Surah 45:15
Show Full Scripture Context (45:12-15) — 4 Verses
۞ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلۡبَحۡرَ لِتَجۡرِيَ ٱلۡفُلۡكُ فِيهِ بِأَمۡرِهِۦ وَلِتَبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ
(It is) God who has subjected the sea to you, so that the ship may run on it by His command, and so that you may seek some of His favor, and that you may be thankful.
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا مِّنۡهُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And He has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth – all (of it is) from Him. Surely in that are signs indeed for a people who reflect.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ يَغۡفِرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ أَيَّامَ ٱللَّهِ لِيَجۡزِيَ قَوۡمَۢا بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكۡسِبُونَ
Say to those who believe to forgive those who do not expect the days of God, so that He may repay a people for what they have earned.
مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحٗا فَلِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَنۡ أَسَآءَ فَعَلَيۡهَاۖ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ تُرۡجَعُونَ
Whoever does righteousness, it is for himself, and whoever does evil, it is (likewise) against himself – then to your Lord you will be returned.
Allah the Exalted mentions some of the favors He gave to His servants, such as subjecting the sea for their service,
{that ships may sail through the sea by His command,} i.e., of Allah the Exalted, Who ordered the sea to cany ships,
{and that you may seek of His bounty,} in commercial and business transactions,
{and that you may be thankful.} for earning various provisions brought to you from far away provinces and distant areas through the sea. Allah the Exalted said,
the stars, the mountains, the seas, the rivers and all that you use for your benefit; these are all from His favor, kindness and bounty. Allah's statement next,
{it is all from Him.} Alone without partners in giving any of it. Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,
{And whatever of blessings you have, it is from Allah. Then, when harm touches you unto Him you cry aloud for help.} (16:53)
Ibn Jarir recorded that Al-'Awfi reported that Ibn 'Abbas said about Allah's statement,
"Everything is from Allah, and that is a Name from His Names. So it all comes from Him without rivals to dispute His authority; surely, this fact is completely certain." Allah said.
The Command to be Patient with the Harm of Idolaters
Allah's saying;
means, let the believers forgive the disbelievers and endure the harm that they direct against them.
In the beginning of Islam, Muslims were ordered to observe patience in the face of the oppression of the idolators and the People of the Scriptures so that their hearts may incline towards Islam. However, when the disbelievers persisted in stubbornness, Allah legislated for the believers to fight in Jihad. Statements of this meaning were collected from 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas and Qatadah. Mujahid said about Allah's statement,
{those who hope not for the Days of Allah ,} "They do not appreciate Allah's favors." Allah said,
meaning, if the believers forgive the disbelievers in this life, Allah will still punish the disbelievers for their evil in the Hereafter. Allah's statement next,
meaning, you will all return to Allah on the Day of Resurrection, when you and your actions will be displayed before Him. Then, He will recompense you for your deeds, good for good and evil for evil.
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 9, Page 22-24)