57- Surat Alhadid/Tafseer
29 Verses, Medinan (revealed in Medina)
A'auzu Bellahi mena alshaiytani alrajeem
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
Besmi Ellahi Alrhmani Alraheem
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Sabbaha li-llahi ma fee alsamawati wa al-ardi wa huwa Al-Azizu Al-Hakeem (1).
Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.
Lahu mulku alsamawati wa al-ardi youhyi wa youmitu wa huwa ala kulli
shay-in Qadeer (2).
To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the
earth, He gives life and causes death, and He is All-powerful over everything.
Huwa Al-Awwalu wa Al-Akhiru wa Alzahiru wa Albatinu wa huwa be-kulli shay-in Aleem (3).
He is the First and He is the Last and the Apparent and the Unapparent, and He is
All-Knower of everything.
Huwa allazi khalaqa alsamawati wa al-arda fee
sittati ayyamin thumma estawa ala al-arshi ya'lamu ma yaliju fee al-ardi wa ma
yakhruju menha wa ma yanzilu mena alsamai wa ma ya'ruju feeha wa huwa
ma-akum ayna ma kuntum wa Allahu bema ta'maluna Baseer (4).
He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in
six days, then He established Himself on the throne, He knows whatever goes down into the earth and whatever comes out therefrom, and whatever descends from the heaven and whatever ascends therein,
and He is with you wherever you are, and Allah is All-seeing of what
you do.
Lahu mulku alsamawati wa al-ardi wa ela Allahi
turjau al-umur (5).
To Him belongs the
kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah all matters are returned.
Youliju al-layla fee
alnahari wa youliju alnahara fee al-layli wa huwa Aleemun be-zati alsudur
(6).
He causes the
night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is All-knower of that within the breasts.
Amenu bi-llahi wa
rasulihi wa anfiqu memma ja-alakum mustakhlafina feehi fa-llazina amanu menkum wa anfaqu lahum ajrun kabeer (7).
Believe in Allah and
His Messenger and Spend out of that in which He has made you successors, and for those of you who have believed and spent, there is a great reward.
Wa ma lakum la
tu'menuna bi-llahi wa alrasulu yad-ukum li-tu'menu bi-rabbikum wa qad akhaza
methaqakum in kuntum mu'mineen (8).
And what is with you
that you do not believe in Allah, while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord, and indeed He has taken your covenant, if you
are believers?.
Huwa allazi
younazzilu ala abdihi ayatin bayyinatin li-youkhrijakum mena alzulumati ela
alnuri wa inna Allaha bikum La-Raufun Raheem (9).
He is the One who sends
down upon His Servant verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light, and indeed, Allah is to you Most Kind,
Most Merciful.
Wa ma lakum alla tunfiqu fee sabeeli ellahi wa li-llahi mirathu alsamawati wa al-ardi la yastawi menkum
man anfaqa men qabli alfat-hi wa qatala aulaeka a'zamu darajatan mena
allazina anfaqu men ba'du wa qatalu wa kullan wa-ada Allahu alhusna wa Allahu
bima ta'maluna Khabeer (10).
And what is with you
that you do not spend in the way of Allah, while to Allah belongs the inheritance of
the heavens and the earth?, not equal are those of you who spent before the
conquest and fought, those are greater in degree than those who spent
afterwards and fought, and all Allah has promised the best,
and Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Man za allazi
youqridu Allaha qardan hasanan fa-yuda-ifahu lahu wa lahu ajrun kareem (11).
Who is the one who
will loan Allah a goodly loan, so He will multiply it for him, and he will have a
noble reward?.
Yawma tara
al-mu'mineena wa almu'minati yas'a nuruhum bayna aydihim wa bi-aymanihim
bushrakumu alyawma jannatun tajri men tahtiha al-anharu khalideena feeha zalika huwa al-fawzu al-azeem (12).
On the day when you see the
believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on
their right, your glad tidings today are gardens beneath which rivers flow,
abiding therein forever, that is the great success.
Yawma yaqulu al-munafiquna wa al-munafiqatu li-llazina amanu enzuruna naqtabis men nurikum
qeela erjiu wara-akum fal-tamisu nuran fa-duriba baynahum bi-surin lahu babun
batinuhu feehi alrahmatu wa zahiruhu men qibalihi al-azab (13).
On the day when the
hypocrite men and the hypocrite women will say to those who believe, Wait for us
that we may acquire some of your light, it will be said Go back
behind you and Seek light, and a wall will be placed between them, which will
have a door, in its inner side, there will be the mercy, but on its outer side, there will be the punishment.
Younadunahum a-lam
nakun ma-akum qalu bala wa lakinnakum fatantum anfusakum wa tarabbastum
wa-rtabtum wa gharratkumu al-amaniyyu
hatta jaa amru Allahi wa gharrakum bi-llahi al-gharur (14).
They will call them, Were we not with you?, they will say, yes, but you afflicted yourselves, and awaited, and doubted,
and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of
Allah, and the deceiver deceived you concerning Allah.
Fal-yawma la
you'khazu menkum fidyatun wa la mena allazina kafaru ma'wakumu alnaru hiya
mawlakum wa be'sa al-maseer (15).
So today, no ransom
will be taken from you, or from those who disbelieved, your abode
is the Fire, it is most worthy of you, and wretched is the fate.
A-lam ya'ni li-llazina
amanu an takhshaa qulubuhum li-zikri ellahi wa ma nazala mena al-haqqi wa la
yakunu ka-allazina auto al-kitaba men qablu fa-tala alayhimu al-amadu fa-qasat qulubuhum wa kathirun menhum fasiqun (16).
Has the time not yet
come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at
the remembrance of Allah, and what has come down of the truth?,
and Let them not be like those who were given the Book before,
and a long period passed over them,
so their hearts hardened and many of them are defiantly disobedient.
E'lamu anna Allaha
yuhyi al-arda ba'da mawtiha qad bayyanna lakumu al-ayati la-allakum ta'qilun
(17).
