3:188 Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)

ثم قال تعالى: { لا تحسبن الذين يفرحون بما أتوا } أي: من القبائح والباطل القولي والفعلي. { ويحبون أن يحمدوا بما لم يفعلوا } أي: بالخير الذي لم يفعلوه، والحق الذي لم يقولوه، فجمعوا بين فعل الشر وقوله، والفرح بذلك ومحبة أن يحمدوا على فعل الخير الذي ما فعلوه. { فلا تحسبنهم بمفازة من العذاب } أي: بمحل نجوة منه وسلامة، بل قد استحقوه، وسيصيرون إليه، ولهذا قال: { ولهم عذاب أليم } ويدخل في هذه الآية الكريمة أهل الكتاب الذين فرحوا بما عندهم من العلم، ولم ينقادوا للرسول، وزعموا أنهم هم المحقون في حالهم ومقالهم، وكذلك كل من ابتدع بدعة قولية أو فعلية، وفرح بها، ودعا إليها، وزعم أنه محق وغيره مبطل، كما هو الواقع من أهل البدع. ودلت الآية بمفهومها على أن من أحب أن يحمد ويثنى عليه بما فعله من الخير واتباع الحق، إذا لم يكن قصده بذلك الرياء والسمعة، أنه غير مذموم، بل هذا من الأمور المطلوبة، التي أخبر الله أنه يجزي بها المحسنين له الأعمال والأقوال، وأنه جازى بها خواص خلقه، وسألوها منه، كما قال إبراهيم عليه السلام: { واجعل لي لسان صدق في الآخرين } وقال: { سلام على نوح في العالمين، إنا كذلك نجزي المحسنين } وقد قال عباد الرحمن: { واجعلنا للمتقين إماما } وهي من نعم الباري على عبده، ومننه التي تحتاج إلى الشكر.

