بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Surah which precedes this Surah is Surah Al-Fat'h, which talks about the Treaty of Hudaibiya. The companions did not agree with the Prophet ﷺ when he commanded them to sacrifice the Hady, not perform Umrah, etc.
"(This is) a Grace from Allah and His Favour. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise."
#1 - Introduction (Verses 1-3)
The Surah which precedes this Surah is Surah Al-Fat'h, which talks about the Treaty of Hudaibiya. The companions did not agree with the Prophet ﷺ when he commanded them to sacrifice the Hady, not perform Umrah, etc.
In this Surah, Allah teaches the Muslims manners. You should not make a decision in advance to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. You should follow them in all matters of your lives. If you do not know, ask the Scholars. Our Religion is complete; every knowledge we need has been covered - even the manners of cleaning yourself after going to the toilet. Islam is called Islam, because we are commanded to submit to Allah.
This is why it is important to know the commandments and prohibitons in the Surah. Allah began this Surah calling us by our faith; "يأيها الذين آمنوا". Our faith should make us obey the commandments and stay away from the prohibitons; to not perform anything without knowing the Islamic Ruling behind it.
In Verse 1, Allah commands us with:
-> Taqwa
And forbids us from:
-> Making a decision in advance to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
In Verse 2, Allah forbids us from:
-> Raising our voices over the voice of the Prophet ﷺ
-> Calling the Prophet ﷺ the same names as you call one another. He is not a normal person, He is the Prophet ﷺ. You should precede his name with "The Prophet" or "The Messenger" and end it with "ﷺ".
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"البخيل من ذكرت عنده، فلم يصلِ علي"
"The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned but he does not supplicate for me." [At- Tirmidhi]
Allah warns us that if we do so, our deeds may be rendered fruitless. You should have fear that a sin you commit without paying much attention to it could be the cause of all your good deeds being rendered null.
#2 - The Foundations for building a Muslim Community (Verses 4-13)
Verse 4:
"Verily! Those who call you from behind the dwellings, most of them have no sense."
This Surah was revealed during 10H, when all the Arab Tribes came to give their pledge to the Prophet ﷺ.
Imagine if you are take a rest after Thuhr and suddenly someone rings the bell and bangs on the door telling you to open it. You would feel uncomfortable. This is what happened to the Prophet ﷺ while he was at home taking a rest. The bedouins were outside his house, calling him by his name, telling him that he would benefit from their praise and poetry. They were new Muslims and did not know, so Allah teaches them and us a manner here.
Allah says they do not have sense.
This is a rule from the Qur'an: The more sense you have, the more manners you have. The less sense you have, the less manners you have.
Nowadays, we equate intelligence with the amount of certificates a person has. But Allah teaches us that the criteria by which you judge intelligence is by the amount of manners they have. Bad manners are an indication of lack of intelligence. The Muslim has good manners for his Lord; He worships Allah through these good manners.
Verse 5:
"And if they had patience till you could come out to them, it would have been better for them. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
Allah then teaches them the solution: If you want to practice any good manner in life, it first has to be preceded with patience.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "إنما الحلم بالتحلم" [At-Tabarani] - If you want to be Forebearing, you have to teach yourself Forebearance, and with time Allah will grant you this quality.
If you are patient, you will attain good manners, and if you attain good manners, you will be intelligent.
"والله غفور رحيم"
Allah forgives sins. If you did not previously know it was a sin, ask for forgiveness, and Allah will forgive you. He is Merciful.
Verse 6:
"O you who believe! If a rebellious evil person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done."
Allah calls us by our belief again, "يأيها الذين آمنوا". He reminds us of our faith; it should make us act upon the above command.
This verse was revealed concerning AlWalid Ibn Uqba. The Prophet ﷺ sent him to Bani Mustalaq, to collect their Zakat. When he arrived, he remembered that there was enmity between that tribe and his family, and was afraid that they would kill him. So he returned to the Prophet ﷺ, and feeling shy to tell him the truth, he lied and told him that they refused to give him Zakat. The Prophet ﷺ was angry when he heard that, and was going to invade them, but they had sent a delegation in the meantime saying, "We had come to pay homage to your messenger by welcoming him, but upon seeing us, he returned and we are unaware as to the reason behind his return. Now, we have come to see whether he conveyed the truth. The alms tax is ready. Send someone to collect it.”
Then the Prophet ﷺ sent Khalid Ibn Walid, who came to these people and found them calling the Athan and praying. He collected the Zakat and returned to the Prophet ﷺ.
So in this verse, Allah teaches the Prophet ﷺ and us how to deal with news. Nowadays we have Social Networks, where rumours are spread. A man may divorce his wife because of rumours he did not verify. If you receive a message, do not spread it immediately - verify it first. Nowadays the enemies of Islam are trying to weaken the Muslim Community by spreading rumours, especially during times of fear.
The فاسق is a person who commits a Major Sin; like lying.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “… We came to a man who was lying flat on his back, with another man standing over him, holding an iron hook. He put the hook in the man's mouth and tore off that side of his face to the back (of his neck), and he tore his nose and his eye from front to back in a similar manner.
