Qatadah said, {Truly, on Us is (to give) guidance.} “This means, We will explain what is lawful and what is prohibited.” Others have said that it means, “Whoever traverses upon the path of guidance, then he will reach Allah (i.e., in the Hereafter).” They consider this Ayah like Allah’s saying, And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight path. This has been mentioned by Ibn Jarir. Allah said; {And truly, unto Us (belong) the last (Hereafter) and the first (this world).} This means, ‘they both belong to Us and I (Allah) am in complete control of them.’ Then Allah says, {Therefore I have warned you of a Fire Talazza.} Mujahid said, “Blazing.” Imam Ahmad recorded from Simak bin Harb that he heard An-Nu‘man bin Bashir giving a sermon, in which he said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah giving a sermon, in which he said: «I have warned you of the Fire.» And he said it in such a voice that if a man was in the marketplace he could hear it from where I am standing now. And he said it (with such force) that the garment that was on his shoulder fell down to his feet.” Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Ishaq that he heard An-Nu‘man bin Bashir giving a sermon, in which he said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, «Verily, the person to be punished lightest of the people of the Fire on the Day of Judgement will be a man who will have placed on the soles of his feet two coals that will cause his brain to boil.»” Imam Al-Bukhari also recorded this narration. Muslim recorded that Abu Ishaq narrated from An-Nu‘man bin Bashir that the Messenger of Allah said, «Verily, the lightest punishment received by the people of the Hellfire will be a man who will have two sandals whose straps will be made of fire that will cause his brain to boil just as a cauldron boils. Yet he will not think that anyone is receiving a torment more severe than him, even though he will be receiving the lightest punishment of them.» Allah says, {None shall enter it save the most wretched.} meaning, none will enter surrounded by it on all sides except the most wretched. Then Allah explains who this (the most wretched) is by His saying, {Who denies} meaning, in his heart. {and turns away.} meaning, from acting with his limbs and performing deeds according to their pillars. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, «All of my followers will enter Paradise on the Day of Judgement except for whoever refuses.» They (the Companions) said, “Who would refuse, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, «Whoever obeys me, he will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me, then he has refused.» Al-Bukhari also recorded this Hadith. Allah then says, {And those with Taqwa will be far removed from it.} meaning, the righteous, pure, most pious person will be saved from the Fire. Then He explains who he is by His saying, {He who gives of his wealth for self-purification.} meaning, he spends his wealth in obedience of his Lord in order to purify himself, his wealth and whatever Allah has bestowed upon him of religion and worldly things. {And who has (in mind) no favor from anyone to be paid back.} meaning, giving his wealth is not done so that he may gain some favor from someone wherein they return some good to him, and therefore he gives to get something in return. He only spends his wealth {to seek the Face of his Lord, the Most High.} meaning, hoping to attain the blessing of seeing Him in the final abode in the Gardens of Paradise. Allah then says, {He, surely, will be pleased.} meaning, indeed those with these characteristics will be pleased.

The Cause of this Revelation and the Virtue of Abu Bakr

Many of the scholars of Tafsir have mentioned that these Ayat were revealed about Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. Some of them even mentioned that there is a consensus among the Qur’anic commentators concerning this. There is no doubt that he is included in the meaning of these Ayat, and that he is the most deserving of the Ummah to be described with these characteristics in general, for indeed, the wording of these Ayat is general. As in Allah’s saying, {And those with Taqwa will be far removed from it. He who} «Yes, and I hope that you will be one of them.» This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat Al-Layl, and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.