Surah Al-Ma'arij: (19) Indeed, mankind was created...

Issues Discussed Here:

The First Issue: Some commentators stated that the intended meaning of "mankind" (الإنسان) here refers specifically to the disbeliever. Others argued that it is general, evidenced by the subsequent exception made for those who pray (إلا المصلين).

The Second Issue: The word "halu'a" (هلوع) is derived from the root. A man "halica" (هلع) with the verbal nouns hal'an (هلعاً) or halā'an (هلاعا), and he is described as hāli' (هالع) or halū' (هلوع).

It signifies intense eagerness/greed and lack of patience. It is said: "He became distressed when hungry" (جاع فهلع).

Al-Farra' said: Al-halū' is the impatient/fretful one (الضجور). Al-Mubarrid said: Al-halu' is the restless/agitated one (الضجر). It is said: "We seek refuge in Allah from agitation when confronting adversaries" (نعوذ بالله من الهلع عند منازلة الأقران).

Regarding Ahmad ibn Yahya (al-Farra'), he narrated that Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Tahir asked him: "What is al-halu'?" He replied: "Allah has already explained it, and there is no explanation clearer than His own explanation. It is the one who, when harm befalls him, displays extreme distress (الجزع), and when good befalls him, he becomes miserly and withholds it from people."

The Third Issue: The Judge (Al-Qadi) stated that the Almighty's saying: {Indeed, mankind was created halū'a} is analogous to His saying: {Man was created hasty} (خلق الإنسان من عجل).

This does not mean that man is inherently created with this description (as a permanent, unchangeable trait). The evidence for this is twofold:

Allah Almighty condemns this trait. Allah Almighty does not condemn His own action (if it were an unavoidable creation).
Allah Almighty made an exception for the believers who strive against themselves to abandon this blameworthy characteristic. If this characteristic were necessary and resulted from God's creation, they would be incapable of abandoning it.

Know that the term al-halu' applies to two things:

The psychological state (الحالة النفسانية) which causes a person to exhibit distress, supplication, and complaint.
The outward actions (الأفعال الظاهرة) of speech and deed that indicate that psychological state.

As for the psychological state, there is no doubt that it occurs through God's creation, because one whose nature is created in that state cannot remove that state from himself. Just as one created brave and valiant cannot remove that state from himself.

However, the outward actions of speech and deed, a person can refrain from or undertake them; thus, they are matters of choice (أمور اختيارية).

But the psychological state, which is the true essence of al-halu', is created by necessity (على سبيل الاضطرار).

This is clarified by His saying: **{When harm touches him, he is distressed (jazu'a), And when good touches him, he is withholding (manū'a)}*

Tafsir of Al-Ma'aarij 70:19

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Surah Al-Ma'arij: (19) Indeed, mankind was created...

Issues Discussed Here:

The First Issue: Some commentators stated that the intended meaning of "mankind" (الإنسان) here refers specifically to the disbeliever. Others argued that it is general, evidenced by the subsequent exception made for those who pray (إلا المصلين).

The Second Issue: The word "halu'a" (هلوع) is derived from the root. A man "halica" (هلع) with the verbal nouns hal'an (هلعاً) or halā'an (هلاعا), and he is described as hāli' (هالع) or halū' (هلوع).

The Third Issue: The Judge (Al-Qadi) stated that the Almighty's saying: {Indeed, mankind was created halū'a} is analogous to His saying: {Man was created hasty} (خلق الإنسان من عجل).

Tafsir of Al-Ma'aarij 70:19

Mafatih al-Ghayb

Surah Al-Ma'arij: (19) Indeed, mankind was created...

Issues Discussed Here:

The First Issue: Some commentators stated that the intended meaning of "mankind" (الإنسان) here refers specifically to the disbeliever. Others argued that it is general, evidenced by the subsequent exception made for those who pray (إلا المصلين).

The Second Issue: The word "halu'a" (هلوع) is derived from the root. A man "halica" (هلع) with the verbal nouns *hal'an* (هلعاً) or *halā'an* (هلاعا), and he is described as *hāli'* (هالع) or *halū'* (هلوع).

The Third Issue: The Judge (Al-Qadi) stated that the Almighty's saying: **{Indeed, mankind was created halū'a}** is analogous to His saying: **{Man was created hasty}** (خلق الإنسان من عجل).

The Second Issue: The word "halu'a" (هلوع) is derived from the root. A man "halica" (هلع) with the verbal nouns hal'an (هلعاً) or halā'an (هلاعا), and he is described as hāli' (هالع) or halū' (هلوع).

The Third Issue: The Judge (Al-Qadi) stated that the Almighty's saying: {Indeed, mankind was created halū'a} is analogous to His saying: {Man was created hasty} (خلق الإنسان من عجل).