Tafsir of Al-Balad 90:17

Translation of Mafatih al-Ghayb (Al-Razi)

Regarding His saying, the Almighty: {Then he was of those who believed}

This means that the one who overcomes the difficult pass (al-'aqabah) must be among those who believed. If he were not among them, none of these acts of obedience would benefit him, nor would he truly be one who overcomes the difficult pass.

If one asks: Since belief is a condition for benefiting from these acts of obedience, it must precede them. What is the reason that Allah, the Exalted, mentioned it after them by saying: {Then he was of those who believed}?

The answer involves several points:

1. The sequence is in mention, not in existence. It is like the saying:

   "Indeed, he who became a leader, and his father became a leader after him, yet his grandfather became a leader even before that." The mention of "his father became a leader after him" does not imply a delay in his father's actual leadership, but rather, "Then mention that his father also became a leader." Similarly, in the verse, the meaning is: "Then mention that he was among those who believed."

2. It means that at the end of his affair, he was among those who believed. This refers to dying upon faith, as final acceptance (al-muwāfah) is a condition for the benefit of good deeds.

3. Some scholars hold that one who performed these acts of devotion before believing in the Prophet (PBUH), and then believed afterward, is rewarded for those prior deeds. They cite the narration that Hakim ibn Hizam, after embracing Islam, asked the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "We used to perform good deeds during the Jahiliyyah; do we receive any reward for them?" The Prophet (PBUH) replied: "You embraced Islam with all the good you had previously done."

4. The meaning of {Then he was of those who believed} is the delay and the high rank/virtue of faith compared to freeing slaves or giving charity. This is because the degree of reward for faith is far greater than the degree of reward for other deeds.

Regarding His saying, the Almighty: {And enjoined upon each other patience, and enjoined upon each other mercy}

The meaning is that they used to advise one another to be patient with faith and steadfastness upon it, or to be patient regarding sins, acts of obedience, and the trials by which the believer is tested. Then, this was coupled with enjoining mercy, which is urging one another to show mercy to the oppressed or the poor, or to show mercy to someone intending evil by preventing him from it, as all these fall under mercy.

This indicates that it is obligatory for a person to guide others to the path of truth and prevent them from following the path of evil and falsehood as much as possible.

Know that the phrase: {Then he was of those who believed, and enjoined upon each other patience, and enjoined upon each other mercy} means that the one overcoming the difficult pass belongs to this group and cohort. This group includes the greatest Companions, such as the Four Caliphs and others, as they were exceedingly patient regarding the hardships of the religion and merciful toward creation.

In summary, {And enjoined upon each other patience} points to the glorification of God's command, and {and enjoined upon each other mercy} points to compassion for God's creation. The foundation of all acts of obedience rests upon these two principles. This is what some profound scholars have stated: the basis for being characterized [by good qualities] rests on two things: truthfulness with the Truth (God), and good character with creation.

Then, when He described these believers, He clarified their status on the Day of Resurrection by saying:

{Those will be the companions of the Right Hand.}