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Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:18

Surah Al-`Ankabut 29:18

ﱵ ﱶ ﱷ ﱸ ﱹ ﱺ ﱻ ﱼ ﱽ ﱾ ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ ﲂ

And if you [people] deny [the message] - already nations before you have denied. And there is not upon the Messenger except [the duty of] clear notification.

Tafsir

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Verse range: 29:18

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Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider): Verse 18

{And if you deny, then [know that] a nation before you has already denied.}

When the discussion concluded with the proof of Tawhid (Oneness of God), it was followed by a warning.

There are two interpretations regarding the addressee in this verse:

  1. It addresses the people of Abraham: The verse is a narration from Abraham's people, as if Abraham said to them: {If you deny, then a nation before you has already denied.} He was stating that he had fulfilled his duty of conveying the message, as the Messenger's responsibility is only conveyance and clear explanation.
  2. It addresses the people of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): The reason for using narration is that stories are often told for specific purposes, but those purposes can be forgotten due to the pleasantness of the narrative itself. Therefore, the narrator often has to ask, "Why was this story told?" The Prophet's purpose in recounting the stories of past nations was to remind his people of what happened to them so that they might refrain from denial and be deterred by the fear of punishment. Thus, amidst the narration, he said: "O my people, if you deny, nations before you have already denied and were destroyed. If you deny, I fear for you what befell others."

Based on the first interpretation (addressing Abraham's people), there are several points:

Issue 1: Understanding "{...a nation before you has already denied}"

How is this understood, given that before Noah, only the people of Idris or Seth, or Adam, existed—and they were considered one nation?

The answer is twofold:

  1. Before Noah, there were other nations, such as the people of Idris and the people of Seth, and Adam.
  2. Noah lived for over a thousand years. During that time, generations passed away, and fathers instructed their sons to refuse obedience. Thus, the people of Noah alone suffice as "nations" (plural).

Issue 2: What is "Conveyance" (al-Balāgh) and what is "Clear Explanation" (al-Mubīn)?

We say that Conveyance (al-Balāgh) is mentioning the issues, and Clear Explanation (al-Ibānah) is establishing the proof for them.

Issue 3: The Prohibition of Delaying Explanation

This verse indicates that delaying the explanation beyond the time of need is impermissible. If the Messenger conveys something but does not explain it, he has not fulfilled the "clear conveyance" (al-Balāgh al-Mubīn), and thus has not fulfilled his obligation.

{Have they not seen how Allāh initiates creation, then repeats it? Indeed, that is easy for Allāh.}