Tafsir of Al-Hijr 15:85-86

Al-Hijr: (85 - 86) And We did not create the heavens...

It is known that when the Almighty mentioned the destruction of the disbelievers, it is as if it was asked: How is destruction and punishment befitting the Most Merciful, the Most Generous?

He answered that He only created creation to be occupied with worship and obedience. If they abandon it and turn away from it, it is incumbent upon wisdom to destroy them and purify the face of the earth from them. This arrangement is sound, but it is only consistent with the view of the Mu'tazila.

Al-Jubba'i said: This verse indicates that the Almighty did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth (haqq). And because what is true cannot be false, everything done falsely, and intended to result in falsehood, cannot be true, nor can it be created by truth. This refutes the doctrine of the Jabriyya (fatalists), who claim that most of what God created between the heavens and the earth—such as disbelief and sins—is falsehood.

The Ash'ari scholars said: This verse indicates that He, the Glorified, is the Creator of all the actions of the servants. This is because it indicates that He, the Glorified, is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything between them. There is no doubt that the actions of the servants are between them, so it must be that God, the Glorified, is their Creator.

There is another aspect to the arrangement of the verse: the purpose of mentioning these stories is to console the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regarding the foolishness of his people. If he hears that past nations treated their prophets with similar corrupt dealings, it becomes easier for him to bear the foolishness directed at Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Furthermore, when the Almighty mentioned that He sent down punishment upon past nations, He then said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): {And indeed, the Hour is coming} (15:87). Indeed, God will take vengeance for you against your enemies in it and will reward you and them for your good and bad deeds. For He did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except with truth, justice, and equity. So how would it be fitting for His wisdom to neglect your affair?

Then, after consoling him regarding the harm inflicted by his people, the Almighty encouraged him toward pardoning their misdeeds, saying: {So pardon with a beautiful pardon} (15:88). That is, turn away from them and bear what you receive from them with a beautiful turning away, with forbearance and overlooking. It is said that this verse is abrogated by the "Verse of the Sword" (Qital), but this is remote, because the purpose of this verse is to manifest beautiful conduct, forgiveness, and pardon. How could it be abrogated?

Then He said: {Indeed, your Lord is the Creator, the All-Knowing} (15:89). This means that He created creation despite the difference in their natures and the variation in their states, while knowing that they would be so. Since this is the case, He only created them with this variation, and with knowledge of this variation. For the Ahl al-Sunnah, it is for pure Will and Desire. As for the Mu'tazila, it is for the sake of public interest (maslaha) and wisdom. And God knows best.