Parable of the Bad Word

The young wayfarer asked, "If the good word likened to the good tree, so, what is the parable of the bad word?" The statesman said, "The entire creation is divided into two kinds; those that are blessed with firmness and those who are debased and without firmness. The origin and essence of firmness is generated from the firm Word and adherence to all the Commandments of Allah by which he keeps His slave firm. The more steadfast and firm the speech is and the better deeds, the more Allah keeps His slave firm.

Allah then mentioned the opposite of the good word, ‘the bad word‘ and likened it to the bad tree that has been uprooted from the surface of the earth. It is unstable with a weak trunk and no high branches, bears no fruit nor has any shade – as it is in reality nothing but a low and fruitless tree. Allah said,

وَمَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ اجْتُثَّتْ مِنْ فَوْقِ الأرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِنْ قَرَارٍ

"And the example of a bad word is like a bad tree, uprooted from the surface of the earth, not having any stability." - [QS.14:26]

The parable of an evil word is that of an evil tree describing the disbelief of the disbeliever, for it has no basis or stability. It is similar to the colocynth tree (a very bitter, unscented plant) which is also called, ‘Ash-Shiryan’. The tree was cutoff from the root, therefore, existing without basis or stability,  just like Kufr (disbelief), for it does not have a basis or roots. Surely, the works of the disbelievers will never ascend nor will any of them be accepted.

When a person with a sound intellect contemplates upon most of the writing and speech of mankind, he will realise that it is similar to this bad tree. It is a great loss when a person busies himself with this fruitless talk and leaves behind the best and most beneficial speech (i.e. the Qur’an).
A rootless tree without branches or fruit is without benefit and is similar to the disbeliever, whose actions and speech are devoid of good and therefore Allah places no grace or benefit within them. Shirk is like a bad tree, refers to the disbeliever, and shirk has no origin that a disbeliever hold to nor a proof. And Allah never accepts the deed of a disbeliever and never raises it to Himself. The disbeliever has no good deed to be raised to Allah and no good deed in the Hereafter.

Al-Rabi ibn Anas said, “The example of the bad tree is like the disbeliever whose words and deeds have neither roots nor branches, and his deeds and sayings having no stability on earth nor can they reach high into the sky.”
Said narrated from Qatadah regarding this ayah, “A man once asked someone from the people of knowledge that he met on the road, ‘what do you say about the phrase in the ayah ‘the bad word‘? He replied, ‘As far as I know, it neither settles on earth nor ascends to the sky, so it accompanies the one who said it until the Day of Judgement.” Then Allah informs of His separation between the two groups; the people of the goodly word and the people of the bad word, and His justice. He informs us that ‘He keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word’ which is what they are most in need of in they life, and the hereafter; and that He ‘sends astray the wrongdoers (i.e. disbelievers)’ by directing them far from the firm word thus He sends them astray by His Justice; and holds the believers upon the firm word by His Grace, and due to their Iman.

With this ayah ‘Allah keeps firm those who believe, with he firm word, in the worldly life and in the Hereafter‘ lies a magnificent treasure. Those who find it, utilise it and spend from it, will be successful, whereas those who are prevented from enjoying this treasure will be from the losers. Indeed the slave of Allah cannot survive without Allah keeping him firm, even for the blinking of an eye because without the Support from Allah, his world would come crashing down. Allah said to His most noble and beloved one amongst His creation (ﷺ),

وَلَوْلا أَنْ ثَبَّتْنَاكَ لَقَدْ كِدْتَ تَرْكَنُ إِلَيْهِمْ شَيْئًا قَلِيلا

"And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little." - [QS.17:74]

And Allah said,

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الأعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ

"[Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, 'I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.' - [QS.8:12]

The most firm word is the word of Tawhid, and what it necessitates – for indeed the greatest means by which Allah keeps His slaves firm in this life and the Hereafter. For this reason, a truthful person is noted as the most firm and brave by others, whereas a dishonest man is seen as the most cowardly and least firm of people. People of intuition are able to recognise the truthfulness of an honest person by the firmness of his heart and bravery during trials; and the dishonesty of a dishonest person by his weak heart and cowardice. Such observations only go unnoticed by those who are weak in iman.
Some people asked about the words that they heard from a person; so the answerer said, “By Allah I have not understood a word from what he said except without doubt, his words have an effect that cannot be the effect of a falsifier.” Indeed, Allah has not given His slave anything better, or more beneficial than the firm word; as such people reap the fruits of their speech when they are most in need of it; in their graves and on the Day of Judgement. Al-Bara ibn Azib, radhiyallahu 'anhu, narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “This ayah was revealed regarding the punishment of the grave.”