قوله تعالى "لا تحسبن الذين يفرحون بما أتوا ويحبون أن يحمدوا بما لم يفعلوا" الآية يعني بذلك المرائين المتكثرين بما لم يعطوا كما جاء في الصحيحين عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم "من ادعى دعوى كاذبة ليتكثر بها لم يزده الله إلا قلة" وفي الصحيحين أيضا "المتشبع بما لم يعط كلابس ثوبي زور" وقال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا حجاج عن ابن جريج أخبرني ابن أبي مليكة أن حميد بن عبدالرحمن بن عوف أخبره أن مروان قال: اذهب يا رافع لبوابه إلى ابن عباس فقل: لئن كان كل امريء منا فرح بما أتى وأحب أن يحمد بما لم يفعل معذبا لنعذبن أجمعين فقال ابن عباس ما لكم وهذه إنما نزلت هذه في أهل الكتاب ثم تلا ابن عباس "وإذ أخذ الله ميثاق الذين أوتوا الكتاب لتبيننه للناس ولا تكتمونه فنبذوه وراء ظهورهم واشتروا به ثمنا قليلا فبئس ما يشترون لا تحسبن الذين يفرحون بما أتوا ويحبون أن يحمدوا بما لم يفعلوا" الآية. وقال ابن عباس: سألهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن شيء فكتموه إياه وأخبروه بغيره فخرجوا قد أروه أن قد أخبروه بما سألهم عنه واستحمدوا بذلك إليه وفرحوا بما أوتوا من كتمانهم ما سألهم عنه وهكذا رواه البخاري في التفسير ومسلم والترمذي والنسائي في تفسيريهما وابن أبي حاتم وابن خزيمة والحاكم في مستدركه وابن مردويه كلهم من حديث عبدالملك بن جريج بنحوه. ورواه البخاري أيضا من حديث ابن جريج عن ابن أبي مليكة عن علقمة بن وقاص أن مروان قال لبوابه: اذهب يا رافع إلى ابن عباس فذكره- وقال البخاري: حدثنا سعيد بن أبي مريم أنبأنا محمد بن جعفر حدثني زيد بن أسلم عن عطاء بن يسار عن أبي سعيد الخدري: أن رجالا من المنافقين في عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كانوا إذا خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى الغزو تخلفوا عنه وفرحوا بمقعدهم خلاف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فإذا قدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الغزو اعتذروا إليه وحلفوا وأحبوا أن يحمدوا بما لم يفعلوا فنزلت "لا تحسبن الذين يفرحون بما أتوا ويحبون أن يحمدوا بما لم يفعلوا" الآية. كذا رواه مسلم من حديث ابن أبي مريم بنحوه وقد رواه ابن مردويه في تفسيره من حديث الليث بن سعد عن هشام بن سعد عن زيد بن أسلم قال: قال أبو سعيد ورافع بن خديج وزيد بن ثابت: كنا عند مروان فقال: يا أبا سعيد أرأيت قوله تعالى "لا تحسبن الذين يفرحون بما أتوا ويحبون أن يحمدوا بما لم يفعلوا" ونحن نفرح بما أتينا ونحب أن نحمد بما لم نفعل؟ فقال أبو سعيد: إن هذا ليس من ذاك إنما ذاك أن ناسا من المنافقين يتخلفون إذا بعث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بعثا فإن كان فيه نكبة فرحوا بتخلفهم وإن كان لهم نصر من الله وفتح حلفوا لهم ليرضوهم وحمدوهم على سرورهم بالنصر والفتح فقال مروان: أين هذا من هذا؟ فقال أبو سعيد: وهذا يعلم هذا؟ فقال مروان: أكذلك يا زيد؟ قال: نعم صدق أبو سعيد. ثم قال أبو سعيد وهذا يعلم ذاك - يعني رافع بن خديج - ولكنه يخشى إن أخبرك أن تنزع قلائصه في الصدقة فلما خرجوا قال زيد لأبي سعيد الخدري: ألا تحمدني على ما شهدت لك؟ فقال له أبو سعيد: شهدت الحق فقال زيد: أولا تحمدني على ما شهدت الحق؟ ثم رواه من حديث مالك عن زيد بن أسلم عن رافع بن خديج أنه كان هو وزيد بن ثابت عند مروان بن الحكم وهو أمير على المدينة فقال مروان: يا رافع في أي شيء نزلت هذه الآية؟ فذكره كما تقدم عن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنهم وكان مروان يبعث بعد ذلك يسأل ابن عباس كما تقدم؟ فقال له ما ذكرناه. ولا منافاة بين ما ذكره ابن عباس وما قاله هؤلاء لأن الآية عامة في جميع ما ذكر والله أعلم. وقد روى ابن مردويه أيضا من حديث محمد بن عتيق وموسى بن عقبة عن الزهري عن محمد بن ثابت الأنصاري أن ثابت بن قيس الأنصاري قال: يا رسول الله والله لقد خشيت أن أكون هلكت قال "لم؟" قال نهى الله المرء أن يحب أن يحمد بما لم يفعل وأجدني أحب الحمد ونهى الله عن الخيلاء وأجدني أحب الجمال ونهى الله أن نرفع أصواتنا فوق صوتك وأنا امرؤ جهير الصوت فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "أما ترضى أن تعيش حميدا وتقتل شهيدا وتدخل الجنة" فقال: بلى يا رسول الله فعاش حميدا وقتل شهيدا يوم مسيلمة الكذاب - وقوله تعالى "فلا تحسبنهم بمفازة من العذاب" يقرأ بالتاء على مخاطبة المفرد وبالياء على الإخبار عنهم أي لا تحسب أنهم ناجون من العذاب: بل لابد لهم منه ولهذا قال تعالى "ولهم عذاب أليم".

Chastising the People of the Scriptures for Breaking the Covenant and Hiding the Truth

In this Ayah, Allah chastises the People of the Scriptures, from whom Allah took the covenant by the words of their Prophets, that they would believe in Muhammad ﷺ and describe him to the people, so that they would recognize and follow him when Allah sent him. However, they hid this truth and preferred the the small amounts and the material gains instead of the rewards of this life and the Hereafter that they were promised. This is a losing deal and a failing trade, indeed.

These Ayat also contain a warning for the scholars not to imitate their behavior, so that they do not suffer the same fate and become like them. Therefore, the scholars are required to spread the beneficial knowledge that they have, encouraging the various righteous good deeds. They are also warned against hiding any part of their knowledge. A Hadith states that the Prophet said,

«مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ، أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَار»

(Whoever was asked about knowledge that he knew but did not disclose it, will be tied with a bridle made of fire on the Day of Resurrection.)

