Embrace the Faith and Warning the People of the Book (Surah An-Nisa’ 4: 47-48)

Calling the People of the Book to Embrace the Faith, Warning them Against Doing Otherwise

Allah commands the People of the Scriptures to believe in what He has sent down to His servant and Messenger, Muhammad, the Glorious Book that conforms to the good news that they already have about Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). He also warns them,

before We efface faces and turn them backwards  Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said that `effacing' here refers to blindness,

and turn them backwards  meaning, We put their faces on their backs, and make them walk backwards, since their eyes will be in their backs. Similar was said by Qatadah and `Atiyah Al-`Awfi. This makes the punishment even more severe, and it is a parable that Allah set for ignoring the truth, preferring the wrong way and turning away from the plain path for the paths of misguidance. Therefore, such people walk backwards. Similarly, some said that Allah's statement,

Verily, We have put on their necks iron collars reaching to the chins, so that their heads are raised up. And We have put a barrier before them [36:8]  that is a parable that Allah gave for their deviation and hindrance from guidance.


Ka`b Al-Ahbar Embraces Islam Upon Hearing this Ayah [4:47]

It was reported that Ka`b Al-Ahbar became Muslim when he heard this Ayah [4:47]. Ibn Jarir recorded that `Isa bin Al-Mughirah said: We were with Ibrahim when we talked about the time when Ka`b became Muslim. He said, `Ka`b became Muslim during the reign of `Umar, for he passed by Al-Madinah intending to visit Jerusalem, and `Umar said to him, "Embrace Islam, O Ka`b.' Ka`b said, `Do you not read in your Book,

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah... Books [62:5]

I am among those who were entrusted with the Tawrah.' `Umar left him alone and Ka`b went on to Hims (in Syria) and heard one of its inhabitants recite this Ayah while feeling sad,

O you who have been given the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Believe in what We have revealed confirming what is with you, before We efface faces and turn them backwards. Ka`b said, `I believe, O Lord! I embraced Islam, O Lord!' for He feared that this might be struck by this threat. He then went back to his family in Yemen and returned with them all as Muslims.'' Allah's statement,

or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath refers to those who breached the sanctity of the Sabbath, using deceit, for the purpose of doing more work. Allah changed these people into apes and swine, as we will come to know in the explanation of Surah Al-A`raf (7). Allah's statement,

And the commandment of Allah is always executed. means, when He commands something, then no one can dispute or resist His command.

Allah Does not Forgive Shirk, Except After Repenting From it

forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), meaning, He does not forgive a servant if he meets Him while he is associating partners with Him,

but He forgives except that of sins,

to whom He wills of His servants. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

Allah said, "O My servant! As long as you worship and beg Me, I will forgive you, no matter your shortcomings. O My servant! If you meet Me with the earth's fill of sin, yet you do not associate any partners with Me, I will meet you with its fill of forgiveness.'' Only Ahmad recorded this Hadith with this chain of narration.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Allah said that He, Abu Dharr (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "I came to the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and he said,

"No servant proclaims,`There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,' and dies on that belief, but will enter Paradise.'' I said, "Even if he committed adultery and theft'' He said, "Even if he committed adultery and theft.'' I asked again, "Even if he committed adultery and theft'' He said, "Even if he committed adultery and theft.'' The fourth time, he said, "Even if Abu Dharr's nose was put in the dust.'') Abu Dharr departed while pulling his Izar and saying, "Even if Abu Dharr's nose was put in the dust.'' Ever since that happened, Abu Dharr used to narrate the Hadith and then comment, "Even if Abu Dharr's nose was put in dust.''

The Two Sahihs recorded this Hadith Al-Bazzar recorded that Ibn `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "We used to refrain from begging (Allah) for forgiveness for those who commit major sins until we heard our Prophet reciting,

Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills;, and his saying,

I have reserved my intercession on the Day of Resurrection for those among my Ummah who commit major sins.'' Allah's statement,

and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin,  is similar to His statement,

Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.[Surah Luqman 31: 13]

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said, "I said, `O Messenger of Allah! Which is the greatest sin' He (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

To make a rival with Allah, while He Alone created you.''


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)