Tarikh (al-Tabari) 190
Chapter mentioning nations destroyed en masse
قِصَّةُ قَوْمِ يس وَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْقَرْيَةِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَثَلًا أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ مُرْسَلُونَ قَالُوا مَا أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنْزَلَ الرَّحْمَنُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُمْ مِنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ قَالُوا طَائِرُكُمْ مَعَكُمْ أَإِنْ ذُكِّرْتُمْ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَى قَالَ يَاقَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ اتَّبِعُوا مَنْ لَا يَسْأَلُكُمْ أَجْرًا وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ وَمَا لِيَ لَا أَعْبُدُ الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ أَأَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً إِنْ يُرِدْنِ الرَّحْمَنُ بِضُرٍّ لَا تُغْنِ عَنِّي شَفَاعَتُهُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُنْقِذُونِ إِنِّي إِذًا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ إِنِّي آمَنْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَالَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ وَمَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ جُنْدٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنْزِلِينَ إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ [ يس: 13 - 29 ]. اشْتُهِرَ عَنْ كَثِيرٍ مِنَ السَّلَفِ وَالْخَلَفِ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ أَنْطَاكِيَةُ. قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ فِيمَا بَلَّغَهُ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، وَكَعْبٍ، وَوَهْبٍ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا: وَكَانَ لَهَا مَلِكٌ اسْمُهُ أَنْطِيخَسُ بْنُ أَنْطِيحَسَ، وَكَانَ يَعْبُدُ الْأَصْنَامَ، فَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَةً مِنَ الرُّسُلِ ; وَهُمْ صَادِقٌ، وَصَدُوقٌ، وَشَلُومُ، فَكَذَّبَهُمْ. وَعَنْ شُعَيْبٍ الْجَبَائِيِّ: كَانَ اسْمُ الرَّسُولَيْنِ الْأَوَّلَيْنِ: شَمْعُونَ وَيُوحَنَّا، وَاسْمُ الثَّالِثِ بُولِسَ، وَالْقَرْيَةِ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ. وَهَذَا الْقَوْلُ ضَعِيفٌ جِدًّا ; لِأَنَّ أَهْلَ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ لَمَّا بَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمُ الْمَسِيحُ ثَلَاثَةً مِنَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ، كَانُوا أَوَّلَ مَدِينَةٍ آمَنَتْ بِالْمَسِيحِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتِ، وَلِهَذَا كَانَتْ إِحْدَى الْمُدُنِ الْأَرْبَعِ الَّتِي يَكُونُ فِيهَا بَطَارِقَةُ النَّصَارَى ; وَهُنَّ أَنْطَاكِيَةُ وَالْقُدْسُ وَإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ، وَرُومِيَّةُ. ثُمَّ بَعْدَهَا إِلَى الْقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةِ وَلَمْ يُهْلَكُوا، وَأَهْلُ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الْمَذْكُورَةِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ أُهْلِكُوا، كَمَا قَالَ فِي آخِرِ قِصَّتِهَا بَعْدَ قَتْلِهِمْ صِدِّيقَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَثَلًا أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ لَكِنْ إِنْ كَانَتِ الرُّسُلُ الثَّلَاثَةُ الْمَذْكُورُونَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ، بُعِثُوا إِلَى أَهْلِ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ قَدِيمًا، فَكَذَّبُوهُمْ وَأَهْلَكَهُمُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عُمِرَتْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ فِي زَمَنِ الْمَسِيحِ آمَنُوا بِرُسُلِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَلَا يُمْنَعُ هَذَا. