Surah Al-Qasas (28) — Ayah 57

(Ayah 57) ➊ {وَ قَالُوْۤا اِنْ نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدٰى مَعَكَ …:} One excuse for not believing in the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and its answer has already passed above: «{ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ عِنْدِنَا قَالُوْا لَوْ لَاۤ اُوْتِيَ مِثْلَ مَاۤ اُوْتِيَ مُوْسٰى اَوَ لَمْ يَكْفُرُوْا بِمَاۤ اُوْتِيَ مُوْسٰى مِنْ قَبْلُ }» [القصص : ۴۸ ] “Then when the truth came to them from Us, they said, ‘Why has he not been given the like of what was given to Musa?’ Did they not disbelieve in what was given to Musa before?” Now in this verse, another excuse for their not believing is mentioned. {’’ وَ قَالُوْۤا اِنْ نَّتَّبِعِ الْهُدٰى مَعَكَ … ‘‘} is connected to the previous verse (48) {’’ قَالُوْا لَوْ لَاۤ اُوْتِيَ مِثْلَ مَاۤ اُوْتِيَ مُوْسٰى ‘‘}, meaning that some of the polytheists said, “We know that you are upon the truth, but we fear that if we follow guidance along with you and take on the enmity of all the Arabs, they will snatch us from our land and take us away so quietly and suddenly that no one will even know.”

➋ { اَوَ لَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَّهُمْ حَرَمًا اٰمِنًا … :} This is the answer to their excuse: when all over Arabia there is widespread insecurity, no one’s life or wealth is safe, people are kidnapped in broad daylight and made slaves, tribes are at each other’s throats due to poverty and destitution—then, at such a time, have We not given them a place in this sanctuary whose security is such that even its animals are not harmed, and which, despite being a barren valley, has such central importance that fruits and trade goods from all over the world are drawn towards it? Clearly, We have granted it this status, so when We have given them so much security and blessed them with Our favors despite their disbelief and polytheism, will We not grant them refuge if they adopt Our religion? And will We not protect them from the aggression of others? No, this will never happen, but most people are ignorant, they do not know. See also Surah Al-Ankabut (67).

57-1. That is, wherever we are, let us remain there and we will have to face hardships or fighting with opponents. This was the excuse presented by some disbelievers for not believing. Allah gave the answer.

57-2. That is, their excuse is unreasonable, because Allah has made this city, in which they live, a place of safety. When this city is a place of safety for them even in their state of disbelief and polytheism, then will it not remain a place of safety for them after accepting Islam?

57-3. This is the special quality of Makkah, which is witnessed by millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims every year, that despite there being no produce in Makkah, every kind of fruit and even goods from all over the world are found there in abundance.

57. And the disbelievers say: "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be snatched away from our land [78]." Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary [79] where fruits of all kinds are brought to it as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.

[78] That is, the polytheist tribes of Arabia will become our enemies, and the political authority we currently possess among them will also be taken away. And it is because of this political authority that our trade caravans can travel in peace. Otherwise, they too would not be able to travel safely. In other words, if we obey you ﷺ and bring faith in you, our political standing will be destroyed, our economic prosperity will come to an end, and these tribes will make our lives unbearable.

[79]
The Statement of the Polytheists of Makkah That If We Believe, We Will Have No Refuge, and Its Answer:

This fabricated statement of the disbelievers was also just an excuse, as the saying goes, "A bad-natured person finds many excuses." In response, Allah Almighty said that these political and economic benefits are only being granted to you because We have made this land a sanctuary (Haram). All the tribes of Arabia come here to perform Hajj. Because of your custodianship of the Ka'bah, they also honor and respect you. Throughout Arabia, this is the only peaceful region, and it is Allah who has made it peaceful; otherwise, how would the robbers and bandits of Arabia have let you live? Then your trade caravans are also able to travel safely because of your custodianship of the Haram, and your prosperity through trade is also due to this Haram. So, will the Allah who has granted you these benefits because of the Haram, even while you are polytheists, withhold these benefits from you after you believe, or will He increase them? Furthermore, it is also due to the blessing of the Haram that in this barren and arid land, fruits, grains, and other necessities from all over the world reach you. And they arrive in such abundance that even in the places where these things are produced, they are not available in such quantity. In this sense, Makkah also holds the status of a global trade center. If you are receiving these benefits even in a state of disbelief, then why would you not receive them after becoming obedient to Allah?