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play with pigeons. Abu ‘Ubaydah said: rī‘ means an elevated place. (1)
“And do you build fortified structures, hoping that you may live forever? And when you seize, you seize as tyrants. So fear Allah and obey me. Fear Him who has supplied you with what you know: He has supplied you with livestock and children, gardens and springs. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.” They said, “It is all the same to us whether you admonish us or are not among those who admonish.” (129–136)
(1) See these views in al-Tabari, 19:93-94; Zad al-Masir, 6:135-136. Ibn Kathir said (3:342): “The exegetes differed regarding the meaning of ri' (an elevated place), the gist of their views being that it is a high location along well-known roads, where they would construct imposing, magnificent, and splendid buildings. Hence He said, ‘Do you build a monument on every high place,’ that is, a renowned architectural landmark, ‘in frivolity?’ That is, they did so merely frivolously, not out of any need, but solely for play, amusement, and the display of power. Their Prophet, peace be upon him, therefore condemned them for it, because it was a waste of time and an exhaustion of bodies without benefit, and an occupation with what is of no use in this world or the Hereafter.”
يَلْعَبُونَ بِالْحَمَامِ. وَقَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ: الرِّيعُ: الْمَكَانُ الْمُرْتَفِعُ (١)
﴿وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ (١٢٩) وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُمْ بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ (١٣٠) فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ (١٣١) وَاتَّقُوا الَّذِي أَمَدَّكُمْ بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ (١٣٢) أَمَدَّكُمْ بِأَنْعَامٍ وَبَنِينَ (١٣٣) وَجَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ (١٣٤) إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ (١٣٥) قَالُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْنَا أَوَعَظْتَ أَمْ لَمْ تَكُنْ مِنَ الْوَاعِظِينَ (١٣٦) ﴾
(١) انظر هذه الأقوال في الطبري: ١٩ / ٩٣-٩٤، زاد المسير: ٦ / ١٣٥-١٣٦، وقال ابن كثير: (٣ / ٣٤٢) : "اختلف المفسرون في "الريع" بما حاصله: أنه المكان المرتفع عند جواد الطرق المشهورة، يبنون هناك بنيانا محكما هائلا باهرا، ولهذا قال: "أتبنون بكل ريع آية" أي: معلما بناء مشهورا، "تعبثون" أي: وإنما تفعلون ذلك عبثا، لا للاحتياج إليه، بل لمجرد اللعب واللهو وإظهار القوة، ولهذا أنكر عليهم نبيهم ﵇ ذلك، لأنه تضييع للزمان وإتعاب للأبدان، في غير فائدة، واشتغال بما لا يجدي في الدنيا ولا في الآخرة ".