49:8 Al-Hujuraat (The Inner Apartments)

وهذا الخير الذي حصل لهم فضل من الله عليهم ونعمة. والله عليم بمن يشكر نعمه، حكيم في تدبير أمور خلقه.

{ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً } أي: ذلك الخير الذي حصل لهم، هو بفضل الله عليهم وإحسانه، لا بحولهم وقوتهم.{ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ } أي: عليم بمن يشكر النعمة، فيوفقه لها، ممن لا يشكرها، ولا تليق به، فيضع فضله، حيث تقتضيه حكمته.

أي هذا العطاء الذي منحكموه هو فضل منه عليكم ونعمة من لدنه "والله عليم حكيم" أي عليم بمن يستحق الهداية ممن يستحق الغواية حكيم في أقواله وأفعاله وشرعه وقدره.

that is a favour from God fadlan is a verbal noun in the accusative because of the implied verbal action that is afdala ‘He gives a favour’ and a grace from Him and God is Knower of them Wise in His bestowal of graces on them.

The Holy Prophet's ﷺ Decision is Better

According to the previous verse, Walid Ibn 'Uqbah ؓ reported that Banul-Mustaliq had turned apostate and refused to pay Zakah. At this, the blessed Companions were disturbed and infuriated. They expressed the view that jihad should be declared on them immediately, but the Holy Prophet ﷺ rejected his report on the basis of strong circumstantial evidence to the contrary. He sent Khalid Ibn Walid for investigation. In the foregoing verse, the Qur’ an enjoined that if there are strong reasons to doubt the report conveyed by any person, it is not lawful to act upon it before investigation. In this verse the noble Companions ؓ are given one more guideline: 'Although when you heard the news about Banul-Mustaliq's apostasy, you reacted the way you reacted, and that was on account of your religious zeal and enthusiasm, yet your view was not right and proper. The decision taken by the Holy Prophet ﷺ proved to be better (Mazhari). Thus in matters requiring consultation it is proper to express a view but it is not proper for you to exert efforts to get the Holy Prophet ﷺ to act upon your opinion. Although there is a rare possibility that an opinion expressed by the Holy Prophet ﷺ in some worldly matters comes to be against worldly expedience, and this is not contrary to the station of his prophethood, yet Allah has gifted him with such insight, perspicacity and discernment which you do not have. Therefore, if the Holy Prophet ﷺ were to follow your opinion, in many matters, you will suffer loss and fall into difficulties. If rarely ever your opinion is right or proper, it is still better to abandon your opinion and obey the Holy Prophet ﷺ . By doing so it is possible that you may suffer some worldly loss, but it would not be as harmful as his following your opinion. In this case, even if you suffer any worldly loss, the reward of obedience to the Holy Prophet ﷺ is a better compensation.

Lexically, the word is derived from and it connotes "to commit a sin or crime" and it also means "to suffer from hardship". In this context, both connotations appropriately fit (Qurtubi).

(O ye who believe! If an evil-liver bring you tidings, verify it�) [49:6-8]. These verse were revealed about al-Walid ibn �Uqbah ibn Abi Mu�ayt. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, sent him to collect the poor-due from Banu�l-Mustaliq. However, there was an old enmity between him and them in the pre-Islamic period. When these people heard of his coming, they came out to receive him out of reverence for Allah, exalted is He, and His Messenger. But he was scared of them and the devil whispered to him that they wanted to kill him. He returned halfway and went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, saying: �Banu�l-Mustaliq have refused to pay the poor-due and wanted to kill me�. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, became angry and was about to attack them. Meanwhile, when Banu�l-Mustaliq realised that the emissary had gone back, they went to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and said: �We heard of your emissary and we went out to receive him, honour him and give him that which was due upon us of the right of Allah, exalted is He. But your emissary went back and we feared that what sent him back might be a message he received from you because you are angry with us. And we seek refuge in Allah from His wrath and from the wrath of His Messenger�. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed (O ye who believe! If an evil-liver) i.e. al-Walid ibn �Uqbah (bring you tidings, verify it�). Al-Hakim Abu �Abd Allah al-Shadhyakhi informed us> Muhammad ibn �Abd Allah ibn Zakariyya al-Shaybani> Muhammad ibn �Abd al-Rahman al-Daghuli> Sa�id ibn Mas�ud> Muhammad ibn Sabiq> �Isa ibn Dinar> his father> al-Harith ibn Dirar who said: �I went to see the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, and he invited me to embrace Islam. I embraced Islam and believed. He enjoined me to pay the poor-due and I agreed. I said: �O Messenger of Allah, I will go to my people and invite them to embrace Islam and pay the poor-due. I will collect the poor-due from whoever accepts my invitation and at such-and-such a time you send for me so that I bring you the poor-due I collect� �.