O You Who Believe

14)

"O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason."

[Aal-e-Imran 3:118]

Allah forbids His believing servants from taking the hypocrites as allies, so that the hypocrites do not have the opportunity to expose the secrets of the believers and their plans against their enemies. The hypocrites try their very best to confuse, oppose and harm the believers any way they can, and by using any wicked, evil means at their disposal. They wish the very worst and difficult conditions for the believers. 

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasallam) said;

"Allah has not sent any Prophet nor was there any Khalifah but they have two types of allies, one that commands him with righteousness and advises it, and another that commands him with evil and advises him with it. Only those whom Allah gives immunity are immune."

Hence it is further clarified that none other than the brothers or sisters in Islam should be taken as close friends, intimates, advisors etc.

Hypocrites (Munafiqeen) should not be taken as scribes, advisors and secret matters should not be exposed to them, for they might convey these secrets to combatant disbelievers. This is why Allah said;

"Since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely."

Allah then said; "Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse."

Meaning, enmity appears on their (hypocrites') faces and in what they sometimes utter, as well as, the enmity they have against Islam and it's people in their hearts. Since this fact is apparent to every person who has sound comprehension, therefore Allah said;

"Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayat if you understand."

In the next few verses, there is a continuation of the message;

"O! You are the ones who love them but they love you not."

Meaning; O believers! You like the hypocrites because you think they are believers, for they pretend to be so, but they do not like you publicly or secretly.

"And you believe in all the Scriptures."

Meaning, you have no doubt in any part of Allah's Book, while the hypocrites have deep doubts, confusion and reservations about it.

Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that,

"And you believe in all the Scriptures," means, you believe in your Book, their Book, and the previous Books, while the hypocrites disbelieve in your Book, and this is why they deserve that you dislike them instead of them disliking you.

"And when they meet you, they say, 'We believe.' But when they are alone, they bite their Anamil at you in rage."

The word Anamil, means the tips of the fingers, as Qatadah stated. This is the behavior of the hypocrites who pretend to be believers and kind when they are with the believers, all the while concealing the opposite in their hearts in every respect. This is the exact situation that Allah describes,

(But when they are alone, they bite their Anamil at you in rage) and rage is extreme anger and fury. Allah ordered the Muslims to say to them in the next verse;

"Say: 'Perish in your rage. Certainly, Allah knows what is in the breasts (all the secrets).'"

For no matter how much you envy the believers and feel rage towards them, know that Allah shall perfect His favor on His believing servants, complete His religion, raise high His Word and give dominance to His religion. Therefore, O hypocrites, die in rage,

"Allah knows what is in the breasts."

This is the message to the hypocrites. Allah has perfect knowledge of what they conceal in their hearts and chests and in the rage, envy and hatred they have against the believers. Allah will punish them for all this in this life, and believers will have the good that the hypocrites dislike for them. In the Hereafter, hypocrites will suffer severe torment in the Fire where they will remain for eternity.

Thereafter, Allah said in the very next verse;

"If a good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some evil overtakes you, they rejoice at it."

This only emphasizes the severity of the enmity that the hypocrites feel against the believers. If the believers enjoy fertile years, victories, support and their numbers and following increase, the hypocrites become displeased. When the Muslims suffer a drought or their enemies gain the upper hand against them, by Allah's decree, just as occurred during the battle of Uhud, the hypocrites become pleased. Allah advised to His believing servants;

"But if you remain patient and have Taqwa, not the least harm will their cunning do to you."

Allah directs the believers to safety from the wickedness of evil people and the plots of the sinners, by recommending them to revert to patience and by having fear of Allah and trusting Him. Allah encompasses the enemies of the believers, all the while the believers have no power or strength except from Him. Whatever Allah wills, occurs, and whatever He does not will, does not occur. Nothing happens in His Kingdom except with His decision and according to His decrees. Verily, whoever relies on Allah, Allah shall suffice for him.

Things we learnt:

> Munafiqeen are the hell-bent enemies of Islam.

> Anything that saddens a Muslim brings joy to them.

> Allah warns us not to share secret information with Munafiqeen because they will cross every limit to prove their enmity towards Islam.

> Allah knows what is in their hearts that's why Allah warns us about the grudges they hold against Muslims even if they don't show it. It is embedded in the hearts of the hypocrites hence the warning.

May Allah guide us to the right path.
Ameen.
Wama alayna illal balaghul mubeen.