The Three, Whose Decision was deferred by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Ka`b bin Malik, who used to guide Ka`b after he became blind, said that he heard Ka`b bin Malik narrate his story when he did not join the battle of Tabuk with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ka`b bin Malik said, "I did not remain behind Allah's Messenger ﷺ in any battle that he fought except the battle of Tabuk. I failed to take part in the battle of Badr, but Allah did not admonish anyone who did not participate in it, for in fact, Allah's Messenger ﷺ had gone out in search of the caravan of Quraysh, until Allah made the Muslims and their enemies meet without any appointment. I witnessed the night of Al-`Aqabah pledge with Allah's Messenger ﷺ when we pledged for Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Badr Battle, even though the Badr Battle is more popular among the people than the `Aqabah pledge. As for my news of this battle of Tabuk, I was never stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind Allah's Messenger ﷺ in that battle. By Allah, never had I two she-camels before, but I did at the time of that battle. Whenever Allah's Messenger ﷺ wanted to go to a battle, he used to hide his intention by referring to different battles, until it was the time of that battle (of Tabuk) which Allah's Messenger ﷺ fought in intense heat, facing a long journey, the desert, and the great number of enemy soldiers. So the Prophet clearly announced the destination to the Muslims, so that they could prepare for their battle, and he told them about his intent. Allah's Messenger ﷺ was accompanied by such a large number of Muslims that they could not be listed in a book by name, nor registered." Ka`b added, "Any man who intended not to attend the battle would think that the matter would remain hidden, unless Allah revealed it through divine revelation. Allah's Messenger ﷺ fought that battle at a time when the fruits had ripened and the shade was pleasant, and I found myself inclined towards that. Allah's Messenger ﷺ and his Companions prepared for the battle and I started to go out in order to get myself ready along with them, but I returned without doing anything. I would say to myself, `I can do that if I want.' So I kept on delaying it every now and then until the people were prepared, and Allah's Messenger ﷺ, and the Muslims along with him, departed. But I had not prepared anything for my departure. I said, `I will prepare myself (for departure) one or two days after him, and then join them.' In the morning following their departure, I went out to get myself ready but returned having done nothing. Then again, the next morning, I went out to get ready but returned without doing anything. Such was the case with me until they hurried away and I missed the battle. Even then I intended to depart to catch up to them. I wish I had done so! But such was not the case. So, after the departure of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, whenever I went out and walked among the people (who remained behind), it grieved me that I could see none around me, but one accused of hypocrisy or one of those weak men whom Allah had excused. Allah's Messenger ﷺ did not remember me until he reached Tabuk. So while he was sitting among the people in Tabuk, he said,
«مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ؟»
(What did Ka`b bin Malik do) A man from Banu Salimah said, `O Allah's Messenger! He has been stopped by his two Burdah (garments) and looking at his own flanks with pride.' Mu`adh bin Jabal said, `What a bad thing you have said! By Allah! O Allah's Messenger! We know nothing about him but that which is good.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ kept silent."' Ka`b bin Malik added, "When I heard that Allah's Messenger ﷺ was on his way back to Al-Madinah, I was overcome by concern and began to think of false excuses. I said to myself, `How can I escape from his anger tomorrow' I started looking for advice from wise members of my family in this matter. When it was said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ had approached (Al-Madinah) all evil and false excuses abandoned my mind and I knew well that I could never come out of this problem by forging a false statement. Then I decided firmly to speak the truth. Allah's Messenger ﷺ arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey, he used to visit the Masjid first, and offer a two Rak`ah prayer, then sit for the people. So when he had done all that (this time), those who failed to join the battle came and started offering (false) excuses and taking oaths before him. They were over eighty men. Allah's Messenger ﷺ accepted the excuses they expressed outwardly, asked for Allah's forgiveness for them and left the secrets of their hearts for Allah to judge. Then I came to him, and when I greeted him, he smiled a smile of an angry person and then said,
«تَعَال»
(Come) So I came walking until I sat before him. He said to me,
«مَاخَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ اشْتَرَيْتَ ظَهْرًا»
(What stopped you from joining us Had you not purchased an animal for carrying you) I answered, `Yes, O Allah's Messenger! By Allah, if I were sitting before any person from among the people of the world other than you, I would have escaped from his anger with an excuse. By Allah, I have been bestowed with the power of speaking fluently and eloquently, but by Allah, I knew well that if I tell you a lie today to seek your favor, Allah would surely make you angry with me in the near future. But if I tell you the truth, though you will get angry because of it, I hope for Allah's forgiveness. By Allah, I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind you. ' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِي اللهُ فِيك»
(As regards to this man, he has surely told the truth. So get up until Allah decides your case.) I got up, and many men of Banu Salimah followed me and said to me, `By Allah, we never witnessed you commit any sin before this! Surely, you failed to offer an excuse to Allah's Messenger ﷺ like the others who did not join him. The invocation of Allah's Messenger ﷺ to Allah to forgive you would have been sufficient for your sin.' By Allah, they continued blaming me so much that I intended to return (to the Prophet ) and accuse myself of having told a lie, but I said to them, `Is there anybody else who has met the same end as I have' They replied, `Yes, there are two men who have said the same thing as you have, and to both of them was given the same order as given to you.' I said, `Who are they' They replied, `Murarah bin Ar-Rabi` Al-`Amiri and Hilal bin Umayyah Al-Waqifi.' They mentioned to me two pious men who had attended the battle of Badr and in whom there was an example for me. So I did not change my mind when they mentioned them to me. Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbade all the Muslims from talking to us, the three aforesaid persons, out of all those who remained behind for that battle. So we kept away from the people and they changed their attitude towards us until the very land (where I lived) appeared strange to me as if I did not know it. We remained in that condition for fifty nights. As for my two companions, they remained in their houses and kept on weeping, but I was the youngest and the firmest of them. So I would go out and attend the prayer along with the Muslims and roam the markets, but none would talk to me. I would come to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and greet him while he was sitting in his gathering after the prayer, and I would wonder whether he even moved his lips in return of my greeting or not. Then I would offer my prayer near him and look at him carefully.
