Surah At-Tur (The Mount): Verse 42

"Or do they intend a plot?"

Issue 1: The Connection and Relevance Between the Preceding and Following Statements

This is clarified by explaining the meaning of the statement: "Or do they intend a plot?"

1. Interpretation 1 (The Plotters are the Ones Plotting Against Themselves): Some commentators said: "Or do they intend to plot against you (O Muhammad)? Then they are the ones plotted against." In this view, they are incapable of plotting because Allah protects and supports you.
   • If we adopt the view that this verse connects to the previous one, "Or do they have the unseen?" (referring to Surah Al-Qalam, verse 47), there is an excellent sequence:
     • Since they said, "We await for him some misfortune" (At-Tur: 30), they are asked: Do you know the unseen, thus knowing he will die before you? Or do you intend a plot, claiming you will kill him so he dies before you?
     • If you claim knowledge of the unseen, you are liars. If you think you have the power to harm him, you are mistaken, for Allah protects him from you and grants you victory over you.

2. Interpretation 2 (Connecting to the Prophet's Lack of Request for Reward): If we hold to the view that the preceding verses mean the Prophet (PBUH) does not ask them for a reward for guidance, and they do not know what he brought because it is from the unseen matters, then there are several ways to connect this:
   • First Way: The meaning of "Or do they intend a plot?" refers to the plot of Satan and his misleading influence. Thus, their desire is achieved through Satan. It is as if Allah is saying: You do not ask them for a wage, yet they know the unseen, so they are in need of you, but they turn away. They have chosen the plot of Satan and are pleased with his deviation.
     • Note on "Intend" (Arāda): Here, irāda (intending/willing) means choosing and loving, as in the verse, "Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter, We increase for him in his harvest" (Ash-Shura: 20), and "Gods other than Allah do you desire?" (As-Saffat: 86). Even clearer is His statement: "Indeed, I intend to let you bear the burden of my sin and your sin" (Al-Ma'idah: 29).
   • Second Way: The meaning, and Allah knows best, is: "Or do they intend a plot against Allah?" This plot will reach them, and they will soon be plotted against.
     • The sequence here is that since they have no valid argument for turning away, they desire the descent of punishment upon them. Allah sent them a Messenger who asks no wage and guides them to what they have no knowledge of and no scripture concerning, yet they turn away. Therefore, they intend that Allah should destroy them and plot against them, because leading them on (Istidraj) is a form of plotting, and granting respite for the increase of sin is also a form of plotting.
     • Refutation of Objection: One might argue that "plotting" and "doing evil" cannot be attributed to Allah's actions unless it is in response to something similar they initiated first (e.g., "The recompense of a bad deed is its like" [Ash-Shura: 40], "So whoever transgresses against you, then transgress against him likewise" [Al-Baqarah: 194], "And they plotted, and Allah plotted, and Allah is the best of plotters" [Al 'Imran: 54], **"Indeed, they plot a plot, And I plot a plot"* [At-Tariq: 15-16]).
     • Response: We say that "plotting" (Kayd) is what causes harm to the recipient, even if it originates from a good source. Do you not see that Abraham (PBUH) said, "I will surely plot against your idols after you turn your backs and leave" (Al-Anbiya: 57), without any prior reciprocal action mentioned?

Issue 2: The Benefit of the Statement "Then the disbelievers, they are the ones plotted against"

What is the difference between this statement and saying: "Or do they intend a plot? Then they are the ones plotted against"?

The benefit lies in the fact that the disbeliever is plotted against in return for their disbelief, not merely in return for their intention to plot.

If the verse had said, "Or do they intend a plot? Then they are the ones plotted against," it would imply that if they did not intend a plot, they would not be plotted against.

This supports our previous assertion that the intended "plot" is either Satan's plot or Allah's plot (meaning His punishment). The statement "Then the disbelievers, they are the ones plotted against" is general, applying to every disbeliever whom Satan plots against, and whom Allah plots against (i.e., punishes).

The meaning, based on our analysis, becomes: Are you guiding them for the sake of Allah, or are you asking them for a wage that burdens them so they refuse to follow? Or do they possess the unseen, making them independent of you so they turn away? Or is neither of the latter two true, meaning they desire punishment? Punishment is unavoidable for them due to their disbelief, so "the disbelievers, they are the ones plotted against [i.e., punished]."

Issue 3: The Benefit of Using the Indefinite Term "A Plot" (Kayd)

Why did Allah use the indefinite term "a plot" (Kayd) instead of specifying "your plot" (Kaydaka) or "the plot" (Al-Kayd) to remove ambiguity?

The benefit is an indication that the punishment will come to them from where they do not perceive it, as if to say it will come upon them suddenly and without their knowledge, or it is used to emphasize its greatness, as we have mentioned repeatedly.

"Or do they have a god other than Allah? Exalted is Allah above what they associate with Him!"