (Lo! The harshest of all voices) He says: the most odious and evil of all voices (is the voice of the ass.

See ye not) have you not been informed in the Qur'an (how Allah hath made serviceable) has made subservient (unto you whatsoever is in the skies) the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds and the rain (and whatsoever is in the earth) the trees and beasts (and hath loaded you with) and perfected for you (His favours both without) through the profession of Allah's divine Oneness (and within) through knowledge; it is also said that " without " refers to the good works that people know, and " within " refers to the evil works that people are not aware of; it is also said that " without " refers to food, drink, money and similar things; whereas " within " refers to plants, fruits, the rain, water, etc; and it is also said that " without " refers to that which Allah blesses one with while " within " refers to that which Allah preserves one from? (Yet of mankind) i.e. al-Nadr Ibn al-Harth (is he who disputeth concerning Allah) who argues about the religion of Allah, (without knowledge or guidance) or proof (or a Scripture giving light) or a Scripture expositing what he says.

(And if it be said unto them) i.e. to the disbelievers of Mecca: (Follow that which Allah hath revealed) to His Prophet of the Qur'an; i.e. recite and act upon what is in it, (they say: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers) of religion and wont. (What! Even though the devil were inviting them) were inviting their fathers (unto the doom of flame) to disbelief, idolatry and that which leads to the chastisement of the Flame, and still they follow them?

(Whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah) whoever makes his religion and works sincere to Allah (while doing good) believes sincerely that there is only one true God, (he verily hath grasped the firm hand hold) which will never split up, through " there is no deity except Allah ". (Unto Allah belongeth the sequel of all things) the consequence of things, the states in which they die, will return to Him in the Hereafter.

(And whosoever disbelieveth) in Allah, whether it is from the Quraysh or others, (let not his disbelief) his destruction in his state of disbelief (afflict thee) O Muhammad. (Unto Us is their return) after they die, (and We shall tell them what they did) in their state of disbelief in the life of this world. (Lo! Allah is Aware of what is in the breasts (of men)) whether it is good or evil.

(We give them comfort for a little) in the life of this world, (and then We drive them to a heavy doom) to a severe torment, one kind of torment after another.

(If thou shouldst ask them) O Muhammad: Who created the heavens and the earth? They) the disbelievers of Mecca (would answer: Allah) created them. (Say: Praise be to Allah) gratitude is Allah's, therefore be grateful to Him! (But most of them) all of them (know not) Allah's divine Oneness nor do they give thanks for His blessings.

(Unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens) of creation (and the earth. Allah, He is the Absolute) He is free of need for His creation, (the Owner of Praise) He Who is praised in His acts.

(And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea) were ink, (with seven more seas to help it) and seven more seas were ink and were used to write the words of Allah and the knowledge of Allah, (the words of Allah could not be exhausted) the words and knowledge of Allah would not be exhausted; it is also said that this means: Allah's providence would not be exhausted. (Allah is Mighty) in His sovereignty and dominion, (Wise) in His command and decree.

(Your creation) when He created you (and your raising (from the dead)) when He will resurrect you (are only as (the creation and the raising of) a single soul. Lo! Allah is Hearer) He hears you when you say: " how is Allah going to raise us from the dead? " , (Seer) of your resurrection.

(Hast thou not seen) have you not been informed in the Qur'an (how Allah causeth the night to pass into the day) He makes the night longer than the day such that, for example, the night is 15 hours while the day is only nine hours (and causeth the day to pass into the night) He makes the day longer than the night such that, for example, the day consists of 15 hours while the night only of nine hours, (and hath subdued) made subservient (the sun and the moon, each running unto an appointed term) to an appointed time in well know trajectories; (and that Allah is Informed of what ye do) of good or evil?

(That (is so)) in order that you know and believe (because Allah, He is the True) worshipping Him is the Truth, (and that which they invoke) that which they worship (beside Him is the False) is falsehood, (and because Allah, He is the Sublime) more sublime than all things, (the Great) greater than all things.

(Hast thou not seen) have you not been informed (how the ships glide on the sea by Allah's grace, that He may show you of His wonders? Lo! Therein) in that which I have mentioned (indeed are portents) signs and lessons (for every steadfast) in obedience, (grateful (heart)) for Allah's bounties.

(And if a wave enshroudeth them like awnings) like the clouds in their tremendousness, (they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only. But when He bringeth them safe to land, some of them) some of the disbelievers (compromise) in their speech and works, such that they are softer than they were. (None denieth Our signs) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (save every traitor ingrate) who disbelieves in Allah and is ungrateful for His bounties.

(O mankind) O people of Mecca! (Keep your duty to your Lord) obey your Lord (and fear a Day) fear the torment of a day (when the parent will not be able to avail the child in aught) in relation to Allah's chastisement, (nor the child to avail the parent. Lo! Allah's promise) resurrection after death (is the very truth) will truly take place. (Let not the life of the world) the comfort and adornment of the life of this world (beguile you, nor let the deceiver) Satan; it is also said this means: falsehoods (beguile you, in regard to Allah.

Lo! Allah! With Him is knowledge of the Hour) knowledge of the advent of the Hour which is kept hidden from the servants. (He sendeth down the rain) He knows when the rain comes down but this is hidden from people, (and knoweth that which is in the wombs) whether it is a male or female, felicitous or damned while this is hidden from the servants. (No soul knoweth what it will earn tomorrow) of good or evil while this is hidden from the servants, (and no soul knoweth in what land it will die) in what manner it will die because it is hidden from the servants. (Lo! Allah is Knower) of His creation, (Aware) of their works and of what touches them of benefit or harm'.