This has been further explained in other authentic ahadeeth, including one narrated in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad from the hadith of Dawud Ibn Abi Hind, who narrated from Abu Nudrah who narrated from Abu Saad al-Khudri, radhiyallahu 'anhum, who said, “We were walking in a funeral with the prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, who said,

“O people, this nation is tested in their graves so that when the deceased is buried and the people have departed, an angel with a hammer in his hand comes to the deceased and asks him, ‘What do you say about this man (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ))?’ If the deceased was a believer he will testify that there is no deity worth of worship but Allah, and that He has no partner, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. The angel will then say, ‘You said the truth,’ and open for him a door showing Hell and say to him ‘This would have been your position in the fire had you disbelieved, but as you have believed, for you Allah has replaced it with this,’ He the opens for him a door showing him his place in Jennah. The deceased tries to get up and to enter but the angel says. ‘Remain in your place’ then he expands his grave. As for the disbeliever and the hydrate, when they are asked ‘What do you say of this man?’ The reply, ‘I do not know,’ so the angel says you neither knew nor were guided, the he opens of him a door to Jennah, and says to him, ‘This would have been your place had you believed in your Lord, but as you have disbelieved, for you Allah has replaced it with this,’ and opens for him the door of Hell and then the angel strikes him with his hammer so that the entire creation can hear except mankind and Jinn.”
Some of his Companions said, ”O Messenger of Allah, everyone of us will be too frightened and speechless when we see an angel with a hammer in his hand standing next to our heads.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,
”Allah keeps the believing ones firm with the firm word in his worldly life and the Hereafter, and He sends astray wrongdoers (disbelievers) and does what He Wills.”

In the Musnad of imam Ahmad, al-Bara ibn Azib also narrated: the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said (mentioning how the soul of the believers are taken by the Angel of Death),

“An angel comes to him in the grave so he asks him, ‘Who is your Lord? What is your religion? Who is your Prophet? So he says, ‘My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad.’ The angel repeats the three questions angrily, and that would be the last test that a believer goes through and at that moment applies the Ayah: ‘He keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word in the worldly life and Hereafter.’ So the believer relies, ‘My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad.’ The angels replies ‘You spoke the truth.”

Hammed ibn Salamah narrated from Muhammad ibn Amr and Abu Salamah that Abu Hurrah, radhiayallahu 'anhu, said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,

“He keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word in the worldly life and in Hereafter.” The deceased is asked is asked in his grave, “Who is your Lord? What if your religion? He answers, ‘My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad. He was sent with proofs from Allah so I believed in him.” The angel replies, ‘You said the truth; upon this you lived and upon this you died and upon this you shall be resurrected.”

Al-Amash narrated from al-Minhal ibn Amr that Zahan narrated from al-Bara ibn Azib, radhiyallahu 'anhu, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,

(after mentioning how the soul of the believer returns into his body in the grave) then two violent angels are sent to him, so they make him sit down (in his grave) and aggressively ask him, ‘Who is your Lord?’ he answers, ‘Allah.’ They ask him, ‘What is your religion?’ He answers, ‘Islam.’ They ask him, ‘Who is this man who was sent to you?’ He answers ‘Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah.’ They say, ‘How do you know so?’ He answers, ‘I read the book of Allah so I believed in him.’ And this is what is meant with the ayah, ”He keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word in the worldly life and the Hereafter.”

