• The punishment of hurting the Apostle of God

• Hypocrites’ vain attempt to please the believers

• Their lame excuses and their punishment

At-Tawbah (Al-Bara’at) Verses 60 – 66

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

“Verily alms are only for the poor and the needy and the workers1(in the administration of the poor-rate) and those2whose heart’s alliance is sought and (the ransoming of) the captives, and those in debt, and in the way of God and the way-farer; a duty ordained by God; And God is All-Knowing, All-Wise3.” (9:60)

وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

“Among them4are those who hurt the Apostle (Muhammad) and say they (that) “he is (all)-ear” (i.e., one who believes in everything he hears); say (he Muhammad,) is the Ear5of good for you; he believeth in God and hath faith in the believers and a mercy unto those of you who believe, and those who hurt6the Apostle of God (Muhammad) for them is a grievous chastisement.” (9:61)

يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ لِيُرْضُوكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَحَقُّ أَن يُرْضُوهُ إِن كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ

“Swear they by God unto you that they might please you7; and (whereas) God and His Apostle (Muhammad) hath a greater right that they should please Him, if they are believers.” (9:62)

أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ مَن يُحَادِدِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَأَنَّ لَهُۥ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدًا فِيهَا ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْخِزْىُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

“Know they not that whoso opposeth8God and His Apostle (Muhammad) verily for him is the fire of Hell to abide therein? that is the grievous abasement.” (9:63)

يَحْذَرُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ أَن تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ قُلِ ٱسْتَهْزِءُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا تَحْذَرُونَ

“The hypocrites fear lest a ‘Sura9’ should be sent about them declaring openly unto them what is (there really) in their hearts; Say!10“Scoff ye! verily God bringeth forth what ye fear.” (9:64)

وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ

“If ye question them, surely will say they “We were only discoursing and jesting;” Say! What at God, His signs and His Apostles, scoff ye?” (9:65)

لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ إِن نَّعْفُ عَن طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنكُمْ نُعَذِّبْ طَآئِفَةًۢ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ

“Make ye not excuses, indeed ye have denied after ye had believed; If We pardon a party of you, we will chastise (another) party (of you) for surely, they are the guilty ones.” (9:66)

Commentary

Verse 61

It is left to the reader of the Holy Qur’an to apply this verse about those who teased the Holy Prophet and to those who are responsible for teasing the Holy Lady Fatema about whom the Holy Prophet had openly declared:

“Fatema is a part and parcel of mine, he who teased her has teased me, and he who teased me has teased God, and he who teased God is an infidel.”

Now whether he who caused the fall of the door upon the Holy Lady, and wounded her, consequent upon which the Holy Lady was martyred. Fatema was so much hurt that she willed that the tyrants shall not attend her funeral. What is the fate for such a tyrant and also the assassins of the Holy Ahl Al-Bayt?

‘Ozunun’, Ears - Abdullah Ibn Naofil was a hypocrite; whatever he used to hear from the Holy Prophet, and divulge everything to the public. God informed the Holy Prophet of this man’s conduct. The man was called and asked by the Holy Prophet, if he actually did it. He took an oath, saying, he did not do so. The Holy Prophet said that he would pardon him. The hypocrites came and told men that the Holy Prophet had very big ears for he hears whatever is said outside, away from him. It was then this verse was revealed (M.F.A., M.S.).

The leniency of the Holy Prophet towards the mischief-maker hypocrites and listening to their excuses with toleration made them to think to be very credulous, easily deceived by them. Thus, the tone here is similar to 3:158 and explains that it is due to his kindness and leniency and not any credulity that he listens to everyone and at the end worries them against annoying the Holy Prophet. Here and more severely in 33:57-61. The hypocrites used to annoy the Holy Prophet by accusing him of being unworthy of his position or annoying the members of his family or the innocent believers. The Holy Prophet prophesied that the annoyance of the members of his family will continue after his death.

Verse 63

Apply this verse impartially to everyone who defined the Holy Prophet during his life-time as well as after his death. Particularly about those who disputed his command at the parting hours of his life on earth, consequent upon which the Holy Prophet had to turn them out from his presence saying, ‘Qoomu-Anni,’ Get up ye! and begone! A reference to the Islamic history will show as to who they were and then could be judged their position in the light of the verse.

Verse 64

It is said that this Verse was also revealed concerning these twelve hypocrites11. It is said that Ammar Ibn Yasir and Hudhayfa was then with the Holy Prophet and they repulsed the attack of the Hypocrites by the order of the Holy Prophet and that the Holy Prophet gave the names of all those persons who had disguised themselves as to be Hudhayfa and Ammar. Thereafter Hudhayfa was known to be the trusted custodian of the list of the hypocrites and that was the reason that several companions used to ask Hudhayfa whether their names were there in the list or not. (A.P.).

Verse 65

This indicates the conduct of the hypocrites.

Verse 66

Note - hypocrisy is declared as ‘Kufr’, i.e., infidelity.

• 1. The one whose income is insufficient to meet the needs of the daily life. Those with no income at all - None of these terms are applicable to professional beggars (A.P.).
• 2. Those inclined to Truth.
• 3. Refer to verse 2:273.
• 4. Companions and followers. Refer to verses 3:158, 4:115, 8:13, 33:57.
• 5. Hearer.
• 6. Consider here if the Holy Prophet was hurt or pleased with the treatment meted out to the members of his family after his departure from this world - and if those responsible for it come under this or not.
• 7. The believers.
• 8. Compare this to the violation or acting against the covenant of ‘Ghadir Khumm’ and the refusal to give pen and paper to the Holy Prophet.
• 9. Chapter.
• 10. This was on the return from Tabuk. It seems that they used to utter such words in mockery. This is an open prophecy that the hypocritic tendency will be exposed by God through trial after trial. Refer to verse 29:2.
• 11. Refer to note to verse 9:48.