وَلَم تَكُن لَهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرونَهُ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَما كانَ مُنتَصِرًا
He had no party to help him, besides Allah, nor could he help himself.
EXEGESIS
Fiʾah (party) means a group of people.
Muntaṣir comes from naṣr meaning to help. Muntaṣir is the reflexive for nāṣir (helper). It is one who can help themselves or each other, like in the verse, So they were neither able to rise up, nor to come to one another’s aid (muntaṣirīn) (51:45). Here it means that his helpers could not avail him nor could he help himself, that is to withhold the punishment from himself.
EXPOSITION
This verse tells us of the utter helplessness of the man who only a while ago thought himself so powerful, mighty, and favoured. Now he was left utterly alone, with no one left to help him. There was no lackey who could miraculously make his garden grow back again, and no underling who could bring back what he had lost.
This verse is meant to be a contrast to the boastful claims made by the wealthy man when he said, I have more wealth than you, and am stronger with respect to numbers (verse 34), especially his delusion that he was self-sufficient and a self-made man.
It is also a testament to the fickleness of the friendship and loyalty that is bought by money. He boasted that he has so many numbers to call upon, but as soon as his wealth was lost He had no party to help him. Those who yesterday bowed before him and were at his beck and call were now all dispersed from around him.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- No king is saved by a great army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; it will not deliver by its great strength.
[1] Tibyan, 7/50; Tabari, 15/163.
[2] Tibyan, 7/50; Tabrisi, 6/728; Tabari, 15/163.
[3] Mizan, 13/316; Nemuneh, 12/437-438.
[4] See Nemuneh, 12/438.
[5] Psalms 33:16-17.