وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ
Dan di antara manusia ada orang yang ucapannya tentang kehidupan dunia menarik hatimu, dan dipersaksikannya kepada Allah (atas kebenaran) isi hatinya, padahal ia adalah penantang yang paling keras.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
The Characteristics of the Hypocrites
The Characteristics of the Hypocrites
As-Suddi said that these Ayat were revealed about Al-Akhnas bin Shariq Ath-Thaqafi who came to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and announced his Islam although his heart concealed otherwise.
Ibn `Abbas narrated that these Ayat were revealed about some of the hypocrites who criticized Khubayb and his companions who were killed during the Raji` incident. Thereafter, Allah sent down His condemnation of the hypocrites and His praise for Khubayb and his companions:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ
(And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah.)
It was also said that they refer to the hypocrites and the believers in general. This is the opinion of Qatadah, Mujahid, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and several others, and it is correct.
Ibn Jarir related that Al-Qurazi said that Nawf Al-Bikali, who used to read (previous Divine) Books said, "I find the description of some members of this Ummah in the previously revealed Books of Allah: they (hypocrites) are people who use the religion to gain material benefit. Their tongues are sweeter than honey, but their hearts are more bitter than Sabir (a bitter plant, aloe). They show the people the appearance of sheep while their hearts hide the viciousness of wolves. Allah said, `They dare challenge Me, but they are deceived by Me. I swear by Myself that I will send a Fitnah (trial, calamity) on them that will make the wise man bewildered.' I contemplated about these statements and found them in the Qur'an describing the hypocrites:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِى الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا فِى قَلْبِهِ
(And of mankind there is he whose speech may please you (O Muhammad ), in this worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart,)
This statement by Al-Qurazi is Hasan Sahih. Allah said:
وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى مَا فِى قَلْبِهِ
(...and he calls Allah to witness as to that which is in his heart,)
This Ayah indicates that such people pretend to be Muslims, but defy Allah by the disbelief and hypocrisy that their hearts conceal. Similarly Allah said:
يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلاَ يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ
(They may hide (their crimes) from men, but they cannot hide (them) from Allah.) (4:108)
This Tafsir was reported from Ibn `Abbas by Ibn Ishaq. It was also said that the Ayah means that when such people announce their Islam, they swear by Allah that what is in their hearts is the same of what their tongues are pronouncing. This is also a correct meaning for the Ayah that was chosen by `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. It is also the choice of Ibn Jarir who related it to Ibn `Abbas and Mujahid. Allah knows best.
Allah said:
وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ
(Yet he is the most Aladd of the opponents.) (2:204) lThe Ayah used the word Aladd here, which literally means `wicked' (here it means `quarrelsome'). A variation of the word Ludda was also used in another Ayah:
وَتُنْذِرَ بِهِ قَوْماً لُّدّاً
(So that you (Muhammad) warn with it (the Qur'an) a Ludda people.) (19:97)
Hence, a hypocrite lies, alters the truth when he quarrels and does not care for the truth. Rather, he deviates from the truth, deceives and becomes most quarrelsome. It is reported in Sahih that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
«آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلاثٌ: إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ، وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَر»
(The signs of a hypocrite are three: Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. Whenever he promises, he always breaks it (his promise). If you have a dispute with him, he is most quarrelsome.)
Imam Bukhari reported that `A'ishah narrated that the Prophet said:
«إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الرِّجَالِ إلَى اللهِ الْألَدُّ الْخَصِم»
(The most hated person to Allah is he who is Aladd and Khasim (meaning most quarrelsome).)
Allah then said:
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّى سَعَى فِى الاٌّرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ الْحَرْثَ وَالنَّسْلَ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ
(And when he turns away (from you O Muhammad), he struggles in the land to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle, and Allah likes not mischief.)