When I was busy with my prayer, he would turn his face towards me, but when I turned my face to him, he would turn his face away from me. When this harsh attitude and boycott of the people continued for a long time, I walked until I scaled the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah who was my cousin and the dearest person to me. I offered my greeting to him. By Allah, he did not return my greetings. I said, `O Abu Qatadah! I beseech you by Allah! Do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger' He kept quiet. I asked him again, beseeching him by Allah, but he remained silent. I asked him again in the Name of Allah and he said, `Allah and His Messenger know better.' Thereupon my eyes flowed with tears and I returned and jumped over the wall. tWhile I was walking in the market of Al-Madinah, suddenly I saw that a Nabatean from Ash-Sham came to sell his grains in Al-Madinah, saying, `Who will lead me to Ka`b bin Malik' The people began to point (me) out for him, until he came to me and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan (who ruled Syria for Caesar), for I knew how to read and write. In that letter, the following was written: `To proceed, I have been informed that your friend (the Prophet) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not make you live in a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So, join us, and we will console you.' When I read it, I said to myself, `This is also a sort of test.' I took the letter to the oven and made a fire burning it. When forty out of the fifty nights elapsed, behold! There came to me a messenger of Allah's Messenger ﷺ saying `Allah's Messenger ﷺ orders you to keep away from your wife.' I said, `Should I divorce her; or else what should I do' He said, `No, only keep aloof from her and do not mingle with her.' The Prophet sent the same message to my two fellows. I said to my wife, `Go to your parents and remain with them until Allah gives His verdict in this matter."' Ka`b added, "The wife of Hilal bin Umayyah came to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and said, `O Allah's Messenger! Hilal bin Umayyah is a helpless old man who has no servant to attend on him. Do you dislike that I should serve him' He said,
«لَا وَلَكِنْ (لَا يَقْرَبَكَ)»
(`No (you can serve him), but he should not come near you sexually).' She said, `By Allah! He has no desire for anything. By Allah, he has never ceased weeping since his case began until this day of his.' On that, some of my family members said to me, `Will you also ask Allah's Messenger ﷺ to permit your wife (to serve you) as he has permitted the wife of Hilal bin Umayyah to serve him' I said, `By Allah, I will not ask permission of Allah's Messenger ﷺ regarding her, for I do not know what Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say if I asked him to permit her (to serve me) while I am a young man.' We remained in that state for ten more nights, until the period of fifty nights was completed, starting from the time when Allah's Messenger ﷺ prohibited the people from talking to us. When I had finished the Fajr prayer on the fiftieth morning on the roof of one of our houses, while sitting in the condition in which Allah described (in the Qur'an): my very soul seemed straitened to me and even the earth seemed narrow to me for all its spaciousness. There I heard the voice of a man who had ascended the mountain of Sal` calling with his loudest voice, `O Ka`b bin Malik! Be happy (by receiving good tidings).' I fell down in prostration before Allah, realizing that relief has come with His forgiveness for us. Allah's Messenger ﷺ announced the acceptance of our repentance by Allah after Fajr prayer. The people went out to congratulate us. Some bearers of good news went to my two companions, a horseman came to me in haste, while a man from Banu Aslam came running and ascended the mountain and his voice was swifter than the horse. When the man whose voice I had heard, came to me conveying the good news, I took off my garments and dressed him with them; and by Allah, I owned no other than them on that day. Then I borrowed two garments, wore them and went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ. The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allah's acceptance of my repentance, saying, `We congratulate you on Allah's acceptance of your repentance."' Ka`b further said, "When I entered the Masjid, I saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ sitting in the Masjid with the people around him. Talhah bin `Ubaydullah swiftly came to me, shook my hands and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirun got up for me except Talhah; I will never forget Talhah for this." Ka`b added, "When I greeted Allah's Messenger ﷺ, his face was bright with joy. He said,
«أَبْشِرْ بَخَيْرِ يَومٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّك»
(`Be happy with the best day you have ever seen since your mother gave birth to you.) I said to the Prophet, `Is this forgiveness from you or from Allah' He said,
«لَا بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله»
(No, it is from Allah). Whenever Allah's Messenger ﷺ became happy, his face would shine as if it was a piece of the moon, and we all knew that characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said, `O Allah's Messenger! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the sake of Allah and His Messenger.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَك»
(Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you). I said, `So I will keep my share from Khaybar with me.' I added, `O Allah's Messenger! Allah has saved me for telling the truth; so it is part of my repentance not to tell but the truth as long as I am alive.' By Allah, I do not know of any Muslim, whom Allah has helped to tell the truth more than I. Ever since I have mentioned the truth to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, I have never intended to tell a lie, until today. I hope that Allah will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allah revealed the Ayah,
لَقَدْ تَابَ الله عَلَى النَّبِىِّ وَالْمُهَـجِرِينَ وَالاٌّنصَـرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ - وَعَلَى الثَّلَـثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّواْ أَن لاَّ مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ - يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّـدِقِينَ
(Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the time of distress, after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated, but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful. And the three who stayed behind, until for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their souls were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them, that they might beg for His pardon. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).) Ka`b said; "By Allah! Allah has never bestowed upon me, apart from His guiding me to Islam, a greater blessing than the fact that I did not tell a lie to Allah's Messenger ﷺ which would have caused me to perish, just as those who had told a lie have perished. Allah described those who told lies with the worst descriptions He ever attributed to anyone. Allah said,
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُواْ عَنْهُمْ فَأَعْرِضُواْ عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ - يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْاْ عَنْهُمْ فَإِن تَرْضَوْاْ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَـسِقِينَ
(They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijs (impure), and Hell is their dwelling place -- a recompense for that which they used to earn. They swear to you that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are rebellious.) Ka`b added, "We, the three persons, differed altogether from those whose excuses Allah's Messenger ﷺ accepted when they swore to him. He took their pledge and asked Allah to forgive them, but Allah's Messenger ﷺ left our case pending until Allah gave us His judgement about it. As for that Allah said,
وَعَلَى الثَّلَـثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ
(And (He did forgive also) the three who stayed behind...) What Allah said does not discuss our failure to take part in the battle, but to the deferment of making a decision by the Prophet about our case, in contrast to the case of those who had taken an oath before him, and he excused them by accepting their excuses." This is an authentic Hadith collected in the Two Sahihs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and as such, its authenticity is agreed upon. This Hadith contains the explanation of this honorable Ayah in the best, most comprehensive way. Similar explanation was given by several among the Salaf. For instance, Al-A`mash narrated from Abu Sufyan, from Jabir bin `Abdullah about Allah's statement,
وَعَلَى الثَّلَـثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ
(And (He did forgive also) the three who stayed behind...) "They are Ka`b bin Malik, Hilal bin Umayyah and Murarah bin Ar-Rabi`, all of them from the Ansar."
The Order to speak the Truth
Allah sent His relief from the distress and grief that struck these three men, because Muslims ignored them for fifty days and nights, until they themselves, and the earth -- vast as it is -- were straitened for them. As vast as the earth is, its ways and paths were closed for them, and they did not know what action to take. They were patient for Allah's sake and awaited humbly for His decree. They remained firm, until Allah sent His relief to them since they told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the truth about why they remained behind, declaring that they did not have an excuse for doing so. They were requited for this period, then Allah forgave them. Therefore, the consequence of being truthful was better for them, for they gained forgiveness. Hence Allah's statement next,
يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّـدِقِينَ
(O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and be with those who are true.) The Ayah says, adhere to and always say the truth so that you become among its people and be saved from destruction. Allah will make a way for you out of your concerns and a refuge. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِن الصَّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِدِّيقًا، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ كَذَّابًا»
(Hold on to truth, for being truthful leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Verily, a man will keep saying the truth and striving for truth, until he is written before Allah as very truthful (Siddiq). Beware of lying, for lying leads to sin, and sin leads to the Fire. Verily, the man will keep lying and striving for falsehood until he is written before Allah as a great liar.) This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.
