Al-Tafsīr al-Qayyim - Ibn al-Qayyim - (488)

Al-Tafsīr al-QayyimIbn al-Qayyim

in the nominative is more complete. It indicates a nominal sentence, which conveys constancy and renewal, whereas the accusative indicates a verbal sentence, which conveys occurrence and renewal. Abraham thus returned their greeting with one better than theirs. Their words, “Peace,” mean, “We greet you with peace,” whereas his reply, “Peace,” means, “Peace be upon you.”

Fourth: He omitted the subject from his words, “Unfamiliar people.” Since he found them unfamiliar and did not recognize them, he felt too reserved to confront them with an expression that might put a guest off, were he to say, “You are honored.” Omitting the subject here is an especially gracious way of speaking.

Fifth: He used the passive form and omitted its agent, saying, “Unrecognized,” rather than, “I honor you.” This is more fitting in this situation and less likely to alienate them or confront them with harshness.

[Surah al-Dhāriyāt (51): verse 26]
“So he slipped away to his family and brought a fat calf.” (26)

Sixth: He slipped away to his family to welcome his guests with a meal. Slipping away means leaving so discreetly that one is scarcely noticed. It is a mark of a generous host to leave discreetly, without the guest noticing and consequently feeling troubled or embarrassed. The guest notices nothing until the host has brought him the food. This contrasts with someone who lets his guest hear him say, either to the guest or to those present, “Stay where you are until I bring you some food,” or similar remarks that make the guest feel embarrassed and ill at ease.

Seventh: He went to his family and brought back the food for his guests. This indicates that they had provisions ready for guests. He did not need to go elsewhere, to his neighbors or anyone else, to buy or borrow them.

Eighth: The words, “And brought a fat calf,” indicate that he served the guests himself. Allah did not say, “He ordered food for them.” Rather, Abraham himself went and brought it; he did not send it with his servant. This shows greater honor to the guest.

Ninth: He brought a whole calf, not merely a piece of it. This was part of his consummate generosity, peace and blessings be upon him.

بالرفع أكمل. فإنه يدل على الجملة الاسمية الدالة على الثبوت والتجدد، والمنصوب يدل على الفعلية الدالة على الحدوث والتجدد. فإبراهيم حياهم بتحية أحسن من تحيتهم. فإن قولهم «سلاما» يدل على: سلمنا سلاما وقوله: «سلام» أي سلام عليكم. الرابع: أنه حذف المبتدأ من قوله: «قوم منكرون» فإنه لما أنكرهم ولم يعرفهم احتشم من مواجهتهم بلفظ ينفر الضيف لو قال: أنتم مكرمون، فحذف المبتدأ هنا من ألطف الكلام. الخامس: أنه بنى الفعل للمفعول، وحذف فاعله، فقال: «منكرون» ولم يقل: إني أكرمكم. وهو أحسن في هذا المقام، وأبعد من التنفير والمواجهة بالخشونة. [سورة الذاريات (٥١) : آية ٢٦] فَراغَ إِلى أَهْلِهِ فَجاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ (٢٦) السادس: أنه راغ إلى أهله ليحييهم بنزلهم. والروغان هو الذهاب في اختفاء بحيث يكاد لا يشعر به. وهذا من كرم رب المنزل المضيّف: أن يذهب في اختفاء بحيث لا يشعر به الضيف، فيشق عليه ويستحي. فلا يشعر به إلا وقد جاءه بالطعام، بخلاف من يسمع ضيفه وهو يقول له، أو لمن حضر: مكانكم حتى آتيكم بالطعام، ونحو ذلك مما يوجب حياء الضيف واحتشامه. السابع: أنه ذهب إلى أهله، فجاء بالضيافة. فدل على أن ذلك كان معدا عندهم مهيئا للضيفان. ولم يحتج أن يذهب إلى غيرهم من جيرانه، أو غيرهم فيشتريه، أو يستقرضه. الثامن: قوله: «فَجاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ» يدل على خدمته للضيف بنفسه، ولم يقل: فأمر لهم، بل هو الذي ذهب وجاء به بنفسه، ولم يبعثه مع خادمه. وهذا أبلغ في إكرام الضيف. التاسع: أنه جاء بعجل كامل، ولم يأت ببضعة منه. وهذا من تمام كرمه ﷺ.