Transliteration:( Wa minan naasi mainy yaqoolu aamannaa billaahi wa bil yawmil aakhiri wa maa hum bimu'mineen )
23. Man is divided into three categories: the believers, the non-believers and the hypocrites.
The believer is one whose tongue and heart is manifested with Faith; the non-believer is one whose tongue and heart have rejected faith. while a hypocrite is one who has blasphemy in his heart but merely feigns expression of Islam: The hypocrite is the worst of the three. The first deceiver was iblees (the Devil) who was inwardly the enemy of Hazrat Adam but outwardly feigned friendship.
"And he swore to them both that I am a well wither of you both" (S7 V 21). After referring to the two groups, the believers and non-believers. Allah now makes mention of the worst group the despicable hypocrites. A fourth group is also found. They are the concealed group who have faith in their heart but do not express it with their tongues In extreme necessity this is allowed, in fact, when in a state of total helplessness even for utterance of blasphemy, a person will not be guilty in the eyes of Allah. Says Allah in the QUR'AAN: "Save him who is compelled and his heart is firm in belief†(S 16 V 106). In such circumstances one must migrate from such a place where religious freedom is denied to him.
24.The reason for not regarding them as believers is either because they have no faith in their hearts; what they are uttering is mere show of their tongues, or maybe they have expressed faith in Allah and the Day of Judgement but have omitted Prophethood from it. Believing in everything else, besides prophethood does not complete ones faith, such a person will still remain a non-believer. The classical example of this is the devil, although he was a firm believer in other requirements of faith, he still became a non-believer because he rejected Prophethood. All the enemies of the Prophet should take a lesson from this.
8. And of mankind, there are some who say: “We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they do not believe. 9. They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
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 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.
Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that,
(And of mankind, there are some who say: “We believe in Allah and the Last Day” while in fact they do not believe) “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,
(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,
(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,
(And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars.) (63:1), and,
(while in fact they believe not)
Allah said,
(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,
(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). aHence, Allah refuted their way by saying,
(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,
(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,
(Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them), “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.”Sa`id said that Qatadah said,
(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!) “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.”
(2:8) There are some who say: “We believe in Allah and in the Last Day,” while in fact they do not believe.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
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