O you who believe fear God by refraining from acts of disobedience to Him and be with those who are truthful in their faith and covenants by adhering to sincerity.
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful!This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers.O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness.Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld.Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant.If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk.You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
يا أيها الذين صدَّقوا الله ورسوله وعملوا بشرعه، امتثلوا أوامر الله واجتنبوا نواهيه في كل ما تفعلون وتتركون، وكونوا مع الصادقين في أَيمانهم وعهودهم، وفي كل شأن من شؤونهم.
ولهذا قال " يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين " أي اصدقوا والزموا الصدق تكونوا من أهله وتنجوا من المهالك ويجعل لكم فرجا من أموركم ومخرجا وقد قال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا أبو معاوية حدثنا الأعمش عن شقيق عن عبدالله هو ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " عليكم بالصدق فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة ولا يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا وإياكم والكذب فإن الكذب يهدي إلى الفجور وإن الفجور يهدي إلى النار ولا يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا " أخرجاه في الصحيحين وقال شعبة عن عمرو بن مرة سمع أبا عبيدة يحدث عن عبدالله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه أنه قال: الكذب لا يصلح منه جد ولا هزل اقرأوا إن شئتم " يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين " هكذا قرأها ثم قال: فهل تجدون لأحد فيه رخصة؟ وعن عبدالله بن عمر في قوله " اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين " قال مع محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه وقال الضحاك مع أبي بكر وعمر وأصحابهما وقال الحسن البصري إن أردت أن تكون مع الصادقين فعليك بالزهد في الدنيا والكف عن أهل الملة.
ثم وجه - سبحانه - نداء إلى المؤمنين أمرهم فيه بأن يتقوا الله حق تقاته وأن يكونوا مع الصادقين ، وأوجب عليهم الغزة مع رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ووعدهم عليه بجزيل الثواب ، وتوعد المتخلفين عنه بشديد العقاب فقال - تعالى - : ( ياأيها الذين آمَنُواْ . . . مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ ) .والمعنى : يا من آمنتم بالله واليوم الآخر . . اتقوا الله حق تقاته ، بأن تفعلوا ما كلفكم به . وتتركوا ما نهاكم عنه ، ( وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصادقين ) فى دين الله نية وقولا وعملا وإخلاصا؛ فإن الصدق ما وجد فى شئ إلا زانه ، وما وجد الكذب فى شئ إلا شأنه .قال القرطبى : حق من فهم عن الله وعقل منه : أن يلازم الصدق فى الأقوال والإِخلاص فى الأعمال ، والصفاء فى الأحوال ، فمن كان كذلك لحق بالأبرار ووصل إلى ربنا الغفار .قال - صلى الله عليه وسلم - " عليكم بالصدق فإن الصدق يهدى إلى البر وإن البر يهدى إلى الجنة ، وما يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا " .والكذب على الضد من ذلك . قال - صلى الله عليه وسلم - " إياكم والكذب فإن الكذب يهدى إلى الفجور ، وإن الفجور يهدى إلى النار ، وما يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا " .فالكذب عار ، وأهله مسلوبو الشهادة ، وقد رد - صلى الله عليه وسلم - شهاد رجل من كذبه كذبها . وسئل شريك بن عبد الله فقيل له : يا أبا عبد الله ، رجل سمعته يكذب متعمدا ، أصلى خلفه؟ قال : لا .
القول في تأويل قوله : يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ (119)قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره للمؤمنين، معرِّفَهم سبيل النجاة من عقابه، والخلاصِ من أليم عذابه: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا)، بالله ورسوله =(اتقوا الله)، وراقبوه بأداء فرائضه، وتجنب حدوده =(وكونوا)، في الدنيا، من أهل ولاية الله وطاعته, تكونوا في الآخرة =(مع الصادقين)، في الجنة. يعني: مع من صَدَق اللهَ الإيمانَ به، فحقَّق قوله بفعله، ولم يكن من أهل النفاق فيه، الذين يكذِّب قيلَهم فعلُهم.وإنما معنى الكلام: وكونوا مع الصادقين في الآخرة باتقاء الله في الدنيا, كما قال جل ثناؤه: وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ [سورة النساء: 69].* * *وإنما قلنا ذلك معنى الكلام, لأن كون المنافق مع المؤمنين غيرُ نافعه بأيّ وجوه الكون كان معهم، إن لم يكن عاملا عملهم. وإذا عمل عملهم فهو منهم, وإذا كان منهم، كان وجْهُ الكلام أن يقال: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين)، (57) ولتوجيه الكلام إلى ما وجَّهنا من تأويله، فسَّر ذلك من فسَّره من أهل التأويل بأن قال: معناه: وكونوا مع أبي بكر وعمر, أو: مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، والمهاجرين رحمة الله عليهم.* * ** ذكر من قال ذلك أو غيره في تأويله:17451- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا يعقوب, عن زيد بن أسلم, عن نافع في قول الله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه.17452- حدثنا ابن وكيع قال، حدثنا حبويه أبو يزيد, عن يعقوب القمي, عن زيد بن أسلم, عن نافع قال: قيل للثلاثة الذين خُلِّفوا: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، محمدٍ وأصحابه.17453- حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا إسحاق بن إسماعيل, عن عبد الرحمن المحاربي, عن جويبر, عن الضحاك في قوله: (وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع أبي بكر وعمر وأصحابهما، رحمةُ الله عليهم.17454-...... قال، حدثنا محمد بن يحيى قال، حدثنا إسحاق بن بشر الكاهلي قال، حدثنا خلف بن خليفة, عن أبي هاشم الرمّاني, عن سعيد بن جبير في قول الله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع أبي بكر وعمر، رحمة الله عليهما. (58)17455- حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج, عن ابن جريج قوله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع المهاجرين الصادقين.* * *وكان ابن مسعود فيما ذكر عنه يقرؤه: (وَكُونُوا مِن الصَّادِقينَ)، ويتأوّله: أنّ ذلك نَهْىٌ من الله عن الكذب.* ذكر الرواية عنه بذلك:17456- حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا آدم العسقلاني قال، حدثنا شعبة, عن عمرو بن مرة قال: سمعت أبا عبيدة بن عبد الله بن مسعود يقول: قال ابن مسعود: إن الكذب لا يحلُّ منه جدٌّ ولا هزلٌ, اقرءوا إن شئتم: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ)، قال: وكذلك هي قراءة ابن مسعود: (من الصادقين), فهل ترون في الكذب رُخْصَة؟17457-...... قال، حدثنا سويد بن نصر قال، أخبرنا ابن المبارك, عن شعبة, عن عمرو بن مرة قال: سمعت أبا عبيدة, عن عبد الله, نحوه.17458-...... قال، حدثنا محمد بن جعفر قال، حدثنا شعبة, عن عمرو بن مرة قال: سمعت أبا عبيدة يحدِّث عن عبد الله قال: الكذب لا يصلح منه جدٌّ ولا هزل, اقرءوا إن شئتم.(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ) = وهي كذلك في قراءه عبد الله = فهل ترون من رخصة في الكذب؟17459- حدثنا ابن وكيع قال، حدثنا أبي, عن الأعمش, عن إبراهيم, عن عبد الله قال: لا يصلح الكذب في هزلٍ ولا جدٍّ. ثم تلا عبد الله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا) ، ما أدري أقال: (من الصادقين) أو (مع الصادقين) ، وهو في كتابي: (مع الصادقين).17460-...... قال، حدثنا أبي, عن الأعمش, عن مجاهد, عن أبي معمر, عن عبد الله, مثله.17461-...... قال، حدثنا أبي, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو بن مرة, عن أبي عبيدة, عن عبد الله, مثله.* * *قال أبو جعفر: والصحيح من التأويل في ذلك، هو التأويل الذي ذكرناه عن نافع والضحاك. وذلك أنّ رسوم المصاحف كلّها مجمعة على: (وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، وهي القراءة التي لا أستجيز لأحدٍ القراءةَ بخلافها.* * *وتأويل عبد الله، رحمة الله عليه، في ذلك على قراءته، تأويلٌ صحيح, غير أن القراءة بخلافها.------------------------الهوامش :(57) في المطبوعة : " كان لا وجه في الكلام أن يقال " ، غير ما في المخطوطة ، والذي فيها ما أثبته ، وهو مستقيم صحيح . والذي جاء به من عنده مفسد للكلام .(58) الأثر : 17454 - " أبو هاشم الرماني " ثقة ، روى له الجماعة . مختلف في اسمه ، مضى برقم : 10818 .
( يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين ) قال نافع : مع محمد وأصحابه . وقال سعيد بن جبير : مع أبي بكر وعمر رضي الله عنهما . وقال ابن جريج : مع المهاجرين ، لقوله تعالى : " للفقراء المهاجرين " إلى قوله " أولئك هم الصادقون " ( الحشر - 8 ) . وقال ابن عباس رضي الله تعالى عنهما : مع الذين صدقت نياتهم واستقامت قلوبهم وأعمالهم وخرجوا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى تبوك بإخلاص نية . وقيل : مع الذين صدقوا في الاعتراف بالذنب ولم يعتذروا بالأعذار الكاذبة .وكان ابن مسعود يقرأ : ( وكونوا مع الصادقين ) وقال ابن مسعود : إن الكذب لا يصلح في جد ولا هزل ، ولا أن يعد أحدكم صبيه شيئا ثم لا ينجز له ، اقرءوا إن شئتم وقرأ هذه الآية .
الظاهر أن هذه الآية خاتمة للآي السابقة وليست فاتحة غرض جديد . ففي «صحيح البخاري» من حديث كعب بن مالك حين تخلف عن غزوة تبوك أنه قال : «فوالله ما أعلم أحداً . . . أبْلاه الله في صدق الحديث أحسنَ مما أبْلاني ما تعمدتُ منذ ذكرت ذلك لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى يومي هذا كذباً وأنزل الله على رسوله { لقد تاب الله على النبي والمهاجرين والأنصار إلى قوله { وكونوا مع الصادقين } [ التوبة : 117 119 ] اه . فهذه الآية بمنزلة التذييل للقصة فإن القصة مشتملة على ذكر قوم اتقوا الله فصدقوا في إيمانهم وجهادهم فرضي الله عنهم ، وذِكر قوم كذبوا في ذلك واختلقوا المعاذير وحلفوا كذباً فغضب الله عليهم ، وقوم تخلفوا عن الجهاد وصدقوا في الاعتراف بعدم العذر فتاب الله عليهم ، فلما كان سبب فوز الفائزين في هذه الأحوال كلها هو الصدق لا جرم أمر الله المؤمنين بتقواه وبأن يكونوا في زمرة الصادقين مثل أولئك الصادقين الذين تضمنتهم القصة .والأمر ب { كونوا مع الصادقين } أبلغ في التخلق بالصدق من نحو : اصدقوا . ونظيره { واركعوا مع الراكعين } [ البقرة : 43 ]. وكذلك جَعله بعد ( من ) التبعيضية وقد تقدم ذلك في قوله تعالى : { أبى واستكبر وكان من الكافرين } [ البقرة : 43 ] ومنه قوله : { قال أعوذ بالله أن أكون من الجاهلين } [ البقرة : 67 ].
أي: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا} باللّه، وبما أمر اللّه بالإيمان به، قوموا بما يقتضيه الإيمان، وهو القيام بتقوى اللّه تعالى، باجتناب ما نهى اللّه عنه والبعد عنه. {وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ} في أقوالهم وأفعالهم وأحوالهم، الذين أقوالهم صدق، وأعمالهم، وأحوالهم لا تكون إلا صدقا خلية من الكسل والفتور، سالمة من المقاصد السيئة، مشتملة على الإخلاص والنية الصالحة، فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر، وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة. قال الله تعالى: {هَذَا يَوْمُ يَنْفَعُ الصَّادِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ} الآية.
