Tafsir of Al-Jathiyah 45:14

"Say to those who believe..." The object of the speech is omitted because the answer indicates it. The meaning is: "Say to them: Forgive those who do not hope for the days of Allah."

{Those who do not hope for the days of Allah} They do not expect the occurrences of Allah against His enemies, derived from the Arabs' expression for their battles: "The days of the Arabs." It is also said: They do not hope for the times that Allah has appointed for the reward of the believers and promised them victory therein.

It is said: This was revealed before the verse of fighting, and its ruling was then abrogated. It is also said: It was revealed regarding Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) when a man from Ghifar insulted him, and he intended to strike him.

Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib narrated: "We were in the presence of Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) when a reciter read this verse. Umar said: 'May Umar be rewarded for what he has done.'"

{That He may recompense} This is the rationale for the command to forgive. That is: They were only commanded to forgive because of what Allah intended for them regarding the success of being rewarded for their forgiveness on the Day of Resurrection.

If you ask: What is the reason for using the indefinite {a people} (qawman) when He intended those who believe, who are definite? I say: It is a praise and commendation for them. It is as if it were said: "That He may recompense any people—specific people—for their patience and their overlooking the harm of their enemies among the disbelievers, and for the bitterness they forced them to swallow."

{For what they used to earn} This refers to the great reward for suppressing anger and enduring what is disliked.

The meaning of Umar’s statement, "May Umar be rewarded for what he has done," is: "May he be rewarded for his patience and endurance." And his statement to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) upon the revelation of the verse: "By the One who sent you with the truth, you shall not see anger on my face."

It is recited:

• {li-yajziya qawman} (That He may recompense a people) — meaning Allah (Mighty and Majestic is He).
• {wa-li-yajziya qawmun} (And that a people may be recompensed).
• {wa-li-yujza qawman} (And that a people may be recompensed) — in the sense of: "And that the recompense may be given to a people."

{And We certainly gave the Children of Israel the Scripture, the authority, and the prophethood, and We provided them with good things and preferred them over the worlds. And We gave them clear proofs of the matter. And they did not differ except after knowledge had come to them, out of jealous animosity between themselves. Indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.}