Transliteration:( Alam tara ilal lazeena nuhoo 'anin najwaa summa ya'oodoona limaa nuhoo 'anhu wa yatanaajawna bil ismi wal'udwaani wa ma'siyatir rasooli wa izaa jaaa'ooka haiyawka bimaa lam yuhai yika bihil laahu wa yaqooloona fee anfusihim law laa yu'azzibunal laahu bimaa naqool; hasbuhum jahannnamu yaslawnahaa fabi'sal maseer )
“Have you not seen those who were forbidden from holding secret discussions? Yet they return [31] to what they were forbidden and hold secret discussions in sin, transgression, and disobedience [32] to the Messenger. And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting that Allah has not prescribed [33] for you, and they say to themselves, 'Why does Allah not punish [34] us for what we say?' Hell is sufficient for them—they will burn in it, and what an evil end [35] it is.”
The infidels and hypocrites would whisper among themselves and point toward the believers to give the impression they were mocking or plotting against them. This caused grief to the believers, who complained to the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
The Prophet asked the Jews and hypocrites to refrain from such behavior, but they ignored his instruction. This verse was revealed regarding these wretched people (Tafseer Khazainul Irfaan).
The word "AWA" in the verse signifies secret talks intended to distress the believers.
Their whispering is sinful in three ways:
It is sinful whispering in itself,
It harms the believers,
It is done in direct violation of the Holy Prophet’s ﷺ command.
Thus, it is an act of sin, transgression, and opposing the Messenger.
This tells us that the Holy Prophet ﷺ should be addressed using words of honor and respect as prescribed by Allah.
One should send salutations using the forms that Allah Himself used for him.
He should not be addressed with informal terms like grandfather, uncle, brother, or father. Even his family members would address him as Rasulullah or Nabiyyullah, never with casual familial terms.
The word "Bashar" (human being) is also among such words, which Allah did not use to address His Prophet in that context.
The Jews, however, would mockingly say "Assaamu Alaika" (may death be upon you) instead of "Assalamu Alaika", intending insult and blasphemy.
The Jews would say among themselves, “If Muhammad ﷺ is truly a Prophet, then why does punishment not fall upon us for this insolence?”
Instead of respectfully greeting him, they would say "Assaamu Alaikum" mockingly.
This verse was revealed in response to their rudeness and arrogance.
For every sin, there is an appointed time for punishment.
Just because punishment is not immediate, it does not mean the sin is forgiven or ignored.
Many people are misled by this delay, thinking their acts carry no consequence—this is a dangerous deception.
8. Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden, and conspired together for sin and wrongdoing and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves: “Why should Allah punish us not for what we say” Hell will be sufficient for them; they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination! 9. O you who believe! When you hold secret counsel, do it not for sin and wrongdoing, and disobedience to the Messenger, but do it for Al-Birr and Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah unto Whom you shall be gathered. 10. Secret counsels are only from Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.
Ibn Abi Najih reported from Mujahid,
(Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden,) He said, “The Jews.” Similar was said by Muqatil bin Hayyan, who added, “The Prophet had a peace treaty with the Jews. When one of the Prophet’s Companions would pass by a gathering of Jews, they would speak among themselves in secret, prompting the believer to think that they were plotting to kill or harm him. When the believer saw this, he feared for his safety and changed the route he was taking. The Prophet advised them to abandon their evil secret talks, but they did not listen and kept on holding the Najwa. Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah in their case,
(Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden).” Allah’s statement,
(and conspired together for sin and wrongdoing and disobedience to the Messenger.) means, they used to talk to each other,
(for sin) which involves themselves,
(and wrongdoing) which effects others. They speak about disobedience and defying of the Messenger , with persistence and recommending each other to follow their way,
(And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not,) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A’ishah said, “Some Jews came to the Prophet and greeted him by saying, `As-Sam `Alayka, O Abul-Qasim.’ So I said to them, `wa `Alaykum As-Sam (the same death be upon you).’ The Prophet said,
(O `A’ishah, Allah does not like rudeness and foul speech.) I said, `Didn’t you hear them say, `As-Sam Alayka’ He said,
(Didn’t you hear me answering them back by saying, `Wa `Alaykum (And the same upon you)’) Allah the Exalted then sent down this Ayah,
(And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not,)” The narration collected in the Sahih states that `A’ishah said, “And be upon you the death, disgrace and curse.” The Messenger of Allah said to her,
(Allah accepts our supplication against them, but not theirs against us.) Ibn Jarir recorded that Anas bin Malik said, “A Jew passed by Allah’s Messenger , who was sitting with his Companions, he greeted them and they greeted him back. Allah’s Messenger then said to his Companions,
(Do you know what he just said) They said, `He said: As-Salam, O Allah’s Messenger.’ The Prophet said,