قوله تعالى يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقينفيه مسألتان : الأولى : قوله تعالى : وكونوا مع الصادقين هذا الأمر بالكون مع أهل الصدق حسن بعد قصة الثلاثة حين نفعهم الصدق وذهب بهم عن منازل المنافقين . قال مطرف : سمعت مالك بن أنس يقول : قلما كان رجل صادقا لا يكذب إلا متع بعقله ولم يصبه ما يصيب غيره من الهرم والخرف .واختلف في المراد هنا بالمؤمنين والصادقين على أقوال ; فقيل : هو خطاب لمن آمن من أهل الكتاب . وقيل : هو خطاب لجميع المؤمنين ; أي اتقوا مخالفة أمر الله . وكونوا مع الصادقين أي مع الذين خرجوا مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لا مع المنافقين . أي كونوا على مذهب الصادقين وسبيلهم . وقيل : هم الأنبياء ; أي كونوا معهم بالأعمال الصالحة في الجنة . وقيل : هم المراد بقوله : ليس البر أن تولوا وجوهكم - الآية إلى قوله - أولئك الذين صدقوا . وقيل : هم الموفون بما عاهدوا ; وذلك لقوله تعالى : رجال صدقوا ما عاهدوا الله عليه وقيل : هم المهاجرون ; لقول أبي بكر يوم السقيفة إن الله سمانا الصادقين فقال : للفقراء المهاجرين الآية ، ثم سماكم بالمفلحين فقال : والذين تبوءوا الدار والإيمان الآية . وقيل : هم الذين استوت ظواهرهم وبواطنهم . قال ابن العربي : وهذا القول هو الحقيقة والغاية التي إليها المنتهى فإن هذه الصفة يرتفع بها النفاق في العقيدة والمخالفة في الفعل ، وصاحبها يقال له الصديق كأبي بكر وعمر وعثمان ومن دونهم على منازلهم وأزمانهم . وأما من قال : إنهم المراد بآية البقرة فهو معظم الصدق ويتبعه الأقل وهو معنى آية الأحزاب . وأما تفسير أبي بكر الصديق فهو الذي يعم الأقوال كلها فإن جميع الصفات فيهم موجودة .[ ص: 206 ] الثانية : حق من فهم عن الله وعقل عنه أن يلازم الصدق في الأقوال ، والإخلاص في الأعمال ، والصفاء في الأحوال ، فمن كان كذلك لحق بالأبرار ووصل إلى رضا الغفار ; قال صلى الله عليه وسلم : عليكم بالصدق فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة وما يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا . والكذب على الضد من ذلك ; قال صلى الله عليه وسلم : إياكم والكذب فإن الكذب يهدي إلى الفجور وإن الفجور يهدي إلى النار وما يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا خرجه مسلم . فالكذب عار وأهله مسلوبو الشهادة ، وقد رد صلى الله عليه وسلم شهادة رجل في كذبة كذبها . قال معمر : لا أدري أكذب على الله أو كذب على رسوله أو كذب على أحد من الناس . وسئل شريك بن عبد الله فقيل له : يا أبا عبد الله ، رجل سمعته يكذب متعمدا أأصلي خلفه ؟ قال لا . وعن ابن مسعود قال : إن الكذب لا يصلح منه جد ولا هزل ، ولا أن يعد أحدكم شيئا ثم لا ينجزه ، اقرءوا إن شئتم يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين هل ترون في الكذب رخصة ؟ وقال مالك : لا يقبل خبر الكاذب في حديث الناس وإن صدق في حديث رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم . وقال غيره : يقبل حديثه . والصحيح أن الكاذب لا تقبل شهادته ولا خبره لما ذكرناه ; فإن القبول مرتبة عظيمة وولاية شريفة لا تكون إلا لمن كملت خصاله ولا خصلة هي أشر من الكذب فهي تعزل الولايات وتبطل الشهادات .
Our life is social in nature. That is why everyone, according to his tastes and aptitudes, forms a circle of his own in which to spend his days and nights. It is necessary for those who fear God and want to tread the path of faith to befriend those who are sincere, truthful, and God-fearing, and who are consistent in their words and deeds. By keeping company with such people, one is transformed into a truthful person too. On the contrary, if one seeks the company of insincere, hypocritical persons, one will necessarily come under their influence. There are times when Islam has to be served by risking one’s life; there are times when Islam has to be served at the cost of suffering the pangs of hunger and thirst; there are times when one is exhausted struggling for the cause of God; there are times when one has to serve God and His prophet by sacrificing one’s peace of mind. On such occasions one feels like opting for the safer course and hesitates to go ahead and answer the call of one’s faith. One is oblivious of the fact that those were the very opportunities to give practical proof of one’s attachment to God, when by doing so, one could have expected to be found worthy of paradise.
Advice to Muslims: Observe Taqwa and be with those true in word and deed
This brings us to the last verse: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ ﴿119﴾ ( O those who believe, fear Allah, and be in the company of the truthful - 119). The event of having remained behind as related to some other-wise sincere people, and the ultimate acceptance of their repentance, was all a result of their Taqwa, the fear of Allah and the sense of being responsible before him. Therefore, in this verse, the large masses of Muslims have been instructed to observe Taqwa (as a constant feature of their personal lives). Then, by saying: كُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ (be in the company of the truthful), it was hinted that the only way to achieve Taqwa was to frequent the company of those who are good in their deeds and true in their words, and to approximate one's own conduct to theirs. Perhaps, this may also be pointing out to the slip made by these people that was caused by the company they kept with hypocrites and their suggestions and advises they listened to. One should stay away from the company of those who are disobedient to Allah, and take to the company of the truthful. The Qur'an has not said ` the learned' (` ulama' ) or ` the righteous' (sulaha' ) at this place. Rather, by electing to use the word: الصَّادِقِينَ (as-sadiqin: the truthful), it has also told us about the real identity of the 'learned' and the 'righteous'. Such a truthful person has to be the one whose exterior and the interior are the same and who is also true in intention, and true in word, and true in deed as well.
(O ye who believe!) 'Abdullah Ibn Salam and his followers as well as all other believers (Be careful of your duty to Allah) obey Allah in that which He has commanded you, (and be with the Truthful) with Abu Bakr, 'Umar and their companions when they stay behind and when they participate in jihad.
