أعوذ باللّٰه من الشيطان الرجيم
بِسْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
(Book#1099)
[What is Munafique,Why & How-Book No:-1-37:-]
11th Edition,Ramadan 1445,March-2024.
www.motaher21.net
Sura:2:Bakara,Para:1
Ayat: –8-20 &
Sura:63,Al Munafiqun, Para:28, Ayat: –1-11
2:8
وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ یَّقُوۡلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ وَ بِالۡیَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَ مَا ہُمۡ بِمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ۘ﴿۸﴾
And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not believers.
The Hypocrites
We mentioned that four Ayat in the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah described the believers. The two last Ayat (2:6-7) describe the disbelievers.
Afterwards, Allah begins to describe the hypocrites who show belief and hide disbelief. Since the matter of the hypocrites is vague and many people do not realize their true reality, Allah mentioned their description in detail. Each of the characteristics that Allah used to described them with is a type of hypocrisy itself. Allah revealed Surah Bara’h and Surah Al-Munafiqun about the hypocrites. He also mentioned the hypocrites in Surah An-Nur and other Surahs, so that their description would be known and their ways and errors could be avoided.
Allah said,
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُوْمِنِينَ
يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
2:9
یُخٰدِعُوۡنَ اللّٰہَ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا ۚ وَ مَا یَخۡدَعُوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ وَ مَا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ؕ﴿۹﴾
They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.
And of mankind, there are some who say:”We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they do not believe. They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
Meaning of Nifaq
Nifaq means to show conformity – or agreement – and to conceal evil. Nifaq has several types:
Nifaq in the creed that causes its people to reside in Hell for eternity, and
Nifaq in deed, which is one of the major sins, as we will explain soon, Allah willing.
Ibn Jurayj said of the hypocrite that,
“His actual deeds are different from what he publicizes, what he conceals is different from what he utters, his entrance and presence are not the same as his exit and absence.”
The Beginning of Hypocrisy
The revelations about the characteristics of the hypocrites were revealed in Al-Madinah, this is because there were no hypocrites in Makkah. Rather the opposite was the situation in Makkah, since some people were forced to pretend that they were disbelievers, while their hearts concealed their faith. Afterwards, the Messenger of Allah migrated to Al-Madinah, where the Ansar from the tribes of Aws and Khazraj resided. They used to worship idols during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, just as the rest of the Arab idolators. Three Jewish tribes resided in Al-Madinah, Banu Qaynuqa-allies of Al-Khazraj, Banu An-Nadir and Banu Qurayzah-allies of the Aws. Many members of the Aws and Khazraj tribes embraced Islam. However, only a few Jews embraced Islam, such as Abdullah bin Salam.
During the early stage in Al-Madinah, there weren’t any hypocrites because the Muslims were not strong enough to be feared yet. On the contrary, the Messenger of Allah conducted peace treaties with the Jews and several other Arab tribes around Al-Madinah. Soon after, the battle of Badr occurred and Allah gave victory to Islam and its people.
Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul was a leader in Al-Madinah. He was Al-Khazraj’s chief, and during the period of Jahiliyyah he was the master of both tribes – Aws and Khazraj. They were about to appoint him their king when the Message reached Al-Madinah, and many in Al-Madinah embraced Islam.
Ibn Salul’s heart was filled with hatred against Islam and its people. When the battle of Badr took place, he said, “Allah’s religion has become apparent.” So he pretended to be Muslim, along with many of those who were just like him, as well as many among the People of the Book.
It was then that hypocrisy began in Al-Madinah and among the surrounding nomad tribes. As for the Emigrants, none of them were hypocrites, since they emigrated willingly (seeking the pleasure of Allah). Rather, when a Muslim would emigrate from Makkah, he would be forced to abandon all of his wealth, offspring and land; he would do so seeking Allah’s reward in the Hereafter.
The Tafsir of Ayah 2:8
Allah said,
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُوْمِنِينَ
And of mankind, there are some who say:”We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they do not believe.
Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn Abbas said that,
“This refers to the hypocrites among the Aws and Khazraj and those who behaved as they did.”
This is how Abu Al-Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and As-Suddi explained this Ayah.
Allah revealed the characteristics of the hypocrites, so that the believers would not be deceived by their outer appearance, thus saving the believers from a great evil. Otherwise, the believers might think that the hypocrites were believers, when in reality they are disbelievers. To consider the sinners as righteous people is extremely dangerous, Allah said,
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُوْمِنِينَ
(And of mankind, there are some who say:”We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they do not believe) meaning, they utter these false statements only with their tongues, just as Allah said,
إِذَا جَأءَكَ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ
When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say:”We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.” Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger. (63:1)
This Ayah means that;
the hypocrites utter these statements only when they meet you, not because they actually believe what they are saying. The hypocrites emphasize their belief in Allah and the Last Day with their words, when that is not the case in reality. Therefore, Allah stated that the hypocrites lie in their testimony of creed, when He said,
وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
(And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars), (63:1), and,
وَمَا هُم بِمُوْمِنِينَ
(while in fact they believe not).
Allah said,
يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُوا
(They try to deceive Allah and those who believe).
The hypocrites show belief outwardly while concealing disbelief. They think that by doing this, they will mislead Allah, or that the statements they utter will help them with Allah, and this is an indication of their total ignorance. They think that such behavior will deceive Allah, just as it might deceive some of the believers.
Similarly, Allah said,
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْكَـذِبُونَ
On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you. And they think that they have something (to stand upon). Verily, they are liars! (58:18)
Hence, Allah refuted their way by saying,
وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
While they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
Allah stated that the hypocrites only deceive themselves by this behavior, although they are unaware of this fact.
Allah also said,
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ
Verily, the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. (4:142)
Also, Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Jurayj commented on Allah’s statement,
“The hypocrites pronounce, `There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah’ seeking to ensure the sanctity of their blood and money, all the while concealing disbelief.”
Allah’s statement;
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ امَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الاخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُوْمِنِينَ
يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
And of mankind, there are some who say:”We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they believe not. They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
Sa`id said that Qatadah commented,
“This is the description of a hypocrite. He is devious; he says the truth with his tongue and defies it with his heart and deeds. He wakes up in a condition other than the one he goes to sleep in, and goes to sleep in a different condition than the one he wakes up in. He changes his mind just like a ship that moves about whenever a wind blows.
2:10
فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ مَّرَضٌ ۙ فَزَادَہُمُ اللّٰہُ مَرَضًا ۚ وَ لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌۢ ۬ۙ بِمَا کَانُوۡا یَکۡذِبُوۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.
The Meaning of `Disease’ in this Ayah
Allah said,
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً وَلَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
In their hearts is a disease and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs,
because they used to tell lies.
As-Suddi narrated from Abu Malik and (also) from Abu Salih, from Ibn Abbas, and (also) Murrah Al-Hamdani from Ibn Mas`ud and other Companions that this Ayah,
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ
(In their hearts is a disease),
means, `doubt’,
and,
فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً
(And Allah has increased their disease) also means `doubt’.
Mujahid, Ikrimah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Abu Al-Aliyah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Qatadah also said similarly.
Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on,
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ
(In their hearts is a disease),
“A disease in the religion, not a physical disease. They are the hypocrites and the disease is the doubt that they brought to Islam.
فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً
(And Allah has increased their disease) meaning, increased them in shameful behavior.”
He also recited,
فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَى رِجْسِهِمْ
As for those who believe, it has increased their faith, and they rejoice. But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it will add disgrace to their disgrace. (9:124-125)
and commented,
“Evil to their evil and deviation to their deviation.”
This statement by Abdur-Rahman is true, and it constitutes a punishment that is compatible to the sin, just as the earlier scholars stated.
Similarly, Allah said,
وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْاْ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءَاتَـهُمْ تَقُوَاهُمْ
While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and grants them their piety. (47:17)
Allah said next,
بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ
Because they used to tell lies.
The hypocrites have two characteristics, they lie and they deny the Unseen.
The scholars who stated that the Prophet knew the hypocrites of his time have only the Hadith of Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman as evidence. In it the Prophet gave him the names of fourteen hypocrites during the battle of Tabuk. These hypocrites plotted to assassinate the Prophet during the night on a hill in that area. They planned to excite the Prophet’s camel, so that she would throw him down the hill. Allah informed the Prophet about their plot, and the Prophet told Hudhayfah their names.
As for the other hypocrites, Allah said about them,
وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ الاٌّعْرَابِ مُنَـفِقُونَ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ مَرَدُواْ عَلَى النَّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ
And among the Bedouins around you, some are hypocrites, and so are some among the people of Al-Madinah who persist in hypocrisy; you (O Muhammad) know them not, We know them. (9:101)
and,
لَّيِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ وَالْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى الْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَأ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً
مَّلْعُونِينَ أَيْنَمَا ثُقِفُواْ أُخِذُواْ وَقُتِّلُواْ تَقْتِيلً
If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who spread false news among the people in Al-Madinah do not cease, We shall certainly let you overpower them, then they will not be able to stay in it as your neighbors but a little while. Accursed, they shall be seized wherever found, and killed with a (terrible) slaughter. (33:60-61)
These Ayat prove that the Prophet was not informed about each and everyone among the hypocrites of his time. Rather, the Prophet was only informed about their characteristics, and he used to assume that some people possessed these characteristics.
Similarly, Allah said,
وَلَوْ نَشَأءُ لَارَيْنَـكَهُمْ فَلَعَرَفْتَهُم بِسِيمَـهُمْ وَلَتَعْرِفَنَّهُمْ فِى لَحْنِ الْقَوْلِ
Had We willed, We could have shown them to you, and you should have known them by their marks; but surely, you will know them by the tone of their speech! (47:30)
The most notorious hypocrite at that time was Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul; Zayd bin Arqam – the Companion – gave truthful testimony to that effect.
In addition, Umar bin Al-Khattab once mentioned the matter of Ibn Salul to the Prophet, who said,
إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ أَنْ تَتَحَدَّثَ الْعَرَبُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا يَقْتُلُ أَصْحَابَه
I would not like the Arabs to say to each other that Muhammad is killing his Companions.
Yet, when Ibn Salul died, the Prophet performed the funeral prayer for him and attended his funeral just as he used to do with other Muslims. It was recorded in the Sahih that the Prophet said,
إِنِّي خُيِّرْتُ فَاخْتَرْت
I was given the choice (to pray for him or not), so I chose.
In another narration, the Prophet said,
لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنِّي لَوْ زِدْتُ عَلَى السَّبْعِينَ يُغْفَرُ لَهُ لَزِدْت
If I knew that by asking (Allah to forgive Ibn Salul) more than seventy times that He would forgive him, then I would do that
2:11
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ لَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُصۡلِحُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾
And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.”
Meaning of Mischief
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them:”Do not make mischief on the earth,” they say:”We are only peacemakers.”
In his Tafsir, As-Suddi said that Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas`ud commented,
“They are the hypocrites.
As for,
لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ
(“Do not make mischief on the earth”), that is disbelief and acts of disobedience.”
Abu Jafar said that Ar-Rabi bin Anas said that Abu Al-Aliyah said that Allah’s statement,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ
(And when it is said to them:”Do not make mischief on the earth”),
means, “Do not commit acts of disobedience on the earth. Their mischief is disobeying Allah, because whoever disobeys Allah on the earth, or commands that Allah be disobeyed, he has committed mischief on the earth. Peace on both the earth and in the heavens is ensured (and earned) through obedience (to Allah).”
Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.
Types of Mischief that the Hypocrites commit
Ibn Jarir said,
“The hypocrites commit mischief on earth;
by disobeying their Lord on it and continuing in the prohibited acts.
They also abandon what Allah made obligatory and doubt His religion, even though He does not accept a deed from anyone except with faith in His religion and certainty of its truth.
The hypocrites also lie to the believers by saying contrary to the doubt and hesitation their hearts harbor.
They give as much aid as they can, against Allah’s loyal friends, and support those who deny Allah, His Books and His Messengers.
This is how the hypocrites commit mischief on earth, while thinking that they are doing righteous work on earth.”
The statement by Ibn Jarir is true; taking the disbelievers as friends is one of the categories of mischief on the earth.
Allah said,
وَالَّذينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ بَعْضٍ إِلاَّ تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ
And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, if you do not do this (help each other), there will be turmoil and oppression on the earth, and great mischief. (8:73),
In this way Allah severed the loyalty between the believers and the disbelievers.
Similarly, Allah said,
يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَأءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُوْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَاناً مُّبِيناً
O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as Awliya (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves. (4:144)
Allah then said,
إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِى الدَّرْكِ الاٌّسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيراً
Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of the Fire; no helper will you find for them. (4:145)
Since the outward appearance of the hypocrite displays belief, he confuses the true believers. Hence, the deceitful behavior of the hypocrites is an act of mischief, because they deceive the believers by claiming what they do not believe in, and because they give support and loyalty to the disbelievers against the believers.
If the hypocrite remains a disbeliever (rather than pretending to be Muslim), the evil that results from him would be less. Even better, if the hypocrite becomes sincere with Allah and makes the statements that he utters conform to his deeds, he will gain success.
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them:”Do not make mischief on the earth,” they say:”We are only peacemakers.”
meaning, “We seek to be friends with both parties, the believers and the disbelievers, and to have peace with both parties.”
Similarly, Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas commented on Allah’s statement,
means, “We seek to make amends between the believers and the People of the Book.”
Allah said,
أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
2:12
اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡسِدُوۡنَ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا یَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾
Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.
Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.
This Ayah means that the hypocrites’ behavior, and their claim that it is for peace, is itself mischief, although in their ignorance, they do not see it to be mischief
2:13
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ اٰمِنُوۡا کَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوۡۤا اَنُؤۡمِنُ کَمَاۤ اٰمَنَ السُّفَہَآءُ ؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّہُمۡ ہُمُ السُّفَہَآءُ وَ لٰکِنۡ لَّا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۳﴾
And when it is said to them, “Believe as the people have believed,” they say, “Should we believe as the foolish have believed?” Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not.
Allah tells;
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ
And when it is said to them:
Allah said that if the hypocrites are told,
امِنُواْ كَمَا امَنَ النَّاسُ
“Believe as the people believe,”
meaning, `Believe just as the believers believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, Resurrection after death, Paradise and Hellfire, etc. And obey Allah and His Messenger by heeding the commandments and avoiding the prohibitions.’
