“EuzuBillahiminesheytanirracim”
“BismillahirRahmanirRahiym”
Dear Qur’an friends. Today we will continue our lesson with 61st verse of repentance chapter. Previous verses were about the 8 groups we may or shall give our alms and zekat to. In fact, including the alms situation all the passages of this chapter sent down at the ninth year of Hejira in three different periods for three different reasons. That’s why when we begin this lesson we should consider the situations and surroundings of the messages and figure out the exact reasons by its time and grounds.
“BismillahirRahmanirRahiym”
61-) Ve minhumulleziyne yu’zunen Nebiyye ve yekulune huve uzun* kul uzunu hayrin lekum yu’minu Billahi ve yu’minu lil mu’miniyne ve rahmetun lilleziyne amenu minkum* velleziyne yu’zune RasulAllahi lehum azabun eliym;
Some of them distress the Nabi (the Rasul of Allah) and say, “He believes in everything he hears (every revelation he receives)”… Say, “He lends his ears (to revelation) so that good can reach you! He believes in Allah, as comprising his essential reality with His Names, and the believers, and he is a grace to the believers among you”… As for those who harm the Rasul of Allah, there is a painful suffering for them. (A.Hulusi)
Among them are men who molest the Prophet and say, “He is (all) ear.” Say, “He listens to what is best for you: he believes in Allah, has faith in the Believers, and is a Mercy to those of you who believe.” But those who molest the Messenger will have a grievous chastisement. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Ve minhumulleziyne yu’zunen Nebiyye ve yekulune huve uzun* kul uzunu Again those hypocrites… Previous verses were about them, especially 57, 58 and 59th verses. Several deductionsare made here about the behaviours and nature of hypocrites. As it happens there were hypocrites who said, “He believes in everything he hears” and molest theprophet with their words. What were they saying, “uzunun”, ear. Of course they were making joke out of it. They were using this phrase as an insult. But what it really means that the prophet was all ears?
In fact this was a character value, it’s about taking other people seriously, caring for others. That’s why he was always listening what others said. Why? Because years ago, at the end of Meccan era, these topics were informed with a Qur’an principle. When the attributes of believers were counted, it was especially said this.
Elleziyne yestemi’unel kavle feyettebi’une ahseneh (Zumer/18) They listen the entire speech and then take the best and the nicest of it.
A great principle. A principle that lives on until theend of time and one of the constant value of humanity, sent to Rasulallah as a character path and then he acted on it. His behaviours were set on this principle. He listened to the entire speech and follow only the good parts. Whoever was the owner of that speech, even he was just a child. When he was called, not only he turned his head, he turned his entire body. This form of respect became an insult for the uneducated and hypocritical people by saying, “He was an ear.”
kul uzunu hayrin lekum Say “He listens to what is best for you.” Yes, he is ear. But his listening is for your own good. He might not listen at all. Then it meant that he doesn’t give you any credit, he doesn’t respect you. Now are you really ridiculing something that’s really good for you. What are you accusing him with, did you really think about it? Are you accusing Rasulallah for being a good person. Look at this paradox.
According to past translation experts this accusation was commented as he listens and believes in everything he hears. But then this shouldn’t be counted as a good thing by Qur’an since believing everthing one hears isn’t something a sane person does. That’s why Rasulallah wasn’t a person to believed in everything but a sensible person to listen everything and select what’s good for the greater good. That’s why believing everything isn’t a right approach here.
Behind this accusation there lies another accusation against the source of revelations. This is a direct and true approach. It’s like this. Prophet had seen some illusions, he saw things and believes they were all revelations. That’s why there’s a serious accusation here that the source of revelations were mere dillusions of a mad man.
yu’minu Billahi ve yu’minu lil mu’miniyne ve rahmetun lilleziyne amenu minkum he believes in Allah, has faith in the Believers. ve rahmetun lilleziyne amenu minkum and is a Mercy to those of you who believe. A sea of mercy. This last sentence of the verse explains the previous sentences as well. Why the prophet listens? Because he has faith in Allah so he also has trust for believers.
This is interesting, faith has both the meanings of having the belief and having the trust. These two meanings are given here as a whole. Whoever has faith in Allah also has trust in Allah. Saying “I believe in Allah” also has the meaning of “I trust Allah.”
By that perspective, can we say the faiths of muslims today are the real faiths? The biggest problem of modern era faith is having distrust in faith. It’s about having faith to Allah without trusting Allah. It becomes a faith without the benefits. So at that point the claim of having faith becomes vain. Since saying “I believein Allah but I don’t trust Him.” has no weight.
It might not be the exact words are said but the behaviours show the mind, show the distrust. It’s about saying, “O Rabb, you think what’s best for me. I submit to your will. Whatever you will for me, I want to wish for that too. I want to want what you want for me.” This is trust. That’s why the person who trust in Allah also trust in the believers as well. A believer believes and trusts because he wants to be trusted. Person who ask for trust from others should be trustworthy himself.
velleziyne yu’zune RasulAllahi lehum azabun eliym As for those who harm the Rasul of Allah, there is a painful suffering for them.
Hypocrites who accused the prophet and his means of having the revelations as dilusion, hallucination, an image or false hearings… All the accusations and slanders that offended Rasulallah. It reveals the denial of hypocrites because they don’t carry the same faith the believers do.The denial in their hearts reflect upon their words and actions as mistrust against the source of revelations.
