Surah Al-Mujaadila (58) — Ayah 8

(Ayah 8) ➊ { اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ نُهُوْا عَنِ النَّجْوٰى …:} From here begins the reproach of the behavior of the Jews and hypocrites, which they had adopted. The Jews had made a peace treaty with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us) and used to come and go in his gatherings, and the hypocrites had apparently accepted faith and were members of the Muslim community, but their friendship was only with the Jews. The hypocrites and Jews had secretly formed their own group, and whenever they got the chance, in secret gatherings, they would make plans to sow discord among the Muslims, create mischief, and, by joining with the polytheists, harm the Muslims. If they came to the gathering of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us), they would keep whispering among themselves, which would diminish the value of the gathering and show that they had no interest in the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us) and his companions. Sometimes, while whispering among themselves, they would look at a Muslim and wink at each other, so that he would think they were talking about him. The Muslims were greatly troubled by this behavior of theirs. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us) forbade them from such gatherings in which they would secretly consult and conspire against Islam and the Muslims, and also forbade them from whispering separately in Muslim gatherings, but when they did not desist, Allah Almighty revealed these verses in the Noble Qur’an to express His displeasure with them.

➋ { وَ يَتَنٰجَوْنَ بِالْاِثْمِ وَ الْعُدْوَانِ وَ مَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُوْلِ:} Allah Almighty explained that their secret consultations and whisperings were either about such sins that related to themselves, or about such sins in which others were wronged and oppressed, or their whisperings were about disobeying the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us).

➌ { وَ اِذَا جَآءُوْكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللّٰهُ: ’’حَيِيَ يَحْيٰ حَيَاةً‘‘} ({خَشِيَ يَخْشٰي}) To be alive. {’’ حَيّٰي يُحَيِّيْ تَحِيَّةً ‘‘} (taf‘īl) To give a prayer for life and safety, to say salam. (See Nisa: 86) That is, when these Jews and their hypocrite allies come to you (peace and blessings be upon us), they say salam to you with such words with which Allah Almighty has not said salam to you. The special mention of Allah Almighty sending salam to you (peace and blessings be upon us) is in this verse: « يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا» [الأحزاب : ۵۶ ] “O you who have believed! Send blessings upon us and send salam, a thorough salam.” And the general mention is in this verse: « قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَ سَلٰمٌ عَلٰى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِيْنَ اصْطَفٰى » [ النمل : ۵۹ ] “Say: All praise is for Allah, and salam is upon His servants whom He has chosen.” The Jews, instead of saying {’’اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ‘‘}, would say {’’اَلسَّامُ عَلَيْكُمْ‘‘} (death be upon you). From the verse, it is known that the hypocrites also started doing this after seeing the Jews, just as they learned from the Jews to use the word {’’ رَاعِنَا ‘‘}—which is used to address you (peace and blessings be upon us)—as an insult, which Allah Almighty forbade and instead commanded to say {’’ انْظُرْنَا ‘‘}. (See Baqarah: 104) Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that some Jews came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon us) and said: [ اَلسَّامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ ! ] “O Abu al-Qasim! Death be upon you.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon us) replied: [ وَعَلَيْكُمْ ] “And upon you.” Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: [ بَلْ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّامُ وَالذَّامُ ] “Rather, death and curse be upon you.” So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us) said: [ يَا عَائِشَةُ! لَا تَكُوْنِيْ فَاحِشَةً ] “O Aisha! Do not be one who uses foul language.” Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Did you not hear what they said?” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon us) replied: [ أَوَ لَيْسَ قَدْ رَدَدْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِيْ قَالُوْا، قُلْتُ وَعَلَيْكُمْ ] “Did I not return to them what they said? I said {’’وَعَلَيْكُمْ ‘‘} ‘And upon you.’” So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed this verse: «وَ اِذَا جَآءُوْكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللّٰهُ» “And when they come to you, they greet you with words with which Allah has not greeted you.” [ مسلم، السلام، باب النھي عن ابتداء أھل الکتاب بالسلام… : ۱۱ /۲۱۶۵۔ مسند أحمد : ۶ /۲۲۹، ۲۳۰، ح : ۲۵۹۷۸ ]

➍ {وَ يَقُوْلُوْنَ فِيْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ لَوْ لَا يُعَذِّبُنَا اللّٰهُ بِمَا نَقُوْلُ …:} And in their hearts or in their private gatherings, they would consider this as proof that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon us) was not a Messenger, saying that if he were a Messenger, punishment would have come upon us for saying these words. Whereas, the very fact that Allah Almighty informed you (peace and blessings be upon us) of their action was sufficient proof of your truthfulness. As for punishment, it is not Allah Almighty’s way to seize for a sin immediately; He has even given respite to those who curse Him, so that they cannot say they were not given a chance, and just as with every matter, He has fixed a time for their punishment as well. Thus, after death, the punishment of Hell is prepared for them, and that is sufficient for them; with that, there is no need for any other punishment.