Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL AN'AAM [114]

114. ﴿Say:﴾ ”Shall I seek a judge other than Allah while it is He Who has sent down unto you the Book, explained in detail.” Those unto whom We gave the Scripture know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth. So be not you of those who doubt. 115. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.) Allah tells His Prophet to say to these polytheists who worship others besides Allah,

(Shall I seek a judge other than Allah...) between you and I,

(while it is He Who has sent down unto you the Book, explained...) in detail,

(and those unto whom We gave the Scripture) the Jews and the Christians,

(know that it is revealed from your Lord in truth.) because the previous Prophets have conveyed the good news of you coming to them. Allah's statement,

(So be not you of those who doubt.) is similar to His other statement,

(So if you are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, then ask those who are reading the Book before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt (it).) ï´¿10:94ï´¾ The conditional `if' in this Ayah does not mean that `doubt' will ever occur to the Prophet . Allah said,

(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.) Qatadah commented, ”In truth concerning what He stated and in justice concerning what He decided.'' Surely, whatever Allah says is the truth and He is Most Just in what He commands. All of Allah's statements are true, there is no doubt or cause for speculation about this fact, and all His commandments are pure justice, besides which there is no justice. All that He forbade is evil, for He only forbids what brings about evil consequences. Allah said in another Ayah,

(He commands them with good; and forbids them from evil...) ï´¿7:157ï´¾ until the end of the Ayah.

(None can change His Words.) meaning, none can avert Allah's judgment whether in this life or the Hereafter,

(And He is the All-Hearer,) Hearing, His servants' statements,

(The All-Knower.) of their activities and lack of activity, Who awards each according to their deeds.