Tafsir of At-Taghabun 64:8

Surah At-Taghabun (64): Verse 8

[64:8] So believe in Allah and His Messenger and the light which We have sent down. And Allah, with what you do, is Acquainted.

Translation and Exegesis:

The command, {So believe} (fa-āminū), can be linked to what preceded it. Since Allah mentioned the punishment that befell past nations due to their disbelief in Him and their rejection of the Messengers, He commands: {So believe} you all {in Allah and His Messenger} so that the punishment that befell them does not befall you.

And {the light which We have sent down} (wa-an-nūr alladhī anzalnā) refers to the Qur'an, as it guides through ambiguities just as light guides through darkness. The Qur'an is specifically mentioned as light because it contains clear proofs regarding the Resurrection.

It is mentioned in Al-Kashshāf that by {His Messenger and the light} is meant Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Qur'an.

{And Allah, with what you do, is Acquainted} (Wallāhu bimā taʿmalūna khabīr): Meaning, He is aware of what you conceal and what you proclaim openly. Therefore, monitor yourselves and fear Him in both states.

[64:9] The Day He will gather you for the Day of Assembly—that is the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain (Taghābun). And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness, He will expiate his sins from him and admit him to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. That is the great attainment.

Translation and Exegesis:

{The Day He will gather you for the Day of Assembly} (Yawma yajmaʿukum li-yawm al-jamʿ): This refers to the Day of Resurrection, when the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth will be gathered.

{That is the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain (Taghābun)}: Taghābun is derived from ghabn (loss/deception) in recompense and trade. It is said: ghabanahu (he defrauded him) if he took something from him for less than its value.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it is the day when some people are being punished in the Fire while others are enjoying bliss in Paradise.

Another view is that it is the Day when the people of truth gain advantage over the people of falsehood, the people of guidance over the people of misguidance, and the believers over the disbelievers. There is no loss/deception clearer than this.

In summary, loss occurs in buying and selling. Allah has mentioned that the disbelievers traded the life of this world for the Hereafter, and they traded misguidance for guidance. He then mentioned that {their trade did not profit} (referencing the context of Surah As-Saff, 10), and He indicated a profitable trade for the believers: {Shall I direct you to a trade...} (As-Saff: 10). They sold themselves for Paradise, so the transaction of the disbelievers resulted in loss, and the transaction of the believers resulted in profit.

{And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness} (Wa-man yuʾmin billāhi wa-yaʿmal ṣāliḥan): This means believing in Allah regarding what the Messengers brought concerning the gathering, resurrection, Paradise, Hellfire, and so on, and acting righteously in accordance with that belief until death.

(Note on recitation: It is read with the 'Ya' and 'Nun' [imperfect tense] for 'yajmaʿukum' [He gathers you] and 'yukaffir' [He expiates] and 'yudkhil' [He admits].)

{And those who disbelieved} (Wa-alladhīna kafarū): Meaning, they disbelieved in the Oneness of Allah and His power, {and denied Our signs} (wa-kadhdhabū bi-āyātinā): meaning, His signs indicating the Resurrection. {Those are the companions of the Fire, abiding therein forever, and wretched is the destination} (Wa-biʾsa l-maṣīr).

First Point: Why did Allah say {and the light which We have sent down} (wa-nūrinā alladhī anzalnā) using the definite article al- (the) and not say "Our light" (nūrinā) using the possessive structure, even though the Light here is the Qur'an, which is His speech (and thus should be possessive)?

Answer: The definite article al- in an-nūr here carries the meaning of possession, as if He said: "and His Messenger and the Light which We sent down."

Second Point: Why is the adverbial phrase (referring to the Day of Assembly) in the accusative case (manṣūb)?

Answer: Al-Zajjaj said it is due to the verb {you will be resurrected} (lita-bʿathunna). In Al-Kashshāf, it is attributed to {you will be informed} (lā-tunabbaʾunna) or to {Acquainted} (khabīr) because of the inherent meaning of warning it contains. It is as if He meant: "And Allah will punish you on the Day He gathers you," or it is due to an implied verb like {Mention} (idh-kur).

Third Point: Allah used the future tense for belief: {And whoever believes} (wa-man yuʾmin), but the past tense for disbelief: {And those who disbelieved} (wa-alladhīna kafarū). Why the difference?

Answer: The implied meaning is: "And whoever among those who disbelieved and denied Our signs believes in Allah, He will admit him to Gardens, and whoever among them does not believe, those are the companions of the Fire."

Fourth Point: Allah used the singular form for belief: {And whoever believes} (wa-man yuʾmin), but the plural form for abiding: {abiding therein forever} (khālidīna fīhā).

Answer: This is according to the form of the word (bi-ḥasab al-lafẓ), while the plural refers to the meaning (i.e., the believers in general).

Fifth Point: What is the wisdom in saying {and wretched is the destination} (wa-biʾsa l-maṣīr) immediately after {abiding therein forever} (khālidīna fīhā)?

Answer: Although the meaning is implied by the preceding statement (that eternal dwelling in Hell is a wretched destination), stating it explicitly confirms the severity, as explicit confirmation strengthens the meaning.

Surah At-Taghabun (64): Verses 9-11

[64:9] No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart. And Allah is, of all things, Knowing.

[64:10] And obey Allah and obey the Messenger. But if you turn away, then upon Our Messenger is only the clear conveyance [of the message].

[64:11] Allah - there is no deity except Him. And upon Allah let the believers rely.

Translation and Exegesis:

[64:9] {No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah} (Mā aṣāba min muṣībatin illā bi-idhnillāh): This establishes divine decree. {And whoever believes in Allah - He will guide his heart} (Wa-man yuʾmin billāhi yahdi qalbah): meaning, He will guide his heart to acceptance and patience regarding the decree. {And Allah is, of all things, Knowing} (Wallāhu bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīm).

[64:10] {And obey Allah and obey the Messenger} (Wa-aṭīʿū Allāha wa-aṭīʿū r-rasūl). {But if you turn away, then upon Our Messenger is only the clear conveyance [of the message]} (Fa-in tawallaytum fa-innamā ʿalā rasūlinā l-balāghu l-mubīn): His duty is only to convey the message clearly.

[64:11] {Allah - there is no deity except Him} (Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa). {And upon Allah let the believers rely} (Wa-ʿalā Allāhi fa-līatawakkal l-muʾminūn).