16:1أَتَى أَمْرُ اللَّهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Allah’s edict is coming! So do not seek to hasten it. Immaculate is He and exalted above [having] any partners that they ascribe [to Him].
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:1]
"Allah's command" refers to His chastisement.
Refer to Yunus: 24 and 27 and Hud: 40. Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Though in amrullah the verb is past tense, but if this verse is read with Yunus: 47 it becomes clear that with the advent of the Holy Prophet the fate of the believers and the disbelievers was decided. Only its execution has to be carried out. So the disbelievers are warned not to seek to hasten it. Therefore it should be taken as present perfect .
16:2يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرُوا أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاتَّقُونِ
He sends down the angels with the spirit of His command to whomever He wishes of His servants: ‘Warn [the people] that there is no god except Me; so be wary of Me.’
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:2
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:2]
Ruh, in this verse, refers to revelation, the Quran. It enlivens (enlightens) the dead souls (ignorant people). This verse refers to the source, the course and the purpose of revelations revealed to the messengers of Allah.
16:3خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ تَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and the earth with consummate wisdom. He is above having any partners that they ascribe [to Him].
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:3
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:3]
Refer to the commentary of al Hijr: 85 and 86.
Bilhaqq refers to the purpose of creation.
16:4خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ
He created man from a drop of [seminal] fluid, and, behold, he is an open contender!
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:4
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:4]
Nutfah here means a drop of sperm - generative substance.
This verse was revealed when Ibn Ubayy brought some bones and asked the Holy Prophet: "Who could bring these to life again?"
16:5وَالْأَنْعَامَ خَلَقَهَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ
He created the cattle, in which there is warmth for you and [other] uses, and some of them you eat.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:5
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:5]
"In them" refers to their hides.
16:6وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا جَمَالٌ حِينَ تُرِيحُونَ وَحِينَ تَسْرَحُونَ
There is in them a beauty for you when you bring them home for rest and when you drive them forth to pasture.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:6
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:6]
16:7وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَى بَلَدٍ لَّمْ تَكُونُوا بَالِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ الْأَنفُسِ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And they bear your burdens to towns, which you could not reach except by straining yourselves. Indeed your Lord is most kind and merciful.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:7
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:7]
16:8وَالْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And horses, mules and asses, for you to ride them, and for pomp, and He creates what you do not know.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:8
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:8]
16:9وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ وَمِنْهَا جَائِرٌ وَلَوْ شَاءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
With Allah rests guidance to the straight path, and some of the paths are devious, and had He wished He would have guided you all.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 16:9
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:9]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The purpose of taking the responsibility of showing a straight way is to make the journey unto the destination easy for the people. There are crooked ways also. Allah does not force any one to follow the true way because He has given a free will to every human being who should study His signs as visible in nature as well as those expressed through revelation so as to walk on the true path. In His infinite mercy He has shown the right path and made it distinct in the midst of crooked paths.
16:10هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
It is He who sends down water from the sky: from it you get your drink and with it are [sustained] the plants wherein you pasture your herds.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:10]
16:11يُنبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالنَّخِيلَ وَالْأَعْنَابَ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
For you He makes the crops grow with it and olives, date palms, vines, and fruits of all kinds. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who reflect.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:11]
16:12وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَاتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
He disposed the night and the day for you, and the sun, the moon and the stars are disposed by His command. There are indeed signs in that for people who exercise their reason.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:12]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
The controlled and undeviating movement of the sun, the moons and the stars, under Allah's will and command, has been compared to the Holy Prophet and to his total obedience to His commands in verses 1 to 4 of An Najm.
16:13وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
And [He disposed for your benefit] whatever He has created for you in the earth of diverse hues—there is indeed a sign in that for a people who take admonition.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:13]
16:14وَهُوَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ الْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
It is He who disposed the sea [for your benefit] that you may eat from it fresh meat, and obtain from it ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through it, that you may seek His bounty and that you may give thanks.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:14]
16:15وَأَلْقَى فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَارًا وَسُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
He cast firm mountains in the earth lest it should shake with you, and [made] streams and ways, so that you may be guided
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:15]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Refer to Ar Rad: 3 and Al Hijr: 19. It is a figure of speech, repeatedly used in the Quran, to speak of the earth as a stretched surface with mountains as a steadying agent to keep it from shaking. It may refer to the geological fact that the below the surface happenings would have shaken the earth if there were no mountains to keep it steady.
Imam Ali said:
"Allah has steadied the movement of the earth by bolting rocks in it."
"Allah bolted the earth with rocks to keep it from shaking."
16:16وَعَلَامَاتٍ وَبِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
—and the landmarks [as well]—and by the stars they are guided.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:16]
Najm means the star, known as the polestar, by which many travellers determine their way.
Najm (the pole-star) refers to the Holy Prophet and alamat (signs or landmarks) refers to the Ahl ul Bayt. In the journey to the other world we have ultimately to follow their guidance.
