Surah Al An'aam Notes (147-150)

 So if they deny you, [O Muhammad], say, "Your Lord is the possessor of vast mercy; but His punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals."

Those who associated with Allah will say, "If Allah had willed, we would not have associated [anything] and neither would our fathers, nor would we have prohibited anything." Likewise did those before deny until they tasted Our punishment. Say, "Do you have any knowledge that you can produce for us? You follow not except assumption, and you are not but falsifying."

Say, "With Allah is the far-reaching argument. If He had willed, He would have guided you all."

Say, [O Muhammad], "Bring forward your witnesses who will testify that Allah has prohibited this." And if they testify, do not testify with them. And do not follow the desires of those who deny Our verses and those who do not believe in the Hereafter, while they equate [others] with their Lord.

 (6:147) The Tricks of the Jews, and Allah’s Curse

The Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam is being told to convey to his opponents among the idolators, Jews and the likes, those who reject him that even though they refuse to accept what the Prophet tells them about halal and haram they should know that their Lord’s mercy is vast. Here they are being encouraged to seek the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala.

And at the same time they are being warned, “…but His punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.” Defying the Messenger will invite Allah’s wrath. After inviting them to Allah’s mercy, they are being told not to act foolishly because nothing can evade Allah’s punishment except repentance. If they are not being punished now it is only because Allah wants good for them and is allowing them time to change. This is a threat for those who deny Allah’s punishment.

(6:148) A False Notion and its Rebuttal

Disbelievers’ next argument was that we are misguided because Allah wanted us to do this. Had He not willed we would not have committed the wrong that we do.

This is similar to what people say today, “I did wrong because it was written in my Qadr. Allah wanted me to do this.” This is an excuse for someone who wants to follow his desire.

If Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala allows something to happen it is not necessary that He approves of it. There is a difference between what He likes and what He allows as a punishment. He has given us freedom. We are free to do whatever we would like to do. But at a later date, we will be accountable for our choices.

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala said next, “…Likewise did those before deny…” for by using and relying on this understanding, the misguided ones before them were led astray. This notion is false and ungrounded, for had it been true, Allah would not have harmed them, destroyed them, aided His honorable Messengers over them, and made them taste His painful punishment.

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala then says, “…Do you have any knowledge that you can produce…” that Allah is pleased with you and with your ways? If there is any such knowledge then it should be made plain, apparent and clear. You only follow doubts and wishful thinking. And you lie about Allah through the false claims that you utter.

(6:149) Allah’s Proof is Perfect

Hujja is a solid proof that cannot be defeated while baligha is an evidence that is mature or reaches its completion. This means that compared to the argument that the disbelievers were presenting Allah’s argument is based on perfect wisdom and unequivocal proof. It defeats their justification and lame excuse.

Whatever Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala says that is Hujja tul Baligha and whatever people come up with is not solid argument.

If Allah had willed he would have forced people to be guided. All of what happens is according to His decree, His will, and His choice. He is pleased with the believers, and angry with the disbelievers.

(6:150) Do Not Follow the Desires of Those who Deny Allah’s Ayaat

In this Ayah, Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala instructs the believers not to follow vain desires and footsteps of the misguided people. When a person is on truth and abstains from what has been prohibited in the Qur’an, and there are people around him engaged in prohibitions and sins, the person might wonder,“Perhaps, I am the one who is wrong. I don’t understand my religion well.” In this Ayah, Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala guides us to reject such thoughts and hold on to the truth. People who fabricate lies against Allah and invent things in religion are those who do not believe in the Hereafter. Since they have no fear of accountability they are free to do whatever they wish.

Halumma [هَلُمَّ] is a verb that is used to give a command.

Here Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala is addressing the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam and instructing him to ask the idolators to bring witnesses to testify that which they had forbidden and lied and invented about Allah in this regard. This includes everything that we have read in Ayaat 130 till 140.

“…And if they testify, do not testify with them…” because in this case, their testimony is false and untrue. If they set partners for Allah then they can say anything that pleases them without any evidence.

“…And do not follow the desires of those who deny Our Ayaat…” a person who denies the Ayaat of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala is in fact, as we learned earlier, following his own desires. He is rejecting truth for personal wishes.

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala ends the Ayah by saying that these deniers are those people who do not believe in the Hereafter. They do not fear the accountability therefore feel free to say whatever they wish. They hold false deities as equals to their Lord.

Lessons:

– We should not wait for Allah’s wrath to descend upon us before we can change. The moment we realize our mistakes we should seek forgiveness and change our course.

– Disobeying the Messenger sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam can invite Allah’s punishment.

– It is Allah’s mercy that He allows people time to change and does not punish them immediately.

– Many people use Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala’s will as a justification for their wrongdoing, in this Ayah we learn that such a notion has been rejected. It is an excuse that was adopted by previous nations as well so we should see whose footsteps we are following.

In the Ayah, they claimed to be following what their forefathers did. Today, when we point out an innovation the first rebuttal that we get is, “I’ve seen my parents and grandparents doing this for ages, so you mean to say that’s wrong?” Our source of guidance is not what our forefathers did rather what is in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasoolullah sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam.

– Whatever Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala has informed us through His Book and the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam is the truth and perfect knowledge. Therefore, we should not fall for people’s opinions and justifications or else in the end we will be confused and lost.

– We learn that we should not follow people. Haram and halal is that which has been mentioned in the Qur’an and by the Prophet sallAllahu `alayhi wa sallam. Everything that we put in our mouth and every word that we utter should be according to what Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala has instructed us. A believer is a conscious person.

– A person who does not accept evidence or the truth, he is following his vain desires. When it comes to worshipping Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala or obeying, he presents excuses. Therefore, we need to check ourselves in what matters do we come up with justifications.

(Notes taken from Ibn kathir and points from lecture by Dr. Farhath hashmi & Taiymiyya Zubair)