Command to Remind

The Command to remind

Allah then says,

﴿ فَذَكِّرۡ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ ﴾

Therefore remind in case the reminder profits.)

Meaning, remind where reminding is beneficial. From here we get the etiquette of spreading knowledge, that it should not be wasted upon those who are not suitable or worthy of it. The Commander of the believers, `Ali said, “You do not tell people any statement that their intellects do not grasp except that it will be a Fitnah (trial) for some of them.” He also said, “Tell people that which they know. Would you like for Allah and His Messenger to be rejected” Allah said:

﴿ سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخۡشَىٰ ﴾

The reminder will be received by him who fears,)

Meaning, `he whose heart fears Allah and who knows that he is going to meet Him, will receive admonition from what you convey to him, O Muhammad ﷺ.’

﴿ وَيَتَجَنَّبُہَا ٱلۡأَشۡقَى • ٱلَّذِى يَصۡلَى ٱلنَّارَ ٱلۡكُبۡرَىٰ • ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيہَا وَلَا يَحۡيَىٰ ﴾

But it will be avoided by the wretched, who will enter the great Fire. There he will neither die nor live.) meaning, he will not die and thus be allowed to rest, nor will he live a life that is beneficial to him. Instead, his life will be harmful to him, because it will be the cause of his feeling of the pain of torment and various types of punishments what he is being punished with.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir Surah Al-Alaa Ayah 9-11

فَذَكِّرۡ

((So remind people) of the laws and signs of Allah

إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ

((if the reminder will be of benefit)

 That is, so long as the reminder will be accepted and the exhortation will be listened to, whether the reminder achieves all or some of its purpose. The implication of the verse is that if the reminder will not be of benefit, in such a way that it will lead to more wickedness or will detract from goodness, then reminding is not enjoined; rather it is prohibited.

With regard to the reminder, people fall into two categories: those who benefit and those who do not benefit.

As for those who benefit, Allah mentions them in the words: ‘The one who fears Allah will pay heed’ for fear of Allah, and knowledge that He will requite each person for his deeds will make the person refrain from sin and strive in doing good.

As for those who do not benefit, He mentions them in the words: ((while the wretched one will avoid it, the one who will enter the great fire) 

Tafsir Saadi Surah Al-Alaa Ayah 9-11