Yet the hypocrites answer by saying,
قَالُواْ أَنُوْمِنُ كَمَا امَنَ السُّفَهَاء
“Shall we believe as the fools have believed!”
they meant (may Allah curse the hypocrites) the Companions of the Messenger of Allah.
This is the same Tafsir given by Abu Al-Aliyah and As-Suddi in his Tafsir, with a chain of narration to Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and other Companions.
This is also the Tafsir of Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam.
The hypocrites said,
“Us and them having the same status, following the same path, while they are fools!”
`The fool’ is the ignorant, simple-minded person who has little knowledge in areas of benefit and harm. This is why, according to the majority of the scholars, Allah used the term foolish to include children, when He said,
وَلَا تُوْتُواْ السُّفَهَأءَ أَمْوَلَكُمُ الَّتِى جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَـماً
And do not give your property, which Allah has made a means of support for you, to the foolish. (4:5)
Allah answered the hypocrites in all of these instances. For instance, Allah said here,
أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاء
Verily, they are the fools.
Allah thus affirmed that the hypocrites are indeed the fools.
yet,
وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ
But they know not.
Since they are so thoroughly ignorant, the hypocrites are unaware of their degree of deviation and ignorance, and such situation is more dangerous, a severer case of blindness, and further from the truth than one who is aware
2:14
وَ اِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا قَالُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا ۚۖ وَ اِذَا خَلَوۡا اِلٰی شَیٰطِیۡنِہِمۡ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا مَعَکُمۡ ۙ اِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ مُسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿۱۴﴾
And when they meet those who believe, they say, “We believe”; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, “Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers.”
The Hypocrites’ Cunning and Deceit
Allah said,
وَإِذَا لَقُواْ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ قَالُواْ امَنَّا
And when they meet those who believe, they say:”We believe,”
Allah said that when the hypocrites meet the believers, they proclaim their faith and pretend to be believers, loyalists and friends. They do this to misdirect, mislead and deceive the believers. The hypocrites also want to have a share of the benefits and gains that the believers might possibly acquire.
Yet,
وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ
But when they are alone with their Shayatin,
meaning, if they are alone with their devils, such as their leaders and masters among the rabbis of the Jews, hypocrites and idolators.
Human and Jinn Devils
Ibn Jarir said,
“The devils of every creation are the mischievous among them. There are both human devils and Jinn devils.
Allah said,
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نِبِىٍّ عَدُوّاً شَيَـطِينَ الاِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوراً
And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies ـ Shayatin (devils) among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). (6:112)
The Meaning of `Mocking
Allah said,
قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكْمْ
They say:”Truly, we are with you”.
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah means,
“We are with you,
إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِوُونَ
(Verily, we were but mocking), meaning, we only mock people (the believers) and deceive them.”
إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِوُونَ
Verily, we were but mocking,
Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah, means,
“We (meaning the hypocrites) were mocking the Companions of Muhammad.”
Also, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.
Allah’s statement,
اللّهُ يَسْتَهْزِىءُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
2:15
اَللّٰہُ یَسۡتَہۡزِئُ بِہِمۡ وَ یَمُدُّہُمۡ فِیۡ طُغۡیَانِہِمۡ یَعۡمَہُوۡنَ ﴿۱۵﴾
[But] Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression [while] they wander blindly.
Allah mocks at them and leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly.
answers the hypocrites and punishes them for their behavior.
Ibn Jarir commented,
“Allah mentioned what He will do to them on the Day of Resurrection, when He said,
يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُواْ وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُواْ نُوراً فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ
On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers:”Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!” It will be said:”Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!” So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) (57:13)
and,
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاًّنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً
And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness.” (3:178)
He then said,
“This, and its like, is Allah’s mockery of the hypocrites and the people of Shirk.”
The Hypocrites suffering for their Plots
Allah stated that He will punish the hypocrites for their mockery, using the same terms to describe both the deed and its punishment, although the meaning is different.
Similarly, Allah said,
وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّيَةٍ سَيِّيَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ
The recompense for an offense is an offense equal to it; but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah. (42:40)
and,
فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ
Then whoever transgresses (the prohibition) against you, transgress likewise against him. (2:194)
The first act is an act of injustice, while the second act is an act of justice. So both actions carry the same name, while being different in reality.
This is how the scholars explain deceit, cunning and mocking when attributed to Allah in the Qur’an.
Surely, Allah exacts revenge for certain evil acts with a punishment that is similar in nature to the act itself. We should affirm here that Allah does not do these things out of joyful play, according to the consensus of the scholars, but as a just form of punishment for certain evil acts.
Meaning of `Leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly
Allah said,
وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
and leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly.
As-Suddi reported that Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud and several other Companions of the Messenger of Allah said that,
وَيَمُدُّهُمْ
(and leaves them increasing) means,
He gives them respite.
Also, Mujahid said,
“He (causes their deviation) to increase.”
Allah said;
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they think that by the wealth and the children with which We augment them. (That) We hasten to give them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not. (23:55-56)
Ibn Jarir commented,
“The correct meaning of this Ayah is `We give them increase from the view of giving them respite and leaving them in their deviation and rebellion.’
Similarly, Allah said,
وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْيِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُوْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe in it the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly.” (6:110)
Tughyan used in this Ayah means to transgress the limits, just as Allah said in another Ayah,
إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَا الْمَأءُ حَمَلْنَـكُمْ فِى الْجَارِيَةِ
Verily, when the water Tagha (rose) beyond its limits, We carried you in the ship. (69:11)
Also, Ibn Jarir said that;
the term `Amah, in the Ayah means, `deviation’.
He also said about Allah’s statement,
فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
(in their deviation to wander),
“In the misguidance and disbelief that has encompassed them, causing them to be confused and unable to find a way out of it. This is because Allah has stamped their hearts, sealed them, and blinded their vision. Therefore, they do not recognize guidance or find the way out of their deviation.
2:16
اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ اشۡتَرَوُا الضَّلٰلَۃَ بِالۡہُدٰی ۪ فَمَا رَبِحَتۡ تِّجَارَتُہُمۡ وَ مَا کَانُوۡا مُہۡتَدِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶﴾
Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided.
Allah said,
أُوْلَـيِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرُوُاْ الضَّلَلَةَ بِالْهُدَى
These are they who have purchased error with guidance,
In his Tafsir, As-Suddi reported that Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas`ud commented saying it means,
“They pursued misguidance and abandoned guidance.”
Mujahid said,
“They believed and then disbelieved,”
while Qatadah said,
“They preferred deviation to guidance.”
This statement is similar in meaning to Allah’s statement about Thamud,
وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَـهُمْ فَاسْتَحَبُّواْ الْعَمَى عَلَى الْهُدَى
And as for Thamud, We granted them guidance, but they preferred blindness to guidance. (41:17)
In summary, the statements that we have mentioned from the scholars of Tafsir indicate that the hypocrites deviate from the true guidance and prefer misguidance, substituting wickedness in place of righteousness. This meaning explains Allah’s statement,
أُوْلَـيِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرُوُاْ الضَّلَلَةَ بِالْهُدَى
(These are they who have purchased error with guidance),
meaning, they exchanged guidance to buy misguidance. This meaning includes those who first believed, then later disbelieved, whom Allah described,
ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُواّ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا فَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ
That is because they believed, and then disbelieved; therefore their hearts are sealed. (63:3)
The Ayah also includes those who preferred deviation over guidance. The hypocrites fall into several categories.
