Verses 50-80 of Sura 9, “Repentance,” excoriate the Hypocrites — those who claim to be Muslims but aren’t really believers. In fact, they grieve at the Muslims’ good fortune and rejoice when they suffer (v. 50). But Allah tells the Muslims to ask them, “Can you expect for us (any fate) other than one of two glorious things?” (v. 52). The two things are martyrdom or victory, according to Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, and others. In other words, the Muslims will either defeat the Hypocrites or be killed by them, in which case they will enter Paradise – a win/win situation.
The Hypocrites, meanwhile, may “spend (for the cause) willingly or unwillingly” (v. 53); in either case, Allah will not accept it from them, “for ye are indeed a people rebellious and wicked.” According to the Ruhul Ma’ani, this verse was revealed in reference to one of the Hypocrites, Jadd bin Qais, who was willing to donate money to Muhammad’s expedition to Tabuk, but not to join the caravan and fight himself. His hypocrisy, and that of others like him, renders their contributions unacceptable (v. 54). But Muhammad should not be impressed with their wealth or the number of their sons, for “Allah’s plan is to punish them with these things in this life, and that their souls may perish in their (very) denial of Allah” (v. 55). According to Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Allah will accomplish this plan “by taking the Zakah due on their money from them and spending it in Allah’s cause.” For these are not true Muslims, and they even dare to question Muhammad’s integrity over how he distributes alms (vv. 56-60). It was at this point that the incident to which I referred here took place: one of the Hypocrites said to Muhammad, “Be fair, Muhammad! You have not been fair.” Muhammad replied: “Bother you! If I am not fair, who will be fair?”
According to the Tafsir al-Jalalayn, the Hypocrites should have been content with “what Allah and His Messenger gave them” (v. 59) “in respect of booty and the like.” V. 60 specifies those to whom the obligatory alms, zakat, can be distributed. The verse says that it can be spent “in the cause of Allah.” Ibn Kathir explains: “In the cause of Allah is exclusive for the benefit of the fighters in Jihad, who do not receive compensation from the Muslim Treasury.” As-Suyuti adds: “Some say that it is spent on all that is connected to jihad: treaties with the enemy, building fortresses, digging ditches, providing weapons and provision, and paying spies, even if they are Christians.”
The Hypocrites also bother Muhammad by claiming that he is “all ear” (v. 61). Says Ibn Juzayy: “he hears all that is said and confirms it.” That is, he is too good-natured for his own good: the Tafsir al-Jalalayn quotes the Hypocrites saying that Muhammad “hears every little thing and accepts it. When we swear to him that we did not say it, he believes us.” Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah agree: Muhammad listens “to those who say anything about us; he believes whoever talks to him. Therefore, if we went to him and swore, he would believe us.” But in fact, says Ibn Kathir, “he knows who’s saying the truth and who is lying.”
And that is just one reason why he is so important. He is so central that believers should not swear by Allah alone, but by Allah and His Messenger (v. 62), and whoever opposes Allah and Muhammad is headed for hell (v. 63). The Hypocrites, recognizing that Muhammad tends to receive revelations about his enemies (one notorious example is sura 111, which is entirely devoted to cursing his uncle, Abu Lahab, who didn’t accept his claim to be a prophet), are “afraid lest a Sura should be sent down about them, showing them what is (really passing) in their hearts” (v. 64). But Allah, according to Ibn Kathir, “will expose and explain your reality to His Messenger through revelation” – that is, the secrets of the Hypocrites. They say they were just joking when they mocked Allah and Muhammad (v. 65), but in reality they are apostates (v. 66). “Mocking the signs of Allah,” says As-Suyuti, “is tantamount to kufr [unbelief],” and of course, nothing is worse than unbelief. That may explain why cartoons of Muhammad strike such a nerve in the Islamic world. The Hypocrites will dwell in hellfire (v. 68) for ignoring the messages of the prophets (v. 70).
By contrast, however, the believers will dwell forever in the gardens of Paradise (vv. 71-2). Said Muhammad: “Two gardens, their pots and whatever is in them are made of gold, and two gardens, their pots and whatever is in them are made of silver. Only the Veil of Pride of Allah’s Face separates the people from gazing at Him, in the garden of Eden.” But before they can enjoy all that, Muhammad and the Muslims must “strive hard [jahidi, جَاهِدِ] against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them” (v. 73). Ibn Abbas explains: “Allah commanded the Prophet to fight the disbelievers with the sword, to strive against the hypocrites with the tongue and annulled lenient treatment of them.” Ad-Dahhak adds: “Perform Jihad against the disbelievers with the sword and be harsh with the hypocrites with words, and this is the Jihad performed against them.” And Ibn Juzayy: “Jihad against the rejecters is by the sword and jihad against the hypocrites is by the tongue as long as they do not openly display that which indicates their disbelief….Harshness is the opposite of mercy and compassion. It can be by word, action, etc.” Significantly, Al-Hasan and Qatadah asserted that “striving against them includes establishing the (Islamic Penal) Law of equality against them.”
