Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AN NAML [91]

91. I have been commanded only to worship the Lord of this city, Who has sanctified it and to Whom belongs everything. And I am commanded to be from among the Muslims. 92. And that I should recite the Qur'an, then whosoever receives guidance, receives it for the good of himself; and whosoever goes astray, say (to him): ”I am only one of the warners.'' 93. And say: ”All the praises and thanks be to Allah. He will show you His Ayat, and you shall recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.'' Allah commands His Messenger to say:

(I have been commanded only to worship the Lord of this city, Who has sanctified it and to Whom belongs everything.) This is like the Ayah,

(Say: ”O you mankind! If you are in doubt as to my religion, then (know that) I will never worship those whom you worship besides Allah. But I worship Allah Who causes you to die.) (10:104) The fact that the word ”Rabb'' (Lord) is connected to the word city (in the phrase ”the Lord of this city'') is a sign of honor and divine care for that city. This is like the Ayah,

(So let them worship the Lord of this House (the Ka`bah), Who has fed them against hunger, and has made them safe from fear.) (106:3-4)

(Who has sanctified it) means, the One Who made it a sanctuary by His Law and by His decree, making it sanctified. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn `Abbas said: ”On the day of the conquest of Makkah, the Messenger of Allah said:

(Verily, this city was made sacred by Allah the day He created the heavens and the earth, so it is sacred by the sanctity of Allah until the Day of Resurrection. Its thorny bushes should not be cut, its game should not be chased, and its lost property should not be picked up except by one who would announce it publicly and none is allowed to uproot its thorny shrubs...)'' This was reported in Sahih, Hasan, Musnad narrarations, through various routes, by such a large group that it is absolutely unquestionable, as has been explained in the appropriate place in the book Al-Ahkam, to Allah is the praise and thanks.

(and to Whom belongs everything.) This is a statement of general application following a specific statement, i.e., He is the Lord of this city, and the Lord and Sovereign of all things, there is no god worthy of worship besides Him.

(And I am commanded to be from among the Muslims. ) means, those who believe in Allah alone, who are sincere towards Him and who obediently follow His commands.

(And that I should recite the Qur'an,) means, to people, so as to convey it to them. This is like the Ayah,

(This is what We recite to you of the Ayat and the Wise Reminder.) (3:58)

(We recite to you some of the news of Musa and Fir`awn in truth.) (28:3) meaning, `I am a conveyer and a warner.'

(then whosoever receives guidance, receives it for the good of himself; and whosoever goes astray, say (to him): ”I am only one of the warners.'') meaning, `I have an example to follow in the Messengers who warned their people, and did what they had to do in order to convey the Message to them and fulfil the covenant they had made.' Allah will judge their nations to whom they were sent, as He says:

(your duty is only to convey and on Us is the reckoning) (13: 40).

(But you are only a warner. And Allah is a Protector over all thing) (11:12).

(And say: ”All the praises and thanks be to Allah. He will show you His Ayat (signs), and you shall recognize them.) means, praise be to Allah, Who does not punish anyone except after establishing plea against him, warning him ﴿and leaving him with no excuse﴾. Allah says:

(He will show you His Ayat (signs), and you shall recognize them.) This is like the Ayah,

(We will show them Our signs in the universe, and in themselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth) (41:53).

(And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.) means, on the contrary, He witnesses and sees all things. It was recorded that Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy upon him, used to recite the following two lines of verse, whether they were written by him or someone else: ”If you are alone one day, do not say, `I am alone.' Rather say, `Someone is watching me.' Do not think that Allah will let His attention wander for even an instant, or that anything is hidden from Him.'' This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat An-Naml. All praise and thanks be to Allah.