This is why Allah said,
فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ
So their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided,
meaning their trade did not succeed nor were they righteous or rightly guided throughout all this.
In addition, Ibn Jarir narrated that Qatadah commented on the Ayah,
“By Allah! I have seen them leaving guidance for deviation, leaving the Jama`ah (the community of the believers) for the sects, leaving safety for fear, and the Sunnah for innovation.”
Ibn Abi Hatim also reported other similar statements
2:17
مَثَلُہُمۡ کَمَثَلِ الَّذِی اسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارًا ۚ فَلَمَّاۤ اَضَآءَتۡ مَا حَوۡلَہٗ ذَہَبَ اللّٰہُ بِنُوۡرِہِمۡ وَ تَرَکَہُمۡ فِیۡ ظُلُمٰتٍ لَّا یُبۡصِرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۷﴾
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
The Example of the Hypocrites
Allah says,
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَاراً فَلَمَّا أَضَاءتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it illuminated all around him,
Allah likened the hypocrites when they bought deviation with guidance, thus acquiring utter blindness, to the example of a person who started a fire. When the fire was lit, and illuminated the surrounding area, the person benefited from it and felt safe. Then the fire was suddenly extinguished. Therefore, total darkness covered this person, and he became unable to see anything or find his way out of it.
Further, this person could not hear or speak and became so blind that even if there were light, he would not be able to see. This is why he cannot return to the state that he was in before this happened to him. Such is the case with the hypocrites who preferred misguidance over guidance, deviation over righteousness. This parable indicates that the hypocrites first believed, then disbelieved, just as Allah stated in other parts of the Qur’an.
Allah’s statement,
ذَهَبَ اللّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ
Allah removed their light,
means, Allah removed what benefits them, and this is the light, and He left them with what harms them, that is, the darkness and smoke.
Allah said,
وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ
And left them in darkness,
that is their doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy.
لااَّ يُبْصِرُونَ
(So) they could not see.
meaning, they are unable to find the correct path or find its direction.
In addition, they are,
صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ
2:18
صُمٌّۢ بُکۡمٌ عُمۡیٌ فَہُمۡ لَا یَرۡجِعُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۸﴾
Deaf, dumb and blind – so they will not return [to the right path].
They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the right path).
صُمٌّ
(deaf),
and thus cannot hear the guidance.
بُكْمٌ
(dumb),
and cannot utter the words that might benefit them.
عُمْيٌ
(and blind),
in total darkness and deviation.
Similarly, Allah said,
فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَلَـكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِى فِى الصُّدُورِ
Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind. (22:46),
and this why they cannot get back to the state of guidance that they were in, since they sold it for misguidance
2:19
اَوۡ کَصَیِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ فِیۡہِ ظُلُمٰتٌ وَّ رَعۡدٌ وَّ بَرۡقٌ ۚ یَجۡعَلُوۡنَ اَصَابِعَہُمۡ فِیۡۤ اٰذَانِہِمۡ مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الۡمَوۡتِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ مُحِیۡطٌۢ بِالۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ ﴿۱۹﴾
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers.
Another Parable of the Hypocrites
Allah says,
أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ
Or like a rainstorm in the sky, bringing darkness, thunder, and lightning.
This is another parable which Allah gave about the hypocrites who sometimes know the truth and doubt it at other times. When they suffer from doubt, confusion and disbelief, their hearts are,
كَصَيِّبٍ
(Like a Sayyib), meaning,
“The rain”,
as Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn Abbas, and several other Companions have confirmed as well as Abu Al-Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ata, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, Atiyah Al-Awfi, Ata Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi and Ar-Rabi bin Anas.
Ad-Dahhak said
“It is the clouds.”
However, the most accepted opinion is that;
it means the rain that comes down during,
ظُلُمَاتٌ
(darkness),
meaning, here, the doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy.
وَرَعْدٌ
(thunder), that shocks the hearts with fear.
The hypocrites are usually full of fear and anxiety, just as Allah described them,
يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ
They think that every cry is against them. (63:4)
and,
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَـكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ
لَوْ يَجِدُونَ مَلْجَياً أَوْ مَغَـرَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلً لَّوَلَّوْاْ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ
They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they are a people who are afraid. Should they find refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto in a swift rush. (9:56-57).
وَبَرْقٌ
(The lightning),
is in reference to the light of faith that is sometimes felt in the hearts of the hypocrites.
Allah said,
يَجْعَلُونَ أَصْابِعَهُمْ فِي اذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ واللّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكافِرِينَ
They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers.
meaning, their cautiousness does not benefit them because they are bound by Allah’s all-encompassing will and decision.
Similarly, Allah said,
هَلُ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْجُنُودِ
فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ
بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِى تَكْذِيبٍ
وَاللَّهُ مِن وَرَايِهِمْ مُّحِيطٌ
Has the story reached you of two hosts. Of Fir`awn (Pharaoh) and Thamud! Nay! The disbelievers (persisted) in denying. And Allah encompasses them from behind! (85:17-20)
Allah then said
2:20
یَکَادُ الۡبَرۡقُ یَخۡطَفُ اَبۡصَارَہُمۡ ؕ کُلَّمَاۤ اَضَآءَ لَہُمۡ مَّشَوۡا فِیۡہِ ٭ۙ وَ اِذَاۤ اَظۡلَمَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ قَامُوۡا ؕ وَ لَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰہُ لَذَہَبَ بِسَمۡعِہِمۡ وَ اَبۡصَارِہِمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ ﴿٪۲۰﴾
The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Every time it lights [the way] for them, they walk therein; but when darkness comes over them, they stand [still]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.
يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ
The lightning almost snatches away their sight,
meaning, because the lightning is strong itself, and because their comprehension is weak and does not allow them to embrace the faith.
Also, Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn Abbas commented on the Ayah,
“The Qur’an mentioned almost all of the secrets of the hypocrites.”
كُلَّمَا أَضَاء لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ
Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein,
Ali bin Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn Abbas said,
“Whenever the hypocrites acquire a share in the victories of Islam, they are content with this share. Whenever Islam suffers a calamity, they are ready to revert to disbelief.”
Similarly, Allah said,
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ
And among mankind is he who worships Allah on the edge:If good befalls him, he is content with that. (22:11)
كُلَّمَا أَضَاء لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ
Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still,
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas said,
“They recognize the truth and speak about it. So their speech is upright, but when they revert to disbelief, they again fall into confusion.”
This was also said by Abu Al-Aliyah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi bin Anas and As-Suddi, who narrated it from the Companions, and it is the most obvious and most correct view, and Allah knows best.