One of the Muslims who refused to accompany Muhammad on the Tabuk expedition was Julas bin Suwayd, along with his brother Harith. According to Ibn Ishaq, Julas said of Muhammad: “If this man is right we are worse than donkeys.”
One of Julas’s relatives, Umayr bin Sa’d, told Muhammad what Julas had said. Then he explained to Julas that he had done so because Islam is most important: “You are dearer to me than any man, the most generous to me, and it is most painful to me that anything should happen to upset you; but you have said words which if I repeat them I shall bring shame upon you, and if I keep silence I shall bring my religion into peril. One is preferable to the other.”
Julas and Harith, cornered, denied that Julas had spoken the offending words, whereupon Allah revealed: “They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they did it after accepting Islam…” (v. 74). Allah offered them a chance to repent, but warned that if he didn’t, “Allah will punish them with a grievous penalty in this life and in the Hereafter: they shall have none on earth to protect or help them” (v. 74). They repented.
But the Hypocrites have turned back from Allah (v. 76), so Allah has cast “hypocrisy into their hearts” (v. 77), and now, even if Muhammad should “ask seventy times for their forgiveness, Allah will not forgive them: because they have rejected Allah and His Messenger” (v. 80) — shades, in reverse, of Matthew 18:21-22.
Next week: The evil slackers who didn’t join Muhammad’s jihad against the Byzantines.
(Here you can find links to all the earlier "Blogging the Qur'an" segments. Here is a good Arabic Qur’an, with English translations available; here are two popular Muslim translations, those of Abdullah Yusuf Ali and Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, along with a third by M. H. Shakir. Here is another popular translation, that of Muhammad Asad. And here is an omnibus of ten Qur’an translations.)
Thank you, Mr. Spencer. It has been enlightening to have learned so much about the Qur’an and Islam from you this year. I look forward to more posts and reading some of your books next year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Don’t ever stop what you are doing.
If Allah tells Muhammed who's a hypocrite, then THe Prophet bears an uncanny resemblance to Santa Claus:
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Muhammed is coming to town
He's making list;
Checking it twice
Gonna find out
Who's an unbeliever or nice
Muhammed is coming to town
He knows when you're doubtful
He knows when your not
He knows if you've been fighting
So wage jihad or you'll get shot.
...
Reading through these quotes from the Koran are depressing beyond words.
To steal a quote from BL@KBIRD over at HotAir.
To counter and remember this season;
Isa 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;[Jesus] and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
عيسى 9:6
بالنسبة لنا ولد الطفل ، ولنا ابن يرد ؛ [يسوع] والحكومة سوف تكون على عاتقه ، واسمه سوف يطلق على "مستشار رائع ، عزيز الله ، الأب الابدي ، امير السلا
"So wage jihad or you'll get shot." --posted by jewdog
Sorry to ruin your rhyme, but it's "beheaded," not "shot."
Im.mad.as.HELL!
You wrote this quote from BL@KBIRD over at HotAir.
"Delving into Islam is like codifying feces by colour, odor and texture. There is nothing pleasant or valuable to be found but the world needs to smell it to know it must be wiped away
Unfortunately the world reminds me of these three men in this silly joke;
Three men crossing the street and saw dog sh-t on the ground.
The first, seeing it bent down and put his nose to it and said
“Hmm… smells like dog sh-t”.
The second bent down and picked a piece off of the sh-t and squished it between his fingers and said
“Hmm.. Feels like dog sh-t”.
The third bend down and licked it and said
”hmmm... Taste like dog sh-t”.
Then all three realized;
WOW it is dog sh-t!
As they laughed and walked away from the sh-t they said to each other:
“Sure glad we didn’t step in it”!
V. 60 specifies those to whom the obligatory alms, zakat, can be distributed. The verse says that it can be spent “in the cause of Allah.” Ibn Kathir explains: “In the cause of Allah is exclusive for the benefit of the fighters in Jihad
.........................
Westerners are always shocked when they find that a Muslim charity is using donations to fund terrorism. Despite how common this has become, Westerners always assume that it is money being funneled through a charity as a dodge or a scam--it is always assumed that it is a perversion to use use funds given for charity in this manner.
I've noted this before, but it bears emphasis: as the above Qu'ranic verse makes clear, charity used for Jihad is legitimate in the eyes of many Muslims. In fact, it may in many ways be considered a *more legitimate use* than aiding, say, disaster victims or sick children, because it is seen as "furthering the cause of Allah".
