Ash-Shu'ara · Makki · ayah 216 of 227

Ash-Shu'ara 26:216

فَإِنْ عَصَوْكَ فَقُلْ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

“And if they disobey you, then say, "Indeed, I am disassociated from what you are doing."”

Saheeh International

Essence

If his own kin refuse him, the Prophet ﷺ is to say he is clear of what they do, never of who they are.

A reflection

Clear of the deed, with the tie kept moist

The ayah chooses its object carefully: mimmā taʿmalūn, of what you do. Not 'of you'. Lut said something similar about his town's deed earlier in this surah. Here it is said to the Prophet's ﷺ own uncles, aunts and cousins.

Sahih Muslim records what he told them when the warning came. He called each branch of Quraysh by name, down to his own daughter. Save yourselves from the Fire, he said, for I own nothing for you before Allah. Then he added: but you have a tie of kinship with me, and I will keep it moist with its moisture.

The picture is in the words themselves. A tie that is not watered dries and cracks. So in one breath he said two things. My faith cannot carry you. My kindness will not stop.

A man's older brother runs a payday-loan shop on the high street. For years the man has refused to work there or put money into it. His brother knows exactly why; they argued it out long ago. But when the brother needs lifts to his cardiology appointments, it is this man who drives him. He waits in the car park with a flask. He is clear of the business. He is not clear of his brother.

That is the shape of barāʾa in this ayah. A statement about deeds, made plainly and without apology. Beside it, a tie kept wet by hand, visit by visit.

Many of us manage only one half. Some keep the relationship by going quiet about the deed. Others name the deed and let the relationship dry out. The ayah and the hadith, read together, ask for both.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.