Al-A'raf (The Heights): Verse 181

Translation and Exegesis (Tafsir)

Verse: {And among those We have created is a community that guides with the truth and establishes justice by it.}

Exegesis:

1. Contextual Link: After Allah Almighty stated, {And certainly, We have created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind} (referring to those destined for the Fire), He immediately followed it with this verse: {And among those We have created is a community that guides with the truth and establishes justice by it}. This is to clarify that many among them are also created for Paradise.

2. Reference to Moses' People: Allah mentioned in the story of Moses: {And among the people of Moses is a community that guides with the truth and establishes justice by it}.

3. Interpretation of the Current Verse: When Allah repeated this statement here (in Al-A'raf), most commentators understood that the intended group is the Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH).
   • Qatadah and Ibn Jurayj narrated from the Prophet (PBUH) that this verse refers to this Ummah (the Ummah of Muhammad).
   • It is also narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "(This is concerning them, and Allah gave the people of Moses something similar to it)."
   • Al-Rabi' ibn Anas said that the Prophet (PBUH) recited this verse and said: "Indeed, among my Ummah there will be a group upon the truth until Jesus, son of Mary, descends."
   • Ibn Abbas interpreted it as referring to the Muhajirun (Emigrants) and the Ansar (Helpers) of the Ummah of Muhammad (PBUH).

4. Al-Jubba'i's Argument on Perpetuity: Al-Jubba'i argued that this verse proves that there is never a time devoid of those who uphold the truth, act upon it, and guide others to it, and that they will never unanimously agree upon falsehood at any point in time. He reasoned this through elimination:
   • Possibility 1: It refers specifically to the time of Muhammad (PBUH), the time when the verse was revealed. This is rejected because it was obvious to everyone that Muhammad and his Companions were upon the truth, making the verse redundant if interpreted this way.
   • Possibility 2: It means that there was a specific time in the past when all the truthful people existed together. This is also rejected because it is necessarily known that in some past era, all the righteous people existed together, which is not the intended meaning here.
   • Possibility 3 (The Correct One): It means that no era is ever without a group possessing this description. This interpretation proves that the consensus (Ijma') of these truthful people is a proof (Hujjah). Furthermore, under this interpretation, it indicates that the consensus of all previous nations (before the finality of Muhammad's message) was also a proof.

Verse: {And those who deny Our signs—We will progressively draw them near [to destruction] from where they do not perceive. * And I will grant them respite; indeed, My plan is firm.}

Exegesis:

Regarding the Almighty's saying: {And those who deny Our signs—We will progressively draw them near [to destruction] from where they do not perceive. * And I will grant them respite; indeed, My plan is firm.}