في هذا الموضع تتحدث السورة عن فئات معينة أظهرت الضعف، لكنها تخصص مساحة أكبر لفضح المنافقين الذين تظاهروا بالإيمان ليدخلوا صفوف المسلمين بعد أن أظهر الإسلام قوته، وبدا النصر له مؤكدًا. فقد رأوا أن الأسلم لهم أن يخضعوا للإسلام ليحصلوا على ما قد ينالونه من مكاسب أخرى. وفي الوقت نفسه، ولأن العداء الصريح لم يعد ممكنًا، أرادوا أن يقوّضوا الجماعة المسلمة من الداخل. وهنا سنلتقي بكل تلك الجوانب من الضعف التي أشرنا إليها في المقدمة.
At this point the sūrah speaks about certain groups that demonstrated weakness, but it reserves more space for exposing the hypocrites who pretended to believe in order to join the Muslim ranks after Islam had shown its strength and looked certain to triumph. They felt it safer to bow their heads to Islam so as to acquire whatever they might by way of other gain. Simultaneously, and with open hostility no longer feasible, they could also undermine the Muslim community from within. Here, then, we will encounter all those aspects of weakness to which we referred in the Prologue.
لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنْ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ ۚ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ۔ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْكَ ۖ لِمَ أَذِنْتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبِينَ۔ لَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَنْ يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ۔ إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ۔ وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا الْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا لَهُ عُدَّةً وَلَٰكِنْ كَرِهَ اللَّهُ انْبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ اقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ۔
Had there been [a prospect of] an immediate gain, and a short journey, they would certainly have followed you; but the distance was too far for them. Yet they will swear by God: ‘Had we been able, we would surely have joined you.’ They bring ruin upon themselves. God knows indeed that they are liars. May God forgive you [Prophet]! Why did you grant them permission [to stay behind] before you had come to know who were speaking the truth and who were the liars. Those who believe in God and the Last Day will not ask you to exempt them from striving with their property and with their lives. God has full knowledge as to who are the God-fearing. Only those who do not truly believe in God and the Last Day ask you for exemption. Their hearts are filled with doubt; and troubled by doubt, they do waver. Had they really intended to set out [with you], they would surely have made some preparations for that. But God was averse to their going, so He caused them to hold back; and it was said to them:
اقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا خِلَالَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْ
Stay behind with those who stay.’ Had they set out with you, they would have added nothing to you but trouble, and would have scurried to and fro in your midst, seeking to sow discord among you. There are among you some who would have lent them ear.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ۔ لَقَدِ ابْتَغَوُا الْفِتْنَةَ مِن قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُوا لَكَ الْأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ۔ (الآيات ٤٢-٤٨)
Certainly God has full knowledge of the wrongdoers. They had, even before this time, tried to sow discord, and devised plots against you, until the truth was revealed and the will of God prevailed, no matter how hateful it is to them. (Verses 42-48)
أول ما يُلفت الانتباه هنا أنه لو كان الأمر يتعلق بمنفعة عاجلة أو بسفر قريب لا يحمل خطرًا جسيمًا، لاتبعوا النبي ﷺ، لكن الأمر لم يكن هيّنًا.
The first thing highlighted here is that had the situation involved the prospect of immediate gain or the undertaking of a short journey, which represented no serious risk, they would have joined the Prophet. But the undertaking was not an easy one.
كانت الوجهة بعيدة جدًا على من ضعفت عزيمتهم وقلّت رغبتهم في المجد. ولم يكن الجهد المطلوب لأصحاب القلوب الضعيفة. وقد دُعي الناس إلى النهوض لمناسبة عظيمة، تُظهر معدنهم. ولذلك نجد في الأمة نوعًا من الناس نراه في كل الأجيال: ﴿لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ﴾ (الآية 42).
The destination was much too far for those with a weak resolve and a frail aptitude for glory. The effort required was not for those with weak hearts. People were called upon to rise to a great occasion, one which would prove their metal. Hence we find in the community a type of people that we encounter across all generations: “Had there been [a prospect of] an immediate gain, and a short journey, they would certainly have followed you; but the distance was too far for them.” (Verse 42)
كثيرٌ من الناس يُولّون ظهورهم حين يرون طريقًا يفضي إلى قمةٍ شاهقة.
Countless people turn their backs when they see a road leading to a high summit.
