Remarks on the Contents of Surah Taha: Ibn Taymiyah

In one of his many writings, Sheikh al-Islaam ibn Taymiyah mentioned the following:

سورة طه وقال شيخ الإسلام رحمه الله فصل ” سورة طه ” مضمونها تخفيف أمر القرآن وما أنزل الله تعالى من كتبه فهي ” سورة كتبه ” – كما أن مريم ” سورة عباده ورسله ” – افتتحها بقوله : { ما أنزلنا عليك القرآن لتشقى } . . إلى قوله : { تنزيلا ممن خلق الأرض والسماوات العلا } . ثم ذكر قصة موسى ونداء الله له ومناجاته إياه وتكليمه له وقصته من أبلغ أمر الرسل فلهذا ثنيت في القرآن ; لأنه حصل له الخطاب والكتاب وأرسل إلى فرعون الجاحد المرتاب المكذب للربوبية والرسالة وهذا أعظم الكافرين عنادا واستوفى القصة في هذه السورة إلى قوله : { رب زدني علما } ثم ذكر قصة آدم ; لأنها أول النبوات . ـ

The contents of Surah Taha include the ease of the Qur’an and what Allah has sent down in His Books, so it is “the Surah of His Books“, just as Surah Maryam was “the Surah of His servants and messengers”.

The surah opens with Allah’s statement:

مَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَىٰ * إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَىٰ * تَنزِيلًا مِّمَّنْ خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ وَالسَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلَى

We have not sent the Qur’an down to you to cause you to be distressed * But only as a reminder to those who fear * It is a revelation from the One who created the earth and the high heavens [20:2-4]

Then He mentioned the story of Moosaa and Allah’s call to him, His private discussion with him, and His speaking to him.

The story of Moosaa is one of the most amazing things of any the messengers, which is why it is returned to so frequently throughout the Qur’an. For Moosaa was granted both direct speech from Allah as well as a scripture, and Allah sent him to Fir’awn, the incredulous disbelieving denier of both Allah’s lordship and of the fact that Allah sent messengers. He was the gravest of all the disbelievers in his obstinance. So this story occupies this surah until Allah’s statement:

“Whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer”: Tafsir of Sheikh bin Baaz

In a gathering, the following question was asked to sheikh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz:

 يسأل عن تفسير قول الحق -تبارك وتعالى-: أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم: فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى* وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا (123-124) سورة طـه.تفضلوا سماحة الشيخ بتفسير هذه الآيات جزاكم الله خيرا . ـ

A questioner asks about the explanation of Allah’s statement – (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed shaytaan) – :

فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ * وَمَنْ أَعْرَ‌ضَ عَن ذِكْرِ‌ي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا

whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer. * And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life [20:123-124]

Esteemed sheikh, please provide a tafsir of these ayaat. May Allah reward you with good.

So sheikh bin Baaz gave the following reply:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله, وصلى الله وسلم على رسول الله, وعلى آله وأصحابه ومن اهتدى بهداه أما بعد.. فقد ذكر علماء التفسير عند هذه الآية ما يشرح معناها ويوضح معناها قال الله -جل وعلا- في كتابه العظيم في سورة طه: قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى* وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى (123-124) سورة طـه. قال ابن عباس -رضي الله تعالى عنهما- في الآية, تكفل الله لمن اتبع هدى الله أن لا يضل في الدنيا ولا يشقى في الآخرة, والمعنى أن من اتبع الهدى واستقام على الحق الذي بعث الله به نبيه محمد -عليه الصلاة والسلام- فإنه لا يضل في الدنيا بل يكون مهتدياً مستقيماً ولا يشقى الآخرة بل له الجنة والكرامة . ـ

I begin with the name of Allah, al-Rahman al-Raheem, and may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, as well as upon his family, his companions, and whoever adheres to his guidance.

To proceed: Concerning this ayah, the scholars of tafsir have mentioned that which opens up its meaning and clarifies it. In His Glorious Book, in surah Taha, Allah said:

قَالَ اهْبِطَا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَىٰ * وَمَنْ أَعْرَ‌ضَ عَن ذِكْرِ‌ي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُ‌هُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ

Allah said, “Descend from Paradise – all being enemies to one another. And if there should come to you guidance from Me – then whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer. * And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” [20:123-124]

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said in regards to his ayah, “Allah promised whoever follows His guidance that He will not misguide him in this worldly life nor will he cause him to suffer in the hereafter.” Meaning that whoever follows the guidance and is firmly upright upon the truth with which Allah sent His prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), then he will not be misguided in this worldly life, rather he will be one who is characterized by guidance and uprightness, and he will not be made to suffer in the hereafter, rather there will be Jannah for him.

Four Means of Attaining Allah’s Forgiveness: Imam al-Sa’di

While mentioning some of the benefits derived from the story of Moosaa and Haaroon, Imam ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Sa’di mentions the following point of clarity and great benefit:

ومنها : أن قوله تعالى :  < وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ‌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ > استوعب الله بها الأسباب التي تدرك بها مغفرة الله . ـ

And from the benefits is that Allah’s statement:

وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ‌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ

But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance. [20:82]

With this statement Allah comprises all of the means by which the forgiveness of Allah is reached.

أحدها: التوبة، وهو الرجوع عما يكرهه الله ظاهرا وباطنا إلى ما يحبه الله ظاهرا وباطنا، وهي تَجُبُّ ما قبلها من الذنوب صغارها وكبارها. ـ

First: al-Tawbah (repentance), and that is returning from what Allah hates – both outwardly and inwardly – back towards what Allah loves – both outwardly and inwardly. And this is in respond to what previously occurred in terms of both major and minor sins.