Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبَ (Verily, We have sent down to you the Book) meaning, the Qur'an. لِلنَّـاسِ بِالْحَق (for mankind in truth.) means, for all of creation, mankind and Jinn, so that he may warn them therewith. فَـمَنِ اهْتَـدَى فَلِنَفْسِهِ (So, whosoever accepts the guidance, it is only for himself;) means, the benefit of that will return to him. وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا (and whosoever goes astray, he goes astray only for his (own) loss.) means, the consequences of that will return to him. وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ (And you are not a trustee over them. ) means, `you are not responsible for guiding them.' إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ نَذِيرٌ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (But you are only a warner. And Allah is a Trustee over all things) (11:12). فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ (your duty is only to convey and on Us is the reckoning) (13:40). Allah is the One Who causes Death and gives Life Then Allah tells us that He is in control of all things and does as He wills. He causes men to die (the "greater death") when He sends the angels to take men's souls from their bodies, and He causes them to "die a lesser death" when they sleep. Allah says: وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَتَوَفَّـكُم بِالَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَى أَجَلٌ مّسَمًّى ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ - وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُم حَفَظَةً حَتَّى إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفَرِّطُونَ (It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then He raises (wakes) you up again that a term appointed be fulfilled, then (in the end) unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you of that which you used to do. He is the Irresistible, over His servants, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our messengers (angels) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.)(6:60-61). Here Allah mentions the two deaths, the lesser death then the greater death after it; in the Ayah above (39: 42), He mentions the greater then the lesser. Allah says: اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الاٌّنفُسَ حِينَ مِوْتِـهَا وَالَّتِى لَمْ تَمُتْ فِى مَنَامِـهَا فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِى قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الاٍّخْرَى إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى (It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed.) This indicates that they the souls meet in the higher realm, as was stated in the Hadith attributed to the Prophet which was narrated by Ibn Mandah and others. In the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, it is reported that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلى فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَنْفُضْهُ بِدَاخِلَةِ إِزَارِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا خَلَفَهُ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ: بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِين» (When anyone of you goes to bed, let him brush down the bed with his garment, for he does not know what has come on his bed since he left it. Then let him say, "In Your Name, O Lord, I lay down my side and in Your Name I raise it up; if You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You send it back, protect it with that which You protect Your righteous servants.") فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِى قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ (He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death) means, those which have died, and He returns the others back for an appointed term. As-Suddi said, "For the rest of their lives." Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "He keeps the souls of the dead and sends back the souls of the living, and He does not make any mistakes. إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَـبَ (Verily, We have sent down to you the Book) meaning, the Qur'an. لِلنَّـاسِ بِالْحَق (for mankind in truth.) means, for all of creation, mankind and Jinn, so that he may warn them therewith. فَـمَنِ اهْتَـدَى فَلِنَفْسِهِ (So, whosoever accepts the guidance, it is only for himself;) means, the benefit of that will return to him. وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا (and whosoever goes astray, he goes astray only for his (own) loss.) means, the consequences of that will return to him. وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ (And you are not a trustee over them. ) means, `you are not responsible for guiding them.' إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ نَذِيرٌ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (But you are only a warner. And Allah is a Trustee over all things) (11:12). فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَـغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ (your duty is only to convey and on Us is the reckoning) (13:40). Allah is the One Who causes Death and gives Life Then Allah tells us that He is in control of all things and does as He wills. He causes men to die (the "greater death") when He sends the angels to take men's souls from their bodies, and He causes them to "die a lesser death" when they sleep. Allah says: وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَتَوَفَّـكُم بِالَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَى أَجَلٌ مّسَمًّى ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ - وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُم حَفَظَةً حَتَّى إِذَا جَآءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفَرِّطُونَ (It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then He raises (wakes) you up again that a term appointed be fulfilled, then (in the end) unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you of that which you used to do. He is the Irresistible, over His servants, and He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our messengers (angels) take his soul, and they never neglect their duty.)(6:60-61). Here Allah mentions the two deaths, the lesser death then the greater death after it; in the Ayah above (39: 42), He mentions the greater then the lesser. Allah says: اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الاٌّنفُسَ حِينَ مِوْتِـهَا وَالَّتِى لَمْ تَمُتْ فِى مَنَامِـهَا فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِى قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الاٍّخْرَى إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى (It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed.) This indicates that they the souls meet in the higher realm, as was stated in the Hadith attributed to the Prophet which was narrated by Ibn Mandah and others. In the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, it is reported that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «إِذَا أَوَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِلى فِرَاشِهِ فَلْيَنْفُضْهُ بِدَاخِلَةِ إِزَارِهِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَدْرِي مَا خَلَفَهُ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ: بِاسْمِكَ رَبِّي وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي، وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ، إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَارْحَمْهَا، وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِين» (When anyone of you goes to bed, let him brush down the bed with his garment, for he does not know what has come on his bed since he left it. Then let him say, "In Your Name, O Lord, I lay down my side and in Your Name I raise it up; if You take my soul, have mercy on it, and if You send it back, protect it with that which You protect Your righteous servants.") فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِى قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ (He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death) means, those which have died, and He returns the others back for an appointed term. As-Suddi said, "For the rest of their lives." Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "He keeps the souls of the dead and sends back the souls of the living, and He does not make any mistakes. إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

