Al-Qawaid al-Hisan li-Tafsir al-Quran - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (153)

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

And He likewise says: “Allah accepts repentance only from those who commit evil in ignorance and then repent soon after” (Al-Nisāʾ 17). This does not mean that they fail to acknowledge their actions as sins and wrongdoing; rather, their practical knowledge is limited—they have not fully grasped the punishments sins incur, the various harms they cause, and the deterrent they remove.

The Exalted also makes it clear that whoever does not understand what a matter contains will be unable to remain patient. Concerning al-Khidr—when Moses asked to accompany him so that he might learn some of what Allah had taught him—He says: “Moses said to him, ‘May I follow you so that you teach me something of the sound judgment you have been taught?’ 66 He replied, ‘You will never be able to remain patient with me. 67 And how can you be patient with something you have not encompassed in knowledge?’” (Al-Kahf 66-68). Lacking comprehensive insight prevented him from being patient; no matter how much he might steel himself, his resolve was bound to fail.

He further says, extolling the majesty of the Qur’an and its complete truthfulness: “Indeed, they have denied that which they could not encompass in knowledge, and its final outcome has not yet come to them” (Yūnus 39). The verse makes plain that the enemies’ rejection stemmed only from their failure to comprehend what the Qur’an truly is. Had they fully understood it, they would have been compelled to believe and submit. Although proof had already been established against them, they had not grasped it with an understanding equal to its import, nor recognized it as it deserves to be recognized. Concerning the obstinate who nevertheless knew the truth inwardly and tasted its certainty, He says: “They rejected them, while their own souls were convinced of them, out of injustice and arrogance” (Al-Naml 14). And He says: “They do not, in fact, call you a liar; it is the wrongdoers who knowingly deny Allah’s revelations” (Al-Anʿām 33).

In short, Allah has directed His servants to seek help in all their affairs by constantly adhering to patience, and He has shown them that patience is acquired by contemplating matters, knowing their realities, and discerning their virtues and vices. Allah knows best.

وقال: ﴿إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ﴾ ، [النساء: ١٧] ، ليس معناه: أنهم لا يعترفون أنها ذنوب وسوء، وإنما قصر عملهم وخبرتهم، بما توجبه الذنوب من العقوبات وأنواع المضرّات وزوال المانع. وقال تعالى مبينا أنه متقرر أن الذي لا يعرف ما يحتوي عليه الشيء يتعذر عليه الصبر، فقال عن الخضر لما قال له موسى وطلب منه أن يتعين ليتعلم مما علمه الله قال: ﴿قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَى هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَى أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْداً ﴿٦٦﴾ قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْراً ﴿٦٧﴾ وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْراً﴾ ، [الكهف: ٦٦-٦٨] ، فعدم إحاطته به خبرا يمتنع معه الصبر، ولو تجلد ما تجلد فلابد أن يُعال صبره. وقال تعالى مبيناً عظمة القرآن وما هو عليه من الجلالة والصدق الكامل: ﴿بَلْ كَذَّبُوا بِمَا لَمْ يُحِيطُوا بِعِلْمِهِ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِهِمْ تَأْوِيلُهُ﴾ ، [يونس: ٣٩] ، فبين أن الأعداء المكذبين إنما كان تكذيبهم به لعدم إحاطتهم بما هو عليه، وأنهم لو أدركوه وأحاطوا به كما هو عليه، لألجأهم إلى التصديق والإذعان، فهم وإن كانت الحجة قد قامت عليهم ولكنهم لم يفقهوه الفقه الذي يطابق معناه، ولم يعرفوه حق معرفته، فقال في المعاندين الذين بان لهم علمه وخبروا صدقه: ﴿وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْماً وَعُلُوّاً﴾ ، [النمل: ١٤] ، وقال الله تعالى: ﴿فَإِنَّهُمْ لا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ﴾ ، [الأنعام: ٣٣] ، والمقصود أن الله تعالى أرشد العباد إلى الاستعانة على كل أمورهم بملازمة الصبر، وأرشدهم إلى تحصيل الصبر بالنظر إلى الأمور، ومعرفة حقائقها وفضائلها ورذائلها. والله أعلم.