Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

Ordering Faith and encouraging spending Allah the Exalted and Blessed orders having perfect faith in Him and in His Messenger, and that one should persist on this path adhereing firmly to it. Allah encourages spending from what He has made mankind trustees of, the wealth that you - mankind - have, that He has lent you. This wealth was in the hands of those before you and was later transferred to you. Therefore, O mankind, spend as Allah commanded you from the wealth that He entrusted to you for His obedience. Otherwise, He will hold you accountable and punish you for your ignoring what He ordained on you in this regard. Allah's statement, مِمَّا جَعَلَكُم مُّسْتَخْلَفِينَ فِيهِ (of that whereof He has made you trustees.), indicates that you - mankind -- will surrender this wealth to someone else. In this case, those who will inherit from you might obey Allah with their wealth, and thus acquire more happiness than you on account of what Allah has granted them. They might disobey Allah, and in this case you will have helped them commit evil and transgression. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Ash-Shikhkhir said, "I came to Allah's Messenger ﷺ as he was reciting and saying, أَلْهَـكُمُ التَّكَّاثُرُ يَقُولُ ابْنُ آدَمَ: مَالِي مَالِي، وَهَلْ لَكَ مِن مَالِكَ إِلَّا مَاأَكَلْتَ فَأَفْنَيْتَ، أَوْ لَبِسْتَ فَأَبْلَيْتَ، أَوْ تَصَدَّقْتَ فَأَمْضَيْتَ؟» ((abundance diverts you.)( The Son of `Adam claims, "My wealth, my wealth." But is there anything belonging to you, except that which you consumed, which you used, or which you wore and then it became worn or you gave as charity and sent it forward) Muslim also collected with the addition: «وَمَا سِوَى ذلِكَ، فَذَاهِبٌ وَتَارِكُهُ لِلنَّاس» (Other than that, you will go away from it and leave it behind for other people.) Allah's statement, فَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمْ وَأَنفَقُواْ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ (And such of you as believe and spend, theirs will be a great reward.) encourages having faith and spending in acts of obedience. Allah the Exalted said, وَمَا لَكُمْ لاَ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ (And what is the matter with you that you believe not in Allah! While the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord;) meaning, "what prevents you from believing, while the Messenger is among you calling you to faith and bringing forward clear proofs and evidences that affirm the truth of what he brought you" And we have reported the Hadith through different routes in the beginning of the explanation on the chapter on Faith in Sahih Al-Bukhari, wherein one day the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to his Companions, «أَيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَعْجَبُ إِلَيْكُمْ إِيمَانًا؟» (Who do you consider among the believers as having the most amazing faith) They said, "The angels." He said, «وَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ وَهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ؟» (And what prevents them from believing when they are with their Lord) They said, "Then the Prophets." He said, «وَمَالَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْوَحْيُ يَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِمْ؟» (What prevents them from believing when the revelation comes down to them) They said, "Then us." He said, «وَمَالَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَنَا بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ؟ وَلكِنْ أَعْجَبُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا، قَوْمٌ يَجِيئُونَ بَعْدَكُمْ، يَجِدُونَ صُحُفًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا فِيهَا» (What prevents you from believing, when I am amongst you Actually, the believers who have the most amazing faith, are some people who will come after you; they will find pages that they will believe in.) We mentioned a part of this Hadith when explaining Allah's statement in Surat Al-Baqarah, الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ (who believe in the Ghayb (unseen).)(2:3) Allah's statement, وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَـقَكُمْ (and He has indeed taken your covenant,) is similar to another of His statements, وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَـقَهُ الَّذِى وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا (And remember Allah's favor to you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said: "We hear and we obey.")(5:7), which refers to giving the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet . Ibn Jarir said that the covenant mentioned here, is that taken from mankind, when they were still in Adam's loin. This is also the opinion of Mujahid, and Allah knows best. Allah said, هُوَ الَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ ءَايَـتٍ بَيِّنَـتٍ (It is He Who sends down manifest Ayat to His servant) clear proofs, unequivocal evidences and plain attestations, لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِّنَ الظُّلُمَـتِ إِلَى النُّورِ (that He may bring you out from darkness into light.) from the darkness of ignorance, disbelief and contradictory statements to the light of guidance, certainty and faith, وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ (And verily, Allah is to you full of kindness, Most Merciful.) by revealing the Divine Books and sending the Messengers to guide mankind, eradicating doubts and removing confusion. After Allah commanded mankind to first believe and spend, He again encouraged them to acquire faith and stated that He has removed all barriers between them and the acquisition of faith. Allah again encouraged them to spend, وَمَا لَكُمْ أَلاَّ تُنفِقُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلِلَّهِ مِيرَاثُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ (And what is the matter with you that you spend not in the cause of Allah And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth.) means, spend and do not fear poverty or scarcity. Surely, He in Whose cause you spent is the King and Owner of the heavens and earth and has perfect control over their every affair, including their treasuries. He is the Owner of the Throne, with all the might that it contains, and He is the One Who said, وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُمْ مِّن شَىْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ (And whatsoever you spend of anything, He will replace it. And He is the best of providers.)