62-) Yahlifune Billahi lekum liyurdukum* vAllahu ve RasuluHU ehakku en yurduhu in kanu mu’miniyn;
They swear by Allah, the One who comprises their essential reality, just to please you… If they were true believers (they would have known that) it is Allah and His Rasul, their essential reality, whose pleasure they should seek! (A.Hulusi)
To you they swear by Allah in order to please you: But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger, if they are Believers. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Yahlifune Billahi lekum liyurdukum To you they swear by Allah in order to please you. They, hypocrites. Liyurdukum, to please you. If they act to please Allah, they wouldn’t become hypocrites in the first place. But the unusual thing is they swear in the name of Allah to please other people. They display a hideous behaviour to use people around them. They use Allah’s name as a signature to their indecencies. On the other hand, they don’t think Allah when they swear on His name for other people. I mean, a person who believesin Allah doesn’t need to swear on His name just to please other people.
The base of all problems in hypocracy is about faith for Allah. In hypocrites hearts the faith of Allah is broken. That’s why, Innel munafikiyne fidderkil’ esfeli minennar (Nisa/145) At the bottom of the fire, they reside.
vAllahu ve RasuluHU ehakku en yurduhu in kanu mu’miniyn; But it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger, if they are Believers.
A subtle wordplay here. vAllahu ve RasuluHU ehakku en yurduhu. It ends with a pronoun. A singular HU. But there are two nouns before that. Allah and Rasul. According to the rules of language, if there are two nouns in a sentence the pronoun should be plural to match them. But this sentence flex the rules to point out the principle of unity. A typical example, this verse. Both Allah and Rasul are worthy of it. But who should be pleased? Allah.
There the singular term of HU, doesn’t bound to Allah and Rasul together but the concept of unity as a whole. So, by the rules of Qur’an that pronoun is directly bound to Allah. We see here that Qur’an is very precise and diligent to protect the principles of unity. You may ask what’s the harm for using a plural pronoun for both of them. But here we are taught the importance of precision. The actions of a person should carry the reason of Allah because prophets actions were also for Allah’s will too. So by definition, believers who take the prophet as their leader should have a singular goal of earning Allah’s mercy .
This reminds me. A hadith Rasulallah was warning a man who use the prophets name in the same pronoun as Allah. From this, we also realize that Rasulallah also cared about this concept as Qur’an does and warned other people to be careful about it.
You can ask again what’s the harm. No harm may done but remember. Previous communities had idolized their prophets and saints because of their looseness. In fact our prophet Rasulallah said,
Don’t take my from my spot. I’m a human and a prophet. See me as I am. Fe innema ena abdun. I’m just a man. Fe kulu Abdullahi ve Rasuluhu. Say, Allah’s worshipper and prophet. (Buhari, hudud, 31) This was his message.
in kanu mu’miniyn; if they are Believers. If they really look for Allah and do their deeds to earn Allah’s approval.
When a man does his deeds, he asks two questions. What does Allah say or what do other people say? If the second question takes over the actions of a man, his god begins to become something else. If that happens that man changes Allah for some other people. This is the serious danger indeed.
63-) Elem ya’lemu ennehu men yuhadidillahe ve RasuleHU feenne lehu nare cehenneme haliden fiyha* zalikel hizyul aziym;
Do they still not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Rasul, for him there is hellfire, in which he will reside eternally? That is the great disgrace. (A.Hulusi)
Know they not that for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, is the Fire of Hell?- wherein they shall dwell. That is the supreme disgrace. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Elem ya’lemu ennehu men yuhadidillahe ve RasuleHU feenne lehu nare cehenneme haliden fiyha* Do they still not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Rasul, for him there is hellfire, in which he will reside eternally? zalikel hizyul aziym That is the great disgrace.
Zalikel hizyul aziym That is the great disgrace. hizyul aziym Replacing Allah’s will with peoples will; how’s that a disgrace? If you replace Allah with other people, than those people become your gods. That’s not only wrong for those people but you wrong yourselves as well. You are crushed under those you put above yourselves. If you put someone or something else for the place of Allah in your hearts, in your perspective, you degrage yourselves categorically.
By extension, those who idolize earth, stuff, money or fame resides under them by honor. Because no mind can stand next to his idol. It always puts itself under the ideolized. So if a person idolizes another person, he automatically leaves humanity. Those who worship stone become less than stone. So this form of disgrace is the ultimate form of disgrace.
64-) Yahzerul munafikune en tunezzele aleyhim suretun tunebbiuhum Bi ma fiy kulubihim* kulistehziu* innAllahe muhricun ma tahzerun;
The hypocrites fear the revelation of verses informing them of what is in their hearts! Say, “Mock as you wish! Indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear.” (A.Hulusi)
The Hypocrites are afraid lest a Surah should be sent down about them, showing them what is (really passing) in their hearts. Say: “Mock ye! But verily Allah will bring to light all that ye fear (should be revealed). (A.Yusuf Ali)
Yahzerul munafikune en tunezzele aleyhim suretun tunebbiuhum Bi ma fiy kulubihim The hypocrites fear the revelation of verses informing them of what is in their hearts!
How’s that for hypocracy then? Do they really believe the revelations? If they have concerns about verses for them, doesn’t that show they have faith in Qur’an? No. They don’t believe. It’s not their concern that Allah send something for them, their concern is the political and social consequences that bind them. Otherwise they don’t care what Allah says for them since they don’t look for Allah’s will to begin with. They don’t ask what would Allah say about us. But they don’t want to be outcasts in the eyes of other people. Let’s read the following sentence of the verse that supports this.
kulistehziu* innAllahe muhricun ma tahzerun Say, “Mock as you wish! Indeed, Allah will expose that which you fear. So they mock. These people who have concerns about verses that might be sent for them, also ridicule them. If some verses arrive regarding their behaviours they immediately mock bysaying things like, “Look look, he begins to talk with himself again, he made up some rules by himself and now he’s saying them to us.” But their real concern is if some verses about them has arrived, their position in the eyes of Rasulallah and other believers will not be the same again. They fear the social and political consequences of Qur’an. Not that they believe in them but they believe in the reflection of them to society. They were the ones who openly deny it in 61st verse.