There is no Intercession except with Allah, and how the Idolators are filled with Disgust when Allah Allah condemns the idolators for taking intercessors besides Allah, namely the idols and false gods whom they have taken on the basis of their own whims, with no evidence or proof. These idols are not able to do anything; they have no minds with which to think, and they cannot hear or see. They are inanimate and are much worse off than animals. Then Allah says: `Say -- O Muhammad -- to these people who claim that those whom they have taken as intercessors with Allah, that intercession is of no avail except for the one with whom Allah is pleased and to whom He has granted permission to intercede. The whole matter rests with Him.' مَن ذَا الَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ (Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) (2:255). لَّهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (His is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth.) means, He is the One Who is in control of all that. ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (Then to Him you shall be brought back.) means, `on the Day of Resurrection, then He will judge between you with His justice, and He will reward or punish each person according to his deeds.' Then Allah condemns the idolators further: وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ (And when Allah Alone is mentioned) means, when it is said there is no (true) God except Allah Alone, اشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ (the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust) Mujahid said, "Their hearts are filled with disgust means they recoil in horror." This is like the Ayah: إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ (Truly, when it was said to them: "La ilaha illa Allah," they puffed themselves up with pride.) (37:35) which means, they were too proud to follow it. Their hearts could not accept anything good, and whoever cannot accept good will accept evil. Allah says: وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ (and when those besides Him are mentioned,) meaning, the idols and false gods -- this was the view of Mujahid -- إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ (behold, they rejoice!) means, they feel happy.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

There is no Intercession except with Allah, and how the Idolators are filled with Disgust when Allah Allah condemns the idolators for taking intercessors besides Allah, namely the idols and false gods whom they have taken on the basis of their own whims, with no evidence or proof. These idols are not able to do anything; they have no minds with which to think, and they cannot hear or see. They are inanimate and are much worse off than animals. Then Allah says: `Say -- O Muhammad -- to these people who claim that those whom they have taken as intercessors with Allah, that intercession is of no avail except for the one with whom Allah is pleased and to whom He has granted permission to intercede. The whole matter rests with Him.' مَن ذَا الَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ (Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) (2:255). لَّهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (His is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth.) means, He is the One Who is in control of all that. ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (Then to Him you shall be brought back.) means, `on the Day of Resurrection, then He will judge between you with His justice, and He will reward or punish each person according to his deeds.' Then Allah condemns the idolators further: وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ (And when Allah Alone is mentioned) means, when it is said there is no (true) God except Allah Alone, اشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ (the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust) Mujahid said, "Their hearts are filled with disgust means they recoil in horror." This is like the Ayah: إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ (Truly, when it was said to them: "La ilaha illa Allah," they puffed themselves up with pride.) (37:35) which means, they were too proud to follow it. Their hearts could not accept anything good, and whoever cannot accept good will accept evil. Allah says: وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ (and when those besides Him are mentioned,) meaning, the idols and false gods -- this was the view of Mujahid -- إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ (behold, they rejoice!) means, they feel happy.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

There is no Intercession except with Allah, and how the Idolators are filled with Disgust when Allah Allah condemns the idolators for taking intercessors besides Allah, namely the idols and false gods whom they have taken on the basis of their own whims, with no evidence or proof. These idols are not able to do anything; they have no minds with which to think, and they cannot hear or see. They are inanimate and are much worse off than animals. Then Allah says: `Say -- O Muhammad -- to these people who claim that those whom they have taken as intercessors with Allah, that intercession is of no avail except for the one with whom Allah is pleased and to whom He has granted permission to intercede. The whole matter rests with Him.' مَن ذَا الَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ (Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) (2:255). لَّهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (His is the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth.) means, He is the One Who is in control of all that. ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (Then to Him you shall be brought back.) means, `on the Day of Resurrection, then He will judge between you with His justice, and He will reward or punish each person according to his deeds.' Then Allah condemns the idolators further: وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ (And when Allah Alone is mentioned) means, when it is said there is no (true) God except Allah Alone, اشْمَأَزَّتْ قُلُوبُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ (the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust) Mujahid said, "Their hearts are filled with disgust means they recoil in horror." This is like the Ayah: إِنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ (Truly, when it was said to them: "La ilaha illa Allah," they puffed themselves up with pride.) (37:35) which means, they were too proud to follow it. Their hearts could not accept anything good, and whoever cannot accept good will accept evil. Allah says: وَإِذَا ذُكِرَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ (and when those besides Him are mentioned,) meaning, the idols and false gods -- this was the view of Mujahid -- إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ (behold, they rejoice!) means, they feel happy.