4. An-Nisaa

Those who wait and watch about you; if you gain a victory from Allah, they say: "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers gain a success, they say (to them): "Did we not gain mastery over you and did we not protect you from the believers" Allah will judge between you (all) on the Day of Resurrection. And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers (141)

Hypocrites Wait and Watch what Happens to Muslims

Allah states that the hypocrites watch and await the harm that occurs to the believers, awaiting the time when the Muslim circumstances and religion are dissolved and the state of Kufr takes over.

فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ

(if you gain a victory from Allah) triumph, aid and booty,

قَالُوا أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ

(they say, "Were we not with you?") trying to come closer to the believers with this statement. However,

وَإِن كَانَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ

(But if the disbelievers gain a success,) by gaining victory over the believers sometimes, just as occurred during Uhud, for surely, the Messengers are tested, but the final victory is theirs.

قَالُوا أَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَنَمْنَعْكُم مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

(they say (to them), "Did we not gain mastery over you and did we not protect you from the believers?") meaning, did we not help you in secret and try our best to confuse the believers and weaken their resolve, until you gained victory over them? This statement of the hypocrites is an attempt to strengthen relations with the disbelievers, because they pretend to be friends with both parties so that they will be safe from their harm, due to their weak faith and lack of certainty. Allah said,

فَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ

(Allah will judge between you (all) on the Day of Resurrection) meaning, by what He knows about you, O hypocrites. Therefore, do not be deceived by being shaded under the protection of Islamic Law in this life, which is such only out of Allah's wisdom. Surely, on the Day of Resurrection, your pretending shall not benefit you, because on that Day, the secrets of the souls will be disclosed and the contents of the hearts will be collected. Allah said,

وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا

(And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers).

'Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Yasi' Al-Kindi said, "A man came to 'Ali bin Abi Talib and said, 'What about this Ayah,

وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا

(And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers.)

'Ali said, 'Come closer, come closer. Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection, and He will not grant victory for the disbelievers over the believers.'" Ibn Jurayj recorded that 'Ata' Al-Khurasani said that Ibn 'Abbas said that,

وَلَن يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا

(And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers.)

"Will occur on the Day of Resurrection." As-Suddi recorded that Abu Malik Al-Ashja'i said that it occurs on the Day of Resurrection. As-Suddi said that "way" means, …

Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little (142)(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those; and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way (143)

The Hypocrites Try to Deceive Allah and Sway Between Believers and Disbelievers

In the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah [2], we mentioned Allah's statement,

يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

(They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe)[2:9]. Here, Allah states,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ

(Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them.)

There is no doubt that Allah can never be deceived, for He has perfect knowledge of the secrets and what the hearts conceal. However, the hypocrites, due to their ignorance, scarce knowledge and weak minds, think that since they were successful in deceiving people, using Islamic Law as a cover of safety for themselves, they will acquire the same status with Allah on the Day of Resurrection and deceive Him too. Allah states that on that Day, the hypocrites will swear to Him that they were on the path of righteousness and correctness thinking that such statement will benefit them with Allah. For instance, Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ

(On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you) Allah's statement,

وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ

(but it is He Who deceives them) means, He lures them further into injustice and misguidance. He also prevents them from reaching the truth in this life and on the Day of Resurrection. Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ

(On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!")[57:13] until,

وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

(And worst indeed is that destination)[57:15]. A Hadith states;

مَن سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللهُ بِهِ، وَمَنْ رَاءَى رَاءَى اللهُ بِهِ

(Whoever wants to be heard of, Allah will make him heard of, and whoever wants to be seen, Allah will show him.) Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ

(And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness).

This is the characteristic of the hypocrites with the most honored, best and righteous act of worship, the prayer. When they stand for prayer, they stand in laziness because they neither truly intend to perform it nor do they believe in it, have humility in it, or understand it. This is the description of their outward attitude! As for their hearts, Allah said,

يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ

(to be seen of men) meaning, they do not have sincerity when worshipping Allah. Rather, they show off to people so that they gain closeness to them. They are often absent from the prayers that they can hide away from, such as the 'Isha' prayer and the Dawn prayer …

Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little (142)(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those; and he whom Allah sends astray, you will not find for him a way (143)

The Hypocrites Try to Deceive Allah and Sway Between Believers and Disbelievers

In the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah [2], we mentioned Allah's statement,

يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا

(They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe)[2:9]. Here, Allah states,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ

(Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them.)

