Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Why is there a shift in the relative pronoun structure in Sūrah ash-Shu‘arā, particularly between verses 79 and 80?
(الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهو يَهْدِينِ والَّذِي هو يُطْعِمُنِي ويَسْقِينِ وإذا مَرِضْتُ فَهو يَشْفِينِ والَّذِي يُمِيتُنِي ثُمَّ يُحْيِينِ)
“Who created me, and who guides me, and who feeds me, and gives me to drink, and when I become sick, He cures me, and who will make me die, then will give me life”.
[Sūrah ash-Shu‘arā, 26:78–81]
Answer:
In these verses, Prophet Ibrāhīm (‘alayhi as-salām) attributes various acts to Allāh using a consistent relative pronoun structure (الَّذِي…) — such as creating, guiding, feeding, and giving drink — all of which are clear blessings. However, in verse 80, when he mentions sickness, the structure changes:
“And when I become ill, He is the One who heals me.”
Here, he does not say “and the One who makes me ill,” which would follow the same grammatical pattern.
This deliberate shift carries a rhetorical and theological subtlety. Out of profound adab (courtesy and reverence), Prophet Ibrāhīm does not directly attribute illness to Allāh, even though everything ultimately occurs by His will. Instead, he ascribes the condition of sickness to himself, while still affirming that the healing comes solely from Allāh. This nuanced expression reflects a deep etiquette in speech, recognizing Allāh’s mercy and distancing Him from what may be perceived as harmful, even though it is part of divine wisdom.
Such eloquence highlights both the prophetic character and the Qur’ān’s precision in conveying theological and moral truths.
مراعاة الأدب { وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ } لم يقل: وإِذا أمرضني بل أسند المرض لنفسه تأدباً مع الله لأنَّ الشرَّ لا يُنسب إليه تعالى أدباً، وإِن كان المرضُ والشفاء كلاهما من الله.) (صفوة التفاسير ٣٨٦/٢)
Allah knows best.
Abbas Afzal
17 Muharram / 12 July 2025
