Tafseer of The Dawn · Al-Fajr · 89:5
Is there [not] in [all] that an oath [sufficient] for one of perception?
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
His statement: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"). The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: is there, in that by which I have sworn, in these matters, anything that gives satisfaction to one who possesses understanding? By this is meant only: in this oath there is enough for one who comprehends his Lord, with respect to what is weightier than this as an oath. As for the meaning of His statement لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("for one who possesses understanding"): it is "for one who possesses discernment (ḥijā)" and "one who possesses intellect (ʿaql)." One says of a man, when he has himself under control, masters her and governs her: he is one with ḥijr (self-restraint). And from this is also derived their saying: "the judge placed under restraint (ḥajara) so-and-so."
And in the spirit of what we have said about this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) also spoke.
* Mention of who said that:
Abū Kurayb and Abū al-Sāʾib related to us, both of them saying: Ibn Idrīs related to us, saying: Qābūs ibn Abī Ẓabyān reported to us, on the authority of his father, from Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His statement: لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("for one who possesses understanding"), he said: for one who possesses discernment (al-nuhā) and intellect.
ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, from Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His statement: لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("for one who possesses understanding"), he said: for the possessors of discernment (al-nuhā).
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, from Ibn ʿAbbās: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"), he said: the possessor of ḥijr, of discernment (al-nuhā) and of intellect.
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Mihrān related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, from Qābūs ibn Abī Ẓabyān, from his father, from Ibn ʿAbbās: قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("an oath for one who possesses understanding"), he said: for one who possesses intellect, for one who possesses discernment (nuhā).
He said: Mihrān related to us, on the authority of Sufyān, from al-Agharr al-Minqarī, from Khalīfa ibn al-Ḥuṣayn, from Abū Naṣr, from Ibn ʿAbbās: قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("an oath for one who possesses understanding"), he said: for one who possesses intellect (lubb), for one who possesses discernment (ḥijā).
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us, on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, from Mujāhid, concerning His statement: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"), he said: for one who possesses intellect.
Al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, from Mujāhid: for one who possesses intellect, for one who possesses judgment (raʾy).
Muḥammad ibn ʿUmāra related to me, saying: ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Mūsā related to us, saying: Isrāʾīl reported to us, on the authority of Abū Yaḥyā, from Mujāhid: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"), he said: for one who possesses intellect (lubb) or discernment (nuhā).
Al-Ḥasan ibn ʿArafa related to us, saying: Khalaf ibn Khalīfa related to us, on the authority of Hilāl ibn Khabbāb, from Mujāhid, concerning His statement: قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("an oath for one who possesses understanding"), he said: for one who possesses intellect.
Yaʿqūb related to me, saying: Ibn ʿUlayya related to us, on the authority of Abū Rajāʾ, from al-Ḥasan: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"), he said: for one who possesses forbearance (ḥilm).
Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, from Qatāda, concerning His statement: لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("for one who possesses understanding"), he said: for one who possesses discernment (ḥijā); and al-Ḥasan said: for one who possesses intellect (lubb).
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"): for one who possesses discernment (ḥijā), for one who possesses intellect (ʿaql) and insight (lubb).
Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb reported to us, saying: Ibn Zayd said concerning His statement: هَلْ فِي ذَلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِذِي حِجْرٍ ("is there in that an oath for one who possesses understanding?"), he said: for one who possesses intellect, and he recited: "for a people who use reason" and "for the possessors of insight" — and they are those whom Allah rebuked. And he said: the intellect (al-ʿaql) and the insight (al-lubb) are one and the same, except that in the language of the Arabs they are distinguished.
