Tafsir of Ar-Rum 30:31-32

Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans): Verses 31-32

Translation and Commentary (Based on Mafatih al-Ghayb)

[Context: Following the command to be upright (Hanif) in faith...]

Since He said, "Hanif" (inclining away from others), He then said: {مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ} (Turning back to Him), meaning, turning your attention toward Him.

The address in the command {فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ} (So set your face [straight]) is directed to the Prophet, but the intent includes all believers.

This means: When you turn toward Him and abandon the world, do not feel secure (and thus cease) your worship. Rather, fear Him and persist in worship.

This means: Be worshippers when closeness (to God) is achieved, just as you stated previously.

Then, the Almighty said: {وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ} (And do not be among the polytheists).

The commentators explain this as: Do not commit polytheism after having believed. That is, do not intend anything other than God with your actions.

There is another perspective here: By saying {مُنِيبِينَ} (Turning back), God affirmed monotheism, which is the exit from overt polytheism. By saying {وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ} (And do not be among the polytheists), He intended to remove the servant from hidden polytheism. That is, let your actions intend nothing but the Face of God, and seek nothing through them except God's pleasure. For the world and the Hereafter will be attained even if you do not seek them, provided God's pleasure is achieved.

In this context, the phrase {مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا} (among those who divided their religion and became sects) means they did not unite upon Islam; each one went to a different doctrine.

It is also possible to interpret {وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا} (and became sects) as: Some worshipped God for the sake of the world, some for the sake of Paradise, and some for salvation from the Fire. Each one is content with what is in their immediate view.

However, the sincere one is not delighted by what they possess. Their delight is only in attaining what is with God and standing before Him. This is because everything we possess is perishable, according to His saying: {مَا عِنْدَكُمْ يَنْفَدُ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ} (What is with you runs out, but what is with Allah remains [forever]) (An-Nahl: 96). Therefore, there is nothing to desire in what you possess that would cause delight, except what is with God, and that is the source of true joy.

As the Almighty says: {بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ} (Nay, they are alive, sustained by their Lord) (Al 'Imran: 169), and {فَرِحِينَ بِمَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ} (rejoicing in what Allah has given them of His bounty) (Al 'Imran: 170). He made them joyful because they are with their Lord, and because of the bounty He gave them, which is inexhaustible.

This is why He said: {قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا} (Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy—in that let them rejoice") (Yunus: 58), and not in what they possess. For everything a servant possesses is transient. This is evident in the world, but also in the Hereafter, because the pleasure derived from food and drink ceases. However, God renews it for them eternally from His inexhaustible bounty. Thus, that which is inexhaustible is His bounty.

[Verse 31]