Volume 8 Surah 9 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Tawbah (The Repentance) | MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPOCRISY“They swear by God that they have said nothing [wrong]. Yet they certainly uttered theword of unbelief, and disbelieved after they had professed to submit to God, for they aimed atsomething which they could not attain.” (Verse 74) Taken in general terms, thisstatement portrays the consistent attitude of the hypocrites reflected in a whole rangeof incidents. It also refers to various attempts they made to cause harm to the Prophetand the Muslim community. There are, however, several reports which mention aspecific incident in connection with the revelation of this verse.Qatādah says: “This verse refers to `Abdullāh ibn Ubayy concerning an eventwhen a man from the tribe of Juhaynah quarrelled with a man from the Anşār, withthe first gaining the upper hand. `Abdullāh said to the Anşārī man: ‘Will you notsupport your brother? Our position with Muĥammad is similar to that of a man whofeeds his dog until the dog becomes so fat and eats him.’ He further said: ‘When wego back to Madinah, the honourable among us will drive out the humble.’ A Muslimheard what he said and informed the Prophet who sent someone to ask him about itand he swore that he did not utter those words. God then revealed this verse makingclear that he did.Al-Ţabarī reports that the Prophet was once sitting in the shade of a tree when hesaid to his Companions who were with him: “A man will come soon, looking at youwith the eye of the devil. Do not talk to him.” Shortly afterwards a blue looking mancame over. The Prophet asked him: “Why do you and your friends speak ill of me?”The man went away and brought his friends who repeatedly swore that they hadsaid nothing, until the Prophet pardoned them. God then revealed the verse whichquotes their assertions: “They swear by God that they have said nothing wrong.” (Verse74)`Urwah ibn al-Zubayr and others report that this verse concerns a man called Al-Jallās ibn Suwayd who had a stepson called `Umayr ibn Sa`d. Al-Jallās once said: “Ifwhat Muĥammad says be true, then we are worse than these donkeys of ours.”`Umayr said: “You know that you are the dearest of all people to me, and I wouldrather spare you all harm. But you have said something which would put me in avery bad light if I report it, and would destroy me if I keep it to myself. One of thesealternatives is easier than the other.” He went to the Prophet and told him, but al-Jallās denied having said it and swore to that effect. When these verses wererevealed, he retracted and said: “I have certainly said this, but I am offered a chanceto repent. I regret what I said and turn to God in repentance.” This was accepted.All these reports, however, do not take account of the next statement in this verse,“They aimed at something which they could not attain.” (Verse 74) This supports theother reports which say that the verse refers to a group of hypocrites who plotted tokill the Prophet on his way back from Tabūk. It is useful to mention one of thesereports.166