Tafsir for verse: 4:49
أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُمۚ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَآءُ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا ٤٩ ﴿49
49Have you not seen those who claim sanctity for themselves? In fact, Allah sanctifies whom He wills, and they shall not be wronged even to the measure of a thread of a date-stone.
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Commentary

And when there was an indication in that that those intended by these verses from the People of the Book are the most misguided of people; and they would say: 'Indeed, they are the most guided of people'; he was astonished by them; denying them after their fabrication of the praise of themselves; so he said: 'Did you not see'; and distanced them; by his saying: 'to those who purify themselves'; meaning: with what is not theirs; from their saying: 'The Fire will not touch us except for a few days' [Al-Baqarah: 80]; and their saying: 'None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian' [Al-Baqarah: 111]; and their saying: 'And they love to be praised for what they did not do' [Aali 'Imran: 188] and 'And those who follow desires want you to deviate greatly' [An-Nisa: 27]; for indeed, distancing others in deviation is a confirmation of their false praise of themselves; and similar to that; from what has preceded and other than it.

And when the meaning of denial was: 'They do not have that; because they lied about it; and they wronged'; he indicated it by his saying: 'Rather, Allah'; meaning: the One who has the attributes of perfection; 'purifies whom He wills'; meaning: with what He has of complete knowledge; and comprehensive power; and profound wisdom; and just fairness; by praising Him; and by creating the meanings of apparent good in Him; so that righteous deeds may arise from them; so if He purifies one of His chosen ones with something; like prophethood; it is for Him to purify Himself with that; based on what benefits the people from Allah; 'And not'; meaning: while those whom He purifies; or elevates; do not 'injustice them a speck'; meaning: the amount that is in the split of a date seed of that thing that is twisted; meaning: little; nor much; because He is All-Knowing of what they deserve; and He is the just judge; free from injustice; because He has the attributes of perfection.

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