16:17أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Is He who creates like one who does not create? Will you not then take admonition?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:17]
16:18وَإِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
If you enumerate Allah’s blessings, you will not be able to count them. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:18]
16:19وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
and Allah knows whatever you hide and whatever you disclose.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:19]
16:20وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
Those whom they invoke besides Allah do not create anything and are themselves created.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:20]
16:21أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاءٍ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
They are dead and lifeless, and are not aware when they will be resurrected.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:21]
16:22إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your God is the One God. Those who do not believe in the Hereafter, their hearts are in denial [of the truth], and they are arrogant.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:22]
16:23لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ
Undoubtedly, Allah knows whatever they hide and whatever they disclose. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:23]
16:24وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُم مَّاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
When they are asked, ‘What is it that your Lord has sent down?’ They say, ‘Myths of the ancients,’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:24]
16:25لِيَحْمِلُوا أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
[with the result] that they will bear the full weight of their own burden on the Day of Resurrection, along with part of the burden of those whom they mislead without any knowledge. Behold! Evil is what they bear!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:25]
All the blessings mentioned in the preceding verses are sufficient to prove that our God is one therefore, on the day of judgement, those who mislead others, shall bear their own full commentary of al Baqarah: 256 and Yunus: 47 ] burden of sins and also the burden of those whom they lead astray, without any remission of the (38) This verse refers to the belief of the punishment to be given to the misled followers for disbelievers that there is no life after death. and their own sins.
The Holy Prophet said:
"Man is positively influenced by his environment particularly by his associates whom he befriends."
Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said:
"Keep aloof from the company of the sinners, do not live in their neighbourhood, and refrain from helping the aggressor and the unjust."
Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said:
"Do not keep company with the wicked, even avoid acquaintanceship with them, lest you may also become like them, then you will be punished by Allah as they will be punished."
16:26قَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى اللَّهُ بُنْيَانَهُم مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Those who were before them [had also] schemed. Then Allah came at their edifice from the foundations and the roof fell down upon them from above and the punishment overtook them whence they were not aware.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:26]
Allah gives the rope of respite to the disbelievers and the wicked in which they hang themselves in the end. Evil always devises plots against good, but the evil-doers finally shall be overcome and shall be mustered towards hell so that Allah may distinguish the evil from the good, as has been said in al Anfal: 36.
Some say the reference is also to the imposing structure Namrud built which when it was completed collapsed at the command of Allah by a violent storm, after which the people of Namrud lost memory of their language and began to speak in seventy different dialects, each quite unlike and different from the other.
16:27ثُمَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُخْزِيهِمْ وَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تُشَاقُّونَ فِيهِمْ قَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ إِنَّ الْخِزْيَ الْيَوْمَ وَالسُّوءَ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
Then, on the Day of Resurrection, He will disgrace them, and say, ‘Where are My “partners” for whose sake you used to defy [Allah]?’ Those who were given knowledge will say, ‘Indeed today disgrace and distress pursue the faithless.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:27]
Utul ilm (those who have been given knowledge) indicates that there are some whom Allah has given divine knowledge. They are the Holy Prophet and his thoroughly purified Ahl ul Bayt (Ahzab: 33) who are divinely chosen and commissioned to preserve and preach the truth. See commentary of Ali Imran: 7 and 18 and Nisa: 162.
16:28الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ فَأَلْقَوُا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِن سُوءٍ بَلَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
—Those whom the angels take away while they were wronging themselves. Thereat they submit: ‘We were not doing any evil!’ ‘Yes, [the angels say to them,] indeed Allah knows best what you used to do!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:28]
16:29فَادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا فَلَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
Enter the gates of hell to remain in it [forever]. Evil is the [final] abode of the arrogant.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:29]
16:30وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا مَاذَا أَنزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا خَيْرًا لِّلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ
But those who were Godwary will be asked, ‘What is it that your Lord has sent down?’ They will say, ‘Good.’ For those who do good in this world there will be a good [reward], and the abode of the Hereafter is better, and the abode of the Godwary is surely excellent:
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:30]
16:31جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَا يَشَاءُونَ كَذَلِكَ يَجْزِي اللَّهُ الْمُتَّقِينَ
the Gardens of Eden, which they will enter, with streams running in them. There they will have whatever they wish, and thus does Allah reward the Godwary
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:31]
16:32الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
—those whom the angels take away while they are pure. They say [to them], ‘Peace be to you! Enter paradise because of what you used to do.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:32]
16:33هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ كَذَلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَمَا ظَلَمَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
Do they not consider that the angels may come to them, or your Lord’s edict may come? Those who were before them had acted likewise; Allah did not wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:33]
16:34فَأَصَابَهُمْ سَيِّئَاتُ مَا عَمِلُوا وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
So the evils of what they had earned visited them, and they were besieged by what they used to deride.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:34]
16:35وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِهِ مِن شَيْءٍ نَّحْنُ وَلَا آبَاؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن دُونِهِ مِن شَيْءٍ كَذَلِكَ فَعَلَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَهَلْ عَلَى الرُّسُلِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
The polytheists say, ‘Had Allah wished, we would not have worshiped anything besides Him—neither we, nor our fathers—nor we would have forbidden anything without His sanction.’ Those who were before them had acted likewise. Is the apostles’ duty anything but to communicate in clear terms?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:35]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
It is an old excuse of the evil-doers to shift the responsibility of their actions to Allah by wilfully concealing the fact that He has given a free will to every human being, and sent His messengers with true guidance in every age to all peoples. See commentary of
al Baqarah:256 and Yunus:47.
16:36وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Certainly We raised an apostle in every nation [to preach:] ‘Worship Allah, and shun fake deities.’ Among them were some whom Allah guided, and among them were some who deserved to be in error. So travel over the land and observe how was the fate of the deniers.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:36] (see commentary for verse 35)
16:37إِن تَحْرِصْ عَلَى هُدَاهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي مَن يُضِلُّ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن نَّاصِرِينَ
Even if you are eager for them to be guided, indeed Allah does not guide those who mislead [others], and they will have no helpers.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:37]
16:38وَأَقْسَمُوا بِاللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَانِهِمْ لَا يَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ بَلَى وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
They swear by Allah with solemn oaths that Allah will not resurrect those who die. Yes indeed [He will], it is a promise binding upon Him, but most people do not know,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:38]
16:39لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي يَخْتَلِفُونَ فِيهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَاذِبِينَ
so that He may clarify for them what they differ about, and that the faithless may know that they were liars.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:39]
16:40إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْنَاهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ
All that We say to a thing, when We will it, is to say to it ‘Be!’ and it is.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:40]
16:41وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا فِي اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَلَأَجْرُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
Those who migrate for the sake of Allah after they have been wronged, We will surely settle them in a good place in the world, and the reward of the Hereafter is surely greater, had they known
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:41]
Only those who undertook migration (hijrat) in the cause of Allah, when the oppressors forced them to choose between Allah and worldly comforts, are entitled to the highest honours, for having made a great sacrifice in the cause of Allah. Such were the early Muslim migrants to Abyssinia and such were the later migrants to Madina.
16:42الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
—those who are patient and who put their trust in their Lord.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:42]
16:43وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
We did not send [any apostles] before you except as men to whom We revealed. Ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:43]
Dhikr refers to the Quran, and it is also one of the names of the Holy Prophet. See the commentary of Al Hijr: 9 and Talaq: 10 and 11. Ahl ul dhikr (the people of dhikr) are the Ahl ul Bayt. See the commentary of al Baqarah: ' and hadith al thaqalayn on page 6.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Dhikr literally means to call back to memory, or in other words to have something in conscious mind. It has been used figuratively for a stimulus which brings an object into the focus of consciousness. To be conscious of Allah, the Quran, the other scriptures and the Holy Prophet has been described as dhikr.
Some commentators hold that here dhikr refers to the previous scriptures and ahlul dhikr refers to the Jews and the Christians, but it is certainly a bad example of misinterpretation because even an ordinary teacher of Islamic ideology would not command a Muslim to refer to the Jewish and Christian scholars to remove his doubts, leave alone the all-wise Lord of the worlds. Dhikr means to be conscious of Allah and ahl refers to those who are always conscious of Allah as asserted in An Nur: 37. Also dhikr means the Quran or the Holy Prophet and ahl refers to the people identified with the Holy Prophet and the Quran, thoroughly purified by Allah (Ahzab: 33) and are always with the Quran as per hadith al thaqalayn.
16:44بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
[We sent them] with manifest proofs and scriptures. We have sent down the reminder to you so that you may clarify for the people that which has been sent down to them, so that they may reflect.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:44] (see commentary for verse 43)
16:45أَفَأَمِنَ الَّذِينَ مَكَرُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ أَن يَخْسِفَ اللَّهُ بِهِمُ الْأَرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Do those who devise evil schemes feel secure that Allah will not make the earth swallow them, or the punishment will not overtake them whence they are not aware?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:45]
16:46أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِي تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
Or that He will not seize them in the midst of their bustle, whereupon they will not be able to frustrate [Him]?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:46]
16:47أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ عَلَى تَخَوُّفٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Or that He will not visit them with attrition? Indeed your Lord is most kind and merciful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:47]
16:48أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ يَتَفَيَّأُ ظِلَالُهُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَالشَّمَائِلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَاخِرُونَ
Have they not regarded that whatever thing Allah has created casts its shadow to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allah in utter humility?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:48]
The believers and the angels prostrate before Allah by their own free will to acknowledge the supreme authority of their Lord. All other creations cast their shadows to the right and the left to prostrate before Allah in all humbleness. Though outwardly the disbelievers do not prostrate before Allah, yet their native nature obeys the Creator-Lord of the worlds and one day they will meet the natural end of life, howsoever they may try to avoid it.
16:49وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن دَابَّةٍ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
To Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, including animals and angels, and they are not arrogant.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:49]
16:50يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are commanded.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:50]
16:51وَقَالَ اللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا إِلَهَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ
Allah has said, ‘Do not worship two gods. Indeed He is the One God, so be in awe of Me [alone].’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:51]
This verse apparently refers to the doctrine of dualism-Yazdan (the source of goodness) and Ahriman (the source of evil); but the source of both is one, therefore man must rely on Allah under all circumstances and fear Him alone.
16:52وَلَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَهُ الدِّينُ وَاصِبًا أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَتَّقُونَ
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth, and to Him belongs the enduring religion. Will you, then, be wary of other than Allah?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:52]
16:53وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ
Whatever blessing you have is from Allah, and when a distress befalls you, you make entreaties to Him.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:53]
Refer to Yunus: 12.
When afflicted by a misfortune man turns to Allah for help, but when He removes the affliction he forgets Him and ungratefully turns to others.
