Surah Saba Tafseer

وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ

And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire,

Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ad-Dahhak and others said,

"This means faith."

As-Suddi said:

"It means "Repentance."

This was also the view of Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him.

Mujahid said:

(And a barrier will be set between them and that which they desire) means,

"This world and its wealth, luxuries and people."

Something similar was narrated from Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, may Allah be pleased with him.

It is also the opinion of Al-Bukhari and the Group.

The correct view is that there is no contradiction between the two views, for a barrier will be set between them and what they desire in this world, and what they seek in the Hereafter will be denied from them.

كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ

as was done in the past with the people of their kind.

means, as happened to the nations of the past who disbelieved in the Messengers; when the punishment of Allah came upon them, they wished that they had believed, but this was not accepted from them.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا قَالُواْ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ وَكَـفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِ مُشْرِكِينَ

فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَـنُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْاْ بَأْسَنَا سُنَّةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِى قَدْ خَلَتْ فِى عِبَادِهِ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْكَـفِرُونَ

So, when they saw Our punishment, they said:"We believe in Allah Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners."

Then their faith could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allah in dealing with His servants. And there the disbelievers lost utterly. (40:84-85)

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا فِي شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍ

Verily, they have been in grave doubt.

means, in this world they had doubts, so their faith will not be accepted from them when they behold the punishment with their own eyes.

Qatadah said,

Beware of doubt. For whoever dies doubting, will be raised doubting and whoever dies believing, with certainty will be raised believing with certainty.

This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Saba'. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the Guide to the right way