Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (95)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(213) “Humanity was one community. Then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of glad tidings and warners, and He sent down with them the Book in truth to judge among people concerning that over which they differed. None differed over it except those who had received it, after clear proofs had come to them, out of transgression against one another. Then, by His permission, Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed. Allah guides whomever He wills to a straight path.”

(That is, humanity was) [that is, they were united upon guidance. This remained the case for ten generations after Noah, peace be upon him. Then, when they differed concerning religion, one group disbelieved while the other remained faithful to the religion. Dispute arose, and Allah sent the messengers to judge between His creatures and establish the proof against them. It has also been said that they were] (1) united in disbelief, misguidance, and misery, possessing neither light nor faith. Allah Most High therefore had mercy upon them by sending them messengers “as bearers of glad tidings” to those who obey Allah, announcing the fruits of obedience: provision, strength of body and heart, a wholesome life, and—highest of all—attaining Allah’s pleasure and Paradise.

“And warners” to those who disobey Allah, warning them of the fruits of disobedience: deprivation of provision, weakness, humiliation, and a wretched life; gravest of all are Allah’s wrath and the Fire.

“And He sent down with them the Book in truth”: it contains truthful reports and just commands. Everything contained in the revealed Books is true and settles disagreements concerning both fundamental and subsidiary matters. This is what must be done when disagreement and dispute arise: the matter must be referred to Allah and His Messenger. Were it not that Allah’s Book and His Messenger’s Sunnah settle disputes, He would not have commanded that disagreements be referred to them.

After mentioning His immense favor of sending down the Books to the People of the Book—and since this ⦗96⦘ ought to have led them to agree upon and unite around them—Allah Most High informs us that they instead transgressed against one another, giving rise to contention, quarrels, and extensive disagreement.

They differed over the very Book around which they, above all people, should have united. This occurred after they had known it and become certain of it through clear signs and conclusive proofs. They thereby went far astray.

“Then Allah guided those who believed” from this nation “to the truth concerning that over which they had differed.” Thus, in every matter over which the People of the Book differed and in which they missed the truth and what was correct, Allah guided this nation to the truth “by His permission”—through His facilitation and mercy toward them.

“Allah guides whomever He wills to a straight path.” Out of His justice, Allah Most High called all people to the straight path and established the proof against them, lest they say, “No bearer of glad tidings or warner ever came to us.” Through His grace, mercy, aid, and kindness, He guided whichever of His servants He willed. That guidance is His grace and beneficence, while the universal call is His justice and wisdom.

(1) An addition in the margin of the manuscript bearing the siglum *bāʾ*. In light of the context, this appears to be its most likely location. Accordingly, for the passage to read coherently, the addition should end as follows: “It has also been said that they were united in disbelief,” with the words “That is, humanity was” occurring twice.

﴿٢١٣﴾ ﴿كَانَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ النَّبِيِّينَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ وَأَنْزَلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ فِيمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَاتُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ فَهَدَى اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ﴾ . (أي: كان الناس) [أي: كانوا مجتمعين على الهدى، وذلك عشرة قرون بعد نوح ﵇، فلما اختلفوا في الدين فكفر فريق منهم وبقي الفريق الآخر على الدين، وحصل النزاع وبعث الله الرسل ليفصلوا بين الخلائق ويقيموا الحجة عليهم، وقيل بل كانوا] (١) مجتمعين على الكفر والضلال والشقاء، ليس لهم نور ولا إيمان، فرحمهم الله تعالى بإرسال الرسل إليهم ﴿مُبَشِّرِينَ﴾ من أطاع الله بثمرات الطاعات، من الرزق، والقوة في البدن والقلب، والحياة الطيبة، وأعلى ذلك، الفوز برضوان الله والجنة. ﴿وَمُنْذِرِينَ﴾ من عصى الله، بثمرات المعصية، من حرمان الرزق، والضعف، والإهانة، والحياة الضيقة، وأشد ذلك، سخط الله والنار. ﴿وَأَنزلَ مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ﴾ وهو الإخبارات الصادقة، والأوامر العادلة، فكل ما اشتملت عليه الكتب، فهو حق، يفصل بين المختلفين في الأصول والفروع، وهذا هو الواجب عند الاختلاف والتنازع، أن يرد الاختلاف إلى الله وإلى رسوله، ولولا أن في كتابه، وسنة رسوله، فصل النزاع، لما أمر بالرد إليهما. ولما ذكر نعمته العظيمة بإنزال الكتب على أهل الكتاب، وكان هذا ⦗٩٦⦘ يقتضي اتفاقهم عليها واجتماعهم، فأخبر تعالى أنهم بغى بعضهم على بعض، وحصل النزاع والخصام وكثرة الاختلاف. فاختلفوا في الكتاب الذي ينبغي أن يكونوا أولى الناس بالاجتماع عليه، وذلك من بعد ما علموه وتيقنوه بالآيات البينات، والأدلة القاطعات، فضلوا بذلك ضلالا بعيدا. ﴿فَهَدَى اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا﴾ من هذه الأمة ﴿لِمَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ﴾ فكل ما اختلف فيه أهل الكتاب، وأخطأوا فيه الحق والصواب، هدى الله للحق فيه هذه الأمة ﴿بِإِذْنِهِ﴾ تعالى وتيسيره لهم ورحمته. ﴿وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ﴾ فعمَّ الخلق تعالى بالدعوة إلى الصراط المستقيم، عدلا منه تعالى، وإقامة حجة على الخلق، لئلا يقولوا: ﴿ما جاءنا من بشير ولا نذير﴾ وهدى - بفضله ورحمته، وإعانته ولطفه - من شاء من عباده، فهذا فضله وإحسانه، وذاك عدله وحكمته.

(١) زيادة في هامش ب، وبالنظر إلى السياق يظهر أن الأقرب أن هذا محلها، ولهذا وليتسق الكلام يكون آخره هكذا (وقيل بل كانوا مجتمعين على الكفر) ويكون قوله: (أي كان الناس) مكررا.