Know that Allah gives
life to the earth after its death, indeed, We have made clear the
signs to you, so that you may understand.
Inna al-mussaddikeena
wa al-mussaddiqati wa aqradu Allaha qardan hasanan youda-afu lahum wa lahum
ajrun kareem (18).
Indeed, the men who
give charity, and the women who give charity, and have loaned Allah a goodly loan, it will be multiplied for them, and for them there is a noble reward.
Wa allazina amanu bi-llahi wa rusulihi aulaeka humu alsiddiquna wa alshuhadau inda Rabbihim
lahum ajruhum wa nuruhum wa allazina kafaru wa kazzabu bi-ayatina aulaeka
as-habu al-jaheem (19).
And those who have believed
in Allah and His Messengers, those are
the truthful, and the martyrs in the sight of their Lord, for them shall be their reward and
their light, but those who disbelieved and denied our verses,
those are the companions of the Hell.
E'lamu annama al-hayatu
alduniya la-ibun wa lahwun wa zinatun wa tafakhurun baynakum wa takathurun fee
al-amwali wa al-awladi ka-mathali ghaythin a'jaba al-kuffara nabatuhu thumma
yahiju fa-tarahu musfarran thumma yakunu hutaman wa fee al-akhirati azabun
shadidun wa maghfiratun mena Allahi wa ridwanun wa ma al-hayatu alduniya illa
matau al-ghurur (20).
Know that the worldly
life is but a play, and an amusement and
adornment, and boasting among you and a competition in increase of wealth and children, like the example of a rain whose growth pleases the tillers, then
it withers, and you see it turning yellow, then it becomes debris, and in the
Hereafter is a severe punishment, and forgiveness from Allah, and pleasure, and
the worldly life is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.
Sabiqu ila maghfiratin
men Rabbikum wa jannatin arduha ka-ardi alsamawati wa al-ardi au-iddat li-llazina
amanu bi-llahi wa rusulihi zalika fadlu Allahi you'tihi man yashau wa
Allahu zou al-fadli al-azeem (21).
Race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden whose width is
like the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who
believed in Allah and His Messengers, that is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of the great bounty.
Ma asaba
men musibatin fee al-ardi wa la fee anfusikum illa fee kitabin men qabli an
nabra-aha inna zalika ala Allahi yaseer (22).
No calamity strikes upon the earth or your own selves but it is in a book before We bring it into being, indeed, that is easy for
Allah.
Li-kayla ta'saww ala
ma fatakum wa la tafrahu bima atakum wa Allahu la youhibbu kulla mukhtalin
fakhur (23).
So that you may
neither grieve on what has escaped you, nor exult on what He has
given you, and Allah does not like everyone self-admire, over-proud.
Allazina yabkhaluna
wa ya'muruna alnasa bil-bukhli wa man yatawalla fa-inna Allaha huwa Al-Ghaniyyu Al-Hameed (24).
Those who are stingy and enjoin upon the people stinginess, and whoever turns away, then indeed, Allah is the Free of
need, the Praiseworthy.
La-qad arsalna
rusulana bil-bayyinati wa anzalna ma-ahumu al-kitaba wa al-mizana li-yaquma alnasu
bil-qisti wa anzalna al-hadida feehi ba'sun shadeedun wa manafiu lil-nasi wa
li-ya'lama Allahu man yansuruhu wa rusulahu bil-ghaybi inna Allaha Qawiyyun Azeez (25).
Indeed, We have sent
our Messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the
Book, and the Balance so that the people may maintain justice, and we sent down iron in which there is strong power and benefits for the people,
and so that Allah may know those who support Him and His
Messengers unseen, indeed, Allah is All-Powerful,
Almighty.
Wa la-qad arsalna
Nuhan wa Ibrahima wa ja-alna fee zurriyyatihima alnubuwwata wa al-ketaba
fa-menhum muhtadin wa kathirun menhum fasiqun (26).
And indeed, We have
sent Noah and Abraham, and placed in their progeny the
prophethood and the Book, and among them is he who is guided, but
many of them are defiantly disobedient.
Thumma qaffayna ala
atharihim bi-rusulina wa qaffaiyna be-isa ibni maryama wa ataynahu al-injila
wa ja-alna fee qulubi allazina ettaba-uhu ra'fatan wa rahmatan wa rahbaniyyatan ibtada-uha ma katabnaha alayhim illa ibtighaa redwani illahi fa-ma ra-awha haqqa ri-ayatiha fa-atayna allazina amanu menhum ajrahum
wa kathirun menhum fasiqun (27).
Then We sent following their footsteps Our Messengers, and We followed with Juses, the son of Mary,
and We gave him the Gospel, and We placed in the hearts of those who followed Him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated, We did not prescribe it for them except seeking the pleasure of Allah, but they
did not observe it with due observance, so We gave those who believed among
them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient.
Ya-ayyuha allazina
amanu ettaqu Allaha wa amenu bi-rasulihi you'tikum kiflayni men rahmatihi wa
yaj-al lakum nuran tamshuna bihi wa yaghfir lakum wa Allahu Ghafurun Raheem
(28).
O you who have believe!
Fear Allah, and Believe in His Messenger, He will give you a double portion of His mercy, and make for you a light by which you will walk, and
forgive you, and Allah is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.
La-illa ya'lama ahlu
al-kitabi alla yaqdiruna ala shayin men fadli ellahi wa anna al-fadla bi-yadi
ellahi you'tihi man yashau wa Allahu zou al-fadli al-azeem (29).
So that the people of
the Book may know that they are not able to anything from the bounty of
Allah, and that the bounty is in the Hand of Allah, He gives it to whom He
wills, and Allah is the Possessor of the great bounty.
