Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 8

(Ayah 9,8) ➊ { وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُّجَادِلُ فِي اللّٰهِ …:} Here is a question: these very words have already appeared earlier in verse (3), so what is the wisdom in bringing them again? One answer is that there, the mention is of those argumentative quarrelsome people regarding the establishment of the Resurrection and Allah Almighty’s power, who are completely devoid of knowledge and are mere blind followers, following every rebellious devil. Whereas here, the mention is of those quarrelsome people who are leaders of misguidance and mislead others. Another answer is that just as in the first verse: {’’ وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يُّجَادِلُ ‘‘}, before the waw, the mention of some people is omitted (see the commentary of verse 3 once again), similarly, according to the context, here too before the waw in {’’ وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ‘‘}, the mention of some people is omitted, meaning those people who, before the arguments about the creation of man and the reviving of the dead earth, did not believe in the Resurrection and Allah Almighty’s power. After these conclusive arguments, among them are some who believe, and some who are so stubborn and devoid of intellect and understanding that, without any proof and merely out of arrogance, not only do they themselves not believe, but also mislead others.

➋ { بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَّ لَا هُدًى …:} By knowledge is meant the self-evident and innate proof that is understood by everyone without any contemplation. {’’هُدًى ‘‘ } refers to the rational proof obtained through contemplation and reasoning, and {’’ كِتٰبٍ مُّنِيْرٍ ‘‘} refers to any authentic transmitted proof established in the books revealed from the sky. That is, he has neither any innate proof nor rational nor transmitted proof for denying the Resurrection, or the existence of Allah Almighty, or the denial of His power. The cause of his argument is only arrogance.

➌ { ثَانِيَ عِطْفِهٖ: ’’ثَنٰي يَثْنِيْ ثَنْيًا‘‘} is on the pattern of {’’لَوَي يَلْوِيْ لَيًّا‘‘}, meaning to turn (something). {’’ ثَنٰي عِنَانَ فَرَسِهِ‘‘} means he turned the reins of his horse. It also means to bend: « اَلَاۤ اِنَّهُمْ يَثْنُوْنَ صُدُوْرَهُمْ » [ ھود : ۵ ] “Behold! Indeed, they bend their chests.” {’’عِطْفٌ‘‘ } means shoulder as well as side. This is a depiction of his arrogance, how he turns away his side and arrogantly turns away from the truth.

➍ {لَهٗ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ :} refers to being killed, defeated, captured, or subjugated at the hands of the Muslims, as happened in Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, the conquest of Khaybar, the conquest of Makkah, the conquest of Ta’if, and many other countless battles. Further humiliation and disgrace is that despite abundance of wealth and children, {’’ مَعِيْشَةً ضَنْكًا ‘‘} (Ta-Ha: 124) and through wealth and children there is continuous punishment. See Surah Tawbah (55), which is the fate of the disbelievers in this world and of every person who turns away from the remembrance of Allah Almighty.

The exegesis of this verse has been done along with the previous verse.

8. And among people are some who argue about Allah without knowledge [8], guidance, or an enlightening Book.

[8]
What is Self-Evident Knowledge?

In this verse, the application of the word "knowledge" in the Shari'ah language generally refers to divine revelation, but here, knowledge means natural, innate, or self-evident knowledge that every human being possesses. For example, that every living being needs food and drink for the survival of its life, or that two and two make four, or that the whole is always connected to its part, or that whatever is thrown into fire, the fire burns it—these are matters for which no rational or transmitted proof is needed. Nor does anyone demand proof for such matters. And by "guidance" is meant rational proof. For example, the interconnected system of this universe necessitates that there must be a powerful, knowledgeable, and aware being who created and controls it. Or that everything must have a maker. Or that if there is camel dung lying on the road, it is rational proof that a camel has passed by here. And by "illuminating book" is meant any transmitted or heard proof, i.e., such a proof that is mentioned in a revealed book. For example, that the Creator of this universe is Allah Almighty, and in His authority and power, or in His essence and attributes, no one else is His partner. And the Noble Quran and Ahadith are full of such heard or transmitted proofs.

Disputing About Allah Without Knowledge, Guidance, or Book:

Now, those who argue or dispute about the essence of Allah, or His powers and authority, or His other attributes, neither have any self-evident or experimental proof (knowledge), nor any rational proof (guidance), nor any heard or transmitted (illuminating book) proof. Their argument is only for the sake of argument or obstinacy. They have no answer except to say that since our forefathers used to do so, therefore we also do so or will continue to do so. And it is obvious that this is not a proof of any kind, and the sum of this answer is that if the elders had chosen the path of misguidance, then this misguidance would continue to be transferred from generation to generation among their descendants. The real purpose of these people in this dispute is to keep others away from the path of faith and certainty, and to mislead them just as they themselves are misled. Allah Almighty will disgrace and humiliate such spiteful and hostile people in this world, and the punishment of the Hereafter will, in any case, be even more severe.