Chastising Those Who Love to be Praised for What They Have not Done

Allah's statement,

لاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوْاْ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُواْ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُواْ

(Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done), refers to those who show off, rejoice in what they do and claim to do what they have not done. The Two Sahihs recorded that the Prophet said,

«مَنِ ادَّعَى دَعْوَةً كَاذِبَةً لِيَتَكَثَّرَ بِهَا، لَمْ يَزِدْهُ اللهُ إِلَّا قِلَّة»

(Whoever issues a false claim to acquire some type of gain, then Allah will only grant him decrease.)

The Sahih also recorded;

«الْمُتَشَبِّعُ بِمَا لَمْ يُعْطَ، كَلَابِسِ ثَوْبَيْ زُور»

(He who claims to do what he has not done, is just like a person who wears two robes made of falsehood.)

Imam Ahmad recorded that Marwan told his guard Rafi` to go to Ibn `Abbas and proclaim to him, "If every person among us who rejoices with what he has done and loves to be praised for what he has not done will be tormented, we all will be tormented." Ibn `Abbas said, "This Ayah was revealed about the People of the Scriptures." He then recited the Ayah,

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَـقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَـبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ ثَمَناً قَلِيلاً فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ

((And remember) when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) to make it (the truth) known and clear to mankind, and not to hide it, but they threw it away behind their backs, and purchased with it some miserable gain! And indeed worst is that which they bought.) then the Ayah,

لاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوْاْ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُواْ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُواْ

(Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done)

Ibn `Abbas said, "The Prophet asked them about something, and they hid its knowledge, giving him an incorrect answer. They parted after showing off and rejoicing in front of him because they answered him, so they pretended, and they were delighted that they hid the correct news about what he had asked them." This was recorded by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, "During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, when the Messenger would go to battle, some hypocrite men would remain behind and rejoice because they did not accompany the Prophet in battle. When the Messenger would come back, they would ask him to excuse them swearing to having some excuse, and wanting to be praised for that which they did not do. So Allah revealed,

لاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوْاْ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُواْ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُواْ

(Think not that those who rejoice in what they have done, and love to be praised for what they have not done),"

to the end of the Ayah." And Muslim recorded similarly.

Allah said;

فَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّهُمْ بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ الْعَذَابِ

(think not that they are rescued from the torment, ) Do not think that they will be saved from punishment, rather it will certainly strike them. So Allah said;

وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

(and for them is a painful torment.) Allah then said,

وَللَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah has power over all things.) He is the Owner of everything, able to do all things and nothing escapes His might. Therefore, fear Him, never defy Him and beware of His anger and revenge. He is the Most Great, none is greater than Him, and the Most Able, none is more able than He is.

Do not reckon that lā tahsabanna or read lā yahsabanna ‘let them not reckon’ those who rejoice in what they have brought that is in what they have done by leading people astray and who love to be praised for what they have not done in the way of adherence to the truth being themselves misguided — do not reckon them fa-lā tahsabannahum is for emphasis in the case of both readings above secure in a place where they can escape from the chastisement in the Hereafter; but instead they shall be in a place of wherein they shall be tortured and that is Hell; there shall be a painful chastisement for them in it alīm means mu’lim ‘painful’. If one reads yahsabanna ‘let them not reckon’ the two direct objects of the first h-s-b verb would be indicated by the two direct objects of the second h-s-b verb; but if one reads tahsabanna ‘do not reckon’ then only second direct object would be omitted.

In continuation of the description of evils practiced by the Jews mentioned in previous verses, the first of the present two verses (187, 188) takes up yet another evil practice of theirs. This is their habit of going back on solemn pledges and covenants - for Allah Almighty had taken pledge from the people of the Book that they would communicate the commandments of Allah appearing in the Torah freely, openly and universally and that they would not conceal any injunction out of their selfish ends. The people of the Book broke this covenant. They concealed injunctions. Not only that, they were audacious enough to show their pleasure about having acted in this manner and taking this deed of theirs as commendable.

Commentary

Concealing the Knowledge of Faith is forbidden and waiting or manipulating to be praised without practicing it is deplorable

The three verses cited above describe two crimes committed by scholars from the people of the Book along with their subsequent punishment.

As pointed out earlier, they were commanded to tell their people about injunctions revealed in the Book of Allah freely and openly without any effort. To curtail or hold back what was in there people. Although, they were explicitly instructed not to hide any commandment, yet they elected to ignore the pledge they had made, out of their worldly considerations and personal greed. They did hide a good many commandments from their people.