65-) Ve lein seeltehum le yekulunne innema kunna nehudu ve nel’ab* kul ebillahi ve ayatiHI ve RasuliHI kuntum testehziun;
If you ask them, they will certainly say, “We were merely conversing and enjoying ourselves!” Say, “Is it Allah, your essential reality, His signs, and His Rasul that you were mocking?” (A.Hulusi)
If thou dost question them, they declare (with emphasis): “We were only talking idly and in play.” Say: “Was it at Allah, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that ye were mocking?” (A.Yusuf Ali)
Ve lein seeltehum le yekulunne innema kunna nehudu ve nel’ab If you ask them they will certainly say innema kunna nehudu ve nel’ab “We were merely conversing and enjoying ourselves!” Innema, that’s all, that will say. Of course when we read this expression we realize there’s a background here historically.
This background was the in the Tabuk March, there were hypocrites who had joined the march for some other reasons and they were mocking Rasulallah and the community. In some occurances they were conversing about the futility of their actions. The biggest attribute of hypocracy is being able to hide the filth within. But sometimes all the builtup filth cannot be contained and shows itself regardless. One of the occurances was their words saying, “Look, look. Without checking themselves they are marching against the worlds one of the greatest nations, Rome. They really doing this? They are suicidal.”
Of course they were using some other mocking expressions with them. But when their words reached Rasulallah and they were forced to face their own words this was their defense. “We were just talking idly and enjoy ourselves. We were just conversing vainly. We are the guilty ones forgive us.” So Qur’an asks them;
kul ebillahi ve ayatiHI ve RasuliHI kuntum testehziun Say: “Was it at Allah, and His Signs, and His Messenger, that ye were mocking?” Do you even realize who you were mocking? You were mocking Allah, His Signs or Rasulallah and now you are trying to find excuses.
Like we said now, in Tabuk march some of hypocrites hatred and blasphemy reached to a point that they cannot contain anymore and reflected their words but when those words reached Rasulallah they were trying to defend themselves with these excuses.
Here the question of “Are you mocking Allah’s Signs?” is very meaningful. They were mocking Rasulallah so how’s that comes to mocking Allah? In Allah’s systematics, mocking Rasulallah is taken as mocking Allah Himself. That’s why the patterns comes as “Allahu ve resuluhu, Billahi ve Resulihi.” Why’s that? Because the He pronoun at the and of Rasul indicates the connection. Mocking the Messenger is also mocking the sender of the Messenger. All actions regarding Rasulallah also reflects to Allah.
That’s why they don’t need to insult Allah directly. If one insults His Messenger and the mission, the Signs, it is taken as a direct insult to Allah. This is understandable. Allah and Rasul pattern comes next to each other so any actions on this pattern has two reflections. An action made against Rasulallah should also be understood that it is made against Allah too.
So here ayatiHi expression comes as well. They were mocking Allah’s Signs. It’s like we tried to explain in the 61st verse, their doubts on Qur’an is uzunun, the ear. They have doubts that the Signs have celestial origins. They don’t have faith or belief that Allah is the source of those Signs. They were in thought of all the Signs Rasulallah took were mere illusions or hallucinations of him. So they were mocking Allah’s signs like that and this was Allah’s reaction in Qur’an for them.
66-) La ta’teziru kad kefertum ba’de iymanikum* in na’fu an taifetin minkum nuazzib taifeten Bi ennehum kanu mucrimiyn;
Make no excuse! You have denied the knowledge of the reality after believing! Even if We forgive some of you, We will subject those who are persistent in their error to suffering. (A.Hulusi)
Make ye no excuses: ye have rejected Faith after ye had accepted it. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others amongst you, for that they are sinners. (A.Yusuf Ali)
La ta’teziru kad kefertum ba’de iymanikum Make no excuse. Don’t make excuses for nothing. La ta’teziru there’s no need for excuse. kad kefertum ba’de iymanikum you have rejected Faith after you had accepted it. You did this. If we take the literal meaning they rejected after they believed in. But in context there’s a hidden meaning here too. It’s like they chose rejection in heart after they say they believed in. Because if they had faith, they wouldn’t doubt the source to begin with.
But the hypocrites aren’t a single type. Just like the doubts may reach to different depths, their mischief might as well. There have been hypocrites that might be reformed but there are some that might not. It’s like a desease, you might catch it while it begins to cover the heart and interfere but in most cases the illness takes over the heart completely, it becomes incurable, all the mischief become internalized. That’s how the name takes over the person, nifak becomes the münafık himself. But there are people who still suffer the illness and have life within too. In Qur’ans expressions they jump from one side to the other. La ilahe ile vela ilahe ilah. They are seen in either sides, although they are deep within the mischief there’s still hope for them. They might still accept the cure. Qur’an will mention them now..
in na’fu an taifetin minkum nuazzib taifeten Even if We forgive some of you, We will subject those who are persistent in their error to suffering.
Two distinct types of hypocrites. One who has illness in their hearts and dead within, an done who has illness in their hearts but life within. Althought the door of repentance is always open to anyone, only the second type might be able to show courage to step in and be forgiven. But the first group is deep within the illness and pass the threshold of the point of no return. That’s why;
Bi ennehum kanu mucrimiyn; they defend the crime. I prefer the mucrimiyn word not as the criminal themselves but the defender of the crime. It becomes a noun like this, the action takes the form of a person. The action becomes that persons nature it becomes an inseperable part of him. So naturally he begins to defend the crime like he is a part of that. Because at that point defending himself also has the same meaning of defending the crime. This is more accurate for the people that are mentioned here.
67-) Elmunafikune vel munafikatu ba’duhum min ba’d* ye’murune Bil munkeri ve yenhevne anil ma’rufi ve yakbidune eydiyehum* nesullahe fenesiyehum* innel munafikiyne humul fasikun;
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another… They order what is against the command of Allah and prevent what is right; they are stingy… They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them! Indeed, the hypocrites are the very corrupted ones (in faith)! (A.Hulusi)
The Hypocrites, men and women, are alike with each other: They enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and tighten their purse’s strings. They have forgotten Allah; so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Elmunafikune vel munafikatu ba’duhum min ba’d The Hypocrites, men and women, are alike with each other. Let’s read it one more time, Elmunafikune vel munafikatu ba’duhum min ba’d The Hypocrites, men and women, are alike with each other. Sure they are. Those who turn their nature into hypocracy always give the same reactions to same circumstances.
They use similar languages, they have the same perspective to earth and things and life. And since both of them have the same illness and scars, if they are threathened by any way, you see that they use the same defenses even if they are on the other sides of the world.
They even have the same expressions in their faces, when you look at one of them, you see Abdullah bin Ubey bin Selul’s face, you immediately understand that their are veiled from inside. They are similar to one another.
ye’murune Bil munkeri ve yenhevne anil ma’rufi ve yakbidune eydiyehum And here Qur’an gives us the universal measures and standards of a hypocrite. It is solved just like that.
So what are these universal hypocracy standards? They offer and advise the wrong and false and prevent you to do the right. If they have the authority to do, they even order you to do the wrong and restrict you to do the right. They restrain the doctors and release the rabid dogs. They are like diseases on earth. This is an international standard by the way. So what else? ve yakbidune eydiyehum they won’t even move their hands for the good.
In 71st verse we will encounter the definition of true believer. It will be the exact opposite of this verses definition of hypocrites. In every scale the actions and perspectives of a true believer and a hypocrite differ. One side says white while the other side insists on black. The exact opposite.
Life perspective of a hypocrite is upside down. His truth becomes upside down that’s why he’s angry to stars because he sees them smaller. He has no concept of depth, he doesn’t admit that the stars look small because his position and eyesight are small. That’s why when you ask him about the things he sees, he complains you about the dirt on the window. You look outside from the windown and you ses something else entirely. But he only sees the window and the dirt on it. That’s why you cannot agree with him for anything. You see the forest outside the window so you reach, he doesn’t see the forest because of the window so he doesn’t reach.
nesullahe fenesiyehum They have forgotten Allah; so He has forgotten them.
Another secret of universal mischief standards is decoded here by Qur’an. While describing the hypocrites with all those similar attributes, this is now added to the list. They ignore Allah. We mentioned it above, they ignore Allah’s will to earn peoples will. This was their agenda. Qur’an defines this as forgetting Allah. So naturally Allah ignores them as well. If we open the text here we also understand that Allah doesn’t forget them, instead Allah chooses to ignore them.
innel munafikiyne humul fasikun; Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse. This sentence as our origin, we reach this conclusion. There’s an illness among people, a virus that consumes the heart. If a person is infected and there’s still hope to cure him, Qur’an spares him to one side as always. But those who are way deep in the sickness, people who have no hope to be cured, Qur’an calls them that they are the real perverses. They don’t accept any remedy and they are far beyond the reach of help, as this word suggests, fasikun.
Fasikun, more than leaving the path and alienate the nature within, it’s about lack of Fundamentals, crushing the natural format in soul and reformatting it with an evil nature. Hence an incurable genetic illness, that’s why this word represents both fasik (mischief) and munafik (mischievious).
Here on the March of Tabuk, those who have fears and concerns regarding social and local bases and those who have hatred inside against the revelations and unable to contain and fall into mockery are seperated.
There might be social concerns, it’s possible. It can even be seen in believers as a weakness. A believer might lie as well. It’s a sign for mischief. Rasulallah says;
Ayetu’l- munafiki selasun. There are three signs of hypocracy,
Iza haddese, kezebe. Lies when he talks.
Ve iza veade ahlefe. Breaks when he promises.
Ve ize’ tumine hane. Betrays when he is entrusted with something.
You cannot call a person hypocrite if he doesn’t carry all three signs. These are signs but that doesn’t mean the person is terminally ill. Lying is a sign but not every liar is hypocrite. To call someone hypocrite he should be beyond redemption and has no chance to remedy the nature that Allah put inside.
68-) VaadAllahul munafikiyne vel munafikati vel kuffara nare cehenneme halidiyne fiyha* hiye hasbuhum* ve leanehumullah* ve lehum azabun mukiym;
Allah has promised the fire of hell to the hypocrite men and women, and the deniers of the knowledge of the reality, to abide therein eternally… This is sufficient for them… Allah has cursed them (they are deprived of the Rahim quality in their Name composition). There is unceasing suffering for them. (A.Hulusi)
Allah hath promised the Hypocrites men and women, and the rejecters of Faith, the fire of Hell: Therein shall they dwell: Sufficient is it for them: for them is the curse of Allah, and an enduring punishment,- (A.Yusuf Ali)
VaadAllahul munafikiyne vel munafikati vel kuffara nare cehenneme halidiyne fiyha Allah has promised the Hypocrites men and women, and the rejecters of Faith, the fire of Hell: Therein shall they dwell:
If we read this part carefully, these hypocrites are the ones who become terminally ill with the disease of heart, those whose nature turn evil an deven they are blasphemers they still wear the mask of believers. So their promise from Allah is the fire of Hell. hiye hasbuhum Sufficient is it for them: ve leanehumullah for them is the curse of Allah. Curse of Allah, it’s as Allah leave them to themselves. It’s enough to be left out from Allah’s mercy to call something as the curse of Allah. ve lehum azabun mukiym; There is unceasing suffering for them.
69-) Kelleziyne min kablikum kanu eshedde minkum kuvveten ve eksera emvalen ve evlada* festemteu Bi halakihim festemta’tum Bi halakikum kemestemtealleziyne min kablikum Bi halakihim ve hudtum kelleziy hadu* ulaike habitat a’maluhum fiyd dunya vel ahireti, ve ulaike humul hasirun;
(Just) like those before you… They were stronger than you in power… They were more abundant than you in wealth and offspring… They benefited from their share of worldly bounties… Like those before you benefited from their share, you also benefited from your share, and you indulged as they had indulged! Their deeds have become vain both in this world and the one to come… They are the very losers. (A.Hulusi)
As in the case of those before you: they were mightier than you in power, and more flourishing in wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of their portion: and ye have of yours, as did those before you; and ye indulge in idle talk as they did. They!- their work are fruitless in this world and in the Hereafter, and they are the losers. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Kelleziyne min kablikum As in the case of those before you. Say them; “You are just like those before you. More than that you are almost like the deniers.” Qur’an suggests that all hypocrites whether man or woman, in every time and geography are alike. Just like the nature of faith hasn’t changed throughout the time, the nature of denial hasn’t changed as well. That’s why we were mentioning the universal standards of mischief.
Surely there are standards of faith as well. This verse however shows us that the nature of mischief hasn’t been changed with all those people, generations, places. Here the hypocrites are displayed without their masks. The message here and the following verse is actually about this.
kanu eshedde minkum kuvveten ve eksera emvalen ve evlada They were stronger than you in power… They were more abundant than you in wealth and offspring…
The masks are off. Qur’an addresses them with their core natures, showing the hypocrites without their mask, exactly as who they are, blasphemers. Revelations says; “Don’t you see how we responded those who resist on denial in the past? What happened to them, even you wear these masks will happen to you. If you continue on wearing these mask to avoid this fate, know that unmasking you isn’t a hard thing for Allah.” So according to these verses, this is an unmasking operation.
festemteu Bi halakihim Very interesting here we see a reference to a basic value and it summarize the entire perspective of denial and the lifestyle of deniers. festemteu Bi halakihim They had their enjoyment of their portion. In the past they got their shares from the world.
festemta’tum Bi halakikum kemestemtealleziyne min kablikum Bi halakihim Like those before you benefited from their share, you also benefited from your share, and you indulged as they had indulged! Text doesn’t carry a news, instead it makes a criticism to behaviours. That’s why when I translate it, I tried to find a selective verb. This is a criticism. It’s about the things you choose and how they might be similar to those who indulged themselves with the world before. So it is said this, If you choose exactly the same as those losers before, why do you expect a different fate then them. Look at your choices and understand your destinations.
ve hudtum kelleziy hadu you indulged as they had indulged! ulaike habitat a’maluhum fiyd dunya vel ahirah Their deeds have become vain both in this world and the one to come… Of course thext doesn’t say that all efforts will be in vain, sincere good deeds will surely be rewarded. Here the meaning is, all those traps against faith, all those hidings and efforts to cover up their blasphemy, all those will be in vain and their true faces will be revealed when their masks come off.
ve ulaike humul hasirun; They are the very losers.
70-) Elem ye’tihim nebeulleziyne min kablihim kavmi Nuhin ve Adin ve Semude ve kavmi Ibrahiyme ve ashabi Medyene velMu’tefikat* etethum Rusuluhum Bil beyyinat* fema kanAllahu liyazlimehum ve lakin kanu enfusehum yazlimun;
Has there not reached them the news of those before them, the people of Noah, Aad, Thamud, the people of Abraham, and the companions of Madyan and the people of Lot? Their Rasuls had come to them as clear signs! And it was not Allah who was doing wrong to them, but they were doing wrong to themselves. (A.Hulusi)
Hath not the story reached them of those before them?- the People of Noah, and Aad, and Thamud; the People of Abraham, the men of Midian, and the Cities overthrown. To them came their messengers with Clear Signs. It is not Allah Who wrongs them, but they wrong their own souls. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Elem ye’tihim nebeulleziyne min kablihim kavmi Nuhin ve Adin ve Semude ve kavmi Ibrahiyme ve ashabi Medyene velMu’tefikat Has there not reached them the news of those before them, the people of Noah, Aad, Thamud, the people of Abraham, and the companions of Madyan and the people of Lot?
Like I explained it before in this translation, if you learn your choice, it becomes easier to learn your destiny. That’s why Qur’an says; If you wonder your future, check what you choose. Whatever the fate befall to people who had the same choices, you will meet the same fate. Because Allah acts with laws, laws that He personally created. So here we have a reference of those who choose blasphemy.
You remember 67th verse, with the addition of mu’tefikat adjective that has the meaning of upside down. It’s a reference to the fate of Lot Community, Sodom and Gomora. But in fact all civilizations throughout the history, all communities that have been lost in history are Mu’tefikat. Upside down, finished civilizations.
etethum Rusuluhum Bil beyyinat* Their Rasuls had come to them as clear signs! fema kanAllahu liyazlimehum ve lakin kanu enfusehum yazlimun And it was not Allah who was doing wrong to them, but they were doing wrong to themselves. Allah never wrong anyone, people are the ones who are capable of harming others and themselves. By facing away Allah’s mercy, a person does the worst thing to himself.
