Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (5/72)

Tafsir al-BaghawiAl-Baghawi

of those who answer, and the Most Merciful of those who show mercy? How, then, can I raise up their fasting when they taint it with false speech and sustain themselves for it with unlawful food? Or how can I illuminate their prayer when their hearts incline toward those who wage war against Me, oppose Me, and violate My sacred limits? Or how can their charities be purified in My sight when they give in charity from the wealth of others? I reward only the rightful owners of what has been usurped. Or how can I answer their supplication when it is merely words upon their tongues, while their actions are far removed from it? I answer only the gentle supplicant, and I hear only the words of the self-restrained poor man. One sign of My pleasure is the contentment of the poor.

When they hear My words and My message reaches them, they say, ‘These are transmitted tales, inherited reports, and compositions like those produced by sorcerers and soothsayers.’ They claim that, if they wished, they could produce a discourse like it; and that, if they wished to obtain knowledge of the unseen through what devils reveal to them, they could do so. 206/A Yet, on the day I created the heaven and the earth, I decreed a matter which I established and made binding upon Myself. I appointed for it a fixed term which must inevitably come to pass. So, if they are truthful in their pretensions to knowledge of the unseen, let them tell you when I shall execute it, or at what time it shall occur. And if they are able to produce whatever they wish, then let them produce the like of this power by which I shall bring it to pass. For I shall surely make it prevail over all religion, though the polytheists detest it. And if they are able to say whatever they wish, then let them utter the like of the wisdom by which I administer the affair of that decree, if they are truthful.

On the day I created the heaven and the earth, I decreed that I would place prophethood among those who work for hire, kingship among shepherds, honor among the lowly, strength among the weak, wealth among the poor, knowledge among the ignorant, and wisdom among the unlettered. So ask them when this shall be, who shall bring it about, and who shall be the helpers and supporters of this affair, if they know.

For this purpose, I shall send a trustworthy, unlettered Prophet: neither coarse nor harsh, nor clamorous in the marketplaces; neither given to indecency nor prone to vile speech. I shall direct him to every noble quality and grant him every virtuous trait. I shall make tranquility his garment, righteousness his distinguishing mark, taqwa his inward conscience, wisdom his reason, truthfulness and faithfulness his nature, pardon and kindness his character, justice his way of life, [and truth his law] (1), and guidance [and the Quran] his guide. Islam shall be his religion, and Ahmad shall be his name.

Through him I shall guide after misguidance, teach after ignorance, elevate after obscurity, make renowned after being unknown, increase after fewness, enrich after poverty, gather together after division, and unite through him hearts that differ, scattered inclinations, and divided nations. I shall make his community the best community ever brought forth for mankind: they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, in affirmation of My oneness, faith in Me, and sincere devotion to Me. They pray standing, sitting, bowing, and prostrating; they fight in My cause in ranks and advancing columns; and they leave their homes and their possessions seeking My good pleasure.

I shall inspire them to proclaim My greatness, affirm My oneness, glorify Me, praise Me, extol Me, and magnify Me in their journeys, gatherings, resting places, mountain passes, and dwellings. They proclaim My greatness, declare that there is no god but Allah, and sanctify Me upon the heights. They purify for Me their faces and limbs, and bind their garments around their waists. Their sacrifice is their own blood, and their scriptures are in their hearts. Monks by night, lions by day—such is My bounty, which I grant to whom I will; and I am the Possessor of immense bounty.

(1) Omitted in manuscript B.