(34:39), and, مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ (whatever is with you, will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah will remain.)(16:96) Therefore, those who trust in and depend on Allah will spend, and they will not fear poverty or destitution coming to them from the Owner of the Throne. They know that Allah will surely compensate them for whatever they spend. The Virtues of spending and fighting before the Conquest of Makkah Allah's statement, لاَ يَسْتَوِى مِنكُم مَّنْ أَنفَقَ مِن قَبْلِ الْفَتْحِ وَقَـتَلَ (Not equal among you are those who spent before the conquering and fought.) meaning those who did not fight and spend before the Conquest are not equal to those who spent and fought. Before Makkah was conquered, things were difficult for Muslims and only the righteous ones embraced Islam. After Makkah was conquered, Islam spread tremendously throughout the known world and people embraced the religion of Allah en masse. Similarly He said: أُوْلَـئِكَ أَعْظَمُ دَرَجَةً مِّنَ الَّذِينَ أَنفَقُواْ مِن بَعْدُ وَقَـتَلُواْ وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى (Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all Allah has promised the best (reward).) The majority considers the Conquest here to be the conquest of Makkah. Ash-Sha`bi and several others said that the Ayah refers to the treaty at Al-Hudaybiyyah. There is proof for this opinion found in a Hadith from Anas, collected by Imam Ahmad. Anas said, "Khalid bin Al-Walid and `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf had a dispute. Khalid said to `Abdur-Rahman, `You boast about days (battles) that you participated in before us.' When the news of this statement reached the Prophet he said, «دَعُوا لِي أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ أَوْ مِثْلَ الْجِبَالِ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغْتُمْ أَعْمَالَهُم» (Do not bother my Companions, for by He in Whose Hand is my soul! If you spend an amount of gold equal to (Mount) Uhud, (or equal to the mountains), you will not reach the level of their actions.)" It is a known fact that Khalid bin Al-Walid, whom the Prophet addressed this statement to, embraced Islam during the period between the treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah and the conquering of Makkah. The dispute between Khalid and `Abdur-Rahman occurred because of the battle of Bani Jadhimah. The Prophet sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to them after the conquest of Makkah, and they said, "Saba'na," instead of saying, "Aslamna" (we embraced Islam). So Khalid ordered their execution and the execution of their prisoners (of war); `Abdur-Rahman bin `Awf and `Abdullah bin `Umar opposed him. This is the reason behind the dispute that occurred between Khalid and `Abdur-Rahman. But in the Sahih, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا تَسُبُّوا أَصْحَابِي، فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ أَنْفَقَ أَحَدُكُمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا، مَا بَلَغَ مُدَّ أَحَدِهِمْ وَلَا نَصِيفَه» (None should revile my Companions, for by He in Whose Hand is my soul! If one of you were to spend as much gold as Uhud, it would not reach the level of them equal to an amount as much as one Mudd of one of them or half of it.) Allah said, وَكُلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى (But to all Allah has promised the best (reward).) meaning, those who spent before and after the conquest of Makkah; they all will gain a reward for their good deeds, even though some of them vary in rank and earn a better reward than others as Allah said, لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْقَـعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُوْلِى الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَـهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُـلاًّ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَى وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَـهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَـعِدِينَ أَجْراً عَظِيماً (Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allah has promised good, but Allah has preferred by a great reward those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home).)(4:95) There is a Hadith in the Sahih that states, «الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ، وَفِي كُلَ خَيْر» (The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer; both have goodness in them.) The Prophet ended his statement this way to draw attention to the second type of believer, so that their own qualities are not forgotten in the midst of preferring the former type. In this way, the latter is not dismissed as being degraded in the Hadith. Therefore, the Prophet ended his statement by praising the second type -- the weak believers -- after giving preference to the first type. Allah said: وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.) meaning, since Allah is perfectly aware of all things, He made distinctions between the rewards of the believers who spent and fought before the Conquest and those who spent and fought afterwards. Surely, Allah does this by His knowledge of the intention of the former type and their perfect sincerity to Him, all the while