Qualities of the Successful Believers – Part 2/7: Tafsir al-Shinqitee

Allah begins surah al-Mu’minoon with 11 ayaat describing the qualities of the successful believers and their ultimate reward. Sheikh Muhammad al-Ameen al-Shinqitee broke his tafsir of these ayaat into seven sections, which we have translated and will publish as a series over the coming weeks. To read section one, click here. Sheikh Muhammad al-Ameen al-Shinqitee continued his tafsir of the opening of surah al-Mumi’noon as follows:

قوله تعالى : والذين هم عن اللغو معرضون ، ذكر – جل وعلا – في هذه الآية الكريمة : أن من صفات المؤمنين المفلحين إعراضهم عن اللغو ، وأصل اللغو ما لا فائدة فيه من الأقوال والأفعال ، فيدخل فيه اللعب واللهو والهزل ، وما توجب المروءة تركه . ـ

Allah’s statement:

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِ‌ضُونَ

And those who turn away from al-Laghw [23:3]

In this noble ayah, Allah mentioned that one of the characteristics of the successful believers is turning away from al-Laghw. And the root meaning of al-Laghw is that which contains no benefit – whether it be speech or actions. So this includes idle play, distractions, and idle joking, and whatever chivalry requires one to do without.

وقال ابن كثير عن اللغو معرضون [ 23 \ 3 ] أي : عن الباطل ، وهو يشمل [ ص: 307 ] الشرك كما قال بعضهم ، والمعاصي كما قاله آخرون ، وما لا فائدة فيه من الأقوال والأفعال اهـ منه . ـ

And ibn Kathir said:

 عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِ‌ضُونَ

… turn away from al-Laghw

i.e.: from falsehood, and this encompasses al-shirk – as has been mentioned by some -, acts of disobedience – as has been mentioned by others -, and whatever speech or action is devoid of any benefit. [End of quote].

وما أثنى الله به على المؤمنين المفلحين في هذه الآية ، أشار له في غير هذا الموضع كقوله : وإذا مروا باللغو مروا كراما [ 25 \ 72 ] ومن مرورهم به كراما إعراضهم عنه ، وعدم مشاركتهم أصحابه فيه وقوله تعالى وإذا سمعوا اللغو أعرضوا عنه الآية [ 28 \ 55 ] . ـ

And that for which Allah has commended the successful believers in this ayah is also indicated elsewhere, such as Allah’s statement:

وَإِذَا مَرُّ‌وا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّ‌وا كِرَ‌امًا

and when they pass near al-laghw, they pass by with dignity [25:72]

And their turning away from the laghw is part of their passing by it with dignity, as well as their lack of joining in with those doing it. And there is also Allah’s statement:

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَ‌ضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ

And when they hear al-laghw, they turn away from it and say, “For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds. Peace will be upon you; we seek not the ignorant.” [28:55]

[Adhwaa al-Bayaan 5/306-307]

To continue exploring this series, see Qualities of the Successful Believers Series Guide

See also: “Those who listen to speech and follow the best of it”: Tafsir al-Sa’di

See also: The Fiqh of Oaths – Imam al-Sa’di

See also: “And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah…” Tafsir by Imam al-Sa’di