Then he turned to the other side of the man's face and did likewise. No sooner had he finished the second side but the first side was restored to its former state, then he went back and did the same thing again. I said to my two companions, ‘Subhaan Allaah! Who are these two persons?’
At the end of the hadeeth, he said concerning this one who was being punished: “It's the man who goes out of his house in the morning and tells a lie that is so serious that it spreads all over the world" [Bukhari]
You wrote a lie on whatsapp, sent it to a group, and that group sent it to another group, until it spreads around the world. There was a man who tried to take revenge on someone else, so spread a lie about that persons sister. This person did not verify the information, and killed his sister. Only after he killed his sister did he find out it was a rumor.
Allah teaches us patience again here. Have patience, and verify anything before you send it, before you spread something which may cause you to regret.
Verse 7:
"And know that, among you there is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. If he were to obey you (i.e. follow your opinions and desires) in much of the matter, you would surely be in trouble, but Allah has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts, and has made disbelief, wickedness and disobedience (to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ) hateful to you. These! They are the rightly guided ones"
"اعلموا"
Allah commands them that they should know. This means that there is a piece of knowledge you are heedless about, so remember it.
What should they know? "أن فيكم رسول الله"
That among them is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
They did not forget that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was amongst them, but they did not act upon that knowledge. When AlWalid lied, he forgot that the Prophet ﷺ was with him, and revelation was going to be revealed regarding that matter.
"و لأكن الله حبب إليكم الإيمان و زينه في قلوبكم و كره إليكم الكفر و الفسوق و العصيان"
How did Allah beautify faith in your heart and make disobedience hated to you?
1) He made you love the Religion
2) He showed you evidence around you so that you know it is the truth
E.g. You were in trouble and raised your hands asking Allah. The minute you lowered your hands, Allah relieved you. This is evidence that Allah exists and is Able to relieve you.
3) By putting the فطرة (Natural Disposition) in your heart
E.g. You know you have a Creator, and this Creator must be Great and High.
E.g. The hated for oppression and love for justice is something embedded in the فطرة of everyone.
"أولآئك هم الراشدون"
Those whom Allah made faith beloved to and disobedience hated to are the rightly guided. Allah showed them the right knowledge and helped them to do good deeds.
The opposite of الراشدون is الغاوون (Those who love disobedience, disbelief, and hate faith). And it is not Allah who made them hate faith, they did this to themselves. Allah said in [61:5]:
"So when they turned away (from the Path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away (from the Right Path)."
The most important part is the first step. Take the first step to Allah, and He will help you.
Verse 8:
It is a mere favour and grace from Allah that He beautified faith in your heart. And He ended this verse with "عليم حكيم" - He knows who deserves to be guided and who will show gratitude for this favour. He will not give it to those who do not deserve to be guided nor to those who do not show gratitude for it.
If you want guidance, to love the truth and follow it, then ask Allah. The hearts are between the two Fingers of Allah; He is the One who beautifies guidances and makes it dear to your your hearts. That is why we repeat "اهدنا الصراط المستقيم" seventeen times a day.
And we can make this Dua:
Verse 9:
"And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable."
Allah then guides us what to do when two groups of the believers fight one another. We do not call them disbelievers, but they are not angels and can fall into sins.
What should we do? "فأصلحوا بينهما" - Allah orders us to make peace and reconciliation between the two.
Allah orders us to be just in this reconciliation. If one rebels, then fight against that party until they comply with the command of Allah.
قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " انْصُرْ أَخَاكَ ظَالِمًا أَوْ مَظْلُومًا ".
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ "يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْصُرُهُ إِذَا كَانَ مَظْلُومًا، أَفَرَأَيْتَ إِذَا كَانَ ظَالِمًا كَيْفَ أَنْصُرُهُ"
قَالَ " تَحْجُزُهُ أَوْ تَمْنَعُهُ مِنَ الظُّلْمِ، فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ نَصْرُهُ "
The Prophet ﷺ said: Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed,"
A man said, "O Allah's Messenger ﷺ, I will help him if he is oppressed, but if he is an oppressor, how shall I help him?"
The Prophet ﷺ said, "By preventing him from oppressing (others), for that is how to help him." [Bukhari]
Verse 10:
"The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion). So make reconciliation between your brothers, and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy."
"إنما المؤمنون إخوة" - This is a Rule and one of the Major basises of the Muslim Community. As long as you are a believer, then all of you are sisters and brothers, regardless of your nationality, language, poverty or richness.
You have people in the West fighting for hundred or two hundred years seeking equality and still they have problems. But in Islam, all you need to do is go to the Haram, and see the equality. Everyone around you speaks a different language, but when the Imam says الله اكبر, they all stand up and pray together. When you break your fast, the woman next to you gives you a date.
When you are in a non-Muslim country you get excited whenever you see someone else wearing a Hijab. You do not know who she is, or where she is from, but you feel at home with her. Because she's a Muslim. Allah made this rule for us: إنما المؤمنون إخوة.
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " المؤمن للمؤمن كالبنيان يشد بعضه بعضًا" وشبك بين أصابعه ."
