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Al-Baqarah - 2:11
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Meaning of Mischief
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them: "Do not make mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers."
In his Tafsir, As-Suddi said that Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas'ud commented, "They are the hypocrites.
As for,
لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ
("Do not make mischief on the earth"), that is disbelief and acts of disobedience."
Abu Jafar said that Ar-Rabi bin Anas said that Abu Al-Aliyah said that Allah's statement,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ
(And when it is said to them:"Do not make mischief on the earth"), means, "Do not commit acts of disobedience on the earth. Their mischief is disobeying Allah, because whoever disobeys Allah on the earth, or commands that Allah be disobeyed, he has committed mischief on the earth. Peace on both the earth and in the heavens is ensured (and earned) through obedience (to Allah)."
Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.
Types of Mischief that the Hypocrites commit
Ibn Jarir said, "The hypocrites commit mischief on earth; by disobeying their Lord on it and continuing in the prohibited acts.
They also abandon what Allah made obligatory and doubt His religion, even though He does not accept a deed from anyone except with faith in His religion and certainty of its truth.
The hypocrites also lie to the believers by saying contrary to the doubt and hesitation their hearts harbor.
They give as much aid as they can, against Allah's loyal friends, and support those who deny Allah, His Books and His Messengers.
This is how the hypocrites commit mischief on earth, while thinking that they are doing righteous work on earth."
The statement by Ibn Jarir is true; taking the disbelievers as friends is one of the categories of mischief on the earth.
Allah said,
وَالَّذينَ كَفَرُواْ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَأءُ بَعْضٍ إِلاَّ تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ
And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, if you do not do this (help each other), there will be turmoil and oppression on the earth, and great mischief. (8:73),
In this way Allah severed the loyalty between the believers and the disbelievers.
Similarly, Allah said,
يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَـفِرِينَ أَوْلِيَأءَ مِن دُونِ الْمُوْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَاناً مُّبِيناً
O you who believe! Do not take disbelievers as Awliya (protectors or helpers or friends) instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves. (4:144)
Allah then said,
إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ فِى الدَّرْكِ الاٌّسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيراً
Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth of the Fire; no helper will you find for them. (4:145)
Since the outward appearance of the hypocrite displays belief, he confuses the true believers. Hence, the deceitful behavior of the hypocrites is an act of mischief, because they deceive the believers by claiming what they do not believe in, and because they give support and loyalty to the disbelievers against the believers.
If the hypocrite remains a disbeliever (rather than pretending to be Muslim), the evil that results from him would be less. Even better, if the hypocrite becomes sincere with Allah and makes the statements that he utters conform to his deeds, he will gain success.
Allah said,
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الَارْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them: "Do not make mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers."
Meaning, "We seek to be friends with both parties, the believers and the disbelievers, and to have peace with both parties."
Similarly, Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas commented on Allah's statement, means, "We seek to make amends between the believers and the People of the Book."
Al-Baqarah - 2:12
Allah said,
أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
Verily, they are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.
This Ayah means that the hypocrites' behavior, and their claim that it is for peace, is itself mischief, although in their ignorance, they do not see it to be mischief.
Al-Baqarah - 2:13
Allah tells;
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ
And when it is said to them: Allah said that if the hypocrites are told,
امِنُواْ كَمَا امَنَ النَّاسُ
"Believe as the people believe," meaning, 'Believe just as the believers believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, Resurrection after death, Paradise and Hellfire, etc. And obey Allah and His Messenger by heeding the commandments and avoiding the prohibitions.'
Yet the hypocrites answer by saying,
قَالُواْ أَنُوْمِنُ كَمَا امَنَ السُّفَهَاء
"Shall we believe as the fools have believed!" They meant (may Allah curse the hypocrites) the Companions of the Messenger of Allah.
This is the same Tafsir given by Abu Al-Aliyah and As-Suddi in his Tafsir, with a chain of narration to Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud and other Companions.
This is also the Tafsir of Ar-Rabi bin Anas and Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam.
The hypocrites said, "Us and them having the same status, following the same path, while they are fools!"
'The fool' is the ignorant, simple-minded person who has little knowledge in areas of benefit and harm. This is why, according to the majority of the scholars, Allah used the term foolish to include children, when He said,
وَلَا تُوْتُواْ السُّفَهَأءَ أَمْوَلَكُمُ الَّتِى جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ قِيَـماً
And do not give your property, which Allah has made a means of support for you, to the foolish. (4:5)
Allah answered the hypocrites in all of these instances. For instance, Allah said here,
أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاء
Verily, they are the fools. Allah thus affirmed that the hypocrites are indeed the fools. Yet,
وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ
But they know not. Since they are so thoroughly ignorant, the hypocrites are unaware of their degree of deviation and ignorance, and such situation is more dangerous, a severer case of blindness, and further from the truth than one who is aware.
