Allah tells us about the disbelievers' stubborn resistance to and rejection
of the truth, with no proof or evidence for doing so. Their excuse was, as they
said:
[مَا لِهَـذَا
الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ]
(Why does this Messenger eat food,) meaning, `as we eat, and why does he need
food as we need it'
[وَيَمْشِى فِى
الاٌّسْوَاقِ]
(and walk about in the markets.) means, he walks around and goes there often
seeking to trade and earn a living.
[لَوْلا أُنزِلَ
إِلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ فَيَكُونَ مَعَهُ نَذِيراً]
(Why is not an angel sent down to him to be a warner with him) They were
saying: why doesn't an angel come down to him from Allah, to be a witness that
what he is claiming is true This is like when Fira`wn said:
[فَلَوْلاَ أُلْقِىَ
عَلَيْهِ أَسْوِرَةٌ مِّن ذَهَبٍ أَوْ جَآءَ مَعَهُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ مُقْتَرِنِينَ
]
("Why then are not golden bracelets bestowed on him, or angels sent along
with him'') (43:53). These people had a similar mentality and said the same kind
of thing. They said:
[أَوْ يُلْقَى
إِلَيْهِ كَنْزٌ]
(Or (why) has not a treasure been granted to him) meaning, treasure that he
could spend on his needs and wants.
[أَوْ تَكُونُ لَهُ
جَنَّةٌ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا]
(or why has he not a garden whereof he may eat) meaning, a garden that would
go with him wherever he went. All of this is easy for Allah, but He had a reason
for not doing any of these things, and with Him is the perfect proof and
argument.
[وَقَالَ
الظَّـلِمُونَ إِن تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ رَجُلاً مَّسْحُوراً]
(And the wrongdoers say: "You follow none but a man bewitched.'') Allah said:
[انْظُرْ كَيْفَ
ضَرَبُواْ لَكَ الاٌّمْثَالَ فَضَلُّواْ]
(See how they coin similitudes for you, so they have gone astray,) meaning,
they accused you and belied you when they said that you were a sorcerer or
bewitched or crazy or a liar or a poet, but all of these are false ideas.
Everyone who has the slightest understanding will recognize that they are lying.
Allah says:
[فُضِّلُواْ]
(so they have gone astray) from the path of guidance.
[فَلاَ
يَسْتَطِيعْونَ سَبِيلاً]
(and they cannot find a path.) Everyone who steps outside of the way of truth
and guidance has gone astray, no matter what direction he takes, because the
truth is one and its methodology is unified, parts of it confirming other parts.
Then Allah tells His Prophet that if He willed, He could bestow on him in this
world something far better than what they were saying. He said:
[تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى
إِن شَآءَ جَعَلَ لَكَ خَيْراً مِّن ذلِكَ]
(Blessed be He Who, if He wills, will assign you better than (all) that...)
Mujahid said, "This means in this world.'' And he said: "The Quraysh used to
call every house that was made of stone a `palace', whether it was large or
small.''
[بَلْ كَذَّبُواْ
بِالسَّاعَةِ]
(Nay, they deny the Hour,) means, they say this in stubborn disbelief, not
because they are seeking insight and guidance, but because their disbelief in
the Day of Resurrection makes them say what they say.
[وَأَعْتَدْنَا]
(And We have prepared) means, `We have made ready,'
[لِمَن كَذَّبَ
بِالسَّاعَةِ سَعِيراً]
(for those who deny the Hour, a flaming Fire.) means, an unbearably hot and
painful torment in the fire of Hell.
[إِذَا
رَأَتْهُمْ]
(When it sees them) means, when Hell sees them,
[مِن مَّكَانِ
بَعِيدٍ]
(from a far place,) means from the place of gathering (on the Day of
Resurrection),
[سَمِعُواْ لَهَا
تَغَيُّظاً وَزَفِيراً]
(they will hear its raging and its roaring.) means, (it will make those
sounds) out of hatred towards them. This is like the Ayah,
[إِذَآ أُلْقُواْ
فِيهَا سَمِعُواْ لَهَا شَهِيقًا وَهِىَ تَفُورُ تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ
الغَيْظِ]
(When they are cast therein, they will hear the (terrible) drawing in of its
breath as it blazes forth. It almost bursts up with fury) (67:7-8), which means
that parts of it almost separate from other parts because of its intense hatred
towards those who disbelieved in Allah. Imam Abu Ja`far bin Jarir narrated that
Ibn `Abbas said: "A man will be dragged towards Hell, which will be expanding
and contracting, and Ar-Rahman will say to it: `What is the matter with you' It
will say: `He is seeking refuge from me.' So Allah will say, `Let My servant
go.' Another man will be dragged towards Hell and he will say, `O Lord, I never
expected this from You.' Allah will say, `What did you expect' The man will say,
`I expected that Your mercy would be great enough to include me.' So Allah will
say, `Let My servant go.' Another man will be dragged towards Hell, and Hell
will bray at him like a donkey braying at barley. Then it will give a moan that
will instill fear in everyone.'' Its chain of narrators is Sahih.
[سَمِعُواْ لَهَا
تَغَيُّظاً وَزَفِيراً]
(they will hear its raging and its roaring. ) `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that
`Ubayd bin `Umayr said: "Hell will utter a moan such that there will be no angel
who is close to Allah and no Prophet sent to mankind, but he will fall on his
face, shaking all over. Even Ibrahim, peace be upon him, will fall to his knees
and say: `O Lord, I do not ask You for salvation this Day except for myself.'''
[وَإَذَآ أُلْقُواْ
مِنْهَا مَكَاناً ضَيِّقاً مُّقَرَّنِينَ]
(And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained
together,) Qatadah narrated from Abu Ayyub that `Abdullah bin `Amr said: "Like
the point of a spear, i.e., in its narrowness.''
[مُقْرِنِينَ]
(chained together,) Abu Salih said, "This means, tied from their shoulders.''
[دَعَوْاْ هُنَالِكَ
ثُبُوراً]
(they will exclaim therein for destruction.) means, they will utter cries of
woe, regret and sorrow.
[لاَّ تَدْعُواْ
الْيَوْمَ ثُبُوراً وَحِداً]
(Exclaim not today for one destruction...)
[قُلْ أَذَلِكَ
خَيْرٌ أَمْ جَنَّةُ الْخُلْدِ الَّتِى وَعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ
جَزَآءً وَمَصِيراً - لَّهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَآءُونَ خَـلِدِينَ كَانَ عَلَى
رَبِّكَ وَعْداً مَّسْئُولاً ]
(15. Say: "Is that better or the Paradise of Eternity which is promised to
those who have Taqwa'' It will be theirs as a reward and final destination.)
(16. For them there will be therein all that they desire, and they will abide
(therein forever). It is upon your Lord a Wa`dan Mas'ula.)