Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (313)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

“203” “When you do not bring them a sign, they say, ‘Why did you not choose one?’ Say, ‘I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This Quran is a source of insight from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for people who believe.’”

That is, those who deny you persist in their obstinacy and defiance, ⦗314⦘ even when signs demonstrating guidance and right conduct come to them. Whenever you bring them any sign proving your truthfulness, they refuse to submit.

“When you do not bring them a sign”—one of the signs they demand and specify—“they say, ‘Why did you not choose one?’” That is, why did you not choose a sign, so that it would be this particular sign or that particular miracle? They speak as though you were the one who sends down the signs and directs all creation. They do not realize that you have no share in directing the matter. Alternatively, the meaning is: Why did you not invent it yourself?

“Say, ‘I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord.’” I am merely a servant who follows and is directed, while Allah Most High is the One who sends down and dispatches the signs in accordance with what His perfect praiseworthiness requires and His consummate wisdom demands. If you desire a sign that will never fade with the passage of time and a proof that will never be invalidated at any moment, then “this” magnificent Quran and wise reminder “is a source of insight from your Lord.” Through it one gains clear insight into every divine matter and every human aim. It is both the proof and that which is proven. Whoever reflects upon it and ponders it will know that it is a revelation from One who is All-Wise, Praiseworthy; falsehood cannot approach it from before or from behind. Through it, the proof has been established against everyone whom it reaches. Yet most people do not believe. As for those who do believe, it is “guidance” for them out of error and “mercy” for them from wretchedness. Thus, the believer is guided by the Quran, follows it, and finds happiness in this world and the Hereafter.

As for one who does not believe in it, he is lost and wretched in this world and the Hereafter.

﴿٢٠٣﴾ ﴿وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِمْ بِآيَةٍ قَالُوا لَوْلا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ مِنْ رَبِّي هَذَا بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ . أي لا يزال هؤلاء المكذبون لك في تعنت وعناد، ⦗٣١٤⦘ ولو جاءتهم الآيات الدالة على الهدى والرشاد، فإذا جئتهم بشيء من الآيات الدالة على صدقك لم ينقادوا. ﴿وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِمْ بِآيَةٍ﴾ من آيات الاقتراح التي يعينونها ﴿قَالُوا لَوْلا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا﴾ أي: هلا اخترت الآية، فصارت الآية الفلانية، أو المعجزة الفلانية كأنك أنت المنزل للآيات، المدبر لجميع المخلوقات، ولم يعلموا أنه ليس لك من الأمر شيء، أو أن المعنى: لولا اخترعتها من نفسك. ﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ مِنْ رَبِّي﴾ فأنا عبد متبع مدبَّر، والله تعالى هو الذي ينزل الآيات ويرسلها على حسب ما اقتضاه حمده، وطلبتْه حكمته البالغة، فإن أردتم آية لا تضمحل على تعاقب الأوقات، وحجة لا تبطل في جميع الآنات، فـ ﴿هَذَا﴾ القرآن العظيم، والذكر الحكيم ﴿بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ﴾ يستبصر به في جميع المطالب الإلهية والمقاصد الإنسانية، وهو الدليل والمدلول فمن تفكر فيه وتدبره، علم أنه تنزيل من حكيم حميد لا يأتيه الباطل من بين يديه ولا من خلفه، وبه قامت الحجة على كل من بلغه، ولكن أكثر الناس لا يؤمنون، وإلا فمن آمن، فهو ﴿هُدًى﴾ له من الضلال ﴿وَرَحْمَةٌ﴾ له من الشقاء، فالمؤمن مهتد بالقرآن، متبع له، سعيد في دنياه وأخراه. وأما من لم يؤمن به، فإنه ضال شقي، في الدنيا والآخرة.