6. Al-An'aam

It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day, then he raises (wakes) you up again, that a term appointed be fulfilled, then (in the end), unto Him will be your return. Then He will inform you of what you used to do (60)He is the Qahir over His servants, and He sends guardians over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our messengers take his soul, and they never neglect their duty (61)Then they are returned to Allah, their Master, the Just Lord. Surely, His is the judgment and He is the swiftest in taking account (62)

The Servants are in Allah's Hands Before and After Death

Allah states that He brings death to His servants in their sleep at night, for sleep is minor death. Allah said in other Ayat,

إِذْ قَالَ اللَّهُ يَا عِيسَىٰ إِنِّي مُتَوَفِّيكَ وَرَافِعُكَ إِلَيَّ

(And (remember) when Allah said: "O 'Isa! I will take you and raise you to Myself...")[3:55], and,

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَىٰ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

(It is Allah Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed.)[39:42], ,thus mentioning both minor and major death. Allah says,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ

(It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day,) meaning, He knows the deeds and actions that you perform during the day. This Ayah demonstrates Allah's perfect knowledge of His creation, by day and night, and in their movements and idleness. Allah said in other Ayat,

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

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

وَمِن رَّحْمَتِهِ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لِتَسْكُنُوا فِيهِ

(It is out of His mercy that He made night and day, so that you may rest therein)[28:73], by night,

وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ

(and that you may seek of His bounty) by day. Allah said,

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا - وَجَعَلْنَا النَّهَارَ مَعَاشًا

(And (We) have made the night as a covering. And (We) have made the day for livelihood.)[78:10-11]. Allah said here,

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ

(It is He, Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day,)[6:60], Then said,

ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ

(then he raises (wakes) you up again,) by day, according to Mujahid, Qatadah and As-Suddi. Allah's statement,

لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى

(that a term appointed be fulfilled) refers to the life span of every person,

ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ

(then (in the end), unto Him will be your return.) on the Day of Resurrection,

ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

(Then He will inform you of what you …

Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret (saying): 'If He (Allah) only saves us from these (dangers), we shall truly be grateful. (63)Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk. (64)Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat, so that they may understand (65)

Allah's Compassion and Generosity, and His Power and Torment

Allah mentions how He favors His servants, saving them during times of need, in the darkness of land and at sea, such as when storms strike. In such cases, they call on Allah alone, without partners, in supplication. In other Ayat, Allah said,

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

(And when harm strikes you at sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him.)[17:67],

هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا بِهَا جَاءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

(He it is Who enables you to travel through the land and the sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice, then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their faith pure for Him alone, saying: "If You deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful".)[10:22], and,

أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

(Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy Is there any god with Allah? High Exalted be Allah above all that they associate as partners (with Him)!)[27:63].

Allah said in this honorable Ayah,

قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً

(Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret.") i.e., in public and secret,

لَّئِنْ أَنجَانَا

((Saying): 'If He (Allah) only saves us...) from this distress,

لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

(we shall truly be grateful.) thereafter. Allah said,

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ

(Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk.") meaning, yet you call other gods besides Him in times of comfort. Allah said;

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ

(Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet,") He said this after His statement, …

Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret (saying): 'If He (Allah) only saves us from these (dangers), we shall truly be grateful. (63)Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk. (64)Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat, so that they may understand (65)

Allah's Compassion and Generosity, and His Power and Torment

Allah mentions how He favors His servants, saving them during times of need, in the darkness of land and at sea, such as when storms strike. In such cases, they call on Allah alone, without partners, in supplication. In other Ayat, Allah said,

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

(And when harm strikes you at sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him.)[17:67],

هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا بِهَا جَاءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

(He it is Who enables you to travel through the land and the sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice, then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their faith pure for Him alone, saying: "If You deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful".)[10:22], and,

أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

(Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy Is there any god with Allah? High Exalted be Allah above all that they associate as partners (with Him)!)[27:63].

