Source: Ibn Kathir
(74) "Besides Allah" They will say: "They have vanished from us: Nay, we did not invoke (worship) anything before." Thus Allah leads astray the disbelievers.
(Then it will be said to them: "Where are (all) those whom you considered partners -- besides Allah'') means, it will be said to them, `where are the idols whom you used to worship instead of Allah Can they help you today'
(They will say: "They have vanished from us...'') mean, they have gone away and they cannot do anything for us.'
(Nay, we did not invoke (worship) anything before. ) means, they will deny that they worshiped them. This is like the Ayah:
(There will then be (left) no Fitnah (excuse) for them but to say: "By Allah, our Lord, we were not those who joined others in worship with Allah.'') (6:23) Allah says:
(Thus Allah leads astray the disbelievers).
(75) That was because you had been exulting in the earth without any right (by worshipping others instead of Allah and by committing crimes) and that you used to rejoice extremely (in your error).
(That was because you had been exulting in the earth without any right, and that you used to rejoice extremely.) means, the angels will say to them, `what you are suffering now is your recompense for your exulting in the earth without any right, and for your extravagance.'
(76) Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein, and (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!
(Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein, and (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!) means, what a terrible abode and final destination, filled with humiliation and severe punishment for those who arrogantly ignored the signs of Allah and refused to accept His proof and evidence. And Allah knows best.
| The Command to be Patient and Good News of Victory |
(77) So be patient (O Muhammad SAW), verily, the Promise of Allah is true, and whether We show you (O Muhammad SAW in this world) some part of what We have promised them, or We cause you to die, then it is to Us they all shall be returned.
Here Allah commands His Messenger to patiently bear the rejection of those who rejected him: `Allah will fulfill His promise to you that you will be victorious and will prevail over your people, and you and those who follow you, will be the successful ones in this world and the Hereafter.'
(and whether We show you some part of what We have promised them,) means, in this world, and this is what happened, for Allah gave them the joy of humiliating the leaders and nobles (of the Quraysh), who were killed on the day of Badr, then Allah granted them victory over Makkah and the entire Arabian Peninsula during the lifetime of the Prophet.
(or We cause you to die, then still it is to Us they all shall be returned.) means, `and We shall inflict a severe punishment upon them in the Hereafter.
(78) And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad SAW); of some of them We have related to you their story and of some, We have not related to you their story, and it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign except by the Leave of Allah. So, when comes the Commandment of Allah, the matter will be decided with truth, and the followers of falsehood will then be lost.
Then Allah says, consoling ﴿His Prophet ﴾:
(And, indeed We have sent Messengers before you, of some of them We have related to you their story.) as Allah also says in Surat An-Nisa', meaning, `We have revealed the stories of some of them and how their people disbelieved in them, but the Messengers ultimately prevailed.'
(And of some We have not related to you their story,) and they are many, many more than those whose stories have been told, as has been stated in Surat An-Nisa'. Praise and blessings are to Allah.
(and it was not given to any Messenger that he should bring a sign except by the leave of Allah.) means, none of the Prophets was able to bring miracles to his people except when Allah granted him permission to do that as a sign of the truth of the message he brought to them.
(But, when comes the commandment of Allah,) means, His punishment, and vengeance which will encompass the disbelievers,
(the matter will be decided with truth,) so the believers will be saved and the disbelievers will be destroyed. Allah says:
(and the followers of falsehood will then be lost.)
| The Cattle are also a Blessing from Allah and a Sign from Him |
(79) Allah, it is He Who has made cattle for you, that you may ride on some of them and of some you eat.
Allah reminds His servants of His blessing in that He created the cattle ﴿Al-An`am﴾ for them, which refers to camels, cows, and sheep; some of them they ride and some of them they eat. Camels may be ridden or eaten; their milk is drunk and they are used for carrying heavy burdens on journeys to distant lands. Cattle are eaten and their milk is drunk; they are also used for plowing the earth. Sheep are eaten and their milk is also drunk. The hair and wool of all of these animals are used to make tents, clothing, and furnishings, as we have already discussed in Surat Al-An`am and Surat An-Nahl, etc.
(80) And you have (many other) benefits from them, and that you may reach by their means a desire that is in your breasts (i.e. carry your goods, loads, etc.), and on them and on ships you are carried.
(81) And He shows you His Signs and Proofs (of His Oneness in all the above-mentioned things). Which, then of the Signs and Proofs of Allah do you deny?
(And He shows you His Ayat.) means, `His proof and evidence, on the horizons and in yourselves.'
(Which, then of the Ayat of Allah do you deny) means, you cannot deny any of His signs and proofs, unless you are stubborn and arrogant.
| The Lesson to be learned from what happened to Those Who Came before |
(82) Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces (they have left behind them) in the land, yet all that they used to earn availed them not.
Allah tells us about the nations who rejected their Messengers in ancient times. He mentioned the severe punishment they suffered despite their great strength, He mentioned the traces which they left behind in the earth and the great wealth they amassed. None of that availed them anything and could not prevent the punishment of Allah at all. That is because when the Messengers came to them with clear signs and decisive evidence, they did not pay any attention to them. Instead, they were content with the knowledge with them, or so they claimed, and they said that they did not need what the Messengers brought them. Mujahid said, "They said, we know better than them, we will not be resurrected and we will not be punished.'' As-Suddi said, "In their ignorance, they rejoiced in what they had to (worldly) knowledge. So Allah sent upon them a punishment which they could not escape or resist.''
(83) Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things): And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them (i.e. the punishment).
(and surrounded them.) means encompassed them.
(that at which they used to mock,) means, that which they used to disbelieve in and said would never happen,
(84) So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners.
(So when they saw Our punishment,) means, when they saw with their own eyes the punishment which came upon them, they said,
(We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners. ) means, they affirmed that Allah is One and denied the false gods, but this was at the time when excuses were to no avail. This is like what Fir`awn said as he was drowning:
(I believe that none has the right to be worshiped but He in Whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims.) (10:90) But Allah said:
(Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the corrupters.) (10:91) meaning, Allah did not accept this from him, because He had answered the prayer of His Prophet Musa when he said,
(And harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment) (10:88).
(85) Then their Faith (in Islamic Monotheism) could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His slaves. And there the disbelievers lost utterly (when Our Torment covered them).
(Then their Faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants.) means, this is the ruling of Allah concerning all those who repent only when they actually see the punishment: He does not accept that from them.
It says in the Hadith:
(Allah will accept the repentance of His servant so long as the death rattle is not sounding in his throat.) Once the death rattle is sounding and the soul has reached the throat, and the dying person actually sees the angel (of death), then he can no longer repent. Allah says:
(And there the disbelievers lost utterly.) This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Ghafir. Praise and thanks be to Allah.
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