Surah At-Tawba (9) — Ayah 74

(Ayah74) ➊ {يَحْلِفُوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ مَا قَالُوْا:} The hypocrites would utter words of disbelief in their private gatherings, but when their cover was blown and their secrets exposed, they would swear false oaths and resort to deception. When the matter was proven by testimonies, they would make excuses, saying that they were only joking and engaging in light-hearted banter, and that you had taken them seriously, using their oaths as a shield. See Surah An-Nisa (62) and At-Tawbah (42, 56, 107).

➋ { وَ لَقَدْ قَالُوْا كَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ … :} What was the statement of disbelief that these hypocrites uttered? The Noble Qur’an has not specified it here, because it was not a single incident nor the statement of just one person; rather, it was the common practice of most, if not all, hypocrites, and they uttered words of disbelief on various occasions. Here, only one incident is mentioned as an example, which is briefly mentioned in Surah Al-Munafiqun and in more detail in Bukhari and Muslim. Zayd bin Arqam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was present in a battle and I heard Abdullah bin Ubayy saying: “Do not spend on those who are with Allah’s Messenger until they disperse from around him, and if we return to Madinah, the more honorable will surely expel the more disgraced.” I reported this to my uncle or to Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), and they mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called me and I told him what I had heard. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent for Abdullah bin Ubayy and his companions, and they all swore oaths that they had not said this, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) considered me a liar. I was overcome with worry as I had never been before, and I stayed at home. My uncle said to me, “What did you want, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) considered you a liar and was angry with you?” Then Allah revealed Surah Al-Munafiqun, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sent for me, recited this Surah to me, and said: “Zayd! Allah has declared you truthful.” [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب قولہ : «إذا جاء ک المنافقون… » : ۴۹۰۰، ۴۹۰۱۔ مسلم : ۲۷۷۲ ]

➌ { وَ هَمُّوْا بِمَا لَمْ يَنَالُوْا …:} That is, the hypocrites did not achieve what they intended, and this failure and disappointment did not happen just once, but they were always unsuccessful in their evil schemes and conspiracies. Here are a few examples: (1) They wanted to kill the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and uproot Islam. (2) They wanted to cut off the financial resources of the Mujahideen. (3) They wanted to see the Jews settled in Madinah. (4) They wanted to crown Abdullah bin Ubayy as king. (5) They wanted to establish Masjid Dirar as a base against the Muslims. (6) They wished to see the Muslims wiped out by the Romans at Tabuk, but they failed in all their plans. The furthest they went was their plot to kill the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the return from the Battle of Tabuk. On the way, ‘Aqabah was a high, difficult, and narrow place. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) announced that he would take that route, so no one else should go that way. Some hypocrites violated this order and planned to kill him at that spot. The following narration from Sahih Muslim sheds light on this incident: Abu Tufail narrates that there was a dispute between one of the people involved in the ‘Aqabah incident and Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him, the special confidant of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him). The man said: “I adjure you to tell me how many people were involved in the ‘Aqabah incident.” (Hudhayfah hesitated), so the people said: “Since he is asking, tell him.” He said: “We were told that they were fourteen. If you were among them, then they were fifteen. And I swear by Allah that twelve of them are enemies of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world and on the Day when witnesses will be brought forth. As for the remaining three, they apologized, saying that they had neither heard the Messenger of Allah’s announcer nor knew what those people intended.” [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین : 2779/11 ] In Bayhaqi’s Dala’il an-Nubuwwah, it is mentioned that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), Hudhayfah bin al-Yaman and Ammar bin Yasir (may Allah be pleased with them), recognized them and called out to them, so they fled (because their plan failed due to its secrecy being compromised). The author of {’’هداية المستنير‘‘} has cited Dala’il an-Nubuwwah (7/260) and declared it Sahih li ghayrihi. This narration clarifies the hadith of Sahih Muslim.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among my Ummah are twelve hypocrites who will neither enter Paradise nor smell its fragrance, until a camel passes through the eye of a needle. For eight of them, a boil will suffice, which will be a lamp of fire that will emerge from their shoulders until it appears from their chests.” [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین، باب صفات المنافقین… : 2779/10 ]

74. 1. The commentators have narrated several incidents in its explanation, in which the hypocrites uttered disrespectful words about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which some Muslims heard and came to inform the Prophet ﷺ, but upon his inquiry, they denied it and even swore that they had not said such a thing. Upon this, this verse was revealed. From this, it is also understood that showing disrespect to the Prophet ﷺ is disbelief; one who shows disrespect to the Prophet ﷺ can no longer remain a Muslim.

74. 2. Regarding this as well, some incidents have been narrated. For example, on the return from Tabuk, the hypocrites plotted a conspiracy against the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in which they did not succeed: ten or twelve hypocrites followed him in a mountain pass where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was passing almost alone, separated from the rest of the army. Their plan was to attack him and finish him off. This was informed to him through revelation, by which he protected himself.

75. 3. After the migration of the Muslims, Madinah gained central importance, due to which trade and business also flourished there, and the economic condition of the people of Madinah became very good. The hypocrites of Madinah also greatly benefited from this. In this verse, Allah Almighty is saying: Are they displeased that Allah has enriched them out of His bounty? Rather, they should be grateful to Allah Almighty that He has brought them out of poverty and made them prosperous.

They swear by Allah that they did not say it, but in fact they uttered the word of disbelief [89] and disbelieved after accepting Islam. They also intended something which they could not accomplish [90]. And they resented nothing except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them out of His bounty [91]. So if they repent, it will be better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And they will have no protector or helper on the earth.