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَثَلًا يَعْنِي: لِقَوْمِكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ يَعْنِي الْمَدِينَةَ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ أَيْ ; أَيَّدْنَاهُمَا بِثَالِثٍ فِي الرِّسَالَةِ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ مُرْسَلُونَ فَرَدُّوا عَلَيْهِمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ بَشَرٌ مِثْلُهُمْ، كَمَا قَالَتِ الْأُمَمُ الْكَافِرَةُ لِرُسُلِهِمْ، يَسْتَبْعِدُونَ أَنْ يَبْعَثَ اللَّهُ نَبِيًّا بَشَرِيًّا، فَأَجَابُوهُمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّا رُسُلُهُ إِلَيْكُمْ، وَلَوْ كُنَّا كَذَّبَنَا عَلَيْهِ لَعَاقَبْنَا وَانْتَقَمَ مِنَّا أَشَدَّ الِانْتِقَامِ وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ أَيْ; إِنَّمَا عَلَيْنَا، أَيْ نُبَلِّغُكُمْ مَا أُرْسِلْنَا بِهِ إِلَيْكُمْ، وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ، وَيُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ أَيْ ; تَشَاءَمْنَا بِمَا جِئْتُمُونَا بِهِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ قِيلَ بِالْمَقَالِ. وَقِيلَ بِالْفِعَالِ. وَيُؤَيِّدُ الْأَوَّلَ قَوْلُهُ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُمْ مِنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ تَوَعَّدُوهُمْ بِالْقَتْلِ وَالْإِهَانَةِ. قَالُوا طَائِرُكُمْ مَعَكُمْ أَيْ ; مَرْدُودٌ عَلَيْكُمْ أَإِنْ ذُكِّرْتُمْ أَيْ ; بِسَبَبِ أَنَّا ذَكَّرْنَاكُمْ بِالْهُدَى وَدَعَوْنَاكُمْ إِلَيْهِ، تَوَعَّدْتُمُونَا بِالْقَتْلِ وَالْإِهَانَةِ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ أَيْ ; لَا تَقْبَلُونَ الْحَقَّ، وَلَا تُرِيدُونَهُ. وَقَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَا الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَى يَعْنِي: لِنُصْرَةِ الرُّسُلِ، وَإِظْهَارِ الْإِيمَانِ بِهِمْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ اتَّبِعُوا مَنْ لَا يَسْأَلُكُمْ أَجْرًا وَهُمْ مُهْتَدُونَ أَيْ ; يَدْعُونَكُمْ إِلَى الْحَقِّ الْمَحْضِ، بِلَا أُجْرَةٍ وَلَا جِعَالَةٍ. ثُمَّ دَعَاهُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَنَهَاهُمْ عَنْ عِبَادَةِ مَا سِوَاهُ، مِمَّا لَا يَنْفَعُ شَيْئًا لَا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنِّي إِذًا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ أَيْ ; إِنْ تَرَكْتُ عِبَادَةَ اللَّهِ وَعَبَدْتُ سِوَاهُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ مُخَاطِبًا لِلرُّسُلِ إِنِّي آمَنْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَاسْمَعُونِ قِيلَ: فَاسْتَمِعُوا مَقَالَتِي، وَاشْهَدُوا لِي بِهَا عِنْدَ رَبِّكُمْ. وَقِيلَ: مَعْنَاهُ فَاسْمَعُوا يَا قَوْمِي إِيمَانِي بِرُسُلِ اللَّهِ جَهْرَةً. فَعِنْدَ ذَلِكَ قَتَلُوهُ. قِيلَ: رَجَمًا. وَقِيلَ: عَضًّا. وَقِيلَ: وَثَبُوا إِلَيْهِ وَثْبَةَ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَتَلُوهُ. وَحَكَى ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: وَطِئُوهُ بِأَرْجُلِهِمْ حَتَّى أَخْرَجُوا قُصْبَهُ. وَعَنْ أَبِي مِجْلَزٍ: كَانَ اسْمُ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ حَبِيبَ بْنَ مُرَى. ثُمَّ قِيلَ: كَانَ نَجَّارًا. وَقِيلَ: حَبَّالًا. وَقِيلَ: إِسْكَافًا. وَقِيلَ: قَصَّارًا. وَقِيلَ: كَانَ يَتَعَبَّدُ فِي غَارٍ هُنَاكَ. فَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: كَانَ حَبِيبٌ النَّجَّارُ قَدْ أَسْرَعَ فِيهِ الْجُذَامُ، وَكَانَ كَثِيرَ الصَّدَقَةِ، قَتَلَهُ قَوْمُهُ. وَلِهَذَا قَالَ تَعَالَى ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ يَعْنِي: لَمَّا قَتَلَهُ قَوْمُهُ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى مَا فِيهَا مِنَ النَّضْرَةِ وَالسُّرُورِ قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ يَعْنِي: لِيُؤْمِنُوا بِمَا آمَنْتُ بِهِ، فَيَحْصُلَ لَهُمْ مَا حَصَلَ لِي. قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: نَصَحَ قَوْمَهُ فِي حَيَاتِهِ يَا قَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَبَعْدَ مَمَاتِهِ يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ أَبِي حَاتِمٍ. وَكَذَلِكَ قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: لَا تَلْقَى الْمُؤْمِنَ إِلَّا نَاصِحًا، لَا تَلْقَاهُ غَاشًّا، لَمَّا عَايَنَ مَا عَايَنَ مِنْ كَرَامَةِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: يَا لَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ تَمَنَّى عَلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَعْلَمَ قَوْمُهُ بِمَا عَايَنَ مِنْ كَرَامَةِ اللَّهِ وَمَا هَجَمَ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ قَتَادَةُ فَلَا وَاللَّهِ، مَا عَاتَبَ اللَّهُ قَوْمَهُ بَعْدَ قَتْلِهِ إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ. وَقَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى وَمَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ جُنْدٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنْزِلِينَ أَيْ ; مَا احْتَجْنَا فِي الِانْتِقَامِ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى إِنْزَالِ جُنْدٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ وَقَتَادَةُ: وَمَا أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ جُنْدًا، أَيْ رِسَالَةً أُخْرَى. قَالَ ابْنُ جَرِيرٍ: وَالْأَوَّلُ أَوْلَى. قُلْتُ: وَأَقْوَى. وَلِهَذَا قَالَ وَمَا كُنَّا مُنْزِلِينَ أَيْ ; وَمَا كُنَّا نَحْتَاجُ فِي الِانْتِقَامِ إِلَى هَذَا، حِينَ كَذَّبُوا رُسُلنَا وَقَتَلُوا وَلِيَّنَا إِنْ كَانَتْ إِلَّا صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ. قَالَ الْمُفَسِّرُونَ: بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِمْ جِبْرِيلَ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، فَأَخَذَ بِعِضَادَتَيِ الْبَابِ الَّذِي لِبَلَدِهِمْ، ثُمَّ صَاحَ بِهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ خَامِدُونَ أَيْ ; قَدْ أُخْمِدَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمْ، وَسَكَنَتْ حَرَكَاتُهُمْ، وَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُمْ عَيْنٌ تَطْرِفُ. وَهَذَا كُلُّهُ مِمَّا يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ لَيْسَتْ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ ; لِأَنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ أُهْلِكُوا بِتَكْذِيبِهِمْ رُسُلَ اللَّهِ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَأَهْلُ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ آمَنُوا، وَاتَّبَعُوا رُسُلَ الْمَسِيحِ مِنَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ إِلَيْهِمْ ; فَلِهَذَا قِيلَ: إِنَّ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ أَوَّلُ مَدِينَةٍ آمَنَتْ بِالْمَسِيحِ. وَقِيلَ: وَمِمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْأَحْدَاثِ أَيَّامَ مُلُوكِ الطَّوَائِفِ إِرْسَالُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى الرُّسُلَ الثَّلَاثَةَ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ أَنْطَاكِيَّةَ ، وَكَانُوا مِنَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَصْحَابِ الْمَسِيحِ، وَأَرْسَلَ أَوَّلًا اثْنَيْنِ، وَقَدِ اخْتُلِفَ فِي أَسْمَائِهِمَا، فَقَدِمَا أَنْطَاكِيَّةَ فَرَأَيَا عِنْدَهَا شَيْخًا يَرْعَى غَنَمًا، وَهُوَ حَبِيبٌ النَّجَّارُ، فَسَلَّمَا عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: مَنْ أَنْتُمَا ؟ قَالَا: رَسُولَا عِيسَى نَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. قَالَ: مَعَكُمَا آيَةٌ ؟ قَالَا: نَعَمْ، نَحْنُ نَشْفِي الْمَرْضَى وَنُبَرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ. قَالَ حَبِيبٌ إِنَّ لِي ابْنًا مَرِيضًا مُنْذُ سِنِينَ، وَأَتَى بِهِمَا مَنْزِلَهُ، فَمَسَحَا ابْنَهُ، فَقَامَ فِي الْوَقْتِ صَحِيحًا، فَفَشَا الْخَبَرُ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ، وَشَفَى اللَّهُ عَلَى أَيْدِيهِمَا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْمَرْضَى، وَكَانَ لَهُمْ مَلِكٌ اسْمُهُ أَنْطِيخَسْ يَعْبُدُ الْأَصْنَامَ، فَبَلَغَ إِلَيْهِ خَبَرُهُمَا، فَدَعَاهُمَا، فَقَالَ: مَنْ أَنْتُمَا ؟ قَالَا: رُسُلُ عِيسَى نَدْعُوكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. قَالَ: فَمَا آيَتُكُمَا ؟ قَالَا: نُبْرِئُ الْأَكْمَهَ وَالْأَبْرَصَ وَنَشْفِي الْمَرْضَى بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ: قُومَا حَتَّى نَنْظُرَ فِي أَمْرِكُمَا، فَقَامَا، فَضَرَبَهُمَا الْعَامَّةُ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّهُمَا قَدِمَا الْمَدِينَةَ فَبَقِيَا مُدَّةً لَا يَصِلَانِ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ، فَخَرَجَ الْمَلِكُ يَوْمًا، فَكَبَّرَا وَذَكَرَا اللَّهَ، فَغَضِبَ وَحَبَسَهُمَا وَجَلَدَ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا مِائَةَ جَلْدَةٍ، فَلَمَّا كُذِّبَا وَضُرِبَا بَعَثَ الْمَسِيحُ شَمْعُونَ رَأْسَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ لِيَنْصُرَهُمَا، فَدَخَلَ الْبَلَدَ مُتَنَكِّرًا وَعَاشَرَ حَاشِيَةَ الْمَلِكِ، فَرَفَعُوا خَبَرَهُ إِلَى الْمَلِكِ، فَأَحْضَرَهُ وَرَضِيَ عِشْرَتَهُ وَأَنِسَ بِهِ وَأَكْرَمَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ يَوْمًا: أَيُّهَا الْمَلِكُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ حَبَسْتَ رَجُلَيْنِ فِي السِّجْنِ وَضَرَبْتَهُمَا حِينَ دَعَوَاكَ إِلَى دِينِهِمَا فَهَلْ كَلَّمْتَهُمَا وَسَمِعْتَ قَوْلَهُمَا ؟ فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: حَالَ الْغَضَبُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: فَإِنْ رَأَى الْمَلِكُ أَنْ يُحْضِرَهُمَا حَتَّى نَسْمَعَ كَلَامَهُمَا، فَدَعَاهُمَا الْمَلِكُ، فَقَالَ لَهُمَا شَمْعُونُ: مَنْ أَرْسَلَكُمَا ؟ قَالَا: اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَلَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ. قَالَ: فَوَصَفَاهُ وَأَوْجَزَا. قَالَا: إِنَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ. قَالَ شَمْعُونُ: فَمَا آيَتُكُمَا ؟ قَالَا: مَا تَتَمَنَّاهُ. فَأَمَرَ الْمَلِكُ، فَجِيءَ بِغُلَامٍ مَطْمُوسِ الْعَيْنَيْنِ مَوْضِعُهُمَا كَاللُّحْمَةِ، فَمَا زَالَا يَدْعُوَانِ رَبَّهُمَا حَتَّى انْشَقَّ مَوْضِعُ الْبَصَرِ، وَأَخَذَا بُنْدُقَتَيْنِ مِنَ الطِّينِ فَوَضَعَاهُمَا فِي حَدَقَتَيْهِ فَصَارَتَا مُقْلَتَيْنِ يُبْصِرُ بِهِمَا. فَعَجِبَ الْمَلِكُ لِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ: إِنْ قَدَرَ إِلَهُكُمَا الَّذِي تَعْبُدَانِهِ عَلَى إِحْيَاءِ مَيِّتٍ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَبِكُمَا. قَالَا: إِنَّ إِلَهَنَا قَادِرٌ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ. فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: إِنَّ هَاهُنَا مَيِّتًا مُنْذُ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ فَلَمْ نَدْفِنْهُ حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ أَبُوهُ وَهُوَ غَائِبٌ، فَأُحْضِرَ الْمَيِّتُ وَقَدْ تَغَيَّرَتْ رِيحُهُ، فَدَعَوَا اللَّهَ تَعَالَى عَلَانِيَةً وَشَمْعُونُ يَدْعُو سِرًّا، فَقَامَ الْمَيِّتُ فَقَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ: إِنِّي مُتُّ مُشْرِكًا وَأُدْخِلْتُ فِي أَوْدِيَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ وَأَنَا أُحَذِّرُكُمْ مَا أَنْتُمْ فِيهِ. ثُمَّ قَالَ: فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ فَنَظَرْتُ فَرَأَيْتُ شَابًّا حَسَنَ الْوَجْهِ يَشْفَعُ لِهَؤُلَاءِ الثَّلَاثَةِ. فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: وَمَنْ هُمْ ؟ فَقَالَ: هَذَا، وَأَوْمَأَ إِلَى شَمْعُونَ، وَهَذَانِ، وَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِمَا، فَعَجِبَ الْمَلِكُ، فَحِينَئِذٍ دَعَا شَمْعُونُ الْمَلِكَ إِلَى دِينِهِ، فَآمَنَ قَوْمُهُ، وَكَانَ الْمَلِكُ فِيمَنْ آمَنَ وَكَفَرَ آخَرُونَ. وَقِيلَ: بَلْ كَفَرَ الْمَلِكُ وَأَجْمَعَ هُوَ وَقَوْمُهُ عَلَى قَتْلِ الرُّسُلِ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ حَبِيبًا النَّجَّارَ، وَهُوَ عَلَى بَابِ الْمَدِينَةِ، فَجَاءَ يَسْعَى إِلَيْهِمْ فَيُذَكِّرُهُمْ وَيَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَطَاعَةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ، فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: ( إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ )، وَهُوَ شَمْعُونُ، فَأَضَافَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى الْإِرْسَالَ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَإِنَّمَا أَرْسَلَهُمُ الْمَسِيحُ لِأَنَّهُ أَرْسَلَهُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى. فَلَمَّا