Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said in the interpretation of Allah's saying (Ha. Mim.): '(Ha. Mim.) He says: He has already decreed that which will happen, i.e. He has made it plain.

(The revelation of the Scripture is) this Scripture is a speech (from Allah, the Mighty) in retribution against those who disbelieve in Him, (the Wise) He enjoined that none should be worshipped beside Him; and it is also said that this means: the Mighty in His dominion and sovereignty, the Wise in His command and decree.

(Lo! in the heavens) in that which is in the heavens of sun, moon, stars, clouds, etc., (and the earth) and that which is in the earth of trees, mountains, seas, etc., (are portents) are signs and lessons (for believers) who are true in their faith.

(And in your creation) in the transformation of your states, one state after another, there is also a sign and lesson for you, (and all the beasts that He scattereth in the earth) and also in all the things that He created with a soul, (are portents) signs and lessons (for a folk whose faith is sure) for people who believe.

(And the difference of night and day) and in the alternation of night and day, the increase and decrease of their duration, their coming and going, are a sign and lesson for you, (and the provision that Allah sendeth down from the sky) of rain (and thereby) by means of the rain (quickeneth the earth after her death) after her dryness and exposure to drought are also lessons and signs for you, (and the ordering of the winds) right and left, north and south, as a punishment and as mercy, (are portents) signs and lessons (for a people who have sense) for people who believe they are from Allah.

(These are the portents of Allah which We recite unto thee (Muhammad)) Gabriel brought them down to you (with truth) in order to show you right and wrong. (Then in what fact) in what speech, (after Allah) after Allah's speech (and His portents) and His Scripture; and it is also said this means: and of His marvels, (will they believe) if they do not believe in this Qur'an?

(Woe) severe punishment; and it is also said that this means: a river of blood and puss in Gehenna (unto each sinful liar) the reference here is to al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith,

(Who heareth the revelations of Allah) who hears the recitation of Allah's verses (recited unto him) explaining the commands and prohibitions, (and then continueth in pride) in his disbelief too proud to believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (as though he heard them not) as though he did not understand them. (Give him) O Muhammad (tidings of a painful doom) and so he was killed in captivity on the Day of Badr.

(And when he knoweth) and when he hears (aught of Our revelations he maketh it a jest) a mockery. (For such) for people like al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith (there is a shameful doom) there is a severe torment.

(Beyond them there is hell) ahead of them, after they die, there is Gehenna, (and that which they have earned) and that which they have amassed of wealth and that which they have committed of transgressions (will naught avail them) from Allah's punishment, (nor those whom they have chosen for protecting friends beside Allah) nor those whom they worshipped as deities beside Allah will avail them. (Theirs will be an awful doom) al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith will suffer all this.

(This) i.e. this Qur'an (is guidance) from error. (And those who disbelieve the revelations of their Lord) those who disbelieve in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an, i.e. al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith and his host, (for them there is a painful doom of wrath) for them there is a painful punishment.

(Allah it is Who hath made the sea of service unto you that the ships may run thereon by His command) by His leave, (and that ye may seek of His bounty) of His provision, (and that haply ye may be thankful) and that you may give thanks for His blessings;

(And hath made of service unto you whatsoever is in the heavens) the sun, the moon, the stars and the clouds (and whatsoever is in the earth) the trees, the beasts, the mountains and the seas; (it is all from Him) all these are from Allah. (Lo! Herein) in that which I have mentioned (verily are portents) are signs and lessons (for people who reflect) upon what Allah has created.

(Tell) O Muhammad (those who believe) 'Umar and his fellow believers (to forgive those who hope not for) those who fear not (the days of Allah) the torment of Allah, the reference here is to the people of Mecca; (in order that He may requite folk) i.e. 'Umar and his fellow believers (what they used to earn) what they used to do of good deeds. This forgiveness relates to the period before the migration to Medina. They were later commanded to fight the disbelievers.

