Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (926)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

“No one will burn in it except the most wretched * who denied and turned away * but the most God-fearing will be kept away from it * the one who gives his wealth to purify himself * though no one has done him a favor to be repaid * but only seeking ⦗927⦘ the Face of his Lord, the Most High * and he will surely be pleased.”

“No one will burn in it except the most wretched, who denied” the message “and turned away” from the command.

“But the most God-fearing will be kept away from it—the one who gives his wealth to purify himself”: his intention in giving should be to purify his soul and cleanse it of sins and faults (1), seeking thereby the Face of Allah Most High. This indicates that if voluntary spending entails neglecting an obligation, such as repayment of a debt, maintenance, or the like, then it is not prescribed. Indeed, according to many scholars, his gift is rejected, for he cannot purify himself through a recommended act that causes him to neglect an obligatory duty.

“Though no one has done him a favor to be repaid”—that is, no created being has done this most God-fearing person any favor requiring repayment except that he has already repaid it; ⦗928⦘ he may even remain the one who has bestowed favor and grace upon others. He thus becomes wholly a servant of Allah, beholden solely to His beneficence. As for anyone who remains (2) indebted to people for a favor he has neither repaid nor reciprocated, he must inevitably leave some share for people and do things for them that diminish [his sincerity].

Although this verse applies to Abū Bakr al-Siddīq—may Allah be pleased with him—and it has even been said that it was revealed on his account, no one had done him—may Allah be pleased with him—any favor requiring repayment, not even the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—except for the Messenger’s favor that could never be repaid: the blessing of the call to Islam and the teaching of guidance and the religion of truth. Allah and His Messenger have conferred upon everyone a favor that can neither be repaid nor matched. Nevertheless, the verse applies to everyone characterized by this noble quality. Thus no created being retained any favor over him requiring repayment, and his deeds remained sincerely devoted to the Face of Allah Most High.

For this reason, He said: “but only seeking the Face of his Lord, the Most High * and he will surely be pleased.” This most God-fearing person will be pleased with the various honors and rewards Allah grants him. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Commentary on Sūrat al-Duhā

It is Makkan.

(1) ب reads: “and defilements.” (2) ب reads: “remained.”

﴿لا يَصْلاهَا إِلا الأشْقَى * الَّذِي كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى * وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الأتْقَى * الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى * وَمَا لأحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى * إِلا ابْتِغَاءَ ⦗٩٢٧⦘ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الأعْلَى * وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَى﴾ . ﴿لا يَصْلاهَا إِلا الأشْقَى الَّذِي كَذَّبَ﴾ بالخبر ﴿وَتَوَلَّى﴾ عن الأمر. ﴿وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الأتْقَى الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى﴾ بأن يكون قصده به تزكية نفسه، وتطهيرها من الذنوب والعيوب (١) ، قاصدًا به وجه الله تعالى، فدل هذا على أنه إذا تضمن الإنفاق المستحب ترك واجب، كدين ونفقة ونحوهما، فإنه غير مشروع، بل تكون عطيته مردودة عند كثير من العلماء، لأنه لا يتزكى بفعل مستحب يفوت عليه الواجب. ﴿وَمَا لأحَدٍ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ تُجْزَى﴾ أي: ليس لأحد من الخلق على هذا الأتقى نعمة تجزى إلا وقد كافأه بها، ⦗٩٢٨⦘ وربما بقي له الفضل والمنة على الناس، فتمحض عبدًا لله، لأنه رقيق إحسانه وحده، وأما من بقي (٢) عليه نعمة للناس لم يجزها ويكافئها، فإنه لا بد أن يترك للناس، ويفعل لهم ما ينقص [إخلاصه] . وهذه الآية، وإن كانت متناولة لأبي بكر الصديق ﵁، بل قد قيل إنها نزلت في سببه، فإنه ﵁ ما لأحد عنده من نعمة تجزى، حتى ولا رسول الله ﷺ، إلا نعمة الرسول التي لا يمكن جزاؤها، وهي [نعمة] الدعوة إلى دين الإسلام، وتعليم الهدى ودين الحق، فإن لله ورسوله المنة على كل أحد، منة لا يمكن لها جزاء ولا مقابلة، فإنها متناولة لكل من اتصف بهذا الوصف الفاضل، فلم يبق لأحد عليه من الخلق نعمة تجزى، فبقيت أعماله خالصة لوجه الله تعالى. ولهذا قال: ﴿إِلا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الأعْلَى وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَى﴾ هذا الأتقى بما يعطيه الله من أنواع الكرامات والمثوبات، والحمد لله رب العالمين. تفسير سورة والضحى وهي مكية

(١) في ب: والأدناس. (٢) في ب: بقيت.