The Madinan Period, Part 16: The Slander Against ʿĀ'ishah, and the Approach to the Trench
Section 19 of 22 · The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: The Madinan Period
The Hypocrites Who Asked Leave to Go Home
And the āyāt of the Qur'an described al-munāfiqūn, and these āyāt are worth going through because these are the characteristics of al-munāfiqūn yesterday and today; they don't change. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says, and these are āyāt 13 through 20 in Sūrat al-Aḥzāb:
وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا
“and when a group of them said, “O people of Yathrib (Madīnah), there is no place for you to stay; so go back.”And a group of them was seeking permission (to leave) from the prophet, saying, “In fact our homes are vulnerable,” while they were not vulnerable; they wanted nothing but to escape.” (33:13)
So the munāfiqūn here don't want to stay next to the trench, they don't want to stay in the camp; they want to go back home, and the excuse is, "We need to go and defend our homes." So they are pretending that they are going to go and fight, but Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said they didn't intend except to flee. That was their intention, to run away.
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ لَـَٔاتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَّا يَسِيرًا
“And if it (Madīnah) is entered (by the enemy, in their presence,) from all its sides and they are asked (to join) the mischief, they would readily commit it, and would not remain in them (their homes) but for a short while” (33:14)
This āyah means that the munāfiqūn, if they are pressured a bit, are going to give up Islam. If the enemy asks them to become non-Muslim, they are going to do that.
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسْـُٔولًا قُل لَّن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلْفِرَارُ إِن فَرَرْتُم مِّنَ ٱلْمَوْتِ أَوِ ٱلْقَتْلِ وَإِذًا لَّا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
“despite that they had already made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn their backs; and a covenant with Allah has to be answered for. Say, “Flight will never be of any use to you, if you flee from death or killing, and even then you will not be left to enjoy (life) but for a little while.”” (33:15–16)
In this āyah Allah is saying, and this is the meaning of the āyah: death is destined upon you, so running away from it wouldn't change it a bit. Now, let's assume that it is even going to change it: how long are you going to live? Your life as a human being is very short. So what are you running away from?
قُلْ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَعْصِمُكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً ۚ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
“Say, “Who is there to protect you from Allah, if He intends evil to you, or (who is there to prevent Him) if He intends mercy for you?” Beside Allah, they will not find for themselves either a friend or a helper.” (33:17)
The munāfiqūn were looking for help in the wrong place. They were looking for help from the Yahūd; they were looking for help from the kuffār. Allah is saying that only Allah is al-Nāfiʿ and al-Ḍārr: only Allah can benefit you and only Allah can harm you.