To deal with Hypocrites as enemies unless they amend their conduct.

An-Nisa’ Verses 88 – 91

فَمَا لَكُمْ فِي الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَاللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُمْ بِمَا كَسَبُوا أَتُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَهْدُوا مَنْ أَضَلَّ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُ سَبِيلًا

“What hath happened to you (that) ye are two parties about the hypocrites? Verily, God hath reversed them for what they have earned; intend ye to guide those whom God hath forsaken to stray? For those whom God hath forsaken to stray, never shall thou find a way.” (4:88)

وَدُّوا لَوْ تَكْفُرُونَ كَمَا كَفَرُوا فَتَكُونُونَ سَوَاءً فَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْهُمْ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا

“They long that ye should be infidels as they are infidels, so that ye may be (all) alike, therefore take not friends from among them until they migrate in God’s way; But if they turn back, then seize them and slay them wherever ye find them, and take none of them as friends, and as helpers.” (4:89)

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ مِيثَاقٌ أَوْ جَاءُوكُمْ حَصِرَتْ صُدُورُهُمْ أَنْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ أَوْ يُقَاتِلُوا قَوْمَهُمْ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَسَلَّطَهُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ فَلَقَاتَلُوكُمْ فَإِنِ اعْتَزَلُوكُمْ فَلَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ وَأَلْقَوْا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ فَمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سَبِيلًا

“Except those who reach a people between whom and yon is a covenant (of peace) or who come unto you, (with) their hearts restraining them from fighting you; or fighting their own people; and if God had pleased, He would have given them power over you, so certainly they would have fought you; therefore, if they withdraw from you and do not fight you, and surrender, then God hath made no way for you (to fight) against them.” (4:90)

سَتَجِدُونَ آخَرِينَ يُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَأْمَنُوكُمْ وَيَأْمَنُوا قَوْمَهُمْ كُلَّ مَا رُدُّوا إِلَى الْفِتْنَةِ أُرْكِسُوا فِيهَا فَإِنْ لَمْ يَعْتَزِلُوكُمْ وَيُلْقُوا إِلَيْكُمُ السَّلَمَ وَيَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَهُمْ فَخُذُوهُمْ وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأُولَٰئِكُمْ جَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانًا مُبِينًا

“Shortly: ye will find others who desire security1from you and security from their own people; Every time they are returned to mischief, they plunge into it headlong; Therefore if they withdraw not from you and surrender (not) seeking peace and nor restrain their hands, then seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (it is) against these of you We have given you a clear authority.” (4:91)

Commentary

Verse 88

A party of the hypocrites with a false excuse of the unsuitability of the climate of Madina sought permission of the Holy Prophet and went out of Madina and started living in the Sahara outside the town and joined the infidels at Mecca but some of the Muslims at Madina still differed about the hypocrites.

Verse 89

There is a clear warning for the believers against having any friendly connections with the disbelievers and the hypocrites or taking them as guardians or seeking their protection. This is what actually the article ‘Tabarra’ of the practice of the faith means.

Verse 90

It can be clearly seen from the command given to the Muslims about fighting their enemies even at the earlier stages of the spread of the faith that fighting was undertaken never as any offensive measure but purely as a defensive necessity and even that, only until the enemy continues the hostility and when the enemy yields and assures of peace and security. There is a clear proof of the blasphemous fallacies fabricated by the Christian missionaries to say that Islam was propagated by the sword. Whereas the paradox is that Islam was born under the swords of the enemy and spread facing the mightiest oppression of the heartless enemies, the heathens of the times. Sword was taken up only in defence to save the faith from getting extinct and rescuing the faithful from being wiped out of existence.

Verse 91

‘Fitnah’ (i.e., mischief) also means war. The tribes of Ghatfan and Asad showed their inclination to be at peace with Muslims and when they returned to their people, they joined them in fighting, the Muslims. Such hypocrites could never be trusted and let go free to continue creating troubles and causing bloodshed. This ordinance was an essential defensive measure when the Muslims were surrounded by the hostile tribes who ever busy in inflicting unprovoked aggression while in security of life and property given to them by Islam. The necessity for such a precautionary and defensive measure, whenever the small group of the Muslims was overwhelmed on both sides by their bloodthirsty enemies, is unquestionable. It is a matter of disgrace on the part of those who present gross blasphemy saying that Islam prescribes the wholesale slaughter of those who do not believe in it. This verse is not quoted fully, nor the ordinance is presented with reference to the context of the circumstances which necessitated the revelation and its enforcement.

Most translators have rendered ‘Yaamanukum’ to mean seeking security from, but in my opinion the word means giving assurance ol security and not demanding it, as usual with hypocrisy. (A.P.)

• 1. Of being with you- Ar. ‘Yamanukom’. Most translators have rendered Yamun Kum to mean seeking security from, but it means giving assurance and not demanding it as usual with hypocrisy. (AP).