Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (2/64)

Tafsir al-BaghawiAl-Baghawi

Having mentioned the religious communities, their religions, and the people’s confusion concerning them, He then commanded the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, to say: “We believe in Allah,” to the end of the verse.

Regarding His words: “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him”: this was revealed concerning twelve men who apostatized from Islam, left Medina, and went to Mecca as disbelievers. Among them was al-Harith ibn Suwayd al-Ansari. Thus, it was revealed concerning them: “Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”

“How could Allah guide a people who disbelieved after having faith?” Its form is interrogative, but its meaning is negation; that is, Allah does not guide them. It was also said that its meaning is: How will Allah guide them in the Hereafter to Paradise and reward, after they had borne witness that the Messenger is true and clear proofs had come to them? “Allah does not guide wrongdoing people.”

“Abiding therein forever. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.” This was because, when al-Harith ibn Suwayd joined the disbelievers, he regretted it. He sent word to his people: “Ask the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, whether there is any repentance for me.” They did so, and Allah, exalted is He, revealed: “Except those who repent thereafter and reform themselves; for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

“Except those who repent thereafter and reform themselves; for Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (1) This was in response to what he had done. A man from his people brought it to him and read it aloud to him. Al-Harith said: “By Allah, I have known you only to be truthful; the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, is more truthful than you; and Allah is the most truthful of the three.” Al-Harith then returned to Medina, embraced Islam, and thereafter lived as a good Muslim.

Regarding His words, exalted is He: “Indeed, those who disbelieve after having faith and then increase in disbelief”: Qatadah and al-Hasan said: “It was revealed concerning

(1) See: Al-Tabari, 6:573; Asbab al-Nuzul, p. 147.

ذَكَرَ الْمِلَلَ وَالْأَدْيَانَ وَاضْطِرَابَ النَّاسِ فِيهَا، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَقُولَ: ﴿آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ﴾ الْآيَةَ. قَوْلُهُ: ﴿وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ﴾ نَزَلَتْ فِي اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا ارْتَدُّوا عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَخَرَجُوا مِنَ الْمَدِينَةِ وَأَتَوْا مَكَّةَ كُفَّارًا، مِنْهُمُ الْحَارِثُ بْنُ سُوَيْدٍ الْأَنْصَارِيُّ، فَنَزَلَتْ فِيهِمْ ﴿وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ﴾ ﴿كَيْفَ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ قَوْمًا كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ﴾ لَفْظُهُ اسْتِفْهَامٌ وَمَعْنَاهُ جَحْدٌ، أَيْ: لَا يَهْدِي اللَّهُ، وَقِيلَ مَعْنَاهُ: كَيْفَ يَهْدِيهِمُ اللَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالثَّوَابِ ﴿وَشَهِدُوا أَنَّ الرَّسُولَ حَقٌّ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾ ﴿خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْظَرُونَ﴾ وَذَلِكَ: أَنَّ الْحَارِثَ بْنَ سُوَيْدٍ لَمَّا لَحِقَ بِالْكُفَّارِ نَدِمَ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ: أَنْ سَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ: هَلْ لِي مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ؟ فَفَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: ﴿إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ﴾ ﴿إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ﴾ (١) لَمَّا كَانَ مِنْهُ، فَحَمَلَهَا إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ وَقَرَأَهَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ الْحَارِثُ: إِنَّكَ -وَاللَّهِ -مَا عَلِمْتُ لَصَدُوقٌ وَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَأَصْدَقُ مِنْكَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷿ لَأَصْدَقُ الثَّلَاثَةِ، فَرَجَعَ الْحَارِثُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَأَسْلَمَ وَحَسُنَ إِسْلَامُهُ. قَوْلُهُ ﷿: ﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بَعْدَ إِيمَانِهِمْ ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ وَالْحَسَنُ: نَزَلَتْ فِي

(١) انظر: الطبري: ٦ / ٥٧٣، أسباب النزول ص (١٤٧) .