Tuesday, 5 May,

What does وجل – wajal mean?

Posted in General Tafsīr tagged , , at 12:29 am by Ibn al-Kashmiri

بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

الحمد الله

Wajal is the trembling of the heart upon the cognition or remembrance of someone whose power or punishment one fears. [1]

Allāh سبحانه و تعالى says,

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’an) are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone).” [2]

In the Tafsīr of this ayah, Imām Al Qurṭubī رحمه الله defines وَجِلَ as, “It is the dreadfulness from the punishment of Allāh سبحانه وتعالى.” Then he goes on saying, “For this is the condition of those who are conscious of Allāh سبحانه و تعالى, those who are fearful of His Ascendancy and Punishment.” [3]

Shahr bin Ḥaushab رحمه الله narrates from Abud Dardā’ رضي الله عنه who said regarding this ayah,” Wajal in the heart is like the burning of a palm leaf. Do you find it quivering?” I said, “Indeed!” Then he said, “If you find that in the heart then call upon Allāh سبحانه و تعالى, for verily the du’a works like that.” [4]

Imām Al Baydāwī رحمه الله writes in his Tafsīr regarding this ayah, “Horrified with His Remembrance as He is the Greatest. It was said he (as mentioned in the verse) is the man who was going to commit a sin and then it was said to him,’ Fear Allāh!’ Hearing that, he won’t commit the sin fearing Allāh سبحانه و تعالى” [5]

People who have this quality are indeed the blessed ones as Qatadah رحمه الله said, “This is an attribute of the People of Imān.” [6]

[1] Madārij Al Salikīn

[2] Qur’an Al Karīm {8:2}

[3] Tafsīr Al Qurṭubī

[4] Tafsīr Al Ṭabarī

[5] Tafsīr Al Baydāwī

[6] Tafsīr Al Ṭabarī