Al-Qawaid al-Hisan li-Tafsir al-Quran - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (118)

Al-Qawaid al-Hisan li-Tafsir al-QuranAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

Rule Forty-Four: Treating the Soul’s Inclination Toward What It Ought to Shun

Whenever a person’s soul leans—or is feared to lean—toward something improper, Allah reminds it of the good it will forfeit and the harm it will incur by following that inclination.

This motif recurs throughout the Quran and is one of the most effective means of attaining uprightness. For a bare command to do right and a simple prohibition of wrong are not enough, for most people, to hold them back from what is unbefitting unless the admonition is coupled with a reminder: first, of the desirable things that will be lost—things many times greater than the object of the soul’s misplaced desire and of which Allah disapproves; and second, of the painful consequences that inevitably follow such desire.

Allah the Exalted says, “And know that your wealth and your children are only a test,” ⦗Al-Anfal 28⦘. After pointing out that wealth and children are a trial that has led the majority of people away from the path of uprightness, He then reminds them of what they would miss if they succumb to that trial and of what they would gain if they are safe from it: “but with Allah there is a tremendous reward.” ⦗Al-Anfal 28⦘

He, Most High, also says, “There you are—pleading on their behalf in the life of this world—but who will plead with Allah for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be their guardian?” ⦗An-Nisaʾ 109⦘.

And He says, “Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We will increase him in his harvest. Whoever desires the harvest of this world, We will give him some of it, yet he will have no share in the Hereafter.” ⦗Ash-Shura 20⦘.

And His statement, glorified is He, “Have you considered: if We allow them enjoyment for years, then there comes to them that which they were promised, their past enjoyment will avail them nothing.” ⦗Ash-Shuʿaraʾ 205–207⦘.

Verses carrying this noble meaning are extremely numerous. Once the reader understands the principle and its foundation, it becomes easy for him to relate every such verse back to the established rule. Allah knows best.

القاعدة الرابعة والأربعون: علاج ميل النفوس إلى ما لا ينبغي عند ميل النفوس أو خوف ميلها إلى ما لا ينبغي، يذكرها الله ما يفوتها من الخير، وما حصل لها من الضرر بهذا الميل. وهذا في القرآن كثير، وهو من أنفع الأشياء في حصول الاستقامة، لأن الأمر بالمعروف والنهي المجرد لا يكفي أكثر الخلق في كفهم عما لا ينبغي، حتى يقرن بذلك ما يفوت من المحبوبات التي تزيد أضعافاً مضاعفة على الذي يكرهه الله، وتميل إليه النفس، وما يحصل من المكروه المرتب عليه كذلك. قال تعالى: ﴿وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ﴾ ، [الأنفال: ٢٨] ، فهنا لما ذكر فتنة الأموال والأولاد التي مالت بأكثر الخلق عن طريق الاستقامة، قال مذكراً لهم ما يفوتهم إن افتتنوا بها، وما يحصل لهم إن سلموا من فتنتها ﴿وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ﴾ ، [الأنفال: ٢٨] ،. وقال تعالى: ﴿هَا أَنْتُمْ هَؤُلاءِ جَادَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فَمَنْ يُجَادِلُ اللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَمْ مَنْ يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلاً﴾ ، [النساء: ١٠٩] ، وقال تعالى: ﴿مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الْآخِرَةِ نَزِدْ لَهُ فِي حَرْثِهِ وَمَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ حَرْثَ الدُّنْيَا نُؤْتِهِ مِنْهَا وَمَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ نَصِيبٍ﴾ ، [الشورى: ٢٠] ، وقوله تعالى: ﴿أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ مَتَّعْنَاهُمْ سِنِينَ ﴿٢٠٥﴾ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ ﴿٢٠٦﴾ مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يُمَتَّعُونَ﴾ ، [الشعراء: ٢٠٥- ٢٠٧] ،. والآيات في هذا المعنى الجليل كثيرة جداً. فإذا بان للناظر أصلها وقاعدتها سهل عليه تنزيل كل ما يرد منها على الأصل المقرر، والله أعلم.