This was reported in the sahih of Ibn Hibban and the Musnad of Imam Ahmad. Ibn Hibban also reported upon the authority of Abu Hurayrah, radiyallahu a'nhu, that the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“The deceased can hear the steps of people leaving him in his grave; so if he was a believer he will find that the Salah stands next to his head, the Zakah stands on his right side, fasting stands on his left side, and good deeds such as charity, joining kinship, being kind to others and similar good deeds stand next to his feet. When punishment attempts to reach him from the other side of his head, the Salah stops it, so it attempts to reach him from the right side but the Zakah stops it, so it tries from his left side but the fasting stops it. Then he is told to sit down so he sits down while the sun is shown to him near sunset time so the angels ask him, “Tell us the answers of what we will ask you about.’ He says, ‘What is it that you want to ask? Leave me alone so that I may pray.’ They reply, ‘You will pray but tell us about what we will ask of you.’ They ask ‘What do you say about the man who was sent to you? And what do you testify regarding him? He says, ‘Muhammad.’ They say ‘Yes that is him.’ He says, ‘I testify that he is the Messenger of Allah and he was sent with clear proofs from Allah so we believed in him.’ They say to him ‘Upon that you lived, and upon that you died and upon that you will be resurrected, with the permission of Allah.’ Then his grave is expanded to the width of seventy arms-lengths and his grave becomes illuminated. Then a door from the doors of Jennah opens for him and then it is said to him, ‘Look at what Allah had prepared for you in it.’ So he looks and becomes happy and delighted. Then Allah sends his soul into green birds of Jennah that land on trees of Jannah. Then the body returns to dust and that is the statement of Allah: “Allah keeps the believing ones firm with the firm word in the worldly life and the hereafter.”

Then statesman said, "O young man, no Muslim should become tired of hearing about firm word and its benefits, as very scholar, martyr, ruler and all Muslims are more in need of understanding this, than their need for air, food and water. With Allah lies all success. And Allah knows best."

وَكُلا نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَجَاءَكَ فِي هَذِهِ الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

"And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers." - [QS.11:20]

Bahasa

References :
- Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Paragons of the Qur'an, Daar Us-Sunnah
- Syaikh Safiurrahman Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume V, Darussalam

Parable of the Good Word

The statesman continued, "O young man, in contrast to the hypocrites, a real Muslim should always bring benefits to those around him. 'Al-Bukhari recorded that ‘Abdullah bin Umar said, “We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he asked, 'Tell me about a tree that resembles the Muslim, the leaves of which do not fall in summer or winter and gives its fruit at all times by the leave of its Rabb.' Ibn Umar said, "I thought of the date palm tree, but felt shy to answer when I saw that Abu Bakr and Umar did not talk. When they did not give an answer, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, 'It is the date palm tree.' When we departed, I said to Umar, 'My father, by Allah! I thought that it was the date tree.’ He said, Why did you not speak then?’ I said, 'I saw you were silent and I felt shy to say anything.’ Umar said, 'Had you said it, it would have been more precious to me than such things (i.e., would have been very precious to me)'."
This may seem odd, but Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala gives us the explanation in a parable. Allah says,

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ

"Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky?" - [QS.14:24]

تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الأمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ

"It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded." - [QS.14:25]

Here, Allah has likened the good word to the good tree because the outcome of a good word is a good deed, and a good tree will also yield beneficial and good fruits. This meaning is obvious and apparent, and in conformity with the view adopted by the majority of scholars of Tafsir who say that the good word in this ayah means the Shahadah, the declaration "La ilaha illallah" (none has the right to be worship but Allah). For indeed the fruits of this statement are all hidden and manifest good deeds since every good deed pleasing Allah Ta'ala has to be a result of this statement.
Ibn ‘Abbas, radiyallahu 'anhu, said regarding, ‘whose root is firmly fixed’ refers to the statement, "La ilaha illallah" that is established in the heart of believers - “and it branches (high) in the sky" refers to the deeds of believers that are elevated to the sky by the means of this statement.

