Surah At-Taghabun: Verses 11–13

Translation and Exegesis

{...except by the permission of Allah.} (11)

This means by the command of Allah, as Al-Hasan stated. Or, it means by the decree and predestination of Allah. Or, it means by the will and desire of Allah, the Exalted. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said it means by His knowledge and decree.

{...and whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart.} (11)

This means He guides his heart at the time of affliction, or at the time of death, or illness, or poverty, or drought, and the like. Thus, he knows that it is from Allah, the Exalted, so he submits to Allah's decree and seeks refuge (by saying Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un). This is what is meant by {He will guide his heart}: guiding it toward submission to Allah's command.

A parallel example is His saying: {Those who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is those who are the [rightly] guided.} (Al-Baqarah: 156-157).

The scholars of meaning said: He guides his heart toward gratitude during ease and patience during adversity. This aligns with the meaning stated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): He guides his heart to what He loves and is pleased with.

It has also been recited as {أغفلنا قلبه} (We made his heart heedless) with the letter Nun (implying "We"). From 'Ikrimah, it is recited as {يُهْدِئ قلبه} (He calms his heart) with the Fath on the Dal and Damm on the Ya. It has also been recited as {يَهْدَأ} (It becomes calm). Al-Zajjaj said: Hada'a qalbuhu yahda' (His heart became calm, it becomes calm) when it settles.

The word qalb (heart) is read in the nominative case (raf') and the accusative case (nasb). The justification for the accusative case is that it is like the structure of {من سفه نفسه} (whoever acts foolishly concerning himself) (Al-Baqarah: 130).

{And Allah is, of all things, Knowing.} (11)

This may refer to the reassurance of the heart during affliction. Or, it means Allah is Knowing of the one who truly believes his Messenger, so whoever believes him, Allah guides his heart.

{And obey Allah and obey the Messenger.} (12)

This means obey what has come from Allah, specifically regarding making calamities and misfortunes easy to bear, and follow the commands issued by Allah and the Messenger in what he calls you to.

{But if you turn away, then upon Our Messenger is only the clear conveyance [of the message].} (12)

This means the clear and evident delivery of the message.

{Allah! There is no deity except Him.} (13)

This might be part of the preceding praiseworthy attributes of Allah, the Exalted, starting from {To Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is over all things competent.} (At-Taghabun: 1). Whoever is described with these attributes and similar ones, {then He is the One for whom there is no deity except Him}—meaning no one is worthy of worship except Him, and no one is the ultimate goal except Him. Reliance in every matter is upon Him, and to Him is the return and final destination.

{And upon Allah let the believers rely.} (13)

This clarifies that the believer relies only upon Him and seeks strength only from Him, because he believes that the true capable one is none other than Him.

In Al-Kashshaf, it is mentioned that this is an encouragement for the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to rely upon Allah and seek protection in Him regarding his mission, so that Allah may grant him victory over those who denied him and turned away from him.

If it is asked: How does {No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah} connect to what precedes it? We reply: It connects to His saying: {Say, "O you people!} (At-Taghabun: 8). Since whoever believes in Allah and affirms Him knows that no disaster strikes him except by the permission of Allah.

[Then Allah, the Exalted, said:]

{O you who have believed, indeed, among your spouses and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them.} (14)

{And if you overlook and pardon and forgive, then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (14)

{Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward.} (15)

{So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend—it is better for yourselves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul—it is those who are the successful.} (16)