عِنْدَ هَذِهِ النُّقْطَةِ، لَا يَجِدُ الرَّسُولُ بُدًّا مِنْ أَنْ يَسْتَنْصِرَ اللهَ تَعَالَى كَمَا اسْتَنْصَرَ نُوحٌ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ. وَهُوَ يَسْتَخْدِمُ نَفْسَ الْأَلْفَاظِ الَّتِي اسْتَخْدَمَهَا نُوحٌ: {قَالَ رَبِّ انْصُرْنِي بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ} (الآية 39).
At this point, the messenger finds no alternative but to seek God’s help like Noah did before him. He uses the same wording as Noah: “He said: My Lord, help me against their accusation of lying.” (Verse 39)
استجاب اللهُ لرسولِه حين أبى الناسُ أن يغتنموا الفرصةَ التي أُتيحت لهم. ولم يكن يُرجى منهم خيرٌ بعد أن أصرّوا على إنكار الحق. فجاء الجواب على دعوة الرسول ﷺ بهذا القول:
God responded to His messenger when the people refused to take the chance afforded to them. Nothing good could be expected from them after they had persisted in their denial of the truth. The messenger’s appeal receives this answer:
قال [الله]: "عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ لَيُصْبِحُنَّ نَادِمِينَ." (الآية 40) لكن حينئذٍ لا تنفع الندامة. لا رجعة بعد ذلك: "فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ الصَّيْحَةُ بِالْحَقِّ فَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ غُثَاءً." (الآية 41) إن الكلمة العربية "غُثَاء" التي تصف حالهم تحمل دلالات أعمق، إذ تشير إلى ما يحمله السيل من نبات يابس وأشياء أخرى مرمية لا قيمة لها ولا نفع فيها. فلما طرحوا الصفات التي كرّمهم الله بها، وغفلوا عن الغاية من وجودهم في هذه الدنيا، وقطعوا صلتهم بالمجتمع الأعلى، لم يعودوا يستحقون المعاملة الكريمة. ولذلك صاروا كالزبد الذي يحمله السيل، لا يلتفت إليه أحد.
“Said [God]: Before long they shall come to rue it.” (Verse 40) But then no regret will be of any avail. There is no turning back: “Then the blast overtook them in all justice, and We caused them to be like dead leaves.” (Verse 41) The Arabic word, ghuthā’, describing their status contains even more connotations as it refers to what floods may carry of dead plants and other discarded, worthless items that serve no purpose. Having discarded the qualities with which God has honoured them, overlooked the purpose of their existence in this life and severed their relation with the Supreme Society, they no longer deserve honourable treatment. Hence, they are like the scum that the flood carries. No one pays any regard to it.
وإلى هذا الذل يُضاف أنهم محرومون من فضل الله، فلا يلتفت إليهم أحد: ﴿فَبُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ﴾ (الآية 41). إنهم بعيدون في الحياة الواقعية، وبعيدون عن ذاكرة الناس وضمائرهم.
To this humiliation is added the fact that they are deprived of God’s grace; thus no-one pays any attention to them: “And so – away with those wrongdoing folk!” (Verse 41) Far removed are they in real life and from people’s memories and consciences.
ثُمَّ تَمْضِي السُّورَةُ فَتَنْظُرُ فِي الْأَجْيَالِ وَالْأُمَمِ الْأُخْرَى.
The sūrah goes on to look at other generations and communities:
ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قُرُونًا آخَرِينَ. مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَىٰ ۖ كُلَّ مَا جَاءَ أُمَّةً رَّسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ ۖ فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُم بَعْضًا وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ ۚ فَبُعْدًا لِّقَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Then after them We raised new generations. No community can forestall the end of its term nor delay it. And We sent forth Our messengers, one after another. Every time their messenger came to a community, they accused him of lying. So, We caused them to follow one another, and let them become mere tales. And so – away with the folk who would not believe. (Verses 42-44)
هذا يعطينا ملخصًا موجزًا لدعوة الحق، ويقرر السنّة الجارية التي يُجري الله عليها حياة البشر، منذ زمن نوح وهود في البداية حتى موسى وعيسى في النهاية. فكل أمةٍ لها أجلها ثم تنقضي: ﴿مَا تَسْبِقُ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلَهَا وَمَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ﴾ (الآية ٤٣).
