Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (151)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(146–148) “How many a prophet fought alongside many groups of devoted followers! They did not lose heart because of what befell them in Allah’s cause, nor did they weaken or submit. Allah loves the steadfast. Their only words were: ‘Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our conduct, make our feet firm, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.’ So Allah granted them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. Allah loves those who excel in good.”

This consoles the believers and urges them to emulate those people and act as they did. Such things had already occurred in former times, and Allah’s established way has always continued in this manner. Thus He said: “How many a prophet”—that is, how many prophets—“fought alongside many groups of devoted followers,” meaning numerous groups of their followers whom the prophets had nurtured through faith and righteous deeds. They suffered death, wounds, and other afflictions.

“They did not lose heart because of what befell them in Allah’s cause, nor did they weaken or submit.” That is, their hearts did not weaken, their bodies did not lose strength, and they did not submit—that is, humble themselves before their enemy. Rather, they endured patiently, remained steadfast, and took courage. Hence He said: “Allah loves the steadfast.”

He then mentioned their words and their plea to their Lord for victory, saying: “Their only words”—in those difficult circumstances—“were: ‘Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our conduct.’” Excess means transgressing the bounds into what is forbidden. They knew that sins and excesses are among the greatest causes of being forsaken, and that freeing themselves of them is among the causes of victory. They therefore asked their Lord to forgive them.

Moreover, they did not rely on the patient endurance they had exerted every effort to maintain. Rather, they placed their reliance upon Allah and asked Him to make their feet firm when they encountered the disbelieving enemies and to grant them victory over them. Thus they combined patience and the abandonment of its opposite with repentance, seeking forgiveness, and appealing to their Lord for victory. Consequently, Allah granted them victory and gave them a favorable outcome in this world and the Hereafter. Hence He said: “So Allah granted them the reward of this world”—victory, triumph, and spoils—“and the excellent reward of the Hereafter,” namely, attaining their Lord’s pleasure and everlasting bliss, free of every disturbance. This was only because they performed their deeds excellently for His sake, so He rewarded them with the finest reward. Hence He said: “Allah loves those who excel in good” in worshipping the Creator and dealing with His creation. Part of such excellence is to act, when striving against enemies, as those described here acted (1). Then Allah Most High said:

(1) Manuscript B reads: “the believers.”

﴿١٤٦ - ١٤٨﴾ ﴿وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ نَبِيٍّ قَاتَلَ مَعَهُ رِبِّيُّونَ كَثِيرٌ فَمَا وَهَنُوا لِمَا أَصَابَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَمَا ضَعُفُوا وَمَا اسْتَكَانُوا وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الصَّابِرِينَ * وَمَا كَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلا أَنْ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ * فَآتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ ثَوَابَ الدُّنْيَا وَحُسْنَ ثَوَابِ الآخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ﴾ . هذا تسلية للمؤمنين، وحث على الاقتداء بهم، والفعل كفعلهم، وأن هذا أمر قد كان متقدما، لم تزل سنة الله جارية بذلك، فقال: ﴿وكأين من نبي﴾ أي: وكم من نبي ﴿قاتل معه ربيون كثير﴾ أي: جماعات كثيرون من أتباعهم، الذين قد ربتهم الأنبياء بالإيمان والأعمال الصالحة، فأصابهم قتل وجراح وغير ذلك. ﴿فما وهنوا لما أصابهم في سبيل الله وما ضعفوا وما استكانوا﴾ أي: ما ضعفت قلوبهم، ولا وهنت أبدانهم، ولا استكانوا، أي: ذلوا لعدوهم، بل صبروا وثبتوا، وشجعوا أنفسهم، ولهذا قال: ﴿والله يحب الصابرين﴾ . ثم ذكر قولهم واستنصارهم لربهم، فقال: ﴿وما كان قولهم﴾ أي: في تلك المواطن الصعبة ﴿إلا أن قالوا ربنا اغفر لنا ذنوبنا وإسرافنا في أمرنا﴾ والإسراف: هو مجاوزة الحد إلى ما حرم، علموا أن الذنوب والإسراف من أعظم أسباب الخذلان، وأن التخلي منها من أسباب النصر، فسألوا ربهم مغفرتها. ثم إنهم لم يتكلوا على ما بذلوا جهدهم به من الصبر، بل اعتمدوا على الله، وسألوه أن يثبت أقدامهم عند ملاقاة الأعداء الكافرين، وأن ينصرهم عليهم، فجمعوا بين الصبر وترك ضده، والتوبة والاستغفار، والاستنصار بربهم، لا جرم أن الله نصرهم، وجعل لهم العاقبة في الدنيا والآخرة، ولهذا قال: ﴿فآتاهم الله ثواب الدنيا﴾ من النصر والظفر والغنيمة، ﴿وحُسن ثواب الآخرة﴾ وهو الفوز برضا ربهم، والنعيم المقيم الذي قد سلم من جميع المنكدات، وما ذاك إلا أنهم أحسنوا له الأعمال، فجازاهم بأحسن الجزاء، فلهذا قال: ﴿والله يحب المحسنين﴾ في عبادة الخالق ومعاملة الخلق، ومن الإحسان أن يفعل عند جهاد الأعداء، كفعل هؤلاء الموصوفين (١) ثم قال تعالى:

(١) في ب: "المؤمنين".