Tafsir of Al-Kahf 18:37

His companion said to him: [This is] an inauguration [of speech], as previously mentioned. "While he was conversing with him": A circumstantial clause like the previous one, its benefit being to alert [the listener] from the very beginning that what follows is speech of significant importance, presented for the sake of dialogue.

Ubayy recited [it], and this is interpreted as an exegesis: "And he was arguing with him."

"Have you disbelieved in Him who created you from dust?": That is, within the creation of your origin, which is Adam (peace be upon him). For when every individual of the human race was created, he had a share in the creation of [Adam] (peace be upon him), as his noble nature was not limited to himself; rather, it was a template containing the nature of all members of the species in a summary inclusion, entailing the extension of its effects to all. Thus, attributing creation from dust to that disbeliever is literal, considering that it is the substance of his origin. The claim that this is based on the validity of an analogy of equality is a weak fantasy. It is said: "He created you from it" because it is the origin of your substance, for the semen of a man is generated from nutrients that trace back to dust; so the attribution is metaphorical, the attribution of the cause to the effect. Reflect upon this.

"Then from a drop of semen": It is your immediate substance. Thus, the created being is one, while the origins are multiple. It is reported that there is no drop of semen from which Allah Almighty has ordained to create a human except that an angel is appointed to deposit a little dust in it, then Allah Almighty creates from it what He wills of male or female. [The author of] al-Bahr critiqued this, saying it requires proof of its authenticity. I say: My strongest opinion is that I encountered its verification, though there is discussion regarding the deduction of the verse from it, which is not hidden.

"Then He fashioned you into a man": He balanced you and perfected you as a human male. The original meaning of taswiya (fashioning/leveling) is to make a thing sawa', meaning balanced, as in "the earth would be leveled with them." Then, it is sometimes used in the sense of creation and bringing into existence, as in His saying, "And the soul and Him who fashioned it." When it is paired with creation and bringing into existence, as it is here, the intention is creation in the most perfect and balanced state, as required by wisdom, without excess or deficiency.

The word "man" is in the accusative case—according to Abu Hayyan—as a circumstantial state, which requires interpretation. Al-Hawfi said: It is in the accusative as a second object for "fashioned," meaning "then He made you a man." In this—as it is said—is a reminder of the blessing of masculinity; that is, He made you a male and did not make you a female.

The manifest view is that his disbelief in Allah Almighty is attributed to his doubt regarding the Resurrection and his statement, "I do not think the Hour will be established." He who doubts the Resurrection, as mentioned in al-Kashf, is a disbeliever in multiple respects: doubt in His Almighty power, in His—Glory be to Him—truthful reporting, and in His wisdom. Do you not see His saying—Mighty and Majestic is He—: "Did you think that We created you in vain, and that you would not be returned to Us?" This is what the context dictates, for his saying "Have you disbelieved..." was a response to his saying "I do not think the Hour will be established." For that reason, the denial was structured around his creation from dust, then from a drop of semen, which is an allusion to the proof of the Resurrection; this is the view of the majority of exegetes, though they were debated on it.

Some have said: The manifest view is that he was a polytheist, as is indicated by the saying of his companion as an insinuation against him: "And I do not associate anyone with my Lord." There is nothing in his saying "I was returned to my Lord" that contradicts this, as it is according to his companion's claim, as has passed—noting that acknowledgment of Lordship does not negate polytheism. For the idols were worshipped while acknowledging [the Lord], and they were polytheists. Thus, the meaning of "Have you disbelieved" is: "Have you associated partners?" And some of what relates to this will follow, if Allah Almighty wills.

Thabit al-Bunani recited [it], and this is interpreted as an exegesis, like the examples mentioned earlier: "Woe to you! Have you disbelieved..."