Tafsir of Al-`Ankabut 29:65

"So when they board the ship..."

Question: To what is the phrase "So when they board" connected?

Answer: It is connected to an omitted element indicated by what preceded it regarding their description and the explanation of their state. The meaning is: They are in the state previously described—of polytheism and stubbornness—yet "when they board the ship, they call upon Allah, sincere to Him in religion," appearing in the likeness of those believers who are sincere to Allah, for they mention none but Him and invoke no other god alongside Him. Calling them "sincere" is a form of mockery.

"But when He delivers them to the land," and they feel secure, they return to their state of polytheism.

The lam in "that they may disbelieve" (li-yakfuru) can be interpreted as the lam of purpose (kay), as is the case with "and that they may enjoy" (wa-li-yatamatta‘u) for those who recite it with a kasra. The meaning is: They return to their polytheism so that, by this return, they become ungrateful for the blessing of salvation, intending only to enjoy and take pleasure in it. This is the opposite of the habit of truly sincere believers, who, when Allah saves them, thank Him for the blessing of salvation and use that blessing as a means to increase in obedience, not merely for enjoyment and pleasure.

The lam of command (lam al-amr)—and the recitation of those who read wa-li-yatamatta‘u with a sukun—supports this. Similar to this is the Almighty’s saying: "Do what you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do" (Fussilat: 40).

Question: How is it permissible for Allah to command disbelief and for the disobedient to do as they wish, when He forbids such things and threatens punishment for them?

Answer: It is a metaphor for abandonment and leaving them to themselves, and that such a command is intensely displeasing. An example is when you see a man determined to do something, and you believe it is a mistake that will lead to great harm. You exert yourself in advising him and trying to dissuade him, but when you see nothing from him but refusal and persistence, you become angry with him and say, "You and your business; do what you will!" You do not intend the literal command here. How could you, when the one who commands a thing desires it, while you are in a state of intense hatred and regret? Rather, it is as if you are saying to him: "Since you have refused to accept advice, you are worthy of being told: 'Do what you will,' and being left to it, so that when you do it, the correctness of the advisor’s opinion and the corruption of your own becomes clear to you."

"Have they not seen that We have made a sanctuary safe, while people are being snatched away from all around them? Do they then believe in falsehood and disbelieve in the favor of Allah?"