Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AL ANBIYAA' [108]

108. Say: ”It is revealed to me that your God is only one God. Will you then be Muslims'' 109. But if they turn away say: ”I give you a notice to be known to us all alike. And I know not whether that which you are promised is near or far.'' 110. ”Verily, He knows that which is spoken aloud and He knows that which you conceal.'' 111. ”And I know not, perhaps it may be a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while.'' 112. He said:”My Lord! Judge You in truth! Our Lord is the Most Gracious, Whose help is to be sought against that which you attribute!'' Allah commands His Messenger to say to the idoators:

(”It is revealed to me that your God is only one God. Will you then be Muslims'') meaning, will you then follow that and submit to it

(But if they turn away) means, if they ignore that to which you call them.

(say: ”I give you a notice to be known to us all alike...'') meaning, `I declare that I am in a state of war with you as you are in a state of war with me. I have nothing to do with you just as you have nothing to do with me.' This is like the Ayah:

(And if they belie you, say: ”For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!'') ﴿10:41﴾

(If you fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them)) ï´¿8:58ï´¾ which means: so that both you and they will know that the treaty is null and void. Similarly, Allah says here:

(But if they turn away say: ”I give you a notice to be known to us all alike...'') meaning, `I have already informed you that I have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with me.'  

(And I know not whether that which you are promised (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) is near or far.) meaning: `it will inevitably come to pass, but I have no knowledge of whether it is near or far.'

(Verily, He (Allah) knows that which is spoken aloud (openly) and He knows that which you conceal.) Allah knows the Unseen in its entirety; He knows what His creatures do openly and what they do secretly. He knows what is visible and what is concealed; He knows what is secret and hidden. He knows what His creatures do openly and in secret, and He will requite them for that, for both minor and major actions.

(And I know not, perhaps it may be a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while.) meaning, `I do not know, perhaps it is a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while.' Ibn Jarir said: `perhaps that is being delayed for you as a test for you, and enjoyment for an allotted time.' This was narrated by `Awn from Ibn `Abbas. And Allah knows best.

(He said: ”My Lord! Judge You in truth!) means, judge between us and our people who disbelieve in the truth. Qatadah said: ”The Prophets (peace be upon them) used to say:

(”Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment.'') ﴿7:89﴾, and the Messenger of Allah was commanded to say this too.'' It was reported from Malik from Zayd bin Aslam that when the Messenger of Allah witnessed any fighting, he would say:

(”My Lord! Judge You in truth!'')

(Our Lord is the Most Gracious, Whose help is to be sought against that which you attribute!) means, `against the various lies and fabrications that you utter, some of which are worse than others; Allah is the One Whose Help we seek against that.' This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Anbiya'. To Allah be praise and blessings.