2:9 Al-Baqara (The Cow)

وإنما هذا مخادعة لله ولعباده المؤمنين. والمخادعة: أن يظهر المخادع لمن يخادعه شيئا, ويبطن خلافه لكي يتمكن من مقصوده ممن يخادع، فهؤلاء المنافقون, سلكوا مع الله وعباده هذا المسلك, فعاد خداعهم على أنفسهم، فإن هذا من العجائب؛ لأن المخادع, إما أن ينتج خداعه ويحصل له ما يريد أو يسلم, لا له ولا عليه، وهؤلاء عاد خداعهم عليهم, وكأنهم يعملون ما يعملون من المكر لإهلاك أنفسهم وإضرارها وكيدها؛ لأن الله تعالى لا يتضرر بخداعهم [شيئا] وعباده المؤمنون, لا يضرهم كيدهم شيئا، فلا يضر المؤمنين أن أظهر المنافقون الإيمان, فسلمت بذلك أموالهم وحقنت دماؤهم, وصار كيدهم في نحورهم, وحصل لهم بذلك الخزي والفضيحة في الدنيا, والحزن المستمر بسبب ما يحصل للمؤمنين من القوة والنصرة. ثم في الآخرة لهم العذاب الأليم الموجع المفجع, بسبب كذبهم وكفرهم وفجورهم, والحال أنهم من جهلهم وحماقتهم لا يشعرون بذلك.

وقوله تعالى "يخادعون الله والذين آمنوا" أي بإظهارهم ما أظهروه من الإيمان مع إسرارهم الكفر يعتقدون بجهلهم أنهم يخدعون الله بذلك وأن ذاك نافعهم عنده وأنه يروج عليه كما قد يروج على بعض المؤمنين كما قال تعالى "يوم يبعثهم الله جميعا فيحلفون له كما يحلفون لكم ويحسبون أنهم على شيء ألا إنهم هم الكاذبون ولهذا قابلهم على اعتقادهم ذلك بقوله "وما يخدعون إلا أنفسهم وما يشعرون" يقول وما يغرون بصنيعهم هذا ولا يخدعون إلا أنفسهم وما يشعرون بذلك من أنفسهم كما قال تعالى "إن المنافقين يخادعون الله وهو خادعهم" ومن القراء من قرأ "وما يخدعون إلا أنفسهم" وكلا القراءتين ترجع إلى معنى واحد. قال ابن جرير فإن قال قائل: كيف يكون المنافق لله وللمؤمنين مخادعا وهو لا يظهر بلسانه خلاف ما هو له معتقد إلا تقية؟ قيل: لا تمتنع العرب أن تسمي من أعطى بلسانه غير الذي في ضميره تقية لينجو بما هو له خائف مخادعا فكذلك المنافق سمي مخادعا لله وللمؤمنين بإظهاره ما أظهر بلسانه تقية بما يخلص به من القتل والسبي والعذاب العاجل وهو لغير ما أظهره مستبطن وذلك من فعله وإن كان خداعا للمؤمنين في عاجل الدنيا فهو لنفسه بذلك من فعله خادع لأنه يظهر لها بفعله ذلك بها أنه يعطيها أمنيتها ويسقيها كأس سرورها وهو موردها حياض عطبها ومجرعها به كأس عذابها ومزبرها من غضب الله وأليم عقابه ما لا قبل لها به فذلك خديعته نفسه ظنا منه مع إساءته إليها في أمر معادها أنه إليها محسن كما قال تعالى "وما يخدعون إلا أنفسهم وما يشعرون" إعلاما منه عباده المؤمنين أن المنافقين بإساءتهم إلى أنفسهم في إسخاطهم عليها ربهم بكفرهم وشركهم وتكذيبهم غير شاعرين ولا دارين ولكنهم على عمى من أمرهم مقيمين. وقال ابن أبي حاتم أنبأنا علي بن المبارك فيما كتب إلي حدثنا زيد بن المبارك حدثنا محمد بن نور عن ابن جريج في قوله تعالى يخادعون الله قال يظهرون لا إله إلا الله يريدون أن يحرزوا بذلك دماءهم وأموالهم وفي أنفسهم غير ذلك. وقال سعيد عن قتادة "ومن الناس من يقول آمنا بالله وباليوم الآخر وما هم بمؤمنين يخادعون الله والذين آمنوا وما يخادعون إلا أنفسهم وما يشعرون" نعت المنافق عند كثير: خنع الأخلاق يصدق بلسانه وينكر بقلبه ويخالف بعمله يصبح على حال ويمسي على غيره ويمسي على حال ويصبح على غيره ويتكفأ تكفأ السفينة كلما هبت ريح هبت معها.

Meaning of Nifaq

Nifaq means to show conformity - or agreement - and to conceal evil. Nifaq has several types: Nifaq in the creed that causes its people to reside in Hell for eternity, and Nifaq in deed, which is one of the major sins, as we will explain soon, Allah willing. Ibn Jurayj said of the hypocrite that, "His actual deeds are different from what he publicizes, what he conceals is different from what he utters, his entrance and presence are not the same as his exit and absence."