This gives us a very brief summary of the advocacy of the truth, and establishes the normal trend that God operates in human life, right from the time of Noah and Had at the beginning to Moses and Jesus at the end. Every generation gets its term and departs: “No community can forestall the end of its term nor delay it.” (Verse 43)
كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ تُنْكِرُ الْحَقَّ الَّذِي جَاءَهَا عَلَى لِسَانِ رَسُولِ اللهِ: «كُلَّمَا جَاءَ أُمَّةً رَسُولُهَا كَذَّبُوهُ». (الآية ٤٤) وَفِي كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ يَفْعَلُونَ ذَلِكَ، يُعَاقَبُونَ وِفْقَ سُنَّةِ اللهِ: «فَأَتْبَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ بَعْضًا». (الآية ٤٤) وَتَبْقَى الْعِبْرَةُ قَائِمَةً لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَّعِظَ: «وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَحَادِيثَ»، يَتَنَاقَلُهَا جِيلٌ بَعْدَ جِيلٍ.
Every community denies the truth given to them through God’s messenger: “Every time their messenger came to a community, they accused him of lying.” (Verse 44) And each time they do this, they are punished according to God’s law: “So, We caused them to follow one another.” (Verse 44) The lesson remains there for anyone who wishes to learn: “We let them become mere tales,” told by one generation to the next.
يختتم هذا الملخص الموجز برفضٍ قاطعٍ لمثل هذه الجماعات.
This brief summary concludes with an emphatic rejection of such communities.
فَبُعْدًا لِّقَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Thus, they are cast away: “And so – away with the folk who would not believe.” (Verse 44)
ثُمَّ تُذْكَرُ قِصَّةُ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنْكَارُ فِرْعَوْنَ لِرِسَالَتِهِ فِي عَرْضٍ مُوجَزٍ جِدًّا يَتَّسِقُ مَعَ الأُسْلُوبِ العَامِّ لِلسُّورَةِ وَمَقْصِدِهَا.
Moses’ story and Pharaoh’s denial of his message is then told in a very brief account that fits with the general style of the sūrah and purpose.
ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَأَخَاهُ هَارُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا عَالِينَ۔ فَقَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَيْنِ مِثْلِنَا وَقَوْمُهُمَا لَنَا عَابِدُونَ۔ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَكَانُوا مِنَ الْمُهْلَكِينَ۔
And then We sent forth Moses and his brother Aaron, with Our signs and with clear authority, to Pharaoh and his nobles; but these behaved with arrogance, for they were haughty people. And so they said: Are we to believe two mortals like ourselves, even though their people are our slaves?’ Thus, they gave the lie to them, and earned their place among the doomed. (Verses 45-48)
مرة أخرى نلاحظ في هذا السياق الاعتراض نفسه على كون الرسول مجرد إنسان: ﴿قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَيْنِ مِثْلِنَا﴾ (الآية 47). وتُضاف أيضاً اعتبارات خاصة متصلة بحال بني إسرائيل في مصر: ﴿وَقَوْمُهُمَا لَنَا عَابِدُونَ﴾ (الآية 47). فهم خاضعون لنا وينفذون أوامرنا. وفي هذه الحال يستحق موسى وهارون، في نظر فرعون وقومه، أن يُنظر إليهما نظرة ازدراء. أما الآيات والدلائل التي أُوتيا من الله، والسلطان المبين الممنوح لهما، فلا قيمة لها عند هؤلاء القوم، لانشغالهم بالاعتبارات الدنيوية والقيم الزائفة.
Again in this account we note that the same objection is given to the fact that the messenger was merely a human being: “They said: Are we to believe two mortals like ourselves?” (Verse 47) A specific consideration connected with the Israelites’ situation in Egypt is also added: “Even though their people are our slaves?” (Verse 47) They are subservient to us and they do our bidding. In this situation, Moses and Aaron deserve, in Pharaoh’s and his people’s view, to be looked down upon. As for the revelations and the signs they have been given by God, and the clear authority granted to them, these count for nothing according to these people, focused as they are on earthly considerations and false values.
ويَعقُبُ ذلك إشارةٌ موجزةٌ إلى عيسى وأمِّه، مُبرِزةً المعجزةَ العظيمةَ في خَلقه. وكذلك، فإنَّ الذين أصرُّوا على إنكار الحقِّ وخَلقِ الله، ردُّوا هذه الآيةَ التي تُشيرُ بوضوحٍ إلى قدرةِ الله.
This is followed by a similarly brief reference to Jesus and his mother, highlighting the great miracle in his creation. Again, those who were bent on denying the truth of God and creation rejected this sign clearly pointing to God’s power:
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ. وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً، وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ.
We had indeed given Moses the Book, so that they might be guided. And We made the son of Mary and his mother a symbol, and provided them with an abode in a lofty place of lasting restfulness and a fresh spring. (Verses 49-50)
تَتَعدَّد الرِّوايات حول الجَبَل الموصوف هنا بأنه "مكانٌ مرتفعٌ"، وحول موقعه الدقيق. فهل كان في مصر أو دمشق أو القدس؟ وهي الأماكن التي ذهبت إليها مريمُ بابنها في طفولته وشبابه، كما ورد في الأسفار المسيحية. لكنَّ معرفةَ الموقع الدقيق ليست ذاتَ أهميةٍ حاسمة. الأهمُّ أن نعلم أنَّ الله أعطاهما مأوًى طيبًا تنمو فيه النباتات الجميلة، ويكثر فيه الماءُ الصافي. وبذلك شعرا أنَّ الله يرعاهما.