If one contemplates this comparison, he will realise that it perfectly corresponds to the tree of Tawhid, whose roots are fixed in the heart of a believer, whose branches comprising of good deeds, are raised high in the sky and continuing to provide the fruits of good deeds depending on the firmness and well-stablishment of Tawhid in the heart - the level of love that a heart has for it, the level of understanding of its reality and truths - and the level to which a person is appropriately mindful to the rights of the deed.
He is successful who has this good word, established firmly in his heart, understands its reality and his heart is engulfed with its characteristics; his tongue testifies its correctness and his limbs act upon what it necessitates. His heart and tongue affirm and negate that which Tawhid affirms and negates, while his limbs submit willingly and in totality to the Commandments of Allah similar to how his heart accepts no Lord but its truthful Creator. Undoubtedly, this good word which emanates from the heart and is uttered by the tongue continues to bear its fruit. The good deeds that are raised to the Lord of all Worlds are those that yield plenty of good fruits whenever it accompanies a good deed by which it ascends the good word. Allah said,
مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ وَالَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَكْرُ أُولَئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
"Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allah belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish." - [QS.35:10]
Some of the righteous predecessors said that the good tree is the date-palm tree. Some of them also said that the good tree is the believer. There is no contradicdon between these two interpretations, because the intended meaning of the example is the believer, who also shares many similarities with the date-palm tree. Thus, since the date-palm tree is a goodly tree then it is more befitting to say that the believer is similar to it. And though some of the righteous predecessors said, ‘thegoodly tree is a tree in paradise; it is also known that the date-palm tree is amongst the most honourable of trees in paradise.

Within this example, we find secrets, knowledge and cognition that conform to the W isdom and Knowledge of Allah. For example, since a tree must have roots, a trunk,sapwood, branches, leaves and fruit - the tree of iman and Islam must have similar elements so that the likened is exactly what it is likened to. The sapwood is knowledge, understanding and certainty, its trunk is sincerity, its branches are deeds; and the fruits are guidance, good manners and a good character. Knowing how firm and well-established this goodly tree is in the heart, can be noted through these elements.
When a person's knowledge is sound and based upon the Qur'an, his belief matches what Allah and His Messengers (ﷺ) informed us about Him; his heart is sincere and his actions conform to the Commandments of Allah - his manners and characteristics conform to these fundamentals. It becomes evident that the roots of the tree of Iman in his heart are firmly taxed with its branches reaching into the sky. On the other hand, in the case that is opposite to the aforementioned example, one will realise that it is an evil tree that has been planted in the heart. A tree that is without stability, uprooted from the earth,and deprived of water, and such as trees as we know, cannot survive and will eventually dry up and perish.

Allah keeps the believers firm in this life and in the Hereafter with a word that stands firm. Al-Bara bin ‘Azib said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

"...When a believing slave is reaching the end of his term in the life of this world and the beginning of his term in the Hereafter, a group of angels , whose faces are white and as radiant as die sun, will descend onto him from heaven. They will carry with them white shroud from Paradise, and fragrance for enshrouding from Paradise. They will sit as far from him as the sight goes. Then, the angel of death, will come until he sits right next to his head, saying, “ O, good and pure soul! Depart (your body) to Allah’ s forgiveness and pleasure." So the soul flows (out of its body), just as the drop flows out from the tip of the jug , and the angel of death captures it. When he captures the soul , they (the group of angels) will not leave it with him for more than an instance, and they will seize it and wrap it in that shroud, and in that fragrance. A most pleasant musk scent ever found on the earth, will flow out of the soul, and the angels will ascend it (to heaven). They will not pass by, but they will say, “ Whose is this Tayyib (good) soul?" They (the angels wlw are ascending the soul) will reply, “Such person, the son of such and such person," - calling him by the best names that he used to be called in the world. They will reach the lower heaven and will ask that its door be opened for him, and it will be opened for them. The best residents of every heaven will then see him to the next heaven, until he is brought to the seventh heaven. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala will say, "List my servants record in 'Illiyyin' and send him back to earth, for I have created them from it, and into it I shall return them, and from it I shall bring them out once again."
The soul will be joined with its body, and two angels will come to him, sit him up and ask him, "Who is your Rabb?" He will say, "Allah is my Rabb." They will ask him, “ What is your religion?" He will say, " My religion is Islam." They will say to him, “ What do you say about this man (Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)) who was sent to you?" He will say, " He is the Messenger of Allah." They will ask him, "And what proof do you have about it?" He will say, "I read the Book of Allah (the Qur'an), and had faith and belief in him." Then, a caller (Allah) will herald from heaven, "My servant has said the truth. Therefore, furnish him from Paradise, and let him wear from (the clothes of) Paradise, and open a door for him to Paradise." So he is given from Paradise's tranquillity and good scent, and his grave will be expanded for him as far as his sight can reach. Then, a man, with a handsome face and handsome clothes and whose scent is pleasant, will come to him, saying, “Receive the glad tidings with that which pleases you. This is the Day which you were promised." He will ask him, "Who are you; for yours is the face that carries the good news?" He will reply, “I am your good works." He will say, "O Rabb! Hurry up with the commencement of the Hour, hurry up with the commencement of the Hour, so l can return to my family and my wealth...." - [Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah]