Now, it must be said that this does not mean that every Muslim intentionally funds Jihad, or that every Muslim charity is set up for this purpose. But it does mean that non-Muslims cannot just assume that Muslim charities are no different from charities in the West--they do warrant extra scrutiny.
.
Bad Old Habits of Jews
It is a centuries old habit of some Jews Scholars to obliterate the facts; especially the verses of Holy Scripture and the commandment from God for their own use and with the ulterior motives. They had tried it earlier by obliterating their own book ‘Torah’. They could not earn any thing out of this exercise earlier except wrath of God Almighty and were placed defunct, rejected.
Quran says:[4:47]There were some among the Jews who pervert words from their proper places [4;161]So, because of the transgression of the Jews, We forbade them pure things which had been allowed to them, and also because of their hindering many men from Allah's way’.
Mr Robert Spencer repeating the same folly and trekking the old ways of his ancestors is now trying to obliterate even the Quranic Verses with the aim to keep the common folk away from the word of Truth and misguide the masses.
The verse he has quoted; The Repentance clearly denotes even by it name that some one has done a folly and is being guided to repent and come back on tracks. He picked only up the last part of verse 9: 50-80 and left out the introduction part of it on purpose.
This verse pertains to the glory and triumph of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his clear vindication after the Fall of Mecca and re-entry in his own City from where he was earlier forced to leave.
The verse makes a solemn declaration that Islam and Holy Prophet have completely vindicated by the Fall of Mecca; Earlier Prophet was driven from Mecca as a friendless fugitive and with a price on his head also. It was a declared in unmistakeable terms that he will come back to it in triumph and glory. The prophecy was full filled with the Fall of Mecca and establishment of Rule of Islam through out Arabia.
With the fall of Mecca and the defeat of Hawazin in the ‘Battle of Hunain’, the rule and authority of Islam had been established through out Hijaz (Arabia). Certain tribes had made treaties with the Muslims and had laid down arms. These treaties were to be fully observed but there were other tribes who had not yet made formal submission. They had not laid down their arms and also had not made any treaty with the Muslims; required to ensure the maintenance of peace and the observance of law and order. They had since commenced hostilities against Muslim and though they had in effect been vanquished; they had not yet acknowledge defeat nor had agreed to live in peace with the Muslims. These tribes were given a four months period of respite during which operation against them would remain suspended. They could go about freely in the land and satisfy themselves that their further resistance was useless. They could make their submission and make treaties and it is to these tribes that verse refers to. The introductory part (few verses) to clarify the issue is as follow:
The Holy Quran: Chapter 9: (Al-Taubah)- The Repentance
[9:1] This is a declaration of complete vindication on the part of Allah and His Messenger to the idolaters to whom you had announce a commitment that Islam would triumph in Arabia .
[9:2] So go about in the land for four months, and know that you cannot frustrate the plan of Allah and that Allah will humiliate the disbelievers.
[9:3] And this is a proclamation from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage, that Allah is clear of idolaters, and so is His Messenger. So if you repent, it will be better for you; but if you turn away, then know that you cannot frustrate the plan of Allah. And give tidings of a painful punishment to those who disbelieve,
[9:4] Except those of the disbelievers with whom you have entered into a treaty and who have not subsequently failed you in anything nor aided anyone against you. So fulfil to these the treaty you have made with them till their term. Surely Allah loves those that are righteous.
[9:5]And when the forbidden months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever you find them and take them captive, and beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat, then leave their way free. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.
[9:6] And if anyone of the idolaters seeks protection of thee, grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah; then convey him to his place of security. That is because they are a people who have no knowledge.
[9:7] How can there be a treaty for these idolaters with Allah and His Messenger, Except those with whom you entered into a treaty at the Sacred Mosque? So, as long as they are true to them. Surely Allah loves those who fulfil their obligations.
[9:8] How can it be when, if they prevail against you, they would not observe any tie of kinship or covenant in respect of you. They would please you with their mouths, while their heart repudiate what they say and most of them are perfidious.
[9:9] They have bartered the Signs of Allah for a paltry price and have turned men away from His way. Evil indeed is that which they do.
[9:10] They observe not any tie of kinship or covenant in respect of any believer. And it is they who are transgressors.
[9:11] But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zakaat, then they are your brethren in Faith. And We explain the Signs for a people who have knowledge.
[9:12] And if they break their oaths after their covenant, and attack your religion, then fight these leaders of disbelief --surely, they have no regard for their oaths, - that they may desist.
[9:13] Will you not fight a people who have broken their oaths, and who plotted to turn out the Messenger, and they were the first to commence hostilities against you? Do you fear them? Nay, Allah is most worthy that you should fear Him, if you are believers.
