A wolf in the garb of a lamb

Lesson # 1087 from Holy Qur-’aan

A wolf in the garb of a lamb

Surah ‘TAWBAH or BARAAA-‘AH (REPENTANCE) – Chapter – 9)

Stage – 2, Verse – 43 of 129, Section – 7 of 16 (Part – 10)

                                                                   

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

43.  Allah forgive thee (O Muhammad)! Wherefor didst thou grant them leave ere those who told the truth were manifest to thee and thou didst know the liars?

43.  ‘AfAllaahu  ‘ank.  Lima  ‘a-zinta  lahum  hattaa  yata-bayyana  lakal-laziina  sadaquu  wa  ta’-lamal-kaazibiin.

                                                                             

Lesson

‘Afaa – (forgive), this word is from ‘afawun, ‘afawun means “to forgive”. But when talking with one another, the people use this word for supplication in favor of every other person, at that time, it is meant as “kindness and mercy. The meanings of “God forgive you” are taken in the same sense, which is of “God bless you”. Here, ‘AfAllaahu  ‘ank has been used in the same way as we say usually in our conversion YarhamukAllaah or RahimakAllaah to everyone.

It was described in the previous verses that some people whose beliefs are incorrect, they participate in easy tasks fondly, in which, with a little work, they hope that they would obtain much wealth. But they desert their companions in passing through the difficult paths and undergoing hard labors. In this verse, the circumstances of such Hypocrites have been explained.

It is commanded that these cunning people have decided that they would not partake in the Battle of Tabuuk. But they desire to show that they are not participating, by taking permission from You {O Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him)}, based on any strong excuse. You grant them permission considering that they are speaking the truth. God Almighty forgive you. They would not have participated if you had not granted them permission. However, it was beneficial if you had not permitted them, so that their secret would have been betrayed, and they were proved as disobedient and liars. And they could never get themselves counted in the true and obedient people. And the Muslims would have known openly that “evading on very little matters is a sign of hypocrisy”.

The Hypocrites used to come unto the Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) and say: We would have participated in this Battle but now we are sorry, we cannot participate under such and such situations because of so and so reasons. The Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to accept their excuses, considering that it is equal if they participate or otherwise, and used to grant them leave to stay at home.

It has been described in this verse that “If you had not granted them permission then it would be distinguished between the liars and the true. There is no reproof in it, but the aim is to disclose in courteous words, the inner wickedness of the Hypocrites, with which the Hypocrites may also understand that their trick has not been hidden. The entire people know them due to their wicked deeds.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)