كَذَّبَهُمْ أَهْلُ الْمَدِينَةِ، حَبَسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الْمَطَرَ، فَقَالَ أَهْلُهَا لِلرُّسُلِ: ( إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَنْتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُمْ مِنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ )، فَلَمَّا حَضَرَ حَبِيبٌ، وَكَانَ مُؤْمِنًا يَكْتُمُ إِيمَانَهُ، وَكَانَ يَجْمَعُ كَسْبَهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ وَيُنْفِقُ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ نِصْفَهُ وَيَتَصَدَّقُ بِنِصْفِهِ، فَقَالَ: ( يَاقَوْمِ اتَّبِعُوا الْمُرْسَلِينَ ). فَقَالَ قَوْمُهُ: وَأَنْتَ مُخَالِفٌ لِرَبِّنَا وَمُؤْمِنٌ بِإِلَهِ هَؤُلَاءِ ؟ فَقَالَ: ( وَمَا لِيَ لَا أَعْبُدُ الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ )، فَلَمَّا قَالَ ذَلِكَ قَتَلُوهُ، فَأَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: ( قِيلَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ يَالَيْتَ قَوْمِي يَعْلَمُونَ بِمَا غَفَرَ لِي رَبِّي وَجَعَلَنِي مِنَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ ) وَأَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً فَمَاتُوا.
Translation
✧ The story of the people of Yā Sīn, who are the Companions of the Town Allah, exalted is He, said: And strike for them a similitude: the Companions of the Town, when the messengers came to it; when We sent to them two, and they denied them, so We strengthened with a third, and they said, “Indeed, we are messengers to you.” They said, “You are nothing but humans like us, and the Merciful has not sent down anything; you are only lying.” They said, “Our Lord knows that we are indeed messengers to you, and upon us is only the clear delivery.” They said, “Indeed, we augur ill of you. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment from us will surely touch you.” They said, “Your ill omen is with you. Is it because you were reminded? Nay, you are a people transgressing.” And there came from the farthest end of the city a man running. He said, “O my people, follow the messengers. Follow those who ask no wage of you, and they are rightly guided. And why should I not worship Him who originated me, and to Him you shall be returned? Should I take besides Him gods whose intercession, if the Merciful intends me harm, will not avail me anything, nor will they rescue me? Indeed, I would then be in clear error. Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so hear me.” It was said, “Enter the Garden.” He said, “Would that my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and made me among the honoured.” And We did not send down upon his people after him any host from heaven, nor would We send down. It was but a single shout, and behold, they were extinguished. [Yā Sīn: 13–29]. It is widely known from many of the predecessors and successors that this town is Antioch. Ibn Isḥāq said, according to what reached him from Ibn ʿAbbās, Kaʿb, and Wahb, that they said: It had a king whose name was Anṭīkhas b. Anṭīkhas, and he worshipped idols. So Allah sent to him three messengers: Ṣādiq, Ṣadūq, and Shalūm, and he denied them. And from Shuʿayb al-Jabāʾī: the name of the first two messengers was Shamʿūn and Yūḥannā, and the name of the third was Būlis, and the town was Antioch. This view is very weak, because the people of Antioch, when the Messiah sent to them three of the disciples, they were the first city to believe in the Messiah at that time. For this reason, it was one of the four cities in which the patriarchs of the Christians were located: Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Rome. Then after it, Constantinople. And they were not destroyed, whereas the people of this town mentioned in the Qurʾān were destroyed, as He said at the end of their story after they