Tafsir

The Evil of the Jews

Ibn Abi Najih reported from Mujahid,أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُواْ عَنِ النَّجْوَى ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُواْ عَنْهُ(Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden,) He said, "The Jews." Similar was said by Muqatil bin Hayyan, who added, "The Prophet had a peace treaty with the Jews. When one of the Prophet's Companions would pass by a gathering of Jews, they would speak among themselves in secret, prompting the believer to think that they were plotting to kill or harm him. When the believer saw this, he feared for his safety and changed the route he was taking. The Prophet advised them to abandon their evil secret talks, but they did not listen and kept on holding the Najwa.

Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah in their case,أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُواْ عَنِ النَّجْوَى ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُواْ عَنْهُ(Have you not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels, and afterwards returned to that which they had been forbidden)." Allah's statement,وَيَتَنَـجَوْنَ بِالإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُولِ(and conspired together for sin and wrongdoing and disobedience to the Messenger.) means, they used to talk to each other,بِالإِثْمِ(for sin) which involves themselves,وَالْعُدْوَنِ(and wrongdoing) which effects others.

They speak about disobedience and defying of the Messenger , with persistence and recommending each other to follow their way,وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ(And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not,) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `A'ishah said, "Some Jews came to the Prophet and greeted him by saying, `As-Sam `Alayka, O Abul-Qasim.' So I said to them, `wa `Alaykum As-Sam (the same death be upon you).' The Prophet said,«يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفُحْشَ وَلَا التَّفَحُّش»(O `A'ishah, Allah does not like rudeness and foul speech.) I said, `Didn't you hear them say, `As-Sam Alayka' He said,«أَوَ مَا سَمِعْتِ أَقُولُ: وَعَلَيْكُم»(Didn't you hear me answering them back by saying, `Wa `Alaykum (And the same upon you)') Allah the Exalted then sent down this Ayah,وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ(And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not,)" The narration collected in the Sahih states that `A'ishah said, "And be upon you the death, disgrace and curse." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to her,«إِنَّهُ يُسْتَجَابُ لَنَا فِيهِمْ، وَلَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهُمْ فِينَا»(Allah accepts our supplication against them, but not theirs against us.) Ibn Jarir recorded that Anas bin Malik said, "A Jew passed by Allah's Messenger , who was sitting with his Companions, he greeted them and they greeted him back.

Allah's Messenger ﷺ then said to his Companions,«هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا قَالَ؟»(Do you know what he just said) They said, `He said: As-Salam, O Allah's Messenger.' The Prophet said,«بَلْ قَالَ: سَامٌ عَلَيْكُم»(Rather he said, Sam `Alaykum.) meaning, `may you disgrace your religion.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ then said,«رُدُّوه»(Bring him back,) and when he was brought back, the Prophet asked him,«أَقُلْتَ: سَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ؟»(Did you say: Sam `Alaykum) He said, `Yes.' The Prophet then said,«إِذَا سَلَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ فَقُولُوا: عَلَيْك»(When the people of the Book greet you, say, `Wa `Alaykum.')" meaning, `and the same on you too.' The basis for the Hadith of Anas is in the Sahih and similar to this Hadith of `A'ishah is in the Sahih.

Allah said,وَيَقُولُونَ فِى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلاَ يُعَذِّبُنَا اللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ(and say within themselves:"Why should Allah punish us not for what we say") means, the Jews say these words, changing the meaning of the Islamic greeting, into an abusive statement, and then say, `Had he been a Prophet, Allah would have punished us for what we said. Allah knows what we conceal. Therefore, if Muhammad ﷺ were a Prophet, Allah would have sent His punishment on us sooner, in this life.' Allah the Exalted replied,حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ(Hell will be sufficient for them;) ell should be sufficient for them in the Hereafter,يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ(they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!) Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said that the Jews used to say, "Sam `Alayka," to Allah's Messenger ﷺ.

They would say then within themselves, "Why does Allah not punish us for what we say" This Ayah was later revealed,وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلاَ يُعَذِّبُنَا اللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ(And when they come to you, they greet you with a greeting wherewith Allah greets you not, and say within themselves: "Why should Allah punish us not for what we say" Hell will be sufficient for them; they will enter therein. And worst indeed is that destination!) Its chain of narration is Hasan, but they (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not collect it.

Manners of the Najwa, (Secret Counsel)Allah the Exalted teaches His believing servants to avoid the ways of the disbelievers and hypocrites,يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلاَ تَتَنَـجَوْاْ بِالإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَةِ الرَّسُولِ(O you who believe! When you hold secret counsel, do it not for sin and wrongdoing, and disobedience to the Messenger,) meaning, do not hold evil secret counsels like the ignorant disbelieving People of the Scriptures and their allies among the hypocrites, who imitate their ways,وَتَنَـجَوْاْ بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ الَّذِى إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ(but do it for Al-Birr and Taqwa; and have Taqwa of Allah unto Whom you shall be gathered.) and He will then inform you of all your deeds and statements; He has counted and recorded them and will justly hold you accountable for them.