[9:14] Fight them, that Allah may punish them at your hands, and humiliate then, and help you to victory over them, and relieve the minds of a people who believe;
[9:15] And that He may remove the anger of their hearts. And Allah turns with mercy to whomsoever He pleases. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise.
----------------------------------------
Love for all, Hatred for None
Khokar,
Your post is amusing on many levels. This is my favorite:
Apparently you are unaware that this is part of an ongoing series:
Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 9, “Repentance,” verses 1-5
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/11/11/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-9-%e2%80%9crepentance%e2%80%9d-verses-1-5/
Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 9, “Repentance,” verses 6-14
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/11/18/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-9-%e2%80%9crepentance%e2%80%9d-verses-6-14/
Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 9, “Repentance,” verses 14-28
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/11/25/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-9-%e2%80%9crepentance%e2%80%9d-verses-14-28/
Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 9, “Repentance,” verse 29
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/12/02/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-9-%e2%80%9crepentance%e2%80%9d-verse-29/
Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 9, “Repentance,” verse 29, Part 2
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/12/09/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-9-%e2%80%9crepentance%e2%80%9d-verse-29-part-2/
Blogging the Qur’an: Sura 9, “Repentance,” verses 30-49
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/12/16/blogging-the-qur%e2%80%99an-sura-9-%e2%80%9crepentance%e2%80%9d-verses-30-49/
Jihad watch,
Thanks for your kind response. I apologise to come back bit late on this forum to reply; because of the on going festive and holidays season; that it is all packed up in the last days of this year.
Jihad watch; if we read in between the lines; Jihad Watch is nothing else but a assemblage of few; putting up all their best efforts to ward off every reader of its forum to stay away from the blessing and path of God almighty and the latest scripture; Holy Koran. Leaving no stone unturned to find a piece of news pertaining to Muslims; any where in the four corners of the Earth; grab it; twist it and present it here with the aim to under mine and blot, blemish the Holy Teachings of Islam; and thinking- they have done a great job.
For instance to put such an extra ordinary huge effort into digging and research of ‘Sura 9 : The repentance’. But all this ‘scholarly’ effort is for what and what is the aim? Except to put up a futile effort to impress others with the heavy loaded implied gorgons in the research and obliterate and bring about a distorted image of the true spirit behind the Divinely surmise issued by God Almighty to His Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him then, to achieve the order and peace to the Arab world after the Fall of Mecca. I stick to my earlier submission which remains in tact and true to its each word that ‘with the fall of Mecca and the defeat of Hawazin in the ‘Battle of Hunain’, the rule and authority of Islam had been established through out Hijaz (Arabia). Certain tribes had made treaties with the Muslims and had laid down arms. These treaties were to be fully observed but there were other tribes who had not yet made formal submission. They had not laid down their arms and also had not made any treaty with the Muslims; required to ensure the maintenance of peace and the observance of law and order. They had since commenced hostilities against Muslim and though they had in effect been vanquished; they had not yet acknowledge defeat nor had agreed to live in peace with the Muslims. These tribes were given a four months period of respite during which operation against them would remain suspended. They could go about freely in the land and satisfy themselves that their further resistance was useless. They could make their submission and make treaties and it is to these tribes that verse refers to’.
Efforts, hard work and investment put into a research, does not matter; it is the ‘aim’ and the ‘mind set’ which matters the most. Here no one may have an objection on your research but it is the aim with which it is often reflected here into blemishing the Holy Divine Scripture and… puts this forum in the list of assailants.
Mind you; God declares that Jews were the chosen people; laden with all the grace and God’s blessings. When God went angry with them for their conduct, they were made to wander in the wilderness along with the Prophet for forty long years. It is also worth mentioning that Christianity may be placing the Birth of Jesus a miracle but for Israelite it is totally a different scenario. Judaic had gone astray and were needing a reformer; Where as when their reformer came they were unable to recognise him. They out rightly rejected him and put him up on the crux (cross) to die a humiliating death. But if we see the birth of Jesus; it is worth pondering that God Almighty has always honoured certain tribes and people that they were honoured to gave birth to Gods chosen prophets. But some how God became so angry with the Judaic that God ceased his blessings toward the Judaic and ever since; Judaic are placed defunct and cursed; so much so that He even took away this honour among from them to father His Reformer and He has to devise the special means to bring about the Jesus in this world.
End result is that Judaic had earned such a wrath of God that ever since they could not attain any kind of peace or security in their lives on this planet earth.(Even the most powerfull economies and wordly powers are standing there to protect them.)
That is why in Koran we find such a strong admonishing words to warn Muslims along with the references from the history of old denominations; Warning them to stick to the God’s teaching whole heartedly lest the Muslims go astray and ditch them selves like old defunct denominations.
Many thanks and wish you a happy new year with the prayers that it dawns new lights of truth and wisdom in our lives and on this forum.
---------------------------------
Love for all, Hatred for none