Concerning Allah's statement,

وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُم مَّاء غَدَقًا ﴿١٦﴾

لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ ...

If they had believed in Allah, and went on the way, We would surely have bestowed on them water in abundance. That We might try them thereby.

The commentators have differed over the explanation of this. There are two views concerning it.

- The First View That if the deviant ones would stand firmly upon the path of Islam, being just upon it and remaining upon it, لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُم مَّاء غَدَقًا (We would surely have bestowed on them water in abundance).

meaning, a lot. The intent behind this is to say that they would be given an abundance of sustenance.

With this, the meaning of Allah's statement, لِنَفْتِنَهُمْ فِيهِ (That We might try them thereby). is that,

`We will test them.'

As Malik reported from Zayd bin Aslam, he said,

"That We might try them - means, so that We may test them to see who will remain upon the guidance from those who will turn back to sin.''

Mentioning Those Who held this View

Al-`Awfi reported similar to this from Ibn `Abbas, and likewise said Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, `Ata, As-Suddi, Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak.

Muqatil said,

"This Ayah was revealed about the disbelievers of the Quraysh when they were deprived of rain for seven years.''

- The Second View وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ (If they had believed in Allah, and went on the way),

meaning, of misguidance.

لَأَسْقَيْنَاهُم مَّاء غَدَقًا We would surely have bestowed on them water in abundance.

meaning, `then We would have increased their sustenance to allow a gradual respite.'

As Allah says,

فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَآ أُوتُواْ أَخَذْنَـهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُّبْلِسُونَ

So, when they forgot that with which they had been reminded, We opened for them the gates of everything, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them, and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows. (6:44)

Allah also says,

أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ

نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ

Do they think that in wealth and children with which We expand them. We hasten unto them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not. (23:55,56)

This is the view of Abu Mijlaz and it agrees with the opinion of Ibn Humayd.

For verily, he (Ibn Humayd) said concerning Allah's statement, وَأَلَّوِ اسْتَقَامُوا عَلَى الطَّرِيقَةِ (If they had believed in Allah, and went on the way),

"This means the path of misguidance.''

Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim both recorded this.

Al-Baghawi also mentioned it from Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, Zayd bin Aslam, Al-Kalbi and Ibn Kaysan.

It seems that he (Al-Baghawi) took this position. And it is supported by Allah's saying, "That We might try them thereby.''