22:52 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

يخبر تعالى بحكمته البالغة، واختياره لعباده، وأن الله ما أرسل قبل محمد ( مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَلا نَبِيٍّ إِلا إِذَا تَمَنَّى ) أي: قرأ قراءته، التي يذكر بها الناس، ويأمرهم وينهاهم، ( أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ ) أي: في قراءته، من طرقه ومكايده، ما هو مناقض لتلك القراءة، مع أن الله تعالى قد عصم الرسل بما يبلغون عن الله، وحفظ وحيه أن يشتبه، أو يختلط بغيره. ولكن هذا الإلقاء من الشيطان، غير مستقر ولا مستمر، وإنما هو عارض يعرض، ثم يزول، وللعوارض أحكام، ولهذا قال: ( فَيَنْسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ) أي: يزيله ويذهبه ويبطله، ويبين أنه ليس من آياته، و ( يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ ) أي: يتقنها، ويحررها، ويحفظها، فتبقى خالصة من مخالطة إلقاء الشيطان، ( وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ ) أي: كامل القوة والاقتدار، فبكمال قوته، يحفظ وحيه، ويزيل ما تلقيه الشياطين، ( حَكِيمٌ ) يضع الأشياء مواضعها، فمن كمال حكمته، مكن الشياطين من الإلقاء المذكور، ليحصل ما ذكره بقوله:

قد ذكر كثير من المفسرين ههنا قصة الغرانيق وما كان من رجوع كثير من المهاجرة إلى أرض الحبشة ظنا منهم أن مشركي قريش قد أسلموا ولكنها من طرق لها مرسلة ولم أرها مسندة من وجه صحيح والله أعلم قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا يونس بن حبيب حدثنا أبو داود حدثنا شعبة عن أبي بشر عن سعيد بن جبير قال: قرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمكة النجم فلما بلغ هذا الموضع " أفرأيتم اللات والعزى ومناة الثالثة الأخرى " قال فألقى الشيطان على لسانه: تلك الغرانيق العلى وإن شفاعتهن ترتجى قالوا ما ذكر آلهتنا بخير قبل اليوم فسجد وسجدوا فأنزل الله عز وجل هذه الآية " وما أرسلنا من قبلك رسول ولا نبي إلا إذا تمنى ألقى الشيطان في أمنيته فينسخ الله ما يلقي الشيطان ثم يحكم الله آياته والله عليم حكيم " ورواه ابن جرير عن بندار عن غندر عن شعبة به بنحوه وهو مرسل وقد رواه البزار في مسنده عن يوسف بن حماد عن أمية بن خالد عن شعبة عن أبي بشر عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس فيما أحسب الشك في الحديث أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قرأ بمكة سورة النجم حتى انتهى إلى " أفرأيتم اللات والعزى " وذكر بقيته ثم قال البزار لا نعلمه يروي متصلا إلا بهذا الإسناد مفرد بوصله أمية بن خالد وهو ثقة مسهور وإنما يروي هذا من طريق الكلبى عن أبي صالح عن ابن عباس ثم رواه ابن أبي حاتم عن أبي العالية وعن السدي مرسلا وكذا رواه ابن جرير عن محمد بن كعب القرظي ومحمد بن قيس مرسلا أيضا وقال قتادة كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي عند المقام إذ نعس فألقى الشيطان على لسانه وإن شفاعتها لترتجى وإنها لمع الغرانيق العلى فحفظها المشركون وأجرى الشيطان أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قد قرأها فذلت بها ألسنتهم فأنزل الله " وما أرسلنا من قبلك من رسول ولا نبي " الآية فدحر الله الشيطان ثم قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا موسى بن أبي موسى الكوفي حدثنا محمد بن إسحاق الشيبي حدثنا محمد بن فليح عن موسى بن عقبة عن ابن شهاب قال: أنزلت سورة النجم وكان المشركون يقولون لو كان هذا الرجل يذكر آلهتنا بخير أقررناه وأصحابه ولكنه لا يذكر من خالف دينه من اليهود والنصارى بمثل الذي يذكر آلهتنا من الشتم والشر وكان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قد اشتد عليه ما ناله وأصحابه من أذاهم وتكذيبه وأحزنه ضلالهم فكان يتمنى هداهم فلما أنزل الله سورة النجم قال " أفرأيتم اللات والعزى ومناة الثالثة الأخرى ألكم الذكر وله الأنثى " ألقى الشيطان عندها كلمات حين ذكر الله الطواغيت فقال وإنهن لهن الغرانيق العلى وإن شفاعتهن لهي التي ترتجى وكان ذلك من سجع الشيطان وفتنته فوقعت هاتان الكلمتان في قلب كل مشرك بمكة وذلت بها ألسنتهم وتباشروا بها وقالوا إن محمدا قد رجع إلى دينه الأول ودين قومه فلما بلغ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم آخر النجم سجد وسجد كل من حضره من مسلم أو مشرك غير أن الوليد بن المغيرة كان رجلا كبيرا فرفع ملء كفه تراب فسجد عليه فعجب الفريقان كلاهما من جماعتهم في السجود لسجود رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأما المسلمون فعجبوا لسجود المشركين معهم على غير إيمان ولا يقين ولم يكن المسلمون سمعوا الذي ألقى الشيطان في مسامع المشركين فاطمأنت أنفسهم لما ألقى الشيطان في أمنية رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وحدثهم به الشيطان أن رسول الله قد قرأها في السورة فسجدوا لتعظيم آلهتهم ففشت تلك الكلمة في الناس وأظهرها الشيطان حتى بلغت أرض الحبشة ومن بها من المسلمين عثمان بن مظعون وأصحابه وتحدثوا أن أهل مكة قد أسلموا كلهم وصلوا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وبلغهم سجود الوليد بن المغيرة على التراب على كفه وحدثوا أن المسلمين قد أمنوا بمكة فأقبلوا سراعا وقد نسخ الله ما ألقى الشيطان وأحكم الله آياته وحفظه من القرية وقال الله " وما أرسلنا من قبلك من رسول ولا نبي إلا إذا تمنى ألقى الشيطان في أمنيته فينسخ الله ما يلقي الشيطان ثم يحكم الله آياته والله عليم حكيم.

How the Shaytan threw some Falsehood into the Words of the Messengers, and how Allah abolished

At this point many of the scholars of Tafsir mentioned the story of the Gharaniq and how many of those who had migrated to Ethiopia came back when they thought that the idolators of the Quraysh had become Muslims, but these reports all come through Mursal chains of narration and I do not think that any of them may be regarded as Sahih. And Allah knows best. Al-Bukhari said, "Ibn `Abbas said,

فِى أُمْنِيَّتِهِ

(in his recitation (of the revelation).) "When he spoke, the Shaytan threw (some falsehood) into his speech, but Allah abolished that which the Shaytan threw in."

ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ ءَايَـتِهِ

(Then Allah establishes His revelations.) `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said,

إِذَا تَمَنَّى أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَـنُ فِى أُمْنِيَّتِهِ

(when he did recite (the revelation), Shaytan threw (some falsehood) in it) "When he spoke, the Shaytan threw (some falsehood) into his speech." Mujahid said:

إِذَا تُمْنَى

(when he did recite) "When he spoke." It was said that it refers to his recitation, whereas,

إِلاَّ أَمَانِىَّ

(but they trust upon Amani) means they speak but they do not write. Al-Baghawi and the majority of the scholars of Tafsir said:

تَمَنَّى

(he did recite) "Reciting the Book of Allah."

أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَـنُ فِى أُمْنِيَّتِهِ

(Shaytan threw (some falsehood) in it) "In his recitation." Ad-Dahhak said:

إِذَا تُمْنَى

(when he did recite) "When he recited." Ibn Jarir said, "This comment is more akin to interpretation."

فَيَنسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى الشَّيْطَـنُ

(But Yansakh Allah that which Shaytan throws in.) The meaning of the word Naskh in Arabic is to remove or lift away. `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "This means, Allah cancels out that which the Shaytan throws in."

وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ

(And Allah is All-Knower,) means, He knows all matters and events that will happen, and nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him.

حَكِيمٌ

(All-Wise.) means, in His decree, creation and command, He has perfect wisdom and absolute proof, hence He says:

لِّيَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِى الشَّيْطَـنُ فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ

(That He (Allah) may make what is thrown in by Shaytan a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease) meaning, doubt, Shirk, disbelief and hypocrisy. Ibn Jurayj said:

الَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ

(those in whose hearts is a disease) "The hypocrites, and

وَالْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ

(and whose hearts are hardened.) means the idolators."

وَإِنَّ الظَّـلِمِينَ لَفِى شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ

(And certainly, the wrongdoers are in an opposition far-off.) means, far away in misguidance, resistance and stubbornness, i.e., far from the truth and the correct way.

وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُواْ بِهِ

(And that those who have been given knowledge may know that it is the truth from your Lord, so that they may believe therein,) means, `so that those who have been given beneficial knowledge with which they may differentiate between truth and falsehood, those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, may know that what We have revealed to you is the truth from your Lord, Who has revealed it by His knowledge and under His protection, and He will guard it from being mixed with anything else.' Indeed, it is the Wise Book which,

لاَّ يَأْتِيهِ الْبَـطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ

(Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it, (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah).) 41:42

فَيُؤْمِنُواْ بِهِ

(so that they may believe therein,) means, that they may believe that it is true and act upon it.

فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ

(and their hearts may submit to it with humility.) means, that their hearts may humble themselves and accept it.

وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِلَى صِرَطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

(And verily, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to the straight path.) means, in this world and in the Hereafter. In this world, He guides them to the truth and helps them to follow it and to resist and avoid falsehood; in the Hereafter, He will guide them to the straight path which leads to the degrees of Paradise, and He will save them from the painful torment and the dismal levels of Hell.

