Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (497)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(64–65) “We descend only by your Lord’s command. To Him belongs what lies before us, what lies behind us, and what lies between the two. Your Lord is never forgetful.”

On one occasion, when Gabriel, peace be upon him, was delayed in descending to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the Prophet said to him, “If only you would come to us more often than you do”—out of longing for him, loneliness ⦗498⦘ at his absence, and a desire for his heart to be reassured by Gabriel’s descent. Allah Most High then revealed through Gabriel: “We descend only by your Lord’s command.” That is, we have no say in the matter. Whenever He commands us, we hasten to carry out His command and do not disobey a single command of His. As He says of them: “They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, but do whatever they are commanded.” We are therefore servants under orders.

“To Him belongs what lies before us, what lies behind us, and what lies between the two.” That is, to Him belong all things past, future, and present, in both time and place. Once it is clear that every matter belongs entirely to Allah and that we are servants directed by Him, the matter turns on one of two possibilities: “Does divine wisdom call for it, in which case He brings it about, or does it not, in which case He delays it?” Hence He says: “Your Lord is never forgetful.” That is, He would never forget or neglect you. As Allah Most High says: “Your Lord has neither forsaken you nor detested you.” Rather, He has always cared for your affairs, continually bestowing upon you the finest of His gracious favors and arranging matters for you in the most beautiful manner.

That is, if our descent is delayed beyond its customary time, do not let this grieve or trouble you. Know that Allah is the One who willed it because of the wisdom it serves.

﴿٦٤ - ٦٥﴾ ﴿وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا﴾ . استبطأ النبي ﷺ جبريل ﵇ مرة في نزوله إليه فقال له: " لو تأتينا أكثر مما تأتينا " -تشوقا إليه، وتوحشا ⦗٤٩٨⦘ لفراقه، وليطمئن قلبه بنزوله- فأنزل الله تعالى على لسان جبريل: ﴿وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ﴾ أي: ليس لنا من الأمر شيء، إن أمرنا، ابتدرنا أمره، ولم نعص له أمرا، كما قال عنهم: ﴿لا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ﴾ فنحن عبيد مأمورون، ﴿لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ﴾ أي: له الأمور الماضية والمستقبلة والحاضرة، في الزمان والمكان، فإذا تبين أن الأمر كله لله، وأننا عبيد مدبرون، فيبقى الأمر دائرا بين: " هل تقتضيه الحكمة الإلهية فينفذه؟ أم لا تقتضيه فيؤخره "؟ ولهذا قال: ﴿وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا﴾ أي: لم يكن لينساك ويهملك، كما قال تعالى: ﴿مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى﴾ بل لم يزل معتنيا بأمورك، مجريا لك على أحسن عوائده الجميلة، وتدابيره الجميلة. أي: فإذا تأخر نزولنا عن الوقت المعتاد، فلا يحزنك ذلك ولا يهمك، واعلم أن الله هو الذي أراد ذلك، لما له من الحكمة فيه.