O you who believe! Do not be like those who disbelieve

O you who believe! Do not be like those who disbelieve

The seventeenth call to the believers in the Qur'an

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Be not like those who disbelieve (hypocrites) and who say about their brethren when they travel through the earth or go out to fight: "If they had stayed with us, they would not have died or been killed," so that Allâh may make it a cause of regret in their hearts. It is Allâh that gives life and causes death. And Allâh is All-Seer of what you do. * And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allâh, forgiveness and mercy from Allâh are far better than all that they amass (of worldly wealth). * And whether you die, or are killed, verily, to Allâh you shall be gathered." [Surat Al `Imran: 156 - 158].

The meaning of travel through the earth is to go around in earth as Allah said: "And when you (Muslims) travel in the land." [Surat An-Nisa': 101].

He also said: "And cannot move about in the land (for trade or work)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 273].

He also said: "And strike a dry path for them in the sea." [Surat Taha: 77].[1]

The meaning of "go out to fight" is fighting the enemy.[2]

The meaning of regret is severe sorrow.

The meaning of the Ayah is:

Allah forbids His Believing Servants to be like the disbelievers in their corrupt belief represented in their saying about their brothers who were killed in travels and wars: If they had refrained from travelling and fighting, they would have not been killed. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Be not like those who disbelieve (hypocrites) and who say about their brethren" if they travel or go out to fight "If they had stayed with us, they would not have died or been killed." And Allah's Saying: "so that Allâh may make it a cause of regret in their hearts" i.e., Allah instilled such belief in their souls as a regret to their dead, then Allah (Glory be to Him) responded to them saying: "It is Allah that gives life and causes death" and no one lives or dies but according to His Will.

"And Allah is All-Seer of what you do" means His Knowledge and Insight encompass all His Creatures and nothing of their affairs is hidden from Him.

As for His Saying: "And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allâh, forgiveness and mercy from Allâh are far better than all that they amass (of worldly wealth)," the Ayah means that killing or dying for the sake of Allah is also a means to get the mercy, pardon, and the pleasure of Allah which is better than staying in the world. Then Allah (Glory be to Him) informed that the final destination of those who die or are killed is to Allah to reward them the best for their righteous actions and punish them harsh for their bad actions. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And whether you die, or are killed, verily, to Allâh you shall be gathered."[3]

Benefits gained from the Ayahs:[4]

1- The prohibition of imitating the disbelievers whether from outward or inward.

2- Regret generates sorrows, and sorrow is a great distress and grief. A believer pushes away sorrow by remembering fate and destiny, so a believer regrets for what he missed and does not become glad with the wreckage of the world.

3- Death for the sake of Allah is better than the world and all on it.

Allah (Glory be to Him) rebuked those who turn away from the way of Allah, mix the truth with falsehood, and exhorts people to disbelief and following whims in more than an Ayah. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And mix not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth [i.e. Muhammad peace be upon him is Allâh's Messenger and his qualities are written in your Scriptures, the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] while you know (the truth)." [Surat Al Baqarah: 42].

He also said: "Say: "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Why do you stop those who have believed, from the Path of Allâh, seeking to make it seem crooked, while you (yourselves) are witnesses [to Muhammad peace be upon him as a Messenger of Allâh and Islâm (Allâh's Religion, i.e. to worship none but Him Alone)]? And Allâh is not unaware of what you do."" [Surat Al `Imran: 99].

Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Had not the Grace of Allâh and His Mercy been upon you (O Muhammad peace be upon him), a party of them would certainly have made a decision to mislead you, but (in fact) they mislead none except their own selves, and no harm can they do to you in the least. Allâh has sent down to you the Book (The Qur'ân), and Al-Hikmah (Islâmic laws, knowledge of legal and illegal things, i.e. the Prophet's Sunnah - legal ways), and taught you that which you knew not. And Ever Great is the Grace of Allâh to you (O Muhammad peace be upon him)." [Surat An-Nisa': 113].

He also said: "And sit not on every road, threatening, and hindering from the Path of Allah those who believe in Him. and seeking to make it crooked. And remember when you were but few, and He multiplied you. And see what was the end of the Mufsidun (mischief-makers, corrupts, liars)." [Surat Al A`raf: 86].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Those who disbelieved and hinder (men) from the Path of Allâh, for them We will add torment to the torment because they used to spread corruption [by disobeying Allâh themselves, as well as ordering others (mankind) to do so]." [Surat An-Nahl: 88].

He also said: "Verily, those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah (i.e. Islam), and oppose the Messenger (peace be upon him) (by standing against him and hurting him), after the guidance has been clearly shown to them, they will not hurt Allah in the least, but He will make their deeds fruitless." [Surat Muhammad: 32].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Have you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) not observed the hypocrites who say to their friends among the people of the Scripture who disbelieve: (By Allah) If you are expelled, we (too) indeed will go out with you, and we shall never obey any one against you, and if you are attacked (in fight), we shall indeed help you. But Allah is Witness, that they verily, are liars. * "Surely, if they (the Jews) are expelled, never will they (hypocrites) go out with them, and if they are attacked, they will never help them. And if they do help them, they (hypocrites) will turn their backs, so they will not be victorious." [Surat Al Hashr: 11 - 12].