Surah Al-Layl, Ayah 17

The Matter of Guidance and other than it is in the Hand of Allah, and Allah's Warning about the Hell

Qatadah said,

إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا لَلْهُدَى

(Truly, on Us is (to give) guidance.) "This means, We will explain what is lawful and what is prohibited." Others have said that it means, "Whoever traverses upon the path of guidance, then he will reach Allah (i.e., in the Hereafter)." They consider this Ayah like Allah's saying,

وَعَلَى اللَّهِ قَصْدُ السَّبِيلِ

(And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight path.) (16:9) This has been mentioned by Ibn Jarir. Allah said;

وَإِنَّ لَنَا لَلاٌّخِرَةَ وَالاٍّولَى

(And truly, unto Us (belong) the last (Hereafter) and the first (this world).) This means, `they both belong to Us and I (Allah) am in complete control of them.' Then Allah says,

وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا الْأَتْقَى الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّىٰ (And saved from it will be the most God-fearing one who gives his wealth [ in charity ] to become purified,....92:17-18). This verse describes the reward of the most God-fearing person, as opposed to the punishment of the most wretched in the preceding verse. The word atqa is the superlative form and signifies a man of taqwa, that is, the most God-fearing person, who spends his wealth in obedience of his Lord in order to purify himself from sins, will be kept far away from the fire of Hell.

The wordings of the verse give good news, in general, to anyone who spends in Allah's cause in a state of faith, but the occasion of revelation indicates that atqa refers to Sayyidna Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ؓ in particular. Ibn Abi Hatim reports from Sayyidna 'Urwah ؓ that seven Muslims had been enslaved by the Makkan disbelievers. When they became Muslims, they were persecuted in a variety of ways. Sayyidna Abu Bakr ؓ spent a great amount of his money, and purchased them and set them free. Verses [ 17-21] were revealed on this occasion. [ Mazhari ]

The relationship of God with His subjects is not only that of a ruler but also that of a supporter. He smooths the path of those of His subjects who want to draw near to Him. Conversely, He lets those who adopt the way of arrogance to carry on in that way.