Tafsir of Surat al-Nahl
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Fatwa number ( 4436 ):
Q: A discussion arose regarding the interpretation of the verse:[An-Nahl 16:43], with some saying it is general in matters of this world and religion, and others saying it is specific to matters of religion, including all its obligations and recommended practices. We ask for clarification of the answer, and may Allah reward you with good.
A: The term "dhikr" (remembrance) is applied to the Qur'an, as in His saying:[Al-Hijr 15:9], and in His saying: [An-Nahl 16:44]. It is also applied to the Preserved Tablet, as in His saying: [Al-Anbya 21:105]. Thus, "al-Zubur" refers to the heavenly books. And "al-Dhikr" refers to the Preserved Tablet. So Allah the Exalted has decreed by destiny and by legislation that the righteous are those who are supported in this world and the Hereafter. They have happiness in this world, and success
in dwelling in the Gardens of Pleasure in the Hereafter. The term "dhikr" is also applied to honor and elevation, and to the remembrance of people of their Lord and the remembrance of Allah for them, among other meanings that become clear to one who follows the verses of the Qur'an and the language of the Arabs. However, the intended meaning of "dhikr" in His saying:[An-Nahl 16:43-44] in Surat al-Nahl, and in His saying: [Al-Anbya 21:7-9] in Surat al-Anbiya, in both verses is: the books revealed to the messengers before our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). And "Ahl al-Dhikr" (the people of remembrance) are those upon whose messengers those books were revealed, such as the Jews and the Christians, and those commanded to ask them are the polytheists from the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who denied that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a messenger, because he was a human being, and messengers are only to be from the angels. The people of remembrance from the Jews and the Christians were to make it clear to them that the messengers who came before him were only human beings, not angels. Although these two verses were revealed regarding the command for those polytheists to ask the people of the previous books about their messengers so that it would become clear to them that they were human beings, they are indicative of the command for anyone who is ignorant of something that benefits him
to ask the people of knowledge about it, so that he may benefit from what brings him good and enables him to advance in his religion and his worldly affairs. This includes matters of religion first, and the matters of his worldly affairs that are connected to religion, for the one obligated is commanded to work for his religion and his worldly affairs. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A discussion arose regarding the interpretation of the verse:
So ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَA: The term "dhikr" (remembrance) is applied to the Qur'an, as in His saying:
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَـزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَAnd We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them
وَأَنْـزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُـزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْAnd We have already written in the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants.
وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فِي الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أَنَّ الأَرْضَ يَرِثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَin dwelling in the Gardens of Pleasure in the Hereafter. The term "dhikr" is also applied to honor and elevation, and to the remembrance of people of their Lord and the remembrance of Allah for them, among other meanings that become clear to one who follows the verses of the Qur'an and the language of the Arabs. However, the intended meaning of "dhikr" in His saying:
(43) And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know. (44) [We sent them] with clear proofs and written ordinances
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ إِلا رِجَالا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (43) بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ(7) And We sent not before you, [O Muhammad], except men to whom We revealed [the message], so ask the people of the message if you do not know. (8) And We did not make the prophets forms not eating food, nor were they immortal [on earth]. (9) Then We fulfilled for them the promise, and We saved them and whom We willed and destroyed the transgressors.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا قَبْلَكَ إِلا رِجَالا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (7) وَمَا جَعَلْنَاهُمْ جَسَدًا لاَ يَأْكُلُونَ الطَّعَامَ وَمَا كَانُوا خَالِدِينَ (8) ثُمَّ صَدَقْنَاهُمُ الْوَعْدَ فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُمْ وَمَنْ نَشَاءُ وَأَهْلَكْنَا الْمُسْرِفِينَto ask the people of knowledge about it, so that he may benefit from what brings him good and enables him to advance in his religion and his worldly affairs. This includes matters of religion first, and the matters of his worldly affairs that are connected to religion, for the one obligated is commanded to work for his religion and his worldly affairs. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.