spending in times of hardship, poverty and dire straits. This is found in the Hadith, «سَبَقَ دِرْهَمٌ مِائَةَ أَلْف» (Spending one Dirham is preceded over a hundred thousand.) There is no doubt that the people of faith consider Abu Bakr As-Siddiq to be the person who has the best share according to the meaning of this Ayah. He was the chief of those who implemented it, among all followers of all Prophets. He spent all of his wealth seeking the Face of Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored. He did it voluntarily too, not to repay a debt or a favor that anyone from mankind had on him. May Allah be pleased with him. The Encouragement to make a Handsome Loan in the Cause of Allah Allah said, مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا (Who is he that will lend Allah a handsome loan:) `Umar bin Al-Khattab said that this Ayah refers to spending in Allah's cause. It was also said that it pertains to spending on children. What is correct is that it is more general than that. So all those who spend in the cause of Allah with good intentions and a sincere heart, then they fall under the generality of this Ayah. This is why Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah: مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ (Who is he that will lend Allah handsome loan: then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit (in repaying),) and in another Ayah, أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً (many times) (2:245), meaning, being handsome reward and tremendous provisions: Paradise on the Day of Resurrection. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "When this Ayah, مَّن ذَا الَّذِى يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ (Who is he that will lend Allah handsome loan: then (Allah) will increase it manifold to his credit (in repaying),) was revealed, Abu Ad-Dahdah Al-Ansari said, `O Allah's Messenger! Does Allah ask us for a loan' The Prophet said, «نَعَمْ، يَاأَبَا الدَّحْدَاح» (Yes, O Abu Ad-Dahdah.) He said, `Give me your hand, O Allah's Messenger,' and the Prophet placed his hand in his hand. Abu Ad-Dahdah said, `Verily, I have given my garden as a loan to my Lord.' He had a garden that contained six hundred date trees; his wife and children were living in that garden too. Abu Ad-Dahdah went to his wife and called her, `Umm Ad-Dahdah!' She said, `Here I am.' He said, `Leave the garden, because I have given it as a loan to my Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored.' She said, `That is a successful trade, O Abu Ad-Dahdah!' She then transferred her goods and children. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «كَمْ مِنْ عَذْقٍ رَدَاحٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاح» (How plentiful are the sweet date clusters that Abu Ad-Dahdah has in Paradise!)" In another narration, the Prophet said, «رُبَّ نَخْلَةٍ مُدَلَّاةٍ، عُرُوقُهَا دُرٌّ وَيَاقُوتٌ، لِأَبِي الدَّحْدَاحِ فِي الْجَنَّة» (How many a date tree that has lowered down its clusters, which are full of pearls and gems in Paradise for Abu Ad-Dahdah!)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Believers are awarded a Light on the Day of Resurrection, according to Their Good Deeds Allah the Exalted states that the believers who spend in charity will come on the Day of Resurrection with their light preceding them in the area of the Gathering, according to the level of their good deeds. As reported from `Abdullah bin Mas`ud: يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ (their light running forward before them), he said, "They will pass over the Sirat according to their deeds. Some of them will have a light as large as a mountain, some as a date tree, some as big as a man in the standing position. The least among them has a light as big as his index finger, it is lit at times and extinguished at other times." Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir collected this Hadith. Ad-Dahhak commented on the Ayah, "Everyone will be given a light on the Day of Resurrection. When they arrive at the Sirat, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. When the believers see this, they will be concerned that their light also will be extinguished, just as the light of the hypocrites was. This is when the believers will invoke Allah, `O our Lord! Perfect our light for us."' Allah's statement, وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِم (and in their right hands.) Ad-Dahhak said: "Their Books of Records." As Allah said: فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـبَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ (So whosoever is given his record in his right hand.)(17:71) Allah said, بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ (Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow,) meaning, it will be said to them, "Receive glad tidings this Day, of gardens beneath which rivers flow, خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ (to dwell therein forever!), you will remain therein forever," ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (Truly, this is the great success!) The Condition of the Hypocrites on the Day of Resurrection Allah said, يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!") Allah informs us in this Ayah of the terrible horrors, horrendous incidents and tremendous events that will take place on the Day of Resurrection in the Gathering Area. No one will be saved on that Day, except those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, obeyed Allah's commands and avoided His prohibitions. Al-`Awfi, Ad-Dahhak and others reported from Ibn `Abbas: "When the people are gathering in darkness, Allah will send light, and when the believers see the light they will march towards it. This light will be their guide from Allah to Paradise. When the hypocrites see the believers following the light, they will follow them. However, Allah will extinguish the light for the hypocrites and they will say (to the believers), انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (Wait for us! Let us get something from your light.) The believers will reply by saying, ارْجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمْ `(Go back to your rear!) to the dark area you were in, and look for a light there!"' Allah said, فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (So, a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) Al-Hasan and Qatadah said that the wall mentioned here is located between Paradise and Hellfire. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that the wall mentioned in this Ayah is the wall that Allah described in His statement, وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ (And between them will be a (barrier) screen.)(7:46) Similar was reported from Mujahid and others, and it is correct. Allah said, بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ (Inside it will be mercy,) meaning, Paradise and all that is in it, وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (and outside it will be torment.) meaning, the Hellfire, according to Qatadah, Ibn Zayd and others. Allah said, يُنَـدُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ((The hypocrites) will call the believers: "Were we not with you") meaning, the hypocrites will call out to the believers saying, "Were we not with you in the life of the world, attending Friday prayers and congregational prayers Did we not stand with you on Mount `Arafah (during Hajj), participate in battle by your side and perform all types of acts of worship with you" قَالُواْ بَلَى (The believers will reply: "Yes!...") The believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "Yes, you were with us, وَلَـكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward to our destruction; and you doubted (in faith) and you were deceived by false hopes,) " Qatadah said, وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ (you looked forward to destruction), "Of the truth and its people." وَارْتَبْتُمْ (and you doubted,) that Resurrection occurs after death, وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (and you were deceived by false hopes,) meaning: you said that you will be forgiven your sins; or, they say it means: this life deceived you; حَتَّى جَآءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ (till the command of Allah came to pass.) meaning: you remained on this path until death came to you, وَغَرَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (And the deceiver deceived you in regard to Allah.) `the deceiver' being Shaytan. Qatadah said, "They were deceived by Ash-Shaytan. By Allah! They remained deceived until Allah cast them into Hellfire." The meaning here is that the believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "You were with us in bodies which were heartless and devoid of intentions. You were cast in doubt and suspicion. You were showing off for people and remembered Allah, little." Mujahid commented, "The hypocrites were with the believers in this life, marrying from among each other, yet betraying them even when they were associating with them. They were dead. They will both be given a light on the Day of Resurrection, but the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished when they reach the wall; this is when the two camps separate and part!" Allah's statement, مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ (Your abode is the Fire.) means, the Fire is your final destination and to it will be your return for residence, هِىَ مَوْلَـكُمْ (That is your protector,) meaning, it is the worthy shelter for you rather than any other residence, because of your disbelief and doubt, and how evil is the Fire for Final Destination.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Believers are awarded a Light on the Day of Resurrection, according to Their Good Deeds Allah the Exalted states that the believers who spend in charity will come on the Day of Resurrection with their light preceding them in the area of the Gathering, according to the level of their good deeds. As reported from `Abdullah bin Mas`ud: يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ (their light running forward before them), he said, "They will pass over the Sirat according to their deeds. Some of them will have a light as large as a mountain, some as a date tree, some as big as a man in the standing position. The least among them has a light as big as his index finger, it is lit at times and extinguished at other times." Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir collected this Hadith. Ad-Dahhak commented on the Ayah, "Everyone will be given a light on the Day of Resurrection. When they arrive at the Sirat, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. When the believers see this, they will be concerned that their light also will be extinguished, just as the light of the hypocrites was. This is when the believers will invoke Allah, `O our Lord! Perfect our light for us."' Allah's statement, وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِم (and in their right hands.) Ad-Dahhak said: "Their Books of Records." As Allah said: فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـبَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ (So whosoever is given his record in his right hand.)