Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPOCRISY“Their works have come to nothing in this world and shall come to nothing in the life tocome.” (Verse 69) Indeed whatever they do is worthless, because it is the same as aplant which has no roots: it cannot stand, grow or blossom. “They are indeed thelosers.” (Verse 69) They have ended with complete loss with nothing left for them.The sūrah now makes a general address, wondering at those who follow in thefootsteps of those communities which suffered God’s punishment without learningthe lesson: “Have they not heard the histories of those who preceded them, such as Noah’speople, `Ād and Thamūd, and Abraham’s people, and the folk of Madyan and the ruinedcities? Their messengers came to them with clear evidence of the truth. It was not God whowronged them; it was they who wronged themselves.” (Verse 70)The sūrah then puts a question with regard to those who just seek enjoyment andtread the path of destroyed nations: “Have they not heard the histories of those whopreceded them?” There were many of them who suffered painful doom. There werefirst the people of Noah, destroyed by the great flood; and the people of `Ād, victimsof a furious wind storm, and the people of Thamūd, overwhelmed by a stunningblast. There were also the people of Abraham whose despotic ruler was destroyed,while Abraham himself was saved by God. The folk of Madyan suffered the violentquake and were suffocated, and the people of Lot had their cities ruined. Now havethese latter day hypocrites not heard the histories of those communities to whom“their messengers came to them with clear evidence of the truth.” (Verse 70) But theychoose to deny such clear evidence and follow the path of error instead. Hence Godpunished them for what they did: “It was not God who wronged them; it was they whowronged themselves.” (Verse 70)Yet the lessons of the past benefit only those who open their hearts and minds forthe contemplation of the working of the laws God has set in operation. These lawsmake allowances for no one, regardless of their position. Many of those whom Godtests with power and affluence choose to overlook what happened to those beforethem. So they are doomed when God’s law applies to them, and God takes themwith a mighty hand. It is often the case that those given power and wealth areblinded to realities. Only those who serve God sincerely are spared such a blindingattitude which spells a miserable doom.The Believers’ Dwelling PlaceIn contrast to the unbelievers and the hypocrites stand the true believers. They arecharacterized by their totally different nature, different behaviour and differentdestiny: “The believers, men and women, are friends to one another: they enjoin what is rightand forbid what is wrong; they attend to their prayers, and pay their zakāt, and obey God andHis Messenger. It is on these that God will have mercy. Surely, God is Almighty, Wise. God162