Al-Tafsīr al-Qayyim - Ibn al-Qayyim - (141)

Al-Tafsīr al-QayyimIbn al-Qayyim

yourselves too, if you are truthful in your claim that you are the people of Paradise, so that you may attain Allah’s reward and honour.” They were exceedingly eager to challenge him. Had they understood his words as the proponents of those views did, they would have countered him with the same challenge.

Moreover, we see many of them wishing and praying for death because of their poverty, affliction, and desperate circumstances. This is quite different from wishing and invoking death upon the lying party: that would never happen, and none of them ever did so during the Prophet’s lifetime, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This was because they knew that his prophethood was genuine and that he was truthful, yet rejected him out of envy and transgression. They would therefore never wish for it, knowing that they themselves were the liars. This is the interpretation we favour. Allah knows best what He intended in His Book.

[Surah al-Baqarah (2): verse 137]

“So if they believe in the like of what you have believed in, they are rightly guided. But if they turn away, they are only in dissension. Allah will suffice you against them, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” (137)

There are several answers:

First: It is intended as a rebuke, meaning: produce another religion like it—which is impossible.

Second: The word “like” is redundant.

Third: You have believed in the Criterion without misreading or distorting it. If they believe in the Torah without misreading or distorting it, they are rightly guided.

Fourth: The meaning is: if they believe in the like of that through which you became believers.

Ibn Jarīr reported that Ibn ‘Abbās said: “Say, ‘We believe in Allah; so if they believe in what you have believed in.’”

‘Abd al-Jabbār said: “It is not permissible to abandon the mass-transmitted reading.”

[Surah al-Baqarah (2): verse 165]

“Among people are those who take others besides Allah as equals, loving them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah. If only the wrongdoers could see, when they see the punishment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment!” (165)

أنتم أيضا إن كنتم محقين في دعواكم: أنكم أهل الجنة، لتقدموا على ثواب الله وكرامته، وكانوا أحرص شيء على معارضته. فلو فهموا منه ما ذكره أولئك لعارضوه بمثله. وأيضا فإنا نشاهد كثيرا منهم يتمنى الموت لفقره وبلائه. وشدة حاله، ويدعو به، وهذا بخلاف تمنيه والدعاء به على الفرقة الكاذبة فإن هذا لا يكون أبدا، ولا وقع من أحد منهم في حياة النبي ﷺ البتة. وذلك لعلمهم بصحة نبوته وصدقه، وكفرهم به حسدا وبغيا، فلا يتمنونه أبدا، لعلمهم أنهم هم الكاذبون. وهذا القول الذي نختاره. والله أعلم بما أراد من كتابه. [سورة البقرة (٢) : آية ١٣٧] فَإِنْ آمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ ما آمَنْتُمْ بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّما هُمْ فِي شِقاقٍ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ (١٣٧) والجواب من أوجه: الأول: أن المراد به التبكيت، والمعنى: حصلوا دينا آخر مثله، وهو لا يمكن. الثاني: أن كلمة «مثل» صلة. الثالث: أنكم آمنتم بالفرقان من غير تصحيف ولا تحريف. فإن آمنوا بالتوراة من غير تصحيف ولا تحريف فقد اهتدوا. الرابع: أن المراد إن آمنوا بمثل ما صرتم به مؤمنين. روى ابن جرير أن ابن عباس قال: قولوا آمنا بالله فإن آمنوا بالذي آمنتم به. قال عبد الجبار: ولا يجوز ترك القراءة المتواترة. [سورة البقرة (٢) : آية ١٦٥] وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْداداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعاً وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذابِ (١٦٥)