اسۡتَغۡفِرۡ

42:39.

Important Words:

شاور (consult) is derived from شار which means, he gathered or extracted honey from the comb, and separated it from the wax. شار الدابة means, he rode the beast in order to ascertain its true worth. اشار الیه means, he pointed towards him or it. اشار علیه means, he gave him advice; he offered him counsel. شاورہ means, he consulted him; he sought his opinion or advice; he discussed with him in order to find out his opinion. مشورة means, good counsel or consultation. شوری means, mutual consultation (Aqrab).

فتوکل (then put thy trust). For the meaning of توکل see 3:123.

Commentary:

The verse gives an insight into the beautiful character of the Holy Prophet, of which the most effable and prominent trait was his all-comprehensive mercy. He was full of the milk of human kindness and was not only kind towards his Companions and followers, but was also full of mercy for his enemies who were always on the lookout to stab him in the back. It is on record that he took no action even against those treacherous hypocrites who had deserted him in the Battle of Uhud. He even consulted them in affairs of the State.

The verse also constitutes an effective answer to the charge of the hypocrites that the Holy Prophet attached no importance to their advice and did what he liked. The Quran refutes this charge by saying that if the Holy Prophet had not been kind and gentle towards them, they would have left him long ago. Thus their continuing to remain with him falsified their accusation and proved that the Prophet’s treatment of them was very kind and that in conformity with the divine command (see also 42:39) he used to consult them regarding affairs of State, with the result that many of them afterwards repented of their deeds and became sincere Muslims. The injunction about consultation contained in the present verse, although general in application, refers to the hypocrites of Medina in particular.

It may be noted that Islam stands alone in including the institution of مشورة (consultation) among its fundamental principles. It lays down as a rule that both the Prophet and his Successors should, whenever necessary, consult their followers in important affairs of the State. A religion claiming to be universal is bound to contain such a teaching; for persons of different classes and different communities continue to enter its fold, and if they are consulted in matters of moment, it is calculated not only to add to their experience and practical wisdom, but also to increase and keep alive their interest in the affairs of the State. This is why the Holy Prophet used to consult his followers on all important matters, as he did before the Battles of Badr, Uhud, and Ahzab, and also when a false accusation was brought against his wife, ‘A’ishah. Baihaqi reports: "Certainly Allah and His Messenger did not stand in need of the advice of anybody, but God has made it (the seeking of advice) a source of mercy for men. Those who hold consultation will not stray away from the path of rectitude, while those who do not are liable to do so." Abu Hurairah says: "The Holy Prophet was most solicitous in consulting others in all matters of importance" (Manthur, ii. 90).

‘Umar, the Second Successor of the Holy Prophet is reported to have said: لا خلافة الا بالمشورة i.e. "There is no Khilafat without consultation" (Izalatul-Khifa’ ‘an Khilafatul-Khulafa’). Thus the holding of consultation in matters of consequence is an important injunction of Islam and is binding on both spiritual and temporal chiefs, though they are not bound to accept that consultation as the words, when thou art determined, then put thy trust in Allah, show. The Khalifah must seek the advice of leading Muslims, but the final decision always rests with him. He is not bound to accept, in full or in part, the advice tendered to him by a majority of them. This view has ever been held by the main body of Muslims throughout the centuries and finds ample support in the sayings of the Holy Prophet as well as in his practice and in that of his rightly-guided successors.

The objection, that if the Khalifah is not bound to act upon the advice of the majority what is the use of his seeking advice, or of others offering it, is unwise and beside the point. The verse gives to the Khalifah the right to reject advice if he is convinced that it is in the interest of religion or the community to do so. Normally, he respects the view of the majority, but the Islamic شوری or مشاورة (Shura or Mushawarat) is not parliament in the sense in which the word is generally understood in the west. Islam enjoins only consultation and not decision by votes, which are two different things. Consultation is meant to help the Khalifah to know the views of his followers and to enable him to respect them as far as possible. It is not at all intended to tie his hands. It is on record that the Holy Prophet rejected the advice of the majority of his followers on certain occasions, and on others he even refused to accept their unanimous opinion. For instance, regarding the treatment of the prisoners of Badr he accepted the advice of Abu Bakr and rejected that of ‘Umar, ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah and Sa‘d bin Mu‘adh (Musnad, i. 283). At Hudaibiyyah, he signed the treaty in clear opposition to the advice of his Companions (Bukhari, ch. on Shurut). Similarly, Abu Bakr discarded the almost unanimous advice of the Muslims by sending the expedition to Syria under Usamah, immediately after the death of the Holy Prophet (Athir, ii. 139). In contrast to this, it is also on record that the Holy Prophet sometimes sacrificed his own view to that of his followers as he did in marching out of Medina for the Battle of Uhud.

The context of the verse, however, shows that here the injunction was primarily meant with regard to the hypocrites, and nobody could say that the Holy Prophet was bound to do what the hypocrites advised him.