(Whoso doeth right) sincerely in his capacity as a believer, (it is for his soul) the reward of that, (and whoso doeth wrong) and whosoever ascribes partners to Allah, (it is against it) the punishment of this is against his own soul. (And afterward unto your Lord ye will be brought back) after you die and He will requite you each according to his works.

(And verily We gave the Children of Israel the Scripture and the Command) knowledge and understanding (and the prophethood) they had among them many prophets and Scriptures, (and provided them with good things) and provided them with quails and honey; and it is also said this means: and provided them with spoils of war (and favoured them above (all) peoples) above all the people of their time in that We bestowed upon them the Scripture and messenger;

(And gave them plain commandments) regarding Religion. (And they differed not) regarding Muhammad (pbuh) the Qur'an and Islam (until after the knowledge came unto them) until the explanation in their own Scripture came to them, (through rivalry among themselves) because of resentful envy they refused to believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an. (Lo! thy Lord) O Muhammad (will judge between them) between the Jews, Christians and believers (on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein) in matter of religion (they used to differ) in the life of the world.

(And now have We set thee) We have chosen you ((O Muhammad) on a clear road of (Our) commandment) on a clear wont and way in relation to My command and obedience; (so follow it) hold fast to them and act upon them; it is also said that this means: We have honoured you with Islam and have commanded you to call mankind to it, (and follow not the whims of those) the religion of those (who know not) Allah's divine Oneness, i.e. the Jews, Christians and idolaters.

(Lo! they can avail you naught against Allah) against Allah's punishment if you follow their whims. (And lo! as for the wrong-doers) the disbelievers, (some of them are friends of others) some of them follow the religion of others; (and Allah is the Friend of those who ward off (evil)) disbelief, idolatry and indecencies.

(This) Qur'an (is clear indication for mankind, and a guidance) from error (and a mercy) preventing from chastisement (for a folk whose faith is sure) for people who believe in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an.

(Or do those who commit ill deeds) or do those who ascribes partners to Allah, i.e. 'Utbah and Shaybah and al-Walid Ibn 'Utbah who fought duals against 'Ali, Hamzah and 'Ubaydah Ibn al-Harth on the Day of Badr, and who had said: �If what Muhammad (s)ays about the Hereafter is true, then we will surely be better than them in the Hereafter, as we are better than them in the life of the world�. And so Allah said: or do they (suppose that We shall make them) that We shall make the disbelievers in terms of reward in the Hereafter (as those who believe) 'Ali and his two fellow believers (and do good works) and do acts of obedience privately between themselves and their Lord, (the same life and death?) the life of the believer in his state of faith and his death in a state of faith cannot be the same as the life of the disbeliever who lives and dies in transgression and disbelief while Allah is angry with him. (Bad is their judgement) evil is that which they judge for themselves!

(And Allah hath created the heavens and the earth with truth) for the Truth, (and that every soul) righteous or sinful (may be repaid what it hath earned) of good or evil. (And they will not be wronged) their good deeds will not be decreased and their evil works will not be increased.

(Hast thou seen) O Muhammad (him who maketh his desire his god) the one who worships a deity because of the whim of his ego; whenever his ego desires something, he worships it-this refers to al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith-and it is also said that this refers to Abu Jahl; as it is said that this refers to al-Harith Ibn Qays, (and Allah sendeth him astray) from faith (purposely) as Allah knows he is among the folk of error, (and sealeth up his hearing) and Allah places a covering on his hearing so that he does not hear the Truth (and his heart) and a covering on his heart so that he does not understand the Truth, (and setteth on his sight a covering) and places a covering on his sight so that He does not see the Truth? (Then who will lead him) who will guide him to the religion of Allah (after Allah) has sent him astray? (Will ye not then heed) by means of the Qur'an and understand that Allah is one, without partners?

