Tafsir for verse: 5:104
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمۡ تَعَالَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ وَإِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ قَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا مَا وَجَدۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَنَآۚ أَوَلَوۡ كَانَ ءَابَآؤُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ شَيۡـٔٗا وَلَا يَهۡتَدُونَ ١٠٤ ﴿104﴾
104When it is said to them, “Come to what Allah has sent down, and to the Messenger;” they say, “Sufficient for us is that on which we have found our forefathers.” Is it so, even though their forefathers knew nothing, and had no guidance either?
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Commentary
The 'wa' in His saying 'Or if their fathers' is a 'wa' of the current state, upon which the hamzat al-inqar has entered. Its meaning is: 'Do I think they are that way, even if their fathers do not know anything and do not guide?' The meaning is that following someone is only valid if they are knowledgeable and guided, and their guidance is known by evidence.
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Al-ZamakhshariAbū al-Qāsim Maḥmūd ibn ʿUmar al-Zamakhsharī
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