“Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds—the Most Merciful will grant them affection.” (96)

“Because they have attributed”—that is, because they have ascribed “a son to the Most Merciful.” Ibn Abbas and Kab said: “The heavens, the earth, the mountains, and all creatures except mankind and the jinn were terrified and nearly passed away; the angels grew angry, and Hell blazed up when they said, ‘Allah has taken a son.’” (1)

Allah then denied that He has a son, saying: “It is not fitting for the Most Merciful to take a son”—that is, taking a son does not befit Him, nor may He be described in such terms. “There is none in the heavens and the earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful”—that is, he will come to Him on the Day of Resurrection—“as a servant,” humbled and submissive. This means that all creation are His servants. “He has enumerated them and counted them precisely”—that is, He has counted their breaths, their days, and their deeds; nothing is hidden from Him. “And each of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection,” with nothing from this world accompanying him.

The saying of Allah: “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds—the Most Merciful will grant them affection,” means: love. Mujahid said: “Allah loves them and makes them beloved to His believing servants.”

Abu al-Hasan Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad al-Dawudi informed us; Abu al-Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Musa ibn al-Salt informed us; Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Samad al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Musab informed us from Malik, from Suhayl ibn Abi Salih, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When Allah loves a servant, He says to Gabriel, ‘I have loved so-and-so, so love him.’ Gabriel then loves him and calls out among the inhabitants of heaven, ‘Indeed, Allah has loved so-and-so, so love him.’ The inhabitants of heaven then love him, and acceptance is placed for him upon the earth. And when He hates a servant...”