Tafseer: If We Leave the Dhikr of Allaah Then It Is As If We Resemble Them in Their Lack of Interest in the Qur'aan

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Allaah, the Most High, says;

وَمَنْ يَعْشُ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ

"And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Qur'an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan." [Zukhruf 43:36]

Imaam Abu Ja'far at-Tabaree [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in his Tafseer about this Ayaah;

The Most High says about those who leave the Dhikr or remembrance of Allaah, then he will not be affected by it. He will not fear the Punishment of Allaah because 'We appoint for him Shaitan.'

A devil or a Shaytaan has lured him and thus he had become a close friend and ally to him. By him becoming a close friend, it means that the person who forgets the Dhikr or remembrance of Allaah will walk on the same path of the Shaytaan. He will walk as if he has partial or complete blindness in his eyes, thus blindness and darkness becomes the way he walks on this path.

So if sight is taken away from you, you will not see. Without sight, if one is told to walk, then he will walk in a manner that is deficient.

[Adapted from Tafseer at-Tabaree 21/603-604]

Al-Allaamah Taahir bin 'Ashoor [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

This Surah begins with the praiseworthy description given to the Qur'aan as being a Dhikr or remembrance and a clarification for mankind. It also described the Mushrikeen as being arrogantly refusing to accept it.

Therefore Know! Allaah will not leave cease in given examples from them, example of their outright refusal because Allaah Calls to the truth and He Supports it.

This Qur'aan exemplifies and expands on the description given to them as being false in their 'Aqeedah or beliefs, perhaps it can be a cause of waking for them from their slumber. Perhaps this Qur'aan will bring proofs for them explaining the truth to them, calling them to the path of the Messenger [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him].

The Qur'aan exposes them for their blind following and resembling of their ancestors, they had no proof or guidance and thus they are all astray.

So the Qur'aan warns against us being like them and having the same level of complacency and neglect as them, so this Qur'aan has come as added clarification for us.

This Aayah; ' And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Qur'an and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan ' is connected to an Ayaah that proceeded this one, that states;

"And when the truth (this Qur'an) came to them, they (the disbelievers in this Qur'an) said: 'This is magic, and we disbelieve therein.' [Zukhruf 43:30]

So this Ayaah means, if we leave the Dhikr or remembrance of Allaah then it is as if we resemble them in their lack of interest in the Qur'aan.

So the one who lives without looking into the Qur'aan or contemplating upon its meanings is like the one who pays no attention to it, he doesn’t listen to its words or doesn’t seek to benefit from its meanings and lessons. This person is likened to those non-Muslims who heard the Qur'aan but didn’t benefit from it; they heard or even looked at it without it having any reflection.

[Adapted from At-Tahreer wa at-Tanweer (26/207-212)]