(Rather he said, Sam `Alaykum.) meaning, `may you disgrace your religion.’ Allah’s Messenger then said,
(Bring him back,) and when he was brought back, the Prophet asked him,
(Did you say: Sam `Alaykum) He said, `Yes.’ The Prophet then said,
(When the people of the Book greet you, say, `Wa `Alaykum.’)” meaning, `and the same on you too.’ The basis for the Hadith of Anas is in the Sahih and similar to this Hadith of `A’ishah is in the Sahih. Allah said,
(and say within themselves:”Why should Allah punish us not for what we say”) means, the Jews say these words, changing the meaning of the Islamic greeting, into an abusive statement, and then say, `Had he been a Prophet, Allah would have punished us for what we said. Allah knows what we conceal. Therefore, if Muhammad were a Prophet, Allah would have sent His punishment on us sooner, in this life.’ Allah the Exalted replied,
(Hell will be sufficient for them;) ell should be sufficient for them in the Hereafter,
(they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Jews used to say, “Sam `Alayka,” to Allah’s Messenger . They would say then within themselves, “Why does Allah not punish us for what we say” This Ayah was later revealed,
(And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves: “Why should Allah punish us not for what we say” Hell will be sufficient for them; they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!) Its chain of narration is Hasan, but they (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not collect it.
Allah the Exalted teaches His believing servants to avoid the ways of the disbelievers and hypocrites,
(O you who believe! When you hold secret counsel, do it not for sin and wrongdoing, and disobedience to the Messenger,) meaning, do not hold evil secret counsels like the ignorant disbelieving People of the Scriptures and their allies among the hypocrites, who imitate their ways,
(but do it for Al-Birr and Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah unto Whom you shall be gathered.) and He will then inform you of all your deeds and statements; He has counted and recorded them and will justly hold you accountable for them. Allah the Exalted said,
(An-Najwa are only from the Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.) Allah states that secret talks, where the believers feel anxious, are
(only from Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers.) meaning, that those who hold such counsels do so because of the lures of the devil,
(in order that he may cause grief to the believers.) The devil seeks to bother the believers, even though his plots will not harm the believers, except if Allah wills it. Those who are the subject of evil Najwa, should seek refuge in Allah and put his trust in Him, for none of it will harm them, Allah willing. The Sunnah also forbids the Najwa so that no Muslim is bothered by it. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,
(If you were three, then two of you should not hold a secret counsel in the presence of the third person, because that would cause him to be worried.) This Hadith is collected in the Two Sahihs using a chain of narration that contained Al-A`mash. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that Allah’s Messenger said,
(If you were three, then two of you should not hold a secret counsel in the presence of the third person, except with his permission, because that would cause him to be worried.) Muslim collected this Hadith.
(58:8) Have you not seen those who were forbidden to whisper and yet they engaged in what they had been forbidden?[21] They secretly converse among themselves concerning sin and transgression and disobedience to the Messenger. And when they come to you, they greet you in a manner that Allah does not greet you,[22] and say to themselves: “Why does Allah not chastise us for these utterances of ours?”[23] Hell it is that shall suffice them, and in it will they burn. How woeful is their destination!
21. This shows that before the revelation of this verse the Prophet (peace be upon him) had forbidden the people this practice. Yet when they did not desist, Allah directly sent down this verse containing His warning and wrath for such people.
22. This was the common practice of the Jews and the hypocrites. According to several traditions, some Jews came before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: Assam alaika ya abul-Qasim. That is, they pronounced as-sam alaika in such a manner as to give the impression that they had said as-salam alaika (peace be on you), which is the Islamic way of greeting. But actually they had said sam, instead of salam, which means death. In response the Prophet said: wa-alaikum. Aishah retorted: May death visit you and the curse of Allah. The Prophet warned her, saying: Aishah, Allah does not like abusive language. She submitted: Didn’t you hear, O Messenger of Allah what they said. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: And didn’t you hear what reply I gave? I said: And the same upon you. (Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim). Abdullah bin Abbas has stated that both the Jews and the hypocrites had adopted this very way of greeting. (Ibn Jarir).
23. That is, they regarded it as a proof of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) not being a Messenger. They thought that if he had been a true Messenger, they would be punished by a torment as soon as they greeted him in that way. Since there was no torment while they were greeting him day and night like that, he was not a Messenger of Allah.
[1643]- This is in reference to the Jews who would greet the Muslims with the words "Death be upon you," rather than "Peace."
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics