Turning Away from Allah and Negligence
The command of the Exalted Allah is:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ ﴿٦٠﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ ﴿٦١﴾ وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَلَدَيْنَا كِتَابٌ يَنطِقُ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ بَلْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فِي غَمْرَةٍ مِّنْ هَٰذَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْمَالٌ مِّن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ هُمْ لَهَا عَامِلُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَخَذْنَا مُتْرَفِيهِم بِالْعَذَابِ إِذَا هُمْ يَجْأَرُونَ ﴿٦٤﴾ لَا تَجْأَرُوا الْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّكُم مِّنَّا لَا تُنصَرُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ قَدْ كَانَتْ آيَاتِي تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْكُمْ فَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ تَنكِصُونَ ﴿٦٦﴾ مُسْتَكْبِرِينَ بِهِ سَامِرًا تَهْجُرُونَ ﴿٦٧﴾
“We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity; with Us is a Book that speaks the truth. No injustice will be done to them. Yet their hearts are heedless of this, and they have many other deeds they are to perform. Until when We seize those who are at ease among them in punishment, suddenly they will be gasping. ‘Do not gasp today! Indeed, you will not be helped from Us.’ Our verses were recited to you, yet you turned away on your heels, arrogant, stiff-necked, fabricating falsehood and leaving it aside.”
In contrast, the conduct of the believers
«أن عائشة زوج النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قالت: سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن هذه ﴿وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ﴾ (المؤمنون: 60) Aisha said: Are they the ones who drink alcohol and steal? He said: No, O daughter of the truthful one, but they are those who fast, pray, and give charity, yet they fear that it may not be accepted from them.
Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, asked: Who are the fearful ones? Are they those who drink alcohol, commit immorality, and steal? The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: No, rather they are those who pray, fast, give charity and good deeds, but they constantly fear that these may not be accepted.
Spreading rumors. Lying. Contradiction between words and actions
At one place, Allah Almighty says:
﴿هَلْ أُنَبِّئُكُمْ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ الشَّيَاطِينُ ﴿٢٢١﴾ تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ ﴿٢٢٢﴾ يُلْقُونَ السَّمْعَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ كَاذِبُونَ ﴿٢٢٣﴾ وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ ﴿٢٢٤﴾ أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ يَهِيمُونَ ﴿٢٢٥﴾ وَأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ مَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ ﴿٢٢٦﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَانتَصَرُوا مِن بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ ﴿٢٢٧﴾
“Shall I tell you upon whom the devils descend? They descend upon every lying sinner who delivers hearsay that they have heard, and most of them are liars. They follow poets who go astray. Have you not seen that poets roam in every valley, boasting? And they say what they do not do. Except those who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allah often and take revenge after they have been wronged. And the wrongdoers will soon know to what return they will be returned.”
Preventing from the Straight Path of Allah
﴿وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ ﴿٣٦﴾ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَصُدُّونَهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُم مُّهْتَدُونَ ﴿٣٧﴾ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَنَا قَالَ يَا لَيْتَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ بُعْدَ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ فَبِئْسَ الْقَرِينُ ﴿٣٨﴾ وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ إِذ ظَّلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ ﴿٣٩﴾
“And whoever is heedless of the remembrance of the Most Merciful, We appoint for him a devil, and he becomes his companion. And indeed, they prevent them from the right way, while they think that they are guided. Until, when he comes to Us, he will say, ‘Oh, I wish there were between me and you the distance of the two easts.’ He will say to his companion, ‘Behold, we are separated.’ And it will be said, ‘Indeed, you and your companions are [to be] in the Fire.'”
Making Empty Claims
﴿وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ فَبِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٦٦﴾ وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا ۚ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا قَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُوا ۖ قَالُوا لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالًا لَّاتَّبَعْنَاكُمْ ۗ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ ۚ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ ﴿١٦٧﴾
“And whatever befell you on that day when two parties met was by the decree of Allah, and so that Allah might know the believers and so that He might know the hypocrites. Those who said to their brethren, ‘Come, fight in the way of Allah,’ but when fighting was ordained for them, they turned away, and they were filled with doubts. And Allah is Knowing of what they conceal.”
Not learning a lesson even after trial and warning, and taking the revelation lightly
﴿وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَٰذِهِ إِيمَانًا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ ﴿١٢٤﴾ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ ﴿١٢٥﴾ أَوَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَنَّهُمْ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ مَّرَّةً أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ لَا يَتُوبُونَ وَلَا هُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿١٢٦﴾ وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَاكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انصَرَفُوا ۚ صَرَفَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ ﴿١٢٧﴾ لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٢٨﴾ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ ﴿١٢٩﴾
“And when a Surah is revealed, the hypocrites say, ‘Which of you has had his faith increased by this Surah?’ But those who believe, it increases their faith and they rejoice. And those whose hearts are diseased, it adds to their impurity, and they die in disbelief. Do they not see that these people fall into some disaster once or twice every year? Yet they neither repent nor take admonition. And when a Surah is revealed, they look at each other to see if anyone is watching them, then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts away because they are a people without understanding. A Messenger has come to you from among yourselves; it grieves him that you should suffer. He is concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. But if they turn away, say, ‘Allah is sufficient for me; there is no deity except Him. In Him I have placed my trust, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.'”
Believers immediately prepare for Jihad
At one place it is said:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَا لَكُمْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ انفِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ اثَّاقَلْتُمْ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ۚ أَرَضِيتُم بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ ۚ فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ﴿٣٨﴾ إِلَّا تَنفِرُوا يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا وَيَسْتَبْدِلْ قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّوهُ شَيْئًا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٣٩﴾ إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٤٠﴾ انفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤١﴾
“O you who have believed, what is [the matter] with you that, when you are told to go forth in the cause of Allah, you adhere heavily to the earth? Are you satisfied with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But what is the enjoyment of worldly life compared to the Hereafter except a [very] little. If you do not go forth, He will punish you with a painful punishment and will replace you with another people, and you will not harm Him at all. And Allah is over all things competent. If you do not aid Him, He has already aided you when those who disbelieved had driven you out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ So Allah sent down His tranquillity upon him and supported him with soldiers you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. So arise, whether light or heavy, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the cause of Allah. That is best for you, if you should know.”
Allama Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in the exegesis of these verses:
“The Christian king of Rome, Heraclius, was reported to be preparing for battle against the Muslims, so the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ordered preparations for it. This event took place in Shawwal of the 9th Hijri year. The weather was extremely hot, and the journey was very long. This command was burdensome for some Muslims and hypocrites, which is expressed in this verse and they were reprimanded. This battle is called the Battle of Tabuk, which in reality did not take place; the Muslims stayed near Tabuk in the Syrian territory for two days and then returned. It is also called ”جيش العسره“ because during this long journey the army faced many hardships and difficulties. ”اثا قلتم“ means you are sluggish and want to lag behind; this was shown by some people but it was attributed to all.
Allah Almighty also helped His beloved Prophet when he took refuge in the cave and said to his companion (Abu Bakr): ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ The details of this are found in the Hadith.
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When we were in the cave, I said to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): If those polytheists who are pursuing us look down at their feet, they will see us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
«يا أبا بكر ما ظنك باثنين الله ثالثهما»
“O Abu Bakr! What do you think of two people for whom the third is Allah, meaning Allah’s help and support is with them.”
Deceiving, mocking the believers, and preferring falsehood over truth
In another place, Allah Almighty mentions the characteristics of the friends of Satan and says:
﴿خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰ أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٧﴾ وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨﴾ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿٩﴾ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ ﴿١١﴾ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٣﴾ وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ ﴿١٤﴾ اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿١٥﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٦﴾ مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿١٧﴾ صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿١٨﴾ أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ ﴿١٩﴾ يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا ۚ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿٢٠﴾
“Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their eyes is a veil, and for them is a great punishment. Some people say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ but in fact, they are not believers. They deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and they do not perceive it. There was a disease in their hearts, so Allah increased their disease, and for their lying, there is a painful punishment for them. And when it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption on the earth,’ they say, ‘We are only reformers.’ Beware! Indeed, they are the corrupters, but they do not perceive it. And when it is said to them, ‘Believe as the people have believed,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the fools have believed?’ Beware! They are the fools, but they do not know. And when they meet the believers, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, ‘Indeed, we are with you; we were only mocking.’ Allah mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression while they wander blindly. Those are the ones who have purchased error [in exchange] for guidance, so their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided. Their example is like one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see. Deaf, dumb, and blind – so they will not return [to the right path]. Or [their deeds are] like a rainstorm from the sky, within which is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps, in dread of death. But Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers. The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein; but as soon as it darkens, they stand still. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”
Allama Shawkani (may Allah have mercy on him) writes in the light of these verses:
“Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and other companions explained its meaning that when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to Medina, some people became Muslims but soon became hypocrites. Their example is like a person who was in darkness, then lit a light which illuminated his surroundings. Useless and harmful things became clear, but suddenly the light went out and he returned to darkness as before. This was the condition of the hypocrites. They were initially in the darkness of polytheism, then when they became Muslims, they came into the light and recognized what was lawful and unlawful, good and evil. Then they returned to disbelief and hypocrisy, and all the light was lost.”
Disturbing Worship
«عن ابي سعيد، قال: سمعت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إذا صلى احد شى يستره من الناس فاراد احد أن يجتاز بين يديه، فليدفعه فإن أبى فليقاتله فإنما هو شيطان»
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: When any of you is performing prayer, do not let anyone pass in front of him as much as possible; stop the one who tries to pass, and if he insists, then argue with him, because the devil is with the one who passes in front.
