Transliteration:( Maa kaanal laahu liyazaral mu'mineena 'alaa maaa antum 'alaihi hattaa yameezal khabeesa minat taiyib; wa maa kaanal laahu liyutli'akum 'alal ghaibi wa laakinnal laaha yajtabee mir rusulihee mai yashaaa'; fa aaminoo billaahi wa Rusulih; wa in tu 'minoo wa tattaqoo falakum ajrun 'azeem )
403. Allah Almighty is consoling the Noble Companions that their present conditions will not last much longer in which the believers and the hypocrites find themselves together. In fact, very soon Allah's Messenger will sift the two groups, with the help of Allah. Thereafter, if anyone wags his tongue to insinuate that most Companions (On them be peace) were concealed hypocrites (May Allah forbid) and even became Caliphs after the Holy Prophet are openly denying the veracity of this verse. Long before his demise the Holy Prophet had categorically sifted the sincere Companions from the hypocrites.
404. In that Allah Almighty will give his permission to his Beloved Prophet to disgrace these hypocrites after which the will no longer be able to conceal their identity.
From this, we learn that if the Noble Companions were in the position to distinguish between the believers, the non-believers, and the hypocrites, then how great was the ability of the Holy Prophet in this regard. Now if anyone suggests that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم was unable to distinguish between the believer and a hypocrite is obviously denying the truth of this verse. The Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم made the truth of this verse clear when in one gathering he exposed the identity of the hypocrites by calling them out name by name.
405. By 'unseen' in this verse means that type of unseen which was not ascertained through proofs such as future events, and the knowledge of those happenings pertaining to Allah's knowledge of the unseen. The following verse is an example of this type of Unseen. "The Knower of Unseen reveals not his secrets, except to His chosen Messengers" (S72:V26). Otherwise, it is incumbent to have firm belief regarding that unseen which is ascertained through conclusive proofs, e.g. that pertaining to Allah Almighty's Personality and Attributes. Says Allah Almighty: "Believe in the Unseen." In any case, how can belief be affected without firm knowledge?
406. Reason for Revelation:Â
On one occasion the Holy Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said in his blessed sermon that Allah Almighty made my entire Ummah appear before me prior to their birth and informed me, who from these will believe in me, and who will not. The hypocrites made fun of this sermon by saying that secretly or inwardly we are non-believers but outwardly we were merely accepting you.
Oh Prophet of Allah at a point the claim is being made to appear before you, and that you are in a position to differentiate between the believers and the non-believers. On hearing this, the Holy Prophet a stand on the mimbar (pulpit) and said: "What a condition people have reached. They are doubting and taunting my knowledge. If this be the case ask me about all events that would take place from now until the Day of Judgement". Abdullah Ibn Huzafa Salimi enquired: "Who is my father?". The reply was 'Huzafa'. Then Hazrat Umar Farooq (On whom be peace) said we are in full agreement that Allah is our Lord, is our Prophet Your Prophet and Islam is our Religion. The Holy Prophet then said that in the future you will abstain from such types of mocking the questions. It was at this occasion that the above verse was revealed.
407.From this a few issues emerge:Â
1. That Allah Almighty has informed His Beloved Messenger of everything that is to take place until the Day of Judgement, and made him fully acquainted with His special Unseen knowledge.
2. To raise objection about the Holy the Prophet's  knowledge is work of the hypocrites.
3. The Holy Prophet is fully aware of those concealed things whose knowledge is not made known to anyone. Only his mother had the knowledge that Abdullah's father was Huzafa, yet the Holy Prophet was aware of it.
From this emerges the following issues:
1. To believe in all the Prophets of Allah is just as important as believing in Allah.
2. One's claim of bringing faith in the Holy Prophet is unacceptable if one denies the Prophet's knowledge of the Unseen. The meaning of bringing faith in the Holy Prophet is accepting all his praiseworthy attributes. Thus, when these hypocrites refused to accept the Holy Prophet's, knowledge of the Unseen Allah ordered "Believe in Allah and his Prophets."
3. It is important that faith should be accompanied by piety.
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The tafsir of Surah Imran verse 179 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Imran ayat 176 which provides the complete commentary from verse 176 through 180.
125. That is, God does not want to see the Muslim community in a hotch-potch condition with the true men of faith indistinguishable from the hypocrites.
126. This means that God does not resort to revelation to provide information as to whether specific individuals are true men of faith or hypocrites. God creates, instead, certain situations in which the faith of those who profess to believe is severely tested. The result is that the man of faith stands out clearly from the hypocrite.
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