Tafsir of Ad-Dhariyat 51:55

Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51): Verse 55

وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(And remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believers.)

Translation and Exegesis (Based on Fakhr al-Din al-Razi's Mafatih al-Ghayb):

This means that turning away (from the disbelievers) is not absolute; rather, turn away, but also engage, call (to God), and admonish. Thus, their turning away does not harm you, nor does the reminder benefit them unless it is done in the presence of the believers.

There is a more subtle meaning here: If the guidance provided by the guide (the Prophet, peace be upon him) is beneficial, his reward will be greater. When the Almighty said, {فَتَوَلَّ} (So turn away), it might lead someone to assume that the Prophet (PBUH) would then not receive a great reward. Therefore, He said, {بَلَىٰ} (Yes, [you will have a reward]). This is because there is a multitude among the believers. When you remind them, their guidance increases.

The increase in guidance is like the increase in the number of people. If a large group prays one or two rak'ahs each, and a small group prays a thousand rak'ahs each, the worship in the larger group (in terms of numbers) is like the worship resulting from an increased count. The guide receives a reward for the worship of every guided person, and the reward of the guided person is not diminished.

The Almighty said: {إِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا} (Indeed, for you is a reward) (Al-Qalam: 3). This means that even if you turn away due to the benefit derived by the believers, and even in your state of turning away from the obstinate disbelievers, you still have a reward.

The statement {فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ} (for indeed the reminder benefits the believers) has several interpretations:

1. Strengthening Certainty: It means the reminder strengthens their certainty (Yaqin), as the Almighty said: {لِيَزْدَادُوا إِيمَانًا} (that they may increase in faith) (Al-Fath: 4), and {وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَٰذِهِ إِيمَانًا} (And whenever a Surah is revealed, among them is he who says, "Which of you has this increased in faith?") (At-Tawbah: 124), and {وَزَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَآتَاهُمْ تَقْوَاهُمْ} (and He increased them in guidance and gave them their piety) (Muhammad: 17).
2. Benefit for Future Believers: It benefits the believers who come after you. When you repeat the reminder frequently, it is transmitted through continuous narration (tawatur) from you, benefiting the believers who arrive later.
3. Accumulation of Good Deeds: If the reminder leads a disbeliever to faith, he has benefited a believer (by becoming one). If it does not lead to faith, a good deed is recorded, and the good deeds of the believers are increased, thus they benefit. This is similar to what is said regarding the verse: {تِلْكَ الْجَنَّةُ الَّتِي أُورِثْتُمُوهَا} (That is the Paradise which you have inherited) (Az-Zukhruf: 72).

Next Verse Reference:

{وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} (And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.)