Simplified interpretation:
Surat Alhadid is one of the seven Surahs of the Holy Quran that begin with glorification, and it includes a declaration of Allah's power and greatness in creating the heavens and the earth in six days. in it, Allah repeatedly urges spending in His way and praises those who spent and fought before the conquest of Mecca emphasizing that they are of a higher rank than those who spent and fought after the conquest of Mecca. Surat Alhadid also describes the state of the believing men and the believing women in comparison to the state of the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women, and Allah warns that worldly life is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.
Allah Almighty says in the first verse (1) "Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the Almighty, the All-Wise", that is, Allah affirms that whatever is in the Heavens and the earth glorifies Him, so all creatures glorify their Creator, and Allah assures in Aya (44) of Surat Alisraa that man does not understand their manner of glorification. And Allah is the Almighty who is Severe in His revenge on those who disobeyed Him, and He is All-Wise who manages His creation with wisdom in His laws and destiny.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (2) "To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, He gives life and causes death, and He is All-powerful over everything", that is, Allah is the One who possesses the authority of whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and He gives life to whom He wills of creation by bringing them into existence as He pleases, and causes to die whatever He wills of living beings after they reached their appointed time, and He is All-powerful to do whatever He wills, as neither impediment nor inability can prevent Him from doing whatever He wills.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (3) "He is the First and He is the Last and the Apparent and the Unapparent, and He is All-Knower of everything", that is, Allah is the First before all things, the Last after all things without end as Allah existed when nothing else existed, and He will exist after the annihilation of all things. And Allah is the Apparent over everything beneath Him, and the Exalted above all things, so there is nothing higher than Him, and the Unapparent, there is nothing below Him and there is nothing closer to anything than Him.
Imam Al-Qurtubi said that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) explained the meaning of the First, the Last, the Apparent, and the Unapparent in a way that renders any other explanation unnecessary, as Abu Hurayrah reported: "The Prophet (PBUH) used to say when going to bed Allahumma Rabba alsamawati wa Rabba al-ardi wa Rabba kulli shayin faliqi al-habba wa alnawa munzila altawrata wa al-injili wa al-quranai al-azeem a-auzu beka men sharri kulli dabbatin anta akhizun be-nasiyatiha anta al-awwalu fa-laysa qablaka shayun wa anta al-akhiru fa-laysa ba'daka shayun wa anta alzahiru fa-laysa fawqaka shayun wa anta al-batinu fa-laysa dunika shayun iqdi anni alddayna wa aghnini mena al-faqri: O Allah! Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, and the Lord of all things, Cleaver of the seed and date stone, Revealer of the Torah, the Gospel, and the Magnificent Quran, I seek refuge in You from the evil of every creature You seize by the forelock, You are the First, there is nothing before You, and You are the Last, there is nothing after You, and You are the Apparent, there is nothing above You, and You are the Unapparent, there is nothing nearer than You, settle my debt for me, and spare me from poverty" (Sunan Ibn Majah 3873).
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (4) "He is the One who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He established Himself on the throne, He knows whatever goes down into the earth and whatever comes out therefrom, and whatever descends from the heaven and whatever ascends therein, and He is with you wherever you are, and Allah is All-seeing of what you do", that is, Allah has created the heavens and the earth in six days as the creation of the earth and whatever is on it took place in four days, then Allah completed the creation of the sky as seven skies in two days as mentioned in Surat Fussilat Ayat (9-12), then Allah established Himself on the throne, managing the affairs and judging between His creation with justice, so He is the Creator of everything, the Possessor of everything, and the All-Powerful over everything. Allah knows what penetrates the earth, such as seeds and water, and what emerges from it, such as crops and fruits. He also knows what descends from the sky, such as rain and the destiny of His servants and what ascends to it, such as the Angels and the deeds of His servants. And Allah is with His servants wherever they are, He is watching over them, witnessing their deeds, He sees their deeds and hears their words, all are equally within His knowledge and under His Sight and Hearing, and nothing of their circumstances is hidden from Him, whether they conceal it or declare it.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (5,6) "To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah all matters are returned, He causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night, and He is All-knower of that within the breasts", that is, the kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah alone, and to Him is the final return on the day of resurrection, so He will judge His servants as He wills, He is the Just One who does not wrong or oppress by even atom's weight. Allah enters the missing hours of the night into the day, so they become an increase in the hours of the day, and He enters the missing hours of the day into the night, so they become an increase in the hours of the night, therefore, sometimes the night is long and the day is short, sometimes vise versa, and sometimes they are equal. As a result, the four seasons of the year are determined: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. And Allah is All-Knower of everything, as nothing is hidden from Him even the secrets that the breasts conceal.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (7) "Believe in Allah and His Messenger and Spend out of that in which He has made you successors, and for those of you who have believed and spent, there is a great reward", that is, Allah commanded His servants to believe in Him and His Messenger (PBUH) in the most complete way and to remain steadfast and consistent in that belief, and to spend in the way of Allah from the wealth that they inherited from those before them, as Allah has made man a successor to those before him with what he inherited of money and he will bequeath it to those after him, so Spend in the way of Allah before that wealth transferred to someone else, Imam Al-Qurtubi said: This is evidence that the kingdom ultimately belongs to Allah, and that the servant has no right to it except to dispose of it in a way that pleases Allah, for which he will be rewarded with Paradise, and he further said: It is not truly your wealth, you are merely its representatives and agents, so seize the opportunity before it is taken from you and given to those who come after you.
