The Benefits of the Verse: ((If they argue with you, say: I have submitted my face to Allah, and those who follow me...))

Then Allah the Exalted said: In this verse is evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had opponents who argued with him, and indeed they did. They argued with him regarding the foundations of the religion and its branches, mocked him, and raised numerous doubts from the time of his mission until our day. People continue to raise doubts about Islam, but Allah refuses to do anything other than complete His light, for they wish to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will complete His light. Among the benefits of this noble verse is that those who argue with the Messenger (may Allah praise and bless him) do not need to exert much effort, for they are arguing about a clear matter. Therefore, Allah commanded him to belittle them and say: If you submit, it is for your benefit; if you do not submit, it is upon you. Branching from this is that if you know that someone is only arguing with you to support his own opinion, even if it is false, you may turn away from him and say: This is what I worship Allah with, and this is what I submit to. Why? Because this is mere stubbornness, and he is not worthy of entering into argument or dispute with you, for he does not seek the truth. If he sought the truth, there would be no argument. Among the benefits of this noble verse is that the followers of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) follow in the footsteps of submission to Allah and entrusting matters to Him, as He said: . Among the benefits of the noble verse is that the face is the noblest of the limbs, and it is through it that submission or non-submission occurs, as He said: Thus, the submission of the face is what brings about submission. For this reason, a person is most humble before his Lord when he is prostrating, and closest to his Lord when he is prostrating, for this is the perfection of humility: placing your noblest limb on the ground where feet tread. Among the benefits of the noble verse is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is one who is followed, not one who follows, as He said: . Branching from this is that it is obligatory for one who has become clear to him the truth to take it, if he wishes to be among the followers of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). As for one who twists the necks of texts to fit his opinion, he is not truly a follower, for some people, when they state an opinion and an explicit text from the Qur'an or the Prophetic Sunnah contradicts it, try to twist the neck of the text and distort the text so that it agrees with their opinion. This is forbidden, for you are a follower, not one who is followed. Among the benefits of the noble verse is that the opinion of any scholar cannot be a proof for others. Why? Because all are followers, not ones who are followed. And whoever wants people to follow him rather than the truth has made himself a partner in the message. It is obligatory that when you call to the truth, you do not want people to follow you because you are so-and-so, son of so-and-so, but rather that people follow your statement because it is the statement indicated by the evidence. Among the benefits of the noble verse is the call to belittle and rebuke those who debate and oppose without submitting to Allah, as He said: And if we consider it a command, the command is clear. Among the benefits of the noble verse is the explanation of the great favor of Allah the Mighty and Majestic upon the Arabs by the sending of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The indication of this is that He said: But by the sending of the Messenger (may Allah praise and bless him), they became truly the People of the Book, for this Book that was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was described by Allah as confirming what is before it of the Book and being a guardian over it. So, praise be to Allah, these unlettered people became the true People of the Book. Thus, this is an explanation of the great favor of Allah the Mighty and Majestic upon the Arabs by the sending of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), for they were originally unlettered and ignorant, and then became People of the Book and intelligent . Among the benefits of the noble verse is the obligation of Islam for Allah, whether we say that the interrogative is for the rebuke of these people and their condemnation, or that it is for command; both indicate the obligation of Islam and submission to Allah the Mighty and Majestic. Among the benefits of the noble verse is that the people of guidance are the Muslims, as He said: . Among its benefits is also that whoever does not submit is misguided. If he knew the truth, he is among the misguided upon whom is the anger, for everyone who knows the truth and does not follow it is one upon whom is the anger. Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: In this phrase is a warning against turning away after being called. For His saying: undoubtedly warns them of their disobedience, for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) has conveyed the message. Among the benefits of the noble verse is that it is not obligatory upon the one who has conveyed the message except the conveyance, while guidance is from Allah, as He said: . Among its benefits is the obligation of conveyance upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as He said: . Among its benefits, which is a branch of what came before, is that whoever Allah has given knowledge of this revelation, upon him is the conveyance, succeeding whom? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Among the benefits of the noble verse is the indication that a person is not asked about the deeds of others; he must do what is obligatory upon him, while others are left to Allah, as He said: And He did not say: "Then upon you is their sin" and you are safe from their sin. This verse is one of the benefits from which many issues branch, including what the Prophet (may Allah praise and bless him) indicated when a group of people said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, a group of people come to us with meat, and we do not know whether they mentioned the name of Allah over it or not?" He said to them: "Mention the name yourselves and eat." This indicates that you are only required to do your own deed, while the deed of others is nothing to do with you. He did not say: "Make sure they mentioned the name or not," but he said: "Mention the name yourselves." Is this naming that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded regarding the act of the slaughterers or the act of the eaters? The eaters. The eaters? Good. If it is regarding the act of the slaughterers, as some of you said, is this naming regarding a previous act? Is there any benefit in it? There is no benefit. The benefit is to name regarding a subsequent act. And thus, his saying: "Mention the name" means regarding the eating, for the slaughter is done by others, and that is what is being asked about. As for you, upon you is the naming at the time of eating. And this is a mercy from Allah; if we were commanded to investigate the deeds of others, we would fall into a hardship without end. Yes? If a person presented us with meat, we would say: "Come, who slaughtered it? So-and-so. Did he mention the name or not? Where did he buy this sheep? Did he steal it or rob it? It might be stolen. Yes? If he said he bought it from so-and-so, where did so-and-so buy it? Or did he steal it or how? If we were commanded to investigate the deeds of others, we would say when the imam comes forward: "Come, are you in a state of ablution or not? Do you have major ritual impurity or not? Yes? Is there impurity in your garment or is it pure? Is it usurped or lawful?" It is difficult. But from the mercy of Allah is that we are not asked about the deeds of others. Whoever does a deed and is qualified for it, we do not ask about it. And asking about it is excessive strictness and burdening the soul with what it has not been burdened with. For this reason, He said: So you do your deed, and they are held accountable for their deeds. For this reason, He said: . Among the benefits of the noble verse is the affirmation of the name "The All-Seeing" for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, as it is possible that the intended meaning of "The All-Seeing" here is the attribute, for He qualified it, saying: And the name of Allah is not qualified, like and the like. Among its benefits is also the comprehensiveness of the knowledge of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, as He said: meaning with all their states. Among the benefits of the verse is the warning against disobeying Allah. How? If Allah is All-Seeing of him, then every person is ashamed or shy to do what Allah has forbidden him or to leave what Allah has commanded him, for he knows that Allah is All-Seeing of him and will punish him.