64:14 At-Taghaabun (Mutual Disillusion)

هذا تحذير من الله للمؤمنين، من الاغترار بالأزواج والأولاد، فإن بعضهم عدو لكم، والعدو هو الذي يريد لك الشر، ووظيفتك الحذر ممن هذه وصفه والنفس مجبولة على محبة الأزواج والأولاد، فنصح تعالى عباده أن توجب لهم هذه المحبة الانقياد لمطالب الأزواج والأولاد، ولو كان فيها ما فيها من المحذور الشرعي ورغبهم في امتثال أوامره، وتقديم مرضاته بما عنده من الأجر العظيم المشتمل على المطالب العالية والمحاب الغالية، وأن يؤثروا الآخرة على الدنيا الفانية المنقضية، ولما كان النهي عن طاعة الأزواج والأولاد، فيما هو ضرر على العبد، والتحذير من ذلك، قد يوهم الغلظة عليهم وعقابهم، أمر تعالى بالحذر منهم، والصفح عنهم والعفو، فإن في ذلك، من المصالح ما لا يمكن حصره، فقال: { وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ } لأن الجزاء من جنس العمل.فمن عفا عفا الله عنه، ومن صفح صفح الله عنه، ومن غفر غفر الله له، ومن عامل الله فيما يحب، وعامل عباده كما يحبون وينفعهم، نال محبة الله ومحبة عباده، واستوثق له أمره.

يقول تعالى مخبرا عن الأزواج والأولاد أن منهم من هو عدو الزوج والولد بمعنى أنه يلتهي به عن العمل الصالح كقوله تعالى "يا أيها الذين آمنوا لا تلهكم أموالكم ولا أولادكم عن ذكر الله ومن يفعل ذلك فأولئك هم الخاسرون" ولهذا قال تعالى ههنا "فاحذروهم" قال ابن زيد يعني على دينكم وقال مجاهد "إن من أزواجكم وأولادكم عدوا لكم" قال يحمل الرجل على قطيعة الرحم أو معصية ربه فلا يستطيع الرجل مع حبه إلا أن يطيعه وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا محمد بن خلف الصيدلاني حدثنا الفريابي حدثنا إسرائيل حدثنا سماك بن حرب عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس وسأله رجل عن هذه الآية "يا أيها الذين آمنوا إن من أزواجكم وأولادكم عدوا لكم فاحذروهم" قال فهؤلاء رجال أسلموا من مكة فأرادوا أن يأتوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأبى أزواجهم وأولادهم أن يدعوهم فلما أتوا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رأوا الناس قد فقهوا في الدين فهموا أن يعاقبوهم فأنزل الله تعالى هذه الآية "وإن تعفوا وتصفحوا وتغفروا فإن الله غفور رحيم" وكذا رواه الترمذي عن محمد بن يحيى عن الفريابي وهو محمد بن يوسف به وقال حسن صحيح ورواه ابن جرير والطبراني من حديث إسرائيل به وروى من طريق العوفي عن ابن عباس نحوه وهكذا قال عكرمة مولاه سواء.

Warning against the Fitnah of Spouses and Offspring

Allah states that some wives and children are enemies to their husbands and fathers, in that they might be busied with them rather than with performing the good deeds. Allah said in another Ayah,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَلاَ أَوْلَـدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ

(O you who believe! Let not your properties or you children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that then they are the losers.) (63:9) Allah the Exalted said here,

فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

(therefore, beware of them!) for your religion, according to Ibn Zayd. Mujahid explained the Ayah ,

إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَجِكُمْ وَأَوْلـدِكُمْ عَدُوّاً لَّكُمْ

(Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you;) by saying, "They might direct the man to sever his relation or disobey his Lord. The man, who loves his wives and children, might obey them in this case." Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn `Abbas said to a man who asked him about this Ayah,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَجِكُمْ وَأَوْلـدِكُمْ عَدُوّاً لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

(O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you; therefore beware of them!) "There were men who embraced Islam in Makkah and wanted to migrate to Allah's Messenger . However, their wives and children refused to allow them. Later when they joined Allah's Messenger ﷺ, they found that those who were with him (the Companions) have gained knowledge in the religion, so they were about to punish their wives and children. Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah,

