Al-Kashshaf on Al-Insan 76:3

Surah Al-Insan 76:3

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ﳂ ﳃ ﳄ ﳅ ﳆ ﳇ ﳈ

Indeed, We guided him to the way, be he grateful or be he ungrateful.

Al-Insān: (3) "Indeed, We guided him to the way..."

"Grateful and ungrateful" (shākiran wa-kafūran): These are two states (ḥāl) referring to the pronoun in "We guided him" (hadaynāhu). It means: We empowered him and gave him the capacity for both states.

Alternatively, it means: We invited him to Islam through the proofs of reason (and revelation), and it was known from him that he would either believe or disbelieve, in order to establish the argument against him.

It is also permissible that they are states referring to "the way" (al-sabīl). It means: We made the way known to him, either as a way of gratitude or a way of ingratitude, similar to His saying: "And We guided him to the two ways" (Al-Balad: 10). Describing the way as "grateful" or "ungrateful" is metaphorical.

Abū al-Simmāl read it with a fatḥah on the hamzah in "either" (ammā), which is a good reading. The meaning is: As for being grateful, it is through Our guidance; and as for being ungrateful, it is through his own poor choice.

Tafsir of Al-Insan 76:3

Al-Kashshaf

Al-Insān: (3) "Indeed, We guided him to the way..."

{ Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains, shackles, and a blazing fire. }