Al-Ra'd: (25) And those who break the covenant of Allah...

Know that when the Almighty mentioned the characteristics of the fortunate ones and the lofty, noble states resulting from them, He followed it by mentioning the state of the wretched ones and the resulting shameful, detestable states. He followed the promise with a warning, and reward with punishment, so that the explanation would be complete. He said: {And those who break the covenant of Allah after its firm establishment} (Al-Ra'd: 25).

We have already explained that the covenant of Allah is what He has obligated upon His servants through rational and transmitted proofs, as these are stronger than any covenant or oath. Oaths only derive their emphasis from the proofs indicating the obligation to fulfill their requirements.

Breaking these covenants means one of three things:

1. Not looking at the proofs at all, in which case acting according to them becomes impossible.
2. Looking at them, knowing their correctness, yet stubbornly refusing to act upon them.
3. Looking at a doubt and thus believing something contrary to the truth.

The meaning of His saying: {after its firm establishment} (min ba‘di mithāqihi) is after Allah has strongly confirmed and reinforced those proofs, because nothing is stronger than what Allah has indicated as obligatory, regarding what benefits one's action and harms its abandonment.

If it is asked: If the covenant only exists with a firm establishment (mithāq), what is the benefit of Allah stipulating it by saying {after its firm establishment}?

We reply: It is not impossible that the intended meaning of the covenant (‘ahd) is what Allah has obligated the servant with, and the intended meaning of the firm establishment (mithāq) is the reinforcing proofs. This is because Allah may reinforce the covenant to you with other proofs, whether those reinforcing proofs are rational or transmitted.

Then the Almighty said: {And they cut that which Allah has commanded to be joined} (Al-Ra'd: 21). This is in contrast to His saying: {And those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined} (Al-Ra'd: 21). He made severing the opposite of joining as a characteristic of these people. This means cutting off everything Allah has commanded to be joined, including:

• Joining the Messenger through loyalty and support.
• Joining the believers.
• Joining the relatives (kinship ties).
• Joining everyone else who has a right.

Then He said: {and spread corruption in the land}. This corruption is inviting people to other than the religion of Allah. It may also occur through injustice concerning lives and wealth, and the destruction of lands.

Then, after mentioning these characteristics, the Almighty said: {For them is the curse}. The curse from Allah means being distanced from the good of this world and the Hereafter, towards their opposites, such as torment and vengeance. {And for them is the evil abode}, because the intended meaning is Hellfire, and there is nothing in it except what displeases whomever arrives there.

{Allah expands the provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, in [comparison to] the Hereafter, except [as] enjoyment.} (Al-Ra'd: 26)

{And those who disbelieve say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?" Say, "Indeed, Allah leaves astray whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns to Him."} (Al-Ra'd: 27)

{Those who have believed and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah alone do hearts find rest.} (Al-Ra'd: 28)

{Those who have believed and done righteous deeds, Tūbā (blessedness) is for them, and a good place of return.} (Al-Ra'd: 29)

{Thus have We sent you to a community before which [other] communities had passed away, to recite to them what We have revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Merciful. Say, "He is my Lord; there is no deity except Him. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him is my return."} (Al-Ra'd: 30)

{And if there were a Qur'an by which mountains could be moved, or the earth could be split apart, or the dead could be made to speak, [it would be this Qur'an]. But the affair is entirely Allah's. Have those who believed not despaired that if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of mankind? And those who disbelieve will not cease to be afflicted with what they have done, or it will settle near their homes, until the promise of Allah comes. Indeed, Allah does not fail in [His] promise.} (Al-Ra'd: 31)

{And certainly were messengers ridiculed before you, but I gave respite to those who disbelieved. Then I seized them, and how [severe] was My penalty.} (Al-Ra'd: 32)

{Then is He who is [in attendance] over every soul for what it has earned [like the others]? And they have attributed to Allah partners. Say, "Name them." Or do you inform Him of that which He knows not upon the earth, or is it just an empty statement? Rather, the plotting of those who disbelieved has been made attractive to them, and they have been barred from the way. And he whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.} (Al-Ra'd: 33)

{For them is a punishment in the worldly life, but the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe, and for them there is no protector from Allah.} (Al-Ra'd: 34)

{The example of Paradise which was promised to the righteous: Rivers flow beneath it; its food is perpetual and its shade is perpetual. That is the consequence for those who feared Allah, and the consequence for the disbelievers is the Fire.} (Al-Ra'd: 35)