Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (500)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(85–87) “On the Day We gather the God-fearing before the Most Merciful as an honored delegation, and drive the evildoers to Hell, parched with thirst. None will possess the power of intercession except those who have taken a covenant with the Most Merciful.”

Allah Most High tells us of the difference between the two groups—the God-fearing and the evildoers. Those who fear Him—by guarding themselves against associating partners with Him, religious innovations, and sins—will be gathered at the gathering-place of Resurrection with honor, reverence, and esteem. Their ultimate destination is the Most Merciful, their aim is the Bestower of all bounty, and they will come to Him as a delegation. A delegate necessarily carries in his heart a well-known measure of hope and favorable expectation of the one [to whom he has come] (1). Thus, the God-fearing will come before the Most Merciful, hoping for His mercy and abundant beneficence and to win His gifts in the abode of His good pleasure. This is because they sent forth deeds performed out of fear of Him and pursued all that pleases Him, and because Allah pledged this reward to them through His messengers. They will therefore turn toward their Lord, reassured by Him and confident in His grace.

As for the evildoers, they will be driven to Hell parched with thirst. This is the most dreadful of states: they will be driven in humiliation and abasement toward the greatest prison and the most terrible punishment—Hell—while parched and exhausted. They will cry for help, but none will come; they will call out, but receive no answer; and they will seek intercession, but no intercession will be made for them. Hence He says, “None will possess the power of intercession.” That is, intercession is not theirs to command, nor do they have any share in it. Rather, it belongs entirely to Allah Most High: “Say, all intercession belongs to Allah.” He has stated that the intercession of intercessors will not benefit them, because they ⦗501⦘ did not take a covenant with Him by believing in Him and His messengers. But whoever does take a covenant with Him, believes in Him and His messengers, and follows them is among those whom Allah approves, and he will receive intercession, as Allah Most High says, “They intercede only for those with whom He is pleased.” Allah calls belief in Him and adherence to His messengers a covenant because, in His Books and through His messengers, He pledged an excellent reward to those who follow them.

(1) An addition from the margin of manuscript B.

﴿٨٥ - ٨٧﴾ ﴿يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ الْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى الرَّحْمَنِ وَفْدًا * وَنَسُوقُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وِرْدًا * لا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِنْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ عَهْدًا﴾ . يخبر تعالى عن تفاوت الفريقين المتقين، والمجرمين، وأن المتقين له -باتقاء الشرك والبدع والمعاصي- يحشرهم إلى موقف القيامة مكرمين، مبجلين معظمين، وأن مآلهم الرحمن، وقصدهم المنان، وفودا إليه، والوافد لا بد أن يكون في قلبه من الرجاء، وحسن الظن بالوافد [إليه] (١) ما هو معلوم، فالمتقون يفدون إلى الرحمن، راجين منه رحمته وعميم إحسانه، والفوز بعطاياه في دار رضوانه، وذلك بسبب ما قدموه من العمل بتقواه، واتباع مراضيه، وأن الله عهد إليهم بذلك الثواب على ألسنة رسله فتوجهوا إلى ربهم مطمئنين به، واثقين بفضله. وأما المجرمون، فإنهم يساقون إلى جهنم وردا، أي: عطاشا، وهذا أبشع ما يكون من الحالات، سوقهم على وجه الذل والصغار إلى أعظم سجن وأفظع عقوبة، وهو جهنم، في حال ظمئهم ونصبهم يستغيثون فلا يغاثون، ويدعون فلا يستجاب لهم، ويستشفعون فلا يشفع لهم، ولهذا قال: ﴿لا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ﴾ أي: ليست الشفاعة ملكهم، ولا لهم منها شيء، وإنما هي لله تعالى ﴿قُلْ لِلَّهِ الشَّفَاعَةُ جَمِيعًا﴾ وقد أخبر أنه لا تنفعهم شفاعة الشافعين، لأنهم ⦗٥٠١⦘ لم يتخذوا عنده عهدا بالإيمان به وبرسله، وإلا فمن اتخذ عنده عهدا فآمن به وبرسله واتبعهم، فإنه ممن ارتضاه الله، وتحصل له الشفاعة كما قال تعالى: ﴿وَلا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَى﴾ وسمى الله الإيمان به واتباع رسله عهدا، لأنه عهد في كتبه وعلى ألسنة رسله، بالجزاء الجميل لمن اتبعهم.

(١) زيادة من هامش ب.