Commentary
Have you seen what you plant of food? That is, you sow its seeds and work in its land. Are you the ones who grow it and cause it to sprout? It grows and develops until it reaches its limit. And from the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: "Let none of you say: I planted, but let him say: I cultivated." This was narrated by Ibn Hibban, Al-Bazzar, and Al-Tabarani through the chain of Makhlad ibn Hussain from Hisham ibn Hassan from Muhammad ibn Sirin from Abu Huraira. Then Abu Huraira recited: 'Have you seen what you cultivate? Are you the ones who grow it?' Abu Huraira said: Have you seen... the verse? And the debris is from 'to break', like crumbs and chaff from 'to break' and 'to cut': it is what has become shattered and broken. And 'you have remained' is read with a kasra. And 'you have remained' in its original form means 'you are amazed'. And from Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him: You regret your toil in it and your spending on it. Or for what you have committed of sins that you have incurred because of it. And it is also read as 'you are amazed'. And from it is the saying: "The example of the scholar is like that of a hot spring that is visited by the distant ones and left by the close ones. While they were there, its water became scarce, so some benefited from it while others remained regretful." That is, they regret. Indeed, we are burdened with the cost of what we have spent. And we are doomed to the destruction of our sustenance, from 'gharam': which is destruction. Rather, we are a people deprived and limited, having no share or luck. And if we were to be blessed, this would not have happened to us. And it is also read: 'Are we...'
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