لا يَأكُلُهُ إِلَّا الخاطِئونَ
Which no one shall eat except the iniquitous.’
EXEGESIS
Al-khāṭiʾūn (the iniquitous) is from khaṭaʾ, which shares the same root and meaning as the previously mentioned khāṭiʾah (verse 9) and also khaṭīʾah. All these terms can imply a genuine mistake or an offence and sin. The Quran uses these terms with both meanings, and often the context makes it clear as to which of the two is intended. This was explained previously in this surah, in detail, under verse 9. As explained there, khaṭīʾah can also be unintentional sins that accumulate as the side effects of other sins and that besiege (2:81) and surround those too haughty to repent until it changes their make-up and leaves an indelible mark of sin on their souls, which in turn brings them to complete wretchedness. And in the case of those described in this verse, it is perhaps because of this transformation in their beings that they earn themselves the food and torment described in the preceding verses.
INSIGHTS FROM HADITH
- Bayhaqī reports from Ṣaʿṣaʿah ibn Ṣawḥān that a man came to Imam Ali (a) and asked, puzzled: ‘How is this [verse]: Which no one shall eat except those who walk (khāṭūn), when all [men], by Allah, walk?!’ The Imam smiled and said: ‘O man, [it is] no one shall eat except the iniquitous (khāṭiʾūn).’ ‘You are right, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,’ said the man realising his error, ‘for Allah would never chastise the innocent.’ Then the Imam turned to Abū al-Aswad (who was a man of letters) and said: ‘Non-Arabs have entered the religion [of Islam] in large numbers. So put something [in place] for people that will guide them to pronounce [the Quran’s verses] correctly.’ So Abū al-Aswad established for them the vowel markings to show the nominative (rafʿ), accusative (naṣb), and genitive (jarr).’
Note: These grammatical ‘states’ of words are often, but not always, shown by the vowel markings known as ḍammah, fatḥah, and kasrah.
[1] Hans Wehr, kh-ṭ-ʾ.
[2] Suyuti, 6/263.