Tafsir of Nuh 71:13

Surah Nuh (71:13)

ما لكم لا ترجون لله وقارا

(What is the matter with you that you do not ascribe majesty to Allah?)

There are two interpretations regarding the meaning of Tarjūna (you hope/expect) here:

The First Opinion:

That Rajā’ (hope/expectation) here means Khawf (fear).

An example cited is the saying of the Hudhali poet:

"If the bees sting him, he does not hope for their sting." (Meaning: he does not fear their sting.)

Waqār (majesty/dignity) means greatness (‘aẓamah), and Tawqīr (reverence) means glorification (ta‘ẓīm). Thus, the meaning would be: "What is the matter with you that you do not fear the greatness of Allah?"

Critique of this Opinion (Al-Razi's View):

This opinion is, in my view, impermissible (ghayr jā’iz). This is because Rajā’ is the direct opposite of Khawf in established, continuous language (al-lughah al-mutawātirah al-ẓāhirah). If we were to claim that the word Rajā’ in the language is fundamentally established to mean Khawf, it would mean prioritizing a narration transmitted by single individuals (āḥād) over the meaning transmitted by continuous testimony (tawāturu). This path leads to undermining the Quran itself, because if this principle were accepted, there would be no word in the Quran whose negation could not be interpreted as affirmation, and whose affirmation could not be interpreted as negation, through this very method.

The Second Opinion (That of the Author of Al-Kashshāf):

The meaning is: "What is the matter with you that you do not expect/anticipate for Allah a reverence (Tawqīran)?"

This means: "What is the matter with you that you are not in a state where you anticipate Allah's glorification of you?" In this interpretation, Lillāhi clarifies al-Mūwaqqar (that which is revered/glorified). If Lillāhi were placed later, it would function as an adjective for Waqār.

وقد خلقكم أطوارا

(And He has certainly created you in stages.)