عندما يدركون أن الطريق الذي يجب عليهم قطعه طويل، ينسحبون، مفضّلين تحصيل مكسب فوري، مهما كان ضئيلاً. وهؤلاء الناس موجودون في كل مجتمع وفي كل جيل. وليسوا فئةً قليلةً توجد في مجتمع المدينة وحده، بل يُصادَفون في كل مكان. وهم يتلاشون على هامش الحياة، وإن ظنّوا أنهم بلغوا غاياتهم دون أن يدفعوا ثمناً باهظاً. وما الثمن الزهيد إلا ما يشتري التافه الذي لا قيمة له.
When they realize that it is a long way that they must traverse, they withdraw, preferring to seek immediate gain, petty as it may be. Such people are found in every community and in all generations. They are not a small group found in the Madinah community only; they are encountered everywhere. They languish on the margins of life, although they may think that they have attained their goals without having to pay a hefty price. A paltry price can only buy what is trivial, worthless.
﴿سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ﴾ (الآية 42) الكذب يسير جنبًا إلى جنب مع الجبن والضعف. لا يلجأ إلى الكذب إلا الضعفاء ضعيفو القلوب، وإن بدوا أحيانًا يملكون قوة كبيرة. فالقوي لا يتردد في مواجهة أي أمر يطرأ عليه مواجهةً مباشرة، أما الضعيف فيبقى دائمًا متهربًا. وهذه قاعدة لا تخيب أبدًا. ﴿يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ﴾ (الآية 42) إنهم بالتأكيد يهلكون أنفسهم بحلفهم الكاذب، الذي يتوهمون أنه سينجيهم في أعين الناس. أما الله فيعلم الحق ويكشفه للناس. وهكذا يهلك الكاذب في هذه الحياة بآثار كذبه، ويهلك نفسه في الآخرة حين لا يستطيع إنكار دوافعه الحقيقية أمام الله، لأن ﴿اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ﴾ (الآية 42).
“They will swear by God: ‘Had we been able, we would surely have joined you.’” (Verse 42) Lying goes hand in hand with cowardice and weakness. Only the weak and faint- hearted resort to lies, even though they may occasionally appear to command considerable power. A strong person will not hesitate to face any eventuality head on, while the weak will always remain evasive. It is a rule that never fails. “They bring ruin upon themselves.” (Verse 42) They certainly ruin themselves by their false swearing which they imagine will save them in the eyes of other people. However, God knows the truth and He reveals it to mankind. Thus the liar is ruined in this life by the effects of his falsehood and he ruins himself in the hereafter when he cannot deny his true motives before God, because “God knows indeed that they are liars.” (Verse 42)
"غَفَا اللّهُ عَنْكَ ۖ لِمَ أَذِنْتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَاذِبِينَ؟" (الآية ٤٣) هنا مثال على لطف الله، إذ بدأ بذكر عفوه قبل عتابه. فإن أولئك المنافقين الذين تخلّفوا تمكّنوا من إخفاء حقيقتهم حين أذن لهم النبيّ ﷺ بالتخلف بعد أن قدّموا أعذارهم. وكان ذلك فرصةً لكشف زيفهم، لأنهم كانوا سيتخلفون على كل حال، ولو لم يأذن لهم النبيّ ﷺ. ولَظهروا على حقيقتهم، دون قناعهم الكاذب.
“May God forgive you [Prophet]! Why did you grant them permission [to stay behind] before you had come to know who were speaking the truth and who were the liars?” (Verse 43) Here we have an example of God’s kindness as He begins with stating His pardon before His reproach. Those hypocrites who stayed behind were able to hide their true colours when the Prophet allowed them to stay behind after they had presented their excuses. This was a chance to expose their falsehood, because they would have stayed behind anyway, even though the Prophet would have withheld his permission. They would have been seen as they truly were, without their false guise.
