Al-A'raf (The Heights): Verse 53

Know that after Allah the Exalted clarified the removal of excuses by revealing this detailed Book—which necessitates guidance and mercy—He then explained the state of those who disbelieved Him, saying: {Do they await anything except its final outcome (ta'wīluh)}?

The word naẓar (looking/awaiting) here means expectation and anticipation.

If it is asked: How can they await and expect something while they deny and reject it? We answer: Perhaps among them are some who are doubtful and hesitant, and for this reason, they await it. Furthermore, even if they are deniers, they are like those who await, in the sense that those events (of judgment) will inevitably come to them.

Regarding the phrase {إلا تأويله} (except its final outcome): Al-Farrā’ said that the pronoun in {تأويله} refers to the Book, meaning the consequence of what they were promised through the tongues of the Messengers—reward and punishment. Ta’wīl (final outcome/interpretation) is the return or destination of a matter, derived from the saying āla al-shay’u ya’ūlu (the thing returned/ended).

This verse has been used as evidence by those who hold the view that {وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ} (And none knows its final outcome except Allah) (Al ‘Imrān: 7). This means that no one knows the ultimate consequence of the matter except Allah.

The phrase {يَوْمَ يَأْتِي تَأْوِيلُهُ} means the Day of Resurrection.

Al-Zajjāj said that the word {يَوْمَ} (Day) is in the accusative case because of the implied verb related to the following statement.

As for the phrase {يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ نَسُوهُ مِنْ قَبْلُ} (Those who forgot it before will say): This means that they had reached such a state of turning away from the Book that they became like those who had forgotten it. It is also possible that {نَسُوهُ} (forgot it) means they abandoned acting upon it and believing in it, similar to what we mentioned concerning the verse {كَمَا نَسُوا لِقَاءَ يَوْمِهِمْ هَٰذَا} (as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs) (Al-A‘rāf: 51).

Then, Allah the Exalted clarified that these people who forgot the Day of Resurrection will say: {قَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا بِالْحَقِّ} (Our Messengers indeed brought the truth). This means they will confess that everything the Messengers brought—the establishment of the gathering, the resurrection, the rising, the Day of Judgment, reward, and punishment—was all true. They only confess the reality of these matters because they witness and behold them.

Allah the Exalted clarified that when they see themselves in torment, they will say: {هَلْ لَنَا مِنْ شُفَعَاءَ فَيَشْفَعُوا لَنَا أَوْ نُرَدُّ فَنَعْمَلَ غَيْرَ الَّذِي كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ} (Is there for us any intercessors to intercede for us, or can we be sent back so we may do other than what we used to do?). The meaning is that there is no path for us to escape the severe torment we are in except through one of these two matters:

1. That an intercessor intercedes for us, causing this torment to be removed because of that intercession.
2. Or that Allah the Exalted sends us back to the world so that we may do other than what we used to do—meaning, we will worship Allah alone instead of disbelief, and obey Him instead of disobedience.

If it is asked: Did they say this speech with hope or with despair? Our answer to this is similar to what we mentioned regarding the verse {أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ} (Pour down upon us some water) (Al-A‘rāf: 50).

Then, the Exalted clarified by saying: {قَدْ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ} (They have certainly lost themselves). This indicates that those who requested this will not receive it, because if what they requested had been granted, Allah would not have ruled that they had lost themselves.

Then He said: {وَضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ} (And lost to them is what they used to invent). This means they did not benefit from the idols they worshipped in the world, nor did they benefit from the support of the false religions they vehemently defended.

Al-Jubbā’ī stated that this verse indicates two rulings:

Al-A'raf (The Heights): Verse 54