Consequently, on the Day of Judgment, the believers will be given a light according to the degree of their faith. Some of them will gain light that illuminates over a distance of several miles, some more, some less. Some people’s light will glow sometimes and be extinguished at other times. They will, therefore, walk on the Sirat (the bridge over the Fire) in the light, stopping when it is extinguished. Some people will have no light at all, these are the hypocrites whom Allah described when He said,
يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُواْ وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُواْ نُوراً
On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers:”Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!” It will be said to them; “Go back to you rear! Then seek a light!” (57:13)
Allah described the believers,
يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُوْمِنِينَ وَالْمُوْمِنَـتِ يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّـتٌ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ
On the Day you shall see the believing men and the believing women ـ their light running forward before them and by their right hands. Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). (57:12)
and,
يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ امَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
The Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and (with their Records ـ Books of deeds) in their right hands. They will say:”Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us (and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirat (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely) and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things.” (66:8)
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Abdullah bin Mas`ud commented on,
نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ
(Their Light will run forward before them),
“They will pass on the Sirat, according to their deeds. The light that some people have will be as big as a mountain, while the light of others will be as big as a date tree. The people who will have the least light are those whose index fingers will sometimes be lit and extinguished at other times.”
Ibn Abi Hatim also reported that Ibn Abbas said,
“Every person among the people of Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism) will gain a light on the Day of Resurrection. As for the hypocrite, his light will be extinguished. When the believers witness the hypocrite’s light being extinguished, they will feel anxious. Hence, they will supplicate,
رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا
(Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us).”
Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said,
“On the Day of Resurrection, everyone who has embraced the faith will be given a light. When they arrive at the Sirat, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. When the believers see this, they will feel anxious and supplicate,
رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا
(Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us).”
Types of Believers and Types of Disbelievers
Consequently, there are several types of people.
There are the believers whom the first four Ayat (2:2-5) in Surah Al-Baqarah describe.
There are the disbelievers who were described in the next two Ayat.
And there are two categories of hypocrites:
the complete hypocrites who were mentioned in the parable of the fire,
and the hesitant hypocrites, whose light of faith is sometimes lit and sometimes extinguished. The parable of the rain was revealed about this category, which is not as evil as the first category.
This is similar to the parables that were given in Surah An-Nur. Like the example of the believer and the faith that Allah put in his heart, compared to a brightly illuminated lamp, just like a rising star. This is the believer, whose heart is built on faith and receiving its support from the divine legislation that was revealed to it, without any impurities or imperfections, as we will come to know, Allah willing.
Allah gave a parable of the disbelievers who think that they have something, while in reality they have nothing; such people are those who have compounded ignorance.
Allah said,
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْأنُ مَأءً حَتَّى إِذَا جَأءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْياً
As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert. The thirsty one thinks it to be water, until he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing. (24:39)
Allah then gave the example of ignorant disbelievers, simple in their ignorance.
He said;
أَوْ كَظُلُمَـتٍ فِى بَحْرٍ لُّجِّىٍّ يَغْشَـهُ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ سَحَابٌ ظُلُمَـتٌ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَا أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَاهَا وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُوراً فَمَا لَهُ مِن نُورٍ
Or (the state of a disbeliever) is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed by waves, topped by dark clouds, (layers of) darkness upon darkness:if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light. (24:40)
Therefore, Allah divided the camp of the disbelievers into two groups, advocates and followers.
Allah mentioned these two groups in the beginning of Surah Al-Hajj,
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَيَتَّبِعُ كُلَّ شَيْطَـنٍ مَّرِيدٍ
And among mankind is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge, and follows every rebellious (disobedient to Allah) Shaytan (devil) (devoid of every kind of good). (22:3)
and,
ومِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَـبٍ مُّنِيرٍ
And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah). (22:8)
Furthermore, Allah has divided the group of the believers in the beginning of Surah Al-Waqi`ah and at the end. He also divided them in Surah Al-Insan into two groups,
the Sabiqun (those who preceded), they are the “near ones” (Muqaribun) and
Ashab Al-Yamin (the companions of the right), and they are righteous (Abrar).
In summary, these Ayat divide the believers into two categories,
the near ones and
righteous.
Also, the disbelievers are of two types,
advocates and
followers.
In addition, the hypocrites are divided into two types,
pure hypocrites and
those who have some hypocrisy in them.
The Two Sahihs record that Abdullah bin Amr said that the Prophet said,
ثَلَثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهَا
مَنْ إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ
وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ
وَإِذَا ايْتُمِنَ خَان
Whoever has the following three (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of the following three characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy, unless and until he gives it up.
Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie.
Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous.
Whenever he is entrusted, he breaches the trust.
Hence, man might have both a part of faith and a part of hypocrisy, whether in deed, as this Hadith stipulates, or in the creed, as the Ayah (2:20) stipulates.
Types of Hearts
Imam Ahmad recorded Abu Sa`id saying that the Messenger of Allah said
الْقُلُوبُ أَرْبَعَةٌ
قَلْبٌ أَجْرَدُ فِيهِ مِثْلُ السِّرَاجِ يَزْهَرُ
وَقَلْبٌ أَغْلَفُ مَرْبُوطٌ عَلى غِلَفِهِ
وَقَلْبٌ مَنْكُوسٌ
وَقَلْبٌ مُصْفَحٌ
The hearts are four (types):
polished as shiny as the radiating lamp,
a sealed heart with a knot tied around its seal,
a heart that is turned upside down and
a wrapped heart.
فَأَمَّا الْقَلْبُ الاْأَجْرَدُ فَقَلْبُ الْمُوْمِنِ فَسِرَاجُهُ فِيهِ نُورُهُ
As for the polished heart, it is the heart of the believer and the lamp is the light of faith.
وَأَمَّا الْقَلْبُ الاْأَغْلَفُ فَقَلْبُ الْكَافِرِ
The sealed heart is the heart of the disbeliever.
وَأَمَّا الْقَلْبُ الْمَنْكُوسُ فَقَلْبُ الْمُنَافِقِ الْخَالِصِ عَرَفَ ثُمَّ أَنْكَرَ
The heart that is turned upside down is the heart of the pure hypocrite, because he had knowledge but denied it.
وَأَمَّا الْقَلْبُ الْمُصْفَحُ فَقَلْبٌ فِيهِ إيمَانٌ وَنِفَاقٌ
As for the wrapped heart, it is a heart that contains belief and hypocrisy.
وَمَثَلُ الاْيمَانِ فِيهِ كَمَثَلِ الْبَقْلَةِ يَمُدُّهَا الْمَاءُ الطَّيِّبُ
The example of faith in this heart, is the example of the herb that is sustained by pure water.
وَمَثَلُ النِّفَاقِ فِيهِ كَمَثَلِ الْقُرْحَةِ يَمُدُّهَا الْقَيْحُ وَالدَّمُ فَأَيُّ الْمَادَّتَيْنِ غَلَبَتْ عَلَى الاُْخْرَى غَلَبَتْ عَلَيْه
The example of hypocrisy in it, is the example of an ulcer that thrives on puss and blood. Whichever of the two substances has the upper hand, it will have the upper hand on that heart.
This Hadith has a Jayid Hasan (good) chain of narration.
Allah said,
وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّه عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And if Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things.
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas commented on Allah’s statement,
وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ
(And if Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight),
“Because they abandoned the truth after they had knowledge in it.”
