Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Then We forgave you after that, so that you might be grateful”
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
And after this ugly, heinous deed, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Al-Baqarah 2:52] Look at His saying: Are they wrongdoers against themselves, or wrongdoers against others? They are wrongdoers against themselves, for every sinner is a wrongdoer against himself. If the harm of his sin extends to others, he becomes a wrongdoer against himself and against others.
[Al-Baqarah 2:52] means We overlooked this action and lifted the punishment from you. means so that you may be grateful. Here, “perhaps” (la‘alla) is used for the purpose of causation. As we mentioned before, “perhaps” occurs with several meanings, including: causation, which is common in the Noble Qur’an; hope; wish; fear and concern; and expectation. All of this is understood by the context.
And His saying: Gratitude is righteous action, as it came in the Qur’an. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): إن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين فقال الله تعالى: يا أيها الرسل كلوا من الطيبات واعملوا صالحا وقال في المؤمنين: كلوا من طيبات ما رزقنكم واشكروا لله وهذا يدل على أن الشكر هو العمل الصالح وهو كذالك لاشك فيه.
واعلم أن الشكر لا يكون إلا في مقابلة إحسان بخلاف الحمد، الحمد يكون لكمال المحمود ولأفضال المحمود، فسببه أعم من الشكر، ولكن الشكر أعم من الحمد من حيث تعلقه باللقب واللسان والجوارح كما قال القائل:
أفادتكم النعماء مني ثلاثة يدي ولساني والضمير المحجبا.
Indeed, Allah commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers. So Allah the Exalted said: “O messengers, eat from the good things and do righteous deeds.” And He said regarding the believers: “Eat from the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah.” This indicates that gratitude is righteous action, and this is certainly so. Know that gratitude does not occur except in response to a favor, unlike praise. Praise is for the perfection of the one praised and for the favors of the one praised, so its cause is broader than that of gratitude. However, gratitude is broader than praise in terms of its connection to the title, the tongue, and the limbs, as the poet said: “The blessings have benefited me with three things: my hand, my tongue, and the hidden conscience.”
Then We forgave you after that
ثم عفونا عنكم من بعد ذلكand you were wrongdoers
وأنتم ظالمونThen We forgave you
ثم عفونا عنكمso that you may be grateful
لعلكم تشكرونAnd His saying:
so that you may be grateful
لعلكم تشكرونواعلم أن الشكر لا يكون إلا في مقابلة إحسان بخلاف الحمد، الحمد يكون لكمال المحمود ولأفضال المحمود، فسببه أعم من الشكر، ولكن الشكر أعم من الحمد من حيث تعلقه باللقب واللسان والجوارح كما قال القائل:
أفادتكم النعماء مني ثلاثة يدي ولساني والضمير المحجبا.
Indeed, Allah commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers. So Allah the Exalted said: “O messengers, eat from the good things and do righteous deeds.” And He said regarding the believers: “Eat from the good things We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah.” This indicates that gratitude is righteous action, and this is certainly so. Know that gratitude does not occur except in response to a favor, unlike praise. Praise is for the perfection of the one praised and for the favors of the one praised, so its cause is broader than that of gratitude. However, gratitude is broader than praise in terms of its connection to the title, the tongue, and the limbs, as the poet said: “The blessings have benefited me with three things: my hand, my tongue, and the hidden conscience.”