Anas bin Malik reported the Prophet (ﷺ) having said,

"When the servant is placed in his grave, his companions retrace their steps, and he hears the noise of their footsteps, two angels come to him and make him sit and say to him, 'What you have to say about this person (the Prophet(ﷺ))?' If he is a believer, he would say, 'I bear testimony to the fact that he is a servant of Allah and His Messenger.' Then it would be said to him, 'Look to your seat in the Hellfire, for Allah has substituted (the seat of yours) with a seat in Paradise.' Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'He would be shown both the seats.' Qatada said, 'It was mentioned to us that his grave (the grave of a believer) expands to seventy cubits and is full with verdure until the Day when they would be resurrected'." - [Sahih Muslim]

Generally speaking, when a plant is not being looked after, it will eventually dry up and die, which explains why the slaves of Allah are in great need of acts of worship that He Commanded them to perform in the day and at night. It is from His Mercy, His Benignity and Grace upon His slaves and He Legislated such acts of worship, which are the water that irrigates the plants of Tawhid that He placed within our hearts. It is also common for alien and harmful plants to mix within the beneficial crop. Thus, when the one in charge of these crops tends to look after them regularly and purifies them of these intruders, they will grow healthy and yield large and beneficial harvest. However, when the person in charge of these crops becomes neglectful, they will be overtaken by weeds and harmful plants and as a result, the crops will be impared, and the fruits will be damaged. Those who lack clear understanding and knowledge of these matters will miss many profitable gains without even realising it. That said, the believer is always pruning and watering this plant so that it is everlasting, and he uproots all other harmful plants and weeds from its surroundings to assure its healthy growth. And in Allah we place our trust.
These are just some of the secrets and wisdom contained within this magnificent example, which may be just a drop in the ocean as we comprehend but a little from the secrets of Allah due to our state of mind, weak hearts, deficient knowledge and deeds that necessitate the seeking of forgiveness. For indeed, if our hearts were purified, our minds were clear, our souls were in order and our deeds were performed with sincerity and devotion, we would have derived many remarkable meanings and wisdom from the Words of Allah; wisdom that overshadows all other intellects. This comparison illustrates for us the elevated and blessed level of knowledge and understanding of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, because the difference between their knowledge and understanding and that of the people who came after them is as vast as the difference between their virtue and that of the people who came after – and Allah knows best, the places to which He allocates His Grace and to whom He favours with His Mercy."

Then the statesman said, "O young man, this parable describes the believer’s deeds, good statements and good actions. The believer is just like the beneficial date-palm tree, always having good actions ascending at all times, by day and by night. This is how the Muslim should be. Always bringing benefit to those around us. The benefits of the “good word” is not only limited to this life, but also the next by providing steadfastness, in the same way a palm tree does not waiver in the wind and can withstand all the elements. And Allah know best."

يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الآخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ

"Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allah does what He wills." - [QS.14:27]

Bahasa

References :
- Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, Paragons of the Qur'an, Daar Us-Sunnah
- Syaikh Safiurrahman Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged) Volume V, Darussalam