(17:71) Allah said, بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ (Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow,) meaning, it will be said to them, "Receive glad tidings this Day, of gardens beneath which rivers flow, خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ (to dwell therein forever!), you will remain therein forever," ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (Truly, this is the great success!) The Condition of the Hypocrites on the Day of Resurrection Allah said, يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!") Allah informs us in this Ayah of the terrible horrors, horrendous incidents and tremendous events that will take place on the Day of Resurrection in the Gathering Area. No one will be saved on that Day, except those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, obeyed Allah's commands and avoided His prohibitions. Al-`Awfi, Ad-Dahhak and others reported from Ibn `Abbas: "When the people are gathering in darkness, Allah will send light, and when the believers see the light they will march towards it. This light will be their guide from Allah to Paradise. When the hypocrites see the believers following the light, they will follow them. However, Allah will extinguish the light for the hypocrites and they will say (to the believers), انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (Wait for us! Let us get something from your light.) The believers will reply by saying, ارْجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمْ `(Go back to your rear!) to the dark area you were in, and look for a light there!"' Allah said, فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (So, a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) Al-Hasan and Qatadah said that the wall mentioned here is located between Paradise and Hellfire. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that the wall mentioned in this Ayah is the wall that Allah described in His statement, وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ (And between them will be a (barrier) screen.)(7:46) Similar was reported from Mujahid and others, and it is correct. Allah said, بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ (Inside it will be mercy,) meaning, Paradise and all that is in it, وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (and outside it will be torment.) meaning, the Hellfire, according to Qatadah, Ibn Zayd and others. Allah said, يُنَـدُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ((The hypocrites) will call the believers: "Were we not with you") meaning, the hypocrites will call out to the believers saying, "Were we not with you in the life of the world, attending Friday prayers and congregational prayers Did we not stand with you on Mount `Arafah (during Hajj), participate in battle by your side and perform all types of acts of worship with you" قَالُواْ بَلَى (The believers will reply: "Yes!...") The believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "Yes, you were with us, وَلَـكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward to our destruction; and you doubted (in faith) and you were deceived by false hopes,) " Qatadah said, وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ (you looked forward to destruction), "Of the truth and its people." وَارْتَبْتُمْ (and you doubted,) that Resurrection occurs after death, وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (and you were deceived by false hopes,) meaning: you said that you will be forgiven your sins; or, they say it means: this life deceived you; حَتَّى جَآءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ (till the command of Allah came to pass.) meaning: you remained on this path until death came to you, وَغَرَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (And the deceiver deceived you in regard to Allah.) `the deceiver' being Shaytan. Qatadah said, "They were deceived by Ash-Shaytan. By Allah! They remained deceived until Allah cast them into Hellfire." The meaning here is that the believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "You were with us in bodies which were heartless and devoid of intentions. You were cast in doubt and suspicion. You were showing off for people and remembered Allah, little." Mujahid commented, "The hypocrites were with the believers in this life, marrying from among each other, yet betraying them even when they were associating with them. They were dead. They will both be given a light on the Day of Resurrection, but the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished when they reach the wall; this is when the two camps separate and part!" Allah's statement, مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ (Your abode is the Fire.) means, the Fire is your final destination and to it will be your return for residence, هِىَ مَوْلَـكُمْ (That is your protector,) meaning, it is the worthy shelter for you rather than any other residence, because of your disbelief and doubt, and how evil is the Fire for Final Destination.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Believers are awarded a Light on the Day of Resurrection, according to Their Good Deeds Allah the Exalted states that the believers who spend in charity will come on the Day of Resurrection with their light preceding them in the area of the Gathering, according to the level of their good deeds. As reported from `Abdullah bin Mas`ud: يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ (their light running forward before them), he said, "They will pass over the Sirat according to their deeds. Some of them will have a light as large as a mountain, some as a date tree, some as big as a man in the standing position. The least among them has a light as big as his index finger, it is lit at times and extinguished at other times." Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir collected this Hadith. Ad-Dahhak commented on the Ayah, "Everyone will be given a light on the Day of Resurrection. When they arrive at the Sirat, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. When the believers see this, they will be concerned that their light also will be extinguished, just as the light of the hypocrites was. This is when the believers will invoke Allah, `O our Lord! Perfect our light for us."' Allah's statement, وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِم (and in their right hands.) Ad-Dahhak said: "Their Books of Records." As Allah said: فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـبَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ (So whosoever is given his record in his right hand.)