أَمْ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمْ كِتَٰبًۭا مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ فَهُم بِهِۦ مُسْتَمْسِكُونَ
Atau adakah Kami memberikan sebuah kitab kepada mereka sebelum Al Quran, lalu mereka berpegang dengan kitab itu?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
The Idolators have no Proof
Allah condemns the idolators for worshipping others instead of Allah with no evidence or proof for doing so.
(Or have We given them any Book before this) means, before their idolatry.
(to which they are holding fast) means, with regard to what they are doing. This is not the case. This is like the Ayah:
(Or have We revealed to them an authority (a Scripture), which speaks of that which they have been associating with Him) (30:35) meaning, that did not happen. Then Allah says:
(Nay! They say: "we found our fathers following a certain way and religion (Ummah), and we guide ourselves by their footsteps.") meaning, they have no grounds for their belief in idolatry apart from the fact that they are imitating their fathers and forefathers who were following a certain Ummah or way, i.e., religion. The word Ummah is used in a similar manner elsewhere, where Allah says:
(And verily, this your religion (Ummah) is one religion) (23:52), and they said;
(and we by their footsteps) means, behind them
(We guide ourselves) This is their claim with no evidence. Then Allah points out that what these people say was already said by those who were like them among the nations of the past who disbelieved in the Messengers. Their hearts and their words are similar.
(Likewise, no Messenger came to those before them but they said: "A sorcerer or a madman!" Have they transmitted this saying to these Nay, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds!) (51:52-53) And Allah says here:
(And similarly, We sent not a warner before you to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: "We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps.") Then He says:
(Say) -- `O Muhammad, to these idolators --'
("Even if I bring you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following" They said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent.") `Even if they were convinced of the truth of what you have brought to them, they will not follow it, because of their evil intentions and their arrogance towards the truth and its people.'
(So We took revenge on them) means, on the disbelieving nations, by inflicting various kinds of punishments, as Allah has described in the stories of those nations.
(then see what was the end of those who denied) means, see what became of them, how they were destroyed and how Allah saved the believers.
Hadits Terkait
Telah bercerita kepada kami [Qutaibah bin Sa'id] telah bercerita kepada kami [Sufyan] dari ['Amru] dari ['Atha'] dia mengabarkan dari [Shafwan bin Ya'laa] dari [bapaknya] bahwa dia mendengar Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam membaca suatu ayat (QS az-Zukhruf ayat 77) di atas mimbar: "Wa naadaw yaa maalik (Mereka berseru; "hai maalik)
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Yahya bin Musa]; telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu Dawud Ath Thayalisi]; telah menceritakan kepada kami ['Abdul Wahid bin Sulaim]; dia berkata; Aku memasuki Makkah kemudian aku menemui ['Atha bin Abu Rabbah]. Maka aku berkata kepadanya, "Wahai Abu Muhammad, sesungguhnya penduduk Bashrah memperbincangkan masalah Qadar." Lalu Atha' berkata, "Wahai anakku, apakah kamu membaca Al Qur'an?" Aku menjawab, "Ya" 'Atha` melanjutkan, "Bacalah surat Az-Zukhruf." Abdul Wahid berkata; Maka aku pun membaca, "HAA MIIM WAL KITAABIL MUBIIN, INNAA JA'ALNAAHU QUR'AANAN 'AROBIYYAN LA'ALLAKUM TA'QILUUN, WA INNAHU FII UMMIL KITAABI LADAINAA LA'ALIYYUN HAKIIM (HAA MIIM, Demi Kitab (Al Qur'an) yang menerangkan. Sesungguhnya Kami menjadikan Al Qur'an dalam bahasa Arab supaya kamu memahami-nya. Dan sesungguhnya Al Qur'an itu dalam induk Al Kitab (Lauhul Mahfudz) di sisi kami, adalah benar benar tinggi (nilainya) dan amat banyak mengandung hikmah)." Kemudian Atha' bertanya, " Apakah kamu tahu apa maksudnya Ummul Kitab?" aku menjawab, "Hanya Allah dan Rasul-Nya yang lebih tahu." Atha' berkata, "Susungguhnya Ummul Kitab adalah kitab yang ditulis oleh Allah sebelum menciptakan langit dan bumi di dalamnya terdapat ayat yang menyatakan bahwa Fir'aun termasuk penghuni neraka, dan di dalamnya terdapat ayat, 'TABBAT YADAA ABII LAHABIW WATAB (Binasalah kedua tangan Abu Lahab dan sesungguhnya dia akan binasa).'" Atha' berkata lagi; Aku bertemu dengan [Al Walid bin Ubadah bin Ash Shamith] sahabat Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, aku tanyakan kepadanya tentang, "Wasiat apakah yang di wasiatkan bapakmu pada saat saat wafat?" Dia menjawab; [Bapakku] pernah memanggilku kemudian dia berkata kepadaku, "Wahai anakku, bertakwalah kepada Allah dan ketahuilah sesungguhnya kamu tidak akan sekali kali bertakwa kepada Allah sehingga kamu beriman kepada Allah dan beriman kepada adanya takdir seluruhnya yang baik maupun yang buruk, jika kamu meninggal tidak berada di atas keimanan ini maka kamu akan masuk neraka, sesungguhnya aku mendengar Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: 'Sesungguhnya yang pertama kali Allah ciptakan adalah Al Qalam kemudian Allah berfirman: 'Tulislah' Maka Al Qalam bertanya, 'Apa yang aku tulis? ' Lalu Allah berfirman: 'Tulislah takdir yang telah terjadi dan yang akan terjadi sepanjang masa.'" Abu Isa berkata; Hadits ini adalah gharib bila ditinjau dari jalur sanad ini