Surah Ibrahim (14) — Ayah 21

(Ayah21){وَ بَرَزُوْا لِلّٰهِ جَمِيْعًا …:’’ تَبَعًا ‘‘} This is the plural of {’’تَابِعٌ‘‘}, just as {’’خَادِمٌ‘‘} is the plural of {’’خَدَمٌ‘‘}, meaning that on that day all hiding places in the world will come to an end. The heights of the mountains, the depths of the seas, and the curvature of the earth’s surface will be eliminated, and all creatures will be presented before Allah Almighty on a plain land as flat as bread. In the world, the weak and the strong, the disciple and the spiritual guide, the subjects and the leaders will all stand before Allah with the same humility and helplessness. Then the weak will say to their misguiding leaders that we used to follow you, and because of this we denied the prophets and disbelieved in Allah, so can you now be of any help to us in saving us from Allah’s punishment? The meaning of {’’ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ‘‘} is that if not all the punishment, then at least reduce as much of it as possible. They will put all the blame on Allah and, declaring themselves innocent, will apologize for being unable to help them in any way. Thus, they will say, if Allah had guided us, we would have guided you, as if all the fault lies with Allah Almighty who did not guide us. [ اَلْعِیَاذُ بِاللّٰہِ ] Just as Satan, by refusing to prostrate, put the blame for his misguidance on Allah Almighty, he said: «{ قَالَ فَبِمَاۤ اَغْوَيْتَنِيْ }» [ الأعراف : ۱۶] “He said, ‘Since You have led me astray.’” Whereas Allah Almighty had given guidance, shown both paths, he said: «{اِنَّا هَدَيْنٰهُ السَّبِيْلَ اِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَّ اِمَّا كَفُوْرًا }» [ الدھر : ۳ ] “Indeed, We guided him to the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful.” Now it was your choice; He neither compelled you to evil nor to good, and this is the wisdom of the test which was the reason for the creation of jinn and mankind. Well, after being caught in such a punishment from which there is no way to escape, there are only two options before us: either express panic or be patient. Neither will be of any benefit, nor is there any way out from here. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said that apparently this mutual argument of theirs will take place after entering Hell. See Surah Al-Mu’min (47), Surah Al-A’raf (38), and Surah Saba (32, 33). In any case, this dispute of theirs can occur both in the field of resurrection and in Hell.