(And they say) i.e. the people of Mecca: (There is naught but our life of the world) in this life of the world; (we die and we live) they meant: the fathers die and the sons live, (and naught destroyeth us save time) i.e. the length of nights, days, months, and hours; (when they have no knowledge) proof or argument (whatsoever of (all) that) which they say; (they do but guess) they only guess when they say this.

(And when Our clear revelations) explaining the commands and prohibitions (are recited unto them) to Abu Jahl and his host (their only argument) and excuse to Muhammad (pbuh) (is that they say: Bring (back) our fathers then) do bring, O Muhammad, our fathers back to life so that we may ask them whether what you say is true or false, (if ye are truthful) that we will be resurrected again after we die.

(Say) O Muhammad to Abu Jahl and his host: (Allah giveth life to you) in the grave, (then causeth you to die) in the grave, (then gathereth you unto the Day of Resurrection) it is also said that this means: Allah will cause you to die and then will gather you to the Day of Resurrection (whereof there is no doubt. But most of mankind) the people of Mecca (know not) this nor believe it.

(And Unto Allah belongeth the Sovereignty) the stores (of the heavens) i.e. rain (and the earth) i.e. vegetation; (and on the day when the Hour riseth) which is the Day of Judgement, (on that day those who follow falsehood will be lost) the idolaters will be losers both for missing the life of the world and the Hereafter.

(And thou wilt see each nation) the adherents of each religion (crouching) gathered, (each nation) the adherents of each religion (summoned to its record) to read the record of their good and bad deeds; some will be given their record in their right hands and others in their left. ((And it will be said unto them): This day ye are requited what ye used to do) and say in the life of the world.

(This Our Book) i.e. the record of the guardian angels (pronounceth against you) testifies against you (with truth) with fairness. (Lo! We have caused (all) that ye did) and say in the life of the world (to be recorded.

Then, as for those who believed) Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an (and did good works) privately between them and their Lord, (their Lord will bring them in unto His mercy) into His Paradise. (That is the evident triumph) that is the Supreme Triumph: they earned the Garden and escaped the torment of the Fire and all that which is in it; these will be given their records in their right hands.

(And as for those who disbelieved (it will be said unto them): Were not Our revelations recited unto you) in the life of the world? (But ye were scornful) but you were too proud to believe in them (and became a guilty folk) and became idolatrous folk.

(And when it was said) to them in the life of the world: (Lo! Allah's promise) resurrection after death (is the Truth, and there is no doubt of the Hour's coming, ye said: We know not what the Hour is) we do not know what the coming of the Hour is. (We deem it naught but a conjecture) we only guess, (and we are by no means convinced) of the coming of the Hour.

(And the evils of what they did) their most evil deeds (will appear unto them, and that which they used to deride) the punishment for deriding the messengers and Scriptures (will befall them) will descend upon them:

(And it will be said) to them: (This day We forget you) We will leave you in the Fire, (even as ye forgot the meeting of this your day) even as you shunned the belief in this day; (and your habitation) your dwelling-place (is the Fire, and there is none to help you) and you have none to protect you from Allah's torment.

(This) torment, is (forasmuch as ye made the revelations of Allah) Allah's Scripture and Messenger (a jest) a mockery, (and the life of the world beguiled you) and that which is in the life of the world beguiled you such that you abandoned the obedience of your Lord. (Therefore this day they come not forth from thence) from the Fire, (nor can they make amends) nor return to the life of the world; these are the ones who are given their records in their left hands.

(Then praise be to Allah) gratitude and favour belong to Allah, (Lord of the heavens and Lords of the earth) the Creator of the heavens and the earth, (the Lord of the Worlds) and Lord of all that has a soul which moves about on the surface of the earth.

(And unto Him (alone) belongeth majesty) might and sovereignty (in the heavens and the earth) over the dwellers of the heavens and the earth, (and He is the Mighty) in His dominion and sovereignty, (the Wise) in His command and decree'.