Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPOCRISYpay a hefty price. A paltry price can only buy what is trivial, worthless.“They will swear by God: ‘Had we been able, we would surely have joined you.’” (Verse42) Lying goes hand in hand with cowardice and weakness. Only the weak and faintheartedresort to lies, even though they may occasionally appear to commandconsiderable power. A strong person will not hesitate to face any eventuality headon, while the weak will always remain evasive. It is a rule that never fails. “They bringruin upon themselves.” (Verse 42) They certainly ruin themselves by their falseswearing which they imagine will save them in the eyes of other people. However,God knows the truth and He reveals it to mankind. Thus the liar is ruined in this lifeby the effects of his falsehood and he ruins himself in the hereafter when he cannotdeny his true motives before God, because “God knows indeed that they are liars.”(Verse 42)“May God forgive you [Prophet]! Why did you grant them permission [to stay behind]before you had come to know who were speaking the truth and who were the liars?” (Verse43) Here we have an example of God’s kindness as He begins with stating Hispardon before His reproach. Those hypocrites who stayed behind were able to hidetheir true colours when the Prophet allowed them to stay behind after they hadpresented their excuses. This was a chance to expose their falsehood, because theywould have stayed behind anyway, even though the Prophet would have withheldhis permission. They would have been seen as they truly were, without their falseguise.But since this did not happen, the Qur’ān exposes them and states clearly the ruleswhich distinguish the true believers from the hypocrites: “Those who believe in God andthe Last Day will not ask you to exempt them from striving with their property and with theirlives. God has full knowledge as to who are the God-fearing. Only those who do not trulybelieve in God and the Last Day ask you for exemption. Their hearts are filled with doubt; andtroubled by doubt, they do waver.” (Verses 44-45)This is the rule which will never fail. Those who believe in God and in the Day ofJudgement do not wait for permission in order to fight for God’s cause. They will nothesitate to answer the call to strive hard, offering their wealth and their lives. Theywill rush to respond, whether they are lightly or heavily armed, as God hascommanded. They obey Him, assured that they will meet Him on the Day ofJudgement, certain of His reward, and hoping to win His pleasure. They are quick tovolunteer, and so they do not need any encouragement, let alone special permission.Those who seek permission are the ones whose hearts have little faith. Hence theyslacken, seeking all kinds of excuses. Indeed they hope for something to happenwhich will prevent them from fulfilling the tasks required by the faith they pretendto have, when they are waverers, full of doubt.145