30:40 Ar-Room (The Romans)

الله وحده هو الذي خلقكم -أيها الناس- ثم رزقكم في هذه الحياة، ثم يميتكم بانتهاء آجالكم، ثم يبعثكم من القبور أحياء للحساب والجزاء، هل من شركائكم مَن يفعل من ذلكم من شيء؟ تنزَّه الله وتقدَّس عن شرك هؤلاء المشركين به.

يخبر تعالى أنه وحده المنفرد بخلقكم ورزقكم وإماتتكم وإحيائكم، وأنه ليس أحد من الشركاء التي يدعوهم المشركون من يشارك اللّه في شيء من هذه الأشياء.فكيف يشركون بمن انفرد بهذه الأمور من ليس له تصرف فيها بوجه من الوجوه؟!فسبحانه وتعالى وتقدس وتنزه وعلا عن شركهم، فلا يضره ذلك وإنما وبالهم عليهم.

قوله عز وجل "الله الذي خلقكم ثم رزقكم" أي هو الخالق الرازق يخرج الإنسان من بطن أمه عريانا لا علم له ولا سمع ولا بصر ولا قوى ثم يرزقه جميع ذلك بعد ذلك والرياش واللباس والمال والأملاك والمكاسب كما قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا أبو معاوية حدثنا الأعمش عن سلام بن شرحبيل عن حبة وسواء ابني خالد قالا دخلنا على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وهو يصلح شيئا فأعناه فقال "لا تيأسا من الرزق ما تهزهزت رؤسكما فإن الإنسان تلده أمه أحمر ليس عليه قشرة ثم يرزقه الله عز وجل" وقوله تعالى "ثم يميتكم" أي بعد هذه الحياة "ثم يحييكم" أي يوم القيامة وقوله تعالى "هل من شركائكم" أي الذين تعبدونهم من دون الله "من يفعل من ذلكم من شيء" أي لا يقدر أحد منهم على فعل شيء من ذلك بل الله سبحانه وتعالى هو المستقل بالخلق والرزق والإحياء والإماتة ثم يبعث الخلائق يوم القيامة ولهذا قال بعد هذا كله "سبحانه وتعالى عما يشركون" أي تعالى وتقدس وتنزه وتعاظم وجل وعز عن أن يكون له شريك أو نظير أو مساو أو ولد أو والد بل هو الأحد الفرد الصمد الذي لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا أحد.

God is the One Who created you then provided for you then makes you die then gives you life is there anyone among your associates of those whom you have associated with God who does anything of the kind? No! Glory be to Him and exalted be He above what they associate with Him.

وَمَا آتَيْتُم مِّن رِّ‌بًا لِّيَرْ‌بُوَ فِي أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ (And whatever Riba [ increased amount ] you give so that it may increase in the wealth of the people, - 30:39). This verse is meant to correct an evil custom which is common in close relatives and the families at large. When people extend a gift or a present to relatives, especially at the time of marriages, they make a note of the amount they have given, in the hope that they will get back an equal amount in return when it is their turn, rather a little more. This custom is known in Urdu as 'neota'. It is emphasized in this verse that the instruction given in the preceding verse about the rights of relatives should be implemented in a manner that neither it be shown as a favour, nor should it be given in the hope of any return. Whoever gives out money in the hope that it will bring back something more, then it is not worthy of reward in the sight of Allah. Qur'an has referred to it as riba, alluding that it is as bad as usury or interest.1

1. This explanation is based on the view of a number of exegetes of Qur an. The word used by the Holy Qur'an is rib a term commonly understood as equivalent to usury or interest, prohibition of which has been detailed in verses 275 to 281 of Sarah Al-Baqarah and verse 130 of Sarah 'Al ` Imran. Since, according to a large number of scholars, usury was prohibited in Madinah, while the present verse is Makkan, the word riba used here cannot mean usury or interest. Therefore, the word is interpreted here as a gift given to a relative in order to get back a gift of higher value from him. But some other commentators have taken the word riba in the same sense as in Sarah Al-Baqarah, i.e. usury and interest. They argue that usury was prohibited even in Makkah, but its implementation on a state level was carried out in Madinah. The esteemed author has reconciled between these two views by saying that the direct purpose of the verse is to correct the evil custom of giving gifts in the hope of getting a higher return, as mentioned in some traditions, but the word 'riba' is used to indicate that this practice is tantamount to the practice of usury where an increased amount is charged from a debtor. ( Muhammad Taqi ` Usmani)

Ruling

It is extremely contemptible for a person who extends a gift to someone that he expects a return for it, which is forbidden in this verse. But it is morally desirable for the one who receives a gift from someone, that he tries to give a gift to the former on his own accord, whenever he finds a suitable occasion. This was exactly the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . He used to give present to the person who gave him one. (Qurtubi on authority of Sayyidah ` A'ishah ؓ . However, it should be avoided to give him an impression that the gift is being given in return of his own.