13. Ar-Ra'd

And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you but I granted respite to those who disbelieved, and finally I punished them. Then how (terrible) was My punishment (32)

Comforting the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)

Allah says to His Messenger, while comforting him in facing his people's denial of him,

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ

(And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked at before you), so you have a good example in them,

فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

(but I granted respite to those who disbelieved,) deferred their judgment for a term appointed,

ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ

(and finally I punished them.) with encompassing punishment. How did you obtain the news of how I gave them respite and then took them with punishment?' Allah said in another Ayah,

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ أَمْلَيْتُ لَهَا وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهَا وَإِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ

(And many a township did I give respite while it was given to wrongdoing. Then (in the end) I seized it (with punishment). And to Me is the (final) return (of all).)[22:48] It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Prophet ﷺ said,

إِنَّ اللهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ

(Verily, Allah gives respite to the unjust until when He seizes him, He never lets go of him.) The Messenger ﷺ next recited this Ayah,

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَىٰ وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ ۚ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ

(Such is the punishment of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His punishment is painful, (and) severe.)[11:102]

Is then He (Allah) Who takes charge of every person and knows all that he has earned (like any other deity who knows nothing) Yet, they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: "Name them! Is it that you will inform Him of something He knows not in the earth or is it (just) a show of false words." Nay! To those who disbelieved, their plotting is made fair-seeming, and they have been hindered from the right path; and whom Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide (33)

There is no Similarity between Allah and False Deities in any Respect

Allah said,

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ

(Is then He (Allah) Who takes charge of every person and knows all that he has earned?) Allah is the guard and watcher over every living soul and knows what everyone does, whether good or evil, and nothing ever escapes His perfect observation. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَمَا تَكُونُ فِي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُو مِنْهُ مِن قُرْآنٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا إِذْ تُفِيضُونَ فِيهِ

(Neither you do any deed nor recite any portion of the Qur'an, nor you do any deed, but we are witness thereof, when you are doing it.)[10:61] and Allah said,

وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا

(Not a leaf falls, but He knows it.)[6:59]

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

(And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposits. All is in a Clear Book.)[11:6],

سَوَاءٌ مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ

(It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceals his speech or declares it openly, whether he be hid by night or goes forth freely by day.)[13:10]

يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى

(He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden.)[20:7] and,

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

(And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do.)[57:4] Is He Who is like this similar to the idols, that the polytheists worship, which can neither hear nor see nor do they have a mind nor able to bring good to themselves or to their worshippers nor prevent harm from themselves or their worshippers? The answer to the question in the Ayah was omitted, because it is implied, for Allah said next,

وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ

(Yet, they ascribe partners to Allah.) which they worshipped besides Him, such as idols, rivals and false deities,

قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ

(Say: "Name them!") make them known to us and uncover them so that they are known, for surely, they do not exist at all! So Allah said,

أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْضِ

(Is it that you will inform Him of something He knows not in the earth?) for had that thing existed in or on the earth, Allah would have known about it because nothing ever escapes His knowledge,

أَم بِظَاهِرٍ مِّنَ الْقَوْلِ

(or is it (just) a show of words?) or doubts expressed in words, according to Mujahid, while Ad-Dahhak and Qatadah said, false words. Allah says, you (polytheists) …

For them is a torment in the life of this world, and certainly, harder is the torment of the Hereafter. And they have no defender (or protector) against Allah (34)The description of the Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised: Underneath it rivers flow, its provision is eternal and so is its shade; this is the end (final destination) of those who have Taqwa, and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire (35)

Punishment of the Disbelievers and Reward of the Pious Believers

Here, Allah mentions the punishment of the disbelievers and the reward of the righteous believers, after describing the Kufr and Shirk that the disbelievers indulge in,

لَّهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا

(For them is a torment in the life of this world,) by the hands of the believers, killing and capturing them,

وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ

(and certainly, the torment of the Hereafter.) which will come after they suffer humiliation in this life,

أَشَقُّ

(is harder) many times harder. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to those who agreed to Mula'anah,

إِنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ

(Surely, the torment of this life, is easier than the torment of the Hereafter.) Indeed, and just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated, the torment of this life ends but the torment of the Hereafter is everlasting in a Fire that is seventy times hot than our fire, where there are chains whose thickness and hardness are unimaginable. Allah said in other Ayat,

فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُ أَحَدٌ - وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُ أَحَدٌ

(So on that Day none will punish as He will punish. And none will bind as He will bind.)[89:25-26], and,

وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِمَن كَذَّبَ بِالسَّاعَةِ سَعِيرًا - إِذَا رَأَتْهُم مِّن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ سَمِعُوا لَهَا تَغَيُّظًا وَزَفِيرًا - وَإِذَا أُلْقُوا مِنْهَا مَكَانًا ضَيِّقًا مُّقَرَّنِينَ دَعَوْا هُنَالِكَ ثُبُورًا - لَّا تَدْعُوا الْيَوْمَ ثُبُورًا وَاحِدًا وَادْعُوا ثُبُورًا كَثِيرًا - قُلْ أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ أَمْ جَنَّةُ الْخُلْدِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۚ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَزَاءً وَمَصِيرًا

(And for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire. When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring. And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction. Exclaim not today for one destruction, but exclaim for many destructions. Say: "Is that (torment) better, or the Paradise of Eternity promised for those who have Taqwa?" It will be theirs as a reward and as a final destination.)[25:11-15]

Similarly He said;

مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ

(The description of the Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised) meaning its description and qualities;

تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ

(Underneath it rivers flow,) these rivers flow in the various parts and grades of Paradise and wherever its people wish they flow and gush forth for them. Allah also said,

مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ …

For them is a torment in the life of this world, and certainly, harder is the torment of the Hereafter. And they have no defender (or protector) against Allah (34)The description of the Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised: Underneath it rivers flow, its provision is eternal and so is its shade; this is the end (final destination) of those who have Taqwa, and the end (final destination) of the disbelievers is Fire (35)

Punishment of the Disbelievers and Reward of the Pious Believers

Here, Allah mentions the punishment of the disbelievers and the reward of the righteous believers, after describing the Kufr and Shirk that the disbelievers indulge in,

لَّهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا

(For them is a torment in the life of this world,) by the hands of the believers, killing and capturing them,

وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ

(and certainly, the torment of the Hereafter.) which will come after they suffer humiliation in this life,

أَشَقُّ

(is harder) many times harder. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to those who agreed to Mula'anah,

إِنَّ عَذَابَ الدُّنْيَا أَهْوَنُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْآخِرَةِ

(Surely, the torment of this life, is easier than the torment of the Hereafter.) Indeed, and just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated, the torment of this life ends but the torment of the Hereafter is everlasting in a Fire that is seventy times hot than our fire, where there are chains whose thickness and hardness are unimaginable. Allah said in other Ayat,

فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُعَذِّبُ عَذَابَهُ أَحَدٌ - وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُ أَحَدٌ

(So on that Day none will punish as He will punish. And none will bind as He will bind.)[89:25-26], and,

وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِمَن كَذَّبَ بِالسَّاعَةِ سَعِيرًا - إِذَا رَأَتْهُم مِّن مَّكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ سَمِعُوا لَهَا تَغَيُّظًا وَزَفِيرًا - وَإِذَا أُلْقُوا مِنْهَا مَكَانًا ضَيِّقًا مُّقَرَّنِينَ دَعَوْا هُنَالِكَ ثُبُورًا - لَّا تَدْعُوا الْيَوْمَ ثُبُورًا وَاحِدًا وَادْعُوا ثُبُورًا كَثِيرًا - قُلْ أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ أَمْ جَنَّةُ الْخُلْدِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۚ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَزَاءً وَمَصِيرًا

(And for those who deny the Hour, We have prepared a flaming Fire. When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring. And when they shall be thrown into a narrow place thereof, chained together, they will exclaim therein for destruction. Exclaim not today for one destruction, but exclaim for many destructions. Say: "Is that (torment) better, or the Paradise of Eternity promised for those who have Taqwa?" It will be theirs as a reward and as a final destination.)[25:11-15]

Similarly He said;

مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ

(The description of the Paradise which those who have Taqwa have been promised) meaning its description and qualities;

تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ

(Underneath it rivers flow,) these rivers flow in the various parts and grades of Paradise and wherever its people wish they flow and gush forth for them. Allah also said,

مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ فِيهَا أَنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ خَمْرٍ لَّذَّةٍ لِّلشَّارِبِينَ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّنْ …

Those to whom We have given the Book, rejoice at what has been revealed unto you, but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates) those who reject a part thereof. Say: "I am commanded only to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him. To Him I call and to Him is my return. (36)And thus have We sent it (the Qur'an) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which has come to you, then you will not have any Wali (protector) or defender against Allah (37)

The Truthful Ones from among the People of the Scriptures rejoice at what Allah has revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ)

Allah said,

وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ

(Those to whom We have given the Book,) and they adhere by it,

يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ

(rejoice at what has been revealed unto you,) i.e. the Qur'an, because they have evidence in their Books affirming the truth of the Qur'an and conveying the good news of its imminent revelation, just as Allah said in another Ayah,

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ

(Those to whom We gave the Book recite it as it should be recited.)[2:121] Allah said,

