483- Yūnus ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā narrated to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said regarding the statement of Allah: "So do not set up rivals to Allah," he said: The rivals are the deities that they set up alongside Him, and made for them the like of what they made for Him.
484- It was narrated to me on the authority of al-Minjāb, who said: Bishr narrated to us, on the authority of Abū Rawq, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, regarding His statement: "So do not set up rivals to Allah," he said: Equals.
485- Muḥammad ibn Sinān narrated to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim narrated to us, on the authority of Shabīb, on the authority of ʿIkrima: "So do not set up rivals to Allah," that you say: "Had it not been for our dog, the thief would have entered the house upon us," "Had it not been for our dog barking in the house," and the like of that.
So Allah Almighty forbade them from associating anything with Him, worshipping other than Him, or taking for Him a rival and equal in obedience, as if saying: Just as I have no partner in creating you, in your provision which I bestow upon you, in My ownership of you, and in My favors which I have bestowed upon you—so likewise, devote obedience exclusively to Me,
Notes
- (1) In the printed edition: "Ibn Yazīd," which is an error.
- (2) Report 484—in al-Durr al-Manthūr (1/34) and al-Shawkānī (1/39).
- (3) Report 485—the like of it was transmitted in a report from Ibn ʿAbbās in Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr (1/105) and al-Shawkānī (1/39). In the printed edition: "That is, you say: Were it not for our dog...", which is nothing. In the manuscript: "and the like of this" in place of "and the like of that." The report in Ibn Kathīr was cited at length with its chain of transmission from Tafsīr Ibn Abī Ḥātim, from al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Makhlad—who is Abū ʿĀṣim al-Nabīl in this chain of transmission—from Shabīb—who is Ibn Bishr—from ʿIkrima, from Ibn ʿAbbās. Perhaps al-Ṭabarī shortened this chain of transmission because he narrates such reports through this chain of transmission to ʿIkrima, from Ibn ʿAbbās, as passed under number 157. Hence Ibn Kathīr turned away from quoting al-Ṭabarī's narration and chose the narration of Ibn Abī Ḥātim. The context of Ibn Abī Ḥātim's narration—from Ibn ʿAbbās—contains many benefits. Its wording is: "He said: 'Equals' (al-andād) is polytheism (shirk), less conspicuous than the crawling of ants on a black rock in the darkness of the night. It is that one says: 'By Allah and by your life, O So-and-so, and by my life,' and says: 'Were it not for the little dog of this man, thieves would have come to us last night,' and 'Were it not for the ducks in the house, thieves would have come.' And a man's statement to his companion: 'Whatever Allah wills and you will.' And a man's statement: 'Were it not for Allah and So-and-so.' Do not insert 'So-and-so' into it. All of this contains polytheism (shirk)." Then Ibn Kathīr said: "And in the hadith: A man said to the Messenger of Allah, Peace and blessings of God be upon him: 'Whatever Allah wills and you will!' He said: 'Have you made me an equal to Allah?!'" The hadith to which Ibn Kathīr refers was narrated by Aḥmad in al-Musnad with authentic chains of transmission from Ibn ʿAbbās: 1839, 1964, 2561, 3247. Likewise, al-Bukhārī narrated it in al-Adab al-Mufrad (p. 116), and al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar attributed it in al-Fatḥ (11/470) to al-Nasāʾī and Ibn Mājah.
- (4) In the printed edition: "and my favor" in the singular.
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