الْمُجِيبِينَ وَأَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ؟ فَكَيْفَ أَرْفَعُ صِيَامَهُمْ وَهُمْ يُلْبِسُونَهُ بِقَوْلِ الزُّورِ وَيَتَقَوَّوْنَ عَلَيْهِ بِطُعْمَةِ الْحَرَامِ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ أُنَوِّرُ صَلَاتَهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ صَاغِيَةٌ إِلَى مَنْ يُحَارِبُنِي وَيُحَادُّنِي وَيَنْتَهِكُ مَحَارِمِي؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ تَزَكَّى عِنْدِي صَدَقَاتُهُمْ وَهُمْ يَتَصَدَّقُونَ بِأَمْوَالِ غَيْرِهِمْ؟ إِنَّمَا آجُرُ عَلَيْهَا أَهْلَهَا الْمَغْصُوبِينَ؟ أَمْ كَيْفَ أَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءَهُمْ وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ قَوْلٌ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَالْفِعْلُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بَعِيدٌ إِنَّمَا أَسْتَجِيبُ لِلدَّاعِي اللَّيِّنِ وَإِنَّمَا أَسْمَعُ قَوْلَ الْمُسْتَعْفِفِ الْمِسْكِينِ وَإِنَّ مِنْ عَلَامَةِ رِضَايَ رِضَا الْمَسَاكِينِ. يَقُولُونَ لَمَّا سَمِعُوا كَلَامِي وَبَلَغَتْهُمْ رِسَالَتِي: إِنَّهَا أَقَاوِيلُ مَنْقُولَةٌ وَأَحَادِيثُ مُتَوَارَثَةٌ وَتَأْلِيفٌ مِمَّا يُؤَلِّفُ السَّحَرَةُ وَالْكَهَنَةُ وَزَعَمُوا أَنَّهُمْ لَوْ شَاءُوا أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِحَدِيثٍ مثله فعلوا ولوا شَاءُوا أن يطلعوا ٢٠٦/أعَلَى عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ بِمَا يُوحِي إِلَيْهِمُ الشَّيَاطِينُ اطَّلَعُوا وَإِنِّي قَدْ قَضَيْتُ يَوْمَ خَلَقْتُ السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ قَضَاءً أَثْبَتُّهُ وَحَتَّمْتُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُ دُونَهُ أَجَلًا مُؤَجَّلًا لَا بُدَّ أَنَّهُ وَاقِعٌ فَإِنْ صَدَقُوا فِيمَا يَنْتَحِلُونَ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ فَلْيُخْبِرُوكَ مَتَى أُنَفِّذُهُ؟ أَوْ فِي أَيِّ زَمَانٍ يَكُونُ؟ وَإِنْ كَانُوا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْ يأتوا بما يشاؤون فَلْيَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَذِهِ الْقُدْرَةِ الَّتِي بِهَا أَمْضَيْتُ فَإِنِّي مُظْهِرُهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَى أَنْ يقولوا ما يشاؤون فَلْيَقُولُوا مِثْلَ الْحِكْمَةِ الَّتِي بِهَا أُدَبِّرُ أَمْرَ ذَلِكَ الْقَضَاءِ إِنْ كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ وَإِنِّي قَدْ قَضَيْتُ يَوْمَ خَلَقْتُ السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ أَنْ أَجْعَلَ النُّبُوَّةَ فِي الْأُجَرَاءِ وَأَنْ أَجْعَلَ الْمُلْكَ فِي الرِّعَاءِ وَالْعِزَّ فِي الْأَذِلَّاءِ وَالْقُوَّةَ فِي الضُّعَفَاءِ وَالْغِنَى فِي الْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْعِلْمَ فِي الْجَهَالَةِ وَالْحِكْمَةَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ فَسَلْهُمْ مَتَى هَذَا وَمَنِ الْقَائِمُ بِهِ وَمَنْ أَعْوَانُ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ وَأَنْصَارُهُ إِنْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ فَإِنِّي بَاعِثٌ لِذَلِكَ نَبِيًّا أُمِّيًّا أَمِينًا لَيْسَ بِفَظٍّ وَلَا غَلِيظٍ وَلَا صَخَّابٍ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ وَلَا مُتَزَيِّنٌ بِالْفُحْشِ وَلَا قَوَّالٌ لِلْخَنَا أُسَدِّدُهُ لِكُلِّ جَمِيلٍ وَأَهَبُّ لَهُ كُلَّ خُلُقٍ كَرِيمٍ أَجْعَلُ السَّكِينَةَ لِبَاسَهُ وَالْبِرَّ شِعَارَهُ وَالتَّقْوَى ضَمِيرَهُ وَالْحِكْمَةَ مَعْقُولَهُ وَالصِّدْقَ وَالْوَفَاءَ طَبِيعَتَهُ وَالْعَفْوَ وَالْمَعْرُوفَ خُلُقَهُ وَالْعَدْلَ سِيرَتَهُ [وَالْحَقَّ شَرِيعَتَهُ] (١) وَالْهُدَى [وَالْقُرْآنَ] إِمَامَهُ، وَالْإِسْلَامَ مِلَّتَهُ وَأَحْمَدَ اسْمَهُ أَهْدِي بِهِ بَعْدَ الضَّلَالَةِ وَأُعَلِّمُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْجَهَالَةِ وَأَرْفَعُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْخَمَالَةِ وَأُشْهِرُ بِهِ بَعْدَ النَّكِرَةِ وَأُكْثِرُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْقِلَّةِ وَأُغْنِي بِهِ بَعْدَ الْعَيْلَةِ وَأَجْمَعُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْفُرْقَةِ وَأُؤَلِّفُ بِهِ بَيْنَ قُلُوبٍ مختلفة وأهواء متشتة وَأُمَمٍ مُتَفَرِّقَةٍ وَأَجْعَلُ أُمَّتَهُ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ تَوْحِيدًا لِي وَإِيمَانًا وَإِخْلَاصًا لِي يُصَلُّونَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَرُكَّعًا وَسُجُودًا وَيُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِي صُفُوفًا وَزُحُوفًا وَيَخْرُجُونَ مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأَمْوَالِهِمُ ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِي أُلْهِمُهُمُ التَّكْبِيرَ وَالتَّوْحِيدَ وَالتَّسْبِيحَ وَالتَّحْمِيدَ وَالْمِدْحَةَ وَالتَّمْجِيدَ فِي مَسِيرِهِمْ وَمَجَالِسِهِمْ وَمَضَاجِعِهِمْ وَمَنَاقِبِهِمْ وَمَثْوَاهُمْ يُكَبِّرُونَ وَيُهَلِّلُونَ وَيُقَدِّسُونَ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْأَشْرَافِ وَيُطَهِّرُونَ لِي الْوُجُوهَ وَالْأَطْرَافَ يَعْقِدُونَ لِي الثِّيَابَ عَلَى الْأَنْصَافِ قُرْبَانُهُمْ دِمَاؤُهُمْ وَأَنَاجِيلُهُمْ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ رُهْبَانٌ بِاللَّيْلِ لُيُوثٌ بِالنَّهَارِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلِي أُوتِيهِ مَنْ أَشَاءُ وَأَنَا ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ.

(١) ساقط من "ب".