9:71 At-Tawba (The Repentance)

لما ذكر أن المنافقين بعضهم أولياء بعض ذكر أن المؤمنين بعضهم أولياء بعض، ووصفهم بضد ما وصف به المنافقين، فقال‏:‏ ‏{‏وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ ذكورهم وإناثهم ‏{‏بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ‏}‏ في المحبة والموالاة، والانتماء والنصرة‏.‏ ‏{‏يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ‏}‏ وهو‏:‏ اسم جامع، لكل ما عرف حسنه، من العقائد الحسنة، والأعمال الصالحة، والأخلاق الفاضلة، وأول من يدخل في أمرهم أنفسهم، ‏{‏وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ‏}‏ وهو كل ما خالف المعروف وناقضه من العقائد الباطلة، والأعمال الخبيثة، والأخلاق الرذيلة‏.‏ ‏{‏وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ لا يزالون ملازمين لطاعة اللّه ورسوله على الدوام‏.‏ ‏{‏أُولَئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ يدخلهم في رحمته، ويشملهم بإحسانه‏.‏ ‏{‏إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ‏}‏ أي‏:‏ قوي قاهر، ومع قوته فهو حكيم، يضع كل شيء موضعه اللائق به الذي يحمد على ما خلقه وأمر به‏.‏

لما ذكر تعالى صفات المنافقين الذميمة عطف بذكر صفات المؤمنين المحمودة فقال " والمؤمنون والمؤمنات بعضهم أولياء بعض " أي يتناصرون ويتعاضدون كما جاء في الصحيح " المؤمن للمؤمن كالبنيان يشد بعضه بعضا " وشبك بين أصابعه وفي الصحيح أيضا " مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم كمثل الجسد الواحد. إذا اشتكى منه عضو تداعى له سائر الجسد بالحمى والسهر " وقوله " يأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكر " كقوله تعالى " ولتكن منكم أمة يدعون إلى الخير ويأمرون بالمعروف وينهون عن المنكر " الآية. وقوله " ويقيمون الصلاة ويؤتون الزكاة " أي يطيعون الله ويحسنون إلى خلقه " ويطيعون الله ورسوله " أي فيما أمر وترك ما عنه زجر " أولئك سيرحمهم الله " من اتصف بهـذه الصفات " إن الله عزيز " أي يعز من أطاعه فإن العزة لله ولرسوله وللمؤمنين " حكيم " في قسمته هذه الصفات لهؤلاء وتخصيصه المنافقين بصفاتهم المتقدمة فإن له الحكمة في جميع ما يفعله تبارك وتعالى.

Qualities of Faithful Believers

After Allah mentioned the evil characteristics of the hypocrites, He then mentioned the good qualities of the believers,

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ

(The believers, men and women, are supporters of one another;) they help and aid each other. Surely, an authentic Hadith states,

«الْمُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالْبُنْيَانِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا»

(The believer to the believer is just like a building, its parts support each other.) and the Prophet crossed his fingers together. In the Sahih it is recorded,

«مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي تَوَادِّهِمْ وَتَرَاحُمِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ الْجَسَدِ الْوَاحِدِ، إِذَا اشْتَكَى مِنْهُ عُضْوٌ تَدَاعَى لَهُ سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ بِالْحُمَّى وَالسَّهَر»

(The example of the believers in the compassion and mercy they have for each other, is the example of one body: if a part of it falls ill, the rest of the body suffers with fever and sleeplessness.) Allah's statement,

يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ

(...they enjoin good, and forbid evil), this is similar to,

وَلْتَكُن مِّنْكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ

(Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Ma`ruf and forbidding the Munkar...) 3:104. Allah said next,

وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَوةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَوةَ

(they perform the Salah, and give the Zakah), they obey Allah and are kind to His creation,

وَيُطِيعُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ

(and obey Allah and His Messenger), concerning what he commands and refraining from what he prohibits,

أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللَّهُ

(Allah will have mercy on them.) Therefore, Allah will give mercy to those who have these qualities,

أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ

(Surely, Allah is All-Mighty), He grants glory to those who obey Him, for indeed, might and glory is from Allah Who gives it to His Messenger and the believers,

حَكِيمٌ

(All-Wise), in granting these qualities to the believers, while giving evil characteristics to hypocrites. Surely, Allah's wisdom is perfect in all His actions; praise and glory be to Him.

And the believers both men and women are allies of one another; they enjoin decency and forbid indecency; they observe prayer and pay the alms and they obey God and His Messenger. Those God will have mercy on them. Truly God is Mighty nothing can prevent Him from fulfilling His promise and His threat; Wise He puts everything in its proper place.

Commentary

Previous verses mentioned hypocrites - their conspiracies, hostilities, and the punishment waiting for them. The characteristic style of the Qur'an required that true believers should also be mentioned at this place giving a view of their life style, rewards and ranks. The verses cited above do just that.

It is interesting that the text, while making a comparison between hypocrites and true believers on this occasion, has this to say: بَعْضُهُم مِّن بَعْضٍ (they are all alike - 67). However, what it has to say about true believers is: بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ (the believers are friends to each other - 71). This releases a hint about the nature of their mutual relationships. Hypocrites base it on functional cooperation between kinsfolk or on self-interest. Such bonds do not last long, nor do they bring the kind of spiritual benefits that are the hallmarks of a heart-to-heart friendship. Juxtaposed against hypocrites there are the true believers. They are sincere friends and wish well of each other. (Qurtubi)

Moreover, since this friendship and concern for each other is for Allah alone, it is always constant. It remains the same under all conditions, open or secret, present or absent. And it is lasting. This is the mark of a true believer. It is in the very nature of 'Iman (faith) and Al-Amal as-Salih اَلاَعمَال اصَآالح (good deed) that they generate mutual love and friendship. The Holy Qur'an confirms it when it says: سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنُ وُدًّا (19:96). It means that among those who have believed and taken to consistent good conduct in life, Allah Ta` ala creates friendship that is deeply rooted into their hearts. What has happened to us in our time? May be we are short on the faith in our hearts and the concern for good in our conduct. That is why mutual relationships among Muslims do not seem to be what the Qur'an would like them to be. Unfortunately, these are subservient to worldly needs and interests - and are not for the sake of Allah alone, as they should be.