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Disrespecting the Messenger is an Act of Disbelief:

What was the word of disbelief that these hypocrites uttered? The Quran has not specified it here. This is because it was not a single isolated incident, but rather, on several occasions, these people uttered such words of disbelief, as mentioned in the narrations. However, we will suffice with the incident that is briefly mentioned in Surah Munafiqun and in a bit more detail in Bukhari. Sayyiduna Zayd bin Arqam says that during a battle (on the return from the Battle of Banu Mustaliq, when there was a dispute between the Muhajirun and the Ansar), I heard Abdullah bin Ubayy saying, "People! Do this: those who have gathered around the Prophet (the Muhajirun), do not give them anything for their expenses. They will leave him on their own. And if we return to Madinah after the battle, the honorable one (i.e., Abdullah bin Ubayy himself) will expel the lowly one (i.e., Muhammad ﷺ)." I related these words to my uncle (Sa'd bin 'Ubadah) or to Sayyiduna 'Umar ؓ. They informed the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ first called me and asked, so I admitted to these words. Then the Prophet ﷺ called Abdullah bin Ubayy and his companions, but they denied and began to swear oaths that they had never said such a thing. The Prophet ﷺ considered me a liar and Abdullah bin Ubayy truthful (because he and his companions were also swearing oaths). I was so grieved by this that I had never been before. I stayed at home. My uncle said, "Oh! What have you done? After all, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ considered you a liar and was displeased." At that time, Allah revealed Surah Munafiqun, so the Prophet ﷺ called me and recited this Surah to me. Afterwards, he said: "Zayd, Allah has confirmed your statement." [بخاري۔ كتاب التفسير۔ سورة المنافقون]

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Some of the Hypocrites' Plots in Which They Failed:

There are countless such incidents proven from the Book and Sunnah, for example, the same incident mentioned above. Secondly, in every battle, they would conspire with the Quraysh of Makkah or the Jews so that the Muslims would be defeated, but they failed in this objective as well. Thirdly, for their secret plots and mischief, they built a deceptive base in the form of Masjid Dhirar, which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, upon returning from the Battle of Tabuk, immediately had set on fire and destroyed by the command of Allah. Fourthly, in connection with this Battle of Tabuk, there is the incident that occurred during the return from this journey.

The Failed Plot to Assassinate the Messenger of Allah ﷺ:

In which the hypocrites, God forbid, had plotted to kill the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and these conspirators were later called the People of 'Aqabah (those of the mountain pass). Their plan was that, while traveling at night on the difficult mountain paths, at the place of the pass, they would separate the Prophet ﷺ from the army and suddenly attack him, lift him from his mount, and throw him down into the pass to kill him, and no one would know of the incident. When the Prophet ﷺ reached this pass, Allah informed him through revelation. At that time, the Prophet ﷺ ordered a man to announce throughout the army that no one should come towards the pass and that everyone should go by the valley route, which was easier and open. At that time, Sayyiduna Hudhayfah bin Yaman ؓ was leading the Prophet’s ﷺ camel from the front, and Sayyiduna 'Ammar bin Yasir ؓ was driving it from behind. Upon this announcement, all the Muslims took the valley route, but these hypocrites, disregarding the Prophet’s ﷺ command, were intent on carrying out their evil plan. Suddenly, four hypocrites, with their faces covered, reached the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ ordered Sayyiduna Hudhayfah to strike hard blows on the faces of the hypocrites’ mounts. He struck their mounts’ faces forcefully with his shield, saying, "Enemies of Allah! Get away!" From Sayyiduna Hudhayfah’s call, the hypocrites realized that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had been informed of their plan. Therefore, they quickly rejoined the Muslim army. The Prophet ﷺ told Sayyiduna Hudhayfah the names of these hypocrites and even their fathers, and also instructed that their names should not be disclosed to anyone. Sayyiduna Hudhayfah recognized these hypocrites fully, but he never revealed this secret of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, which is why he was called "the Keeper of the Prophet’s Secret." The following hadith from Sahih Muslim sheds full light on this incident. Once, there was a dispute between Sayyiduna Hudhayfah ؓ and one of the people of 'Aqabah. That person said, "I ask you by Allah, how many were the people of 'Aqabah?" The people said to Sayyiduna Hudhayfah, "Since he is asking, please tell him." Sayyiduna Hudhayfah said, "We have been informed that they were fourteen, and if you were among them, then fifteen. And I swear by Allah that twelve of them are enemies of Allah and His Messenger in this world and the Hereafter. As for the remaining three, they made an excuse that they had not heard the Prophet’s call and did not know what those people intended." [مسلم۔ كتاب صفة المنافقين و احكامهم]

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Along with the Muslims, the Hypocrites Also Enjoyed Prosperity:

When the Muslims migrated to Madinah, at that time the economy of Madinah was dominated by the Jews. They were a wealthy and usurious people. Trade was in their hands. They made and sold weapons of war. In addition, they also dealt in alcohol. Along with this economic superiority, they had also gained political superiority by inciting the Aws and Khazraj against each other. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived, this political superiority passed from the Jews to the Muslims. Through brotherhood (mu’akhah) and the blessings of the Prophet’s ﷺ supplication, the Muslims’ economy improved. Then, through the spoils of war, the Muslims became prosperous, and in all these matters, the hypocrites also shared. Allah Almighty is saying to the hypocrites that it is because of Allah and His Messenger that you have attained prosperity; then if you show disloyalty by becoming enemies to them, you will suffer humiliation and disgrace in this world and severe punishment in the Hereafter.