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1 Jamadilakhir 1446H

Tue, 03 Dec 2024

Pray Time

Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AN NAHL [9]



وَعَلَى اللّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ وَلَوْ شَاء لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
And upon Allah is the direction of the [right] way, and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all.
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
9. And it is up to Allah to show the right way. But there are ways that stray. And had He willed, He would have guided you all. When Allah mentioned the animals which may be used for the purpose of physical journeys, He also referred to the moral, religious routes that people may follow. Often in the Qur'an there is a shift from physical or tangible things to beneficial spiritual and religious matters, as when Allah says,
وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى
(And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is Taqwa (piety, righteousness).) ï´¿2:197ï´¾ And,
يَـبَنِى آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَرِى سَوْءَتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ
(O Children of Adam! We have granted clothing for you to cover yourselves, as well as for adornment; but the raiment of righteousness, that is better.) ï´¿7:26ï´¾ Since Allah mentioned cattle and other such animals in this Surah, all of which are ridden or can be used in any way necessary, carrying people's necessities for them to distant places and on difficult journeys - then He mentions the ways which people follow to try to reach Him, and explains that the right way is the one that does reach Him. He says:
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ
(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) This is like the Ayat,
وَأَنَّ هَـذَا صِرَطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَن سَبِيلِهِ
(And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow the (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path.) ï´¿6:153ï´¾ and,
قَالَ هَذَا صِرَطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
((Allah) said: ”This is the way which will lead straight to Me.'') (15:41)
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ
(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) Mujahid said: ”The true way is up to Allah.''
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ
(And it is up to Allah to show the right way.) Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said: ”It is up to Allah to clarify, to explain the guidance and misguidance.'' This was also reported by `Ali bin Abi Talhah, and was also the opinion of Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak. Hence Allah said:
وَمِنْهَا جَآئِرٌ
(But there are ways that stray.) meaning they deviate from the truth. Ibn `Abbas and others said: ”These are the different ways,'' and various opinions and whims, such as Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. Ibn Mas`ud recited it as (وَمِنْكُمْ جَائِرٌ) ”But among you are those who stray. '' Then Allah tells us that all of that happens by His will and decree. He says:
وَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
(And had He willed, He would have guided you all.) And Allah says:
وَلَوْ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لآمَنَ مَن فِى الاٌّرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا
(If your Lord had willed, then all who are in the earth would have believed.) ï´¿10:99ï´¾
إِلاَّ مَن رَّحِمَ رَبُّكَ وَلِذلِكَ خَلَقَهُمْ وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَةُ رَبّكَ لاَمْلاَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ-
(And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely, have made humanity one Ummah, but they will not stop disagreeing. Except those for whom your Lord has granted mercy. And it is for this that He did create them; and the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His saying): ”Surely, I shall fill Hell with Jinn and men all together.'') (11:118-119).
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