And as narrated by Mutrarrif from his father: "I came to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as He was reciting ''The competition to increase distracting you", He said the son of Adam says my wealth, my wealth, then He said O son of Adam! Do you have any of your wealth except what you have eaten, and used up, or what you have worn and then it was worn out, or what you have given as charity, and sent it forward" (Sahih Muslim 2958 a). Then Allah says "And for those of you who have believed and spent, there is a great reward", so those who believe in Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) and spend from what Allah has provided them from those who came before them, and has given the wealth in the way of Allah, they will have a great reward in the Hereafter, which is Paradise. Imam Ibn Katheer said that this is an encouragement to believe and spend in obedience to Allah.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (8) "And what is with you that you do not believe in Allah, while the Messenger invites you to believe in your Lord, and indeed He has taken your covenant, if you are believers?", that is, What prevents you from believing in your Lord while His Messenger is among you, calling you to believe in Allah and acknowledge His Oneness, and showing you the arguments and proofs of the truthfulness of what He brought from His Lord?, and What prevents you from believing while Allah has taken your covenant?, and Imam Al-Tabari said, quoting Mujahid, that Allah has taken the covenant of the Children of Adam when they were in the loins of Adam, that Allah is their Lord, there is no god besides Him, as Allah says in Aya (172) of Surat Ala'raf {And when Your Lord took from the Children of Adam from their backs their progeny, and made them bear witness against themselves Am I not your Lord?, they said yes, we have witnessed}. Imam Al-Qurtubi said: It was said that Allah has taken your covenant by instilling in you intellects and by establishing for you the proofs and arguments that call for following the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) if you are believers. So if you want to believe in Allah, then now is the most appropriate time to believe, because of the successive proofs through Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and the covenant taken from you.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (9) "He is the One who sends down upon His Servant verses of clear evidence that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light, and indeed, Allah is to you Most Kind, Most Merciful", that is, Allah is the One who sends down to His Messenger (PBUH) clear verses and conclusive arguments to bring them out from the darknesses of ignorance, disbelief, and misguidance to the light of guidance, certainty, and faith, and Allah is Most Kind, Most Merciful to His servants in sending down the Scriptures and sending Messengers to guide people, and eliminate the doubts. Imam Al-Qurtubi said: This verse obliged you to believe in Muhammad (PBUH) because of the miracles He brought, the greatest and most significant of which is the Holy Quran.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (10) "And what is with you that you do not spend in the way of Allah, while to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth?, not equal are those of you who spent before the conquest and fought, those are greater in degree than those who spent afterwards and fought, and all Allah has promised the best, and Allah is All-Aware of what you do", that is, Allah rebukes those who do not spend in His way saying what is the matter with you that you do not spend from what Allah has provided for you in the way of Allah, and your wealth will return to Allah if you do not spend it in your lifetime, for the inheritance of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah alone. Then Allah praises those who spent and fought in His way before the conquest of Mecca, as they believed in Him and supported His Messenger (PBUH) when His people opposed Him, and they are the first forerunners among the Muhajireen and the Ansar whom Allah named in Aya (100) of Surat Altawbah, and Abu Sa'id Alkhudri narrated that Allah's Messenger said: "Do not revile My companions for if one of you were to spend gold the like of Uhud (mount), it would not equal a Mudd (One bushel) of one of them nor a half of it" (Sahih Albukhari 3673).
The majority of scholars agree that what is meant by "conquest" here is the conquest of Mecca, except for Alsha'bi and Alzuhri who said it was the conquest of Alhudaiybeyah, and Imam Al-Tabari favored their statement. Qatada said There were two conquests, one better than the other, and two expenditures, one better than the other, the fighting and expenditure before the conquest of Mecca were better than the fighting and expenditure after that. After the conquest of Mecca, Islam became manifestly great and people entered the religion of Allah in multitudes, therefore Allah says that those who spent before the conquest and fought are greater in degree than those who spent afterwards and fought, and all Allah has promised the best, so Allah has promised them all Paradise, though their degrees are differ, and Allah is All-Aware of what you do, as nothing of your deeds is hidden from Him, so He differentiated between the reward of those who fought and spent before the conquest and those who did so after that.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (11) "Who is the one who will loan Allah a goodly loan, so He will multiply it for him, and he will have a noble reward?", that is, Allah urges His servants to spend in His way, and assures that He will multiply the reward for those who loan Allah a goodly loan by spending in His way, and the good loan that a servant lends his Lord has many aspects including equipping the army and Mujaheddin (The warriors) in the way of Allah and helping the needy, seeking only Allah's pleasure, and desiring His reward, which will be multiplied for him many times over as mentioned in Aya (245) of Surat Albaqarah. Umar bin Al-Khattab said that the good loan is spending in the way of Allah, others said it is providing for one's family, but Imam Ibn Katheer said that it is broader than that, as everyone who spends in the way of Allah with a sincere intention and a truthful resolve falls within the general scope of this verse, and Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Every good deed of the son of Adam would be multiplied, a good deed will receive a tenfold to seven hundredfold reward, Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, says except for fasting, which is for Me, and I shall reward for it" (Sahih Muslim 1151 e), and in another narration of Abu Hurayrah also: "A good deed will be multiplied ten times up to as many as seven hundred times, or as much as Allah wills" (Sunan Ibn Majah 1638). And the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in narration of Abu Hurayrah: "Every day two Angels come down from heaven and one of them says O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in your way, and the other says O Allah! Destroy every miser" (Sahih Albukhari 1442).
