Surah Al An'aam Notes (54-59)

 (54)When those who believe in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) come to you, say: "Salamun 'Alaikum" (peace be on you); your Lord has written Mercy for Himself, so that, if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allah), then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(55)And thus do We explain the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that the way of the Mujrimun (criminals, polytheists, sinners), may become manifest.

(56)Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I have been forbidden to worship those whom you invoke (worship) besides Allah." Say: "I will not follow your vain desires. If I did, I would go astray, and I would not be one of the rightly guided."

(57)Say (O Muhammad SAW): "I am on clear proof from my Lord (Islamic Monotheism), but you deny (the truth that has come to me from Allah). I have not gotten what you are asking for impatiently (the torment). The decision is only for Allah, He declares the truth, and He is the Best of judges."

(58)Say: "If I had that which you are asking for impatiently (the torment), the matter would have been settled at once between me and you, but Allah knows best the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.)."

(59)And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.


(6:54) [....when those who believe in our ayat come to you, say "salamun alaikum"] 
Allah commands the Messenger to initiate Salam when the believers come to him.  We learn in Muslim etiquette that the junior should say salam to the senior; the student to the teacher.  The one starting the salam is initiating respect to the higher ranking person.  So you would think that the person coming to the Prophet of Allah should say salam first. But Allah commands his prophet when you go to these people  say salam to them first because they think nothing of the you.
   
[ your Lord has written Mercy for himself]
He has obliged His most honored self to grant mercy, as a favor, out of His compassion and beneficence.


[...does evil in ignorance...]
 Do an evil from an overwhelmed emotion; got seduced, got greedy, got jealous, got angry etc. You did something bad.

[...and thereafter repents...]
By repenting from the sins that he committed, intending not to repeat the sin in future, but to perform righteous deeds.

Imam Ahmed recorded that Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah said, When Allah finished with the creation, He wrote in a Book that He has with Him above the throne, 'My anger prevails over My anger.' 

(6:55) The prophets understand what He conveys; Torment is in Allah's hands not the Prophet's.

Allah says, just as We mentioned the clear signs that testify and direct to the path of guidance, all the while chastising useless arguments and defiance,

[... and thus do We explain the ayah in detail...] that is, whatever information is needed regarding affairs of life and religion, a responsible adult needs.

[...way of criminals may become manifest...] so that the path of the criminals who defy the Prophets is apparent and clear. This ayah was also said to mean, so that you, O Muhammad, are aware of the path of criminals.

(5:56) In other words, your request  for me to take a little bit of your religion and for you to take a little bit of my religion. There will be no compromise solutions like in Senate. And by the way, for the Quraish religion was politics and all politics demands compromise. Because the idols were the official religion and that is what legitimised their political position. But there is no compromise in the deen. So the Messenger turns it down.  

(6:57) Allah commands the Prophet to say, " I have a clear understanding of the Law of Allah that he has revealed to me. But those who disbelieve in the truth that came to Prophet from Allah are seeking torment. Prophet says that it is not in his hands what they are seeking for (the torment).

Why did they ask for Torment?
The disbelievers would ask the Prophet to show a miracle from the sky or any other miracle so that they believe. And it is a clear fact that even after witnessing a miracle, they will not believe which results in a Torment send down to them by Allah.

 It is only in Allah's power,if He wills, He will punish them soon in response to their wish. If he wills, He will give you respite, out of His great wisdom. Allah is the best in reckoning between His servants.

(6:58) It is not in the hands or in the power of the Prophet to bring down Torment at once on them.

(6:59) Only Allah  knows the unseen

[And with Him are the keys of Ghayb, no one knows but He] Al Bukhari recorded that Salim Bin Abdullah said that his father said that the messenger of Allah said, "The keys of the unseen are five and none except Allah knows them." 

Knowledge of Unseen is only with Allah

• Allah's honored knowledge encompasses everything, including the creatures living in the sea and on the land, and none of it, not even the weight of an atom on earth or in heaven, ever escapes His knowledge.
• He knows the movements of everything including inanimate things. Therefore, what about His knowledge of the living creatures, especially, those whom the Divine Laws have been imposed such as mankind and the Jinns.
• No Prophet, no jinn or any Angel have the knowledge of Unseen except for what Allah has given them.

There are two type of Ilm al Ghayb