Sifat Al-Munafiqin (2/5)

[1] This verse describes the second characteristic of the hypocrites: their ignorance of Allah for they try to deceive One who cannot be deceived, One who knows what they manifest and what they hide! This verse also shows their deceptive qualities, their third characteristic as well as their making mockery of the religion and looking down on it. As-Sa'di said, "Deception is to show the one being deceived something and hide the reality in order to reach ones goal. The hypocrites tried to deal with Allah and the believers in this way but their deception came back on themselves. This is something extraordinary for normally a deceiver will either be successful and see the fruition of his goal, or at least be safe. These hypocrites did what they did, and plotted their plans, but all they succeeded in doing was seal their own destruction."

At-Tabari mentions that Allah deceives them in this world, "The disbelievers should not imagine that the extra time We grant them is good for them. We only allow them more time so they will increase in evil doing.  They will have a humiliating punishment.”  [Surah Al-‘Imran (3): 178] and in the Hereafter, "That Day when the men and women of the hypocrites will say to those who have faith, ‘Wait for us so that we can borrow S()tnI1 of your light.’ They will be told; 'Go back and look for light!' And a wall will be erected between them with a gate in it; on the inside of which there will be mercy and before whose exterior lies punishment."  [Surah Al-Hadid (57): 13]

[2] This verse describes their fourth characteristic: they are plagued with the disease of doubts and desires. As-Sa’di said, "The sickness here is the sickness of doubts   and desires. The heart is beset by two diseases that eject it from its state of balance and normalcy: the disease of false doubts and the disease of vile desires. Disbelief, hypocrisy, doubts, and innovations all arise from the disease of doubts. Fornication, the love of lewd deeds, and sins all arise from the disease of desire ... This verse also shows that it is as a consequence of ones sins that Allah punishes him by afflicting him with more sins."

At-Tabari gives an example of how this verse was actualised by stating that each time a surah was revealed of the Qur’an containing new injunctions, this increased them in their doubts and hence their disease increased, "Each time a Surah is revealed there are some among them who say, Which of you has this increased in faith?"   As for those who believe, it increases their faith and they rejoice at it. But as for those with sickness in their hearts, it adds defilement to their defilement and they die as disbelievers." [Surah At-Tawbah (9): 124-125]

[3] This verse describes their fifth characteristic: spreading corruption in the land, a direct consequence of the corruption of their hearts. As-Sa'di said, ''When these hypocrites are prohibited from spreading corruption on the earth: acting by and promoting disbelief and sins, disclosing the plans and secrets of the Muslims to their enemies, and befriending the disbelievers; “They say, ‘We are only putting things right.’” They combine spreading corruption on earth with making out that they are only putting things right, thereby altering reality and believing the falsehood they are on to be the truth. The crime of these is greater than the crime of one who just commits sills while believing them to be prohibited, for there is more hope that the latter person will retract and return. Now because their saying; 'We are only putting   things right,’ serves to constrain right deeds to them, implying thereby that the deeds of the believers are not right or corrective; Allah rebuts them by saying, ‘No indeed! They are/he corrupters, for there is no greater corruption than disbelieving in the verses and signs of Allah, preventing people from His Way, trying to deceive Allah and His friends, and befriending the enemies of Allah and His Messenger."

[4] This verse describes their sixth characteristic: their belittling the religion and those who follow it, and their foolishness. As-Sa'di said, "Allah informs us that they are the  true  fools because  foolishness  is defined  by a person  not knowing what is good  for himself and his pursuing  that which would harm him. These qualities are applicable to them. They way of intelligence and insight is for a person to know what is good for him and to pursue it and to repress what would harm him. These qualities are applicable to the Companions and the believers. Consideration is given to reality and not to mere claims and empty words."

[5] This is an example of their heinous lies, saying with their tongues what is not in their hearts, in order to acquire temporal gain.

Allah, Exalted is He says, “They try to conceal themselves from people, but they cannot conceal themselves from Allah.  He is with them when they spend the night saying things which are not pleasing to Him.  Allah encompasses everything they do."  [Surah An-Nisa’] (4): 108]

[6] Allah, Exalted is He says, "It has already been sent down to you in the Book that when you  hear Allah's  Signs being rejected and mocked  at try people, you must not sit  with them till they start talking  of other things. If you do not, you are just the same as them. Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell altogether."  [Surah An-Nisa’ (4): 140]

[7] As-Sa'di said, 'Meaning they desired that misguidance in the same way that a buyer desires a particular commodity so much so that he would give something precious as payment. This is an excellent similitude: misguidance, the worst evil, has been compared to the commodity; and guidance, the best of things, has been compared to the asking price. So they paid the price and gained what they desired, misguidance ...what a wretched trade and what a disgraceful bargain! If someone gives a dinar to get back a dirham, he feels that he has lost out, so what of one who gives a diamond and gets in return a dirham?! And what of one who chooses misery and anguish in place of felicity and bliss!'

Allah, Exalted is He gives an example of such a trade by saying, “When the hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts said, ‘These people have been deluded by their religion.’  But those who put their trust in Allah will find Allah    to be Almighty, All-Wise." [Surah Al-Anfal (8): 50]