Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:26

Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider): Verse 26

Original Text Segment:

يعني لما رأى لوط معجزته آمن وقال إبراهيم { إنى مهاجر إلى ربى } أي ~~إلى حيث أمرني بالتوجه إليه { إنه هو العزيز الحكيم } عزيز يمنع أعدائي عن ~~إيذائي بعزته ، وحكيم لا يأمرني إلا بما يوافق لكمال حكمته ، وفي الآية ~~مسائل :

Translation: This means that when Lot saw his [Abraham's] miracle, he believed. And Abraham said, {Indeed, I will emigrate to my Lord}—meaning, to where my Lord commanded me to go. {Indeed, He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.} He is All-Mighty, preventing my enemies from harming me by His might, and All-Wise, as He only commands me with what aligns with the perfection of His wisdom. In this verse, there are several issues:

Original Text Segment:

المسألة الأولى : قوله : { فئامن له لوط } أي بعد ما رأى منه المعجز ~~القاهر ودرجة لوط كانت عالية ، وبقاؤه إلى هذا الوقت مما ينقص من الدرجة ~~ألا ترى أن أبا بكر لما قبل دين محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وكان نير القلب ~~قبله قبل الكل ، من غير سماع تكلم الحصى ولا رؤية انشقاق القمر ، فنقول إن ~~لوطا لما رأى معجزته آمن برسالته ، وإما بالوحدانية فآمن حيث سمع حسن ~~مقالته ، وإليه أشار بقوله : { فئامن له لوط } وما قال فآمن لوط .

Translation: The First Issue: Regarding His statement, {So Lot believed him}. This means that Lot believed after witnessing the overwhelming miracle. Lot's status was already high, and his remaining [in belief] until this point might seem to diminish that status. Do you not see that when Abu Bakr accepted the religion of Muhammad (peace be upon him), being a man of pure heart, he believed before everyone else, without hearing stones speak or seeing the moon split? We say that when Lot saw the miracle, he believed in his prophethood (Risalah). As for his belief in Oneness (Tawhid), he believed upon hearing his eloquent speech. This is what is indicated by the phrasing {So Lot believed him} (la-hu), and not simply {So Lot believed} (fa-amana Lot).

Original Text Segment:

المسألة الثانية : ما تعلق قوله وقال : { إنى مهاجر إلى ربى } بما تقدم ؟ ~~فنقول بما بالغ إبراهيم في الإرشاد ولم يهتد قومه ، وحصل اليأس الكلي حيث ~~رأى القوم الآية الكبرى : { ولم * يؤمنوا } وجبت المهاجرة ، لأن الهادي إذا ~~هدى قومه ولم ينتفعوا فبقاؤه فيهم مفسدة لأنه إن دام على الإرشاد كان ~~اشتغالا بما لا ينتفع به مع علمه فيصير كمن يقول للحجر صدق وهو عبث أو يسكت ~~والسكوت دليل الرضا فيقال بأنه صار منا ورضي بأفعالنا ، وإذا لم يبق ~~للإقامة وجه وجبت المهاجرة .

Translation: The Second Issue: What is the connection between his statement {Indeed, I will emigrate to my Lord} and what preceded it? We say: Since Abraham exerted himself greatly in guidance, yet his people did not follow, and complete despair was reached when the people witnessed the greatest sign ({and they did not believe}), emigration became obligatory. This is because if a guide guides his people and they do not benefit, his remaining among them becomes a corruption (mafsadah). If he continues to preach, he is occupied with something from which he gains no benefit, despite his knowledge, making him like one telling a stone to speak—which is futile. Or, if he remains silent, that silence implies consent, leading people to say he has become one of them and accepts their actions. Therefore, when there was no longer a reason to stay, emigration became necessary.

Original Text Segment:

المسألة الثالثة : قال : { مهاجر إلى ربى } ولم يقل مهاجر إلى حيث أمرني ربي مع أن المهاجرة إلى الرب توهم الجهة ، فنقول قوله : { مهاجر } إلى حيث أ أمرني ربي ليس في الاخلاص كقوله : { إلى ربى } لأن الملك إذا صدر منه أمر برواح الأجناد إلى الموضع الفلاني ، ثم إن واحدا منهم سافر إليه لغرض ( في ) نفسه يصيبه فقد هاجر إلى حيث أمره الملك ولكن لا مخلصا لوجهه فقال : { مهاجر إلى ربى } يعني توجهي إلى الجهة المأمور بالهجرة إليها ليس طلبا للجهة إنما هو طلب لله .

Translation: The Third Issue: He said, {I will emigrate to my Lord} and did not say, "I will emigrate to where my Lord commanded me," even though attributing emigration "to the Lord" might imply direction (Jihah). We say: His statement, "I will emigrate to where my Lord commanded me," lacks the sincerity found in {to my Lord}. This is like a king commanding troops to a specific location; if one of them travels there for his own personal objective, he has emigrated to where the king commanded, but not sincerely for the king's sake. Therefore, He said, {I will emigrate to my Lord}, meaning: my movement toward the direction commanded for emigration is not sought for the sake of the direction itself, but solely for the sake of God.

Surah Al-'Ankabut (The Spider): Verse 27

Original Text Segment:

! 7 < { ووهبنا له إسحاق ويعقوب وجعلنا فى ذريته النبوة والكتب وءاتيناه أجره فى الدنيا وإنه فى لا خرة لمن الصالحين } . > 7 ! < <

Translation: {And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and We placed within his descendants prophethood and the Scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he will be, in the Hereafter, among the righteous.}