(17–20) “And on the Day He gathers them together with all that they worship besides Allah, He will say, ‘Was it you who led these servants of Mine astray, or did they themselves stray from the path?’ They will say, ‘Glory be to You! It was not fitting for us to take any protectors besides You. But You allowed them and their forefathers to enjoy themselves until they forgot the Reminder and became a people doomed to ruin. Thus they have denied what you claim, so you can neither avert the punishment nor obtain any help. Whoever among you commits wrongdoing, We shall make him taste a great punishment. We never sent any messengers before you who did not eat food and walk in the marketplaces. We have made some of you a trial for others. Will you remain patient? Your Lord has always been All-Seeing.’”
Allah Most High informs us of the condition of the polytheists and their alleged partners on the Day of Resurrection, how those partners will disown them, and how all their efforts will prove futile. He says: “And on the Day He gathers them”—that is, the denying polytheists—“together with all that they worship besides Allah, He will say,” addressing those who were worshipped so as to rebuke their worshippers: “Was it you who led these servants of Mine astray, or did they themselves stray from the path?” That is, did you command them to worship you and make it seem attractive to them, or did they do so of their own accord?
“They will say, ‘Glory be to You!’” They declare Allah far above the polytheists’ association of partners with Him and absolve themselves of it. “It was not fitting for us”—that is, it would neither be proper nor becoming for us—“to take any protectors besides You,” whom we would regard as allies, worship, and invoke. If we ourselves stand in need of worshipping You and wholly disavow the worship of anyone besides You, how could we command anyone to worship us? That could never be. Alternatively: Glory be to You—far exalted are You above “our taking any protectors besides You.” This resembles the statement of the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, peace be upon him: “And when Allah says, ‘O Jesus son of Mary! Did you tell the people, “Take me and my mother as two gods besides Allah”?’ He will say, ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right to say. Had I said it, You would certainly have known it. You know what is within me, whereas I do not know what is within You. You alone are the Knower of all unseen things. I told them only what You commanded me: “Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.”’” And so forth to the end of the verse.
Allah Most High also says: “And on the Day We gather them all together, We shall then ask the angels, ‘Was it you whom these people worshipped?’ They will say, ‘Glory be to You! You are our Protector, not they. Rather, they used to worship the jinn, in whom most of them believed.’” And: “When humanity is gathered, they will become their enemies and will renounce their worship.”
After those who had been worshipped declared themselves innocent of calling others to worship anyone besides Allah or of having led them astray, they mentioned the cause that led the polytheists into error: “But You allowed them and their forefathers to enjoy themselves” amid the pleasures, desires, and self-indulgent pursuits of this world, “until they forgot the Reminder,” preoccupied with worldly pleasures and wholly engrossed in their desires. They preserved their worldly interests but squandered their religion. “And they became a people doomed to ruin”—that is, ruined people with no goodness in them, unfit for any righteous purpose and fit only for destruction and perdition.
Thus, they mentioned both the obstacle that prevented them from following guidance—namely, their worldly enjoyment, which diverted them from it—and the absence of anything that might lead them to guidance, for they possessed no goodness. When every motive toward guidance is absent and every obstacle to it is present, whatever evil and ruin one might name will be found among them.
Once those they had worshipped disowned them, Allah said in rebuke and reproach of the worshippers (1): “Thus they have denied what you claim”—namely, your claims that they commanded you to worship them, approved of your deeds, and would intercede for you with your Lord. They have denied these claims and become some of your greatest enemies, so the punishment has become inevitable for you. “You can neither avert” the punishment through any deed of your own, ransom, or anything else, “nor obtain any help,” because you are powerless and have no one to support you. As you have seen, this is the most dreadful judgment and the worst fate for the ignorant, misguided followers who merely imitate others.
As for the obstinate among them who knew the truth but turned away from it, Allah says concerning him: “Whoever among you commits wrongdoing” by abandoning the truth out of injustice and obstinacy, “We shall make him taste a great punishment,” whose magnitude cannot be measured and whose severity is beyond description.
Allah Most High then responds to the deniers’ statement, “What is the matter with this messenger, that he eats food and walks in the marketplaces?” He says: “We never sent any messengers before you who did not eat food and walk in the marketplaces.” We did not give them bodies that had no need to eat, nor did We make them angels. You therefore have an example in them.
As for wealth and poverty, they are a trial and a manifestation of wisdom from Allah Most High, as He says: “We have made some of you a trial for others.” The Messenger is a trial for those to whom he is sent, distinguishing the obedient from the disobedient (2); the messengers themselves are tested by being charged with calling people; wealth is a trial for the poor, and poverty is a trial for the wealthy. The same applies to all other classes of people in this abode—the abode of trials, affliction, and testing.
The purpose of that trial is expressed in the words, “Will you remain patient?” Will you fulfil the constant, binding duty incumbent upon you so that your Master will reward you (3), or will you fail to remain patient and thereby deserve punishment?
“Your Lord has always been All-Seeing.” He knows your circumstances, chooses those whom He knows to be fit ⦗581⦘ for His message, singles them out for His favor, and knows your deeds. He will recompense you for them: good for good and evil for evil.