Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (420)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

“Those who disbelieve say, ‘You are not a messenger.’ Say, ‘Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, as are those who possess knowledge of the Scripture.’”

“Those who disbelieve say, ‘You are not a messenger.’” That is, they deny you and deny the message with which you were sent. “Say” to them—if they demand a witness to this: “Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you.” His testimony is given through His words, His actions, and His confirmation. As for His words, this is through what Allah revealed to the most truthful of His creation, thereby establishing his prophethood.

As for His actions, Allah, exalted is He, supported His Messenger and granted him a victory beyond his own ability and that of his Companions and followers. This was Allah’s testimony to him through action and support.

As for His confirmation, the Messenger declared concerning Allah that he was His Messenger and that Allah had commanded people to follow him: whoever followed him would receive Allah’s pleasure and honor, while whoever did not follow him would face the Fire and divine wrath, and his property and blood would become lawful. Allah confirmed him in all of this. Had he falsely attributed any statements to Him, He would have hastened to punish him.

“As are those who possess knowledge of the Scripture.” This includes all the learned among the People of the two Scriptures, for they bear witness to the Messenger. Whoever among them believed and followed the truth openly declared the testimony incumbent upon him. As for whoever concealed it, Allah’s declaration that he possesses this testimony is more compelling than his own declaration would be. Had he possessed no such testimony, he would have refuted the appeal to his testimony with evidence; thus, his silence indicates that he possesses a testimony which he is concealing.

Allah commanded that the People of the Scripture be called as witnesses because they are the experts in this matter. In every matter, testimony is sought from its experts and from those who know it better than others, unlike those unfamiliar with it, such as the unlettered Arab polytheists and others. There is therefore no benefit in ⦗421⦘ calling them as witnesses, owing to their lack of experience and knowledge. And Allah knows best.

Thus ends the exegesis of Surah al-Ra‘d.

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

﴿وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلا قُلْ كَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ﴾ . ﴿وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلا﴾ أي: يكذبونك ويكذبون ما أرسلت به، ﴿قُلْ﴾ لهم -إن طلبوا على ذلك شهيدا: ﴿كَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ﴾ وشهادته بقوله وفعله وإقراره، أما قوله فبما أوحاه الله إلى أصدق خلقه مما يثبت به رسالته. وأما فعله فلأن الله تعالى أيد رسوله ونصره نصرا خارجا عن قدرته وقدرة أصحابه وأتباعه وهذا شهادة منه له بالفعل والتأييد. وأما إقراره، فإنه أخبر الرسول عنه أنه رسوله، وأنه أمر الناس باتباعه، فمن اتبعه فله رضوان الله وكرامته، ومن لم يتبعه فله النار والسخط وحل له ماله ودمه والله يقره على ذلك، فلو تقول عليه بعض الأقاويل لعاجله بالعقوبة. ﴿وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ﴾ وهذا شامل لكل علماء أهل الكتابين، فإنهم يشهدون للرسول من آمن واتبع الحق، صرح بتلك الشهادة التي عليه، ومن كتم ذلك فإخبار الله عنه أن عنده شهادة أبلغ من خبره، ولو لم يكن عنده شهادة لرد استشهاده بالبرهان، فسكوته يدل على أن عنده شهادة مكتومة. وإنما أمر الله باستشهاد أهل الكتاب لأنهم أهل هذا الشأن، وكل أمر إنما يستشهد فيه أهله ومن هم أعلم به من غيرهم، بخلاف من هو أجنبي عنه، كالأميين من مشركي العرب وغيرهم، فلا فائدة في ⦗٤٢١⦘ استشهادهم لعدم خبرتهم ومعرفتهم والله أعلم. تم تفسير سورة الرعد، والحمد لله رب العالمين.