Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPOCRISY“It is on these that God will have mercy.” (Verse 71) Mercy is not bestowed only inthe hereafter. It is first bestowed in this life, and it is granted first to the individualwho fulfils his duties of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is evil, attendsto his prayer and pays his zakāt. It is also granted to the community which is madeup of individuals of such qualities. It is manifested in the reassurance felt by suchpeople and in their bond with God who looks after them and spares them muchstrife and friction. God’s mercy is also seen in the unity and co-operation which arecharacteristic of such a community where every individual enjoys a contented life,and is reassured by God’s acceptance.These four characteristics of the believers: enjoining what is right, forbiddingwhat is wrong, attending to prayer and paying zakāt are contrasted with fourcharacteristics of the hypocrites, namely, enjoining what is wrong, forbidding what isright, forgetting God and tightening their fists. God’s mercy which He bestows onthe believers is shown here in contrast to His rejection of the hypocrites and theunbelievers. It is for maintaining these characteristics that God has promised thebelievers victory and establishment in the land. Thus they will be able to put theminto effect when they exercise their role as the leaders of mankind.“Surely, God is Almighty, Wise.” (Verse 71) He is able to give power to the believersso that they can help one another to discharge their duties. His wisdom is also seenin granting victory to such a community which sets human life on the right footing,and ensures that God’s word reigns supreme.As we have seen, suffering in hell is the destiny awaiting the hypocrites andunbelievers. They cannot escape God’s curse. The fact that He will forget them showsthat they are of little importance, suffering deprivation. In contrast, the happiness ofbeing in heaven is what awaits the believers: “God has promised the believers, men andwomen, gardens through which running waters flow, where they will abide, and goodlydwellings in the garden of Eden.” (Verse 72) That is then their dwelling place.But there is something much greater that awaits them: “Yet God’s acceptance is thegreatest blessing of all.” (Verse 72) Indeed, heaven and all the bliss and happiness thatare assured for those who are admitted into it appear to be so small when comparedto being accepted by God: “Yet God’s acceptance is the greatest blessing of all.’’ Indeedone moment of being in communion with God, contemplating His majesty; amoment of release from the restraints of a physical constitution, and the limitationsof this earth and its petty concerns; a moment when a ray of that light which cannotbe seen by our eyes lightens our hearts; a moment when the human soul isenlightened by a glimpse of God’s mercy; any moment of these which areexperienced only by a small number of people when they have clear, undisturbedvision is far greater than all enjoyments and all aspirations. How do people feel whenHis acceptance overwhelms their souls and they receive it without interruption?164