Allah the Exalted said,إِنَّمَا النَّجْوَى مِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَيْسَ بِضَآرِّهِمْ شَيْئاً إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ(An-Najwa are only from the Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers. But he cannot harm them in the least, except as Allah permits. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.) Allah states that secret talks, where the believers feel anxious, areمِنَ الشَّيْطَـنِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ(only from Shaytan, in order that he may cause grief to the believers.) meaning, that those who hold such counsels do so because of the lures of the devil,لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ(in order that he may cause grief to the believers.) The devil seeks to bother the believers, even though his plots will not harm the believers, except if Allah wills it. Those who are the subject of evil Najwa, should seek refuge in Allah and put his trust in Him, for none of it will harm them, Allah willing. The Sunnah also forbids the Najwa so that no Muslim is bothered by it.

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلَاثَةً فَلَا يَتَنَاجَى اثْنَانِ دُونَ صَاحِبِهِمَا، فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ يُحْزِنُه»(If you were three, then two of you should not hold a secret counsel in the presence of the third person, because that would cause him to be worried.) This Hadith is collected in the Two Sahihs using a chain of narration that contained Al-A`mash. `Abdur-Razzaq narrated that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,«إِذَا كُنْتُمْ ثَلَاثَةً فَلَا يَتَنَاجَى اثْنَانِ دُونَ الثَّالِثِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ، فَإِنَّ ذلِكَ يُحْزِنُه»(If you were three, then two of you should not hold a secret counsel in the presence of the third person, except with his permission, because that would cause him to be worried.) Muslim collected this Hadith.

Commentary

Circumstances of Revelation

There are several incidents related to the revelation of the current set of verses. [ 1] there was a peace agreement between the Jews and Muslims. But when one of the Holy Prophet's ﷺ Companions would pass by a gathering of Jews, they would speak among themselves in secret, prompting the believer to think that they were plotting to harm or hurt him. The Holy Prophet ﷺ advised them to give up their secret plots and conspiracies but they did not heed. As a result, verse أَلَمْ تَرَ‌ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُوا عَنِ النَّجْوَىٰ was revealed.[ 2] Likewise, the hypocrites used to hold secret counsels or conferences, in consequence of which verses: إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَاجَوْا and إِنَّمَا النَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ were revealed.[ 3] When the Jews came to see the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، they, with a little twist of the tongue, would invoke curses upon him by greeting him mischievously ` As-Samu ` alaykum' اَلسَّم ُ عَلَیکُم [ death to you!] instead of saluting him with the usual اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیکُم ` As Salamu ` alaykum' [ peace be upon you ].

On this occasion, verse وَإِذَا جَاءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ was revealed..[ 4] Ibn Kathir cites Imam Ahmad's narration in which it is reported that the Jews used to greet in this way, changing the meaning of Islamic greeting into an abusive statement, and then say, لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا اللَّـهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ Had he been a Prophet, Allah would have punished us for the sin we committed - why did He not punish us?'.[ 5] Once the Holy Prophet ﷺ was sitting in the suffah of the mosque. The congregation was large in the mosque. Some of the participants of the battle of Badr arrived late and they could not find place to sit, nor did the people sitting in the mosque make room for the late-comers. The Holy Prophet ﷺ asked some of the people to stand up and leave. The hypocrites, however, found this objectionable. He also asked the people to spread out and make room for their fellow-believers and he prayed Allah for such people to show His mercy them. Verse يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَافْسَحُوا was revealed on that occasion.

[ Transmitted by Abu Haim ]. Piecing all the elements of the narrations together, it is possible that at first the Holy Prophet ﷺ might have asked the Companions ؓ to spread out and make room for their companions. Some of them might have complied and others probably did not. So, the Holy Prophet might have admonished them to stand up and leave as the students of seminaries are admonished to do in a similar situation. Probably, the hypocrites objected to this.[ 6] Some wealthy people used to come to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and consult him in private for a long time which inconvenienced him and the poor people would not get much time to consult him. For this reason, verse إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّ‌سُولَ was revealed. It is cited in Fathul Bayan from Zaid Ibn Aslam, without any authoritative source, that the Jews and hypocrites used to hold unnecessary private conferences with the Holy Prophet ﷺ . The Muslims were perturbed by this because they gained the impression that this type of consultation might be harmful. As a result verse نُهُوا عَنِ النَّجْوَىٰ was revealed.