إِنَّ اللَّه عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Certainly, Allah has power over all things.
Ibn Abbas said,
“Allah is able to punish or pardon His servants as He wills.”
Ibn Jarir commented,
“Allah only described Himself with the ability to do everything in this Ayah as a warning to the hypocrites of His control over everything, and to inform them that His ability completely encompasses them and that He is able to take away their hearing and sight.”
Ibn Jarir and several other scholars of Tafsir stated that;
these two parables are about the same kind of hypocrite. So the `or’ mentioned in,
أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء
(Or like a rainstorm from the sky) means `and’, just as the Ayah,
وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ اثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا
(And obey neither a sinner or a disbeliever among them).
Therefore, `or’ in the Ayah includes a choice of using either example for the hypocrites.
Also, Al-Qurtubi said that `or’ means,
“To show compatibility of the two choices, just as when one says, `Sit with Al-Hasan or Ibn Sirin.’
According to the view of Az-Zamakhshari, `so it means each of these persons is the same as the other, so you may sit with either one of them.’
The meaning of `or’ thus becomes `either.’ Allah gave these two examples of the hypocrites, because they both perfectly describe them.”
I (Ibn Kathir) say,
these descriptions are related to the type of hypocrite, because there is a difference between them as we stated.
For instance, Allah mentioned these types in Surah Bara’h when He repeated the statement, “And among them” three times, describing their types, characteristics, statements and deeds.
So the two examples mentioned here describe two types of hypocrites whose characteristics are similar.
For instance, Allah gave two examples in Surah An-Nur, one for the advocates of disbelief and one for the followers of disbelief, He said,
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ
(As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert) (24:39), until,
أَوْ كَظُلُمَاتٍ فِي بَحْرٍ لُّجِّيٍّ
(Or (the state of a disbeliever) is like the darkness in a vast deep sea), (24:40).
The first example is of the advocates of disbelief who have complex ignorance, while the second is about the followers who have simple ignorance. Allah knows best
63:1
اِذَا جَآءَکَ الۡمُنٰفِقُوۡنَ قَالُوۡا نَشۡہَدُ اِنَّکَ لَرَسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ ۘ وَ اللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ اِنَّکَ لَرَسُوۡلُہٗ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَشۡہَدُ اِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ لَکٰذِبُوۡنَ ۚ﴿۱﴾
When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muhammad], they say, “We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah .” And Allah knows that you are His Messenger, and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars.
The Case of the Hypocrites and their Behavior
Allah the Exalted states that the hypocrites pretended to be Muslims when they went to the Prophet . In reality, they were not Muslims, but rather the opposite. This is why Allah the Exalted said,
إِذَا جَاءكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ
When the hypocrites come to you, they say:”We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.”
meaning, `when the hypocrites come to you, they announce this statement and pretend to believe in it.’
Allah informs that there is no substance to their statement, and this is why He said,
وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ
Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger,
then said,
وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ
And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.
meaning, their claims, even though it is true about the Prophet. But they did not believe inwardly in what they declared outwardly, and this is why Allah declared their falsehood about their creed.
Allah’s statement
63:2
اِتَّخَذُوۡۤا اَیۡمَانَہُمۡ جُنَّۃً فَصَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّہُمۡ سَآءَ مَا کَانُوۡا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allah . Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
اتَّخَذُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
They have made their oaths a screen. Thus they hinder (others) from the path of Allah.
meaning, the hypocrites shield themselves from Muslims when they falsely and sinfully swear to be what they are not in reality. Some Muslims were deceived because they did not know their falsehood, and thus, thought that they were Muslims. Some Muslims believed what hypocrites say and even imitated them in their outward behavior. However, inwardly, hypocrites seek the destruction of Islam and its people, and this is why trusting them might bring great harm to many people.
This is why Allah said next,
فَصَدُّوا عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
إِنَّهُمْ سَاء مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Thus they hinder (others) from the path of Allah. Verily, evil is what they used to do.
Allah said,
ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ امَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا فَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
63:3
ذٰلِکَ بِاَنَّہُمۡ اٰمَنُوۡا ثُمَّ کَفَرُوۡا فَطُبِعَ عَلٰی قُلُوۡبِہِمۡ فَہُمۡ لَا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
That is because they believed, and then they disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed over, and they do not understand.
That is because they believed, and then disbelieved; therefore their hearts are sealed, so they understand not.
meaning, He has decreed them to be hypocrites because they reverted from faith to disbelief and exchanged guidance for misguidance. Therefore, Allah stamped and sealed their hearts and because of it, they cannot comprehend the guidance, nor any goodness can reach their hearts. Truly, their hearts neither understand, nor attain guidance.
Allah said
63:4
وَ اِذَا رَاَیۡتَہُمۡ تُعۡجِبُکَ اَجۡسَامُہُمۡ ؕ وَ اِنۡ یَّقُوۡلُوۡا تَسۡمَعۡ لِقَوۡلِہِمۡ ؕ کَاَنَّہُمۡ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَۃٌ ؕ یَحۡسَبُوۡنَ کُلَّ صَیۡحَۃٍ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ ہُمُ الۡعَدُوُّ فَاحۡذَرۡہُمۡ ؕ قٰتَلَہُمُ اللّٰہُ ۫ اَنّٰی یُؤۡفَکُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
And when you see them, their forms please you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. [They are] as if they were pieces of wood propped up – they think that every shout is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ وَإِن يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ
And when you look at them, their bodies please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words.
meaning, hypocrites have a graceful outer appearance and are eloquent. When one hears them speak, he will listen to their eloquent words, even though hypocrites are truly weak and feeble, full of fear, fright and cowardice.
كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ
They are as blocks of wood propped up.
means, they are shapes that do not have much substance.
Allah’s statement,
يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ
They think that every cry is against them.
means, every time an incident occurs or something frightening happens, they think that it is headed their way. This is indicative of their cowardice, just as Allah said about them,
أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ فَإِذَا جَأءَ الْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَالَّذِى يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى الْخَيْرِ أوْلَـيِكَ لَمْ يُوْمِنُواْ فَأَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ وَكَانَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيراً
Being miserly towards you then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom hovers death; but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues, miserly towards good. Such have not believed. Therefore Allah makes their deeds fruitless and that is ever easy for Allah. (33:19)
and this is why Allah said,
هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ
قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَنَّى يُوْفَكُونَ
They are the enemies, so beware of them. May Allah curse them! How are they denying the right path?
means, how they are being led astray to the misguidance, away from the guidance.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,
إِنَّ لِلْمُنَافِقِينَ عَلَمَاتٍ يُعْرَفُونَ بِهَا تَحِيَّتُهُمْ لَعْنَةٌ وَطَعَامُهُمْ نُهْبَةٌ وَغَنِيمَتُهُمْ غُلُولٌ لَا يَقْرَبُونَ الْمَسَاجِدَ إِلاَّ هَجْرًا وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَةَ إِلاَّ دَبْرًا مُسْتَكْبِرِينَ لَا يَأْلَفُونَ وَلَا يُوْلَفُونَ خُشُبٌ بِاللَّيْلِ صُخُبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ وفِي رِوَايَةٍ سُخُبٌ بِالنَّهَار
Hypocrites have certain signs that they are known by.
