Juz 17: Al-Anbiyāʾ and Al-Ḥajj
Section 14 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
14. Types of Faith and Worship: Half-hearted vs. True Believers | Verses: Al-Hajj 22:8-17
After establishing the certainty of resurrection, Allah (swt) draws attention to different types of worshippers, contrasting the half-hearted with the sincere believers. This distinction is crucial as it highlights the reality that it is not merely claiming faith that matters, but the depth and consistency of one's devotion:
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ
“And among people there is one who worships Allah (standing) on the edge.”
This powerful metaphor describes those whose worship lacks conviction and commitment. The phrase "على حرف" (on the edge) portrays someone standing precariously at the boundary of faith, not fully committed. Their relationship with Allah is tentative and conditional, as the verse continues:
فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ
“When he is blessed with good (circumstances), he is content with it, and when he is afflicted by a trial, he turns his face back. He loses both this world and the Hereafter.”
These individuals maintain their worship only when life is comfortable and blessings flow. But when faced with trials – whether illness, financial hardship, or other challenges – they abandon their faith. Their worship is contingent upon favorable circumstances rather than genuine conviction. Such fickle faith results in loss in both worlds – they neither attain true contentment in this life nor salvation in the next.
Even more problematic is what these wavering believers do when faced with difficulties:
يَدْعُو مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُ وَمَا لَا يَنفَعُهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الضَّلَالُ الْبَعِيدُ
“He inv”