Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah At-Tin -> Man becoming Lowly even though He was created in the Best Form |
and the Result of that Allah says, ﴿لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَـنَ فِى أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ ﴾ (Verily, We created man in the best form.) This is the subject being sworn about, and it is that Allah created man in the best image and form, standing upright with straight limbs that He beautified. ﴿ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَـهُ أَسْفَلَ سَـفِلِينَ ﴾ (Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.) meaning, to the Hellfire. This was said by Mujahid, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Ibn Zayd and others. Then after this attractiveness and beauty, their destination will be to the Hell-fire if they disobey Allah and belie the Messengers. This is why Allah says, ﴿إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ﴾ (Save those who believe and do righteous deeds.) Some have said, ﴿ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَـهُ أَسْفَلَ سَـفِلِينَ ﴾ (Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.) "This means decrepit old age.'' This has been reported from Ibn `Abbas and `Ikrimah. `Ikrimah even said, "Whoever gathers the Qur'an (i.e., he memorizes it all), then he will not be returned to decrepit old age.'' Ibn Jarir preferred this explanation. Even if this was the meaning, it would not be correct to exclude the believers from this, because some of them are also overcome by the senility of old age. Thus, the meaning here is what we have already mentioned (i.e., the first view), which is similar to Allah's saying, ﴿وَالْعَصْرِ - إِنَّ الإِنسَـنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ﴾ (By Al-`Asr. Verily man is in loss, except those who believe and perform righteous deeds.) (103:1-3) Concerning Allah's statement, ﴿فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ﴾ (Then they shall have a reward without end.) meaning, that will not end, as we have mentioned previously. Then Allah says, ﴿فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ﴾ (Then what causes you to deny) meaning, `O Son of Adam!' ﴿بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ﴾ (after this the Recompense) meaning, `in the recompense that will take place in the Hereafter. For indeed you know the beginning, and you know that He Who is able to begin (the creation) is also able to repeat it which is easier. So what is it that makes you deny the final return in the Hereafter after you have known this' Then Allah says, ﴿أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَـكِمِينَ ﴾ (Is not the Allah the best of judges) meaning, `is He not the best of judges, Who does not oppress or do any injustice to anyone' And from His justice is that He will establish the Judgement, and He will give retribution to the person who was wronged in this life against whoever wronged him. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat wat-Tin waz-Zaytun and all praise and thanks are due to Allah.
|