Surah An-Nahl 16:126

The Command for Equality in Punishment

Allah commands justice in punishment and equity in settling the cases of rights. `Abdur-Razzaq recorded that, concerning the Ayah,

فَعَاقِبُواْ بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُمْ بِهِ

(then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted.) Ibn Sirin said, "If a man among you takes something from you, then you should take something similar from him." This was also the opinion of Mujahid, Ibrahim, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, and others. Ibn Jarir also favored this opinion. Ibn Zayd said: "They had been commanded to forgive the idolators, then some men became Muslim who were strong and powerful. They said, `O Messenger of Allah, if only Allah would give us permission, we would sort out these dogs!' Then this Ayah was revealed, then it was latter abrogated by the command to engage in Jihad."

وَاصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ

(And be patient, and your patience will not be but by the help of Allah.) This emphasizes the command to be patient and tells us that patience cannot be acquired except by the will, help, decree and power of Allah. Then Allah says:

وَلاَ تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ

(And do not grieve over them,) meaning, those who oppose you, for Allah has decreed that this should happen.

وَلاَ تَكُ فِى ضَيْقٍ

(and do not be distressed) means do not be worried or upset.

مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ

(by their plots.) meaning; because of the efforts they are putting into opposing you and causing you harm, for Allah is protecting, helping, and supporting you, and He will cause you to prevail and defeat them.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ

(Truly, Allah is with those who have Taqwa, and the doers of good.) meaning; He is with them in the sense of supporting them, helping them and guiding them. This is a special kind of "being with", as Allah says elsewhere:

إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَـئِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ

((Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so support those who believe.") 8:12 And Allah said to Musa and Harun:

لاَ تَخَافَآ إِنَّنِى مَعَكُمَآ أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى

(Fear not, verily I am with you both, hearing and seeing.) 20:46 The Prophet said to (Abu Bakr) As-Siddiq when they were in the cave:

«لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللهَ مَعَنَا»

(Do not worry, Allah is with us.") The general kind of "being with" some one, or something is by means of seeing, hearing and knowing, as Allah says:

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

(And He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah sees whatever you do.) 57:4

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ مَا يَكُونُ مِن نَّجْوَى ثَلَـثَةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلاَ خَمْسَةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلاَ أَدْنَى مِن ذَلِكَ وَلاَ أَكْثَرَ إِلاَّ هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كَانُواْ

(Have you not seen that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth There is no secret counsel of three but He is their fourth, - nor of five but He is their sixth, - nor of less than that or more, but He is with them wherever they may be.) 58:7

وَمَا تَكُونُ فِى شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُواْ مِنْهُ مِن قُرْءَانٍ وَلاَ تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ إِلاَّ كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا

(You will not be in any circumstance, nor recite any portion of the Qur'an, nor having done any deeds, but We are witnessing you.) 10:61

وَالَّذِينَ اتَّقَواْ

(those who have Taqwa) means, they keep away from that which is forbidden.

وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ

(and the doers of good. ) meaning they do deeds of obedience to Allah. These are the ones whom Allah takes care of, He gives them support, and helps them to prevail over their enemies and opponents. This is end of the Tafsir of Surat An-Nahl. To Allah be praise and blessings, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his family and Companions.

Berdasarkan riwayat Abu Hurairah bahwa sesungguhnya Nabi saw berdiri di hadapan Hamzah ketika terbunuh sebagai syahid dalam Perang Uhud. Tidak ada pemandangan yang paling menyakitkan hati Nabi daripada melihat jenazah Hamzah yang dicincang (mutilasi). Lalu Nabi bersabda, "Semoga Allah mencurahkan rahmat kepadamu. Sesungguhnya engkau”sepengetahuanku”adalah orang yang senang silaturrahim dan banyak berbuat kebaikan. Kalau bukan karena kesedihan berpisah denganmu, sungguh aku lebih senang bersamamu sampai di Padang Mahsyar bersama para arwah. Demi Allah, aku akan membalas dengan balasan yang setimpal tujuh puluh orang dari mereka sebagai penggantimu." Maka Jibril turun dengan membawa ayat-ayat di akhir Surah an-Nahl, "Dan jika kamu membalas, maka balaslah dengan (balasan) yang sama dengan siksaan yang ditimpakan kepadamu. Tetapi jika kamu bersabar, sesungguhnya itulah yang lebih baik bagi orang yang sabar." Pada saat itu Rasulullah berdiri di hadapan jenazah Hamzah.

Dalam ayat ini Allah swt menegaskan kepada kaum Muslimin, yang akan mewarisi perjuangan Nabi Muhammad dalam menyebarkan agama Islam, untuk menjadikan sikap Rasul di atas sebagai pegangan mereka dalam menghadapi lawan.

Pedoman dakwah yang diberikan Allah pada ayat yang lalu, adalah pedoman dalam medan dakwah dengan lisan, hujjah lawan hujjah. Dakwah berjalan dalam suasana damai. Akan tetapi, jika dakwah mendapat perlawanan yang kasar, misalnya para dai disiksa atau dibunuh, Islam menetapkan sikap tegas untuk menghadapi keadaan demikian dengan tetap menjunjung tinggi kebenaran. Dua macam jalan yang diterangkan Allah dalam ayat ini, pertama: membalas dengan balasan yang seimbang. Kedua: menerima tindakan permusuhan itu dengan hati yang sabar dan memaafkan kesalahan itu jika bisa memberi pengaruh yang lebih baik bagi jalannya dakwah.

Menurut Ibnu Katsir, ayat ini mempunyai makna dan tujuan yang sama dengan beberapa ayat dalam Al-Qur'an yaitu mengandung keharusan adil dan dorongan berbuat keutamaan, seperti firman Allah:

Dan balasan suatu kejahatan adalah kejahatan yang setimpal, tetapi barang siapa memaafkan dan berbuat baik (kepada orang yang berbuat jahat) maka pahalanya dari Allah. Sungguh, Dia tidak menyukai orang-orang zalim. (asy-Syura/42: 40)

Firman Allah swt:

¦Dan luka-luka (pun) ada qisasnya (balasan yang sama). Barang siapa melepaskan (hak qisas)nya, maka itu (menjadi) penebus dosa baginya. (al-Ma'idah/5: 45)