killed the truthful one of the messengers: And strike for them a similitude: the Companions of the Town, when the messengers came to it. But if the three messengers mentioned in the Qurʾān were sent to the people of Antioch in ancient times, and they denied them and Allah destroyed them, then it was rebuilt after that, and when it was in the time of the Messiah, they believed in his messengers sent to them, then this is not impossible. And Allah knows best. Allah, exalted is He, said: And strike for them a similitude, meaning for your people, O Muḥammad: the Companions of the Town, meaning the city, when the messengers came to it; when We sent to them two, and they denied them, so We strengthened with a third, that is, We supported them with a third in the message, and they said, “Indeed, we are messengers to you.” They replied to them that they were humans like them, just as the disbelieving nations said to their messengers, deeming it improbable that Allah would send a human prophet. So they answered them that Allah knows that we are His messengers to you, and if we had lied against Him, He would have punished us and taken vengeance upon us with the severest vengeance. And upon us is only the clear delivery, that is, only upon us is to convey to you what we were sent with, and Allah is the One who guides whom He wills and leads astray whom He wills. They said, “Indeed, we augur ill of you,” that is, we regard as an evil omen what you have brought us. “If you do not desist, we will surely stone you.” It is said: with speech, and it is said: with action. The first is supported by His saying: “and a painful punishment from us will surely touch you.” They threatened them with killing and humiliation. They said, “Your ill omen is with you,” that is, it is turned back upon you. “Is it because you were reminded?” That is, because we reminded you of guidance and called you to it, you threatened us with killing and humiliation. “Nay, you are a people transgressing,” that is, you do not accept the truth, nor do you desire it. And His saying, exalted is He: And there came from the farthest end of the city a man running, meaning to support the messengers and to make manifest belief in them. He said, “O my people, follow the messengers. Follow those who ask no wage of you, and they are rightly guided,” that is, they call you to pure truth, without wage or recompense. Then he called them to worship Allah alone, with no partner, and forbade them from worshipping anything besides Him, which avails nothing, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter. “Indeed, I would then be in clear error,” that is, if I abandoned worship of Allah and worshipped other than Him. Then he said, addressing the messengers: “Indeed, I have believed in your Lord, so hear me.” It is said: so hear my words, and bear witness for me before your Lord. And it is said: its meaning is, so hear, O my people, my belief in the messengers of Allah openly. Thereupon they killed him. It is said: by stoning. It is said: by biting. It is said: they leapt upon him with the leap of one man and killed him. Ibn Isḥāq related from some of his companions, from Ibn Masʿūd, who said: They trampled him with their feet until they forced out his intestines. And from Abū Mijlaz: The name of this man was Ḥabīb b. Murā. Then it is said: He was a carpenter. It is said: a rope-maker. It is said: a cobbler. It is said: a fuller. It is said: he used to worship in a cave there. And Allah knows best. And from Ibn ʿAbbās: Ḥabīb the carpenter had been afflicted with swift leprosy, and he was very charitable. His people killed him. For this reason, He, exalted is He, said: “Enter the Garden,” meaning when his people killed him, Allah admitted him into the Garden. When