Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on Allah's statement,
[خُذِ
الْعَفْوَ]
(Show forgiveness) "Allah commanded [Prophet Muhammad ] to show forgiveness
and turn away from the idolators for ten years. Afterwards Allah ordered him to
be harsh with them.'' And more than one narration from Mujahid says, "From the
[bad] behavior and actions of the people, of those who have not committed
espionage.'' And Hashim bin `Urwah said that his father said, "Allah ordered
Allah's Messenger to pardon the people for their behavior.'' And in one
narration, "pardon what I have allowed you of their behavior. In Sahih
Al-Bukhari it is recorded that Hisham reported from his father `Urwah from his
brother `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr who said; "[The Ayah];
[خُذِ
الْعَفْوَ]
(Show forgiveness) was only revealed about the peoples [bad] character.''
There is a narration from Mughirah from Hisham from his father from Ibn `Umar;
and another from Hisham from his father from `A'ishah, both of whom said
similarly. And Allah knows best. Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Yunus
said that Sufyan bin `Uyaynah narrated that Umay said, "When Allah, the Exalted
and Most Honored, revealed this Ayah,
[خُذِ الْعَفْوَ
وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِض عَنِ الْجَـهِلِينَ ]
(Show forgiveness, enjoin Al-`Urf (what is good), and turn away from the
foolish) to His Prophet, the Messenger of Allah asked,
«مَا هَذَا يَا
جِبْرِيل»
(`What does it mean, O Jibril) Jibril said, `Allah commands you to forgive
those who wronged you, give to those who deprived you, and keep relations with
those who cut theirs with you.''' Al-Bukhari said, "Allah said,
[خُذِ الْعَفْوَ
وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِض عَنِ الْجَـهِلِينَ ]
(Show forgiveness, enjoin Al-`Urf and turn away from the ignorant).
`Al-`Urf', means, righteousness.'' Al-Bukhari next recorded from Ibn `Abbas that
he said, "`Uyaynah bin Hisn bin Hudhayfah stayed with his nephew Al-Hur bin
Qays, who was among the people whom `Umar used to have near him, for `Umar used
to like to have the reciters of the Qur'an (who memorized it) near him and would
listen to their opinion, regardless of whether they were old or young men.
`Uyaynah said to his nephew, `O my nephew! You are close to this chief (`Umar),
so ask for permission for me to see him.' Al-Hur said `I will ask him for you,'
and he asked `Umar for permission for `Uyaynah to meet him, and `Umar gave him
permission. When `Uyaynah entered on `Umar, he said, `O Ibn Al-Khattab! You
neither give to us sufficiently nor rule with justice between us.' `Umar became
so angry that he almost punished `Uyaynah. However, Al-Hur said, `O Chief of he
Faithful! Allah, the Exalted, said to His Prophet ,
[خُذِ الْعَفْوَ
وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِض عَنِ الْجَـهِلِينَ ]
(Show forgiveness, enjoin Al-`Urf, and turn away from the foolish) Verily
this man (`Uyaynah) is one of the fools!' By Allah, `Umar did not do anything
after he heard that Ayah being recited, and indeed, he was one who adhered to
the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored.'' Al-Bukhari recorded this
Hadith. Some scholars said that people are of two kinds, a good-doer, so accept
his good doing and neither ask him more than he can bear nor what causes him
hardship. The other kind is the one who falls in shortcomings, so enjoin
righteousness on him. If he still insists on evil, becomes difficult and
continues in his ignorance, then turn away from him, so that your ignoring him
might avert his evilness. Allah said in other instances,
[ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى
هِىَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ - وَقُلْ رَّبِّ
أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيـطِينِ - وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ
]
(Repel evil with that which is better. We are best-acquainted with the things
they utter. And say: "My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings
(suggestions) of the Shayatin (devils). And I seek refuge with You, My Lord!
lest they should come near me.'')[23:96-98] and,
[وَلاَ تَسْتَوِى
الْحَسَنَةُ وَلاَ السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِى
بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ - وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا
إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُواْ وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَآ إِلاَّ ذُو حَظِّ عَظِيمٍ ]
(The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one
which is better, then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will
become) as though he was a close friend. But none is granted it (the above
quality) except those who are patient -- and none is granted it except the owner
of the great portion in this world.) [41:34-35] in reference to the advice
contained in these Ayat,
[وَإِمَّا
يَنزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ
السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ ]
(And if an evil whisper from Shaytan tries to turn you away (from doing
good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower)
[41:36]. Allah said in this honorable Suah,
[وَإِمَّا
يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ
عَلِيمٌ ]
(And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan, then seek refuge with
Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.) [7:200] These three instances in
the Qur'an, in Surahs Al-A`raf, Al-Mu'minun and As-Sajdah, are uinque in the
Qur'an. Allah encourages lenient treatment of evil doers, for this might deter
them from persistence in their evil, Allah willing,
[فَإِذَا الَّذِى
بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ]
(then verily he, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as
though he was a close friend) [41:34]. Allah also encourages seeking refuge with
Him from the devils of the Jinns. The devil will not be deterred if one is
lenient with him, because he seeks your destruction and total demise. The devil
to you, O mankind, is an open enemy, just as he was for your father before you.
Ibn Jarir said, while explaining Allah's statement,
[وَإِمَّا
يَنَزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ نَزْغٌ]
(And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan), "If the devil lures you
to get angry, thus directing you away from forgiving the ignorant and towards
punishing him
[فَاسْتَعِذْ
بِاللَّهِ]
(then seek refuge with Allah.) Allah commands here to seek refuge with Him
from the devil's whispers,
[إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ
عَلِيمٌ]
(Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.) Allah hears the ignorance that the
fools subject you to, your seeking refuge with Him from the devil's whispers,
and the rest of the speech of His creation; none of it escapes His knowledge. He
knows what drives the lures of the devil away from you, as well as, the rest of
what His creatures do.'' We mentioned the Hadiths concerning Isti`adhah (seeking
refuge with Allah) in the beginning of this Tafsir, so we do not need to repeat
them here.
[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ
اتَّقَوْاْ إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَـئِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ تَذَكَّرُواْ فَإِذَا هُم
مُّبْصِرُونَ - وَإِخْوَنُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِى الْغَىِّ ثُمَّ لاَ يُقْصِرُونَ
]
(201. Verily, those who have Taqwa, when an evil thought comes to them from
Shaytan, they remember (Allah), and (indeed) they then see (aright).) (202. But
(as for) their brothers (the devils' brothers) they (the devils) plunge them
deeper into error, and they never stop short.)
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