Allah explains that they have been deceived and misled by the luxuries that
they enjoy in this world and the long life that they have been given, so they
believe that they are following something good. Then Allah warns them:
[أَفَلاَ يَرَوْنَ
أَنَّا نَأْتِى الاٌّرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَآ]
(See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its
outlying borders) This is like the Ayah:
[وَلَقَدْ
أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُمْ مِّنَ الْقُرَى وَصَرَّفْنَا الاٌّيَـتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ
يَرْجِعُونَ ]
(And indeed We have destroyed towns round about you, and We have shown the
Ayat in various ways that they might return.) [46:27] Al-Hasan Al-Basri said:
"This means the victory of Islam over disbelief.'' The meaning is: Do they not
learn a lesson from the fact that Allah supported those (believers) against
their enemies, He destroyed the disbelieving nations and the evil-doing
townships, and He saved His believing servants So Allah says:
[أَفَهُمُ
الْغَـلِبُونَ]
(Is it then they who will overcome) meaning, on the contrary, they are the
ones who will be overcomed, who will be defeated, humiliated and brought low.
[قُلْ إِنَّمَآ
أُنذِرُكُم بِالْوَحْىِ]
(Say: "I warn you only by the revelation.'') meaning, `I only convey to you
the warning of Allah's punishment and vengeance, and this is no more than that
which Allah reveals to me.' But this is of no benefit to the one whom Allah has
made blind and has put a seal over his hearing and his heart. He says:
[وَلاَ يَسْمَعُ
الصُّمُّ الدُّعَآءَ إِذَا مَا يُنذَرُونَ]
(But the deaf will not hear the call, (even) when they are warned.)
[وَلَئِن
مَّسَّتْهُمْ نَفْحَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ يويْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا
ظَـلِمِينَ ]
(And if a breath of the torment of your Lord touches them, they will surely,
cry: "Woe unto us! Indeed we have been wrongdoers!'') If these disbelievers were
affected by the slightest touch of Allah's punishment, they would confess their
sins and admit that they had wronged themselves in this world.
[وَنَضَعُ
الْمَوَزِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَلاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ
شَيْئاً]
(And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then
none will be dealt with unjustly in anything.) meaning, "We shall set up the
Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection.'' The majority of scholars state
that it is one Balance, and the plural form is used here to reflect the large
number of deeds which will be weighed therein.
[فَلاَ تُظْلَمُ
نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا
وَكَفَى بِنَا حَـسِبِينَ]
(then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the
weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And sufficient are We to take
account.) This is like the Ayat:
[وَلاَ يَظْلِمُ
رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا]
(and your Lord treats no one with injustice) [18:49]
[إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ
يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـعِفْهَا وَيُؤْتِ مِن
لَّدُنْهُ أَجْراً عَظِيماً ]
(Surely, Allah wrongs not even of the weight of speck of dust, but if there
is any good, He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward.) [4:40]
[يبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ
إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُنْ فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى
السَّمَـوَتِ أَوْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ
خَبِيرٌ ]
("O my son! If it be equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and
though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it
forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle, Well-Aware.'') [31:16] In the Two Sahihs it was
recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said:
«كَلِمَتَانِ
خَفِيفَتَانِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ، ثَقِيلَتَانِ فِي الْمِيزَانِ، حَبِيبَتَانِ إِلَى
الرَّحْمَنِ: سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ الْعَظِيم»
(Two words which are light on the tongue, heavy in the Balance and beloved to
Ar-Rahman: "Subhan Allahi wa bi hamdihi, Subhan Allahil `Azim (Glory and praise
be to Allah, Glory be to Allah the Almighty).'') Imam Ahmad also recorded that
`A'ishah said that one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah sat down
before him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have two slaves who lie to me,
betray me and disobey me, and I hit them and insult them. How do I stand with
regard to them'' The Messenger of Allah said:
«يُحْسَبُ مَا
خَانُوكَ وَعَصَوْكَ وَكَذَّبُوكَ وَعِقَابُكَ إِيَّاهُمْ، فَإِنْ كَانَ عِقَابُكَ
إِيَّاهُمْ بِقَدْرِ ذُنُوبِهِمْ، كَانَ كَفَافًا لَا لَكَ وَلَا عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنْ
كَانَ عِقَابُكَ إِيَّاهُمْ دُونَ ذُنُوبِهِمْ، كَانَ فَضْلًا لَكَ، وَإِنْ كَانَ
عِقَابُكَ إِيَّاهُمْ فَوْقَ ذُنُوبِهِمْ، اقْتُصَّ لَهُمْ مِنْكَ الْفَضْلُ
الَّذِي بَقِيَ قَبْلَك»
(The extent to which they betrayed you, disobeyed you and lied to you will be
measured against the punishment you meted out to them. If your punishment was
commensurate with their misconduct, then you will be equal and you will not have
anything counted for you or against you. If your punishment of them was less
than that what they deserved for their misconduct, then this will count in your
favor. If your punishment of them was more than what they deserved for their
misconduct, then Allah will take what is due to them from you.) Then the man
started to weep before the Messenger of Allah , and the Messenger of Allah
asked,
«مَالَهُ لَا
يَقْرَأُ كِتَابَ الله
[وَنَضَعُ
الْمَوَزِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَلاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً وَإِن
كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَـسِبِينَ
]»
(What is the matter with him Has he not read the words of Allah, (And We
shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be
dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed,
We will bring it. And sufficient are We to take account.)) The man said, "O
Messenger of Allah, I think there is nothing better than keeping away from these
people -- meaning his slaves -- I call upon you to bear witness that they are
all free.''
[وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا
مُوسَى وَهَـرُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَآءً وَذِكْراً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ - الَّذِينَ
يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَيْبِ وَهُمْ مِّنَ السَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ - وَهَـذَا
ذِكْرٌ مُّبَارَكٌ أَنزَلْنَـهُ أَفَأَنْتُمْ لَهُ مُنكِرُونَ ]
(48. And indeed We granted to Musa and Harun the criterion, and a shining
light and a Reminder for those who have Taqwa.) (49. Those who fear their Lord
in the unseen, and they are afraid of the Hour.) (50. And this is a blessed
Reminder which We have sent down; will you then deny it)