Quranic Sciences

43.“On account of their arrogance in the earth, and devising evil; but evil devising encompasses only the devisers themselves; so do they expect anything except the way of (Allah against) the former people? For never shall you find any alternation in the course of Allah and never shall you find in the course of Allah any change.”

Commentary

The origin of escape and hatred from the way of prophets is either arrogance or evil devising. (Perhaps arrogance is from the side of obstinate pagans and evil devising from the side of hypocrites.)

This holy verse is an explanation over what was said in the previous verse. The verse implicitly says that their being aloof from the Truth was for the sake that they paved the path of arrogance in the earth and they never accepted to surrender to the truth. And, also, it was for the sake that they used to commit devising evil, but the evil devising afflicts none but those who do it. The verse says:

“On account of their arrogance in the earth, and devising evil; but evil devising encompasses only the devisers themselves; …”

The Arabic sentence /la- yah?i-q/, derived from /h?aq/ means: ‘it does not descend down, does not overtake, and does not overcome’. This points to the fact that applying devises may temporarily reach others, but finally they come forth against the devisers themselves and will make them disgrace before the servants of Allah, and will make them shameful in front of Allah; and this is the same evil fate that the pagans of Mecca encountered. In fact, the verse implies that they did not suffice only to get aloof from this great Divine Prophet, but also they took help from their entire ability and power in hurting him; and the main motive of it was arrogance, pride, and the lack of humility before the truth.

In the continuation of the verse, the Qur’a-n threatens this arrogant, deceitful and treacherous group by an expressive awakening sentence, and says:

“… so do they expect anything except the way of (Allah against) the former people? …”

This short sentence is a hint to the whole evil ends of the haughty, and disobedient former nations, such as the people of Noah, ‘A-d, Thamu-d, and Pharaoh, each of whom were afflicted with a great calamity, and the Qur’a-n has frequently pointed to some parts of their painful and evil fates. Here, by this very short sentence, the Qur’a-n illustrates all of them in front of the eyes of this group.

Then, for a more emphasis, it adds:

“… For never shall you find any alternation in the course of Allah and never shall you find in the course of Allah any change.”

Adopted from the book : "The Light of the Holy Qur'an; Interpretation of Surah al-Fatir" by : "Sayyid Kamal Faghih Imani and a Group of Muslim Scholars"