71-) Vel mu’minune vel mu’minatu ba’duhum evliyau ba’d* ye’murune Bil ma’rufi ve yenhevne anilmunkeri ve yukiymunes Salate ve yu’tunez Zekate ve yutiy’unAllahe ve RasuleHU, ulaike seyerhamuhumullah* innAllahe Aziyzun Hakiym;
The believing men and women are guardians of one another… They enjoin what is right, as the requisite of the reality, and prevent each other from the wrong; they establish salat and give alms (zakah), and they obey Allah and His Rasul… They are the ones to whom Allah’s grace will reach… Indeed, Allah is the Aziz, the Hakim. (A.Hulusi)
The Believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, pay Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. On them will Allah pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Vel mu’minune vel mu’minatu ba’duhum evliyau ba’d The believing men and women are guardians of one another.
We studied the hypocrite men and women a while back and now the opposite side is here, believing men and women. As you remember the 67th verse was about the hypocrites and there was mentioned the nature of hypocracy, the standards of being two faced. Faith has universal standards and nature as well. No matter where, when and how they might live, every believer is friend, guardian and protector to one another.
Of course here we see the expression ba’duhum evliyau ba’d In 67th verse it was ba’duhum min ba’d Evliya word wasn’t used to describe hypocrites. Instead we only see Min ba’d. Why? There’s a subtle wordplay here since believers are friends to one another for the sake of Allah first. But hypocrites don’t have that kind of feature so their relations are based on gain. They are not bound with values like virtue and morality. This is the basic difference between believers and hypocrites.
Believers are all friends because faith declares that they are brothers and sisters without seeking any gain. But mischief don’t have this feature and this fact reflects to these words.
ye’murune Bil ma’rufi ve yenhevne anilmunker They enjoin what is right, as the requisite of the reality, and prevent each other from the wrong. They stand active against the evil.
ve yukiymunes Salate ve yu’tunez Zekate ve yutiy’unAllahe ve RasuleHU they establish salat (sincerely) and give alms (zakah), and they obey Allah and His Rasul…
You noticed I added a comment (sincerely). Because both in salat and zekat this expression of sincerity is required.
Why? In order to understand this we should check the 54th verse of this chapter. In that verse we see ve la ye’tunes Salate illa ve hum kusala.. they establish their salats without hearts. Again; ve la yunfikune illa ve hum karihun; when they give alms and do charity, they do it by force.
When the nature of hypocracy is explained, doing prayers by force is a sign. They do good deeds not from the order of their hearts but the reason of other peoples opinions. These type of behaviours are the opposite of true believers. That’s why adding sincerity here gives us a clearer picture.
ulaike seyerhamuhumullah On them will Allah pour His mercy: innAllahe Aziyzun Hakiym; for Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.
72-) VaadAllahul mu’miniyne vel mu’minati cennatin tecriy min tahtihel enharu halidiyne fiyha ve mesakine tayyibeten fiy cennati adn* ve ridvanun minAllahi Ekber* zalike huvel fevzul aziym;
Allah has promised the believing men and women Paradises underneath which rivers flow, in which they will abide eternally… And clean dwellings in Paradises of Eden, and the pleasure of Allah, which is the most magnificent (of all blessings)! This is the great bliss! (A.Hulusi)
Allah hath promised to Believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting stay. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. that is the supreme felicity. (A.Yusuf Ali)
VaadAllahul mu’miniyne vel mu’minati cennatin tecriy min tahtihel enharu halidiyne fiyha Allah has promised the believing men and women Paradises underneath which rivers flow, in which they will abide eternally ve mesakine tayyibeten fiy cennati adna and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting stay. Actually adn means happiness, joy, everlasting peace. Its semantic roots allow it to be the same in every Sami languages including Hebrew.
ve mesakine tayyibeten fiy cennati adna and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting stay ve ridvanun minAllahi Ekber But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. The greatest joy of all is Allah’s Ridvan, Allah’s acceptance.There’s a reference here to the peak of human-Allah relations. Love and acceptance. Life is a gift from Allah. Gift to salvation and salvation to gift. Both have the same root. Allah grants you salvation and you gift your life back. Acceptance can only be achieved this way.
zalike huvel fevzul aziym; This is the great bliss!
73-) Ya eyyuhen Nebiyyu cahidilkuffare vel munafikiyne vagluz aleyhim* ve me’vahum cehennem* ve bi’sel mesiyr;
O Nabi! Strive with those who deny the knowledge and the hypocrites, and do not show them any compromise! Their shelter is hell! How wretched a place of return! (A.Hulusi)
O Prophet! strive hard against the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Ya eyyuhen Nebiyyu cahidilkuffare vel munafikiyne vagluz aleyhim O Prophet! strive hard against the Unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them.
We might witness the call for opposite type of behaviours for the prophet. For example, Huzil afve (Araf/199) Stick to forgiveness. Or Choose the easier for humanity.
In another expression ve asfeh.. (Bakara/109) Pardon them and overlook their offenses. In another verse we see differently. vagluz aleyhim Be harsh against them. So how should we understand the message and proceed? If we realize the web of occurances around Rasulallah, we might realize that these verse had arrived to adjust Rasulallah’s attitude and behaviours. Like, if Rasulallah acts more compassionate than normal Qur’an tells him to be firm or if Rasulallah begins to act more harshly Qur’an tells him to ease up.
Also the verse invites to Jihad. O Prophet; cahidilkuffare vel munafikıiyne Strive hard against deniers, both openly and closely deniers. Since Rasulallah had never fight against hypocrites, the order here is as we realize by its open meaning. As in not don the sword and shield and attack but fight to reveal the mischief in community and destroy the reason of that mischiefs existence. Eliminate all the germs and obstacles that lead people to blasphemy and mischief. Vaxinate them. This verse shows that all the compassionate attitude against all kinds of people including deniers and hypocrites changed that day. It became a reference to the elimination process of mischief.
ve me’vahum cehennem* ve bi’sel mesiyr; Their shelter is hell! How wretched a place of return!