(17:71) Allah said, بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ (Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow,) meaning, it will be said to them, "Receive glad tidings this Day, of gardens beneath which rivers flow, خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ (to dwell therein forever!), you will remain therein forever," ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (Truly, this is the great success!) The Condition of the Hypocrites on the Day of Resurrection Allah said, يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!") Allah informs us in this Ayah of the terrible horrors, horrendous incidents and tremendous events that will take place on the Day of Resurrection in the Gathering Area. No one will be saved on that Day, except those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, obeyed Allah's commands and avoided His prohibitions. Al-`Awfi, Ad-Dahhak and others reported from Ibn `Abbas: "When the people are gathering in darkness, Allah will send light, and when the believers see the light they will march towards it. This light will be their guide from Allah to Paradise. When the hypocrites see the believers following the light, they will follow them. However, Allah will extinguish the light for the hypocrites and they will say (to the believers), انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (Wait for us! Let us get something from your light.) The believers will reply by saying, ارْجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمْ `(Go back to your rear!) to the dark area you were in, and look for a light there!"' Allah said, فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (So, a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) Al-Hasan and Qatadah said that the wall mentioned here is located between Paradise and Hellfire. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that the wall mentioned in this Ayah is the wall that Allah described in His statement, وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ (And between them will be a (barrier) screen.)(7:46) Similar was reported from Mujahid and others, and it is correct. Allah said, بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ (Inside it will be mercy,) meaning, Paradise and all that is in it, وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (and outside it will be torment.) meaning, the Hellfire, according to Qatadah, Ibn Zayd and others. Allah said, يُنَـدُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ((The hypocrites) will call the believers: "Were we not with you") meaning, the hypocrites will call out to the believers saying, "Were we not with you in the life of the world, attending Friday prayers and congregational prayers Did we not stand with you on Mount `Arafah (during Hajj), participate in battle by your side and perform all types of acts of worship with you" قَالُواْ بَلَى (The believers will reply: "Yes!...") The believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "Yes, you were with us, وَلَـكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward to our destruction; and you doubted (in faith) and you were deceived by false hopes,) " Qatadah said, وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ (you looked forward to destruction), "Of the truth and its people." وَارْتَبْتُمْ (and you doubted,) that Resurrection occurs after death, وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (and you were deceived by false hopes,) meaning: you said that you will be forgiven your sins; or, they say it means: this life deceived you; حَتَّى جَآءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ (till the command of Allah came to pass.) meaning: you remained on this path until death came to you, وَغَرَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (And the deceiver deceived you in regard to Allah.) `the deceiver' being Shaytan. Qatadah said, "They were deceived by Ash-Shaytan. By Allah! They remained deceived until Allah cast them into Hellfire." The meaning here is that the believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "You were with us in bodies which were heartless and devoid of intentions. You were cast in doubt and suspicion. You were showing off for people and remembered Allah, little." Mujahid commented, "The hypocrites were with the believers in this life, marrying from among each other, yet betraying them even when they were associating with them. They were dead. They will both be given a light on the Day of Resurrection, but the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished when they reach the wall; this is when the two camps separate and part!" Allah's statement, مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ (Your abode is the Fire.) means, the Fire is your final destination and to it will be your return for residence, هِىَ مَوْلَـكُمْ (That is your protector,) meaning, it is the worthy shelter for you rather than any other residence, because of your disbelief and doubt, and how evil is the Fire for Final Destination.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — Hafiz Ibn Kathir