Secondly, they had the problem of personally staying aloof from acting righteously while, at the same time, they had no qualms of conscience in wishing to be praised without acting the way they were expected to.

As for the incidence of hiding the commandments of the Torah, it has been reported in Sahih al-Bukhari on the authority of Sayyidna 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas ؓ . He narrates that the Holy Prophet ﷺ asked the Jews about something mentioned in the Torah. They concealed the truth and told him something contrary to what was said in the Torah - and they left his company all pleased with their exercise in evil congratulating themselves on their deceit. Thereupon, this verse which carries a warning for them was revealed.

As for the other statement -'they love to be praised for what they never did' - it refers to the hypocrites among the Jews who would make excuses at the time of Jihad, sit home and celebrate how well they were able to dodge the hardships of Jihad. When the Holy Prophet ﷺ returned from Jihad, they would go to him, take false oaths and offer excuses and, on top of that, they would demand that this act of theirs be praised. (Sahih al-Bukhri)

The Holy Qur'an condemns them for both these attitudes. From here, we know that concealing the knowledge of Faith and the injunctions of Allah and His Messenger is forbidden (Haram ). But this forbiddance applies to the kind of concealment which was practiced by the Jews for they used to conceal Divine injunctions to promote their own worldly interest and, in this process, they made people pay for it. However, if an injunction is not broadcast publicly due to some expedient religious consideration, such an action would not fall under the purview of this ruling. This problem has been taken up by Imam al-Bukhari (رح) under a separate subject heading supported by relevant Hadith narrations. According to him, there are occasions when there is the danger that masses would fall prey to misunderstanding and disorder by publicising a certain injunction openly. If an injunction is allowed to remain unpublicised on the basis of such a danger, it does not matter.

The rule about doing a good deed is simple. If anyone does a good deed, then looks forward to be praised for it - or, worse still, takes elaborate steps to make this happen - then, despite having done what one did, this act will be deemed blameworthy under the Islamic legal-moral norms. And should one elect not to do that good deed at all, that would, then, be taken as far more blameworthy. As for the natural desire to do something good and thereby earn a fair name, it is not included under the purview of this ruling - unless, of course, if one does not make unusual projections to earn that fair name (Bayan al-Qur'an).

(Think not that those who exult in what they have given�) [3:188]. Abu 'Abd al-Rahman Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Ja'far informed us> Abu'l-Haytham al-Marwazi> Muhammad ibn Yusuf> Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Bukhari> Sa'id ibn Abi Maryam> Muhammad ibn Ja'far> Zayd ibn Aslam> 'Ata' ibn Yasar> Abu Sa'id al-Khudri who related that a group of hypocrites were in the habit of failing to join the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, whenever he set off for a military expedition. But then they would come and apologize to him the moment he came back, swearing to him [about their sincerity] and wishing to be praised for that which they had not done. And so this verse (Think not that those who exult in what they have given�). This was narrated by Muslim> al-Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Halwani> Ibn Abi Maryam. Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Shadhyani informed us> Muhammad ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Zakariyya> Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Rahman al-Daghuli> Muhammad ibn Jahm> Ja'far ibn 'Awf> Hisham ibn Sa'id> Zayd ibn Aslam who related that Marwan ibn al-Hakam was one day, whilst he was the governor of Medina, with Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, Zayd ibn Thabit and Rafi' ibn Khudayj. He asked: �O Abu Sa'id, regarding the saying of Allah, exalted is He, (Think not that those who exult in what they have given) and, by Allah, we do exult in what we give and like to be praised for what we have not done!� Abu Sa'id replied: �This was not revealed about that. Rather, a group of people at the time of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, were in the habit of failing to join him and his Companions in military expeditions. Whenever a setback or something disliked befell the Muslims, they exulted in their failure to join them; but when something good happened to the Muslims, they liked to be praised for what they had not done�. Sa'id ibn Muhammad al-Zahid informed us> Abu Sa'id ibn Hamdun> Abu Hamid al-Sharqi> Abu'l-Azhar> 'Abd al-Razzaq> Ibn Jurayj> Ibn Abi Malikah> 'Alqamah ibn Waqqas who informed him that Marwan said to his chamberlain, Rafi': �Go to Ibn 'Abbas and say to him: 'If everyone who exults in what he does and likes to be praised for what he has not done will be chastised, then we will all be chastised'.