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The relationship of the believer with another believer is like (the bricks of) a building, each strengthens the other." He (ﷺ) illustrated this by interlacing the fingers of both his hands. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ " . قِيلَ مَا هُنَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ وَإِذَا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ وَإِذَا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ وَإِذَا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ فَسَمِّتْهُ وَإِذَا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ وَإِذَا مَاتَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ " .
"Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim. It was said to him: Allah's Messenger, what are these? Thereupon he said:
1) When you meet him, offer him greetings;
2) When he invites you to a feast accept it
3) When he seeks your council give him,
4) When he sneezes and says:" All praise is due to Allah," you say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you),
5) When he fails ill visit him;
6) and when he dies follow his bier."
Say the Salaam when you see a Muslim. People might look at you like you are odd, but it is one of the signs of the Day of Judgement that people will only say the Salaams to those whom they know.
Sisters fight one moment but are best friends the next. Because although they fight, there is still love in their hearts towards each other. The hearts of the believers are pure and clean.
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ قِيلَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَىُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " كُلُّ مَخْمُومِ الْقَلْبِ صَدُوقِ اللِّسَانِ " . قَالُوا صَدُوقُ اللِّسَانِ نَعْرِفُهُ فَمَا مَخْمُومُ الْقَلْبِ قَالَ " هُوَ التَّقِيُّ النَّقِيُّ لاَ إِثْمَ فِيهِ وَلاَ بَغْىَ وَلاَ غِلَّ وَلاَ حَسَدَ "
It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said: “It was said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: ‘Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it.’” [Ibn Majah]
Brush and clean your heart from all its sicknesses.
"فأصلحوا بين أخويكم"
Do not say "I do not care, it is not my business". Reconciliation is a great matter in the religion, you can even take money from the Zakat money to make reconciliation between two parties.
"واتقوا الله"
Allah commands us to have Taqwa of Him again.
"لعلكم ترحمون"
The more Taqwa you have, the more Allah will have Mercy on you.
Verse 11:
"O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: "O sinner", or "O wicked", etc.]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zalimun (wrong-doers, etc.)."
"يأيها الذين آمنوا"
Allah begins this verse reminding us of our belief again. If we really believe, we would obey the commands and abstain from the prohibitons mentioned.
"و لا نساء من نساء عسى أن يكن خيرا منهن"
Allah specified women after the general prohibiton of scoffing at one another, because it is more commonly found in women.
And you scoff because you either:
1) Admire yourself
2) Believe that the person you scoff at is inferior to you
We should not scoff at anyone, either by action or tongue. You may scoff, and the person you are scoffing at may be better than you.
"و لا تلمزوا أنفسكم"
Allah orders us not to defame 'yourselves'. Why?
-> Because you are defaming your brother, it is like you are defaming yourself
-> Because if you defame him, you are a defamed person. If you had manners you would not defame anyone.
"و لا تنابزوا بالألقاب"
Do not insult one another by calling each other with hated nicknames.
"بئس الإسم الفسوق يعد الإيمان"
It is awful for you to fall from faith into فسق - into committing a Major Sin.
And it is awful for you to call your brother with nicknames after he has faith,
"و من لم يتب فأولآئك هم الظالمون"
We have to repent continuously. Every time you remember the sin you committed, repent. It is like washing a stain from your clothes. You need to wash it continuously until it removes all traces. The more you repent and are sincere in your repent see, the more Allah will forgive your sin, and change it into a good deed.
Verse 12:
"O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful
"يأيها الذين آمنوا"
Allah calls us by and reminds us of our belief again.
"اجتنبوا كثيراً من الظن إن بعض الظن إثم"
Allah forbids us from suspicion. We should not suspect without evidence.
Allah knows what you are harbouring of suspicion. Sometimes we think evil about a certain person, and Allah shows us that what we thought was wrong.
Stop yourself from suspicion every time you feel it, seek refuge in the Shaytan and repent.
"و لا تجسسوا"
Suspicion without evidence leads to spying. You want to know if you are right or wrong, that is why you spy.
"و لا يغتب بعضكم بعضا"
When you suspect, you spy, after spying you will backbite about that person.
Allah then set a similitude for us, to make us hate this major sin:
"أَيُحِب أحدكم أن يأكل لحم أخيه ميتا فكرهتموه"
Allah compared backbiting to eating the flesh of your dead brother. He is dead, because he is not present whilst you are backbiting him. And he is your Muslim brother, how can you backbite him?
No one likes to eat the flesh of his dead brother. You should hate backbiting as you hate to do that.
If the person is not present to defend herself, it is considered backbiting, even if what you say about her is true. Do not talk about it.
"واتقوا الله"
The more you have Taqwa the more you will stop yourself from the above sins.
"إن الله تواب رحيم"
After prohibiting us from sins, Allah again reminds us that He accepts repentance and is Merciful. If you have backbited, spied, suspected, then repent from this moment. You have to repent from Major sins, otherwise it can be as a cause for you to enter Hell.
The more you know about Allah's mercy, the more you will repent to Allah.
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