When they did not heed, verse 12 إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّ‌سُولَ was revealed which required them to spend something in charity before their holding a private conference. At this point the fallacious people stopped from consulting the Holy Prophet ﷺٍ , because their greed for wealth did not allow them to do so.[ 7] When verse إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّ‌سُولَ was revealed requiring people to give alms before private conferences with the Holy Prophet M, many people stopped even the necessary private consultation with him. So, verse [ 13] أَأَشْفَقْتُمْ أَن تُقَدِّمُوا was revealed. Maulana Ashraf ` Ali Thanawi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ says that the concluding part of verse [ 12] (...but if you find nothing [ to offer ], then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful...58:12) had already given a concession to poor people from the requirement of charity before consultation with the Holy Prophet ﷺ . However some people are neither completely destitute nor are they completely wealthy, even though they might have the minimum zakatable wealth.

Probably, people in this category might have felt it difficult to advance freewill alms, because on the one hand, their means were limited, and on the other hand, they were unsure whether they were indigent. As a result, they could neither pay the charity, nor could they deem themselves exempt from the requirement of the verse. They felt that consultation was not an act of worship or devotion; and if they abandoned it, it could not be the cause of reproach. Therefore, they stopped consulting altogether. [ All narratives are from Ad-Durr-ul-Manthur ]. These causes of revelation will help and facilitate the comprehension of this passage. [ Bayan-ul-Qur’ an ].

Ethics and Etiquette of Secret Consultation

Although the present verses were revealed in some particular events, as detailed above, the rules laid down by them are of general application, regardless of their cause of revelation. Thus the present verses contain instructions about secret or private consultations. They are explained below.

Secret conferences are normally convened with special confidants to whom secrets are imparted trustingly. Members of the secret society are satisfied that they will not be betrayed. It is on the basis of this confidence that evil people design plots to oppress someone, or to kill him, or to usurp his wealth and property, and so on. In verse [ 7], Allah mentions that His knowledge is All-encompassing - it encompasses the entire creation. He is observing or watching them, perfectly hearing their speech and seeing them - whether in public or private, wherever and in whatever condition they may be. No plots or conspiracies of any kind are hidden from Him. If they commit any sin, they will not be able to escape the Divine chastisement. Allah is present in all their secret meetings or conferences - no matter how few or many people constitute their assembly.

For example, if there are three people in the assembly, Allah will be the fourth one; and if there are five people in the gathering, Allah will be the sixth one - nor numerically less or numerically more but He is with them wheresoever they may be.

Verse 7 specifies 'three' and 'five' numbers probably because Allah prefers that an assembly or congregation should comprise an odd number of members. This is the essence of verse [ 7].

Mischief of the Jews

It was narrated earlier that there was a peace treaty between the Holy Prophet and the Jews. During this period, if one of the noble Companions passed by an assembly of the Jews, they would confer secretly among themselves in such a manner as to arouse suspicion and anxiety in the mind of the believer making him think that they were conspiring to injure or hurt him. Verse [ 8] أَلَمْ تَرَ‌ إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُوا عَنِ النَّجْوَىٰ (Did you not see those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels,....58:8) prohibits the holding of such secret conferences. This rule applies not only to the enemies but also to the Muslims, in that they should not hold secret conference to harm or hurt another Muslim. However, the Muslims and others are allowed to hold secret conferences to promote good and righteous causes.

A narration of Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas is recorded in Bukhari, Muslim and other authentic collections, according to which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has stated اِذَا کُنتُم ثلٰثۃً فَلَا یَتَنَاجَا رَجُلَانِ دُونَ الاٰخَرِ حَتّٰی یَختَلِطُوا بِالنَّاسِ فَاِنَّ ذٰلِکَ یَحزُنُہُ , (If you were three, then two of you should not hold secret conference leaving aside the third person [ in another narration of Muslim: 'except with his permission'] because this bad manners would cause him anxiety and wound his feelings", [ i.e. because he will feel estranged or alienated and possibly suspicions may arise that the two are plotting something against him and keeping it as a secret.] [ Mazhari ]

