Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AR RA'D [36]

36. Those to whom We have given the Book, rejoice at what has been revealed unto you, but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates) those who reject a part thereof. Say: ”I am commanded only to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him. To Him I call and to Him is my return.'' 37. And thus have We sent it (the Qur'an) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which has come to you, then you will not have any Wali (protector) or defender against Allah. Allah said,

(Those to whom We have given the Book,) and they adhere by it,

(rejoice at what has been revealed unto you,) i.e. the Qur'an, because they have evidence in their Books affirming the truth of the Qur'an and conveying the good news of its imminent revelation, just as Allah said in another Ayah,

(Those to whom We gave the Book recite it as it should be recited.) ï´¿2:121ï´¾ Allah said,

(Say: ”Believe in it (the Qur'an) or do not believe.'') ﴿17:107﴾, until,

(Truly, the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.) ï´¿17:109ï´¾ meaning, Allah's promise to us in our Books to send Muhammad is true. It is certain and will surely come to pass and be fulfilled, so all praise to our Lord, how truthful is His promise, all the thanks are due to Him,

(And they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility.) ï´¿17:109ï´¾ Allah said next,

(but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates) those who reject a part thereof.) meaning, `There are those among the sects who disbelieve in some of what was revealed to you (O Muhammad).' Mujahid said that,

(but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates)), refers to Jews and Christians,

(those who reject a part thereof), meaning, `They reject a part of the truth that came down to you - O Muhammad.' Similar was reported from Qatadah and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Allah said in similar Ayat,

(And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah.) ï´¿3:199ï´¾ Allah said next,

(Say: ”I am commanded only to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him...'') meaning, `I (Muhammad) was sent with the religion of worshipping Allah alone without partners, just as the Messengers before me,

(To Him (alone) I call), I call the people to His path,

(and to Him is my return.) final destination and destiny.' Allah said,

(And thus have We sent it (the Qur'an) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic.) Allah says, `Just as We sent Messengers before you and revealed to them Divine Books from heaven, We sent down to you the Qur'an, a judgement of authority in Arabic, as an honor for you, and We preferred you among all people with this clear, plain and unequivocal Book that,

(Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it: (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise.)' ï´¿41:42ï´¾ Allah's statement,

(Were you to follow their (vain) desires), means, their opinions,

(after the knowledge which has come to you) from Allah, all praise to Him,

(then you will not have any Wali (protector) or defender against Allah.) This part of the Ayah warns people of know- ledge against following the paths of misguid- ance after they had gained knowledge in (and abided by) the Prophetic Sunnah and the path of Muhammad, may Allah's best peace and blessings be on him.