Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (7/125)

Tafsir al-BaghawiAl-Baghawi

“Then the evil consequences of what they earned struck them. And those who have wronged among these will be struck by the evil consequences of what they earned, and they will not be able to escape. (51) Do they not know that Allah expands provision for whomever He wills and restricts it? Surely in that are signs for a people who believe. (52) Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’ (53)”

“Then the evil consequences of what they earned struck them”: that is, their recompense—the punishment. Then He warned the disbelievers of Mecca, saying: “And those who have wronged among these will be struck by the evil consequences of what they earned, and they will not be able to escape”—that is, they will not escape, for their return is to Allah, Exalted is He.

“Do they not know that Allah expands provision for whomever He wills”: that is, He makes provision abundant for whomever He wills; “and restricts it”: that is, He constricts it for whomever He wills. “Surely in that are signs for a people who believe.”

Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy.’”

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that some people from among the polytheists had killed many people and committed much adultery. They came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “What you call us to is indeed good. If only you would tell us whether there is any expiation for what we have done.” Then this verse was revealed. (1)

‘Ata’ ibn Abi Rabah narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent word to Wahshi, inviting him to Islam. Wahshi sent back to him: “How can you call me to your religion when you claim that whoever kills, associates partners with Allah, or commits adultery will incur a penalty and have his punishment multiplied, while I have done all of that?” So Allah, Exalted is He, revealed: “Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds” (Maryam 60). Wahshi said, “This is a stringent condition; perhaps I will not be able to fulfill it. Is there anything else?” Then Allah Most High revealed: “Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills” (al-Nisa’ 48, 116). Wahshi said, “I still remain uncertain, for I do not know whether He will forgive me or not.” Then Allah Most High revealed: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy.’” Wahshi said, “Yes, this is sufficient.” He then came and embraced Islam. The Muslims asked, “Is this specifically for him, or is it general for all Muslims?” He said, “Rather, it is general for all Muslims.” (2)

(1) Recorded by al-Bukhari in the Book of Tafsir, under the interpretation of Surat al-Zumar, chapter: “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves,” 8:549. (2) Al-Suyuti attributed it in al-Durr al-Manthur, 7:235, to al-Tabarani, Ibn Mardawayh, and al-Bayhaqi in Shuab al-Iman, through a weak chain. Al-Haythami said in Majma al-Zawaid, 7:101: “Al-Tabarani narrated it in al-Awsat, and its chain includes Aban ibn Sufyan, whom al-Dhahabi declared weak.” Ibn Adi, Ibn Hibban, and others also deemed him weak.

﴿فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا وَالَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ سَيُصِيبُهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا وَمَا هُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ (٥١) أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (٥٢) قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (٥٣) ﴾ ﴿فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا﴾ أَيْ: جَزَاؤُهَا يَعْنِي الْعَذَابَ. ثُمَّ أَوْعَدَ كُفَّارَ مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ سَيُصِيبُهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا كَسَبُوا وَمَا هُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ﴾ بِفَائِتِينَ لِأَنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷿. ﴿أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ﴾ أَيْ: يُوَسِّعُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ، ﴿وَيَقْدِرُ﴾ أَيْ: يُقَتِّرُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ، ﴿إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ . قَوْلُهُ ﷿: ﴿قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ﴾ رَوَى سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: أَنَّ نَاسًا مِنْ أَهْلِ الشِّرْكِ كَانُوا قَتَلُوا وَأَكْثَرُوا، وَزَنَوْا وَأَكْثَرُوا، فَأَتَوُا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ وَقَالُوا: إِنَّ الَّذِي تَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ لَحَسَنٌ لَوْ تُخْبِرُنَا أَنَّ لِمَا عَمِلْنَا كَفَّارَةً، فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ (١) . وَقَالَ عَطَاءُ بْنُ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ﵄: بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِلَى وَحْشِيٍّ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ: كَيْفَ تَدْعُونِي إِلَى دِينِكَ وَأَنْتَ تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ مَنْ قَتَلَ أَوْ أَشْرَكَ أَوْ زَنَى يَلْقَ أثَامًا، يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ، وَأَنَا قَدْ فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ﷿: "إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا" (مَرْيَمَ-٦٠) فَقَالَ وَحْشِيٌّ: هَذَا شَرْطٌ شَدِيدٌ لَعَلِّي لَا أَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ فَهَلْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ؟ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: "إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ" (النِّسَاءِ: ٤٨، ١١٦) فَقَالَ وَحْشِيٌّ: أَرَانِي بَعْدُ فِي شُبْهَةٍ، فَلَا أَدْرِي يَغْفِرُ لِي أَمْ لَا؟ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تعالى: "قل يا عبادي الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ"، فَقَالَ وَحْشِيٌّ: نَعَمْ هَذَا، فَجَاءَ وَأَسْلَمَ، فَقَالَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ: هَذَا لَهُ خَاصَّةً أَمْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عَامَّةً؟ فَقَالَ: بَلْ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عَامَّةً (٢) .

(١) أخرجه البخاري في التفسير -تفسير سورة الزمر- باب: "ياعبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم." الآية: ٨ / ٥٤٩. (٢) عزاه السيوطي في الدر المنثور: ٧ / ٢٣٥ للطبراني، وابن مردويه، والبيهقي في شعب الإيمان بسند لين، قال الهيثمي في مجمع الزوائد: ٧ / ١٠١ "رواه الطبراني في الأوسط وفيه أبين بن سيفان، ضعفه الذهبي" وضعفه ابن عدي وابن حبان وغيرهما.