The Three, Whose Decision was deferred by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Ka`b bin Malik, who used to guide Ka`b after he became blind, said that he heard Ka`b bin Malik narrate his story when he did not join the battle of Tabuk with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Ka`b bin Malik said, "I did not remain behind Allah's Messenger ﷺ in any battle that he fought except the battle of Tabuk. I failed to take part in the battle of Badr, but Allah did not admonish anyone who did not participate in it, for in fact, Allah's Messenger ﷺ had gone out in search of the caravan of Quraysh, until Allah made the Muslims and their enemies meet without any appointment. I witnessed the night of Al-`Aqabah pledge with Allah's Messenger ﷺ when we pledged for Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Badr Battle, even though the Badr Battle is more popular among the people than the `Aqabah pledge. As for my news of this battle of Tabuk, I was never stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind Allah's Messenger ﷺ in that battle. By Allah, never had I two she-camels before, but I did at the time of that battle. Whenever Allah's Messenger ﷺ wanted to go to a battle, he used to hide his intention by referring to different battles, until it was the time of that battle (of Tabuk) which Allah's Messenger ﷺ fought in intense heat, facing a long journey, the desert, and the great number of enemy soldiers. So the Prophet clearly announced the destination to the Muslims, so that they could prepare for their battle, and he told them about his intent. Allah's Messenger ﷺ was accompanied by such a large number of Muslims that they could not be listed in a book by name, nor registered." Ka`b added, "Any man who intended not to attend the battle would think that the matter would remain hidden, unless Allah revealed it through divine revelation. Allah's Messenger ﷺ fought that battle at a time when the fruits had ripened and the shade was pleasant, and I found myself inclined towards that. Allah's Messenger ﷺ and his Companions prepared for the battle and I started to go out in order to get myself ready along with them, but I returned without doing anything. I would say to myself, `I can do that if I want.' So I kept on delaying it every now and then until the people were prepared, and Allah's Messenger ﷺ, and the Muslims along with him, departed. But I had not prepared anything for my departure. I said, `I will prepare myself (for departure) one or two days after him, and then join them.' In the morning following their departure, I went out to get myself ready but returned having done nothing. Then again, the next morning, I went out to get ready but returned without doing anything. Such was the case with me until they hurried away and I missed the battle. Even then I intended to depart to catch up to them. I wish I had done so! But such was not the case. So, after the departure of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, whenever I went out and walked among the people (who remained behind), it grieved me that I could see none around me, but one accused of hypocrisy or one of those weak men whom Allah had excused. Allah's Messenger ﷺ did not remember me until he reached Tabuk. So while he was sitting among the people in Tabuk, he said,
«مَا فَعَلَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ؟»
(What did Ka`b bin Malik do) A man from Banu Salimah said, `O Allah's Messenger! He has been stopped by his two Burdah (garments) and looking at his own flanks with pride.' Mu`adh bin Jabal said, `What a bad thing you have said! By Allah! O Allah's Messenger! We know nothing about him but that which is good.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ kept silent."' Ka`b bin Malik added, "When I heard that Allah's Messenger ﷺ was on his way back to Al-Madinah, I was overcome by concern and began to think of false excuses. I said to myself, `How can I escape from his anger tomorrow' I started looking for advice from wise members of my family in this matter. When it was said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ had approached (Al-Madinah) all evil and false excuses abandoned my mind and I knew well that I could never come out of this problem by forging a false statement. Then I decided firmly to speak the truth. Allah's Messenger ﷺ arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey, he used to visit the Masjid first, and offer a two Rak`ah prayer, then sit for the people. So when he had done all that (this time), those who failed to join the battle came and started offering (false) excuses and taking oaths before him. They were over eighty men. Allah's Messenger ﷺ accepted the excuses they expressed outwardly, asked for Allah's forgiveness for them and left the secrets of their hearts for Allah to judge. Then I came to him, and when I greeted him, he smiled a smile of an angry person and then said,
«تَعَال»
(Come) So I came walking until I sat before him. He said to me,
«مَاخَلَّفَكَ أَلَمْ تَكُنْ قَدْ اشْتَرَيْتَ ظَهْرًا»
(What stopped you from joining us Had you not purchased an animal for carrying you) I answered, `Yes, O Allah's Messenger! By Allah, if I were sitting before any person from among the people of the world other than you, I would have escaped from his anger with an excuse. By Allah, I have been bestowed with the power of speaking fluently and eloquently, but by Allah, I knew well that if I tell you a lie today to seek your favor, Allah would surely make you angry with me in the near future. But if I tell you the truth, though you will get angry because of it, I hope for Allah's forgiveness. By Allah, I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind you. ' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَمَّا هَذَا فَقَدْ صَدَقَ فَقُمْ حَتَّى يَقْضِي اللهُ فِيك»
(As regards to this man, he has surely told the truth. So get up until Allah decides your case.) I got up, and many men of Banu Salimah followed me and said to me, `By Allah, we never witnessed you commit any sin before this! Surely, you failed to offer an excuse to Allah's Messenger ﷺ like the others who did not join him. The invocation of Allah's Messenger ﷺ to Allah to forgive you would have been sufficient for your sin.' By Allah, they continued blaming me so much that I intended to return (to the Prophet ) and accuse myself of having told a lie, but I said to them, `Is there anybody else who has met the same end as I have' They replied, `Yes, there are two men who have said the same thing as you have, and to both of them was given the same order as given to you.' I said, `Who are they' They replied, `Murarah bin Ar-Rabi` Al-`Amiri and Hilal bin Umayyah Al-Waqifi.' They mentioned to me two pious men who had attended the battle of Badr and in whom there was an example for me. So I did not change my mind when they mentioned them to me. Allah's Messenger ﷺ forbade all the Muslims from talking to us, the three aforesaid persons, out of all those who remained behind for that battle. So we kept away from the people and they changed their attitude towards us until the very land (where I lived) appeared strange to me as if I did not know it. We remained in that condition for fifty nights. As for my two companions, they remained in their houses and kept on weeping, but I was the youngest and the firmest of them. So I would go out and attend the prayer along with the Muslims and roam the markets, but none would talk to me. I would come to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and greet him while he was sitting in his gathering after the prayer, and I would wonder whether he even moved his lips in return of my greeting or not. Then I would offer my prayer near him and look at him carefully.
When I was busy with my prayer, he would turn his face towards me, but when I turned my face to him, he would turn his face away from me. When this harsh attitude and boycott of the people continued for a long time, I walked until I scaled the wall of the garden of Abu Qatadah who was my cousin and the dearest person to me. I offered my greeting to him. By Allah, he did not return my greetings. I said, `O Abu Qatadah! I beseech you by Allah! Do you know that I love Allah and His Messenger' He kept quiet. I asked him again, beseeching him by Allah, but he remained silent. I asked him again in the Name of Allah and he said, `Allah and His Messenger know better.' Thereupon my eyes flowed with tears and I returned and jumped over the wall. tWhile I was walking in the market of Al-Madinah, suddenly I saw that a Nabatean from Ash-Sham came to sell his grains in Al-Madinah, saying, `Who will lead me to Ka`b bin Malik' The people began to point (me) out for him, until he came to me and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan (who ruled Syria for Caesar), for I knew how to read and write. In that letter, the following was written: `To proceed, I have been informed that your friend (the Prophet) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not make you live in a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So, join us, and we will console you.' When I read it, I said to myself, `This is also a sort of test.' I took the letter to the oven and made a fire burning it. When forty out of the fifty nights elapsed, behold! There came to me a messenger of Allah's Messenger ﷺ saying `Allah's Messenger ﷺ orders you to keep away from your wife.' I said, `Should I divorce her; or else what should I do' He said, `No, only keep aloof from her and do not mingle with her.' The Prophet sent the same message to my two fellows. I said to my wife, `Go to your parents and remain with them until Allah gives His verdict in this matter."' Ka`b added, "The wife of Hilal bin Umayyah came to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and said, `O Allah's Messenger! Hilal bin Umayyah is a helpless old man who has no servant to attend on him. Do you dislike that I should serve him' He said,
