Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tafseer: {The way Shaitaan plots}

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In continuation of the previous post: “The eight facts about Shaitaan’s plot”, the following is further explanation of the points mentioned in that post from the following Books of Tafseer:

1. Tafseer al-Muyassar - King Fahad Qur'aan Printing Press.
2. Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
3. Tafseer al-Tabaree.
4. Tafseer al-Sa`dee.

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Allaah تعالى said:

﴿قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ﴾

{(Iblees) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).”} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 16-17]


From Tafseer al-Muyassar (King Fahad Complex):

(Iblees said): “Then I will approach them from all the directions. I will chase them away from the Truth, and will make fair-seeming to them the Falsehood, and will keep them preoccupied with worldly affairs, and will cause doubts in them concerning the affairs of the Hereafter and You will not find most of the children of Aadam thanking You for Your favors and blessings.”

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From Tafseer Ibn Katheer رحمه الله:

Allaah تعالى said that after He gave respite to Shaitaan:

﴿إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ﴾

{till the Day they are raised up (resurrected)}, and when Iblees was sure that he got what he wanted, he went on in defiance and rebellion. He said:

﴿فَبِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ﴾

{“Because You have `Aghwaytani', surely, I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your straight path.”}, meaning, as You have sent me astray.

Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما said: `Aghwaytanee' means: “Misguided me.”

Others said: “As You caused my ruin, I will sit in wait for Your servants whom You will create from the offspring of the one you expelled me for.”

He (Iblees) went on:

﴿صِرَطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ﴾

{Your straight path}, the path of truth and the way of safety. I (Iblees) will misguide them from this path so that they do not worship You Alone, because You sent me astray.

Mujaahid said that the {straight path}, refers to the Truth.

Imaam Ahmad recorded that Sabrah bin Abi Faakih said that he heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم saying:

“Shaitaan sits in the paths of the son of Aadam. He sits waiting for him, in the path to Islaam, and he says: Will you accept Islaam, and leave your religion, and the religion of your forefathers? But he (the son of Aadam) disobeys him and accepts Islaam. Then he sits waiting for him, on the path to Hijrah (emigration), and he says: Will you emigrate and leave behind your land and sky? The parable of the one who emigrates is like a horse tethered to a peg. But he (the son of Aadam) disobeys him and emigrates. Then he sits, waiting for him, on the path to Jihaad, and he says: Will you fight in Jihaad when it will cost you your life and your wealth? You will fight and be killed, and your wife will remarry, and your wealth will be divided. But he disobeys him and fights in Jihaad.” The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever does that, then he had a right from Allaah, the Mighty and Sublime, that He will admit him to paradise. Whoever is killed, he has a right from Allaah, the Mighty and Sublime, that He will admit him to Paradise. If he is drowned, he has a right from Allaah that He will admit him to paradise, or whoever is thrown by his mount and his neck is broken, he had a right from Allaah that he will admit him to Paradise.” [Musnad Ahmad (15958), Sunan al-Nasa’ee (3134) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

`Alee bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما commented on:

﴿ثُمَّ لآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ﴾

{Then I will come to them from before them}, raising doubts in them concerning their Hereafter,

﴿وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ﴾

{and (from) behind them}, making them more eager for this life,

﴿وَعَنْ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ﴾

{from their right}, confusing them in the matters of the religion,

﴿وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ﴾

{and from their left}, luring them to commit sins.”

Qataadah said concerning:

﴿مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ﴾

{from before them}, meaning: he will inform them that there is no resurrection and there is no Paradise or Hell,

﴿وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ﴾

{and from behind them}, from the perspective of the Dunya, he makes it seem fair in their eyes and calls them towards it,

﴿وَعَنْ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ﴾

{from their right}, from the perspective of the good deeds, he diverts them away from it,

﴿وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ﴾

{and from their left}, he beautifies for them evil and sinful deeds, and calls them towards it, and commands them to do it.

O Ibn Aadam! He comes to you from every direction, except that he cannot come to you from above you. He cannot come in between you and the Mercy of Allaah.”

Similar was narrated from Ibraaheem al-Nakha`ee, al-Hakam bin al-`Utaibah, al-Suddee, Ibn Jareer (al-Tabaree) except that they said: {from before them}, meaning: the Dunyaa, {and from behind them}, meaning: the Hereafter.

Ibn Jareer al-Tabaree chose the meaning that this covers all paths of good and evil; discouraging the people from the path of good and luring them to the path of evil.

Al-Hakam bin Abaan said that `Ikrimah narrated from Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما concerning the Aayah:

﴿ثُمَّ لآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ﴾

{Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left,}, “he did not say that he will come from above them, because Mercy descends from above.”

`Alee bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما said:

﴿وَلاَ تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَـكِرِينَ﴾

{and You will not find most of them to be thankful.}, means, “those who will single Him out in worship.”

When Iblees said this, it was a guess and an assumption on his part. Yet, the truth turned out to be the same, for Allaah said:

﴿وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعُوهُ إِلاَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ * وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن سُلْطَـنٍ إِلاَّ لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفُيظٌ ﴾

{And indeed Iblees did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers. And he had no authority over them, except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter, from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is Watchful over everything.} [Surah Saba (34): 20-21]

This is why there is a Hadeeth that encourages seeking refuge with Allaah from the lures of Shaitaan from all directions.

