Remembrance and Guidance

Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi

Sheikh as-Saadi explains: “When a person forgets to utter ‘InshaAllah’ or is overcome by forgetfulness, he is prescribed to remember his Lord and to beseech Him for guidance to the most correct path.”

Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir

Ibn Kathir points to the reason for the revelation: the Jews asked the Prophet about the youths of the Cave, and he replied: ‘I will answer you tomorrow,’ without saying ‘InshaAllah’. The revelation was delayed for 15 days as a lesson.

Tafsir al-Baghawi

“…without (saying): ‘If Allah wills’…” That is, if you have decided to do something tomorrow, do not say, ‘I will do this tomorrow,’ without saying, ‘If Allah wills.’ This is because the people of Mecca asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about the Spirit, the People of the Cave, and Dhul-Qarnayn, and he said to them, ‘Tomorrow I will tell you about this,’ but did not say, ‘If Allah wills.’ Revelation was then withheld from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) for several days, after which this verse was revealed:

“…And remember your Lord when you forget…” Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, and al-Hasan said: Its meaning is, if you forget to say this exception, say it when you remember. Ibn ‘Abbas allowed the omitted exception to be uttered within a year, whereas al-Hasan held that it should be uttered while the conversation is still in progress. Some allowed this when the time for the event was approaching; if it was to happen in the distant future, the exception would be invalid. Others held that the exception should be said immediately, while the sentence is being spoken.

‘Ikrimah said: And remember your Lord when you become angry.

Wahb said: It is written in the Gospel: “Son of Adam, remember Me when you become angry, and I will remember you when I become angry.”

Al-Dahhak and al-Suddi said: This was said with regard to prayer, for it is related from Anas that he said: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever forgets a prayer, let him perform it when he remembers.” (al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa’i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ahmad)

“…and say: ‘Perhaps my Lord will guide me to something nearer than this (path) in right guidance’…” That is, He will keep me firm on a path that is nearer to Him and more direct.

One view is that Allah commanded His Prophet to remember Him when he had forgotten something, and to ask Him to guide him to the right path, because that is better for him than remembering what he had forgotten.

It is also said that certain people asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about the People of the Cave merely out of obstinacy, and Allah, the Exalted, commanded him to tell them that Allah would provide stronger proof that he was a prophet than the story of the People of the Cave. He did so, granting him knowledge of some unseen matters, which He grants to messengers; this was a clearer proof for them and more direct guidance than the story of the People of the Cave.

Some said: This is what He commanded him to say along with the words, “If Allah wills,” when he remembered this exception after having forgotten it. If a person forgets to say, “If Allah wills,” then his repentance for this is to say: “Perhaps my Lord will guide me to something nearer than this (path) in right guidance.”