Tafsir of Ibraheem 14:27

Surah Ibrahim (14:27)

{يثبت الله الذين آمنوا بالقول الثابت في الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة}

Know that when the Almighty established that the characteristic of the good word (Kalimah Tayyibah) is to have a firm root, and the characteristic of the evil word (Kalimah Khabithah) is to have no firm root, being cut off and having no stability, He then mentioned that this firm statement proceeding from them in the worldly life necessitates the stability of God's honor upon them and the stability of His reward for them.

The objective is to clarify that steadfastness in knowledge and obedience necessitates steadfastness in reward and honor from God Almighty.

Thus, His saying: {يثبت الله} (God makes firm) means He makes them firm upon reward and honor.

And His saying: {بالقول الثابت في الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة} (with the firm saying in the worldly life and in the Hereafter) means with the firm saying that used to proceed from them while they were in the worldly life.

{ويضل الله الظالمين} (and God leaves the wrongdoers astray)

This means, just as the evil word had no firm root nor a lofty branch, so too are the companions of the evil word—who are the wrongdoers—whom God leaves astray from His honors and prevents from attaining His reward.

There is another interpretation for this verse, which is the famous view that this verse was revealed concerning the questioning by the two angels in the grave, and God instructing the believer with the true statement in the grave upon questioning, thereby establishing him upon the truth.

It is narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding His saying: {يثبت الله الذين آمنوا بالقول الثابت في الحياة الدنيا وفي الآخرة}: "When he is asked in the grave, 'Who is your Lord? What is your religion? And who is your Prophet?' he will say, 'My Lord is God, my religion is Islam, and my Prophet is Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).'"

The preposition bā’ in {بالقول الثابت} (with the firm saying) indicates that God Almighty only establishes them in the grave because of their constant adherence to this saying in the worldly life.

There is a rational basis for this: the more frequent the adherence to an action, the stronger the establishment of that state in the intellect and the heart. Therefore, the more complete and perfect the servant's adherence to the remembrance of Lā ilāha illā Allāh and contemplation of its realities and subtleties, the stronger and more complete the establishment of this knowledge in his intellect and heart after death will be.

Ibn Abbas said: Whoever perseveres in bearing witness (to the Shahādah) in the worldly life, God will establish him upon it in his grave and prompt him to say it. The Hereafter is interpreted here as the grave because the deceased has been cut off from the rulings of the world by death and has entered into the rulings of the Hereafter.

His saying: {ويضل الله الظالمين} (and God leaves the wrongdoers astray) means that the disbelievers, when questioned in their graves, will say, "We do not know." They say this only because God has left them astray.

His saying: {ويفعل الله ما يشاء} (And God does what He wills) means that if He wills, He guides, and if He wills, He leaves astray, and there is absolutely no objection to His action.

Surah Ibrahim (14:28-30)

{أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ بَدَّلُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ كُفْرًا وَأَحَلُّوا قَوْمَهُمْ دَارَ الْبَوَارِ} (Have you not seen those who exchanged the favor of God for disbelief and settled their people in the House of Destruction?)

{جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا وَبِئْسَ الْقَرَارُ} (Hell, they will burn therein—and wretched is the resting place!)

{وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلُّوا عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۚ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى النَّارِ} (And they set up rivals to God to lead [people] astray from His way. Say, "Enjoy yourselves, for indeed, your destination is the Fire.")