16:54ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ الضُّرَّ عَنكُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنكُم بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ
Then, when He removes the distress from you—behold, a part of them ascribe partners to their Lord,
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:54] (see commentary for verse 53)
16:55لِيَكْفُرُوا بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ فَتَمَتَّعُوا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
being unthankful for what We have given them. So let them enjoy. Soon they shall know!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:55]
16:56وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ تَاللَّهِ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ
They assign a share in what We have provided them to what they do not know. By Allah, you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to fabricate.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:56]
Refer to An-am: 137.
16:57وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ الْبَنَاتِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَلَهُم مَّا يَشْتَهُونَ
And they attribute daughters to Allah—immaculate is He—while they will have what they desire!
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:57]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Some of the pagan Arabs called angels the daughters of Allah, because they, and others like them, could not have the awareness of reality beyond the material phenomena. They found males and females among the living beings, so, applying this theory, they took God (father) as male and the angels as females(daughters) .
16:58وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُم بِالْأُنثَى ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدًّا وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ
When one of them is brought the news of a female [newborn], his face becomes darkened, and he chokes with suppressed agony.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:58] (see commentary for verse 57)
16:59يَتَوَارَى مِنَ الْقَوْمِ مِن سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَى هُونٍ أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ أَلَا سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ
He hides from the people out of distress at the news he has been brought: shall he retain it in humiliation, or bury it in the ground! Behold! Evil is the judgement that they make.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:59] (see commentary for verse 57)
16:60لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ وَلِلَّهِ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَى وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
There is an evil description for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and the loftiest description belongs to Allah, and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:60] (see commentary for verse 57)
16:61وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِم مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَلَكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لَا يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Were Allah to take mankind to task for their wrongdoing, He would not leave any living being upon it. But He respites them until a specified time; so when their time comes they shall not defer it by a single hour nor shall they advance it.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:61]
Refer to the commentary of Al Araf: 34 and Yunus: 49.
16:62وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِلَّهِ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ وَتَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُهُمُ الْكَذِبَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ الْحُسْنَى لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ النَّارَ وَأَنَّهُم مُّفْرَطُونَ
They attribute to Allah what they dislike [for themselves], and their tongues assert the lie that the best of rewards [in the Hereafter] will be theirs. Undoubtedly, the Fire shall be their lot and they will be foremost [in entering it].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:62]
Refer to the commentary of verses 57 to 60 of this surah.
16:63تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
By Allah, We have certainly sent [apostles] to nations before you. But Satan made their deeds seem decorous to them. So he is their master today and there is a painful punishment for them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:63]
Refer to the commentary of Al Araf: 16 and 17.
16:64وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
We did not send down the Book to you except [for the purpose] that you may clarify for them what they differ about, and as a guidance and mercy for a people who have faith.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:64]
"Which they differ", may cover polytheism, dualism, trinity, crucification and resurrection of prophet Isa, and what is permissible and what is forbidden, and in fact all other points of difference .
16:65وَاللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ
Allah sends down water from the sky with which He revives the earth after its death. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who listen.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:65]
Some commentators interpret this verse as under:
When ignorance kills the soul, the life-giving fertilising shower of Allah's revelation (the Quran) puts new life into it through its guidance, wisdom and mercy.
16:66وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ مِن بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَنًا خَالِصًا سَائِغًا لِّلشَّارِبِينَ
There is indeed a lesson for you in the cattle: We give you a drink pleasant to those who drink, pure milk, which is in their bellies, between [intestinal] waste and blood.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:66]
16:67وَمِن ثَمَرَاتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالْأَعْنَابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
From the fruits of date palms and vines you draw wine and goodly provision. There are indeed signs in that for people who exercise their reason.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:67]
Aqa Mahdi Puya say:
There are wholesome drinks and food that can be had from the date-palm and the grapes, such as vinegar and other non-intoxicating drinks. If sakar is taken in the sense of fermented intoxicating drinks, even then this verse does not affect the prohibition.
16:68وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ
And your Lord inspired the bee [saying]: ‘Make your home in the mountains, and on the trees and the trellises that they erect.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:68]
For various meanings of wahi refer to the commentary of Al Fatihah: 7 on pages 27 and 28. In this verse wahi means inspiration through instinctive urge created by Allah. In Zilzal: 5 it is said that Allah revealed (awha) to the earth. The disciples of Isa were inspired (awhaytu) to believe in Allah and prophet Isa, in Ma-idah: 111. The mother of Musa was inspired (awhayna) to suckle Musa in Al Qasas: 7.
Whosoever receives wahi does not become the messenger or prophet of Allah.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Wahi, in its wider sense, is applicable to any knowledge or action (of a conscious being) which is not obtained by observation and experience.
16:69ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Then eat from every [kind of] fruit and follow meekly the ways of your Lord.’ There issues from its belly a juice of diverse hues, in which there is a cure for the people. There is indeed a sign in that for a people who reflect.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:69]
16:70وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَى أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ
Allah has created you, then He takes you away, and there are some among you who are relegated to the nethermost age so that he knows nothing after [having possessed] some knowledge. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-powerful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:70]
16:71وَاللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الرِّزْقِ فَمَا الَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا بِرَادِّي رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَى مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ
Allah has granted some of you an advantage over others in [respect of] provision. Those who have been granted an advantage do not give over their provision to their slaves so that they become equal in its respect. What, do they deny the blessing of Allah?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:71]
16:72وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَزْوَاجِكُم بَنِينَ وَحَفَدَةً وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَتِ اللَّهِ هُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ
Allah made for you mates from your own selves and appointed for you children and grandchildren from your mates, and We provided you with all the good things. What, do they believe in falsehood while they deny the blessing of Allah?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:72]
Refer to the commentary of Nisa: I and Araf: 189 and 190.
