Surah 21:109
Show Full Scripture Context (21:108-112) — 5 Verses
قُلۡ إِنَّمَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَٰهُكُمۡ إِلَٰهٞ وَٰحِدٞۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ
Say: ‘I am only inspired that your God is one God. Are you going to submit?’
فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَقُلۡ ءَاذَنتُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٖۖ وَإِنۡ أَدۡرِيٓ أَقَرِيبٌ أَم بَعِيدٞ مَّا تُوعَدُونَ
If they turn away, say: ‘I have proclaimed to all of you equally, but I do not know whether what you are promised is near or far.
إِنَّهُۥ يَعۡلَمُ ٱلۡجَهۡرَ مِنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ وَيَعۡلَمُ مَا تَكۡتُمُونَ
Surely He knows what is spoken publicly and He knows what you conceal.
وَإِنۡ أَدۡرِي لَعَلَّهُۥ فِتۡنَةٞ لَّكُمۡ وَمَتَٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٖ
I do not know. Perhaps it is a test for you, and enjoyment (of life) for a time.’
قَٰلَ رَبِّ ٱحۡكُم بِٱلۡحَقِّۗ وَرَبُّنَا ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ٱلۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
Say: ‘My Lord, judge in truth! Our Lord is the Merciful – the One to be sought for help against what you allege.’
Allah commands His Messenger to say to the idolators:
meaning, will you then follow that and submit to it?
{But if they turn away} means, if they ignore that to which you call them.
meaning, 'I declare that I am in a state of war with you as you are in a state of war with me. I have nothing to do with you just as you have nothing to do with me.' This is like the Ayah:
{And if they belie you, say: "For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!"} [10:41]
{If you fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them)} [8:58]
which means: so that both you and they will know that the treaty is null and void. Similarly, Allah says here:
meaning, 'I have already informed you that I have nothing to do with you and you have nothing to do with me.'
No one knows when the Hour will come
meaning: 'it will inevitably come to pass, but I have no knowledge of whether it is near or far.'
Allah knows the Unseen in its entirety; He knows what His creatures do openly and what they do secretly. He knows what is visible and what is concealed; He knows what is secret and hidden. He knows what His creatures do openly and in secret, and He will requite them for that, for both minor and major actions.
meaning, 'I do not know, perhaps it is a trial for you, and an enjoyment for a while.' Ibn Jarir said: 'perhaps that is being delayed for you as a test for you, and enjoyment for an allotted time.' This was narrated by 'Awn from Ibn 'Abbas. And Allah knows best.
means, judge between us and our people who disbelieve in the truth. Qatadah said: "The Prophets (peace be upon them) used to say:
{"Our Lord! Judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the Best of those who give judgment."} [7:89],
and the Messenger of Allah was commanded to say this too."
It was reported from Malik from Zayd bin Aslam that when the Messenger of Allah witnessed any fighting, he would say:
"Our Lord is the Most Gracious, Whose help is to be sought against that which you attribute!"
means, 'against the various lies and fabrications that you utter, some of which are worse than others; Allah is the One Whose Help we seek against that.'
This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Anbiya'. To Allah be praise and blessings.
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 6, Page 512-515)