( Source: Ibn Kathir )
(7) And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic."
Allah, the Exalted, informs of His power over all things, and that He created the heavens and the earth in six days. He mentions that His Throne was over the water before that, just as Imam Ahmad recorded that `Imran bin Husayn said,
"The Messenger of Allah said (Accept the glad tidings, O tribe of Tamim!) They said, `Verily you have brought us glad tidings and you have given us.' Then he said, (Accept the glad tidings, O people of Yemen!) They said, `We accept. Therefore, inform us about the beginning of this matter and how it was.' He said, (Allah was before everything and His Throne was over the water. He then wrote in the Preserved Tablet mentioning everything.) Then a man came to me and said, "O `Imran, your she camel has escaped from her fetter.'' I then went out after her and I do not know what was said after I left.'' This Hadith has been recorded in the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim with a variety of wordings.
In Sahih Muslim, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Verily Allah measured the amount of sustenance of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was over the water.)
Under the explanation of this verse, Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, (Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said, `Spend and I will spend on you.') And he said, (Allah's Hand is full, and it is not diminished by spending throughout the night and the day.) He also said, (Have you seen what has been spent since the creation of the heavens and the earth Verily it does not diminish what is in His Right Hand (in the slightest) and His Throne was over the water. In His Hand is the Scale and he lowers and raises it.)
(that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.) This means that He created the heavens and the earth for the benefit of His servants, whom He created so that they may worship Him and not associate anything with Him as a partner. Allah did not create this creation (of the heavens and the earth) out of mere frivolity.
(which of you is the best in deeds.) It is important to note here that Allah did not say, "Which of you has done the most deeds.'' Rather, He said, "Best in deeds.'' A deed cannot be considered a good deed until it is done sincerely for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and it must be in accordance with the legislation of the Messenger of Allah . Whenever a deed lacks one of these conditions, then it is null and void.
(But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death.'') Allah, the Exalted, is saying, "O Muhammad, if you were to inform these polytheists that Allah is going to resurrect them after their death, just as He created them originally (they would still reject).'' Even though they know that Allah, the Exalted, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth.
(This is nothing but obvious magic.) The polytheists say this due to their disbelief and obstinacy. They say, "We do not believe your claim that resurrection will occur.'' They also say, "He (Muhammad) only says this (resurrection of the dead) because he is bewitched, and he wants you to follow him in what his bewitchment tells him.
(8) And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term, they are sure to say, "What keeps it back?" Verily, on the day it reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be surrounded by (fall in) that at which they used to mock!
The Meanings of the Word Ummah
(And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term,) Allah, the Exalted, is saying "If We delay the torment and the destruction of these polytheists until an appointed time and a period determined, and We promise them a specific time period (of life), they would still say, in rejection and haste.
(What keeps it back) They mean by this, "What delays this torment from overtaking us'' Both rejection and doubt are their very nature. Therefore, they have no escape or refuge from the torment.
(9) And if We give man a taste of Mercy from Us, and then withdraw it from him, verily! He is despairing, ungrateful.
Allah, the Exalted, informs about mankind and the blameworthy characteristics that he possesses, except for those believing servants upon whom Allah has bestowed His mercy. Allah explains that when any hardship befalls man, after he has experienced blessings, he is disheartened and he despairs of any good in the future. He denies and rejects (the bounties of) his previous condition. Thus, he behaves as if he has never seen any good and he loses all hope for relief (from his situation). Likewise, if any blessing befalls him after displeasure.
(10) But if We let him taste good (favour) after evil (poverty and harm) has touched him, he is sure to say: "Ills have departed from me." Surely, he is exultant, and boastful (ungrateful to Allah).
(he is sure to say, "Ills have departed from me.'') This means that he will claim that no harm or calamity will afflict him after this (blessing).
(11) Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds, those: theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise).
Allah created the Heavens and the Earth in Six Days
Allah, the Exalted, informs of His power over all things, and that He created the heavens and the earth in six days. He mentions that His Throne was over the water before that, just as Imam Ahmad recorded that `Imran bin Husayn said,
"The Messenger of Allah said (Accept the glad tidings, O tribe of Tamim!) They said, `Verily you have brought us glad tidings and you have given us.' Then he said, (Accept the glad tidings, O people of Yemen!) They said, `We accept. Therefore, inform us about the beginning of this matter and how it was.' He said, (Allah was before everything and His Throne was over the water. He then wrote in the Preserved Tablet mentioning everything.) Then a man came to me and said, "O `Imran, your she camel has escaped from her fetter.'' I then went out after her and I do not know what was said after I left.'' This Hadith has been recorded in the Two Sahihs of Al-Bukhari and Muslim with a variety of wordings.