16:73وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ رِزْقًا مِّنَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ
They worship besides Allah what has no power to provide them with anything from the heavens and the earth, nor are they capable [of anything].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:73]
16:74فَلَا تَضْرِبُوا لِلَّهِ الْأَمْثَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
So do not draw comparisons for Allah: indeed Allah knows and you do not know.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:74]
16:75ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا عَبْدًا مَّمْلُوكًا لَّا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَمَن رَّزَقْنَاهُ مِنَّا رِزْقًا حَسَنًا فَهُوَ يُنفِقُ مِنْهُ سِرًّا وَجَهْرًا هَلْ يَسْتَوُونَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Allah draws a parable: a slave owned [by his master] who has no power over anything, and another one [a free man] whom We have provided a goodly provision and who spends out of it secretly and openly. Are they equal? All praise belongs to Allah. But most of them do not know.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:75]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Islam teaches man to be active and useful to himself and others. Self-denial and disinterestedness in the collective life are not encouraged by Islam.
On the one hand there was Ali ibn abi Talib, the truest identity of Holy Prophet, who gave away whatever he had in the cause of Allah (Imam Husayn, his son, reached the highest peak of giving away in the way of Allah), left no stone unturned and spared nothing that belonged to him or was in his power to establish the true faith, in the worst circumstance (Refer to the commentary of Ali Imran: 52 and 53 for dawat dhil ashirah; Al Baqarah: 207 and Anfal: 30 for the night of hijrat; Ali Imran: 13 for the battle of Badr;
Al Baqarah: 214 and 251 for the battle of Khandaq; Ali Imran: 121, 122, 128, 140 to 142, 144, 151 to 156, 159, 166 to 168 and Anfal: 16 for the battle of Uhad; Al Bara-at: 25 to 27 for the battle of Hunayn, and many other services he rendered to help and protect the Holy Prophet and his mission in whose recognition the Holy Prophet declared at Ghadir Khum: "Of whomsoever I am mawla, Ali is his mawla" (see commentary of Al Ma-idah: 67).
On the other hand there were in the history of Islam those who not only always shrinked and stepped back at crucial times but also deserted the Holy Prophet whenever odds were against him. See commentary of Al Baqarah: 214 and 251; Ali Imran: 121, 122, 128, 140 to 142, 151 to 156, 159, 166 to 168; Anfal: 16; and Al-Bara-at: 25 to 27, and Nisa: 65.
16:76وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا أَبْكَمُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ كَلٌّ عَلَى مَوْلَاهُ أَيْنَمَا يُوَجِّههُّ لَا يَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي هُوَ وَمَن يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَهُوَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Allah draws [another] parable: Two men, one of whom is dumb, having no power over anything and who is a liability to his master: wherever he directs him he does not bring any good. Is he equal to someone who enjoins justice and is [steady] on a straight path?
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:76] (see commentary for verse 75)
16:77وَلِلَّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا أَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ إِلَّا كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
To Allah belongs the Unseen of the heavens and the earth. The matter of the Hour is just like the twinkling of an eye, or [even] swifter. Indeed Allah has power over all things.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:77]
16:78وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Allah has brought you forth from the bellies of your mothers while you did not know anything. He made for you hearing, eyesight, and hearts so that you may give thanks.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:78]
16:79أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Have they not regarded the birds disposed in the air of the sky: no one sustains them except Allah. There are indeed signs in that for a people who have faith.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:79]
16:80وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن بُيُوتِكُمْ سَكَنًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن جُلُودِ الْأَنْعَامِ بُيُوتًا تَسْتَخِفُّونَهَا يَوْمَ ظَعْنِكُمْ وَيَوْمَ إِقَامَتِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَصْوَافِهَا وَأَوْبَارِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَا أَثَاثًا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَى حِينٍ
It is Allah who has made your homes as a place of rest for you and He made for you homes out of the skins of the cattle which you find portable on the day of your shifting and on the day of your halt, and out of their wool, fur and hair [He has appointed] furniture and wares [enduring] for a while.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:80]
16:81وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّمَّا خَلَقَ ظِلَالًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الْجِبَالِ أَكْنَانًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَابِيلَ تَقِيكُمُ الْحَرَّ وَسَرَابِيلَ تَقِيكُم بَأْسَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْلِمُونَ
It is Allah who made for you the shade from what He has created, and made for you retreats in the mountains, and made for you garments that protect you from heat, and garments that protect you from your [mutual] violence. That is how He completes His blessing upon you so that you may submit [to Him].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:81]
16:82فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
But if they turn their backs [on you], your duty is only to communicate in clear terms.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:82]
16:83يَعْرِفُونَ نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنكِرُونَهَا وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
They recognize the blessing of Allah and then deny it, and most of them are faithless.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:83]
Ni-mat means bounty, favour, blessings.
Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said:
"The ni-mat of Allah was completed and perfected when the wilayah of Ali ibn abi Talib was confirmed at Ghadir Khum by the Holy Prophet by appointing him as the mawla (master) of the believers, just like him, to represent him in all affairs, after his departure from this world."