So Spend in the way of Allah, certain that you will have a reward from Allah for your loan and expenditure without limit or end, for Allah is the Provider, and He is not the poor one who cannot find what he can return to the lender nor is the unjust one who delay the return of the loan to the lender, where as narrated by Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Allah descends to the lowest heaven at half of the night or at the last one-third of the night and says Who is there to supplicate Me so that I answer him?, Who is there to ask Me so that I grant him?, and then says Who will lend to the One who is neither indigent nor tyrant?" (Sahih Muslim 758 d). Then Allah assures that there is a noble reward for he who spends in the way of Allah, as Allah will admit him into paradise in the Hereafter.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (12) "On the day when you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, your glad tidings today are gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, that is the great success", that is, on the day of resurrection, you will see the light of the believers proceeding before them and on their right in accordance with their deeds, and Abdullah bin Mas'ud said that the believers will pass over the Sirat (the bridge over Hell) according to their deeds; some will have light like a mountain, others like a palm tree, and others like a standing man, while the one with the least light will have it only upon his thumb, flaring up at times and dimming at other times. Aldahhak said: their light means their guidance and on their right refers to their records of deeds, and Imam Al-Tabari preferred this view, so this means that their faith and righteous deeds move ahead of them while their records of deeds are in their right hands. Al-Hassan said: their light proceeding before them and on their right so that they may be illuminated by it while crossing the Sirat, and Muqatil said to serve as a guide for them to Paradise, and Allah knows best. And it will be said to the believers "Your glad tidings today are gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever, that is the great success", so Allah will admit them into Paradise, abiding therein forever, and the eternal immortality in Paradise is the great success.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (13) "On the day when the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women will say to those who believe, Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light, it will be said Go back behind you and Seek light, and a wall will be placed between them, which will have a door, in its inner side, there will be the mercy, but on its outer side, there will be the punishment", that is, on the day of resurrection, the hypocrites will say to the believers {Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light}. Al-Awfi, Aldahhak and others reported from Ibn Abbas: While the people are in darknesses, Allah will send forth a light, when the believers saw the light, they headed towards it, for it will be a guide from Allah leading to Paradise, when the hypocrites saw the believers setting out, they followed them, but Allah will cast darkness upon the hypocrites, so they will say to the believers "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light", for we were with you in the worldly life, the believers will say Go back to the darkness from which you came and Seek light there. It has been said that it is the Angels who will say to the the hypocrites "Go back behind you and Seek light".
Then Allah says "And a wall will be placed between them, which will have a door, in its inner side, there will be the mercy, but on its outer side, there will be the punishment", Al-Hassan and Qatada said it is a barrier between Paradise and Hellfire. Qtada, Ibn Zaid, and others said in its inner side, there will be the mercy refers to Paradise and what lies in it, and on its outer side, there will be the punishment refers to Hellfire. Imam Ibn Katheer said: A wall will be placed on the day of resurrection to separate the believers from the hypocrites, when the believers reach it, they will enter through its gate; once they have all entered, the gate will be shut, leaving the hypocrites behind in darkness and torment, reflecting the state of disbelief, doubt, and confusion in which they lived in the worldly life.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (14,15) "They will call them, Were we not with you?, they will say, yes, but you afflicted yourselves, and awaited, and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allah, and the deceiver deceived you concerning Allah, so today, no ransom will be taken from you, or from those who disbelieved, your abode is the Fire, it is most worthy of you, and wretched is the fate", that is, the hypocrites will call out to the believers when the wall will be placed between them, saying Were we not with you?, so Were we not with you in the worldly life, Did we not pray as you prayed, fight in battles as you fought, and act as you acted?. The believers will reply "Yes", meaning yes you were with us outwardly, but you tempted your own selves, Mujahid said: you destroyed yourselves through hypocrisy, Abu Sinan said: through acts of disobedience, others said: through worldly desires and pleasures. You awaited, so you delayed repentance and put it off from one time to another, Qatada said: you awaited the downfall of the truth and its people, and others said: you awaited death for the Prophet (PBUH) and awaited calamities to befall the believers.
And you doubted regarding the resurrection, and doubted the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH), and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allah, so you said we shall be forgiven, and it has also been said that: the worldly life deceived you and you persisted in this state until death came to you, and the deceiver deceived you concerning Allah, so Satan deceived you regarding Allah, leading you to hope for safety from His punishment, Qatada said: they were under a deception of Satan, By Allah! They remained in that state until Allah cast them into the Fire. Then Allah assures that no ransom shall be taken from the hypocrites nor from the disbelievers on the day of resurrection, even if any of them were to came with the earth filled with gold to ransom himself from the punishment of Allah, it would not be accepted from him, their abode will be Hellfire, it is most worthy of them, and wretched is the destination of the one who ends up in Hellfire.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (16) "Has the time not yet come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah, and what has come down of the truth?, and Let them not be like those who were given the Book before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened and many of them are defiantly disobedient", that is, Has the time not come for the hearts of the believers to humble at the remembrance of Allah, meaning to soften upon hearing the remembrance, the exhortation, and the Holy Quran, so they understand it, submit to it, and obey it. Abdullah Bin Mas'ud said "Since our acceptance of Islam and the revelation of this verse in which Allah has shown annoyance to us "Has the time not yet come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah", there was a gap of four years" (Sahih Muslim 3027).
Then Allah forbade the believers from imitating those who were given the Scripture before them from among the Jews and the Christians, as when the term was prolonged for them, they altered Allah's Book and cast it behind their backs, and they blindly followed men in matters of Allah's religion and took their rabbis and monks as lord besides Allah, consequently, their hearts hardened; they would accept no exhortation, and their hearts remained unmoved by either promises of reward or warnings of punishment. And many of them are defiantly disobedient in their deeds; for their hearts are corrupt, and their actions are void.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (17) "Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death, indeed, We have made clear the signs to you, so that you may understand", that is, Allah assures that He gives life to the dead earth that produces no vegetation after it has become barren. Imam Ibn Katheer said that this contains an indication that Allah, Almighty, softens hearts after they hardened, guides the bewildered after they have gone astray, and dispels distress after its severity. Just as He revives the dead and barren earth with abundant rain, so too does He guide hardened hearts through proofs and evidences of the Quran. And Allah has made clear the signs to His servants so that they may understand that Allah's reviving of the earth after its death is a proof of Allah's power and evidence that He is the One who brings the dead back to life.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (18) "Indeed, the men who give charity, and the women who give charity, and have loaned Allah a goodly loan, it will be multiplied for them, and for them there is a noble reward", that is, those men and women who give charity from their wealth to the needy and the poor, and have loaned Allah a goodly loan by spending in His way, Allah will multiply the charities and the loans they have given to Him and grant them the full reward on the day of resurrection, so they will receive a noble reward from Allah for their charities and loans, as Allah will admit them into Paradise in the Hereafter.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (19) "And those who have believed in Allah and His Messengers, those are truthful, and the martyrs in the sight of their Lord, for them shall be their reward and their light, but those who disbelieved and denied our verses, those are the companions of the Hell", that is, Allah describes those who have believed in Allah and His Messengers saying those are the truthful ones. Ibn Abbas, Masruq, Aldahhak, Muqatil bin Hayyan and others said that this phrase is distinct from what follows, and Imam Ibn Katheer said that Allah has distinguished between the truthful ones and the martyrs, indicating that they are two separate groups, and he further said: no doubt that truthful one holds a higher rank than the martyr, as Abu Sa'd Alkhudri narrated that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of the lofty mansions in the same way as you look at a brilliant star far away in the east or the west on the horizon, and that is because of their superiority over one another, on that, they said Messenger of Allah! Are these lofty mansions for the Prophets which nobody else can reach?, the Prophet replied No, By the One in whose Hand is My soul, these are for the men who believed in Allah and also believed in the Messengers" (Sahih Albukhari 3256). Others said that the intending meaning is that those who believed in Allah and His Messengers are the truthful ones and the martyrs in the sight of Allah, Imam Al-Tabari narrated this from Mujahid.