In Sahih Muslim, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Verily Allah measured the amount of sustenance of the creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and His Throne was over the water.)
Under the explanation of this verse, Al-Bukhari recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, (Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said, `Spend and I will spend on you.') And he said, (Allah's Hand is full, and it is not diminished by spending throughout the night and the day.) He also said, (Have you seen what has been spent since the creation of the heavens and the earth Verily it does not diminish what is in His Right Hand (in the slightest) and His Throne was over the water. In His Hand is the Scale and he lowers and raises it.)
(that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.) This means that He created the heavens and the earth for the benefit of His servants, whom He created so that they may worship Him and not associate anything with Him as a partner. Allah did not create this creation (of the heavens and the earth) out of mere frivolity.
(which of you is the best in deeds.) It is important to note here that Allah did not say, "Which of you has done the most deeds.'' Rather, He said, "Best in deeds.'' A deed cannot be considered a good deed until it is done sincerely for Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and it must be in accordance with the legislation of the Messenger of Allah . Whenever a deed lacks one of these conditions, then it is null and void.
(But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death.'') Allah, the Exalted, is saying, "O Muhammad, if you were to inform these polytheists that Allah is going to resurrect them after their death, just as He created them originally (they would still reject).'' Even though they know that Allah, the Exalted, is the One Who created the heavens and the earth.
(This is nothing but obvious magic.) The polytheists say this due to their disbelief and obstinacy. They say, "We do not believe your claim that resurrection will occur.'' They also say, "He (Muhammad) only says this (resurrection of the dead) because he is bewitched, and he wants you to follow him in what his bewitchment tells him.
The Meanings of the Word Ummah
The word Ummah is used in the Qur'an and Sunnah with a number of different meanings. Sometimes when it is used it means a specified period of time. An example is the statement of Allah, the Exalted, in this verse,
﴿إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعْدُودَةٍ﴾
(till a determined Ummah (term),) This is also the meaning in the statement of Allah in Surah Yusuf,
(Then the man who was released, now after Ummah (some time) remembered.) ﴿12:45﴾ The word Ummah is also used to refer to the Imam (leader) who is followed.
(And if We delay the torment for them till a determined term,) Allah, the Exalted, is saying "If We delay the torment and the destruction of these polytheists until an appointed time and a period determined, and We promise them a specific time period (of life), they would still say, in rejection and haste.
(What keeps it back) They mean by this, "What delays this torment from overtaking us'' Both rejection and doubt are their very nature. Therefore, they have no escape or refuge from the torment.
The changing of Man's Attitude in Happiness and Hardship
Allah, the Exalted, informs about mankind and the blameworthy characteristics that he possesses, except for those believing servants upon whom Allah has bestowed His mercy. Allah explains that when any hardship befalls man, after he has experienced blessings, he is disheartened and he despairs of any good in the future. He denies and rejects (the bounties of) his previous condition. Thus, he behaves as if he has never seen any good and he loses all hope for relief (from his situation). Likewise, if any blessing befalls him after displeasure.
(he is sure to say, "Ills have departed from me.'') This means that he will claim that no harm or calamity will afflict him after this (blessing).
(Surely, he is exultant and boastful (ungrateful to Allah).) This means that he is pleased with what he has in his hand and ungrateful (to Allah). At the same time he is boastful towards others. Allah, the Exalted, then says,
(Except those who show patience) meaning, those who show patience during times of hardship and adversity. In reference to Allah's statement,
(and do righteous good deeds) This means that they perform the good deeds in times of ease and good health. Concerning the statement,
(those, theirs will be forgiveness) meaning, that they will be forgiven due to the calamities that afflicted them.
(and a great reward.) This great reward is due to them because of what they sent forth (of good deeds) in their times of ease.
This is similar to what is mentioned in the Hadith, (By He in Whose Hand is my soul! No worry, calamity, distress, illness, or grief strikes a believer, even the prick of a thorn, except that Allah will expiate his sins for him because of it.)
In the Sahih it is recorded that the Prophet said, (By He in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah does not decree any matter for the believer except that it is good for him. If any blessing befalls him, he is thankful (to Allah) and that is good for him. If any harm comes to him, he is patient and that is also good for him. This is (a bounty) exclusively for the believer.)
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