Exegesis of the verse: “Say to those who disbelieve: You will be defeated and gathered into Hell, and wretched is the resting place.”

Then Allah the Exalted said: The address is to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Know that the address directed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is sometimes inclusive of him and the Ummah by virtue of the text associated with that address; sometimes it is specific to him; and sometimes it is general for him and the Ummah by virtue of his being the Imam of the Ummah. That is, it is not the address itself that indicates generality, but rather, because he is the Imam of the Ummah, the address is to him, and its ruling includes him and the Ummah. An example of the first type—where the address is directed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and associated with it is what indicates that it is general for him and the Ummah—is His saying: Then He said: Then He said: He did not say, “If you divorce,” which indicates that this address is directed to him and his Ummah. An example of the general type where there is no associated text indicating generality is that most of the addresses directed to the Messenger (may Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him) are of this category, such as this verse: This is inclusive of him and the Ummah, so much so that we say to those who disbelieve, “You will be defeated and gathered into Hell.” An example of the third type is His saying: This is specific to the Messenger (may Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him). Allah the Exalted said: Meaning, say, O Muhammad, and his Ummah also says this to the disbelievers in the manner of following his example and emulating him. Say to them: And in a reading: سيغلبون ويحشرون قراءة سبعية ، ستغلبون من الذي يغلبهم؟ الذي يغلبهم هم المؤمنون كما قال الله تعالى: ولله العزة ولرسوله وللمؤمنين وقال الله تعالى: كتب الله لأغلبن أنا ورسلي إن الله قوي عزيز ولكن من المؤمن الغالب؟ المؤمن الغالب هو الذي آمن حقا وقام بالعمل الصالح، ليس مجرد الإيمان هو القول باللسان ومن الناس من يقول آمنا بالله وباليوم الآخر وما هم بمؤمنين لابد من إيمان صادق يشهد له العمل فيكون صالحا، والله عزوجل يقول: إنا لننصر رسلنا والذين آمنوا في الحياة الدنيا ويوم يقوم الأشهاد فالذين آمنوا إيمانا حقيقيا مصدقا بالعمل سوف يغلبون بلاشك ، سوف يغلبون الكفار . “They will be defeated and gathered” is a seven-letter reading. “You will be defeated” is the reading. Who will defeat them? The believers will defeat them, as Allah the Exalted said: “And to Allah belongs the might, and to His Messenger, and to the believers.” And Allah the Exalted said: “Allah has decreed: ‘I will surely prevail, and My messengers.’ Indeed, Allah is Powerful, Exalted in Might.” But who is the prevailing believer? The prevailing believer is the one who believed truly and performed righteous deeds. It is not merely faith, which is the statement with the tongue. Among people are those who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not believers. There must be sincere faith that is witnessed by deeds, so that it becomes righteous. And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: “Indeed, We will surely support Our messengers and those who believe in the life of this world and on the Day the witnesses stand. So those who believed with true faith, confirmed by deeds, will surely prevail, without doubt. They will prevail over the disbelievers.”