The advantages of consultation are: (1) The Khalifah or Amir comes to know the views of his followers. (2) He is helped in arriving at a correct decision. (3) Representative Muslims get an opportunity to think about, and take personal interest in, important state affairs, thus receiving most useful training in matters of administration. (4) The Khalifah is enabled to judge the mental and administrative capabilities of different individuals, which help him to assign the right work to the right man. (5) It enables him to know the aptitudes, aspirations and tendencies as well as the moral and spiritual condition of the different members of his community, and thus he becomes able to effect an improvement, wherever necessary, in his people.

The meaning of expressions like, put thy trust in Allah, is generally misunderstood. In the language of the Quran, توکل(trusting in God) does not consist in disregarding the material means of doing a thing. On the contrary, توکل as taught by Islam means that a person should first make use of all the resources at his command and then place his trust in God to bless his efforts with success, believing all the time that the means can be successful only if and when God wills it and that the true cause and the real source of all success is God alone.

The words, put thy trust in Allah, as used in the present context, also hint that if the Prophet or the Khalifah were to be bound to accept the counsel of his followers, it would be against the spirit of توکل (trusting in God). In fact, one who is bound to act in accordance with the advice of another cannot be said to be trusting in God so far as acting on that advice is concerned.

Commentary:

One good action leads to another. When Joseph pardoned his brothers, the weight of sin to some extent became lifted from their hearts. They repented of their sins and, as this verse shows, they no longer thought their own repentance to be sufficient. So they also requested their father to pray to God to forgive them. They now realized that man’s anger was nothing compared with God’s wrath; therefore they thought it necessary first of all to make peace with God and to ask His forgiveness through their father. This request implied Jacob’s pardon, for he could not have prayed for them, as he promised in the following verse, unless he had himself forgiven them.

Important Words:

جامع (which has brought them together) is derived from جمع which means, he collected; assembled; brought together; it comprised, comprehended or contained. They say جمع امرہ i.e. he arranged or settled his affair. The Arabs say جمع اللّٰه شمله i.e. may God unite his disorganised state of affairs. امر جامع means, an affair that brings people together; or a momentous or important affair on account of which people gather together as though the affair itself gathers them (Lane, Mufradat & Aqrab).

Commentary:

The several preceding verses contained directions for Muslims as how to conduct themselves in affairs of social importance. The present verse, however, deals with affairs of national importance. The Muslims are enjoined that when they are with the Holy Prophet, engaged in transacting a business of national importance, they are not to leave the assembly without his permission. It may also be inferred from this verse that in affairs concerning a whole nation or community, the individual loses his independence of action. He must abide by the decision arrived at by the assembly of Muslims presided over by the Prophet, his Successor or their accepted and elected leader. When a person withdraws himself from such assembly, he, in fact, deprives himself of the opportunity to contribute his share to the good of Islam and Muslims and consequently to that extent he becomes deprived of God’s grace and mercy. The Holy Prophet, therefore, has been told to ask forgiveness of Allah for such an individual for an inadvertent lapse on his part. Islam is very sensitive about the maintenance of a living relationship between an individual Muslim and the central authority of the Muslim community.

30:61.

Important Words:

استـغـفر (ask forgiveness) is derived from غـفر. They say غـفر الشیء i.e. he covered or concealed the thing. غـفر الله ذنبه means, God covered up his sins and forgave him. مـغـفرة and غـفران which are both infinitives, signify God’s forgiveness or His protection of a person against the punishment of his sins and protection against future lapses (Mufradat, Aqrab & Lane). استـغـفر would thus signify, "ask God for مـغـفرة " i.e. covering up of, and for-giveness for, past lapses, and pro-tection from future stumbling. استـغـفار (Istighfar), therefore, is not only needed by ordinary believers but also by holy men of God—even by God’s great Prophets. While the former offer Istighfar to seek protection against future sins as well as from the evil consequences of past lapses, the latter seek protection from human shortcomings and weaknesses that may hinder the progress of their cause. The Prophets also are human and though they are immune to sin, yet they, too, are heir to human failings and frailties and so they too need offering Istighfar to seek Divine help and assistance against these. See also 2:59 & 14:42

ذنب (frailty) is derived from ذنب (dhanaba). ذنبه (dhanaba-hu) means, he followed his tail, not quitting his track. ذنب, therefore, signifies such natural failings or frailties as adhere to human nature. ذنب also means, a fault, an imperfection, a shortcoming, natural weakness, frailty, a misdeed, an offence or error for which one is liable to be called to account or which produces harmful results (Mufradat). Four words i.e. جناح, جرم, إثم and ذنب (all signifying a lapse) have been used in the Quran, but whereas all the four have been used in relation to human beings generally, the first three have not been used with regard to Prophets of God. This shows the great difference between ذنب and other words. See also 3:17.

Commentary:

As against the Bible which has imputed all sorts of heinous crimes and sins to God’s Prophets (Gen. 9:21-22; 19: 30-36 & 2 Sam. 11:2-5), Islam regards them as completely free from all moral lapses. They are born sinless and they remain sinless throughout life. "They are God’s honoured servants and fully carry out His commandments" (21:21, 28). Christian writers have vainly sought to infer from 48:3 and from the verse under comment that as the Holy Prophet was enjoined to ask forgiveness for his ذنب, he must have been guilty of moral lapses. Apart from the fact that a casual study of the context at both the places belies this baseless inference, the argument only exposes ignorance of Arabic idiom on the part of Christian critics. استـغـفر لذنبک is quite a harmless expression, particularly when used about a Prophet of God; and in view of the meanings of the words ذنب and استـغـفار, as given under "Important Words" above, it does not at all bear this sinister construction. The expression only means that the Holy Prophet was enjoined to invoke God’s protection against his human weaknesses standing in the way of the realization of his noble object which was the advance and spread of Islam and the complete and final victory of truth over falsehood. The expression may also mean, "ask forgiveness for them (thine enemies) for the wrongs they have done thee," ذنبک meaning, the wrong done to thee. The Quran regards the Holy Prophet, as indeed all other Divine Messengers, as above any imputation of committing a sin. The Quran has shed some light on the very high stature of the Holy Prophet. It says:

(1) He it is who has raised among the unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and Wisdom (2:130; 3:165 & 62:3).

(2) Your Companion has neither erred, nor has he gone astray. Nor does he speak out of his own desire. It is nothing but pure revelation that has been revealed by God (53:3-5).

(3) Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee indeed swear allegiance to God (48:11).

(4) Say, 'If you love Allah, follow me: Then Allah will love you and forgive you your faults' (3:32).

(5) Whoso obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah indeed (4:81).

It is ignorance of Arabic language or misrepresentation of the text of the Quran to say that it regards the great and noble Prophet, who had raised to the highest pinnacles of spiritual glory a whole people, sunk deep in the depths of moral turpitude, and had purified them, liable to commit sins!

Commentary:

For the meaning and significance of the expression استغفر لذنبک see a detailed note on 40:56 & 48:3. The words متقلبکم و مثواکمmay mean, when you move about transacting your affairs and when you take rest, or متقلبکم may apply to this world and مثواکمto the next.

102:2.

3:168.

13:17; 25:4.

Commentary:

Reference in this verse is to those Bedouin tribes around Medina who apparently had friendly relations with the Muslims. These tribes were also invited to join the party of 1500 Muslims who were going to Mecca to perform the Lesser Pilgrimage (عمرة). Though the Prophet was going on a mission of peace, these desert tribes thought that the Quraish would not allow his entry into Mecca and that in all likelihood there would be a clash of arms and Muslims not being properly armed would be defeated, and therefore going with the Holy Prophet was tantamount to marching into the jaws of death (Muir, Hisham & Kathir). The verse may equally apply to those tribes who had remained behind in the expedition to Tabuk because analogous words have been used in Surah At-Taubah about them.

Commentary:

The expression, بین أیدیھن و أرجلھن means from themselves or by themselves.

15:99; 20:131; 50:40.

Commentary:

The Holy Prophet is here enjoined that since God’s promise has been fulfilled and large masses of people have begun to enter the fold of Islam, he should give thanks to his Lord for fulfilling His promise about victory, sing His praises and seek His protection and forgiveness.

The expression استغفرہ has a very wide significance. The Holy Prophet is here told that since victory has come to him and Islam has become predominant in the land and his erstwhile enemies have become his devoted servants, he should ask God to forgive them the grave wrongs they had done to him in the past. This seems to be the meaning and significance of the injunction to the Holy Prophet to seek God’s forgiveness. Or the Holy Prophet might have been enjoined to ask God’s protection against weaknesses and shortcomings that might find their way into the Muslim Community on account of lack of adequate training or education for the new converts. It is significant that whenever mention is made in the Quran of a destined victory or some great success falling to the Holy Prophet, he is generally told to ask God’s forgiveness and to seek His protection. This clearly shows that he is enjoined here to ask for God’s forgiveness and to seek His protection not for himself but for others; he is asked to pray that whenever there was any danger of his followers deviating from Islamic principles or precepts, God may save them from such a crisis. Thus there is no question here of the Prophet’s asking forgiveness for any of his own actions. According to the Quran, he enjoyed complete immunity from every moral lapse or deviation from the right course (53:3). For a detailed treatment, however, of the word استغفار see 40:56 & 48:3.

The expression, "He is Oft-Returning with compassion," holds a message of hope for the Holy Prophet. He is told that whenever there was any danger of his followers deviating from the path of Islam and falling victims to moral decay on a large scale, God will return to them with compassion and will raise from among them a Reformer who will lead them to the right path.