This Ayah indicates that such persons are deviant in the tongue, evil in the deeds, their words are fabricated, their belief is wicked and their works are immoral. The Ayah used the (Arabic word) Sa`a (literally, `tries' or `intends'). This word was also used to describe Pharaoh:
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَى - فَحَشَرَ فَنَادَى - فَقَالَ أَنَاْ رَبُّكُمُ الاٌّعْلَى - فَأَخَذَهُ اللَّهُ نَكَالَ الاٌّخِرَةِ وَالاٍّوْلَى - إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِّمَن يَخْشَى
(Then he turned his back, Yas`a (striving hard against Allah). Then he gathered (his people) and cried aloud saying, `I am your lord, most high.' So Allah, seized him with a punishing example for his last and first transgression. Verily, in this is an instructive admonition for whosoever fears Allah.) (79:22-26)
Sa`a was also used in the Ayah:
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
(O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumu`ah prayer), As`aw come to the remembrance of Allah.) (62:9)
This Ayah means, `(when the call to the Friday prayer is announced) intend and then proceed to attend the Friday prayer.' We should mention that hastening to the mosque is condemed by the Sunnah (as this is another meaning for the word Sa`a):
«إذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَا تَأْتُوهَا وَأَنْتُمْ تَسْعَوْنَ، وَأْتُوهَا وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةُ والْوَقَار»
(When you come to attend the prayer, do not come in a Sa`i (haste). Rather, come to it while walking at ease and in peace (or grace). )
The hypocrite has no motive in this life but to cause mischief and to destroy the crops and the offspring, including what the animals produce and what the people depend on for their livelihood. Mujahid said, "If the hypocrite strives for mischief in the land, Allah prevents the rain from falling and thus the crops and the offspring perish." The Ayah continues:
وَاللَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْفَسَادَ
(...and Allah likes not mischief.) that is, Allah does not like those who possess these characteristics, or those who act like this.
Rejecting Advice is Characteristic of the Hypocrites
Allah said:
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالإِثْمِ
(And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah", he is led by arrogance to (more) crime.)
This Ayah indicates that when the hypocrite, who deviates in his speech and deeds, is advised and commanded to fear Allah, refrain from his evil deeds and adhere to the truth, he refuses and becomes angry and outraged, as he is used to doing evil. This Ayah is similar to what Allah said:
وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتُنَا بَيِّنَـتٍ تَعْرِفُ فِى وُجُوهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الْمُنْكَرَ يَكَـدُونَ يَسْطُونَ بِالَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـتُنَا قُلْ أَفَأُنَبِّئُكُم بِشَرٍّ مِّن ذلِكُمُ النَّارُ وَعَدَهَا اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ
(And when Our clear verses are recited to them, you will notice a denial on the faces of the disbelievers! They are nearly ready to attack with violence those who recite Our verses to them. Say: "Shall I tell you of something worse than that The Fire (of Hell) which Allah has promised to those who disbelieved, and worst indeed is that destination!) (22:72)
This is why in this Ayah, Allah said:
فَحَسْبُهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ
(So enough for him is Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest) meaning, the Fire is enough punishment for the hypocrite.
The Sincere Believer prefers pleasing Allah
Allah said:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ
(And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah.)
After Allah described the evil characteristics of the hypocrites, He mentioned the good qualities of the believers. Allah said:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ
(And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah.)
Ibn `Abbas, Anas, Sa`id bin Musayyib, Abu `Uthman An-Nahdi, `Ikrimah and several other scholars said that this Ayah was revealed about Suhayb bin Sinan Ar-Rumi. When Suhayb became a Muslim in Makkah and intended to migrate (to Al-Madinah), the people (Quraysh) prevented him from migrating with his money. They said that if he forfeits his property, he is free to migrate. He abandoned his money and preferred to migrate, and Allah revealed this Ayah about him. `Umar bin Khattab and several other Companions met Suhayb close to the outskirts of Al-Madinah at Al-Harrah (flat lands with black stones). They said to him, "The trade has indeed been successful." He answered them, "You too, may Allah never allow your trade to fail. What is the matter" `Umar told him that Allah has revealed this Ayah (2:207) about him. It was also reported that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "The trade has been successful, O Suhayb!"
The meaning of the Ayah (2:207) includes every Mujahid in the way of Allah. Allah said in another Ayah:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَلَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الّجَنَّةَ يُقَـتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْءانِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُواْ بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِى بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
(Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrah and the Injil and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.) (9:111)
When Hisham bin `Amr penetrated the lines of the enemy, some people criticized him. `Umar bin Al-Khattab and Abu Hurayrah refuted them and recited this Ayah:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْرِى نَفْسَهُ ابْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ رَءُوفٌ بِالْعِبَادِ
(And of mankind is he who would sell himself, seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) servants.)
