Al-Anfal: (49) When the hypocrites say...

Issues Discussed:

The conjunction 'Waw' was not included in the phrase {إذ يقول} (When they say), whereas it was present in the preceding phrase {وإذ زين لهم} (And when it was beautified for them) (Al-Anfal: 48).

• Reason: The phrase {وإذ زين} is a continuation (conjunction) linked to the previous beautification, describing their state of arrogance and ostentation as they went out.
• However, {إذ يقول المنافقون} (When the hypocrites say) is a new, independent statement, disconnected from what preceded it.
• Grammatical Analysis of {إذ} (When): There are two possible interpretations for the grammatical function of Idh here:
  1. The implied structure is: "And Allah is severe in punishment, when the hypocrites say..."
  2. The implied structure is: "Remember when the hypocrites say..."

• The Hypocrites (المنافقون): These were people from the Aws and Khazraj tribes.
• Those with Sickness in Their Hearts (الذين في قلوبهم مرض): These were people from the Quraysh tribe who had outwardly accepted Islam, but their faith was weak and not firmly established in their hearts, and they had not migrated (to Medina).
• When the Quraysh set out to fight the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), these weak-hearted individuals said: "We will go out with our people. If Muhammad is in a large number, we will go out against him; but if he is few, we will remain with our people."
• Report from Muhammad ibn Ishaq: These individuals were all killed alongside the polytheists on the Day of Badr.

Interpretation of {غر هؤلاء دينهم} (Their religion deceived them)

• Ibn Abbas's View: It means they went out (to Badr) with 313 men to fight 1,000 men. This was only because they relied upon their religion (i.e., their false belief in victory through their numbers or cause).
• Another View: It means these people were striving for their own deaths, hoping that they would be made alive after death and rewarded for this killing (implying they thought they were martyrs for their cause).

{ومن يتوكل على الله فإن الله عزيز حكيم} (And whoever relies upon Allah—then indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.)

• Meaning: Whoever entrusts his affairs to Allah and trusts in His favor, relying upon His grace, Allah will protect and support him.
• Why? Because Allah is 'Aziz (Exalted in Might), meaning nothing can overcome Him. He is Hakim (Wise), meaning He delivers punishment to His enemies and delivers mercy and reward to His allies.

{ولو ترى إذ يتوفى الذين كفروا الملائكة يضربون وجوههم وأدبارهم وذوقوا عذاب الحريق} (And if you could but see when the angels take the souls of those who disbelieve, striking their faces and their backs, [saying], "Taste the punishment of the Burning.")

{ذالك بما قدمت أيديكم وأن الله ليس بظلام للعبيد} (That is for what your hands have put forth, and indeed, Allah is never unjust to [His] servants.)