There is no doubt that Allah can never be deceived, for He has perfect knowledge of the secrets and what the hearts conceal. However, the hypocrites, due to their ignorance, scarce knowledge and weak minds, think that since they were successful in deceiving people, using Islamic Law as a cover of safety for themselves, they will acquire the same status with Allah on the Day of Resurrection and deceive Him too. Allah states that on that Day, the hypocrites will swear to Him that they were on the path of righteousness and correctness thinking that such statement will benefit them with Allah. For instance, Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ

(On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you) Allah's statement,

وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ

(but it is He Who deceives them) means, He lures them further into injustice and misguidance. He also prevents them from reaching the truth in this life and on the Day of Resurrection. Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ

(On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!")[57:13] until,

وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

(And worst indeed is that destination)[57:15]. A Hadith states;

مَن سَمَّعَ سَمَّعَ اللهُ بِهِ، وَمَنْ رَاءَى رَاءَى اللهُ بِهِ

(Whoever wants to be heard of, Allah will make him heard of, and whoever wants to be seen, Allah will show him.) Allah's statement,

وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ

(And when they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness).

This is the characteristic of the hypocrites with the most honored, best and righteous act of worship, the prayer. When they stand for prayer, they stand in laziness because they neither truly intend to perform it nor do they believe in it, have humility in it, or understand it. This is the description of their outward attitude! As for their hearts, Allah said,

يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ

(to be seen of men) meaning, they do not have sincerity when worshipping Allah. Rather, they show off to people so that they gain closeness to them. They are often absent from the prayers that they can hide away from, such as the 'Isha' prayer and the Dawn prayer …

O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as friends instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves (144)Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them (145)Except those who repent, do righteous good deeds, depend on Allah, and purify their religion for Allah, then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward (146)Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing (147)

The Prohibition of Wilayah with the Disbelievers

Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. This includes being friends and associates of the disbelievers, advising them, being intimate with them and exposing the secrets of the believers to them. In another Ayah, Allah said,

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا أَن تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ

(Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself). meaning, He warns you against His punishment if you fall into what He has prohibited. This is why Allah said here,

أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves?) meaning, proof against you that warrants receiving His torment.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn 'Abbas commented;

سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(manifest Sultan), "The word Sultan in the Qur'an means proof. "

There is an authentic chain of narration for this statement, which is also the saying of Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and An-Nadr bin 'Arabi.

The Hypocrites and the Friends of Disbelievers are in the Lowest Depth of the Fire, Unless they Repent

Allah then states that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire;) on the Day of Resurrection due to their tremendous Kufr. Al-Walibi ['Ali bin Abi Talhah] said that Ibn 'Abbas said,

فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire;) means, in the bottom of the Fire.

Other scholars said that the Fire has ever lower depths just as Paradise had ever higher grades.

Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire),

Inside coffins of Fire that surround them, for they are closed and sealed in them.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that when Ibn Mas'ud was asked about the hypocrites, he said, "They will be placed in coffins made of fire and they will be closed in them in the lowest depth of the Fire."

وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا

(no helper will you find for them.) to save them from their …

O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as friends instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves (144)Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them (145)Except those who repent, do righteous good deeds, depend on Allah, and purify their religion for Allah, then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward (146)Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing (147)

The Prohibition of Wilayah with the Disbelievers

Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. This includes being friends and associates of the disbelievers, advising them, being intimate with them and exposing the secrets of the believers to them. In another Ayah, Allah said,

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا أَن تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ

(Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself). meaning, He warns you against His punishment if you fall into what He has prohibited. This is why Allah said here,

أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves?) meaning, proof against you that warrants receiving His torment.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn 'Abbas commented;

سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(manifest Sultan), "The word Sultan in the Qur'an means proof. "

There is an authentic chain of narration for this statement, which is also the saying of Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and An-Nadr bin 'Arabi.

The Hypocrites and the Friends of Disbelievers are in the Lowest Depth of the Fire, Unless they Repent

Allah then states that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire;) on the Day of Resurrection due to their tremendous Kufr. Al-Walibi ['Ali bin Abi Talhah] said that Ibn 'Abbas said,

فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire;) means, in the bottom of the Fire.