74-) Yahlifune Billahi ma kalu* ve lekad kalu kelimetel kufri ve keferu ba’de Islamihim ve hemmu Bi ma lem yenalu* ve ma nakamu illa en agnahumullahu ve RasuluHU min fadliHI, fein yetubu yeku hayren lehum* ve in yetevellev yuazzibhumullahu azaben eliymen fiyd dunya vel ahireti, ve ma lehum fiyl Ardi min veliyyin ve la nasiyr;
They swear by Allah, their essential reality with His Names, that they did not say it… But indeed they did say the word of disbelief; those who deny the knowledge of the reality after accepting Islam attempted a bad thing that they will never be able to attain! They tried to take revenge just because Allah and His Rasul enriched them from His bounty… If they repent it will be better for them… But if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful suffering, both in this world and the eternal life to come… They have neither a protector nor a helper on the earth. (A.Hulusi)
They swear by Allah that they said nothing (evil), but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they uttered it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out: this revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them! If they repent, it will be best for them; but if they turn back (to their evil ways), Allah will punish them with a grievous chastisement in this life and in the Hereafter: They shall have none on earth to protect or help them. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Yahlifune Billahi ma kalu* They swear by Allah that they said nothing evil ve lekad kalu kelimetel kufri ve keferu ba’de Islamihim ve hemmu Bi ma lem yenalu but indeed they uttered blasphemy, and they uttered it after accepting Islam; and they meditated a plot which they were unable to carry out.
Translators while seeking answer to the question of what is that plot that they were unable to complete, they deduce the assassination attempt to Rasulallah by hypocrites. True that may be but this verse stands taller than that level so it’s accurate to deduce even more and say in all times the target of deniers and hypocrites will never be achieved. The things they desire with mischief and blasphemy are always blocked with this celestial message that they won’t be able to get there. In 61st verse the ear reference was about the hesitation on revelations origins it is revealed that words of blasphemy here is related to that.
ve ma nakamu illa en agnahumullahu ve RasuluHU min fadliHI Here we encounter a situation in Qur’an that can be taken as dark humor. It is said with ironic attitude. This revenge of theirs was (their) only return for the bounty with which Allah and His Messenger had enriched them. As in the reason of the hatred against Allah and Rasulallah was because hypocrites saw goodness from them. With and old saying; “Feed the crow and it pecks your eyes.” They only see goodness from Allah and His Rasul and that was enough for them to nurture hatred. By nature they were twisted for sure because only a disturbed mind feel the need to hate for beings that make good for them.
Also a pronoun here just like 62nd verses unity precision, min fadliHI. In there pronoun came after Allah and Rasulallah but in singular form. For Allah’s grace and mercy. Because only Allah has grace, there’s no Rasulallah’s grace in this matter since even Rasulallah is in need of Allah’s grace. So like we said the precision of unity shows itself here.
fein yetubu yeku hayren lehum* If they repent it will be better for them.ve in yetevellev yuazzibhumullahu azaben eliymen fiyd dunya vel ahireti, But if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful suffering, both in this world and the eternal life to come ve ma lehum fiyl Ardi min veliyyin ve la nasiyr; They have neither a protector nor a helper on the earth.
75-) Ve minhum men ahedAllahe lein atana min fadliHI le nassaddekanne ve lenekunenne mines salihiyn;
And among them are some who promised Allah, “If You give to us from Your bounty, we will surely give offerings and be among the righteous.” (A.Hulusi)
Amongst them are men who made a covenant with Allah, that if He bestowed on them of His bounty, they would give (largely) in charity, and be truly amongst those who are righteous. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Ve minhum men ahedAllahe lein atana min fadliHI le nassaddekanne ve lenekunenne mines salihiyn And among them are some who promised Allah, “If You give to us from Your bounty, we will surely give offerings and be among the righteous.” Hypocrites use this excuse in situations like this. Helping others, doing good deeds, they think this isn’t about the human nature but simple wealth business. They say, “Those people have their opportunities and wealth to do good things, so they do. We don’t have their wealth so we cannot. If we also have that, we would have done the exact same things.”
A complete hypocritical approach. Ignoring faith is the one and the greatest opportunity and trying to replace it with simple coins. So what’s Qur’ans response to that, let’s see.
76-) Felemma atahum min fadliHI behilu Bihi ve tevellev ve hum mu’ridun;
But when He gave to them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away from their promise. (A.Hulusi)
But when He did bestow of His bounty, they became misers, and turned back (from their covenant), averse (from its fulfillment). (A.Yusuf Ali)
Felemma atahum min fadliHI behilu Bihi ve tevellev ve hum mu’ridun But when He gave to them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away from their promise.
Yes, this clarifies the nature of hypocracy. Always bargaining with Allah. He wants but when he achieves he breaks his words. Slippery by nature and this verse lights that feature on him. On the basis of humanities mishief nature lies earth, leanancy towards the world and the passion for wealth. It is also the germ of that mischief according to this verse.
77-) Fe a’kabehum nifakan fiy kulubihim ila yevmi yelkavneHU Bi ma ahlefullahe ma veaduhu ve Bi ma kanu yekzibun;
Because they failed to keep their promise and lied, (Allah) made them experience the hypocrisy in their consciousness, until the day they will meet (Him)! (A.Hulusi)
So He hath put as a consequence hypocrisy into their hearts, (to last) till the Day whereon they shall meet Him: because they broke their covenant with Allah, and because they lied (again and again). (A.Yusuf Ali)
Fe a’kabehum nifakan fiy kulubihim ila yevmi yelkavneHU Because they failed to keep their promise and lied, (Allah) made them experience the hypocrisy in their consciousness. This is Allah’s response to their response. They choose and Allah respects their choices because the free will that was given before isn’t ignored here. But there’s surely a consequence. “If you choose mischief then let me wrap your choices around your heads and maket hem your disasters.”
