Al-Tafsīr al-Qayyim - Ibn al-Qayyim - (117)

Al-Tafsīr al-QayyimIbn al-Qayyim

Doubt, ignorance, bewilderment, misguidance, the desire for error, and the craving for immorality within the heart all come down to these four things. A person engages in what causes disease until he becomes diseased; then Allah punishes him by increasing his disease because he has preferred its causes and pursued them.

[Surah al-Baqarah (2): verses 17 to 18]
“Their example is that of one who kindled a fire. When it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see. (17) Deaf, dumb and blind—they will not return. (18)”

He, glorified is He, likened His enemies, the hypocrites, to people who kindled a fire to illuminate their surroundings and benefit them. Once the fire gave them light, they could distinguish what benefited them from what harmed them and see the road after having wandered in bewilderment. They were like travellers who had lost their way and kindled a fire to light the road. But once it illuminated their surroundings and they could see and recognize the way, those lights were extinguished, leaving them in darkness, unable to see. All three gateways to guidance had been closed to them.

Guidance reaches a person through three gateways: what he hears with his ears, sees with his eyes, and understands with his heart. For these people, the gateways to guidance have been closed: their hearts hear nothing, see nothing, and understand nothing that would benefit them.

It has also been said that, because they did not benefit from their hearing, sight, and hearts, they were treated as though they had neither hearing, sight, nor understanding. These two interpretations entail one another.

He described them by saying, “They will not return,” because they had seen by the light of the fire and discerned guidance. Once it was extinguished, however, they did not return to what they had seen and discerned.

He, glorified and exalted is He, said, “Allah took away their light,” rather than, “Their light went away.” This contains a remarkable subtlety: the severing of the hidden bond of that special companionship which Allah Most High grants the believers. For Allah Most High is with the believers, and 2:153 “Indeed, Allah is with the patient,” and 16:128 “Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.”

ثم الشك، والجهل، والحيرة، والضلال، وإرادة الغي، وشهوة الفجور في القلب: تعود إلى هذه الأمور الأربعة، فيتعاطى العبد أسباب المرض حتى يمرض، فيعاقبه الله بزيادة المرض، لإيثاره أسبابه وتعاطيه لها. [سورة البقرة (٢) : الآيات ١٧ الى ١٨] مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ ناراً فَلَمَّا أَضاءَتْ ما حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُماتٍ لا يُبْصِرُونَ (١٧) صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لا يَرْجِعُونَ (١٨) شبه سبحانه أعداءه المنافقين بقوم أوقدوا نارا لتضيء لهم، وينتفعوا بها فلما أضاءت لهم النار فأبصروا في ضوئها ما ينفعهم وما يضرهم، وأبصروا الطريق بعد أن كانوا حيارى تائهين. فهم كقوم سفّر ضلوا عن الطريق، فأقدوا النار تضيء لهم الطريق، فلما أضاءت لهم فأبصروا وعرفوا طفئت عنهم تلك الأنوار، وبقوا في الظلمات لا يبصرون، قد سدت عليهم أبواب الهدى الثلاث. فإن الهدى يدخل إلى العبد من ثلاثة أبواب، مما يسمعه بأذنه، ويراه بعينه ويعقله بقلبه. وهؤلاء قد سدت عليهم أبواب الهدى، فلا تسمع قلوبهم شيئا، ولا تبصره، ولا تعقل ما ينفعها. وقيل: لما لم ينتفعوا أسماعهم وأبصارهم وقلوبهم نزّلوا منزلة من لا سمع له ولا بصر ولا عقل. والقولان متلازمان. وقال في صفتهم فَهُمْ لا يَرْجِعُونَ لأنهم قد رأوا في ضوء النار، وأبصروا الهدى، فلما أطفئت عنهم لم يرجعوا إلى ما رأوا وأبصروا. وقال ﷾: ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ ولم يقل: ذهب نورهم. وفيه سر بديع، وهو انقطاع سر تلك المعية الخاصة التي هي للمؤمنين من الله تعالى، فإن الله تعالى مع المؤمنين، و ٢: ١٥٣ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ و ١٦: ١٢٨ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ مُحْسِنُونَ.