Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPOCRISYhaving mounted his camel, ready to depart. He said to him: “Messenger of God, wewere only engaged in idle talk and jesting.” The Prophet said to him: “Was it, then, atGod, His revelations and His Messenger that you have been mocking? Make no excuses. Youhave disbelieved after you have professed to be believers. Though We may pardon some of you,We shall punish others, on account of their being guilty.” (Verses 65-66) As the Prophetreplied, he did not face the man who kept holding on to the Prophet’s sword, his feethitting the rocks.Another report mentions that a group of hypocrites, including Wadī`ah ibn Thābit,as well as a man called Makhshī ibn Ĥimyar, an ally of the tribe of Salamah, werewith the Muslim army when the Prophet headed for Tabūk. Some of them tried tofrighten the believers and spread doubt in their ranks. They said: “Do you thinkfighting the Byzantines the same as internal warfare between Arabian tribes? We caneven now see how you will all be taken captive tomorrow and be put in chains.”Makhshī said: “I wish we could escape with only 100 lashes each, without havingverses of the Qur’ān revealed to expose us as a result of what you have said.”The Prophet was informed of this and he said to `Ammār ibn Yāsir: “Rush to thosepeople for they are burnt. Ask them about what they have said and if they deny it,tell them that they have said these very words.” `Ammār went to them and told themexactly what the Prophet said. They came to the Prophet to apologize. Wadī`ah ibnThābit said to the Prophet as he mounted his camel, and Wadī`ah holding its reins:“Messenger of God, we were only talking idly and jesting.” Makhshī said:“Messenger of God, my name and my father’s name prevented me from leavingthese people.” (This is a reference to the fact that he was only an ally occupying aweak position.) He was the one, among those to whom this verse refers, who waspardoned. He changed his name to `Abd al-Raĥmān and appealed to God to granthim martyrdom where his body would not be found. He was killed when he wasfighting with the Muslim army at Yamāmah against the apostates. His body was lostwithout trace.Another report says that a group of hypocrites were in the army going to Tabūk,and some of them said: “Does this man (meaning the Prophet) hope to take hold ofthe palaces and forts of Syria? Far be it from him.” God informed His Messenger ofwhat they said. The Prophet ordered his Companions to have them isolated and hecame to them and confronted them with what they had said. They replied:“Messenger of God, we were only engaged in idle talk and jesting.” God thenrevealed these verses.“We have only been indulging in idle talk and jesting.” (Verse 65) As if such importantmatters which are closely related to the very fundamentals of faith can at all be thesubject of idle talk and careless jesting. Hence the reply: “Say: ‘Was it, then, at God, Hisrevelations and His Messenger that you have been mocking?’” (Verse 65) Their offence is159