Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 112

(Ayah 112) ➊ The addition of "seen" and "taa" in {فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَاۤ اُمِرْتَ وَ مَنْ تَابَ مَعَكَ : ’’ فَاسْتَقِمْ ‘‘} is either for seeking, meaning: keep asking Allah to remain straight and steadfast as you have been commanded. This addition can also be for emphasis and exaggeration. Qurtubi said, "Steadfastness is to keep walking straight in one direction without turning to the right or left." This meaning is more appropriate here. The first meaning is also correct, and acting upon it, we pray for guidance to the straight path in every rak'ah. The meaning of steadfastness is to avoid both extremes of falsehood—excess and deficiency—and to remain exactly in the middle, straight. This is a very difficult task. Firstly, it is difficult to always be aware of what exactly is the correct path; then, to remain steadfast on it is even more difficult. Razi explained this with an example: there is a place between sunlight and shade; how difficult it would be to know and always be aware of it. That is why the scholars say that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ شَيَّبَتْنِيْ هُوْدٌ ] [ترمذی: ۳۲۹۷] "Surah Hud has made me old," the reason for this is not the stories of punishment on the nations of the Prophets, but this command: «{ فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَاۤ اُمِرْتَ } »

➋ From {’’ فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَاۤ اُمِرْتَ ‘‘} it is understood that the straight path, on which the command to remain firmly established is given, is only that which Allah revealed to His Prophet (peace be upon him). Here, the command of steadfastness is for the Prophet (peace be upon him) and all those who repented from disbelief and joined the believers with him, but what is everyone commanded to be steadfast upon? Only that which is stated in the words of {’’ كَمَاۤ اُمِرْتَ ‘‘}, that is, only that which the Prophet (peace be upon him) was commanded. Because the command from Allah is only to the Prophet (peace be upon him); apart from him, from Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to the last person of the Ummah, there is not a single person who is commanded by Allah or who receives commands through revelation. Other than the Prophet (peace be upon him), there is not a single person whose opinion is Allah's command or religion, upon which the Ummah is commanded to remain steadfast. From this, it is proven that all groups of blind following have deviated from steadfastness. If you want salvation, you must leave the opinions, analogies, and groupings of all people and hold fast only to the Book and Sunnah.

➌ Steadfastness (remaining fully established on Allah's command) is a very comprehensive word, which includes the entire Shariah. In beliefs, it is to have faith in Allah's attributes as He has commanded: neither denying any attribute (ta'til), nor likening them to the attributes of creation (tashbih), but as befits Allah's majesty. In actions, neither abandoning any command (disobedience), nor going ahead of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or inventing a separate path (monasticism and innovation). In character, for example, neither being miserly nor spending wastefully. In short, in everything, to find out the exact correct path of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and to follow it step by step is steadfastness. Sufyan bin Abdullah Thaqafi (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I said, "O Messenger of Allah! Tell me something in Islam after which I will not need to ask anyone else." He said: [ قُلْ آمَنْتُ بِاللّٰهِ ثُمَّ اسْتَقِمْ ] "Say: I believe in Allah, then remain steadfast upon it." [ مسلم، الإیمان، باب جامع أوصاف الإسلام : ۳۸ ] For the reward and virtue of steadfastness, see Surah Ha Mim Sajdah (30) and Ahqaf (13).

➍ {وَ لَا تَطْغَوْا: ’’ طَغٰي يَطْغَي طُغْيَانًا ‘‘} means to exceed the limits, that is, keep yourself within the boundaries set by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) for obedience to the Shariah, and do not try to go beyond them. In any matter of life, exceeding these limits is forbidden. Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says that three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) asking about the worship of the Prophet (peace be upon him). When they were informed, it was as if they considered it little and said: [ وَأَيْنَ نَحْنُ مِنَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ؟ قَدْ غُفِرَ لَهٗ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهٖ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ، قَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنِّيْ أُصَلِّي اللَّيْلَ أَبَدًا ، وَ قَالَ آخَرُ أَنَا أَصُوْمُ الدَّهْرَ وَلاَ أُفْطِرُ، وَقَالَ آخَرُ أَنَا أَعْتَزِلُ النِّسَاءَ فَلاَ أَتَزَوَّجُ أَبَدًا، فَجَاءَ إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمُ الَّذِيْنَ قُلْتُمْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا؟ أَمَا وَاللّٰهِ ! إِنِّيْ لَأَخْشَاكُمْ لِلّٰهِ وَأَتْقَاكُمْ لَهٗ لٰكِنِّيْ أَصُوْمُ وَأُفْطِرُ، وَ أُصَلِّيْ وَأَرْقُدُ، وَ أَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ، فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِيْ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّيْ ] [ بخاری، النکاح، باب الترغیب في النکاح : ۵۰۶۳ ] "What comparison do we have with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)? Allah has forgiven his past and future sins." One of them said, "I will pray all night." The second said, "I will fast every day." The third said, "I will not marry women." When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came, he said, "Did you say such and such? Listen! By Allah, I am the one who fears Allah the most among you and am most conscious of Him, but I fast and I do not fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah (my way) is not from me." As for those who are said to have prayed a thousand rak'ahs daily, or prayed Isha and Fajr with one ablution for forty years, or worshipped hungry in the jungle for twelve years, then either a clear lie has been attributed to them, because this is not within human capacity, or they were victims of the very transgression which Allah has forbidden. (We seek refuge with Allah)

➎ { اِنَّهٗ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ :} means: adopt steadfastness or transgression, Allah is watching all your deeds.

112. 1. In this verse, the Prophet and the believers are being instructed towards steadfastness, which is a very great weapon against the enemy. Secondly, they are being prevented from exceeding limits, which is very necessary for the moral strength and nobility of character of the believers. Even this transgression is not permissible when dealing with the enemy.

So remain steadfast, as you have been commanded, and also those who have turned (to faith) with you, and do not transgress. Surely, He is seeing whatever you do.

[124] That is, you ﷺ yourself, as well as your followers, should pay no attention whatsoever to the words of the opponents, and stand firm in carrying out Allah’s command, and fully observe the limits set by Him—do not transgress them—because Allah is fully aware of each and every one of you and of all your deeds.