وَإِن تَعْفُواْ وَتَصْفَحُواْ وَتَغْفِرُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive, then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)" At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith and said that it is Hasan Sahih. Allah's statement,

إِنَّمَآ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَأَوْلَـدُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

(Your wealth and your children are only a Fintah, whereas Allah! With Him is a great reward.) Allah said that the wealth and children are a test and trial from Allah the Exalted for His creatures, so that He knows those who obey Him and those who disobey Him. Allah's statement,

وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ

(whereas Allah! With Him) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection,

أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

(is a great reward.) As Allah said;

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَتِ مِنَ النِّسَآءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَـطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَـمِ وَالْحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَـعُ الْحَيَوةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَأَبِ

(Beautified for men is the love of things they covet; women children, Qanatir Al-Muqantarah of gold and silver, branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world's life; but Allah has the excellent return with him.) (3:14), and the Ayah after it. Imam Ahmad recorded that Buraydah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was giving a speech and Al-Hasan and Husayn came in wearing red shirts, walking and tripping. The Messenger descended from the Minbar, held them and placed them in front of them and said,

«صَدَقَ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ، نَظَرْتُ إِلَى هَذَيْنِ الصَّبِيَّيْنِ يَمْشِيَانِ وَيَعْثُرَانِ، فَلَمْ أَصْبِرْ حَتْى قَطَعْتُ حَدِيثِي وَرَفَعْتُهُمَا»

(Allah and His Messenger said the truth,`Verily, your wealth and your children are a Fitnah.' I saw these two boys walking and tripping and could not be patient until I stopped my speech and picked them up.)" This was recorded by the Sunan compilers, and At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Gharib."

The Order for Taqwa, as much as One is Capable

Allah said,

فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

(So have Taqwa of Allah as much as you can;) meaning, as much as you are able and can bear or endure. The Two Sahihs recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«إِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَائْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ، وَمَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ فَاجْتَنِبُوه»

(When I command you to do something, do as much as you can of it, and whatever I forbid for you, then avoid it.) Allah's statement,

وَاسْمَعُواْ وَأَطِيعُواْ

(listen and obey,) means, obey what Allah and His Messenger command you to do and do not stray from it to the right or left. Do not utter a statement or make a decision before Allah and His Messenger issue a statement or decision. Do not ignore what you were ordered to do, nor commit what you were forbidden from doing.

Encouraging Charity

Allah the Exalted said,

وَأَنْفِقُواْ خَيْراً لاًّنفُسِكُمْ

(and spend in charity; that is better for yourselves.) meaning, give from what Allah has granted you to your relatives, the poor, the needy and the weak. Be kind to Allah's creatures, just as Allah was and still is kind with you. This will be better for you in this life and the Hereafter. Otherwise, if you do not do it, it will be worse for you in this life and the Hereafter. Allah said;

وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

(And whosoever is saved from his own greed, then they are the successful ones.) This was explained with a similar Ayah in Surat Al-Hashr, where we also mentioned the relevant Hadiths. Therefore, we do not need to repeat them here, all praise and gratitude is due to Allah. Allah the Exalted said,

إِن تُقْرِضُواْ اللَّهَ قَرْضاً حَسَناً يُضَـعِفْهُ لَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ

(If you lend to Allah a handsome loan, He will double it for you, and will forgive you.) meaning, whatever you spend, then Allah will replace it, and on Him will be the reward of whatever you give away in charity. Allah considered giving charity as if it is a loan to Him, just as Allah said in a Qudsi Hadith,

«مَنْ يُقْرِضُ غَيْرَ ظَلُومٍ وَلَا عَدِيم»

("Who will give a loan to He Who is neither unjust nor poor") This is why Allah the Exalted said in Surat Al-Baqarah,

فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً

(So that He may multiply it to him many times) (2:245) Allah said;

وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ

(and will forgive you.) meaning, He will erase your mistakes,

وَاللَّهُ شَكُورٌ

(And Allah is Shakur) meaning, He gives abundantly in return for what was little,

حَلِيمٌ

(Halim) means, He forgives, pardons, covers and absolves the sins, mistakes, errors and shortcomings,

عَـلِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

(All-Knower of the unseen and seen, the Almighty, the All-Wise.) Its explanation has already preceded several times. This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat At-Taghabun, all the praise and appreciation is due to Allah.

