Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (899)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

﴿16 - 19﴾ “Do not move your tongue with it in haste. Surely it is for Us to collect it and enable its recitation. So when We recite it, follow its recitation. Then surely it is for Us to explain it.”

When Gabriel brought revelation to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and began reciting it to him, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), out of eagerness, would begin before Gabriel had finished and recite along with him. Allah therefore forbade him from doing this, saying: “Do not hasten to recite the Quran before its revelation to you is completed.”

Here He says: “Do not move your tongue with it in haste.” Allah Most High then assured him that he would certainly retain and recite it, and that Allah would gather it within his breast. He said: “Surely it is for Us to collect it and enable its recitation.” The eagerness within you is prompted only by the fear that some of it might escape you or be forgotten. Since Allah has guaranteed it for you, there is no cause for such haste.

“So when We recite it, follow its recitation.” That is, once Gabriel has completed the recitation of what Allah has revealed (1) to you, then follow what he has recited and recite it yourself.

“Then surely it is for Us to explain it.” That is, to explain its meanings. Thus, He promised to preserve both its wording and its meanings for him, which is the highest possible attainment. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) therefore observed the discipline taught by his Lord: thereafter, whenever Gabriel recited the Quran to him, he listened attentively, and when Gabriel had finished, he recited it.

This verse also teaches proper conduct in acquiring knowledge: the student should not get ahead of the teacher before the teacher has finished (2) the matter he has begun explaining. Once the teacher has finished, the student may ask about whatever remains unclear to him. Likewise, if the beginning of a statement contains something that appears to call for rejection or approval, one should not hasten to reject or accept it until the speaker has finished. Only then can its truth or falsehood become clear and the statement be understood well enough to comment upon it. The verse also shows that just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) explained the wording of the revelation to the Muslim community, he also explained its meanings to them.

(1) Manuscript B reads: “When Gabriel has finished conveying what is revealed to you.” (2) Manuscript B reads: “The student should not anticipate the lesson before the teacher has finished.”

﴿١٦ - ١٩﴾ ﴿لا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ * إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ * فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ * ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ﴾ . كان النبي ﷺ إذا جاءه جبريل بالوحي، وشرع في تلاوته عليه، بادره النبي ﷺ من الحرص قبل أن يفرغ، وتلاه مع تلاوة جبريل إياه، فنهاه الله عن هذا، وقال: ﴿وَلا تَعْجَلْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُقْضَى إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُ﴾ وقال هنا: ﴿لا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ﴾ ثم ضمن له تعالى أنه لا بد أن يحفظه ويقرأه، ويجمعه الله في صدره، فقال: ﴿إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ﴾ فالحرص الذي في خاطرك، إنما الداعي له حذر الفوات والنسيان، فإذا ضمنه الله لك فلا موجب لذلك. ﴿فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ﴾ أي: إذا كمل جبريل قراءة ما أوحى الله (١) إليك، فحينئذ اتبع ما قرأه وأقرأه. ﴿ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ﴾ أي: بيان معانيه، فوعده بحفظ لفظه وحفظ معانيه، وهذا أعلى ما يكون، فامتثل ﷺ لأدب ربه، فكان إذا تلا عليه جبريل القرآن بعد هذا، أنصت له، فإذا فرغ قرأه. وفي هذه الآية أدب لأخذ العلم، أن لا يبادر المتعلم المعلم قبل أن يفرغ من (٢) المسألة التي شرع فيها، فإذا فرغ منها سأله عما أشكل عليه، وكذلك إذا كان في أول الكلام ما يوجب الرد أو الاستحسان، أن لا يبادر برده أو قبوله، حتى يفرغ من ذلك الكلام، ليتبين ما فيه من حق أو باطل، وليفهمه فهما يتمكن به من الكلام عليه، وفيها: أن النبي ﷺ كما بين للأمة ألفاظ الوحي، فإنه قد بين لهم معانيه.

(١) في ب: إذا أكمل جبريل ما يوحى إليك. (٢) في ب: أن لا يبادر المتعلم للعلم قبل أن يفرغ المعلم.