Tafseer Ibn Kathir of MUHAMMAD [16]

16. And among them are some who listen to you till when they go out from you, they say to those who have received knowledge: ”What is it that he has said just now ”Such are men whose hearts Allah has sealed because they followed their lusts. 17. And as for those who accept guidance, He increases them in guidance and bestows on them their Taqwa. 18. Do they then await except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly But already there have come (some of) its portents; and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder 19. So know that La ilaha illallah and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest. Allah describes the hypocrites' stupidity and limited understanding. They used to sit before Allah's Messenger and listen to his words without understanding anything. Then when they left from his presence,

(they say to those who have received knowledge) from the Companions

(”What is it that he has said just now'') meaning, at this moment. They did not understand what he said, nor did they care about it. Allah says,

(Such are the men whose hearts Allah has sealed because they followed their lusts.) which means that they had neither sound understanding nor correct intentions. Allah then says,

(And as for those who accept guidance, He increases them in guidance) which means that those who seek guidance, Allah facilitates it for them; He guides them to it, makes them firm on it, and gives them more of it.

(and bestows on them their Taqwa. ) meaning, He inspires them to their righteous guidance. Allah then says,

(Do they then await except that the Hour should come upon them suddenly) meaning, while they are unaware of it.

(But already there have come (some of) its portents;) meaning, the signs of its approach. This is similar to Allah's saying,

(This is a warner of the warners of old. The approaching Day has drawn near.) (53:56-57) And His saying,

(The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split.) (54:1) And His saying,

(The command of Allah is coming, so do not be impatient for it.) (16:1) And His saying,

(The people's Day of Reckoning has approached while they turn away in heedlessness.) (21:1) Thus, the Messenger's advent is one of the signs of the Hour, because he is the Finality of the Messengers. With him, Allah has completed the religion and established the evidence against all people in a way that was never done by a previous Prophet. Allah's Messenger has most clearly informed about the signs and indications of the Hour, as we have discussed elsewhere. Al-Bukhari recorded from Sahl bin Sa`d, may Allah be pleased with him, that he saw Allah's Messenger bring his index and middle fingers together while he said,

(I have been sent before the Hour as these two (fingers).) Allah continues,

(and when it (actually) is on them, how can they benefit then by their reminder) meaning, how would remembering benefit the disbelievers when the Hour comes upon them This is similar to Allah's saying,

(On that Day will the human being remember, but what would that remembrance avail him then) (89:23) And His saying,

(They will say (in the Hereafter): ”Now we believe in it!'' But how could they claim belief from such a far place) (34:52) Allah then says,

(So know that La ilaha illallah) This is a declaration that there is no true God except Allah. It is not something that is easy for him to command the people to have knowledge of. That is why Allah connected it with,

(and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and women.) In the Sahih, it is recorded that Allah's Messenger used to say,

(O Allah, forgive my sin, my ignorance, my immoderation in my affairs, and all that You know better about my (faults) than myself. O Allah, forgive for me my joking, my seriousness, my unintended error, and my deliberate (mistakes) -- and I have done of all that.) It is also reported in the Sahih that he used to say at the end of the prayer,

(O Allah, forgive for me what I have previously done, what I may commit in future, what I have committed secretly, what I have committed openly, what I have done excessively, and all sins that You know better than me. You are my God. There is no (true) God except You.) It is also recorded in the Sahih that he used to say,

(O people! Repent to your Lord! Verily, I ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times every day.) Allah then says,

(And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest.) means, He knows how you behave during the day, and where you settle at night. This is similar to His saying,

(It is He Who takes your souls by night and knows all that you do by day.)(6:60) And He says,

(And there is no moving creature on earth but its provision is up to Allah, and He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (before birth and after death) -- all is in a clear register.) (11:6)