If the commentary of Ma-idah: 5, 55 and 67 is studied carefully, it becomes clear and obvious that ni-mat, in this verse, refers to the Holy Prophet and his Ahl ul bayt; and "they deny it" refers to those who deprived them of their divine rights, harassed, persecuted and killed them.
16:84وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا ثُمَّ لَا يُؤْذَنُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَلَا هُمْ يُسْتَعْتَبُونَ
The day We shall raise a witness from every nation, the faithless will not be permitted [to speak], nor will they be asked to propitiate [Allah].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:84]
Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah: 143; Nisa . 41 and Hud: 18 and verse 89 of this surah.
16:85وَإِذَا رَأَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا الْعَذَابَ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
And when the wrongdoers sight the punishment, it shall not be lightened for them, nor will they be granted any respite.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:85]
16:86وَإِذَا رَأَى الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا شُرَكَاءَهُمْ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا هَؤُلَاءِ شُرَكَاؤُنَا الَّذِينَ كُنَّا نَدْعُو مِن دُونِكَ فَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْهِمُ الْقَوْلَ إِنَّكُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
When the polytheists sight their partners, they will say, ‘Our Lord! These are our partners whom we used to invoke besides You.’ But they will retort to them, ‘You are indeed liars!’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:86]
16:87وَأَلْقَوْا إِلَى اللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ السَّلَمَ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ
They will submit to Allah on that day, and what they used to fabricate will forsake them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:87]
16:88الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ زِدْنَاهُمْ عَذَابًا فَوْقَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يُفْسِدُونَ
Those who are faithless and bar from the way of Allah—We shall add punishment to their punishment because of the corruption they used to cause.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:88]
16:89وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
The day We raise in every nation a witness against them from among themselves, We shall bring you as a witness against these. We have sent down the Book to you as a clarification of all things and as guidance, mercy and good news for the Muslims.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:89]
The Holy Prophet, who came with the book ( a guide, a mercy and glad tidings to those who submit themselves to Allah) explaining all things, is a witness over all the witnesses. In addition to verses mentioned in the commentary of verse 84 of this surah, please refer to Bani Israil: 71 and An Nur: 24.
Evidence given by a witness can be accepted only when the witness has witnessed the event which is being examined. Every messenger of Allah will give evidence about the response of his people to whom he was sent to preach the message of Allah; while the Holy Prophet will be a witness over all the prophets and messengers of Allah who will be raised as witnesses over their respective followers.
The Holy Prophet said:
"I was the prophet of Allah when Adam was in the process of creation."
It implies that he was present in this world from the very beginning and will be here till the end to witness that which had happened and that which is taking place. It is nothing but a fabricated and mischievous tale, very popular among the common Muslims, that when Jibra-il came to him he could not recognise him, and was frightened so much that he began to tremble in fear; and at last came to his senses when his wife and her uncle, Warqa bin Nawfil, told him that he was chosen as the last messenger of Allah.
16:90إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and generosity towards relatives, and He forbids indecency, wrongdoing, and aggression. He advises you, so that you may take admonition.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:90]
Allah commands justice, kindness and giving to kinsfolk that which is their due, therefore when the ruling party refused to acknowledge the rights of Bibi Fatimah in the matter of the inheritance of the garden of Fadak, they, in fact, accused the Holy Prophet of not carrying out the command of Allah given in this verse.
Please refer to the commentary of Anfal: 41; Bani Israil: 26; Rum: 38; and Hashr: 7, in the light of which Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said:
"In 'giving to the relatives' relatives refers to the relatives of the Holy Prophet."
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Uthman ibn Mazun, one of the very early believers, said:
"I became a Muslim because of my friendship with the Holy Prophet, otherwise it was not a sincere avowal of belief; but when this verse was revealed I was with him and it changed my motivated and superficial declaration of faith into the "from the bottom of the heart" devotion to the religion of Islam. I went to Abu Talib and recited it before him. He said: 'O people of Quraysh! Follow Muhammad. You will achieve success and walk on the right path. He does not command you to do anything but what is right, virtuous and the best.' Then I went to Walid ibn Mughayra who, after hearing this verse said: 'Muhammad has said a very good saying; and if his God has said it then certainly it is an excellent virtue.'"
Abu Talib wholeheartedly believed in the truthfulness of his nephew and his teachings from the very beginning.
16:91وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا الْأَيْمَانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
Fulfill Allah’s covenant when you pledge, and do not break [your] oaths, after pledging them solemnly and having made Allah a witness over yourselves. Indeed Allah knows what you do.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:91]
In 10 Hijra, on the 18th of Dhilhajj, the Holy Prophet obtained an oath of allegiance to Ali ibn abi Talib from all his followers (refer to Ma idah: 67), but they did not fulfil the covenant made with Allah and His prophet, though He commands them, in this verse, not to break their oaths after they had confirmed them and made Allah their surety.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This verse enjoins fulfilment of all promises, undertakings, pacts or covenants particularly when Allah has been made the surety, provided they are not ungodly or contrary to Islamic injunctions as implied by the phrase ahdillah.