Other scholars said that the Fire has ever lower depths just as Paradise had ever higher grades.

Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire),

Inside coffins of Fire that surround them, for they are closed and sealed in them.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that when Ibn Mas'ud was asked about the hypocrites, he said, "They will be placed in coffins made of fire and they will be closed in them in the lowest depth of the Fire."

وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا

(no helper will you find for them.) to save them from their …

O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as friends instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves (144)Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them (145)Except those who repent, do righteous good deeds, depend on Allah, and purify their religion for Allah, then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward (146)Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing (147)

The Prohibition of Wilayah with the Disbelievers

Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. This includes being friends and associates of the disbelievers, advising them, being intimate with them and exposing the secrets of the believers to them. In another Ayah, Allah said,

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا أَن تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ

(Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself). meaning, He warns you against His punishment if you fall into what He has prohibited. This is why Allah said here,

أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves?) meaning, proof against you that warrants receiving His torment.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn 'Abbas commented;

سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(manifest Sultan), "The word Sultan in the Qur'an means proof. "

There is an authentic chain of narration for this statement, which is also the saying of Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and An-Nadr bin 'Arabi.

The Hypocrites and the Friends of Disbelievers are in the Lowest Depth of the Fire, Unless they Repent

Allah then states that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire;) on the Day of Resurrection due to their tremendous Kufr. Al-Walibi ['Ali bin Abi Talhah] said that Ibn 'Abbas said,

فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire;) means, in the bottom of the Fire.

Other scholars said that the Fire has ever lower depths just as Paradise had ever higher grades.

Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire),

Inside coffins of Fire that surround them, for they are closed and sealed in them.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that when Ibn Mas'ud was asked about the hypocrites, he said, "They will be placed in coffins made of fire and they will be closed in them in the lowest depth of the Fire."

وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا

(no helper will you find for them.) to save them from their …

O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as friends instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves (144)Verily, the hyprocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them (145)Except those who repent, do righteous good deeds, depend on Allah, and purify their religion for Allah, then they will be with the believers. And Allah will grant the believers a great reward (146)Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him) and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All-Appreciative (of good), All-Knowing (147)

The Prohibition of Wilayah with the Disbelievers

Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers. This includes being friends and associates of the disbelievers, advising them, being intimate with them and exposing the secrets of the believers to them. In another Ayah, Allah said,

لَّا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا أَن تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ

(Let not the believers take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers, and whoever does that, will never be helped by Allah in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allah warns you against Himself). meaning, He warns you against His punishment if you fall into what He has prohibited. This is why Allah said here,

أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest Sultan against yourselves?) meaning, proof against you that warrants receiving His torment.

Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn 'Abbas commented;

سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

(manifest Sultan), "The word Sultan in the Qur'an means proof. "

There is an authentic chain of narration for this statement, which is also the saying of Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Muhammad bin Ka'b Al-Qurazi, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi and An-Nadr bin 'Arabi.

The Hypocrites and the Friends of Disbelievers are in the Lowest Depth of the Fire, Unless they Repent

Allah then states that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire;) on the Day of Resurrection due to their tremendous Kufr. Al-Walibi ['Ali bin Abi Talhah] said that Ibn 'Abbas said,

فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire;) means, in the bottom of the Fire.

Other scholars said that the Fire has ever lower depths just as Paradise had ever higher grades.

Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said that,

إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ

(Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths (grade) of the Fire),

Inside coffins of Fire that surround them, for they are closed and sealed in them.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that when Ibn Mas'ud was asked about the hypocrites, he said, "They will be placed in coffins made of fire and they will be closed in them in the lowest depth of the Fire."

وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا

(no helper will you find for them.) to save them from their …

Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged. And Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Knower (148)Whether you disclose a good deed or conceal it, or pardon an evil, verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful (149)

The Permission to Utter Evil in Public, For One Who Was Wronged

Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn 'Abbas commented on the Ayah,

لَّا يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

(Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public) "Allah does not like that any one should invoke Him against anyone else, unless one was wronged. In this case, Allah allows one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him. Hence Allah's statement,

إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ

(except by him who has been wronged.) Yet, it is better for one if he observes patience." Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented, "One should not invoke Allah (for curses) against whoever wronged him. Rather, he should supplicate, 'O Allah! Help me against him and take my right from him.'" In another narration, Al-Hasan said, "Allah has allowed one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him without transgressing the limits."

