Transliteration:( Yamhul laahu maa yashaaa'u wa yusbitu wa 'indahooo ummul Kitaab )
Allah erases [112] what He wills and affirms [113] what He wills, and with Him is the Mother of the Book [114]. (Kanzul Imaan Translation)
This indicates that certain matters in fate (taqdeer) are subject to alteration, while others are unchangeable.
According to some scholars, this verse refers to human sins—some are erased through repentance and forgiveness, while others remain due to the lack of repentance.
Another scholarly view is that the verse refers to abrogation (naskh) and permanence of verses and laws—some are erased (abrogated), while others are made firm and permanent, all by Allah’s will.
"Ummul-Kitab (Mother of the Book)" refers to Lauh-e-Mahfuz, the Preserved Tablet with Allah, in which all matters are recorded immutably.
From this, we learn that absolute knowledge and authority rest only with Allah, who decides what should be changed or remain unchanged.
The tafsir of Surah Ar-Ra’d verse 39 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Rad ayat 38 which provides the complete commentary from verse 38 through 39.
(13:39) Allah effaces whatever He wills and retains whatever He wills. With Him is the Mother of the Book.[58]
58. This is the answer to another objection raised against the revelation of the Quran. The disbelievers said: What was the need of this new Book, when there already had existed the former revealed Books? You say that this need has arisen because the former Books have been tampered with; therefore Allah has abrogated them and commanded that this new Book should be followed. This position you have taken is wrong for how can anyone tamper with the Book of Allah and how is it possible that any Book of Allah might be tampered with? Why did not Allah protect these Books from such things as these? You say that this Book has been revealed by the same Allah Who revealed the Torah and the Gospel. How is it then that your way is different from that of the Torah? You consider certain things lawful while they are unlawful according to the Torah, etc. etc. Detailed answers to these objections have been given in other Surahs but here only a brief and comprehensive answer has been given to them.
The Arabic word Umm-ul-Kitab literally means the Mother Book, that is, the Original Book which is the source and origin of all the revealed Books.
[644]- The Preserved Slate (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ), in which is inscribed the original of every scripture revealed by Allāh.
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