16:92وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّتِي نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَاثًا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَانَكُمْ دَخَلًا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِيَ أَرْبَى مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ اللَّهُ بِهِ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
Do not be like her who would undo her yarn, breaking it up after [spinning it to] strength, by making your oaths a means of [mutual] deceit among yourselves, so that one community may become more affluent than another community. Indeed Allah tests you thereby, and He will surely clarify for you on the Day of Resurrection what you used to differ about.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:92]
In continuation of the preceding verse it is stated that to break the covenant of Allah is like the foolish act of a woman who uses labour and skill to spin good and strong yarn and then untwist its constituent strands and break them into loose pieces.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Bibi Zaynab, the daughter of Ali and Fatimah, quoted this verse before the Muslims who gathered in the streets of Kufa, when she was brought there after the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala. They had broken their covenant made with Allah and His prophet because they found one party more numerous than another and completely forgot that the vicissitudes of fortune was a test appointed by Allah.
The word ummat has been used here for imam as in al Baqarah: 143; Ali Imran: 104 and 110.
16:93وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَكِن يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَلَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Had Allah wished, He would have made you one community, but He leads astray whomever He wishes and guides whomever He wishes, and you will surely be questioned concerning what you used to do.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:93]
Refer to the commentary of Ma-idah: 48; Ibrahim: 4 and Hud: 118.
16:94وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ دَخَلًا بَيْنَكُمْ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِهَا وَتَذُوقُوا السُّوءَ بِمَا صَدَدتُّمْ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَكُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Do not make your oaths a means of [mutual] deceit among yourselves, lest feet should stumble after being steady and [lest] you suffer ill for barring from the way of Allah and face a great punishment.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:94]
16:95وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا إِنَّمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Do not sell Allah’s covenants for a paltry gain. Indeed, what is with Allah is better for you, should you know.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:95]
16:96مَا عِندَكُمْ يَنفَدُ وَمَا عِندَ اللَّهِ بَاقٍ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
That which is with you will be spent [and gone], but what is with Allah shall last, and We will surely pay the patient their reward by the best of what they used to do.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:96]
16:97مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُم بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Whoever acts righteously, [whether] male or female, should he be faithful, We shall revive him with a good life and pay them their reward by the best of what they used to do.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:97]
16:98فَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرْآنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
When you recite the Quran, seek the protection of Allah against the outcast Satan.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:98]
16:99إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ سُلْطَانٌ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
Indeed he does not have any authority over those who have faith and put their trust in their Lord.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:99]
16:100إِنَّمَا سُلْطَانُهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِهِ مُشْرِكُونَ
His authority is only over those who befriend him and those who make him a partner [of Allah].
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:100]
16:101وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَا آيَةً مَّكَانَ آيَةٍ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
When We change a sign for another in its stead—and Allah knows best what He sends down—they say, ‘You are indeed a fabricator.’ Indeed, most of them do not know.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:101]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah: 106; and Yunus: IS and 16, which deal with the true position of abrogation and changes in the Quran.
The doctrine of progressive revelation from age to age and time to time does not mean that Allah's fundamental law changes. It was sheer ignorance of the infidels to charge the messenger of Allah with forgery because the message as revealed to him was in different form from that which was revealed before, when the core of the truth is the same, for it came from Allah. This verse refers to the changes the Quran introduced in the teachings of the previous scriptures because of which the infidels thought that it was a forgery, and asserts that the same holy spirit (Jibra-il) has brought the revelation to the Holy Prophet.
The idea of abrogation in the recitation of the Quran is a misconceived theory which has been dealt with by me in my essay "The genuineness of the Holy Quran."
16:102قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
Say, the Holy Spirit has brought it down duly from your Lord to fortify those who have faith and as guidance and good news for the Muslims.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:102] (see commentary for verse 101)
16:103وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا يُعَلِّمُهُ بَشَرٌ لِّسَانُ الَّذِي يُلْحِدُونَ إِلَيْهِ أَعْجَمِيٌّ وَهَذَا لِسَانٌ عَرَبِيٌّ مُّبِينٌ
We certainly know that they say, ‘It is only a human that instructs him.’ The language of him to whom they refer is non-Arabic, while this is a clear Arabic language.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:103] (see commentary for verse 101)
16:104إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَا يَهْدِيهِمُ اللَّهُ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed those who do not believe in the signs of Allah—Allah shall not guide them and there is a painful punishment for them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:104] (see commentary for verse 101)
16:105إِنَّمَا يَفْتَرِي الْكَذِبَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَاذِبُونَ
Only those fabricate lies who do not believe in the signs of Allah, and it is they who are the liars.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:105] (see commentary for verse 101)
16:106مَن كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Excepting someone who is compelled [to recant his faith] while his heart is at rest in it, those who disbelieve in Allah after [affirming] their faith and open up their breasts to unfaith, Allah’s wrath shall be upon them and there is a great punishment for them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:106]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
This verse clearly enjoins taqiyah-concealing belief in Allah under compulsion or duress but heart remaining firm in faith. Taqiyah is not hypocrisy.
Once the infidels of Makka subjected Ammar Yasir to unspeakable tortures for his belief in Islam and forced him to utter a word construed as recantation, though his heart never waved and he came back to the Holy Prophet at once, who consoled him for his pain and confirmed his faith.
16:107ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمُ اسْتَحَبُّوا الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى الْآخِرَةِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
That, because they preferred the life of the world to the Hereafter and that Allah does not guide the faithless lot.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:107]
The later part of the preceding verse and these verses refer to disbelievers. Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah: 7.