قال ابن أبي نجيح ، عن مجاهد في قوله ( ألم تر إلى الذين نهوا عن النجوى ) قال : اليهود وكذا قال مقاتل بن حيان ، وزاد : كان بين النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وبين اليهود موادعة ، وكانوا إذا مر بهم رجل من أصحاب النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - جلسوا يتناجون بينهم ، حتى يظن المؤمن أنهم يتناجون بقتله - أو : بما يكره المؤمن - فإذا رأى المؤمن ذلك خشيهم ، فترك طريقه عليهم . فنهاهم النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - عن النجوى ، فلم ينتهوا وعادوا إلى النجوى ، فأنزل الله : ( ألم تر إلى الذين نهوا عن النجوى ثم يعودون لما نهوا عنه ) .وقال ابن أبي حاتم : حدثنا أبي ، حدثنا إبراهيم بن المنذر الحزامي ، حدثني سفيان بن حمزة ، عن كثير ، عن زيد ، عن ربيح بن عبد الرحمن بن أبي سعيد الخدري ، عن أبيه ، عن جده قال : كنا نتناوب رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - نبيت عنده ; يطرقه من الليل أمر وتبدو له حاجة . فلما كانت ذات ليلة كثر أهل النوب والمحتسبون حتى كنا أندية نتحدث ، فخرج علينا رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال : " ما هذا النجوى ؟ ألم تنهوا عن النجوى ؟ " . قلنا : تبنا إلى الله يا رسول الله ، إنا كنا في ذكر المسيح فرقا منه . فقال : " ألا أخبركم بما هو أخوف عليكم عندي منه ؟ " .

قلنا : بلى يا رسول الله ، قال : " الشرك الخفي ، أن يقوم الرجل يعمل لمكان رجل " . هذا إسناد غريب ، وفيه بعض الضعفاءوقوله : ( ويتناجون بالإثم والعدوان ومعصيت الرسول ) أي : يتحدثون فيما بينهم بالإثم ، وهو ما يختص بهم ، والعدوان وهو ما يتعلق بغيرهم ، ومنه معصية الرسول ومخالفته ، يصرون عليها ويتواصون بها .وقوله : ( وإذا جاءوك حيوك بما لم يحيك به الله ) قال ابن أبي حاتم :حدثنا أبو سعيد الأشج ، حدثنا ابن نمير ، عن الأعمش ، عن مسلم عن مسروق ، عن عائشة قالت : دخل على رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يهود فقالوا : السام عليك يا أبا القاسم . فقالت عائشة : وعليكم السام واللعنة قالت : فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " يا عائشة ، إن الله لا يحب الفحش ولا التفحش " . قلت : ألا تسمعهم يقولون : السام عليك ؟ فقال رسول الله : " أوما سمعت أقول : وعليكم ؟ " . فأنزل الله : ( وإذا جاءوك حيوك بما لم يحيك به الله )وفي رواية في الصحيح أنها قالت لهم : عليكم السام والذام واللعنة .

وأن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : " إنه يستجاب لنا فيهم ، ولا يستجاب لهم فينا "وقال ابن جرير : حدثنا بشر ، حدثنا يزيد ، حدثنا سعيد ، عن قتادة ، عن أنس بن مالك : أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بينما هو جالس مع أصحابه ، إذ أتى عليهم يهودي فسلم عليهم ، فردوا عليه ، فقال نبي الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " هل تدرون ما قال ؟ " . قالوا : سلم يا رسول الله . قال : " بل قال : سام عليكم ، أي : تسامون دينكم " . قال رسول الله : " ردوه " . فردوه عليه . فقال نبي الله : " أقلت : سام عليكم ؟ " . قال : نعم .

فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " إذا سلم عليكم أحد من أهل الكتاب فقولوا : عليك " أي : عليك ما قلتوأصل حديث أنس مخرج في الصحيح ، وهذا الحديث في الصحيح عن عائشة بنحوهوقوله : ( ويقولون في أنفسهم لولا يعذبنا الله بما نقول ) أي : يفعلون هذا ، ويقولون ما يحرفون من الكلام وإيهام السلام ، وإنما هو شتم في الباطن ، ومع هذا يقولون في أنفسهم : لو كان هذا نبيا لعذبنا الله بما نقول له في الباطن ; لأن الله يعلم ما نسره ، فلو كان هذا نبيا حقا لأوشك أن يعاجلنا الله بالعقوبة في الدنيا ، فقال الله تعالى : ( حسبهم جهنم ) أي : جهنم كفايتهم في الدار الآخرة ( يصلونها فبئس المصير )وقال الإمام أحمد : حدثنا عبد الصمد ، حدثنا حماد ، عن عطاء بن السائب ، عن أبيه ، عن عبد الله بن عمرو أن اليهود كانوا يقولون لرسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : سام عليك ، ثم يقولون في أنفسهم : ( لولا يعذبنا الله بما نقول ) ؟

، فنزلت هذه الآية : ( وإذا جاءوك حيوك بما لم يحيك به الله ويقولون في أنفسهم لولا يعذبنا الله بما نقول حسبهم جهنم يصلونها فبئس المصير ) إسناد حسن ولم يخرجوهوقال العوفي ، عن ابن عباس : ( وإذا جاءوك حيوك بما لم يحيك به الله ) قال : كان المنافقون يقولون لرسول الله إذا حيوه : " سام عليك " قال الله : ( حسبهم جهنم يصلونها فبئس المصير ) .