قُلْ آمِنُوا بِهِ أَوْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوا

(Say: "Believe in it (the Qur'an) or do not believe.")[17:107], until,

إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا

(Truly, the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.)[17:108] meaning, Allah's promise to us in our Books to send Muhammad ﷺ is true. It is certain and will surely come to pass and be fulfilled, so all praise to our Lord, how truthful is His promise, all the thanks are due to Him,

وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا

(And they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility.)[17:109] Allah said next,

وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُ

(but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates) those who reject a part thereof.) meaning, 'There are those among the sects who disbelieve in some of what was revealed to you (O Muhammad).' Mujahid said that,

وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ

(but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates)), refers to Jews and Christians,

مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُ

(those who reject a part thereof), meaning, 'They reject a part of the truth that came down to you - O Muhammad.' Similar was reported from Qatadah and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Allah said in similar Ayat,

وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ

(And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah.)[3:199] Allah said next,

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ

(Say: "I am commanded only to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him...") meaning, 'I (Muhammad) was sent with the religion of worshipping Allah alone without partners, just as the Messengers before me,

إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو

(To Him (alone) I call), I call the people to His path,

وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ

(and to Him is my return.) final destination and destiny.' Allah said,

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا

(And thus have We sent it (the Qur'an) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic.) Allah says, 'Just as We sent Messengers before you and revealed to them Divine Books from …

Those to whom We have given the Book, rejoice at what has been revealed unto you, but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates) those who reject a part thereof. Say: "I am commanded only to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him. To Him I call and to Him is my return. (36)And thus have We sent it (the Qur'an) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic. Were you to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which has come to you, then you will not have any Wali (protector) or defender against Allah (37)

The Truthful Ones from among the People of the Scriptures rejoice at what Allah has revealed to Muhammad (ﷺ)

Allah said,

وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ

(Those to whom We have given the Book,) and they adhere by it,

يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ

(rejoice at what has been revealed unto you,) i.e. the Qur'an, because they have evidence in their Books affirming the truth of the Qur'an and conveying the good news of its imminent revelation, just as Allah said in another Ayah,

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ

(Those to whom We gave the Book recite it as it should be recited.)[2:121] Allah said,

قُلْ آمِنُوا بِهِ أَوْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوا

(Say: "Believe in it (the Qur'an) or do not believe.")[17:107], until,

إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا

(Truly, the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled.)[17:108] meaning, Allah's promise to us in our Books to send Muhammad ﷺ is true. It is certain and will surely come to pass and be fulfilled, so all praise to our Lord, how truthful is His promise, all the thanks are due to Him,

وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا

(And they fall down on their faces weeping and it increases their humility.)[17:109] Allah said next,

وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُ

(but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates) those who reject a part thereof.) meaning, 'There are those among the sects who disbelieve in some of what was revealed to you (O Muhammad).' Mujahid said that,

وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ

(but there are among the Ahzab (Confederates)), refers to Jews and Christians,

مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُ

(those who reject a part thereof), meaning, 'They reject a part of the truth that came down to you - O Muhammad.' Similar was reported from Qatadah and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. Allah said in similar Ayat,

وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ

(And there are, certainly, among the People of the Scripture, those who believe in Allah.)[3:199] Allah said next,

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ

(Say: "I am commanded only to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him...") meaning, 'I (Muhammad) was sent with the religion of worshipping Allah alone without partners, just as the Messengers before me,

إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو

(To Him (alone) I call), I call the people to His path,

وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ

(and to Him is my return.) final destination and destiny.' Allah said,

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا

(And thus have We sent it (the Qur'an) down to be a judgement of authority in Arabic.) Allah says, 'Just as We sent Messengers before you and revealed to them Divine Books from …

And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and made for them wives and offspring. And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave. (For) every matter there is a decree (from Allah)(38)Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book (39)

All Prophets and Messengers were Humans

Allah says, 'Just as We have sent you O Muhammad, a Prophet and a human, We sent the Messengers before you from among mankind, that eat food, walk in the markets, and We gave them wives and offspring.' Allah said to the most honorable and Final Messenger,

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ

(Say: "I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me.")[18:110] It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأَقُومُ وَأَنَامُ، وَآكُلُ اللَّحْمَ، وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ، فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي

(As for me, I fast and break the fast, stand in prayer at night and sleep, eat meat and marry women; so whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of mine.)

No Prophet can bring a Miracle except by Allah's Leave

Allah said,

وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ

(And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave.) meaning, no Prophet could have brought a miracle to his people except by Allah's permission and will, for this matter is only decided by Allah the Exalted and Most Honored, not the Prophets; surely Allah does what He wills and decides what He wills.