Imaam Ahmad narrated that `Abdullaah bin `Umar رضي الله عنهما said: The Messenger of Allaah used to often recite this supplication in the morning and when the night falls:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَأَهْلِي وَمَالِي، اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَاتِي وَآمِنْ رَوْعَاتِي، اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِي وَعَنْ يَمِينِي وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي

“O Allaah! I ask You for well-being in this life and the Hereafter. O Allaah! I ask You for forgiveness and well-being in my religion, worldly affairs, in my family and in my property. O Allaah! Conceal my faults and reassure me in times of difficulty. O Allaah! Protect me from before me, from behind me, from my right, from my left and from above me. I seek refuge with Your greatness from receiving unexpected harm from below me.” Wakee` commented (about unexpected harm from below), “That is to say, swallowing by the earth.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (5074), Sunan Ibn Maajah (3871), Sunan al-Nasa’ee (5531), Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan (961), Adab al-Mufrad (1200), and al-Mustadrak of al-Haakim (1902), and al-Haakim said: “Its chain is Saheeh” and al-Dhahabee agreed with him. This Hadeeth is also graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

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Also from Tafseer Ibn Katheer رحمه الله:


﴿وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعُوهُ إِلاَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ * وَمَا كَانَ لَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِّن سُلْطَـنٍ إِلاَّ لِنَعْلَمَ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ مِمَّنْ هُوَ مِنْهَا فِى شَكٍّ وَرَبُّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفُيظٌ ﴾

{And indeed Iblees did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers. And he had no authority over them, except that We might test him who believes in the Hereafter, from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is Watchful over everything.} [Surah Saba (34): 20-21]

Al-Hasan al-Basree رحمه الله said: “When Allaah تعالى removed Aadam عليه السلام from the Jannah along with Hawwaa’, Iblees came out rejoicing because of what he did to them. Iblees said: If I can inflict upon the parents, then the children are even weaker (than the parents). This was a guess from Iblees. So Allaah عز وجل revealed:

﴿وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُ فَاتَّبَعُوهُ إِلاَّ فَرِيقاً مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

{And indeed Iblees did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of true believers.}

At that Iblees said: I will not leave the son of Aadam alone as long as there is soul in his body. I will work against him, arouse in him false hopes and deceive him. So Allaah تعالى said: “By My Honor! I will not close on him the (door of) repentance, as long as his soul has not reached his throat at death; he will not call upon Me except that I will respond to him; he will not ask Me except that I will give it to him; he will not seek My forgiveness except that I will forgive him.” This was reported by Ibn Abi Haatim.

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From Tafseer al-Tabaree رحمه الله:

﴿ثُمَّ لآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَـنِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَآئِلِهِمْ﴾

{Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left,}, “he did not say that he will come from above them, because Mercy descends from above.”

Abu Ja`far said: “From all the different statements (in the explanation of this verse), the most correct, according to me, is the one who said: He (Iblees) will approach them every direction in regards to Truth and Falsehood. He will divert them away from the Truth, and will beautify for them the Falsehood. This is because Iblees said that directly after he said:

﴿لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ﴾

{surely I will sit in wait against them on Your Straight Path}

He informed that he will sit, waiting for the son of Aadam, on the path which Allaah تعالى has commanded him to follow. That is the path which has been clarified for us – the Deen of Allaah, the True Deen.  So he (Iblees) will approach him in that regards from every direction. In regards to the Commandments of Allaah عز وجل, he (Iblees) will try to divert him away from it and that is the meaning of {from before them} and {from their right}. And in regards to the things prohibited on them by Allaah عز وجل, he will beautify it for them and will call them towards it and that is the meaning of {behind them} and {from their left}.”

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From Tafseer Al-Sa`dee رحمه الله:

﴿قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ﴾

{(Iblees) said: “Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight Path. Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left, and You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e. they will not be dutiful to You).”} [Surah al-A`raaf (7): 16-17]

Meaning: Iblees – when he despaired of Allaah’s Mercy – said:

﴿فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي﴾

{“Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in wait against them”}, meaning: the creation,

﴿صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ﴾

{“Your Straight Path”}, meaning: I will be on the path and will exert my maximum efforts in diverting the people away from it and will make them behave badly towards You.

﴿ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُم مِّن بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَن شَمَائِلِهِمْ﴾

{“Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left”}, meaning: from every direction and angle, and from every way possible for him, by which he could attain his (devilish) objectives among the people.

And when this fiend came to know that they are weak, he overtook many of them with ignorance, and firmly exerted his maximum efforts in misleading them. He guessed on his part and yet the truth turned out to be the same and he said:

﴿وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ﴾

{“and You will not find most of them as thankful ones”}, thanking (Allaah) through prayers (and worship) is from the manners of the Straight Path, but he (Iblees) wants to divert them away from it, and prevent them from establishing it.

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ﴾

{He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.} [Surah Faatir (35): 6]

And Allaah تعالى has alerted us about what he (Iblees) had said and intends to do, so that we may be on the lookout and be ready to face our enemy and to protect ourselves from him through the knowledge (given to us), (and that we may know) the different routes through which he approaches, and the ways he interferes. Through this, Allaah تعالى has bestowed upon us the most perfect blessing.


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