Allah, the Exalted, informs that when the clear, evident Ayat of Allah are
recited to the disbelievers, they reject them and turn away. They say about
those who believe, while boasting to them and arguing that their false religion
is correct,
[خَيْرٌ مَّقَاماً
وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيّاً]
(best dwellings and the finest Nadiyyan.) This means the best houses, with
the loftiest levels and the finest Nadiyyan, which are meeting rooms for men to
gather and discuss matters. Thus, this means that their meeting rooms are full
of more people who come to attend. In this they were saying, "How can we be upon
falsehood while we are in this manner of successful living'' These people were
actually those who were concealed in the house of Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam and
its likes from the other houses. This is as Allah says about them,
[وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ
كَفَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْ كَانَ خَيْراً مَّا سَبَقُونَآ
إِلَيْهِ]
(And those who disbelieve say of those who believe: "Had it been a good
thing, they (the weak and the poor) would not have preceded us thereto!'')
[46:11] Nuh's people said,
[أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ
وَاتَّبَعَكَ الاٌّرْذَلُونَ]
("Shall we believe in you, when the weakest (of the people) follow you'')
[26:111] And Allah says,
[وَكَذلِكَ فَتَنَّا
بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لِّيَقُولواْ أَهَـؤُلاءِ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّن
بَيْنِنَآ أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِالشَّـكِرِينَ ]
(Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: "Is it
these (poor believers) whom Allah has favored among us'' Does not Allah know
best those who are grateful) [6:53] This is why Allah refuted their doubts:
[وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا
قَبْلَهُمْ مِّن قَرْنٍ]
(And how many a generations have We destroyed before them) This means, "How
many nations and generations did We destroy of those who denied (this message)
due to their disbelief''
[هُمْ أَحْسَنُ
أَثَاثاً وَرِءْياً]
(who were better in wealth, goods and outward appearance) This means that
they were better than these present people in wealth, possessions, looks and
appearance. Al-A`mash reported from Abu Zibyan, who reported from Ibn `Abbas
that he said concerning the Ayah,
[خَيْرٌ مَّقَاماً
وَأَحْسَنُ نَدِيّاً]
(best dwellings and finest Nadiyyan.) "Position [Maqam] means home, Nadi
means place of gathering, wealth refers to material possessions and outward
appearance is how they look physically.'' Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said,
"Position [Maqam] means dwelling, Nadi means place of gathering and the blessing
and happiness that they were living in. This is as Allah says about the people
of Fir`awn when He destroyed them and related the story of their situation in
the Qur'an,
[كَمْ تَرَكُواْ مِن
جَنَّـتٍ وَعُيُونٍ - وَزُرُوعٍ وَمَقَامٍ كَرِيمٍ ]
(How many gardens and springs that they [Fir`awn's people] left behind, and
green crops and honored places [Maqam].) [44:25-26] Therefore, position [Maqam]
refers to their dwellings and splendid bounties, and Nadi is the places of
gathering and meeting where they used to congregate. Allah said while relating
the story to His Messenger of what happened with the people of Lut,
[وَتَأْتُونَ فِى
نَادِيكُمُ الْمُنْكَرَ]
(And practice Al-Munkar (evil deeds) in your meeting places [Nadiyakum].)
[29:29] The Arabs call a place of gathering a Nadi.''
[قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِى
الضَّلَـلَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـنُ مَدّاً حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْاْ مَا
يُوعَدُونَ إِمَّا العَذَابَ وَإِمَّا السَّاعَةَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ شَرٌّ
مَّكَاناً وَأَضْعَفُ جُنداً ]
(75. Say: whoever is in error, the Most Gracious will extend [circumstances]
for him, until, when they see that which they were promised, either the torment
or the Hour, they will come to know who is worst in position, and who is weaker
in forces.)
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