The Believers are awarded a Light on the Day of Resurrection, according to Their Good Deeds Allah the Exalted states that the believers who spend in charity will come on the Day of Resurrection with their light preceding them in the area of the Gathering, according to the level of their good deeds. As reported from `Abdullah bin Mas`ud: يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ (their light running forward before them), he said, "They will pass over the Sirat according to their deeds. Some of them will have a light as large as a mountain, some as a date tree, some as big as a man in the standing position. The least among them has a light as big as his index finger, it is lit at times and extinguished at other times." Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir collected this Hadith. Ad-Dahhak commented on the Ayah, "Everyone will be given a light on the Day of Resurrection. When they arrive at the Sirat, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. When the believers see this, they will be concerned that their light also will be extinguished, just as the light of the hypocrites was. This is when the believers will invoke Allah, `O our Lord! Perfect our light for us."' Allah's statement, وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِم (and in their right hands.) Ad-Dahhak said: "Their Books of Records." As Allah said: فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـبَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ (So whosoever is given his record in his right hand.)(17:71) Allah said, بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ (Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow,) meaning, it will be said to them, "Receive glad tidings this Day, of gardens beneath which rivers flow, خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ (to dwell therein forever!), you will remain therein forever," ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (Truly, this is the great success!) The Condition of the Hypocrites on the Day of Resurrection Allah said, يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!") Allah informs us in this Ayah of the terrible horrors, horrendous incidents and tremendous events that will take place on the Day of Resurrection in the Gathering Area. No one will be saved on that Day, except those who believed in Allah and His Messenger, obeyed Allah's commands and avoided His prohibitions. Al-`Awfi, Ad-Dahhak and others reported from Ibn `Abbas: "When the people are gathering in darkness, Allah will send light, and when the believers see the light they will march towards it. This light will be their guide from Allah to Paradise. When the hypocrites see the believers following the light, they will follow them. However, Allah will extinguish the light for the hypocrites and they will say (to the believers), انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ (Wait for us! Let us get something from your light.) The believers will reply by saying, ارْجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمْ `(Go back to your rear!) to the dark area you were in, and look for a light there!"' Allah said, فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (So, a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) Al-Hasan and Qatadah said that the wall mentioned here is located between Paradise and Hellfire. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that the wall mentioned in this Ayah is the wall that Allah described in His statement, وَبَيْنَهُمَا حِجَابٌ (And between them will be a (barrier) screen.)(7:46) Similar was reported from Mujahid and others, and it is correct. Allah said, بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ (Inside it will be mercy,) meaning, Paradise and all that is in it, وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ (and outside it will be torment.) meaning, the Hellfire, according to Qatadah, Ibn Zayd and others. Allah said, يُنَـدُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ((The hypocrites) will call the believers: "Were we not with you") meaning, the hypocrites will call out to the believers saying, "Were we not with you in the life of the world, attending Friday prayers and congregational prayers Did we not stand with you on Mount `Arafah (during Hajj), participate in battle by your side and perform all types of acts of worship with you" قَالُواْ بَلَى (The believers will reply: "Yes!...") The believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "Yes, you were with us, وَلَـكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward to our destruction; and you doubted (in faith) and you were deceived by false hopes,) " Qatadah said, وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ (you looked forward to destruction), "Of the truth and its people." وَارْتَبْتُمْ (and you doubted,) that Resurrection occurs after death, وَغرَّتْكُمُ الاٌّمَانِىُّ (and you were deceived by false hopes,) meaning: you said that you will be forgiven your sins; or, they say it means: this life deceived you; حَتَّى جَآءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ (till the command of Allah came to pass.) meaning: you remained on this path until death came to you, وَغَرَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ (And the deceiver deceived you in regard to Allah.) `the deceiver' being Shaytan. Qatadah said, "They were deceived by Ash-Shaytan. By Allah! They remained deceived until Allah cast them into Hellfire." The meaning here is that the believers will answer the hypocrites by saying, "You were with us in bodies which were heartless and devoid of intentions. You were cast in doubt and suspicion. You were showing off for people and remembered Allah, little." Mujahid commented, "The hypocrites were with the believers in this life, marrying from among each other, yet betraying them even when they were associating with them. They were dead. They will both be given a light on the Day of Resurrection, but the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished when they reach the wall; this is when the two camps separate and part!" Allah's statement, مَأْوَاكُمُ النَّارُ (Your abode is the Fire.) means, the Fire is your final destination and to it will be your return for residence, هِىَ مَوْلَـكُمْ (That is your protector,) meaning, it is the worthy shelter for you rather than any other residence, because of your disbelief and doubt, and how evil is the Fire for Final Destination.