– Their greeting is really a curse,
– their food is from stealing and the war booty they collect is from theft.
– They shun the Masjid and they do not come to the prayer but at its end.
– They are arrogant;
– it is neither easy for them to blend in, nor it is easy for people to blend with them.
They are like pieces of wood by night and are noisy by day.
63:5
وَ اِذَا قِیۡلَ لَہُمۡ تَعَالَوۡا یَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَکُمۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ لَوَّوۡا رُءُوۡسَہُمۡ وَ رَاَیۡتَہُمۡ یَصُدُّوۡنَ وَ ہُمۡ مُّسۡتَکۡبِرُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
And when it is said to them, “Come, the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you,” they turn their heads aside and you see them evading while they are arrogant.
Hypocrites are not interested to ask the prophet to ask Allah to forgive Them
Allah the Exalted states about the hypocrites, may Allah curse them,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
لَوَّوْا رُوُوسَهُمْ
And when it is said to them:”Come, so that the Messenger of Allah may ask forgiveness from Allah for you,” they twist their heads,
meaning, they turn away, ignoring this call in arrogance, belittling what they are invited to.
This is why Allah the Exalted said,
وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
and you would see them turning away their faces in pride.
Allah punished them for this behavior, saying,
سَوَاء عَلَيْهِمْ أَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ
63:6
سَوَآءٌ عَلَیۡہِمۡ اَسۡتَغۡفَرۡتَ لَہُمۡ اَمۡ لَمۡ تَسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَہُمۡ ؕ لَنۡ یَّغۡفِرَ اللّٰہُ لَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡفٰسِقِیۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
It is all the same for them whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them; never will Allah forgive them. Indeed, Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
It is equal to them whether you ask forgiveness or ask not forgiveness for them, Allah will never forgive them. Verily, Allah guides not the people who are the rebellious.
As Allah said in Surah Bara’ah, and a discussion preceded there, and here we will present some of the Hadiths reported that are related to it.
Several of the Salaf mentioned that this entire passage was revealed in the case of Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul, as we will soon mention, Allah willing and our trust and reliance are on Him.
Allah says,
هُمُ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا عَلَى مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ حَتَّى يَنفَضُّوا
وَلِلَّهِ خَزَايِنُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَْرْضِ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ
63:7
ہُمُ الَّذِیۡنَ یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لَا تُنۡفِقُوۡا عَلٰی مَنۡ عِنۡدَ رَسُوۡلِ اللّٰہِ حَتّٰی یَنۡفَضُّوۡا ؕ وَ لِلّٰہِ خَزَآئِنُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ وَ لٰکِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ لَا یَفۡقَہُوۡنَ ﴿۷﴾
They are the ones who say, “Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah until they disband.” And to Allah belongs the depositories of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.
They are the ones who say:
“Spend not on those who are with Allah’s Messenger, until they desert him.”
And to Allah belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites comprehend not.
يَقُولُونَ لَيِن رَّجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ الاَْعَزُّ مِنْهَا الاَْذَلَّ
وَلِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُوْمِنِينَ وَلَكِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 63:8
یَقُوۡلُوۡنَ لَئِنۡ رَّجَعۡنَاۤ اِلَی الۡمَدِیۡنَۃِ لَیُخۡرِجَنَّ الۡاَعَزُّ مِنۡہَا الۡاَذَلَّ ؕ وَ لِلّٰہِ الۡعِزَّۃُ وَ لِرَسُوۡلِہٖ وَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ لٰکِنَّ الۡمُنٰفِقِیۡنَ لَا یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ٪﴿۸﴾
They say, “If we return to al-Madinah, the more honored [for power] will surely expel therefrom the more humble.” And to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.
They say:”If we return to Al-Madinah, indeed the more honorable will expel therefrom the weaker.”
But Al-`Izzah belongs to Allah, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites know not.
In his book, As-Sirah, Muhammad bin Ishaq said,
“After the battle of Uhud ended, the Prophet returned to Al-Madinah. Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul — as Ibn Shihab narrated to me — would stand up every Friday, without objection from anyone because he was a chief of his people, when the Prophet would sit on the Minbar, just before he delivered the Jumu`ah Khutbah to the people. Abdullah bin Ubay would say,
`O people! This is the Messenger of Allah with you. Allah has honored us by sending him and gave you might through him. Support him, honor him and listen to and obey him.’
He would then sit down. So after the battle of Uhud, even after he did what he did, that is, returning to Al-Madinah with a third of the army, he stood up to say the same words. But the Muslims held on to his clothes and said to him,
`Sit down, O enemy of Allah! You are not worthy to stand after you did what you did.’
Abdullah went out of the Masjid crossing people’s lines and saying,
`By Allah, it is as if I said something awful when I wanted to support him.’
Some men from Al-Ansar met him at the gate of the Masjid and asked him what happened. He said,
`I just stood up to support him and some men, his Companions, jumped at me, pulled me back and admonished me, as if what I said was an awful thing; I merely wanted to support him.’
They said to him, `Woe to you! Go back so that Allah’s Messenger asks Allah to forgive you.’
He said, `By Allah, I do not wish that he ask Allah to forgive me.”‘
Qatadah and As-Suddi said, “This Ayah was revealed about Abdullah bin Ubay.
A young relative of his went to Allah’s Messenger and conveyed to him an awful statement that Abdullah said.
The Messenger called Abdullah, who swore by Allah that he did not say anything.
The Ansar went to that boy and admonished him. However, Allah sent down what you hear about Abdullah’s case and Allah’s enemy was told,
`Go to Allah’s Messenger,’ but he turned his head away, saying that he will not do it.”
Muhammad bin Ishaq said that Muhammad bin Yahya bin Hibban, Abdullah bin Abi Bakr and Asim bin Umar bin Qatadah narrated to him the story of Bani Al-Mustaliq.
They said that while the Messenger of Allah was in that area, Jahjah bin Sa`id Al-Ghifari, a hired hand for Umar, and Sinan bin Wabr fought over the water source.
Sinan called out, “O Ansar”,
while Al-Jahjah called, “O Muhajirin!”
Zayd bin Arqam and several Ansar men were sitting with Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul at that time. When Abdullah heard what happened, he said,
“They are bothering us in our land. By Allah, the parable of us and these foolish Quraysh men, is the parable that goes, `Feed your dog until it becomes strong, and it will eat you.’ By Allah, when we go back to Al-Madinah, the most mighty will expel the weak from it.”
He then addressed his people who were sitting with him, saying to them,
“What have you done to yourselves You let them settle in your land and shared your wealth with them. By Allah, if you abandon them, they will have to move to another area other than yours.”
Zayd bin Arqam heard these words and conveyed them to Allah’s Messenger. Zayd was a young boy then. Umar bin Al-Khattab was with the Messenger and he said,
“O Allah’s Messenger! Order Abbad bin Bishr to cut off his head at his neck.”
The Prophet replied,
فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَحَدَّثَ النَّاسُ يَا عُمَرُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا يَقْتُلُ أَصْحَابَهُ لَا وَلَكِنْ نَادِ يَا عُمَرُ الرَّحِيل
What if people started saying that Muhammad kills his companions, O Umar, No. However, order the people to start the journey (back to Al-Madinah).
When Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul was told that his statement reached Allah’s Prophet, he went to him and denied saying it. He swore by Allah that he did not utter the statement that Zayd bin Arqam conveyed. Abdullah bin Ubay was a chief of his people and they said,
“O Allah’s Messenger! May be the young boy merely guessed and did not hear what was said correctly.”
Allah’s Messenger started the journey at an unusual hour of the day and was met by Usayd bin Al-Hudayr, who greeted him acknowledging his Prophethood. Usayd said,
“By Allah! You are about to begin the journey at an unusual time.”
The Prophet said,
أَمَا بَلَغَكَ مَا قَالَ صَاحِبُكَ ابْنُ أُبَيَ زَعَمَ أَنَّهُ إِذَا قَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ سَيُخْرِجُ الاَْعَزُّ مِنْهَا الاَْذَل
Did not the statement of your friend, Ibn Ubay reach you He claimed that when he returns to Al-Madinah, the mighty one will expel the weak one out of it.
Usayd said, “Indeed, you are the mighty one, O Allah’s Messenger, and he is the disgraced one.”
Usayd said,
“Take it easy with him, O Allah’s Messenger! By Allah, when Allah brought you to us, we were about to gather the pearls (of a crown) so that we appoint him king over us. He thinks that you have rid him of his kingship.”
The Messenger of Allah traveled with the people until the night fell, then the rest of the night until the beginning of the next day and then set camp with the people. He wanted to busy them from talking about what had happened. The minute people felt the ground under their feet, they went to sleep and Surah Al-Munafiqin was revealed.
Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded that Jabir bin Abdullah said,
“We were in a battle with Allah’s Messenger and a man from the Emigrants kicked an Ansari man. The Ansari man called out,
`O Ansar!’ and the Emigrant called out, `O Emigrants!’
Allah’s Messenger heard that and said,
مَا بَالُ دَعْوَى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ دَعُوهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُنْتِنَة
What is this call of Jahiliyyah? Abandon it because it is offensive.
Abdullah bin Ubay heard that and said,
`Have they (the Emigrants) done so By Allah, if we return to Al-Madinah, surely, the more honorable will expel therefrom the meaner.’
The Ansar at that time, were more numerous that the Emigrants when the Messenger of Allah came to Al-Madinah, but later on the Emigrants increased in number. When this statement reached the Prophet, Umar got up and said,
`O Allah’s Messenger! Let me chop off the head of this hypocrite!’
The Prophet said:
دَعْهُ لَا يَتَحَدَّثُ النَّاسُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا يَقْتُلُ أَصْحَابَه
Leave him, lest the people say that Muhammad kills his companions.”
Imam Ahmad, Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected this Hadith.
Ikrimah and Ibn Zayd and others said that
when the Prophet and his Companions went back to Al-Madinah, Abdullah, the son of Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul, remained by the gate of Al-Madinah holding his sword. People passed by him as they returned to Al-Madinah, and then his father came. Abdullah, son of Abdullah, said to his father,
“Stay where you are,”
and his father asked what the matter was His son said,
“By Allah! You will enter through here until the Messenger of Allah allows you to do so, for he is the honorable one and you are the disgraced.”
When the Messenger of Allah came by, and he used to be in the last lines, Abdullah bin Ubay complained to him about his son and his son said,
“By Allah, O Allah’s Messenger! He will not enter it until you say so.”
The Messenger gave his permission to Abdullah bin Ubay and his son said,
“Enter, now that the Messenger of Allah gave you his permission.”
In his Musnad, Abu Bakr Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr Al-Humaydi recorded from Abu Harun Al-Madani that
Abdullah, the son of `Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul, said to his father,
“You will never enter Al-Madinah unless and until you say, `Allah’s Messenger is the honorable one and I am the disgraced.”
When the Prophet came, Abdullah, son of Abdullah bin Ubay bin Salul said to him,
“O Allah’s Messenger! I was told that you have decided to have my father executed. By He Who has sent you with Truth, I never looked straight to his face out of respect for him. But if you wish, I will bring you his head, because I would hate to see the killer of my father.
63:9
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تُلۡہِکُمۡ اَمۡوَالُکُمۡ وَ لَاۤ اَوۡلَادُکُمۡ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ مَنۡ یَّفۡعَلۡ ذٰلِکَ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ ﴿۹﴾
O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah . And whoever does that – then those are the losers.
The Importance of not being too concerned with the Matters of the Worldly Life, and being Charitable before Death
Allah says,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا لَاا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَاا أَوْلَاادُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah.
Allah the Exalted orders His faithful servants to remember Him frequently and to refrain from being distracted from His remembrance by indulging in their properties and children excessively.
وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَيِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
And whosoever does that, then they are the losers.
Allah informs them that those who engage in this life, its delights and attributes and were busied from the obedience and remembrance of Allah, for which they were created, will be among the losers. They will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection.
Allah encourages the believers to spend in His cause,
وَأَنفِقُوا مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَاكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ
فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَا أَخَّرْتَنِي إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ
63:10
وَ اَنۡفِقُوۡا مِنۡ مَّا رَزَقۡنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ اَحَدَکُمُ الۡمَوۡتُ فَیَقُوۡلَ رَبِّ لَوۡ لَاۤ اَخَّرۡتَنِیۡۤ اِلٰۤی اَجَلٍ قَرِیۡبٍ ۙ فَاَصَّدَّقَ وَ اَکُنۡ مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِیۡنَ ﴿۱۰﴾
And spend [in the way of Allah ] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, “My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.”
And spend of that with which We have provided you before death comes to one of you, and he says:
“My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while, then I should give Sadaqah from my wealth, and be among the righteous.
Surely, every person who fell into shortcomings will regret it by the time of his death and will ask for respite, even a short period, so that he does better and attains what he missed.
No, rather what occurred, has occurred and what is coming, shall indeed come. Each will be held accountable for his mistakes.
As for the disbelievers, they will be as Allah said about them,
وَأَنذِرِ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ الْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ رَبَّنَأ أَخِّرْنَأ إِلَى أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ الرُّسُلَ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُواْ أَقْسَمْتُمْ مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُمْ مِّن زَوَالٍ
And warn mankind of the Day when the torment will come unto them; then the wrongdoers will say:
“Our Lord! Respite us for a little while, we will answer Your call and follow the Messengers!”
(It will be said):
“Had you not sworn aforetime that you would not leave.” (14:44),
and,
حَتَّى إِذَا جَأءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ
لَعَلِّى أَعْمَلُ صَـلِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّ إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَأيِلُهَا وَمِن وَرَايِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ
Until, when death comes to one of them, he says:
“My Lord! send me back. So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!”
No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected. (23:99-100)
Then Allah said
63:11
وَ لَنۡ یُّؤَخِّرَ اللّٰہُ نَفۡسًا اِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُہَا ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ خَبِیۡرٌۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿٪۱۱﴾
But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
وَلَن يُوَخِّرَ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَاء أَجَلُهَا
And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
meaning, when the time of death comes, no one will be granted respite.
Allah said,
وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
This is the end of the Tafsir of Surah Al-Munafiqun. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and all success and immunity from error come from Him
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