O you who believe! Indeed among your wives and children there are enemies for you so beware of them of obeying them in neglecting the performance of good deeds such as struggling or emigrating — because the reason why this verse was revealed was precisely their obedience of them in such matters. And if you pardon them for their impeding you from such good deeds justifying it on account of the distress that parting with you causes them and overlook such enmity and forgive then assuredly God is Forgiving Merciful.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُ‌وهُمْ ( O those who believe, among your wives and your children there are some enemies for you, so beware of them…4:14). Tirmidhi, Hakim and others have recorded, with authentic chain of transmitters, on the authority of Sayyidna Ibn ‘Abbas ؓ ، that this verse was revealed regarding those Muslims who embraced Islam in Makkah after the migration of the Holy Prophet ﷺ to Madinah. They intended to migrate to Madinah and join the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، but their wives and children refused to allow them. [ Ruh ] This was the time when it was compulsory for every Muslim to migrate from Makkah. Therefore, the wives and children who stood in way of loyalty and obedience to Divine laws are referred to as their enemies, and it was emphasized that they should beware of them, because none can be greater enemy than one who involves a person in the eternal punishment and everlasting Fire of Hell. ‘Ata’ Ibn Rabah reports that this verse was revealed in connection with ‘Auf Ibn Malik Ashja’ i ؓ . He was in Madinah. Whenever the occasion arose to go to war or jihad and he would intend to participate in the jihad, his wife and children would complain: “ In whose care are you leaving us?” He would be influenced by their complaint and change his mind. [ Ruh and Ibn Kathir ]

These two narratives are not in conflict with each other. Both narratives, in their own right, can be the cause of revelation, because wife and children that stand in the way of obeying Allah’ s laws, whether migration or jihad, they become the enemies of Allah.

وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُ‌وا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ‌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ (And if you forgive and overlook and pardon, then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful…634:14). The Muslims who were warned by the previous verse that their wives and children were their enemies, decided that they would treat their family members harshly. On that occasion, this part of the verse was revealed. The verse purports to say that although your wives and children behaved like enemies and stood in your way to perform your duty towards Allah, do not treat them harshly and mercilessly, but rather treat them politely and leniently. This is better for you because Allah loves forgiving and showing mercy’.

Ruling

Scholars have deduced from the above verse that if the family members to anything in violation of the sacred laws, it is not appropriate to be disappointed with them totally, or to be hostile towards them, or to hate or curse them. [ Ruh ]

(O ye who believe! Lo! among your wives and your children there are enemies for you, therefor beware of them. And if ye efface and overlook and forgive, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful) [64:14]. Said Ibn �Abbas: �Some men used to embrace Islam but, upon trying to migrate, were prevented from doing so by their families and children. The latter would plead with them, saying: �We plead with you, by Allah, not to leave your family and clan and depart to Medina where you have no family or wealth�. Some of these men took pity on their family and children and stayed back, thus failing to migrate, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed this verse�. Ahmad ibn �Abd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Shaybani informed us> Abu�l-Fadl Ahmad ibn Isma�il ibn Yahya ibn Hazim> �Umar ibn Muhammad ibn Bujayr> Muhammad ibn �Umar al-Maqdimi> Ash�ath ibn �Abd Allah> Shu�bah> Isma�il ibn Abi Khalid who said: �Some men used to embrace Islam but then faced the rebuke of their families and children, and so this verse was revealed (O ye who believe! Lo! among your wives and your children there are enemies for you, therefor beware of them�)�. Reporting from Ibn �Abbas, �Ikrimah said: �This refers to those who were prevented by their families from emigrating to Medina. When they finally migrated and saw that people had gained a clear understanding of the religion, they were about to punish those members of their family who prevented them from migrating, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed (And if ye efface and overlook and forgive, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful)�.