Surah At-Tawbah: Verses (48-49)

Verse 48: {Indeed, they had sought discord before...}

Know that what is mentioned in this verse is another type of the hypocrisy of the hypocrites and the malice of their inner selves.

{Indeed, they had sought discord before} (لقد ابتغوا الفتنة من قبل), meaning before the campaign of Tabuk.

• Ibn Jurayj said: This refers to twelve hypocrites who stood at the mountain pass of Ath-Thaniyyah al-Wada' on the night of 'Aqabah to assassinate the Prophet (peace be upon him).
• It is also said that it refers to what 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy did on the day of Uhud when he withdrew from the Prophet (PBUH) with his companions.
• Another view is that they sought to turn your companions away from the religion, return them to disbelief, and discourage people from you.
• The meaning of Fitnah (discord/trial) is the disagreement that necessitates separation after unity, which is what the hypocrites sought for the Muslims, but Allah saved them from it.

{And they plotted against you} (وقلبوا لك الامور). Turning the matter means manipulating and repeating it for contemplation and reflection. That is, they exerted themselves in devising stratagems and plotting against you. It is said of a person skilled in various stratagems: "So-and-so is hawwāl qallāb (very cunning)," meaning he turns through the means of deceit.

Then the Almighty said: {until the truth came and the command of Allah prevailed, while they were averse} (حتى جاء الحق وظهر أمر الله وهم كارهون).

The meaning is that these hypocrites were persistent in their plotting, deceit, stirring up discord, and alienating people from accepting the religion, until the truth came—which is the established truth in matters of doctrine—referring to the Qur'an and the call of Muhammad. And the command of Allah prevailed—which was previously concealed—referring to the means Allah manifested that made His Law powerful, while they were averse (to it).

This indicates that their plotting, scheming, and exaggeration in stirring up evil had no effect. Since they were always seeking this deceit, Allah turned it back upon them, reversed their intentions, and brought about the opposite of what they intended. Since this was the case in the past, it will be so in the future.

Verse 49: {And among them is he who says, "Give me leave and do not expose me to trial."}

{And among them is he who says, "Give me leave and do not expose me to trial."} (ومنهم من يقول ائذن لي ولا تفتنى). This means: Grant me permission to stay behind, and do not expose me to trial because of the command to go out (to battle). Several interpretations are mentioned regarding this:

1. "Do not expose me to trial" means: Do not cause me to fall into sin by refusing me permission. If you prevent me from staying behind and I stay without your permission, I will fall into sin. Under this interpretation, they might have said it mockingly, or perhaps seriously, if the hypocrite generally suspected that Muhammad (PBUH) was truthful, even if he was not absolutely certain.
2. "Do not expose me to trial" means: Do not cast me into destruction, as the weather is intensely hot, and I cannot bear it.
3. "Do not expose me to trial" means: If I go out with you, my wealth and family will be ruined.
4. Al-Jadd ibn Qays said: "The Ansar know that I am infatuated with women, so do not expose me to the trial of the Byzantine women (i.e., Roman women), but I will help you with my wealth, so leave me be."

It is also read as {wa lā tuftana} (from aftana), meaning they seek refuge from falling into fitnah (trial), yet they are currently immersed in fitnah. The greatest form of fitnah is disbelief in Allah and His Messenger, and rebellion against accepting divine commands. Furthermore, they remain lagging behind the Muslims, fearing that Allah will expose them. In the Mushaf of Ubayy, it is read {saqatu} (fell), because the singular form unifies the meaning of the plural.

The scholars of meaning state that this verse serves as a warning that whoever disobeys Allah for a certain purpose, Allah will nullify that purpose for him. Do you not see that these people chose to stay behind so they would not fall into fitnah? Allah the Almighty clarified that they are, in fact, falling and sinking into fitnah itself.

Then the Almighty said: {And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers} (وإن جهنم لمحيطة بالكافرين).

• It is said that it will encompass them on the Day of Resurrection.
• It is also said that the causes of that encirclement are present in this world, so it is as if they are already in its midst.

The Islamic philosophers said: They were deprived of the light of knowledge of Allah, His angels, His books, and the Last Day. They did not believe that perfection and happiness lay in anything other than this world, with its wealth and status. Furthermore, they became notorious among people for hypocrisy and criticizing the religion, intending every evil toward the Messenger. They witnessed the state of Islam constantly rising, prevailing, and increasing. They were in the utmost fear for themselves, their children, and their wealth. In essence, they were deprived of all spiritual happiness, and thus were in extreme fear due to immediate worldly circumstances. Extreme fear combined with extreme ignorance constitutes the greatest form of spiritual punishment. Allah the Almighty expressed these conditions by saying: {And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers}.

Verse 50: {If good befalls you, it grieves them, but if a disaster strikes you, they say, "We have taken our precaution beforehand," and they turn away, rejoicing.}

Verse 51: {Say, "Nothing will strike us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely.}