Allah said in this honorable Ayah,

قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً

(Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret.") i.e., in public and secret,

لَّئِنْ أَنجَانَا

((Saying): 'If He (Allah) only saves us...) from this distress,

لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

(we shall truly be grateful.) thereafter. Allah said,

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ

(Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk.") meaning, yet you call other gods besides Him in times of comfort. Allah said;

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ

(Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet,") He said this after His statement, …

Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret (saying): 'If He (Allah) only saves us from these (dangers), we shall truly be grateful. (63)Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk. (64)Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet, or to Yalbisakum in party strife, and make you taste the violence of one another." See how variously We explain the Ayat, so that they may understand (65)

Allah's Compassion and Generosity, and His Power and Torment

Allah mentions how He favors His servants, saving them during times of need, in the darkness of land and at sea, such as when storms strike. In such cases, they call on Allah alone, without partners, in supplication. In other Ayat, Allah said,

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

(And when harm strikes you at sea, those that you call upon besides Him vanish from you except Him.)[17:67],

هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا بِهَا جَاءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَاءَهُمُ الْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

(He it is Who enables you to travel through the land and the sea, till when you are in the ships and they sail with them with a favorable wind, and they rejoice, then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to them from all sides, and they think that they are encircled therein, they invoke Allah, making their faith pure for Him alone, saying: "If You deliver us from this, we shall truly be of the grateful".)[10:22], and,

أَمَّن يَهْدِيكُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَن يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَإِلَٰهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

(Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy Is there any god with Allah? High Exalted be Allah above all that they associate as partners (with Him)!)[27:63].

Allah said in this honorable Ayah,

قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً

(Say: "Who rescues you from the dark recesses of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him begging and in secret.") i.e., in public and secret,

لَّئِنْ أَنجَانَا

((Saying): 'If He (Allah) only saves us...) from this distress,

لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

(we shall truly be grateful.) thereafter. Allah said,

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ

(Say: "Allah rescues you from these (dangers) and from all distress, and yet you commit Shirk.") meaning, yet you call other gods besides Him in times of comfort. Allah said;

قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ

(Say: "He has the power to send torment on you from above or from under your feet,") He said this after His statement, …

But your people have denied it (the Qur'an) though it is the truth. Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs. (66)For every news there is a reality and you will come to know (67)And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaytan causes you to forget, then after the remembrance, sit not you in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers (68)There is no responsibility for them upon those who have Taqwa, but (their duty) is to remind them, that they may (attain) Taqwa (69)

The Invitation to the Truth is Guidance Without Coercion

Allah said,

وَكَذَّبَ بِهِ

(But have denied it) denied the Qur'an, guidance and clear explanation that you (O Muhammad ﷺ) have brought them,

قَوْمُكَ

(your people) meaning, Quraysh,

وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ

(though it is the truth.) beyond which there is no other truth.

قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ

(Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs.") meaning, I have not been appointed a guardian or watcher over you. Allah also said;

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

(And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.)[18:29],

This means, my duty is to convey the Message and your duty is to hear and obey. Those who follow me, will acquire happiness in this life and the Hereafter. Those who defy me will become miserable in this life and the Hereafter. So Allah said;

لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍ مُّسْتَقَرٌّ

(For every news there is a reality...) meaning, for every news, there is a reality, in that, this news will occur, perhaps after a while, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

(And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while.)[38:88] and,

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

((For) each and every matter there is a decree (from Allah).)[13:38]. This, indeed, is a warning and a promise that will surely occur,

وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

(and you will come to know.) Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا

(And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an)), by denying and mocking them.

The Prohibition of Sitting with Those Who Deny and Mock Allah's Ayat

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ

(stay away from them till they turn to another topic.) until they talk about a subject other than the denial they were engaged in.

وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ

(And if Shaytan causes you to forget...) This command includes every member of this Ummah. No one is to sit with those who deny and distort Allah's Ayat and explain them incorrectly. If one forgets and sits with such people,

فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ

(then after the remembrance sit not you) after you remember,

مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers.). A Hadith states,

رُفِعَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأُ وَالنِّسْيَانُ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ

(My Ummah was forgiven unintentional errors, forgetfulness and what they are coerced …

But your people have denied it (the Qur'an) though it is the truth. Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs. (66)For every news there is a reality and you will come to know (67)And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaytan causes you to forget, then after the remembrance, sit not you in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers (68)There is no responsibility for them upon those who have Taqwa, but (their duty) is to remind them, that they may (attain) Taqwa (69)

The Invitation to the Truth is Guidance Without Coercion

Allah said,

وَكَذَّبَ بِهِ

(But have denied it) denied the Qur'an, guidance and clear explanation that you (O Muhammad ﷺ) have brought them,

قَوْمُكَ

(your people) meaning, Quraysh,

وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ

(though it is the truth.) beyond which there is no other truth.

قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ

(Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs.") meaning, I have not been appointed a guardian or watcher over you. Allah also said;

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

(And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.)[18:29],

This means, my duty is to convey the Message and your duty is to hear and obey. Those who follow me, will acquire happiness in this life and the Hereafter. Those who defy me will become miserable in this life and the Hereafter. So Allah said;

لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍ مُّسْتَقَرٌّ

(For every news there is a reality...) meaning, for every news, there is a reality, in that, this news will occur, perhaps after a while, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

(And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while.)[38:88] and,

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

((For) each and every matter there is a decree (from Allah).)[13:38]. This, indeed, is a warning and a promise that will surely occur,

وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

(and you will come to know.) Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا

(And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an)), by denying and mocking them.

The Prohibition of Sitting with Those Who Deny and Mock Allah's Ayat

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ

(stay away from them till they turn to another topic.) until they talk about a subject other than the denial they were engaged in.

وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ

(And if Shaytan causes you to forget...) This command includes every member of this Ummah. No one is to sit with those who deny and distort Allah's Ayat and explain them incorrectly. If one forgets and sits with such people,

فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ

(then after the remembrance sit not you) after you remember,

مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers.). A Hadith states,

رُفِعَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأُ وَالنِّسْيَانُ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ

(My Ummah was forgiven unintentional errors, forgetfulness and what they are coerced …

But your people have denied it (the Qur'an) though it is the truth. Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs. (66)For every news there is a reality and you will come to know (67)And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaytan causes you to forget, then after the remembrance, sit not you in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers (68)There is no responsibility for them upon those who have Taqwa, but (their duty) is to remind them, that they may (attain) Taqwa (69)

The Invitation to the Truth is Guidance Without Coercion

Allah said,

وَكَذَّبَ بِهِ

(But have denied it) denied the Qur'an, guidance and clear explanation that you (O Muhammad ﷺ) have brought them,

قَوْمُكَ

(your people) meaning, Quraysh,

وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ

(though it is the truth.) beyond which there is no other truth.

قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ

(Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs.") meaning, I have not been appointed a guardian or watcher over you. Allah also said;

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

(And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.)[18:29],

This means, my duty is to convey the Message and your duty is to hear and obey. Those who follow me, will acquire happiness in this life and the Hereafter. Those who defy me will become miserable in this life and the Hereafter. So Allah said;

لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍ مُّسْتَقَرٌّ

(For every news there is a reality...) meaning, for every news, there is a reality, in that, this news will occur, perhaps after a while, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

(And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while.)[38:88] and,

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

((For) each and every matter there is a decree (from Allah).)[13:38]. This, indeed, is a warning and a promise that will surely occur,

وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

(and you will come to know.) Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا

(And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an)), by denying and mocking them.

The Prohibition of Sitting with Those Who Deny and Mock Allah's Ayat

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ

(stay away from them till they turn to another topic.) until they talk about a subject other than the denial they were engaged in.

وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ

(And if Shaytan causes you to forget...) This command includes every member of this Ummah. No one is to sit with those who deny and distort Allah's Ayat and explain them incorrectly. If one forgets and sits with such people,

فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ

(then after the remembrance sit not you) after you remember,

مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers.). A Hadith states,

رُفِعَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأُ وَالنِّسْيَانُ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ

(My Ummah was forgiven unintentional errors, forgetfulness and what they are coerced …

But your people have denied it (the Qur'an) though it is the truth. Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs. (66)For every news there is a reality and you will come to know (67)And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an) by mocking at them, stay away from them till they turn to another topic. And if Shaytan causes you to forget, then after the remembrance, sit not you in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers (68)There is no responsibility for them upon those who have Taqwa, but (their duty) is to remind them, that they may (attain) Taqwa (69)

The Invitation to the Truth is Guidance Without Coercion

Allah said,

وَكَذَّبَ بِهِ

(But have denied it) denied the Qur'an, guidance and clear explanation that you (O Muhammad ﷺ) have brought them,

قَوْمُكَ

(your people) meaning, Quraysh,

وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ

(though it is the truth.) beyond which there is no other truth.

قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍ

(Say: "I am not responsible for your affairs.") meaning, I have not been appointed a guardian or watcher over you. Allah also said;

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

(And say: "The truth is from your Lord." Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.)[18:29],

This means, my duty is to convey the Message and your duty is to hear and obey. Those who follow me, will acquire happiness in this life and the Hereafter. Those who defy me will become miserable in this life and the Hereafter. So Allah said;

لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍ مُّسْتَقَرٌّ

(For every news there is a reality...) meaning, for every news, there is a reality, in that, this news will occur, perhaps after a while, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others. Allah said in other Ayat,

وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ نَبَأَهُ بَعْدَ حِينٍ

(And you shall certainly know the truth of it after a while.)[38:88] and,

لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

((For) each and every matter there is a decree (from Allah).)[13:38]. This, indeed, is a warning and a promise that will surely occur,

وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ

(and you will come to know.) Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا

(And when you see those who engage in false conversation about Our verses (of the Qur'an)), by denying and mocking them.

The Prohibition of Sitting with Those Who Deny and Mock Allah's Ayat

فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ

(stay away from them till they turn to another topic.) until they talk about a subject other than the denial they were engaged in.

وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ

(And if Shaytan causes you to forget...) This command includes every member of this Ummah. No one is to sit with those who deny and distort Allah's Ayat and explain them incorrectly. If one forgets and sits with such people,

فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَىٰ

(then after the remembrance sit not you) after you remember,

مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ

(in the company of those people who are the wrongdoers.). A Hadith states,

رُفِعَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأُ وَالنِّسْيَانُ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ

(My Ummah was forgiven unintentional errors, forgetfulness and what they are coerced …

And leave alone those who take their religion as play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world. But remind (them) with it (the Qur'an) lest a soul Tubsal for that which one has earned, when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allah, and even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him. Such are they who are given up to destruction because of that which they have earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful torment because they used to disbelieve.) Allah sai (70)

وَذَرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا

(And leave alone those who take their religion as play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of this world.)

The Ayah commands to leave such people, ignore them and give them respite, for soon, they will taste a tremendous torment. This is why Allah said,

وَذَكِّرْ بِهِ

(But remind with it) meaning, remind the people with this Qur'an and warn them against Allah's revenge and painful torment on the Day of Resurrection. Allah said;

أَن تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ

(lest a soul Tubsal for that which one has earned,) meaning, so that it is not Tubsal. Ad-Dahhak from Ibn 'Abbas, Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Al-Hasan and As-Suddi said that Tubsal means, be submissive. Al-Walibi said that Ibn 'Abbas said that Tubsal means, 'be exposed'. Qatadah said that Tubsal means, 'be prevented', Murrah and Ibn Zayd said that it means, 'be recompensed', Al-Kalbi said, 'be reckoned'. All these statements and expressions are similar, for they all mean exposure to destruction, being kept away from all that is good, and being restrained from attaining what is desired. Allah also said;

كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ - إِلَّا أَصْحَابَ الْيَمِينِ

(Every person is restrained by what he has earned. Except those on the Right.)[74:38-39], and

لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيٌّ وَلَا شَفِيعٌ

(when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allah,) and,

وَإِن تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍ لَّا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَا

(and even if he offers every ransom, it will not be accepted from him.) meaning, whatever the ransom such people offer, it will not be accepted from them. Allah said in a similar statement,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِم مِّلْءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا

(Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them.)[3:91] Allah said here,

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَهُمْ شَرَابٌ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ

(Such are they who are given up to destruction because of that which they have earned. For them will be a drink of boiling water and a painful torment because they used to disbelieve.)