لٰكِنْ لَمَّا لَمْ يَحْدُثْ ذٰلِكَ، فَإِنَّ القُرْآنَ يَكْشِفُهُمْ وَيُبَيِّنُ بِوُضُوحٍ الضَّوَابِطَ الَّتِي تُمَيِّزُ المُؤْمِنِينَ الصَّادِقِينَ عَنِ المُنَافِقِينَ: ﴿إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ أَنْ يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنْفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَاللهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ﴾ ... ﴿إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ﴾ (التوبة: 44-45)
But since this did not happen, the Qur’ān exposes them and states clearly the rules which distinguish the true believers from the hypocrites: “Those who believe in God and the Last Day will not ask you to exempt them from striving with their property and with their lives. God has full knowledge as to who are the God-fearing. Only those who do not truly believe in God and the Last Day ask you for exemption. Their hearts are filled with doubt; and troubled by doubt, they do waver.” (Verses 44-45)
هذه قاعدة لا تتخلف أبدًا. فالذين يؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر لا ينتظرون إذنًا حتى يجاهدوا في سبيل الله، ولا يتردّدون في الاستجابة لدعوة الجهاد، فيبذلون أموالهم وأنفسهم، ويبادرون إلى الاستجابة، سواء كانوا خفافًا أو ثقالًا، كما أمر الله تعالى. إنهم يطيعونه، موقنين أنهم سيلقونه يوم القيامة، واثقين بثوابه، وراجين رضاه. وهم يسارعون إلى التطوع، فلا يحتاجون إلى تشجيع، فضلًا عن إذن خاص.
This is the rule which will never fail. Those who believe in God and in the Day of Judgement do not wait for permission in order to fight for God’s cause. They will not hesitate to answer the call to strive hard, offering their wealth and their lives. They will rush to respond, whether they are lightly or heavily armed, as God has commanded. They obey Him, assured that they will meet Him on the Day of Judgement, certain of His reward, and hoping to win His pleasure. They are quick to volunteer, and so they do not need any encouragement, let alone special permission.
إنما يستأذنك الذين لا يؤمنون بالله واليوم الآخر وارتابت قلوبهم فهم في ريبهم يترددون. هذا التفسير لا يطابق؛ لذا أترجم النص الأصلي فقط:
إنَّ الذين يستأذنونك هم الذين ضعف إيمانهم في قلوبهم، ولذلك يتثاقلون ويتعللون بشتى الأعذار. إنهم يأملون أن يقع شيء يمنعهم من أداء التكاليف التي يقتضيها الإيمان الذي يدّعونه، وهم متذبذبون، يملؤهم الشك.
Those who seek permission are the ones whose hearts have little faith. Hence they slacken, seeking all kinds of excuses. Indeed they hope for something to happen which will prevent them from fulfilling the tasks required by the faith they pretend to have, when they are waverers, full of doubt.
الطريقُ المؤدِّي إلى رضا الله مستقيمٌ وواضحُ المعالم. ولا يتردَّد في سلوكه إلا من لا يعرف الطريق، أو من يعرفه لكنه يحاول الفرار من مشقّته. وكان الذين تخلّفوا عن غزوة تبوك قادرين على الالتحاق بالجيش لو أرادوا ذلك؛ فقد كانت الوسائل كلها تحت تصرفهم. ومن بينهم أشخاصٌ كعبد الله بن أبيّ والجَدّ بن قيس، وكلاهما كان غنيًّا ومن أشراف القوم. ﴿وَلَوْ أَرَادُوا الْخُرُوجَ لَأَعَدُّوا لَهُ عُدَّةً وَلَٰكِن كَرِهَ اللَّهُ انبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ وَقِيلَ اقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ﴾ (التوبة: 46)
The way leading to God’s pleasure is straight and clearly marked. Only a person who does not know the way, or one who knows it but tries to avoid its hardship, is reluctant to follow it. Those who stayed behind at the time of the Tabūk Expedition were able to join the army, had they wished to do so. They had all the means at their disposal. Among them were people like `Abdullāh ibn Ubayy and al-Jadd ibn Qays, both of whom were rich and from among the nobility. “Had they really intended to set out [with you], they would surely have made some preparations for that. But God was averse to their going.” (Verse 46)
ذلك بسبب ما علمه من طبيعتهم ونفاقهم، وكذلك سوء نيتهم تجاه المؤمنين، كما سنرى. ولذلك «كَرِهَ اللهُ انْبِعَاثَهُمْ فَثَبَّطَهُمْ»، ولم يمنحهم الحافز للخروج مع المؤمنين. فـ«قِيلَ لَهُمُ: اقْعُدُوا مَعَ الْقَاعِدِينَ» (الآية ٤٦). فقعدوا مع الشيوخ والنساء والصبيان الذين لم يُفرض عليهم القتال. وهذا هو المكان المناسب للمتردّدين ضعيفي القلوب الذين لا إيمان راسخ لهم.