«لَا وَلَكِنْ (لَا يَقْرَبَكَ)»
(`No (you can serve him), but he should not come near you sexually).' She said, `By Allah! He has no desire for anything. By Allah, he has never ceased weeping since his case began until this day of his.' On that, some of my family members said to me, `Will you also ask Allah's Messenger ﷺ to permit your wife (to serve you) as he has permitted the wife of Hilal bin Umayyah to serve him' I said, `By Allah, I will not ask permission of Allah's Messenger ﷺ regarding her, for I do not know what Allah's Messenger ﷺ would say if I asked him to permit her (to serve me) while I am a young man.' We remained in that state for ten more nights, until the period of fifty nights was completed, starting from the time when Allah's Messenger ﷺ prohibited the people from talking to us. When I had finished the Fajr prayer on the fiftieth morning on the roof of one of our houses, while sitting in the condition in which Allah described (in the Qur'an): my very soul seemed straitened to me and even the earth seemed narrow to me for all its spaciousness. There I heard the voice of a man who had ascended the mountain of Sal` calling with his loudest voice, `O Ka`b bin Malik! Be happy (by receiving good tidings).' I fell down in prostration before Allah, realizing that relief has come with His forgiveness for us. Allah's Messenger ﷺ announced the acceptance of our repentance by Allah after Fajr prayer. The people went out to congratulate us. Some bearers of good news went to my two companions, a horseman came to me in haste, while a man from Banu Aslam came running and ascended the mountain and his voice was swifter than the horse. When the man whose voice I had heard, came to me conveying the good news, I took off my garments and dressed him with them; and by Allah, I owned no other than them on that day. Then I borrowed two garments, wore them and went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ. The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allah's acceptance of my repentance, saying, `We congratulate you on Allah's acceptance of your repentance."' Ka`b further said, "When I entered the Masjid, I saw Allah's Messenger ﷺ sitting in the Masjid with the people around him. Talhah bin `Ubaydullah swiftly came to me, shook my hands and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirun got up for me except Talhah; I will never forget Talhah for this." Ka`b added, "When I greeted Allah's Messenger ﷺ, his face was bright with joy. He said,
«أَبْشِرْ بَخَيْرِ يَومٍ مَرَّ عَلَيْكَ مُنْذُ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّك»
(`Be happy with the best day you have ever seen since your mother gave birth to you.) I said to the Prophet, `Is this forgiveness from you or from Allah' He said,
«لَا بَلْ مِنْ عِنْدِ الله»
(No, it is from Allah). Whenever Allah's Messenger ﷺ became happy, his face would shine as if it was a piece of the moon, and we all knew that characteristic of him. When I sat before him, I said, `O Allah's Messenger! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the sake of Allah and His Messenger.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ بَعْضَ مَالِكَ فَهْوَ خَيْرٌ لَك»
(Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you). I said, `So I will keep my share from Khaybar with me.' I added, `O Allah's Messenger! Allah has saved me for telling the truth; so it is part of my repentance not to tell but the truth as long as I am alive.' By Allah, I do not know of any Muslim, whom Allah has helped to tell the truth more than I. Ever since I have mentioned the truth to Allah's Messenger ﷺ, I have never intended to tell a lie, until today. I hope that Allah will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allah revealed the Ayah,
لَقَدْ تَابَ الله عَلَى النَّبِىِّ وَالْمُهَـجِرِينَ وَالاٌّنصَـرِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ الْعُسْرَةِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّهُ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ - وَعَلَى الثَّلَـثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ حَتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّواْ أَن لاَّ مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِلاَّ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ - يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّـدِقِينَ
(Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin and the Ansar who followed him in the time of distress, after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated, but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful. And the three who stayed behind, until for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their souls were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them, that they might beg for His pardon. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).) Ka`b said; "By Allah! Allah has never bestowed upon me, apart from His guiding me to Islam, a greater blessing than the fact that I did not tell a lie to Allah's Messenger ﷺ which would have caused me to perish, just as those who had told a lie have perished. Allah described those who told lies with the worst descriptions He ever attributed to anyone. Allah said,
سَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَكُمْ إِذَا انْقَلَبْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لِتُعْرِضُواْ عَنْهُمْ فَأَعْرِضُواْ عَنْهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ رِجْسٌ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ جَزَآءً بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ - يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْاْ عَنْهُمْ فَإِن تَرْضَوْاْ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَرْضَى عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْفَـسِقِينَ
(They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them, that you may turn away from them. So turn away from them. Surely, they are Rijs (impure), and Hell is their dwelling place -- a recompense for that which they used to earn. They swear to you that you may be pleased with them, but if you are pleased with them, certainly Allah is not pleased with the people who are rebellious.) Ka`b added, "We, the three persons, differed altogether from those whose excuses Allah's Messenger ﷺ accepted when they swore to him. He took their pledge and asked Allah to forgive them, but Allah's Messenger ﷺ left our case pending until Allah gave us His judgement about it. As for that Allah said,
وَعَلَى الثَّلَـثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ
(And (He did forgive also) the three who stayed behind...) What Allah said does not discuss our failure to take part in the battle, but to the deferment of making a decision by the Prophet about our case, in contrast to the case of those who had taken an oath before him, and he excused them by accepting their excuses." This is an authentic Hadith collected in the Two Sahihs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and as such, its authenticity is agreed upon. This Hadith contains the explanation of this honorable Ayah in the best, most comprehensive way. Similar explanation was given by several among the Salaf. For instance, Al-A`mash narrated from Abu Sufyan, from Jabir bin `Abdullah about Allah's statement,
وَعَلَى الثَّلَـثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُواْ
(And (He did forgive also) the three who stayed behind...) "They are Ka`b bin Malik, Hilal bin Umayyah and Murarah bin Ar-Rabi`, all of them from the Ansar."
The Order to speak the Truth
Allah sent His relief from the distress and grief that struck these three men, because Muslims ignored them for fifty days and nights, until they themselves, and the earth -- vast as it is -- were straitened for them. As vast as the earth is, its ways and paths were closed for them, and they did not know what action to take. They were patient for Allah's sake and awaited humbly for His decree. They remained firm, until Allah sent His relief to them since they told the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the truth about why they remained behind, declaring that they did not have an excuse for doing so. They were requited for this period, then Allah forgave them. Therefore, the consequence of being truthful was better for them, for they gained forgiveness. Hence Allah's statement next,
يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّـدِقِينَ
(O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, and be with those who are true.) The Ayah says, adhere to and always say the truth so that you become among its people and be saved from destruction. Allah will make a way for you out of your concerns and a refuge. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِن الصَّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِدِّيقًا، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ كَذَّابًا»
(Hold on to truth, for being truthful leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Verily, a man will keep saying the truth and striving for truth, until he is written before Allah as very truthful (Siddiq). Beware of lying, for lying leads to sin, and sin leads to the Fire. Verily, the man will keep lying and striving for falsehood until he is written before Allah as a great liar.) This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs.
