Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:74

{And if We had not strengthened you}—meaning: had We not firmly established you upon that which you are upon of the truth through Our preservation of you—{you would have almost inclined toward them a little something.}

"Inclination" (al-rukoon) is the slightest leaning, and its root signifies leaning toward a corner. It has been noted that when the term is used absolutely, it refers to the barest minimum of leaning. "Something" (shay’an) is in the accusative case as a verbal noun (masdar); that is: had it not been for that, you would have approached leaning toward them in the slightest, small degree due to the strength of their deception and the intensity of their guile. However, preservation reached you and prevented you from even approaching the very least degree of leaning toward them, let alone the inclination itself.

This is explicit evidence that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not contemplate responding to them, nor did he come close to doing so. This refutes those who claimed that he, may peace and blessings be upon him, contemplated it, only to be stopped by the revelation of the verse. It seems such individuals were deceived by the outward appearance of certain narrations regarding the occasion of revelation—such as the mention of "inclining" in the narration of Ibn Ishaq and those with him from the learned scholar (Ibn Abbas). It is not hidden that the Almighty’s saying, "toward them," rather than "toward their request," strongly indicates that he, may peace and blessings be upon him, was at the furthest possible distance from such a response.

What has been mentioned regarding the meaning of the verse is the apparent interpretation that immediately occurs to the understanding. Ibn al-Anbari held the view that the meaning is: "They almost reported of you that you inclined toward them," attributing their action to him, may peace and blessings be upon him, metaphorically and by way of extension—just as you would say to a man, "You almost killed yourself," meaning: people almost killed you because of what you did. This is among the convoluted interpretations that are unnecessary.

The verse is used as evidence that preservation (al-‘isma) is by the grace, success, and care of Allah Almighty.

Qatadah, Ibn Abi Ishaq, and Ibn Musarrif recited "tarkunu" with a damma on the kaf, as the present tense of "rakuna" (with a fatha on the kaf). According to the majority of reciters, it is the present tense of "rakina" (with a kasra on the kaf), though it has been said it may also be with a fatha, which is considered an overlap of the two dialects.