CHAPTER LXIII. ENTITLED SURAT AL MUNAFIQÚN (THE HYPOCRITES). Revealed at Madina. INTRODUCTION. THIS chapter was revealed shortly after the expedition against the Baní Mustaliq, in order to rebuke Abdullah Ibn Ubbai and his followers for their treatment of the refugees, and for certain seditious words uttered at the wells of Maraisí when on the march back. See Muir's Life of Mahomet, vol. iii. pp. 241, 242. The declaration of ver. 8, that "the worthier shall expel thence the meaner," though intended to convey a threat, was never fulfilled, except by the gradual absorption of the disaffected by the Muslim party, after that military success had made religious and temporal interests in Madina to be identical. Probable Date of the Revelations. If what has been said as to the circumstances under which this chapter was enunciated is true, the date of the revelations, excepting vers. 9-11, which may belong to some other period, must be fixed at about the end of A.H. 6. Principal Subjects. The treachery of the hypocrites of Madína exposed and rebuked Muhammad warned to beware of trusting the hypocrites They are threatened with expulsion from Madína VERSES I-3 4 5,6 7,8 9-11 R 13° IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. (1) When the hypocrites come unto thee, they say, We bear witness that thou art indeed the Apostle of GOD. And GOD knoweth that thou art indeed his Apostle; but GOD beareth witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars. (2) They have taken their oaths for a protection, and they turn others aside from the way of God: it is surely evil which they do. (3) This is testified of them, because they believed, and afterwards became unbelievers: wherefore a seal is set on their hearts, and they shall not understand. (4) When thou beholdest them, their persons please thee; and if they speak, thou hearest their discourse with delight. They resemble pieces of timber set up against a wall. They imagine every shout to be against them. They are enemies: wherefore beware of them. Go curse them: how are they turned aside from the truth! (5) And when it is said unto them, Come, that the Apostle of GOD may ask pardon for you; they turn away their heads, and thou seest them retire big with disdain. (6) It shall be equal unto them, whether thou ask pardon for them, or do not ask pardon for them: (1-3) These verses allude to the hypocritical and secretly disaffected inhabitants of Madína. Military success and conscious strength now enable Muhammad to denounce even the powerful Abdullah Ibn Ubbai. (4) Their persons please thee. "The commentators tell us that A dullah Ibn Ubbai, a chief hypocrite, was a tall man of very graceful presence, and of a ready and eloquent tongue, and used to frequent the Prophet's assembly attended by several like himself; and that these men were greatly admired by Muhammad, who was taken with their handsome appearance, and listened to their discourse with pleasure."—Sale, Baidháwi. Pieces of timber. "Being tall and big, but being void of knowledge and consideration."-Sale. They imagine, &c. "Living under continual apprehension, because they are conscious of their hypocrisy towards God and their insincerity towards the Muslims."-Sale. God curse them. Rodwell translates more literally "God do battle with them." (6) It shall be equal unto them, &c. See this applied in the case of Abdullah in chap. ix. 81, note. GOD will by no means forgive them; for GOD directeth not the prevaricating people. (7) These are the men who say to the inhabitants of Madina, Do not bestow anything on the refugees who are with the Apostle of GOD, that they may be obliged to separate from him. Whereas unto GOD belong the stores of heaven and earth: but the hypocrites do not understand. (8) They say, Verily, if we return to Madína, the worthier shall expel thence the meaner. Whereas superior worth belongeth unto GOD and his Apostle, and the true believers; but the hypocrites know it not. || (9) O true believers, let not your riches or your R children divert you from the remembrance of GOD; for whosoever doth this, they will surely be losers. (10) And give alms out of that which we have bestowed on you, before death come unto one of you, and he say, O LORD, wilt thou not grant me respite for a short term, that I may give alms, and become one of the righteous? (11) For GOD will by no means grant further respite to a soul when its determined time is come: and GOD is fully apprised of that which ye do. (8) Verily if we return, &c. "These, as well as the preceding, were the words of Ibn Ubbai to one of Madína, who in a certain expedition quarrelling with an Arab of the desert about water, received a blow on the head with a stick, and made his complaint thereof to him."—Sale, Baidháwi. (10) Give alms. See notes on chap. ix. 60, 104. Almsgiving is here made a necessary condition of salvation. See on this point note on chap. iii. 31. 2 14 CHAPTER LXIV. ENTITLED SURAT AL TAGĦABÚN (MUTUAL DECEIT). Revealed at Madina. INTRODUCTION. THE title of this chapter is taken from words found in ver. 9, but there is no connection between it and the matter of the composition. The revelations are hortatory in their character, but exceedingly confused. In the beginning the exhortation is to faith in God and his power to raise the dead. Farther on the subject is faith in the Qurán. Then we have words of comfort for those in distress, who are urged to trust God, since nothing occurs without his permission. The exhortation then turns to the duty of obeying God and Muhammad; and, finally, married Muslims are urged to contribute towards the cause of God, especially by way of almsgiving, not allowing the cares of family and children to interfere with the performance of this duty. Probable Date of the Revelations. Neither Muslim commentators nor modern writers are agreed as to whether this chapter belongs to Makkah or Madína. Noëldeke thinks there can be no doubt about vers. 14-18 being Madínic. He thinks this is also probably true of vers. 11-13. Rodwell thinks ver. 7 and the phrase "God and the Apostle" in vers. 8 and 12, together with the subject-matter, confirm the view of those who regard the chapter as Madínic. Weil and Muir regard it as Makkan. Vers. 2-7 are in their form and matter like the ordinary Makkan Suras, and the sentence in ver. 12, "the duty of our Apostle is only a public preaching," looks also towards Makkah. On the whole, we think the chapter should be regarded as Madínic, though it includes passages imported into it from Makkah, either by Muhammad or the compilers. As to date, Noëldeke places it just before chap. lxii., which would make its date about A.H. 2. Principal Subjects. All things in heaven and earth praise God God hath fore-ordained men to be either believers or un God, the Creator, knoweth all things. Former nations destroyed for their unbelief Unbelief will not prevent infidels from rising from the VERSES I 2 3, 4 5, 6 7 8-10 11-13 Muslims exhorted to abjure worldly ties and to devote themselves to God 14-18 IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. 1 || (1) Whatever is in heaven and earth celebrateth the R 15 praises of GOD: his is the kingdom, and unto him is the praise due; for he is almighty. (2) It is he who hath created you; and one of you is predestined to be an unbeliever, and another of you is predestined to be a believer: and GOD beholdeth that which ye do. (3) He hath created the heavens and the earth with truth; and he hath fashioned you, and given you beautiful forms: and unto him must ye all go. (4) He knoweth whatever is in heaven and earth: and he knoweth that which ye conceal, and that which ye discover; for GOD knoweth the innermost part of men's breasts. (5) Have ye not been acquainted with the story of those who disbelieved heretofore, and tasted the evil consequence of their behaviour? And for them is prepared in the life to come a tormenting punishment. (6) This shall they suffer, because their apostles came unto them with evident proofs of their mission, and they said, Shall men direct us? Wherefore they believed not, and turned their backs. But GOD standeth in need of no person; for GOD is self-sufficient, and worthy to be praised. (7) The unbelievers imagine that they shall not be raised again. Say, Yea, by my LORD, ye shall surely be raised again; then shall ye be |