Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«لَا أَحَدَ أَغْيَرُ
مِنَ اللهِ فَلِذَلِكَ حَرَّمَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ،
وَلَا أَحَدَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيْهِ الْمَدْحُ مِنَ الله»
(None is more jealous than Allah, and this is why He prohibited Fawahish,
committed openly or in secret. And none likes praise more than Allah). This was
also recorded in the Two Sahihs. In the explanation of Surat Al-An`am, we
explained the Fahishah that is committed openly and in secret. Allah said next,
[وَالإِثْمَ
وَالْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ]
(and Ithm, and transgression without right,) [7:33]. As-Suddi commented,
"Al-Ithm means, `disobedience'. As for unrighteous oppression, it occurs when
you transgress against people without justification.'' Mujahid said, "Ithm
includes all types of disobedience. Allah said that the oppressor commits
oppression against himself.'' Therefore, the meaning of, Ithm is the sin that
one commits against himself, while `oppression' pertains to transgression
against other people, and Allah prohibited both. Allah's statement,
[وَأَن تُشْرِكُواْ
بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَـناً]
(and joining partners with Allah for which He has given no authority, )
prohibits calling partners with Allah in worship.
[وَأَن تَقُولُواْ
عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ]
(and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge.) such as lies
and inventions, like claiming that Allah has a son, and other evil creeds that
you -- O idolators -- have no knowledge of. This is similar to His saying:
[فَاجْتَنِبُواْ
الرِّجْسَ مِنَ الاٌّوْثَـنِ]
(So shun the abomination (worshipping) of the idols) [22:30].
[وَلِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ
أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ
يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ - يَـبَنِى آدَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ
يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـتِى فَمَنِ اتَّقَى وَأَصْلَحَ فَلاَ خَوْفٌ
عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ - وَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا
وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَآ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ
]
(34. And every Ummah has its appointed term; when their term comes, neither
can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment).) (35. O
Children of Adam! If there come to you Messengers from among you, reciting to
you My Ayat, then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous, on them shall be no
fear nor shall they grieve.) (36. But those who reject Our Ayat and treat them
with arrogance, they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein
forever.) Allah said,
[وَلِكُلِّ
أُمَّةٍ]
(And every Ummah has), meaning, each generation and nation,
[أَجَلٌ فَإِذَا
جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ]
(its appointed term; when their term comes) which they were destined for,
[لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ
سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ]
(neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment)).
Allah then warned the Children of Adam that He sent to them Messengers who
conveyed to them His Ayat. Allah also conveyed good news, as well as warning,
[فَمَنِ اتَّقَى
وَأَصْلَحَ]
(then whosoever has Taqwa and becomes righteous) by abandoning the
prohibitions and performing acts of obedience,
[فَلاَ خَوْفٌ
عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَوَالَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا
وَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ عَنْهَآ]
(on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. But those who reject Our
Ayat and treat them with arrogance,) meaning, their hearts denied the Ayat and
they were too arrogant to abide by them,
[أُولَـئِكَ
أَصْحَـبُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـلِدُونَ]
(they are the dwellers of the Fire, they will abide therein forever.) without
end to their dwelling in it.
[فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ
مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِـَايَـتِهِ أُوْلَـئِكَ
يَنَالُهُمْ نَصِيبُهُم مِّنَ الْكِتَـبِ حَتَّى إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا
يَتَوَفَّوْنَهُمْ قَالُواْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ
قَالُواْ ضَلُّواْ عَنَّا وَشَهِدُواْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُواْ
كَـفِرِينَ ]
(37. Who is more unjust than one who invents a lie against Allah or rejects
His Ayat For such their appointed portion will reach them from the Book (of
Decrees) until Our messengers (the angel of death and his assistants) come to
them to take their souls, they (the angels) will say: "Where are those whom you
used to invoke and worship besides Allah,'' they will reply, "They have vanished
and deserted us.'' And they will bear witness against themselves, that they were
disbelievers.)