he saw what was in it of freshness and joy, he said, “Would that my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and made me among the honoured,” meaning so that they might believe as I believed, and thus obtain what I obtained. Ibn ʿAbbās said: He counselled his people in his lifetime: “O my people, follow the messengers,” and after his death: “Would that my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and made me among the honoured.” Ibn Abī Ḥātim related it. Likewise, Qatādah said: You never find the believer except as a counsellor; you never find him as a deceiver. When he witnessed what he witnessed of Allah's honour, he said: “Would that my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and made me among the honoured.” He wished that his people might know what he witnessed of Allah's honour and what came upon him. Qatādah said: By Allah, Allah did not reproach his people after his killing. It was but a single shout, and behold, they were extinguished. And His saying, exalted is He: And We did not send down upon his people after him any host from heaven, nor would We send down, that is, We had no need, in taking vengeance upon them, to send down a host from heaven upon them. Mujāhid and Qatādah said: And He did not send down upon them a host, that is, another message. Ibn Jarīr said: The first is more appropriate. I say: And stronger. For this reason He said: “nor would We send down,” that is, We had no need of this in taking vengeance when they denied Our messengers and killed Our friend. It was but a single shout, and behold, they were extinguished. The exegetes said: Allah sent to them Gabriel ﷺ, and he took hold of the two doorposts of the gate of their city, then cried out at them with a single shout, and behold, they were extinguished, that is, their voices were silenced, their movements stilled, and no blinking eye remained among them. All of this indicates that this town was not Antioch, because these people were destroyed for denying the messengers of Allah sent to them, while the people of Antioch believed and followed the messengers of the Messiah, the disciples, sent to them. For this reason it is said that Antioch was the first city to believe in the Messiah. And it is said: Among the events that occurred in the days of the petty kings was Allah, exalted is He, sending the three messengers to the city of Antioch, and they were of the disciples, the companions of the Messiah. He first sent two, and their names are disputed. They arrived at Antioch and saw near it an old man tending sheep, who was Ḥabīb the carpenter. They greeted him, and he said, “Who are you two?” They said, “We are messengers of Jesus, calling you to worship Allah, exalted is He.” He said, “Do you have a sign with you?” They said, “Yes, we heal the sick and cure the blind from birth and the leper by Allah's permission.” Ḥabīb said, “I have a son who has been ill for years.” He brought them to his house, and they wiped his son, and he stood up at once healthy. The news spread in the city, and Allah healed many of the sick at their hands. They had a king named Anṭīkhas who worshipped idols. News of them reached him, and he summoned them and said, “Who are you two?” They said, “We are messengers of Jesus, calling you to Allah, exalted is He.” He said, “What is your sign?” They said, “We cure the blind from birth and the leper and heal the sick by Allah's permission.” He said, “Go away until we consider your affair.” They went, and the common people beat them. And it is said: They entered the city and remained for a time without reaching the king. One day the king went out, and they proclaimed Allah's greatness and mentioned Allah. He became angry and imprisoned them and flogged each of them with a