Hadits Terkait
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Muhammad bin Al-Mutsanna] dari [Abu Dawud] Al-Hadits. Dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Nashr bin Al-Muhajir] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Yazid bin Harun] dari [Al-Mas'udi] dari [Amru bin Murrah] dari [Ibnu Abi Laila] dari [Mu'adz bin Jabbal] dia berkata; Pelaksanaan shalat telah mengalami perubahan tiga kali, dan demikian pula pelaksanaan puasa, kemudian Nashr melanjutkan Hadits ini secara panjang lebar. Sedangkan Ibnu Al-Mutsanna hanya menyebutkan kisah shalat mereka yang menghadap Baitul Maqdis. Dia berkata; Cara pelaksanaan shalat yang ketiga; Bahwasanya Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam ketika datang ke Madinah, beliau mengerjakan shalat menghadap ke Baitul Maqdis selama tiga belas bulan, lalu Allah Ta'ala menurunkan ayat ini (yang artinya), "Sungguh Kami (sering) melihat mukamu menengadah ke langit, maka sungguh Kami akan memalingkan kamu ke kiblat yang kamu sukai. Palingkanlah mukamu ke arah Masjidil Haram. Dan di mana saja kamu berada, palingkanlah mukamu ke arahnya." (Al-Baqarah: 144). Maka Allah Ta'ala memalingkan beliau shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam ke Ka'bah. Sampai di sini hadits riwayat Ibnu Al-Mutsanna. Nashr menyebutkan nama orang yang bermimpi, dia berkata; Maka datang Abdullah bin Zaid, seorang laki laki dari golongan Anshar, dalam haditsnya itu dia berkata; Maka laki laki itu menghadap kiblat seraya mengucapkan; Allaahu Akbar, Allaahu Akbar, Asyhadu an laa ilaaha illallah, Asyhadu an laa ilaaha illallaah, Asyhadu anna Muhammadar Rasuulullah, Asyhadu anna Muhammadar Rasuulullah, Hayya 'alas shalaah hayya 'alash shalaah, hayya 'alal falaah hayya 'alal falaah, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Laa ilaaha illallaah. Setelah itu dia berhenti sebentar, lalu berdiri mengucapkan kalimat seperti sebelumnya, hanya saja dia menambahkan setelah mengucapkan; Hayya 'alal falaah, dengan ucapan; Qad Qamatis shalaah, qad qamatis shalaah. Mu'adz bin Jabal berkata; Maka Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "Ajarkanlah (kalimat adzan itu) kepada Bilal". Maka Bilal pun mengumandangkan adzan dengan kalimat kalimat itu. Kemudian Nasr bin Muhajir menyebutkan tentang perubahan-perubahan perintah puasa. Muadz bin Jabal berkata; Bahwasanya Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam biasa mengerjakan puasa tiga hari setiap bulan, dan pada hari Asyura', kemudian Allah Ta'ala menurunkan ayat (yang artinya): "Telah diwajibkan atas kalian berpuasa, sebagaimana telah diwajibkan atas orang orang sebelum kamu..., sampai dengan FirmanNya: (yaitu) memberi makan seorang miskin." (Al-Baqarah: 183 184). Karena itu siapa yang hendak berpuasa, silahkan berpuasa, dan siapa yang tidak mau berpuasa dan mau memberi makan seorang miskin setiap harinya, maka telah memadai baginya. Dan inilah salah satu keadaan puasa. Lalu Allah Ta'ala menurunkan ayat (yang artinya): "Bulan Ramadhan, bulan yang di dalamnya diturunkan (permulaan) Al Quran..., sampai FirmanNya: pada hari hari yang lain." (Al-Baqarah: 185). Maka berlakulah ketetapan hukum puasa itu wajib atas orang yang mendapatkan bulan Ramadhan, sedangkan orang yang sedang musafir, wajib mengqadla'nya. Dan ditetapkan pula hukum kewajiban memberi makan orang miskin bagi orang tua berusia lanjut dan orang yang lemah, yang tidak mampu lagi berpuasa. Dan datang pula Shirmah, sedangkan dia telah bekerja sehari penuh. Selanjutnya dia (Nashr) menyebutkan Hadits itu
Dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Zuhair bin harb] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Ya'qub bin Ibrahim] telah menceritakan kepada kami [bapakku] dari [Shalih], [Ibnu Syihab] berkata, "Akan tetapi [Urwah] menceritakan dari [Humran] bahwa dia berkata, 'Ketika [Utsman] berwudlu, maka dia berkata, 'Demi Allah, sungguh aku akan menceritakan kepada kalian sebuah hadits. Demi Allah, kalau bukan suatu ayat dalam Kitabullah niscaya aku tidak akan menceritakannya kepada kalian. Sesungguhnya aku mendengar Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "Tidaklah seorang laki-laki berwudlu, lalu memperbagus wudlunya kemudian melakukan shalat melainkan pasti diampuni dosanya antara dia dan shalat setelahnya'." Urwah berkata, "Ayat tersebut adalah: '(Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang menyembunyikan apa yang telah Kami turunkan berupa keterangan-keterangan (yang jelas) dan petunjuk, setelah Kami menerangkan-Nya kepada manusia dalam Al-Kitab, mereka itu dila'nati Allah dan dila'nati (pula) oleh semua (makhluk) yang dapat melaknati…) ' (Qs. Al-Baqarah:)
