Mention of some verses that were difficult for some of the Companions.
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The Shaykh : Some people may find it strange when I say that no one can be independent or self-sufficient in understanding the Qur'an, even if he were the most eloquent, the most understanding, the most articulate, and the most clear in expression of the Arabs. And who is more eloquent and more understanding of the Arabic language than the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to whom the Qur'an was revealed in their language? Yet some verses were difficult for them; they did not understand them, so they turned to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him about them. Among these is what Imam al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih and Imam Ahmad in his Musnad from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) recited to his Companions His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): [Al-An'am 6:82] "And those are the ones who are rightly guided," this verse was difficult for the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), just as other verses were difficult for them. Not because they did not understand it as they understood this one, but because of the ruling in it which contains some severity. I am not addressing that now; rather, I am addressing what was difficult for them from this noble verse: [Al-An'am 6:82]. They said: "O Messenger of Allah, and who among us does not wrong [ourselves]?"
"And who among us does not wrong [ourselves]?" By this, they meant that they understood the injustice in this noble verse to mean any kind of injustice; whether it is the servant's injustice to himself, or the servant's injustice to his companion, or to his family, or the like. So the Messenger (peace be upon him) clarified to them that the matter is not as it first occurred to their minds, and that the injustice here is only the greatest injustice, which is associating partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). And He reminded them of the saying of the righteous servant Luqman when he said to his son:[Luqman 31:13], [Luqman 31:13]. And if the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who were the pure Arabs, found this wording from this noble verse difficult, and the difficulty did not lift from them except by the clarification of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); this is what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) referred to in the previous verse: [An-Nahl 16:44].
They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice - those will have security
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُThey who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُمْ بِظُلْمٍ"And who among us does not wrong [ourselves]?" By this, they meant that they understood the injustice in this noble verse to mean any kind of injustice; whether it is the servant's injustice to himself, or the servant's injustice to his companion, or to his family, or the like. So the Messenger (peace be upon him) clarified to them that the matter is not as it first occurred to their minds, and that the injustice here is only the greatest injustice, which is associating partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic). And He reminded them of the saying of the righteous servant Luqman when he said to his son:
O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."
يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌdo not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."
لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌAnd We revealed to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them
وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.