16:108أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ
They are the ones Allah has set a seal on their hearts, their hearing and their sight, and it is they who are the heedless.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:108] (see commentary for verse 107)
16:109لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
Undoubtedly, they are the ones who will be the losers in the Hereafter.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:109] (see commentary for verse 107)
16:110ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا فُتِنُوا ثُمَّ جَاهَدُوا وَصَبَرُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Thereafter your Lord will indeed be forgiving and merciful to those who migrated after they were persecuted, waged jihad and remained steadfast.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:110]
16:111يَوْمَ تَأْتِي كُلُّ نَفْسٍ تُجَادِلُ عَن نَّفْسِهَا وَتُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
The day [will come] when every soul will come pleading for itself and every soul will be recompensed fully for what it has done, and they will not be wronged.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:111]
16:112وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ
Allah draws a parable: There was a town secure and peaceful, its provision coming abundantly from every place. But it was ungrateful toward Allah’s blessings. So Allah made it taste hunger and fear because of what they used to do.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:112]
16:113وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ وَهُمْ ظَالِمُونَ
Certainly there had come to them an apostle from among themselves, but they impugned him. So the punishment seized them while they were doing wrong.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:113]
16:114فَكُلُوا مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ اللَّهُ حَلَالًا طَيِّبًا وَاشْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
So eat out of what Allah has provided you as lawful and good, and give thanks for Allah’s blessing, if it is Him that you worship.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:114]
16:115إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةَ وَالدَّمَ وَلَحْمَ الْخِنزِيرِ وَمَا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
He has forbidden you only carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been offered to other than Allah. But if someone is compelled [to eat any of that], without being rebellious or aggressive, indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:115]
Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah: 173 and An-am: I 19 to 122, and 137.
16:116وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَذَا حَلَالٌ وَهَذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ
Do not say, asserting falsely with your tongues, ‘This is lawful, and that is unlawful,’ attributing lies to Allah. Indeed those who attribute lies to Allah will not be felicitous.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:116] (see commentary for verse 115)
16:117مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
[Their share of the present life is] a trifling enjoyment, and there will be a painful punishment for them.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:117]
16:118وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ هَادُوا حَرَّمْنَا مَا قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَمَا ظَلَمْنَاهُمْ وَلَكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
We forbade to the Jews what We have recounted to you earlier, and We did not wrong them, but they used to wrong themselves.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:118]
Refer to the commentary of Ali Imran: 93.
16:119ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوا مِن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Moreover, your Lord will indeed be forgiving and merciful to those who repent after they having committed evil out of ignorance and reform themselves.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:119]
Refer to he commentary of Nisa: 17.
16:120إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Indeed Abraham was a nation [all by himself], obedient to Allah, a Hanif, and he was not a polytheist.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:120]
Refer to the commentary of Al Baqarah: 124 and 130 ; and An-am: 76 to 91.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
Ibrahim has been referred to as an individual but described as ummat which cannot be interpreted in any other way but to say that "Ibrahim was indeed an Imam"-a distinctive person or a leader of mankind. In the Quran the word ummat has been used to refer to a distinctly distinguished person, or group, or a period of time or a position of space-to which attention is drawn.
16:121شَاكِرًا لِّأَنْعُمِهِ اجْتَبَاهُ وَهَدَاهُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Grateful [as he was] for His blessings, He chose him and guided him to a straight path.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:121] (see commentary for verse 120)
16:122وَآتَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
We gave him good in this world, and in the Hereafter he will indeed be among the Righteous.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:122] (see commentary for verse 120)
16:123ثُمَّ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ أَنِ اتَّبِعْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Thereafter We revealed to you [saying], ‘Follow the creed of Abraham, a Hanif, who was not a polytheist.’
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:123] (see commentary for verse 120)
16:124إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ السَّبْتُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The Sabbath was only prescribed for those who differed about it. Your Lord will indeed judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that about which they differ.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:124]
In this wonderful passage are laid down principles of religious teaching, which are good for all times.
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
In the Quran wisdom implies a gift or endowment of Allah given to His prophets and His chosen representatives (from among the ali Ibrahim) as explained in the commentary of Al Baqarah: 231, 269 ; Ali Imran: 48, 81, 101 to 115, 164 ; and Nisa: 54, 113; also refer to Luqman: 12; Ahzab: 34; Sad: 20; and Jumu-ah: 2. Those who follow them and use their wisdom can also invite people to the truth.
The Holy Prophet said:
"I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate."
Please refer to the introduction of al-Bara-at according to which only the Holy Prophet or Ali were entitled to preach the message of Allah.
16:125ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in a manner that is best. Indeed your Lord knows best those who stray from His way, and He knows best those who are guided.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:125]
16:126وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرِينَ
Should you retaliate, retaliate with the like of what you have been made to suffer, but if you are patient that is surely better for the steadfast.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:126]
Aqa Mahdi Puya says:
In strictest equity the Quran allows those who have been wronged or oppressed to pay back in the same coin but the sufferer is not entitled to give a worse blow than is given to him. But those who have reached a higher spiritual level do not even do that. They restrain themselves, and are patient, and they forgive for the sake of Allah and in the way of Allah.
16:127وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُ فِي ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ
So be steadfast, and you cannot be steadfast except with Allah [’s help]. And do not grieve for them, nor be upset by their guile.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:127] (see commentary for verse 126)
16:128إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ
Indeed Allah is with those who are Godwary and those who are virtuous.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 16:128] (see commentary for verse 126)