Telah menceritakan kepadaku [Zuhair bin Harb] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abdurrahman bin Mahdi] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Hammad bin Salamah] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Tsabit] dari [Anas] bahwa kaum Yahudi dahulu apabila kaum wanita mereka, mereka tidak memberinya makan dan tidak mempergaulinya di rumah. Maka para sahabat Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bertanya kepada Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam. Lalu Allah menurunkan, "Mereka bertanya kepadamu tentang haidh. Katakanlah, 'Haidh itu adalah suatu kotoran'. Oleh sebab itu, hendaklah kamu menjauhkan diri dari wanita di waktu haidh; dan janganlah kamu mendekati mereka, sebelum mereka suci. Apabila mereka telah suci, maka campurilah mereka itu di tempat yang diperintahkan Allah kepadamu. Allah menyukai orang-orang yang taubat dan menyukai orang-orang yang mensucikan diri." (al-Baqarah: 222) maka Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda, "Perbuatlah segala sesuatu kecuali nikah". Maka hal tersebut sampai kepada kaum Yahudi, maka mereka berkata, "Laki-laki ini tidak ingin meninggalkan sesuatu dari perkara kita melainkan dia menyelisihi kita padanya." Lalu Usaid bin Hudhair dan Abbad bin Bisyr berkata, "Wahai Rasulullah, sesungguhnya kaum Yahudi berkata demikian dan demikian, maka kami tidak menyenggamai kaum wanita." Raut wajah Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam spontan berubah hingga kami mengira bahwa beliau telah marah pada keduanya, lalu keduanya keluar, keduanya pergi bertepatan ada hadiah susu yang diperuntukkan Nabi shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, Maka beliau kirim utusan untuk menyusul kepergian keduanya, dan beliau suguhkan minuman untuk keduanya. Keduanya pun sadar bahwa beliau tidak marah atas keduanya
Telah menceritakan kepadaku [Muhammad bin 'Abbad] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Sufyan] dari [Amru] dari [Jabir] dia berkata, "Muadz shalat bersama Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, kemudian dia datang, lalu mengimami kaumnya. Maka dia melakukan shalat Isya' pada malam tersebut bersama Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, kemudian mendatangi kaumnya, lalu mengimami mereka. Lalu dia membuka dengan surat al-Baqarah, maka seorang laki-laki berpaling lalu salam, kemudian shalat sendirian, lalu berpaling pergi. Maka mereka berkata kepadanya, 'Apakah kamu berlaku munafik wahai fulan? ' Dia menjawab, 'Tidak, demi Allah, aku akan mendatangi Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, lalu aku akan mengabarkan kepada beliau. Lalu dia mendatangi Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam seraya berkata, 'Wahai Rasulullah, sesungguhnya para pekerja penyiram (tanaman) bekerja pada siang hari (sehingga kecapekan), dan sesungguhnya Mu'adz shalat Isya' bersamamu, kemudian dia datang kepada kami lalu shalat dengan membukanya dengan surat al-Baqarah.' Maka Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam menghadap Mu'adz seraya bersabda, 'Wahai Mu'adz, apakah kamu pemfitnah (yang membuat orang lari dari agama), bacalah dengan surat ini dan bacalah dengan ini' -maksudnya surat yang ringkas dan pendek--." Berkata Sufyan, maka saya berkata kepada Amru sesungguhnya [Abu az-Zubair] telah menceritakan kepada kami, dari [Jabir] bahwa dia berkata, "Bacalah 'Iqra dan asy-Syams wa Dhuhaha, serta Wa adh-dhuha wa al-Laili Idza Yaghsya dan Sabbihisma Rabbika al-A'la". Maka Amru berkata semisal ini
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu Bakar bin Abi Syaibah] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu al-Ahwash] dari [Abu Ishaq] dari [al-Bara' bin 'Azib] dia berkata, "Aku shalat bersama Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam menghadap Baitul Maqdis selama enam belas bulan hingga turun ayat tersebut yang ada dalam surat al-Baqarah, "Dan di mana pun kamu berada maka palingkanlah wajah-wajahmu ke arahnya." (QS.Albaqarah 124), ayat tersebut turun setelah Nabi Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam shalat, lalu seorang laki-laki dari suatu kaum bertolak pergi, lalu dia berjalan bersama beberapa manusia dari kalangan Anshar, dan mereka shalat, lalu beliau menceritakannya kepada mereka, maka mereka menghadapkan wajah-wajah mereka ke Baitullah