There are a number of different reports about the hill described here as a ‘lofty place’ and its exact location. Was it in Egypt, Damascus or Jerusalem? These were the places where Mary went with her son during his childhood and youth, as mentioned in Christian Scriptures. But knowing the exact location is not of vital importance. It is more important to know that God gave them both a goodly abode where fine plants grew and clear water was plentiful. Thus, they felt that God took care of them both.
في هذا الموضع من السورة، ومن خلال إشاراتها السريعة إلى الرسل السابقين، توجّه السورة خطابها إلى أتباع جميع الرسل، كأنهم مجتمعون جميعًا.
At this point in its quick references to earlier messengers the sūrah makes its address to the followers of all messengers, as though they were all gathered together.
وهكذا، تتبيّن أنّ فواصل الزمان والمكان لا قيمة لها عند مقارنتها برابطة الإيمان الحقيقية التي تجمعهم جميعاً:
Thus, the separating gulfs of time and place are shown to be meaningless when compared to the true bond of faith that unites them all:
يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٥١﴾ وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ ﴿٥٢﴾
Messengers! Eat of that which is wholesome, and do good deeds: I certainly have full knowledge of all that you do. This community of yours is one single community, and I am your only Lord. Therefore, fear Me alone. (Verses 51-52)
هذا الخطاب الموجَّه إلى رسلِه يقتضي منهم أن يعيشوا حياةَ البشر، وهو عينُ ما أنكره عليهم مَن عارضهم حين قالوا: ﴿كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ﴾. فالأكلُ حاجةٌ إنسانيةٌ، غير أنَّ اختيارَ الطيِّبِ وحدَه هو الجانبُ الذي يرفعُ الإنسانَ ويجعلُه ينمو في الطهارة، وبه يتمكَّن من إقامة الصلة بالمجتمع الأعلى.
This address to His messengers requires them to live as human beings, which is the very thing that those who opposed them questioned: “Eat of that which is wholesome.” Eating is a human need, but choosing only what is wholesome is the aspect that elevates human beings and makes them grow in purity. It enables them to establish a bond with the Supreme Society.
وهم مأمورون أيضاً بأن «يعملوا الصالحات». وإذا كان الفعل أمراً مشتركاً بين جميع بني الإنسان، فإن الإصرار على فعل الخير هو سمة أهل الخير، إذ يمنح أعمالهم ضابطاً ويجعل لها غايةً واضحة. وهؤلاء أيضاً يرفعون أبصارهم إلى المجتمع الأعلى كلما شرعوا في أمرٍ من الأمور.
They are also required to “do good deeds.” While taking action is common to all human beings, insisting on doing good is the characteristic of goodly people, providing a measure of control and a clear goal for their deeds. Again such people look up to the Supreme Society when they embark on anything.
لم يُطلَب من أي رسولٍ من رسل الله أن يتخلّى عن إنسانيته قط. بل كان المطلوب منهم أن يرتقوا بهذه الإنسانية إلى أسمى مستوى يمكن للبشر أن يبلغوه بتقدير الله. وبذلك قدّم الأنبياء النموذج والمثال الذي ينبغي للناس أن يسعَوا إلى الاقتداء به. وأمر الحكم على أفعالهم متروك لله، يحكم عليها بميزانه الدقيق: ﴿إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ﴾ (الآية 51).
No messenger of God was ever required to abandon his humanity. Rather, what they were asked to do was to elevate this humanity to the highest standard God has made possible for human beings to achieve. Thus, the Prophets provided the role model and the ideal which other people should try to emulate. It is left to God to judge their actions according to His own fine measure: “I certainly have full knowledge of all that you do.” (Verse 51)
ويُركَّز على أنَّ الزمان والمكان لا قيمةَ لهما عند مقارنتهما بالحقيقة الواحدة التي بلَّغها جميع الرسل. فقد اشتركوا جميعًا في طبيعةٍ مميَّزة، وتلقَّوا رسالاتهم من الخالق الواحد لكل شيء، وسعَوا إلى هدفٍ واحد: ﴿وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ﴾ (الآية 52).
Emphasis is placed on the fact that neither time nor place is of any significance when compared with the single truth that all messengers preached. They all shared a very distinctive nature, were given their messages by the One Creator of all, and worked towards the same goal: “This community of yours is one single community, and I am your only Lord. Therefore, fear Me alone.” (Verse 52)