The Beginning of Hypocrisy

The revelations about the characteristics of the hypocrites were revealed in Al-Madinah, this is because there were no hypocrites in Makkah. Rather the opposite was the situation in Makkah, since some people were forced to pretend that they were disbelievers, while their hearts concealed their faith. Afterwards, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ migrated to Al-Madinah, where the Ansar from the tribes of Aws and Khazraj resided. They used to worship idols during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance, just as the rest of the Arab idolators. Three Jewish tribes resided in Al-Madinah, Banu Qaynuqa`-allies of Al-Khazraj, Banu An-Nadir and Banu Qurayzah-allies of the Aws. Many members of the Aws and Khazraj tribes embraced Islam. However, only a few Jews embraced Islam, such as `Abdullah bin Salam. During the early stage in Al-Madinah, there weren't any hypocrites because the Muslims were not strong enough to be feared yet. On the contrary, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ conducted peace treaties with the Jews and several other Arab tribes around Al-Madinah. Soon after, the battle of Badr occurred and Allah gave victory to Islam and its people. `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul was a leader in Al-Madinah. He was Al-Khazraj's chief, and during the period of Jahiliyyah he was the master of both tribes - Aws and Khazraj. They were about to appoint him their king when the Message reached Al-Madinah, and many in Al-Madinah embraced Islam. Ibn Salul's heart was filled with hatred against Islam and its people. When the battle of Badr took place, he said, "Allah's religion has become apparent." So he pretended to be Muslim, along with many of those who were just like him, as well as many among the People of the Book. It was then that hypocrisy began in Al-Madinah and among the surrounding nomad tribes. As for the Emigrants, none of them were hypocrites, since they emigrated willingly (seeking the pleasure of Allah). Rather, when a Muslim would emigrate from Makkah, he would be forced to abandon all of his wealth, offspring and land; he would do so seeking Allah's reward in the Hereafter.

The Tafsir of Ayah 2:8

Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الأْخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

(And of mankind, there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they do not believe) "This refers to the hypocrites among the Aws and Khazraj and those who behaved as they did."

This is how Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and As-Suddi explained this Ayah. Allah revealed the characteristics of the hypocrites, so that the believers would not be deceived by their outer appearance, thus saving the believers from a great evil. Otherwise, the believers might think that the hypocrites were believers, when in reality they are disbelievers. To consider the sinners as righteous people is extremely dangerous, Allah said,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الأْخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

(And of mankind, there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they do not believe) meaning, they utter these false statements only with their tongues, just as Allah said,

إِذَا جَآءَكَ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ قَالُواْ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ

(When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad ), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger) (63:1).

This Ayah means that the hypocrites utter these statements only when they meet you, not because they actually believe what they are saying. The hypocrites emphasize their belief in Allah and the Last Day with their words, when that is not the case in reality. Therefore, Allah stated that the hypocrites lie in their testimony of creed, when He said,

وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ لَكَـذِبُونَ

(And Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are indeed liars.) (63:1), and,

وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

(while in fact they believe not)

Allah said,

يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا

(They try to deceive Allah and those who believe). The hypocrites show belief outwardly while concealing disbelief. They think that by doing this, they will mislead Allah, or that the statements they utter will help them with Allah, and this is an indication of their total ignorance. They think that such behavior will deceive Allah, just as it might deceive some of the believers. Similarly, Allah said,

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ أَلاَ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْكَـذِبُونَ

(On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all together; then they will swear to Him as they swear to you. And they think that they have something (to stand upon). Verily, they are liars!) (58:18). aHence, Allah refuted their way by saying,

وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إلاَّ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

(While they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!) Allah stated that the hypocrites only deceive themselves by this behavior, although they are unaware of this fact. Allah also said,

إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ

(Verily, the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them) (4:142).

Also, Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that Ibn Jurayj commented on Allah's statement,

إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ

(Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them), "The hypocrites pronounce, `There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah' seeking to ensure the sanctity of their blood and money, all the while concealing disbelief."Sa`id said that Qatadah said,

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الأْخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ - يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إلاَّ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

(And of mankind, there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not. They try to deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!) "This is the description of a hypocrite. He is devious, he says the truth with his tongue and defies it with his heart and deeds. He wakes up in a condition other than the one he goes to sleep in, and goes to sleep in a different condition than the one he wakes up in. He changes his mind just like a ship that moves about whenever a wind blows."

They would deceive God and the believers by manifesting the opposite of the unbelief they hide so that they can avoid His rulings in this world; and only themselves they deceive yukhādi‘ūn for the evil consequences of their deception will rebound upon them as they are disgraced in this world when God makes known to His Prophet what they are hiding and they will be punished in the Hereafter; and they are not aware and they do not know that they are actually deceiving themselves mukhāda‘a although a third verbal form from khāda‘a actually denotes a one-way action such as when one says ‘āqabtu al-lissa ‘I punished the thief’ using the third verbal form ‘āqaba; the mention of ‘God’ in this statement is for rhetorical effect; a variant reading for wa-mā yukhādi‘ūna has wa-mā yakhda‘ūna.

Misbehaving Prophets (علیہم السلام) is to misbehave with Allah

(4) These verses denounce the hypocrites for trying to be clever with Allah Himself and to deceive Him, although no one among them could probably have had such an intention or even thought of such a possibility. What they were actually doing was to try to deceive the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the Muslims. Allah has equated this effort with an attempt to deceive Him, and has thus indicated that a man who is in any way impertinent to a prophet or a man of Allah is ultimately guilty of being impertinent to Allah Himself - this should be true above all in the case of the Holy Prophet ﷺ who stands in his station at the head of all created beings.