Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:85

Al-Ma'idah (5:85)

فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا... (So Allah rewarded them for what they said...)

Issue 1: The meaning of the reward being based on their saying.

The apparent meaning of the verse suggests that they deserved that reward merely because of their saying (since Allah said: {فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا} - So Allah rewarded them for what they said). This seems impossible, as mere utterance does not yield reward.

They responded to this in two ways:

1. Prior Description: What preceded their statement already indicated their sincerity in what they said, which is their knowledge (المعرفة). This is indicated by His statement: {مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ} (Al-Ma'idah: 83) - from what they knew of the truth. Thus, when knowledge, sincerity, and complete submission were present, and then the saying was added, the faith was perfected.
2. Interpretation of "What They Said": It is narrated from 'Aṭā' on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that {بِمَا قَالُوا} (for what they said) means for what they asked, referring to their saying: {فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ} (Al-Ma'idah: 83) - so record us among the witnesses.

Issue 2: The verse indicates that a sinful believer (Fāsiq) will not remain eternally in the Fire.

This is demonstrated in two ways:

1. The Reward of the Good-Doers: Allah states: {وَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ} (And that is the recompense of the good-doers). This Ihsan (good-doing) must be the knowledge mentioned previously ({مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ}) and the affirmation of it ({فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا}). Since this is the case, the verse proves that this knowledge and affirmation necessitate this reward for them. A person who commits a major sin possesses this knowledge and affirmation; therefore, this reward must accrue to him. This leads to one of two outcomes: either he is transferred from Paradise to the Fire (which is invalid by consensus), or he is punished for his sin and then transferred to Paradise—and this latter outcome is what is sought.
2. Contrast with Disbelievers: Allah states: {وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ} (But those who disbelieve and deny Our verses, those are the companions of Hellfire). (This contrast implies that those who believed, even if sinful, are not categorized with the companions of the Hellfire eternally.)