Tafsir Series 0005 — Al-Baqarah 11–16

The Qur’an has unveiled… the real face of the hypocrites!

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Background

After the foundation of the Islamic state in Madinah grew strong, a small group of disbelievers concealed their hostility toward Islam and outwardly adopted a Muslim identity. Concealing disbelief (kufr) in the heart while publicly adopting a Muslim identity is called nifāq (hypocrisy). One who does this is called a munāfiq (hypocrite). Through their Muslim identity, on one hand the hypocrites deceived the Muslims, and on the other hand they had friendship and collusion with the Jewish and polytheist leaders. In this way, while living in the Islamic state, they were engaged in treasonous conspiracy against Islam and the Muslims. Verses 8 to 20 of Surah Al-Baqarah were revealed concerning the hypocrites.

See: Tabari 1/277–278

Verses 11–12

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ ﴿١١﴾ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾

(11) And when they are told, “Do not engage in [disobedience to Allah / cause corruption] upon the earth!” they say: “We are only reformers.”

(12) Listen! It is they alone who are engaged in [disobedience to Allah / corruption], though they do not perceive it!

The Meaning of “Fasād” (Corruption)

  • Linguistic meaning: the desirable or sound state of something becoming altered
  • Something losing its usefulness and becoming harmful
  • Something being spoiled or harmful from the very beginning
  • The exegetes (mufassirūn) mentioned kufr (disbelief) and sin in the interpretation of fasād
  • Even if someone apparently harms no one, their disbelief and sin is fasād
  • Because their desired state of servitude (ʿubūdiyyah) has been ruined
  • Secondly, sin is a cause of natural disasters
  • It is through obedience that the earth and the sky remain in a sound state — Abul ʿAliyah
  • Because of sin, disaster descends — Surah Ar-Rum, 30:41

(Source book: Mawsūʿat al-Tafsīr al-Ma’thūr)

Statements of the Salaf (from Mawsūʿat al-Tafsīr al-Ma’thūr)

  • 558 — From ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿud and a group of the Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) (via the route of as-Suddi, from Murrah al-Hamdani).
  • 559 — From ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas (via the route of as-Suddi, from Abu Malik and Abu Salih), regarding ﴿لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ﴾: “Fasād is disbelief and acting in sin (al-kufr wa’l-ʿamal bi’l-maʿṣiyah).”
  • 561 — From Abul ʿAliyah (via the route of Rabiʿ ibn Anas): the meaning is — do not disobey Allah on the earth; their fasād was disobedience to Allah; because whoever disobeys Allah on the earth, or commands disobedience, has caused corruption on the earth; for the soundness of the earth and the sky is through obedience (li-anna ṣalāḥ al-arḍ wa’l-samāʾ bi’l-ṭāʿah).
  • 562 — From Mujahid (via the route of Ibn Jurayj): when they committed sin they were told “do not do such things”; they said, “We are only upon guidance (innamā naḥnu ʿala’l-hudā).”

Surah Ar-Rum 30:41

ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿٤١﴾

(41) Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have earned, so that [Allah] may make them taste a part of what they have done — that perhaps they will return.

Because of people’s sins, various natural disasters, wickedness, oppression and tyranny, disease and grief, or other calamities spread on land and sea. These occur as a part of the recompense for people’s misdeeds, so that people may become cautious, abandon sin, and return to the path of obedience to Allah. However, these are not the complete punishment for people’s sins, but only a portion of it. Those who do not become cautious and abandon their sins have their full recompense awaiting them in the Hereafter, which is extremely severe.

See: Badāʾiʿ al-Tafsīr 2/313–315, Fatḥ al-Qadīr 4/263, Maḥāsin al-Taʾwīl 8/18, Saʿdi p. 643, Tafsir Ibn ʿUthaymin—Surah Ar-Rum p. 253, at-Tafsir al-Muḥarrar

Every kind of disbelief and sinful act falls under the Arabic word fasād. For example: acts of kufr, disobedience to Allah, hypocrisy, oppression and tyranny, banditry, bloodshed, conspiring against the Muslims, preventing people from coming to the path of religion, and so on.

Tabari 1/299, 3/582, Tafsir Ibn Taymiyyah 1/485, Ibn Kathir 1/287–288, Saʿdi p. 32, at-Tafsir al-Muḥarrar 1/88, 584, Mawsūʿat al-Tafsīr al-Ma’thūr 2/101–103, 3/636–637

The Meaning of “Muṣliḥ” (Reformer)

  • One who mediates/reconciles between two parties
  • One who reforms himself, i.e., a righteous doer of good

Verse 13

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿١٣﴾

(13) And when they are told: “Believe as all the people have believed,” they say: “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Listen! It is they alone who are the fools, but they do not know it!

Here, “all the people” refers to the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). That is: just as the Companions gave verbal acknowledgment to the truth of the reports received about Allah, the angels, the prophets and messengers, the scriptures, life after death, and so on, and, alongside this, held firm belief in these things in their hearts, thereby believing truthfully and obeying the commands and prohibitions of Allah — you too should believe in that way.

See: Tabari 1/302, Ibn Kathir 1/289, Saʿdi p. 32, Mawsūʿat al-Tafsīr al-Ma’thūr 2/105–106

The Meaning of “Safīh” (Fool)

  • Those whose intellect is immature, ignorant of what is beneficial and harmful. (Tabari)
  • Extremely ignorant — along with not knowing what is beneficial, they choose that in which there is harm. (Ibn al-Qayyim)

Verse 14

وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ ﴿١٤﴾

(14) When they meet the believers they say, “We have believed.” But when they withdraw and meet privately with their devils, they say: “We are with you; we were only mocking.”