And We did not send before you any messenger rasūl — this is a prophet who has been commanded to deliver a Message — or prophet nabī — one who has not been commanded to deliver anything — but that when he recited the scripture Satan cast into his recitation what is not from the Qur’ān but which those to whom he the prophet had been sent would find pleasing. The Prophet s had during an assembly of the men of Quraysh after reciting the following verses from sūrat al-Najm Have you considered Lāt and ‘Uzzā? And Manāt the third one? 5319-20 added as a result of Satan casting them onto his tongue without his the Prophet’s being aware of it the following words ‘those are the high-flying cranes al-gharānīq al-‘ulā and indeed their intercession is to be hoped for’ and so they the men of Quraysh were thereby delighted. Gabriel however later informed him the Prophet of this that Satan had cast onto his tongue and he was grieved by it; but was subsequently comforted with this following verse that he might be reassured of God’s pleasure thereat God abrogates nullifies whatever Satan had cast then God confirms His revelations. And God is Knower of Satan’s casting of that which has been mentioned Wise in His enabling him Satan to do such things for He does whatever He will.

Commentary

مِن رَّ‌سُولٍ وَلَا نَبِيٍّ (any messenger and any prophet - 22:52) This shows that the words Rasul رَّ‌سُولٍ and Nabi carry different meanings, though there is no consensus as to the precise nature of the difference. For our purpose it is enough to understand that Nabi نَبِيٍّ is a person whom Allah Ta’ ala designates with a mission to reform his people and who receives revelations from Him. He may receive a Scripture and a code of laws or he may be commanded to convey the message of an earlier Book and code of laws. Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) and ` Isa' (علیہ السلام) belong to the first category, whereas Sayyidna Harun (علیہ السلام) ، who was directed to propagate the teachings of Torah and the Mosaic Laws, falls in the second category. On the other hand a Rasul رَّ‌سُولٍ is a person who receives from Allah Ta’ ala a Scripture and a code of laws. Thus every رَّ‌سُولٍ Rasul is necessarily a Nabi also, but every Nabi is not a Rasul. These distinctions are applicable to human beings only. That an angel who carries wahy from Allah Ta’ ala is also named as Rasul does not contradict this position. This subject has already been discussed in detail in Surah Maryam in the beginning of this volume.

أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ (The Shaitan cast (doubts) about what he recited - 22:52) In this verse the word تَمَنَّىٰ has been used as a synonym for قَرَأَ thus أُمْنِيَّتِهِ would mean قِرَأت (recitation). This verse explains that the disputes raised by the disbelievers in regard to Allah's message is not something new as similar doubts were raised by earlier people as well when their prophets presented to them the message of Truth, and the Shaitan cast doubts about it in the hearts of disbelievers. This explanation of the verse is quite clear and straight-forward, and has been adopted by many commentators including Abu Hayyan in his Bahr-ul-Muhit. However, some books of traditions have reported here an incident which is not proved by authentic sources. The incident is known as حَدِیث الٖغرانیق (hadith-ulgharaniq). Some scholars have held that it is invented by some heretics and enemies of Islam. But even those who believe this tradition to be worthwhile have taken pains to remove the doubts, which the words raise about the categorical and undisputed laws of Qur'an and Sunnah. The plain and simple meaning of the verse has been explained above and the alleged incident in no way affects this meaning. Making this incident as a part and parcel of the commentary on this verse, thereby creating unnecessary doubts, and then attempting to answer those doubts is an exercise in futility and absolutely undesirable وَاللہُ سبحانَہُ و تعالیٰ اَعلَم .

(Never sent We a messenger or a prophet before thee�) [22:52]. The commentators of the Qur'an said: �When the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, saw that his people were shunning him, he was aggrieved by their rejection of the message he brought them and he secretly wished that Allah, exalted is He, reveals something to him which would bring him and his people closer to each other, keen as he was to see them accept faith. One day, he sat in one of the congregations of Quraysh which attracted a huge number of its members, and he wished that Allah, exalted is He, does not reveal to him on that day anything that might repel them from him. Allah, exalted is He, revealed to him then Surah al-Najm (By the star when it stetteth�) [Surah 53]. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, recited it but when he reached (Have ye thought upon al-Lat and al-'Uzza, and Manat, the third, the other) [53:19-20], the devil put on his tongue what he had secretly wished and hoped for and said: 'These are the mighty cranes (gharaniq) and their intercession is hoped for'. When the Quraysh heard this, they were very pleased. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, carried on reciting until the end of the Surah and then prostrated. All the Muslims followed suit and prostrated, and all the idolaters who were present prostrated too. All those who were present, whether Muslim or disbeliever, prostrated except al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah and Abu Uhyahah Sa'id ibn al-'As who were too advanced in age and could not prostrate, but they both grabbed a handful of dust and put their foreheads on it. The Quraysh then dispersed, happy with what they heard. They said: 'Muhammad has mentioned our idols with complimentary terms. We know that Allah gives life and takes it away, He creates and provides sustenance, but these idols of ours will intercede for us with Him. Now that Muhammad has associated them, we are all with him'. That evening, Gabriel, peace be upon him, went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: 'What have you done? You recited to people that which I did not bring from Allah, glorified is He, and you said what I did not say to you'.