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

((For) every matter there is a decree (from Allah).) for every term appointed, there is a record (or decree) that keeps it, and everything has a specific due measure with Allah,

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِي كِتَابٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

(Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book. Verily, that is easy for Allah.)[22:70]

Meaning of Allah blotting out what He wills and confirming what He wills of the Book

Allah said,

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ

(Allah blots out what He wills) of the divinely revealed Books,

وَيُثْبِتُ

(and confirms), until the Qur'an, revealed from Allah to His Messenger peace be upon him, abrogated them all. Mujahid commented;

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ

(Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills).) "Except life and death, misery and happiness [i.e., faith and disbelief], for they do not change." Mansur said that he asked Mujahid, "Some of us say in their supplication, 'O Allah! If my name is with those who are happy (believers), affirm my name among them, and if my name is among the miserable ones (disbelievers), remove it from among them and place it among the happy ones." Mujahid said. "This supplication is good." I met him a year or more later and repeated the same question to him and he recited these Ayat,

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ

(We sent it (this Qur'an) down on a blessed night.) Mujahid commented next, "During Laylatul-Qadr (Night of the Decrees), Allah …

And indeed We sent Messengers before you, and made for them wives and offspring. And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave. (For) every matter there is a decree (from Allah)(38)Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book (39)

All Prophets and Messengers were Humans

Allah says, 'Just as We have sent you O Muhammad, a Prophet and a human, We sent the Messengers before you from among mankind, that eat food, walk in the markets, and We gave them wives and offspring.' Allah said to the most honorable and Final Messenger,

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ

(Say: "I am only a man like you. It has been revealed to me.")[18:110] It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

أَمَّا أَنَا فَأَصُومُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَأَقُومُ وَأَنَامُ، وَآكُلُ اللَّحْمَ، وَأَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ، فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِي فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي

(As for me, I fast and break the fast, stand in prayer at night and sleep, eat meat and marry women; so whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of mine.)

No Prophet can bring a Miracle except by Allah's Leave

Allah said,

وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ

(And it was not for a Messenger to bring a sign except by Allah's leave.) meaning, no Prophet could have brought a miracle to his people except by Allah's permission and will, for this matter is only decided by Allah the Exalted and Most Honored, not the Prophets; surely Allah does what He wills and decides what He wills.

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

((For) every matter there is a decree (from Allah).) for every term appointed, there is a record (or decree) that keeps it, and everything has a specific due measure with Allah,

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِي كِتَابٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ

(Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book. Verily, that is easy for Allah.)[22:70]

Meaning of Allah blotting out what He wills and confirming what He wills of the Book

Allah said,

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ

(Allah blots out what He wills) of the divinely revealed Books,

وَيُثْبِتُ

(and confirms), until the Qur'an, revealed from Allah to His Messenger peace be upon him, abrogated them all. Mujahid commented;

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ

(Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills).) "Except life and death, misery and happiness [i.e., faith and disbelief], for they do not change." Mansur said that he asked Mujahid, "Some of us say in their supplication, 'O Allah! If my name is with those who are happy (believers), affirm my name among them, and if my name is among the miserable ones (disbelievers), remove it from among them and place it among the happy ones." Mujahid said. "This supplication is good." I met him a year or more later and repeated the same question to him and he recited these Ayat,

إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ

(We sent it (this Qur'an) down on a blessed night.) Mujahid commented next, "During Laylatul-Qadr (Night of the Decrees), Allah …

Whether We show you part of what We have promised them or cause you to die, your duty is only to convey (the Message) and on Us is the reckoning (40)See they not that We gradually reduce the land from its outlying borders. And Allah judges, there is none to put back His judgement, and He is swift at reckoning (41)

Punishment is by Allah, and the Messenger's Job is only to convey the Message

Allah said to His Messenger ﷺ,

وَإِن مَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ

(Whether We show you) O Muhammad, part of the disgrace and humiliation We have promised your enemies in this life,

أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ

(or cause you to die) before that,

فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ

(your duty is only to convey We have only sent you to convey to them Allah's Message, and by doing so, you will have fulfilled the mission that was ordained on you,

وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ

(and on Us is the reckoning), their reckoning and recompense is on Us.' Allah said in similar Ayat,

فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ - لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ - إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ - فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَ - إِنَّ إِلَيْنَا إِيَابَهُمْ - ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا حِسَابَهُم

(So remind them - you are only one who reminds. You are not a dictator over them - Save the one who turns away and disbelieves. Then Allah will punish him with the greatest punishment. Verily, to Us will be their return, Then verily, for Us will be their reckoning.)[88:21-26] Allah said next,

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا

(See they not that We gradually reduce the land from its outlying borders.) Ibn 'Abbas commented, "See they not that We are granting land after land to Muhammad ﷺ?" Al-Hasan and Ad-Dahhak commented that this Ayah refers to Muslims gaining the upper hand over idolators, just as Allah said in another Ayah,

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ الْقُرَىٰ

(And indeed We have destroyed towns round about you.)[46:27]