Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (573)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

56–57. “Establish prayer, give zakat, and obey the Messenger, so that you may receive mercy. Do not ever think that those who disbelieve can escape Allah on earth. Their abode is the Fire—what a wretched destination!”

Allah Most High commands that prayer be established with all its pillars, conditions, and proper observances, both outwardly and inwardly. He also commands that zakat be paid from the wealth over which Allah has made His servants trustees and which He has bestowed upon them, by giving it to the poor and the other recipients whom Allah has designated for zakat. These are the two greatest and most sublime acts of obedience. Together, they fulfill the right of Allah and the rights of His creation through sincere devotion to the One worshipped and kindness to His servants. He then joined to them the general command, saying: “And obey the Messenger.” This is done by carrying out his commands and avoiding his prohibitions: “Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.” When you do so, “you may receive mercy.” Whoever desires mercy, this is its path. Whoever hopes for it without establishing prayer, giving zakat, and obeying the Messenger is merely indulging in false wishful thinking; his own soul has beguiled him with empty hopes.

“Do not ever think that those who disbelieve can escape Allah on earth.” Do not be deceived by the enjoyment they have been granted in this worldly life. Although Allah may grant them respite, He does not neglect them: “We grant them enjoyment for a little while, then We shall compel them to a harsh punishment.”

For this reason, He says here: “Their abode is the Fire—what a wretched destination!” That is, wretched indeed is the final end of the unbelievers: an end of evil, anguish, and eternal punishment.

﴿٥٦ - ٥٧﴾ ﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ * لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأرْضِ وَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ﴾ . يأمر تعالى بإقامة الصلاة، بأركانها وشروطها وآدابها، ظاهرا وباطنا، وبإيتاء الزكاة من الأموال التي استخلف الله عليها العباد، وأعطاهم إياها، بأن يؤتوها الفقراء وغيرهم، ممن ذكرهم الله لمصرف الزكاة، فهذان أكبر الطاعات وأجلهما، جامعتان لحقه وحق خلقه، للإخلاص للمعبود، وللإحسان إلى العبيد، ثم عطف عليهما الأمر العام، فقال: ﴿وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ﴾ وذلك بامتثال أوامره واجتناب نواهيه ﴿مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ﴾ ﴿لَعَلَّكُمْ﴾ حين تقومون بذلك ﴿تُرْحَمُونَ﴾ فمن أراد الرحمة، فهذا طريقها، ومن رجاها من دون إقامة الصلاة، وإيتاء الزكاة، وإطاعة الرسول، فهو متمن كاذب، وقد منته نفسه الأماني الكاذبة. ﴿لا تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأرْضِ﴾ فلا يغررك ما متعوا به في الحياة الدنيا، فإن الله، وإن أمهلهم فإنه لا يهملهم ﴿نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلا ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَى عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ﴾ . ولهذا قال هنا: ﴿وَمَأْوَاهُمُ النَّارُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ﴾ أي: بئس المآل، مآل الكافرين، مآل الشر والحسرة والعقوبة الأبدية.