This is due to what He knew of their nature and their hypocrisy, as well as their ill intentions towards the believers, as we will see. Hence, “He caused them to hold back,” and did not give them the motivation to set forth with the believers. So, “it was said to them: ‘Stay behind with those who stay.’’’ (Verse 46) Thus they stayed behind with the elderly, the women and the children who were not required to fight. This is the right place for faint-hearted waverers who lack faith.
ومع ذلك، فإن هذا كان بالتأكيد أفضل للإسلام والمسلمين: ﴿لَوْ خَرَجُوا فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا خِلَالَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ الْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّاعُونَ لَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ﴾ (الآية 47)
However, this was certainly better for Islam and the Muslims: “Had they set out with you, they would have added nothing to you but trouble, and would have scurried to and fro in your midst, seeking to sow discord among you. There are among you some who would have lent them ear. Certainly God has full knowledge of the wrongdoers.” (Verse 47)
القلوب المتذبذبة من شأنها أن تنشر الجبن والنفور من لقاء العدو.
Wavering hearts are likely to spread cowardice and reluctance to meet the enemy.
الخائنون خطرٌ حقيقيٌّ على أيِّ جيشٍ. ولو خرج أولئك المنافقون مع جيش المسلمين، لما زادوا المسلمين قوةً، بل لم يجلبوا إلا الفوضى والبلاء، ولسعَوْا بينهم هنا وهناك، يفتنون بينهم ويُثبِّطونهم عن القتال. وكان في المسلمين يومئذٍ من يسمع لهم، ويحسبهم ناصحين صادقين. غير أنَّ الله، الذي يتولّى حفظ دينه، ويُحيط بحمايته عباده المؤمنين المخلصين، كفى المسلمين كلَّ ذلك حين أقعد المنافقين عن الخروج:
Traitors are a real danger to any army. Had those hypocrites set out with the Muslim army, they would not have added to the strength of the Muslims. Indeed they would only have added chaos and trouble, and they would have scurried to and fro, sewing discord and counselling retreat. At that time, there were among the Muslims some who would listen to them, thinking them to be honest in their counsel. However, God who takes care of His message and extends His protection to those who are dedicated believers, spared the Muslims all this by letting the hypocrites stay behind:
"إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ" (الآية ٤٧). المراد بالظالمين في هذا الموضع "المشركون"، وهذا يعني أنهم داخلون في زمرة المشركين.
“Certainly God has full knowledge of the wrongdoers.” (Verse 47) The description, wrongdoers, in this instance means ‘the idolaters,’ which in effect means that they also belong to the idolaters.
ماضیِ اُن کا اُن کے بُرے ارادوں اور ایمان سے اُن کی محرومی کی گواہی دیتا ہے۔ انہوں نے اللہ کے رسول ﷺ کی مخالفت کی اور اس مخالفت میں اپنی پوری کوشش صرف کی۔ جب ان کی ساری مخالفت اور سازشیں ناکام ہو گئیں تو انہوں نے اپنے قبولِ حق کا اعلان کیا، لیکن دل کی گہرائیوں میں وہ ایمان سے خالی تھے: ﴿لَقَدِ ابْتَغَوُا الْفِتْنَةَ مِن قَبْلُ وَقَلَّبُوا لَكَ الْأُمُورَ حَتَّىٰ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ﴾ (الآیة 48)
Their past confirms their evil intentions and their lack of faith. They had opposed God’s Messenger exerting their utmost in such opposition. When all their opposition and schemes were foiled, they declared their acceptance of his message, but deep at heart they lacked belief: “They had, even before this time, tried to sow discord, and devised plots against you, until the truth was revealed and the will of God prevailed, no matter how hateful it is to them.” (Verse 48)
كان ذلك في الوقت الذي هاجر فيه النبي محمد ﷺ إلى المدينة، وقبل أن يمكّنه الله من الظفر على أعدائه. ثم انتصر الحق، وعلت كلمة الله، فاضطر المنافقون إلى الخضوع لها، مع كراهيتهم لذلك. ومع ذلك ظلوا يترقبون الفرصة لإحداث الفتنة بالمسلمين.
This was at the time the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him) migrated to Madinah and before God enabled him to achieve victory over his enemies. Then the truth triumphed and God’s word was supreme. The hypocrites had to bow before it, hateful as that was to them. However, they remained on the look out for a chance to cause trouble for the Muslims.