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful! This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers. O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness. Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld. Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant. If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk. You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
O you who have faith, be wary of God and be among the truthful!This is a command, a bestowal of eminence, and a felicitation: a command of God, a bestowal of eminence through good news, and a beautiful felicitation; a lovingly kind command, a heart- holding bestowal of eminence, a magnificent felicitation. He is commanding to bring the servants near to Himself, bestowing eminence so that the travelers will give their hearts to His love, giving felicitation so that they will seek His companionship. The servants who get the work done are those who have His love in their hearts. Those who reap the Real's fruit are those who have living hearts. Those who remember Him are those who receive eminence from the Real. They pass their days in the world with the world's folk like strangers.O you who have faith! This is a call of generosity and an infinite caress. The ears for the Real's call are the seven members of the body. When He discloses Himself, the sorrows of the two worlds are forgotten. He put the call of generosity in front so that hearing it, the servant would find it easy to carry the burden of the decree. What is the decree? " Be wary of God and be among the truthful! " He commands to godwariness, and He commands truthfulness in godwariness.Godwariness is the basis of the submission, truthfulness the perfection of faith. Godwariness is the beginning of familiarity, truthfulness the mark of love. Godwariness is the capital of the wor- shipers, truthfulness the mark of the light of recognition. Godwariness belongs to the travelers in the world of the Shariah, truthfulness belongs to the pain-stricken in the world of the Tariqah. When someone comes to possess the good fortune of godwariness and he is shown the beauty of truthful- ness, his mark is that he strikes fire into the hut of his own existence, launches the ship of createdness in the ocean of nonbeing, makes his children into orphans, bids farewell to his near ones and family, and cleanses his inwardness of habits and customs. His outwardness comes to be adorned with the light of the Shariah, his secret core filled with love for the Real, his heart emptied of love for this world, his secret core of desire for the afterworld-he has no joining with this world or the folk of this world, and no ease with the afterworld.Remembering the two worlds is no doubt to be pregnant.If you claim to be a man, do not be pregnant. You were good-do not be bad for the sake of talk.You were a man-do not be a woman for color and scent. [DS 326, 325]
القول في تأويل قوله : يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ (119)قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره للمؤمنين، معرِّفَهم سبيل النجاة من عقابه، والخلاصِ من أليم عذابه: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا)، بالله ورسوله =(اتقوا الله)، وراقبوه بأداء فرائضه، وتجنب حدوده =(وكونوا)، في الدنيا، من أهل ولاية الله وطاعته, تكونوا في الآخرة =(مع الصادقين)، في الجنة. يعني: مع من صَدَق اللهَ الإيمانَ به، فحقَّق قوله بفعله، ولم يكن من أهل النفاق فيه، الذين يكذِّب قيلَهم فعلُهم.وإنما معنى الكلام: وكونوا مع الصادقين في الآخرة باتقاء الله في الدنيا, كما قال جل ثناؤه: وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ [سورة النساء: 69].* * *وإنما قلنا ذلك معنى الكلام, لأن كون المنافق مع المؤمنين غيرُ نافعه بأيّ وجوه الكون كان معهم، إن لم يكن عاملا عملهم. وإذا عمل عملهم فهو منهم, وإذا كان منهم، كان وجْهُ الكلام أن يقال: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين)، (57) ولتوجيه الكلام إلى ما وجَّهنا من تأويله، فسَّر ذلك من فسَّره من أهل التأويل بأن قال: معناه: وكونوا مع أبي بكر وعمر, أو: مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، والمهاجرين رحمة الله عليهم.* * ** ذكر من قال ذلك أو غيره في تأويله:17451- حدثنا ابن حميد قال، حدثنا يعقوب, عن زيد بن أسلم, عن نافع في قول الله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه.17452- حدثنا ابن وكيع قال، حدثنا حبويه أبو يزيد, عن يعقوب القمي, عن زيد بن أسلم, عن نافع قال: قيل للثلاثة الذين خُلِّفوا: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، محمدٍ وأصحابه.17453- حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا إسحاق بن إسماعيل, عن عبد الرحمن المحاربي, عن جويبر, عن الضحاك في قوله: (وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع أبي بكر وعمر وأصحابهما، رحمةُ الله عليهم.17454-...... قال، حدثنا محمد بن يحيى قال، حدثنا إسحاق بن بشر الكاهلي قال، حدثنا خلف بن خليفة, عن أبي هاشم الرمّاني, عن سعيد بن جبير في قول الله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع أبي بكر وعمر، رحمة الله عليهما. (58)17455- حدثنا القاسم قال، حدثنا الحسين قال، حدثني حجاج, عن ابن جريج قوله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، قال: مع المهاجرين الصادقين.* * *وكان ابن مسعود فيما ذكر عنه يقرؤه: (وَكُونُوا مِن الصَّادِقينَ)، ويتأوّله: أنّ ذلك نَهْىٌ من الله عن الكذب.* ذكر الرواية عنه بذلك:17456- حدثني المثنى قال، حدثنا آدم العسقلاني قال، حدثنا شعبة, عن عمرو بن مرة قال: سمعت أبا عبيدة بن عبد الله بن مسعود يقول: قال ابن مسعود: إن الكذب لا يحلُّ منه جدٌّ ولا هزلٌ, اقرءوا إن شئتم: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ)، قال: وكذلك هي قراءة ابن مسعود: (من الصادقين), فهل ترون في الكذب رُخْصَة؟17457-...... قال، حدثنا سويد بن نصر قال، أخبرنا ابن المبارك, عن شعبة, عن عمرو بن مرة قال: سمعت أبا عبيدة, عن عبد الله, نحوه.17458-...... قال، حدثنا محمد بن جعفر قال، حدثنا شعبة, عن عمرو بن مرة قال: سمعت أبا عبيدة يحدِّث عن عبد الله قال: الكذب لا يصلح منه جدٌّ ولا هزل, اقرءوا إن شئتم.(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ وَكُونُوا مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ) = وهي كذلك في قراءه عبد الله = فهل ترون من رخصة في الكذب؟17459- حدثنا ابن وكيع قال، حدثنا أبي, عن الأعمش, عن إبراهيم, عن عبد الله قال: لا يصلح الكذب في هزلٍ ولا جدٍّ. ثم تلا عبد الله: (اتقوا الله وكونوا) ، ما أدري أقال: (من الصادقين) أو (مع الصادقين) ، وهو في كتابي: (مع الصادقين).17460-...... قال، حدثنا أبي, عن الأعمش, عن مجاهد, عن أبي معمر, عن عبد الله, مثله.17461-...... قال، حدثنا أبي, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو بن مرة, عن أبي عبيدة, عن عبد الله, مثله.* * *قال أبو جعفر: والصحيح من التأويل في ذلك، هو التأويل الذي ذكرناه عن نافع والضحاك. وذلك أنّ رسوم المصاحف كلّها مجمعة على: (وكونوا مع الصادقين) ، وهي القراءة التي لا أستجيز لأحدٍ القراءةَ بخلافها.* * *وتأويل عبد الله، رحمة الله عليه، في ذلك على قراءته، تأويلٌ صحيح, غير أن القراءة بخلافها.------------------------الهوامش :(57) في المطبوعة : " كان لا وجه في الكلام أن يقال " ، غير ما في المخطوطة ، والذي فيها ما أثبته ، وهو مستقيم صحيح . والذي جاء به من عنده مفسد للكلام .(58) الأثر : 17454 - " أبو هاشم الرماني " ثقة ، روى له الجماعة . مختلف في اسمه ، مضى برقم : 10818 .