hundred lashes. When they were denied and beaten, the Messiah sent Shamʿūn, the head of the disciples, to support them. He entered the city in disguise and associated with the king's courtiers. They brought news of him to the king, who summoned him, was pleased with his company, felt at ease with him, and honoured him. One day he said to him, “O king, I have heard that you imprisoned two men and beat them when they called you to their religion. Have you spoken with them and heard their words?” The king said, “Anger came between me and that.” He said, “If the king sees fit to bring them so that we may hear their words.” So the king summoned them. Shamʿūn said to them, “Who sent you two?” They said, “Allah, who created everything and has no partner.” He said, “Describe Him,” and they did so concisely. They said, “He does what He wills and decrees what He wishes.” Shamʿūn said, “What is your sign?” They said, “Whatever you wish.” The king ordered, and a boy was brought whose eyes were obliterated, their place like a lump of flesh. They kept supplicating their Lord until the place of sight split open, and they took two pellets of clay and placed them in his eye sockets, and they became two eyeballs with which he saw. The king marvelled at that and said, “If your God whom you worship has power to bring a dead man to life, we will believe in Him and in you.” They said, “Our God has power over all things.” The king said, “There is here a dead man, seven days dead, whom we have not buried until his father returns from his absence.” The dead man was brought, and his odour had changed. They supplicated Allah, exalted is He, openly, and Shamʿūn supplicated in secret. The dead man rose and said to his people, “I died as an idolater and was admitted into valleys of the Fire, and I warn you of what you are in.” Then he said, “The gates of heaven were opened, and I looked and saw a young man of beautiful face interceding for these three.” The king said, “Who are they?” He said, “This one,” and he pointed to Shamʿūn, “and these two,” and he indicated them. The king marvelled. Then Shamʿūn called the king to his religion, and his people believed, and the king was among those who believed, while others disbelieved. And it is said: Rather, the king disbelieved, and he and his people resolved to kill the messengers. That reached Ḥabīb the carpenter, who was at the gate of the city, so he came running to them, reminding them and calling them to obedience to Allah and obedience to the messengers. That is His saying, exalted is He: “When We sent to them two, and they denied them, so We strengthened with a third,” and he is Shamʿūn. Allah attributed the sending to Himself, though it was the Messiah who sent them, because he sent them by Allah's permission. When the people of the city denied them, Allah withheld rain from them. The people of the city said to the messengers: “Indeed, we augur ill of you. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and a painful punishment from us will surely touch you.” When Ḥabīb came, and he was a believer concealing his faith, and he used to gather his earnings every day and spend half on his family and give half in charity, he said: “O my people, follow the messengers.” His people said, “And you oppose our Lord and believe in the God of these?” He said, “And why should I not worship Him who originated me, and to Him you shall be returned?” When he said that, they killed him, and Allah made the Garden obligatory for him. That is His saying, exalted is He: “It was said, ‘Enter the Garden.’ He said, ‘Would that my people knew how my Lord has forgiven me and made me among the honoured.’” And Allah sent upon them a shout, and they died.
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