Imam Al-Tabari stated that the most correct view is that the truthful ones are distinct from the martyrs; because the apparent and primary meaning of the terms suggest a distinction and according to common usage, faith alone does not automatically confer the title of martyr upon a believer, thus the interpretation of "And the martyrs in the sight of their Lord, for them shall be their reward and their light" is the martyrs, those who were killed in the way of Allah or who perished in His path, shall receive from their Lord the reward He grants them in the Hereafter as well as their light, and Masruq reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The souls of the martyrs live in the bodies of green birds who have their nests in chandeliers hung from the Throne, they eat in Paradise from wherever they like and then nestle in their chandeliers, once their Lord cast a glance at them and said Do you want anything?, they said What more shall we desire?, we eat in Paradise from wherever we like, their Lord asked them the same question thrice, when they saw that they will continue to be asked and not left, they said O Lord! We wish that our souls will be returned to our bodies so that we will be killed in Your way again, when He saw that they had no need, they were left" (Sahih Muslim 1887). Then Allah assures that those who disbelieved and denied His verses, proofs, and arguments, those are the companions of Hellfire.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (20) "Know that the worldly life is but a play, and an amusement and adornment, and boasting among you and a competition in increase of wealth and children, like the example of a rain whose growth pleases the tillers, then it withers, and you see it turning yellow, then it becomes debris, and in the Hereafter is a severe punishment, and forgiveness from Allah, and pleasure, and the worldly life is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion", that is, Allah addresses His servants saying Know that the worldly life is but a vain play and fleeting amusement. It has been said that the word "Play" refers to the worldly thing that entice and captivate a person while the word "amusement" refers to that which distracts one from the Hereafter. And the worldly life is but an adornment, and adornment refers to that with which one adorns himself, and Imam Al-Qurtubi said that the disbeliever adorns himself with the worldly life and does not work for the Hereafter, as does anyone who adorns himself in a manner other than in obedience to Allah.
The worldly life is but boasting among you, so some of you boast to others about it, and it has been said that this refers to physical build and strength, and it has also been said that it refers to lineage, following the Arab custom of boasting about one's forefathers. And Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said in narration of Iyad bin Himar: "Allah revealed to Me that we should humble amongst ourselves that no one boasts over another, and no one oppresses another" (Sahih Muslim 2865 b). And Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Among My Ummah there are four characteristics belonging to Pre-Islamic era (Aljahiliyah) which they do not abandon: boasting of high rank, reviling other people's genealogies, seeking rain by stars, and wailing" (Sahih Muslim 934).
The worldly life is but a competition in increase of wealth and children, Imam Al-Qurtubi stated that it was the custom of Aljahiliyah to boast of the abundance of sons and riches, so they used to compete over having more offspring and wealth, while the believers compete over faith and obedience to Allah. Then Allah, Almighty, sets forth a parable of the worldly life, illustrating that it is a fleeting and transient blessing, saying that the worldly life is like a rain whose growth pleases the farmers, just as the farmers are pleased with it, the worldly life pleases the disbelievers, and they are the most eager for it and the most inclined towards it, then this growth withers, and you see it turning yellow, then it becomes debris, so the crop withers and turns yellow after having been lush and green, and subsequently becomes dry and shattered remnants, such is the worldly life: it begins in youth, moves into middle age, and finally becomes old age.
Imam Ibn Katheer said: Since this parable signifies the inevitable passing and expiration of the worldly life, and the certainty of the Hereafter, Allah warns against the nature of the worldly life while encourages the pursuit of the good within it saying "and in the Hereafter is a severe punishment, and forgiveness from Allah, and pleasure, and the worldly life is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion", so there is nothing in the Hereafter but one of two outcomes: either sever punishment or forgiveness and pleasure from Allah, and the worldly life is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion, so it is fleeting enjoyment that deceives those who incline towards it, so they become deluded by it to the point where they believe that there is no other abode and no Hereafter beyond it, even though, compared to the abode of the Hereafter, it is insignificant, and Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said in narration of Sahl bin Sa'd Alsa'di: "A place in Paradise as small as that occupied by the whip of one of you is better than the world and whatever is on its surface" (Sahih Albukhari 2892).
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (21) "Race towards forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His Messengers, that is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of the great bounty", that is, Allah commanded the believers to accelerate to His forgiveness and His Paradise, so Hasten to all acts of obedience to Allah, and seek Allah's forgiveness for your sins, so Allah will admit you into a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Him and His Messengers, and Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever believes in Allah and His Messengers, performs the prayers, and fasts the month of Ramadan, it is incumbent upon Allah that He will admit him into Paradise, whether he fights in the way of Allah (Jihad) or remains in the land where he is born, the people said O Allah's Messenger! Shall we give the people this glad tidings?, He said Paradise has one hundred degrees which Allah has prepared for those who fight in His way, and the distance between each of two degrees is like the distance between the heaven and the earth, so when you ask Allah, then Ask Him for the Firdaws which is the best and highest part of Paradise, above it is the Throne of the Most Gracious, and from it the rivers of Paradise overflow" (Sahih Albukhari 2790).