'Abdul-Karim bin Malik Al-Jazari said about this Ayah; "When a man curses you, you could curse him in retaliation. But if he lies about you, you may not lie about him.

وَلَمَنِ انتَصَرَ بَعْدَ ظُلْمِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم مِّن سَبِيلٍ

(And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.)"

Abu Dawud recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

الـمُسْتَبَّانِ مَا قَالَا، فَعَلَى الْبَادِئ مِنْهُمَا مَا لَمْ يَعْتَدِ الْمَظْلُومُ

(Whatever words are uttered by those who curse each other, then he who started it will carry the burden thereof, unless the one who was wronged transgresses the limit.) Allah said,

إِن تُبْدُوا خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا عَن سُوءٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا

(Whether you disclose a good deed, or conceal it, or pardon an evil; verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.) Meaning when you, mankind, admit to a good favor done to you, or conceal it, and forgive those who wrong you, then this will bring you closer to Allah and increase your reward with Him.

Among Allah's attributes is that He forgives and pardons His servants, although He is able to punish them. Hence Allah's statement,

فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا

(Verily, Allah is Ever Pardoning, All-Powerful.) It was reported that some of the angels who carry Allah's Throne praise Him saying, "All praise is due to You for Your forbearing even though You have perfect knowledge (in all evil committed)." Some of them supplicate, "All praise is due to You for Your forgiving even though You have perfect ability (to punish)." An authentic Hadith states,

مَا نَقَصَ مَالٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ، وَلَا زَادَ اللهُ عَبْدًا بِعَفْوٍ إِلَّا عِزًّا، وَمَنْ تَوَاضَعَ للهِ رَفَعَهُ اللهُ

(No charity shall ever decrease wealth, and Allah will only increase the honor of a servant who pardons, and he who is humble for Allah's sake, then Allah will elevate his grade.)

Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers saying, "We believe in some but reject others," and wish to adopt a way in between (150)They are in truth disbelievers. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment (151)And those who believe in Allah and His Messengers and make no distinction between any of them (Messengers), We shall give them their rewards; and Allah is Ever Forgiving, Most Merciful (152)

Believing in Some Prophets and Rejecting Others is Pure Kufr

Allah threatens those who disbelieve in Him and in His Messengers, such as the Jews and Christians, who differentiate between Allah and His Messengers regarding faith. They believe in some Prophets and reject others, following their desires, lusts and the practices of their forefathers. They do not follow any proof for such distinction, because there is no such proof. Rather, they follow their lusts and prejudices.

The Jews, may Allah curse them, believe in the Prophets, except 'Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon them. The Christians believe in the Prophets but reject their Final and Seal, and the most honored among the prophets, Muhammad, peace be upon him. In addition, the Samirah (Samaritans) do not believe in any Prophet after Yuwsha' (Joshua), the successor of Musa bin 'Imran. The Majus (Zoroastrians) are said to believe only in a Prophet called Zoroaster, although they do not believe in the law he brought them casting it behind them, and Allah knows best.

Therefore, whoever rejects only one of Allah's Prophets, he will have disbelieved in all of them, because it is required from mankind to believe in every prophet whom Allah sent to the people of the earth. And whoever rejects one Prophet, out of envy, bias and personal whim, he only demonstrates that his faith in other Prophets is not valid, but an act of following desire and whim. This is why Allah said,

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ

(Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His Messengers...) Thus, Allah describes these people as disbelievers in Allah and His Messengers;

وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ

(and wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers) in faith,

وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا

(saying, "We believe in some but reject others," and wish to adopt a way in between.) Allah then describes them;

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقًّا

(They are in truth disbelievers.) meaning, their disbelief in the Prophet they claim to believe in is clear. This is because their claimed faith in a certain Messenger is not true, for had they truly believed in him, they would have believed in other Messengers, especially if the other Messenger has a stronger proof for his truthfulness. Or at least, they would have strived hard to acquire knowledge of the truth of the other Messenger. Allah said,

وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا

(And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment.)

This is just punishment for belittling the Prophets whom they disbelieved in, by ignoring what the …