Al-Baqarah - 2:14
The Hypocrites Cunning and Deceit
Allah said,
وَإِذَا لَقُواْ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ قَالُواْ امَنَّا
And when they meet those who believe, they say:"We believe,"
Allah said that when the hypocrites meet the believers, they proclaim their faith and pretend to be believers, loyalists and friends. They do this to misdirect, mislead and deceive the believers. The hypocrites also want to have a share of the benefits and gains that the believers might possibly acquire.
Yet,
وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ
But when they are alone with their Shayatin, meaning, if they are alone with their devils, such as their leaders and masters among the rabbis of the Jews, hypocrites and idolators.
Human and Jinn Devils
Ibn Jarir said, "The devils of every creation are the mischievous among them. There are both human devils and Jinn devils.
Allah said,
وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نِبِىٍّ عَدُوّاً شَيَـطِينَ الاِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوراً
And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies - Shayatin (devils) among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). (6:112)
The Meaning of Mocking
Allah said, قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكْمْ They say:"Truly, we are with you".
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah means, "We are with you, إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِوُونَ (Verily, we were but mocking), meaning, we only mock people (the believers) and deceive them."
إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِوُونَ Verily, we were but mocking, Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah, means, "We (meaning the hypocrites) were mocking the Companions of Muhammad."
Also, Ar-Rabi' bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.
Al-Baqarah - 2:15
Allah's statement,
اللّهُ يَسْتَهْزِىءُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
Allah mocks at them and leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly, answers the hypocrites and punishes them for their behavior.
Ibn Jarir commented, "Allah mentioned what He will do to them on the Day of Resurrection, when He said,
يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُواْ وَرَاءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُواْ نُوراً فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ
On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers:"Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said:"Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!" So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment.) (57:13) and,
وَلَا يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاًّنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً
And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness." (3:178)
He then said, "This, and its like, is Allah's mockery of the hypocrites and the people of Shirk."
The Hypocrites suffering for their Plots
Allah stated that He will punish the hypocrites for their mockery, using the same terms to describe both the deed and its punishment, although the meaning is different.
Similarly, Allah said,
وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّيَةٍ سَيِّيَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ
The recompense for an offense is an offense equal to it; but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah. (42:40) and,
فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُواْ عَلَيْهِ
Then whoever transgresses (the prohibition) against you, transgress likewise against him. (2:194)
The first act is an act of injustice, while the second act is an act of justice. So both actions carry the same name, while being different in reality.
This is how the scholars explain deceit, cunning and mocking when attributed to Allah in the Qur'an.
Surely, Allah exacts revenge for certain evil acts with a punishment that is similar in nature to the act itself. We should affirm here that Allah does not do these things out of joyful play, according to the consensus of the scholars, but as a just form of punishment for certain evil acts.
Meaning of Leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly
Allah said,
وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
and leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly.
As-Suddi reported that Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mas'ud and several other Companions of the Messenger of Allah said that, وَيَمُدُّهُمْ (and leaves them increasing) means, He gives them respite.
Also, Mujahid said, "He (causes their deviation) to increase."
Allah said;
أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِن مَّالٍ وَبَنِينَ
نُسَارِعُ لَهُمْ فِى الْخَيْرَتِ بَل لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ
Do they think that by the wealth and the children with which We augment them. (That) We hasten to give them with good things. Nay, but they perceive not. (23:55-56)
Ibn Jarir commented, "The correct meaning of this Ayah is 'We give them increase from the view of giving them respite and leaving them in their deviation and rebellion.'
Similarly, Allah said,
وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْيِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَـرَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُوْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِى طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And We shall turn their hearts and their eyes away (from guidance), as they refused to believe in it the first time, and We shall leave them in their trespass to wander blindly." (6:110)
Tughyan used in this Ayah means to transgress the limits, just as Allah said in another Ayah,
إِنَّا لَمَّا طَغَا الْمَأءُ حَمَلْنَـكُمْ فِى الْجَارِيَةِ
Verily, when the water Tagha (rose) beyond its limits, We carried you in the ship. (69:11)
Also, Ibn Jarir said that; the term 'Amah, in the Ayah means, 'deviation'.
He also said about Allah's statement, فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ (in their deviation to wander), "In the misguidance and disbelief that has encompassed them, causing them to be confused and unable to find a way out of it. This is because Allah has stamped their hearts, sealed them, and blinded their vision. Therefore, they do not recognize guidance or find the way out of their deviation.
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