Al-Furqan: (50–52) And indeed, We have varied it among them...

Issue 1: The Referent of the Pronoun in {And indeed, We have varied it} (ولقد صرفناه)

There are three views regarding what the pronoun hā (it) in صرفناه (We varied/distributed it) refers to:

1. The Majority View: It refers to the rain (المطر).
   • Some among them said that صرفناه means We made it flow through the rivers so that people might benefit from drinking, agriculture, and various means of livelihood.
   • Others said it means that Allah sends it down to some places and withholds it from others, and in one year it occurs differently than in the previous year. Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "No year has more rain than another, but Allah distributes it across the land." He then recited this verse. Ibn Mas'ud narrated from the Prophet (PBUH) that he said: "No year is rainier than another, but if a people commits sins, Allah turns that away from them. If they all sin, Allah directs it to the barren lands."
2. Abu Muslim's View: صرفناه refers to the rain, the winds, the clouds, the shade, and all other signs that Allah mentioned.
3. A Third View: ولقد صرفناه means We have explained this saying (the message/revelation) among the people in the Qur'an and in the previous scriptures sent down to the Messengers. This explanation concerns the creation of clouds and the sending down of rain so that they may reflect and deduce the existence of the Creator.

Conclusion: The first view is the closest because the rain is the most immediately preceding mentioned item to which the pronoun could refer.

Issue 2: The Implication of ليذكروا (so that they may remember)

Al-Jubba'i said that the Almighty's statement ليذكروا (so that they may remember) indicates that Allah wills for everyone to remember and be grateful. If He willed for them to disbelieve and turn away, this would not be sound. This refutes the view that Allah wills disbelief for those who disbelieve.

He further argued that His statement فأبى أكثر الناس إلا كفورا (But most people refuse except to be ungrateful) indicates their ability to perform this remembrance. If they were not capable of doing it, it would not be permissible to say they refused to do it, just as one cannot say that time refused to strive.

Al-Ka'bi said that ولقد صرفناه بينهم ليذكروا (And indeed, We have varied it among them so that they may remember) is evidence against those who claim the Qur'an is a calamity upon the disbelievers and that Allah did not intend for them to believe through its revelation. This is because the statement ليذكروا is general for everyone, and فأبى أكثر الناس implies that this majority is included in that generality. It is not permissible to say, "We sent it down to Quraysh so they might believe, but most of Banu Tamim refused except to be ungrateful."

Note: The discussion regarding this point has been presented multiple times previously.

Issue 3: The Meaning of كفورا (ungrateful/disbelieving)

فأبى أكثر الناس إلا كفورا (But most people refuse except to be ungrateful):

1. Ingratitude (Kufr al-Ni'mah): The intended meaning is the ingratitude and denial of blessings in that they do not reflect upon them nor use them as evidence for the existence, power, and benevolence of the Creator.
2. Disbelief (Kufr): It is said that الكفور means disbelief. This disbelief occurs because they say, "We had rain due to such-and-such star/constellation." Whoever denies that blessings originate from the Giver and attributes any part of these blessings to the celestial spheres and stars has committed disbelief.

The Verified Position: Whoever believes the celestial spheres and stars are independent agents in causing these events is certainly a disbeliever. However, whoever says that the Creator established them with inherent qualities and properties that necessitate these occurrences, perhaps their error does not reach the level of outright disbelief.

Issue 4: Divine Power and Foreknowledge

They mentioned that the verse indicates that what is contrary to Allah's knowledge is within His power (مقدور له).

The statement ولو شئنا لبعثنا فى كل قرية نذيرا (And if We had willed, We would have sent a warner in every town) implies that Allah did not will to send a warner in every town. Yet, Allah informs us of His ability to do that. This demonstrates that what contradicts His known decree is still within His power to enact.

Regarding the verse: {And if We had willed, We would have sent a warner in every town}

The strongest interpretation is that this statement is intended to magnify the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), for several reasons:

1. It is as if Allah is clarifying to him: Despite having the power to send a messenger and warner in every town, I singled you out for the mission and favored you above all others. This is followed by His command: فلا تطع الكافرين (So do not obey the disbelievers), meaning, do not agree with them.
2. The meaning is: If We had willed, We would have lightened the burden of the mission to all the worlds from you, and We would have sent a warner in every town. But We restricted the matter to you and honored you, favoring you over all other Messengers. Therefore, respond to this honor by being firm in the religion.
3. The verse implies a mixture of gentleness and severity. It indicates the power to send a warner like Muhammad in every town, meaning the Divine Presence has absolutely no need for Muhammad. The word ولو (And if) indicates that Allah will not do this. By considering the first part (the power), discipline is achieved; by considering the second part (the non-action), honor is achieved.

Regarding the verse: {So do not obey the disbelievers}

This means He forbade him from obeying them. This verse indicates that a prohibition concerning an act does not necessitate that the prohibited person is currently engaged in that act.

Regarding the verse: {And strive against them with a great striving} (وجاهدهم به جهادا كبيرا)

1. Some said the meaning is exerting effort in delivering the message and in supplication.
2. Others said it means fighting (Qital).
3. Others said both.

The first view is more probable because the Surah is Meccan, and the command for fighting was revealed much later, after the Hijra.

The reason for saying جهادا كبيرا (a great striving) is that if a warner had been sent in every town, it would have been incumbent upon every warner to strive against his own town. Thus, all those strivings were combined upon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), making his striving numerous and great due to that reason. Therefore, he was commanded: وجاهدهم (Strive against them) because you are the warner for all towns, جهادا كبيرا (a great striving) encompassing every form of striving.

{And it is He Who has caused the two seas to flow freely, one fresh and palatable, and the other salty and bitter, and has placed between them a barrier and a partition, securely established.}