Tafsir of Al-Ma'idah 5:119

"Allah said: This..."

It is read: hādhā yawmu yanfa‘u (This is the day [when]... benefits) in the nominative case (raf‘) with an idafa (genitive construction).

It is also read in the accusative case (nasb):

• Either as an adverbial of time (zarf) for the verb "said."
• Or as hādhā being the subject (mubtada') and the adverbial being the predicate (khabar).

Its meaning is: "This which we have mentioned of ‘Isa’s speech will take place on the day when [truthfulness] benefits."

It is not permissible for it to be a fatha (indeclinable) like the Almighty’s saying: "The day when no soul shall have power..." (Al-Infitar: 19), because it is here annexed (mudaf) to a fully declinable noun (mutamakkin).

Al-A‘mash read it: yawmun yanfa‘u (a day when... benefits) with nunation (tanwin), like the Almighty’s saying: "And fear a day when no soul will avail..." (Al-Baqarah: 48).

If you ask: What is the meaning of His saying: "Truthfulness will benefit the truthful ones"? If it means their truthfulness in the Hereafter, the Hereafter is not a place of action. If it means their truthfulness in the world, it does not correspond to what is mentioned here, as it refers to ‘Isa (peace be upon him) testifying to the truth in his response on the Day of Resurrection.

I say: Its meaning is the truthfulness that continues with the truthful ones in both their worldly life and their Hereafter.

Regarding Qatada: Two speakers spoke on the Day of Resurrection:

• As for Iblis, he said: "Indeed, Allah promised you the promise of truth" (Ibrahim: 22). He was truthful on that day, whereas he was a liar before that, so his truthfulness did not benefit him.
• As for ‘Isa (peace be upon him), he was truthful in life and after death, so his truthfulness benefited him.