Then Allah says "that is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of the great bounty", so this state for which Allah has deemed them worthy is a result of His bounty, His grace towards them, and His benevolence to them. And as narrated by Abu Salih from Abu Hurayrah: "The poor amongst the emigrants came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said the possessors of great wealth have obtained the highest ranks and the lasting bliss. He (PBUH) said How is that?, they said they pray as we pray, and they observe fast as we observe fast and they give charity but we do not give charity, and they set slaves free but we do not set slaves free. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said Shall I not teach you something by which you will catch upon those who have preceded you, and get ahead of those who come after you, only those who do as you do being more excellent than you?, they said yes Messenger of Allah, He (PBUH) said Glorify Allah: Subhana Allah, Declare His Greatness: Allahu Akbar, and Praise Him: Alhamdu li-llah, thirty three times after every prayer. Abu Salih said the poor amongst the emigrants returned to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying our brethren, the possessors of property have heard what we have done and they did the same, so the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said That is the bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills" (Sahih Muslim 595).
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (22) "No calamity strikes upon the earth or your own selves but it is in a book before We bring it into being, indeed, that is easy for Allah", that is, Allah tells about His preordained decree regarding His creation, established before He brought the world into existence saying that no calamity occurs in the kingdom of Allah whether on the earth, such as drought or scarcity of vegetation and fruits or afflicts human beings, such as pain or disease, but Allah has decreed it before He brings it into being, some said it is in a book before Allah brings creation and living souls into being and this is the view adopted by Imam Al-Tabari, Imam Al-Qurtubi, and Imam Ibn Katheer, but others said: It is in a book before Allah brings the calamity into being. Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Allah ordained the measures of the creation fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, as His Throne was upon water" (Sahih Muslim 2653). And as narrated by Al-Walid bin Ubadah bin Alsamit from his father that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Indeed, the first of what Allah has created was the pen, He said to it Write, so it wrote what will be forever" (Jami' Altirmidhi 3319). Then Allah assures that it is easy for Him to record things exactly as they will exist when they occur, and the creation of souls and the enumeration of the calamities they will encounter is easy for Allah.
Allah Almighty says in the next two verses (23,24) "So that you may neither grieve on what has escaped you, nor exult on what He has given you, and Allah does not like everyone self-admire, over-proud, those who are stingy and enjoin upon the people stinginess, and whoever turns away, then indeed, Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy", that is, Allah has informed you of His prior knowledge and the fact that He recorded things before they came to pass, and decreed the existence of created beings before they came into being, so that you may know that what befell you could not have missed you, and what missed you could not have befallen you, therefore, Do not grieve over what has escaped you, for had something been decreed, it would certainly have happened, nor rejoice in what has come to you, so Do not boast to people about the blessings Allah has given you for it is Allah's decree and provision for you, and Do not take Allah's blessings as a source of arrogance and pride, boasting about them to others, and Allah does not like everyone self-admire, over-proud. Imam Al-Qurtubi said: It was said that the arrogant person is the one who views himself with a sense of pride, and the boastful person is the one who looks upon others with contempt.
Allah does not like everyone self-admire, over-proud, those who are stingy and enjoin upon the people stinginess, so Allah does not like those who are stingy with the wealth they have been granted, while simultaneously acting arrogantly and boastfully towards others because of it. So they withhold the due right of Allah that He has obligated them to pay from that wealth. Alongside their own stinginess, they command others to be stingy as well. And whoever turns away from Allah's command and obedience to Him, and abandons the act of spending in His cause to which He has called him, rejoicing in what he has been granted and acting with arrogance and boastfulness, then indeed, Allah is the Free of need for his spending, the Praiseworthy of all what He decrees.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (25) "Indeed, We have sent our Messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Book, and the Balance so that the people may maintain justice, and we sent down iron in which there is strong power and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may know those who support Him and His Messengers unseen, indeed, Allah is All-Powerful, Almighty", that is, Allah has sent His Messengers with clear and distinct proofs and evidences, and He sent down with them the Scriptures containing rulings and laws, as well as the Balance to uphold justice, act among themselves with justice, and follow the Messengers in what they reported and obey them in what they commanded. And Allah has sent down iron wherein is great might; meaning weaponry such as swords, spears, spearheads, arrowheads, armors, and the like, and wherein is benefit for the people, meaning for their livelihood such as railway tracks, axes, adzes, saws, chisels, shovels, and tools used for farming, weaving, cooking, and baking, as well as other things essential to human life.
Imam Ibn Katheer said: Allah has made iron a deterrent against those who rejected the truth and stubbornly opposed it after the proof had been established against them, therefore, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) remained in Mecca for thirteen years after the onset of His Prophethood, receiving the Meccan Surahs; these consisted entirely of arguments with the polytheists of Quraish, clarification of monotheism (Tawhid), and presentation of proofs and evidences. Once the proof had been established against those who opposed Him, Allah ordained the Migration (Hijrah), and commanded them to fight with swords, striking the necks and heads of those who opposed the Quran, denied it, and stubbornly resisted it.
