Surah Al-An'am 6:47
ﱥ ﱦ ﱧ ﱨ ﱩ ﱪ ﱫ ﱬ ﱭ ﱮ ﱯ ﱰ ﱱ ﱲ
Say, "Have you considered: if the punishment of Allah should come to you unexpectedly or manifestly, will any be destroyed but the wrongdoing people?"
Tafsir of Al-An'am 6:47
Tafsir
Mafatih al-Ghayb
Verse range: 6:47
Al-An'am (The Cattle): (47) Say, "Have you considered..."
Know that the preceding proof was specific to taking the hearing, sight, and heart, whereas this [verse] is general concerning all types of punishment. The meaning is: there is no repeller of any type of punishment except Allah, the Sublime, and there is no achiever of any good except Allah, the Sublime. Therefore, it is obligatory that He alone be worshipped with all forms of worship, and no one else.
If it is asked: What is meant by His saying, {suddenly or openly}? We say: The punishment that comes to them either comes without any preceding sign indicating its arrival, or with a preceding sign. The first is baghtatan (suddenly). The second is jahratan (openly). Allah, the Exalted, named the first baghtatan because it surprises them, and He named the second jahratan because the punishment itself befalls them while they have recognized it, such that if they were able to avoid it, they would have avoided it.
It is narrated from Al-Hasan that he said: {suddenly or openly} means by night or by day. Al-Qadi said: This statement must be interpreted according to what was previously mentioned, because if that punishment came to them by night and they had witnessed its prelude, it would not be sudden (baghtatan). And if it came to them by day while they were unaware of its prelude, it would not be open (jahratan). However, if we interpret it according to the manner previously mentioned, the statement is sound.
If it is asked: What is meant by His saying, {Will any be destroyed except the wrongdoing people} while knowing that when punishment descends, there is no distinction made?
We say: Although destruction may outwardly encompass the righteous and the wicked, in reality, destruction is specific to the wicked wrongdoers. This is because the righteous, due to the descent of those adversities upon them, deserve immense types of reward and high ranks with Allah, the Sublime. Thus, even though it appears as affliction outwardly, it results in great felicity.
As for the wrongdoers, when affliction descends upon them, they have lost both this world and the Hereafter. Therefore, Allah described them as being destroyed. This is a reminder that the pious, pure believer is the fortunate one, whether he is in affliction or in blessings and grace, and that the wicked disbeliever is the wretched one, no matter how his fate turns or his circumstances vary. And Allah knows best.
**7 < {And We send not the messengers except as bringers of good tidings and warners. So whoever believes and reforms, there will be no fear upon them, nor will they grieve. * But those who deny Our verses—the punishment will touch them for their continuous defiance.} > 7
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