Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:27

The Right Hand The right hand was considered the most noble and strongest of the two limbs, and people favored it. They used it for shaking hands, wiping, giving, receiving, and performing most tasks. They considered the left hand ominous, calling it al-shu’ma (the sinister), just as they called its counterpart al-yumna (the blessed). They viewed the saniḥ (that which passes from left to right) as a good omen and the bariḥ (that which passes from right to left) as a bad one. Being left-handed was considered a defect among them. The Sharia reinforced this, commanding that noble tasks be performed with the right hand and lesser tasks with the left.

The Prophet’s Preference The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) loved to begin with the right in all things. The right hand was assigned to the scribe of good deeds, and the left to the scribe of evil deeds. It was promised that the righteous would be given their record in their right hand, and the wicked in their left. Thus, the "right" was used metaphorically for the side of goodness. When it is said, "He came to him from the right," it means he came from the direction of goodness and righteousness, only to divert him from it and lead him astray.

Interpretations of the Directions Some interpretations suggest:

• From the right: The devil comes through the guise of religion, confusing the truth.
• From the left: He comes through desires.
• From before them: He comes through denying the Resurrection, reward, and punishment.
• From behind them: He instills fear of poverty for oneself and one's dependents, causing one to sever ties of kinship and withhold Zakat.

Metaphorical Meaning If you ask: "Saying 'he came from the direction of goodness' is already a metaphor, so how is 'the right' made a metaphor for a metaphor?" I reply: Some metaphors become so common in usage that they are treated as literal truths, and this is one of them. You may also interpret it as a metaphor for power and coercion, as the right hand is described as having strength and is used for striking. The meaning is: "You came to us with power and coercion, intending to dominate and overcome us until you forced us into misguidance."

The Dialogue of the Followers This is the speech of the followers to their leaders and the misguided to their devils: "Nay, you yourselves were not believers"—rather, you refused faith and turned away from it, despite having the ability to choose it over disbelief, without being forced. "And we had no authority over you"—no power to strip you of your ability and choice. "But you were a people"—who chose tyranny.

"So the word of our Lord has come into effect against us; indeed, we will taste [the punishment]"—meaning, Allah’s threat that we will inevitably taste His torment, for He knows our state and our deserving of punishment. If he had narrated the threat as it was, he would have said, "Indeed, you will taste," but he shifted it to the first-person plural because they are speaking for themselves. This is similar to the poet’s saying: "Hawazin claimed my wealth is little," whereas if he had narrated their exact words, he would have said, "Your wealth is little."

"And we misled you"—we called you to error in a way that achieved our desire, because you accepted it and responded to error over guidance. "Indeed, we were ourselves astray"—so we wanted to lead you astray so you would be like us. "So indeed, they"—both the followers and the followed—"on that Day"—the Day of Resurrection—"will be partners in the punishment," just as they were partners in misguidance. "Indeed, that is how We deal with every criminal"—meaning the cause of punishment is criminality; whoever commits it deserves it.

"Indeed, they used to, when"—they heard the word of monotheism, they would flee or grow arrogant, refusing anything but polytheism.

{ "And they say, 'Are we to leave our gods for a mad poet?' Nay, he has come with the truth and confirmed the [previous] messengers. Indeed, you will be tasters of the painful punishment. And you will not be recompensed except [for] what you used to do." }