Then Allah says "And so that Allah may know those who support Him and His Messengers unseen, indeed, Allah is All-Powerful, Almighty", so Allah has sent His Messengers to His creation and sent down these things so that they may establish justice among people and so that He may know those who support the religion of Allah and His Messengers, and Allah is All-Powerful to prevail over those who transgress His commands and prohibitions, Almighty in taking revenge on those who oppose Him and His Messengers. Imam Ibn Katheer said this means: Allah may make evident those whose intention in taking up arms is to support Allah and His Messengers, and Allah is All-Powerful and Exalted in Might, so He grants victory to those who support Him without any need for people, yet He ordained Jihad to test some of you through others.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (26) "And indeed, We have sent Noah and Abraham, and placed in their progeny the prophethood and the Book, and among them is he who is guided, but many of them are defiantly disobedient", that is, Allah Almighty declares that ever since He sent the Prophet Noah, peace be upon Him, He has not sent any Messenger or Prophet thereafter who was not of His progeny, likewise, regarding the Prophet Abraham, peace be upon Him, no Scripture was sent down from Heaven, no Messenger was sent, and no revelation was granted to any human being after Him, except that such a Messenger was of His lineage, and this continued until the last of the Prophets of the Children of Israel, Jesus son of Mary, who heralded the coming of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them both. So Allah has placed in the progeny of Noah and Abraham, peace be upon them both, the prophethood and the Book such as the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, the Criterion, and the other well-known Scriptures, and among their descendants are those who are guided to the truth while many of them are disbelievers, disobedient, and misguided.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (27) "Then We sent following their footsteps Our Messengers, and We followed with Juses, the son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel, and We placed in the hearts of those who followed Him compassion and mercy and monasticism, which they innovated, We did not prescribe it for them except seeking the pleasure of Allah, but they did not observe it with due observance, so We gave those who believed among them their reward, but many of them are defiantly disobedient", that is, Allah sent following the footsteps of the Prophet Noah and the Prophet Abraham His Messengers Moses, Elias, David, Solomon, Yunus, and others, and Allah followed with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave Him the Gospel, the Book revealed to Him. And Allah placed in the hearts of the disciples and their followers, who followed the Prophet Jesus according to His law and way, compassion, which is the most intense mercy, mercy, and monasticism, which the Christians innovated, Allah did not ordain it for them nor did He command them to adopt it, rather they adopted it of their own accord, except seeking the pleasure of Allah, but they did not observe it with due observance, so they did not properly fulfill the commitment they had undertaken, and Imam Ibn Katheer said: This constitutes a condemnation of them on tow counts: First concerning innovating in the religion of Allah matters that He did not commanded, and second concerning their failure to fulfill the commitment they undertook and claimed that it would draw them closer to Allah.
Qatada said: the monasticism they invented consisted of abstaining from marriage and taking up residence in hermitages, and it was also said that it referred to their withdrawing to the wilderness and mountains. Imam Al-Qurtubi said: The righteous people originated the monasticism, but those who came later did not observe it with due observance, so Allah gave those who originated and upheld it their reward, while many of them are defiantly disobedient, referring to the later generations, and when Allah sent His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH), and only a few of them remained, they emerged from their caves, hermitages, and mountains and believed in Him (PBUH). And Imam Al-Qurtubi further said: This verse indicates that every newly introduced practice is an innovation, therefore, whoever initiates a good practice should uphold it and not abandon it for its opposite, lest he falls under the scope of this verse.
Allah Almighty says in the next verse (28) "O you who have believe! Fear Allah, and Believe in His Messenger, He will give you a double portion of His mercy, and make for you a light by which you will walk, and forgive you, and Allah is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful", that is, Allah addresses the people of the scriptures who believed in the Prophet Moses and the Prophet Jesus saying Fear Allah by obeying Him and avoiding disobedience to Him, and Believe in His Messenger Muhammad (PBUH), and Allah will give you a twofold reward for your belief in Jesus, peace be upon Him and the Prophets who proceeded Muhammad (PBUH), and for your belief in Muhammad (PBUH), and Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said in narration of Alsha'bi from Abu Burda's father: ''Three persons will have a double reward: a person from the people of the Scriptures who believed in His Prophet and then believed in the Prophet Muhammad, a slave who discharged his duties to Allah and his master, and a master of a slave-girl who teaches her good manners and educated her in the best possible way and manumits her and then marries her" (Sahih Albukhari 97).
And Allah says "And make for you a light by which you will walk", meaning clarity and guidance according to Mujahid. Ibn Abbas stated that it refers to the Quran and following the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), it has also been said that it is a radiance by which they walk across the Sirat in the Hereafter and proceed to Paradise on the day of resurrection, and another interpretation is that it is a light by which you walk among the people calling them to Islam, thereby becoming leaders in Islam, a leadership that will not be taken away from you. Imam Al-Tabari said: The most correct view regarding this matter is to say that Allah, Almighty, promised these people that He would grant them a light by which they will walk, and the Quran, along with following the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), constitutes a light and a source of guidance for those who believe in and affirm both, for whoever believes in them has truly found guidance. And Allah promises them that He will forgive them their sins, and Allah is All-Forgiving, Most-Merciful for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds.
Allah Almighty says in the last verse (29) "So that the people of the Book may know that they are not able to anything from the bounty of Allah, and that the bounty is in the Hand of Allah, He gives it to whom He wills, and Allah is the Possessor of the great bounty", that is, Allah assures the people of the Scripture from among the Jews and the Christians that they have no power over anything of His bounty, so they have no power to withhold what Allah has granted nor to grant what Allah has withheld, and that the bounty is in the Hand of Allah, He gives it to whom He wills of His creation, so this matter rests with no one other than Him, and Allah is the Possessor of the great bounty. Qatada said: The people of the Scripture envied the Muslims, so this verse was revealed, and Mujahid said: the Jews used to say A Prophet is about to emerge from among us who will cut off hands and feet, but when He (PBUH) emerged from among the Arabs instead, they disbelieved and this verse was revealed.
As narrated by Ibn Umar that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Your period in comparison to the periods of the previous nations is like the period between the Asr prayer (Afternoon prayer) and sunset, and your example in comparison to the Jews and the Christians is like the example of a person who employed some laborers and asked them Who will work for me till midday for one carat each?, the Jews worked for half a day for one carat each, the person asked who will work for me from midday to Asr prayer for one carat each?, the Christians worked from midday till Asr prayer for one carat. Then the person asked Who will work for me from Asr prayer till sunset for two carats each?, the Prophet (PBUH) added it is you who are doing the work from the Asr prayer till sunset, so you will have double reward. The Jews and the Christians got angry and said we have done more work and got less reward, Allah said Have I been unjust to you as regards your rights?, they said no, so Allah said That is My bounty, I give it to whom I will" (Sahih Albukhari 3459).