Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 40

(Ayah 40) ➊ The root of {اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يُلْحِدُوْنَ فِيْۤ اٰيٰتِنَا: ’’ يُلْحِدُوْنَ ‘‘} is {’’لَحْدٌ‘‘}. "Lahd" refers to a grave that is dug not straight down but, after going down a bit, is dug to one side. The meaning of {’’ إِلْحَادٌ ‘‘} is deviation from the straight path, that is, turning to one side, crookedness, and walking askew, meaning those who, deviating from the truth, choose a crooked path. "Ilhad" (crookedness) in the signs of Allah is to deny them, or instead of taking their straightforward and clear meaning, to engage in irrelevant debates and try to impose a wrong meaning on them. Those who, after becoming Muslims, become supporters of false ideologies such as polytheistic beliefs, innovations, rejection of hadith, socialism, capitalism, atheism, etc., adopt this very approach, going astray themselves and leading others astray as well. Here, a warning has been given to those who adopt crookedness in the signs of Allah, and in Surah Al-A'raf, Ayah (180), there is a command to keep away from those who adopt crookedness regarding the names of Allah, and their outcome has been described.
➋ {لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَا:} This is the first severe warning here for those who walk crookedly regarding the signs of Allah, that these people are not hidden from Us, rather, they are in Our sight at every moment and cannot escape Our grasp. If We are delaying their punishment and giving them respite, it is because only one who fears that the criminal might hide and escape would hasten. The meaning is that We will certainly punish them for this deviation.
➌ { اَفَمَنْ يُّلْقٰى فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ اَمْ مَّنْ يَّاْتِيْۤ اٰمِنًا يَّوْمَ الْقِيٰمَةِ:} This is the second threat, that those who distort and twist the meaning of the signs of Allah and walk crookedly regarding them will be thrown into the Fire, and those who avoid deviation in the signs of Allah will come on the Day of Resurrection in a state of security. So tell, who is better: the one who is thrown into the Fire, or the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection in a state of security?
➍ {اِعْمَلُوْا مَا شِئْتُمْ …:} This is the third threat. "Do what you wish" does not mean permission to do as you please, but is a rebuke, that during this respite, do whatever you want, then for its punishment We will do as We wish. We are watching all your actions very well; do not think that you will escape the punishment for any of your evil deeds because it is hidden from Our sight. This is just like a great ruler, in severe anger, says to some of his slaves with whom he is displeased, "Do whatever you want."

40. 1. That is, they do not accept them, rather they turn away from them, deviate, and deny them. Hazrat Ibn Abbas ؓ has explained the meaning of "ilhaad" as "waz'ul kalaam 'ala ghayri mawadi'ihi" (placing words in other than their proper places), by which those false sects are also included who, for the affirmation of their erroneous beliefs and ideologies, resort to interpretative distortion (tahrif ma'nawi) and deception in the meanings of the divine verses.

40. 2. This is a severe warning for these deviators (regardless of their type).

40. 3. That is, can these two be equal? No, certainly not. Besides, this also indicates that the disbelievers will be thrown into the Fire, and the believers will be fearless on the Day of Resurrection.

40. 3. This is the word of command, but here the intent is warning and threat. There is no permission or justification for disbelief, polytheism, and disobedience.

Indeed, those who distort the meaning [49] of Our verses are not hidden from Us. So, is the one who will be thrown into the Fire better, or the one who will come secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you wish [50]; surely, Allah is seeing all that you do.

[49]
The Meaning of ﴿الحاد﴾:

The root of ﴿يُلْحِدُوْنَ﴾ is ﴿لحد﴾, and ﴿لحد﴾ means grave and its side, and ﴿الحد﴾ means to deviate from the straight path to one side, and ﴿الحد السهم﴾ means for an arrow to hit one side of the target, and ﴿الحد عن الدين﴾ means to criticize the religion. (Mufradat al-Quran) And this deviation (ilhaad) is related to beliefs (F.Q.L 189), such as doubting the essence and attributes of Allah, or taking their wrong meanings, or denying miracles, as Allah Almighty has said in another place: ﴿وَذَرُوا الَّذِیْنَ یُلْحِدُوْنَ فِیْۤ اَسْمَآىٕهٖ﴾, meaning those who deviate regarding the names (attributes) of Allah. Ilhaad is related to the attributes of Allah.

What are the different sects of the deviators (mulhideen)?

In this context, the verses of Allah refer to the verses that describe the attributes of Allah. For example, due to ilhaad in the verses related to Allah’s decree, two sects, Qadariyyah and Jabariyyah, came into existence. The Khawarij also interpreted Allah’s command to mean that neither the Quran nor any human can be a judge besides Allah. The Mu'tazilah separated the attributes of Allah from His essence and declared the attributes to be created, thus raising the issue of the creation of the Quran. Besides these, all other misguided sects also commit ilhaad in the attributes of Allah and derive their own beneficial meanings from them. Such deviators (mulhideen), who are themselves misguided and also cause others to go astray, are all under Allah’s watch. And they cannot escape from Him anywhere.

[50] There is a severe warning in the manner of expression, and its example is like a ruler saying to a criminal, “I am watching everything you are doing.” And this address is to those who choose the path of ilhaad in the verses of Allah.