Bi ma ahlefullahe ma veaduhu ve Bi ma kanu yekzibun; because they broke their covenant with Allah, and because they lied again and again.
78-) Elem ya’lemu ennAllahe ya’lemu sirrahum ve necvahum ve ennAllahe Allamal guyub;
Did they (still) not understand that Allah knows in detail what is in their essence, and their whisperings, and what is unknown to them (as He creates and comprises their essential reality with His Names)! (A.Hulusi)
Know they not that Allah doth know their secret (thoughts) and their secret counsels, and that Allah knoweth well all things unseen? (A.Yusuf Ali)
Elem ya’lemu ennAllahe ya’lemu sirrahum ve necvahum Did they (still) not understand that Allah knows in detail what is in their essence, and their whisperings? Before Tabuk March hypocrites were constantly gathering and making secret meetings. Here our Rabb uncovers those meetings as a reference and says that Allah is aware of all their secrets.
ve ennAllahe Allamal guyub and that Allah knows well all things unseen.
79-) Elleziyne yelmizunel muttavvi’iyne minel mu’miniyne fiys sadakati velleziyne la yecidune illa cuhdehum feyesharune minhum* sehirAllahu minhum* ve lehum azabun eliym;
As for those who criticize the believers who voluntarily contribute more than they have to in charity, and those who cannot find much (due to their poverty), Allah will ridicule them… There is a painful suffering for them. (A.Hulusi)
Those who slander such of the believers as give themselves freely to (deeds of) charity, as well as such as can find nothing to give except the fruits of their labor,- and throw ridicule on them,- Allah will throw back their ridicule on them: and they shall have a grievous chastisement. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Elleziyne yelmizunel muttavvi’iyne minel mu’miniyne fiys sadakati velleziyne la yecidune illa cuhdehum feyesharune minhum As for those who criticize the believers who voluntarily contribute more than they have to in charity, and those who cannot find much (due to their poverty), Allah will ridicule them.
Interesting, according to the records we see in Buhari and Muslim directly from Abu Mesud, they were saying “Look at this show off.” when they saw a person giving more than he used to. Excuse of a hypocrite is always against Allah. For a hypocritical mentality, all charity works are in their excuse center. They also say things like “They bring these handful of date fruits as if Allah is in need for that?” to people who are in need themselves but give whatever they can even with small amounts.
Another story on this subject, Abu Akil was a believer who tried to maintain his life with whatever he could. He drew water from a Jews well all day until the night, his hands were blistered and the pay was a bag of date fruit. He took that bag and want to the possessions that were gathered for Tabuk March. With humble and blistered hands he emptied his bag there for charity with all his heart.
Of course hypocrites began to talk. Some even laughed at his face to ridicule him. That charity fo that person which he had nothing more than that bag of fruit was more valuable that any given possession in that bunch but those hypocrites were unable to understand that.
sehirAllahu minhum* ve lehum azabun eliym; Allah will ridicule them… There is a painful suffering for them.
80-) Istagfir lehum evla testagfirlehum* in testagfir lehum seb’iyne merraten felen yagfirAllahu lehum* zalike Bi ennehum keferu Billahi ve RasuliHI, vAllahu la yehdil kavmel fasikiyn;
Ask for their forgiveness, or don’t (it makes no difference)! Even if you were to ask forgiveness for them seventy times, never will Allah forgive them! This is because they denied Allah, their essential reality with His Names, and His Rasul! Allah will not enable a people whose faith is corrupted to experience the reality. (A.Hulusi)
Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, or not, (their sin is unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times for their forgiveness, Allah will not forgive them: because they have rejected Allah and His Messenger. and Allah guideth not those who are perversely rebellious. (A.Yusuf Ali)
Istagfir lehum evla testagfirlehum* Ask for their forgiveness, or don’t (it makes no difference)! in testagfir lehum seb’iyne merraten felen yagfirAllahu lehum Even if you were to ask forgiveness for them seventy times, never will Allah forgive them!
When Rasulallah did their final praying at their funeral Oman came and asked “Hasn’t Allah forbid you to do that?” Rasulallah answered, “I will forgive them and pray for them more than seventy, Allah let me.” For that story Gazali objects “This record from start to finish is fake. The number 70 is used for wordplay for eternity. Didn’t Rasulallah know that? He was aware of all subtle details of language.” We also agree with Gazali on this one.
zalike Bi ennehum keferu Billahi ve RasuliHI, because they have rejected Allah and His Messenger. vAllahu la yehdil kavmel fasikiyn and Allah guides not those who are perversely rebellious.
This verse and the following 33 verses, basically between 80 and 113, were rumored to sent down because of Abdullah bin Ubey bin Selul. But I don’t think the rumors are accurate since it doesn’t fit historically so specticism will be a part of our next lesson. But to our Rabb that showed the examples of going away from the path of nature, we pray; “O Rabb, don’t et us go astray from the path of nature, don’t condemn us to a life with masks, make us those people whose faith are opportunity and opportunities are faith. Last words from me are like always about being grateful to Allah.
“Ve ahiru davana velil hamdulillahi rabbil alemiyn” (Jonah/10) “Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds!” All products of our claims, causes and lives are for Allah and our last word to our Allah is “Hamd”.
“Esselamu aleykum.
KURAN MEAL TEFSİR (DERLEME) 