In Arabic, every wicked, disobedient one is called a “devil” (shayṭān) — whether human, jinn, or an animal. Here, “devils” refers to the companions and leaders of the hypocrites.

Tabari 1/109, 306, Ibn Kathir 1/290–291

Verse 15

اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ ﴿١٥﴾

(15) It is Allah who mocks them, and — while they wander blindly in [disbelief and] transgression — [by abandoning them] increases their transgression all the more.

This is their recompense, because they used to mock the servants of Allah. One aspect of Allah’s mockery of them is that Allah makes their vile condition appear pleasing to them. So they keep thinking that they are with the believers — since Allah did not set the believers upon them. And on the Day of Judgment, one aspect of Allah’s mockery of them is that He will give them, along with the believers, an outward light. Then, when the believers advance with their own light, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished. So, after receiving light, they will be plunged into darkness and become lost. How severe is such despair after hope! — Saʿdi

Surah Al-Hadid 57:13

يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُوا وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوا نُورًا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ ﴿١٣﴾

On the Day when the hypocrite men and women will say to the believers: “Wait for us so that we may take a portion of your light!” it will be said: “Go back behind you and seek light.” Then a wall with a gate will be set up between [the hypocrites and the believers] — its inner side containing mercy, and its outer side facing punishment.

“Mockery” and “scheming” are blameworthy when they are conduct in which someone conceals an evil intent — of denying the truth or of oppression — while outwardly displaying goodwill. But Allah’s mockery of the hypocrites is the recompense for their vile conduct; therefore it is perfect justice and praiseworthy. — Ibn Taymiyyah

Verse 16

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٦﴾

(16) It is they who purchased misguidance in exchange for guidance, but their trade was not profitable, nor were they guided.

Characteristics of the Hypocrites

  • They claim that their sins, misdeeds, and collusion with the disbelievers are “reform” (iṣlāḥ)
  • They regard the Companions and the true believers as fools
  • They maintain good relations with both the believers and the disbelievers
  • They secretly mock and ridicule the believers

Word-by-Word Grammar

Verse 11

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ — And when it is said to them

  • قِيلَ ← قَالَ (it is said)
  • لَهُمْ = لَ + هُمْ (to them)

لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ — Do not cause corruption on the earth

  • تُفْسِدُوا ← أَفْسَدَ – يُفْسِدُ – تُفْسِدُ – تُفْسِدُونَ
  • لَا تُفْسِدُوا ← لَا تُفْسِدُونَ (the nūn is dropped)

قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ — They say: We are only reformers

  • قَالُوا = قَالَ + و
  • مُصْلِحُونَ ← أَصْلَحَ – مُصْلِح – مُصْلِحُونَ

Verse 12

أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ — Listen: it is they alone who are the corrupters

  • الْمُفْسِدُونَ ← أَفْسَدَ – مُفْسِد – مُفْسِدُونَ – الْمُفْسِدُونَ

وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ — But they do not perceive

  • يَشْعُرُونَ ← شَعَرَ – يَشْعُرُ – يَشْعُرُونَ

Verse 13

آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ — Believe as the people have believed

  • آمِنُوا = آمِن + و ← آمَنَ
  • كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ ← كَإِيمَان النَّاس ← كَ + مَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ

قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ — They say: Shall we believe as the fools have believed?

  • أَنُؤْمِنُ ← آمَنَ – يُؤْمِنُ – نُؤْمِنُ – أَنُؤْمِنُ
  • السُّفَهَاءُ ← سَفِيه – سُفَهَاءُ – السُّفَهَاءُ

أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاءُ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ — Listen, it is they alone who are the fools, but they do not know it

  • يَعْلَمُونَ ← عَلِمَ – يَعْلَمُ – يَعْلَمُونَ

Verse 14

وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا — And when they meet those who have believed, they say, “We have believed”

  • لَقُوا = لَقِيَ + و
  • آمَنُوا = آمَنَ + و
  • قَالُوا = قَالَ + و
  • آمَنَّا = آمَنَ + نَا

وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا — And when they turn aside toward their devils (withdrawing to meet privately with them), they say:

  • شَيَاطِينِهِمْ = شَيَاطِين + هِم ← شَيْطَان – شَيَاطِين
  • خَلَوْا = خَلاَ + و (بِ)
  • Meaning: انْصَرَفُوا إلى شياطينهم وخَلَوْا بهم — i.e., because إِلَى comes with the verb خَلاَ, the meaning of انْصَرَفَ (to turn/withdraw) is also included (via taḍmīn).

إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ — Indeed, we are with you; we are only mockers.

  • مُسْتَهْزِئُونَ = مُسْتَهْزِئ + ون

Verse 15

اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ — Allah mocks them

  • يَسْتَهْزِئُ ← اِسْتَهْزَأَ – يَسْتَهْزِئُ

وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ — And by granting them respite He increases them in their transgression — they wander about blindly

  • يَمُدُّ ← مَدَّ – يَمُدُّ
  • يَعْمَهُونَ ← عَمَهَ – يَعْمَهُ – يَعْمَهُونَ

Verse 16

أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ — It is they who purchased misguidance in exchange for guidance

  • اشْتَرَوُا = اشْتَرَىٰ + و
  • بِالْهُدَىٰ = بِ + الْهُدَىٰ

فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ — But their trade was not profitable

  • رَبِحَت ← رَبِحَ – رَبِحَت – مَا رَبِحَت
  • تِّجَارَتُهُمْ = تِجَارَة + هُمْ

وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ — Nor were they guided

  • كَانُوا = كَانَ (he was) + و → كَانُوا (they were)
  • مُهْتَدِينَ ← اِهْتَدَى – مُهْتَدٍ + ين → مُهْتَدِينَ
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