64:15 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.

وقوله تعالى "إنما أموالكم وأولادكم فتنة والله عنده أجر عظيم" يقول تعالى إنما الأموال والأولاد فتنة أي اختبار وابتلاء من الله تعالى لخلقه ليعلم من يطيعه ممن يعصيه وقوله تعالى "والله عنده" أي يوم القيامة "أجر عظيم" كما قال تعالى "زين للناس حب الشهوات من النساء والبنين والقناطير المقنطرة من الذهب والفضة والخيل المسومة والأنعام والحرث ذلك متاع الحياة الدنيا والله عنده حسن المآب" والتي بعدها وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا زيد بن الحباب حدثني حسين بن واقد حدثني عبدالله بن بريدة سمعت أبا بريدة يقول كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخطب فجاء الحسن والحسين رضي الله عنهما عليهما قميصان أحمران يمشيان ويعثران فنزل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من المنبر فحملهما فوضعهما بين يديه ثم قال "صدق الله ورسوله إنما أموالكم وأولادكم فتنة نظرت إلى هذين الصبيين يمشيان ويعثران فلم أصبر حتى قطعت حديثي ورفعتهما" ورواه أهل السنن من حديث حسين بن واقد به وقال الترمذي حسن غريب إنما نعرفه من حديثه وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا شريح بن النعمان حدثنا هشيم أخبرنا مجالد عن الشعبي حدثنا الأشعث بن قيس قال: قدمت على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في وفد كندة فقال لي "هل لك من ولد؟" قلت غلام ولد لي في مخرجي إليك من ابنة حمد ولوددت أن بمكانه سبع القوم فقال "لا تقولن ذلك فإن فيهم قرة عين وأجرا إذا قبضوا" ثم قال "ولئن قلت ذاك إنهم لمجبنة محزنة" تفرد به أحمد وقال الحافظ أبو بكر البزار حدثنا محمود بن بكر حدثنا أبي عن عيسى عن ابن أبي ليلى عن عطية عن أبي سعيد قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "الولد ثمرة القلوب وإنهم مجبنة محزنة" ثم قال لا نعرفه إلا بهذا الإسناد وقال الطبراني حدثنا هاشم بن مرثد حدثنا محمد بن إسماعيل بن عياش حدثني أبي حدثني ضمضم بن زرعة عن شريح بن عبيد عن أبي مالك الأشعري أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال "ليس عدوك الذي إن قتلته كان فوزا لك وإن قتلك دخلت الجنة ولكن الذي لعله عدو لك ولدك الذي خرج من صلبك ثم أعدى عدو لك مالك الذي ملكت يمينك".

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.

Your possessions and your children are only a trial for you distracting you from the concerns of the Hereafter and God — with Him is a great reward so do not forfeit it by preoccupying yourselves with possessions and children.

Wealth and Children are a Trial

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ (Your riches and your children are but a trial…64:14). The word fitnah means ‘test or trial’. The purport of the verse is to say that Allah tests man by means of his wealth and children as to whether he is so much engrossed in the love of wealth and children as to become heedless of Divine laws and injunctions, or he maintains his love for them within limits and remains heedful of his duties and obligations toward Allah.

The truth of the matter is that the love of wealth and children is a great trial for man. He mostly commits sins for their love, especially when he indulges in earning livelihood through unlawful means. According to a hadith, some people will be brought on the Day of Judgment, and the people will look at him and say اَکَلَ عَیَالُہ حَسَنَاتِہٖ (His family ate up his good deeds.) [ Ruh ]. In another narration, the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، referring to the children, said: مَبخَلَۃٌ مَّجبنَۃٌ (They are the cause of one’ s miserliness and cowardice.) It means that on account of their love, man fails to spend in Allah’ s way, and on account of their love he fails to participate in jihad. Some righteous elders have said, اَلعَیِال سُوسُ الطَّاعَات (Family is the weevil of obedience.” A weevil is small beetle that feeds on grain and seeds and destroys crops. Likewise, a family feeds on man’ s good deeds and destroys them.