The Madinan Period, Part 16: The Slander Against ʿĀ'ishah, and the Approach to the Trench
Section 20 of 22 · The Life of the Prophet Muhammad: The Madinan Period
Sharp Tongues Once the Fear Has Gone
And then Allah says:
۞ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُعَوِّقِينَ مِنكُمْ وَٱلْقَآئِلِينَ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ ٱلْبَأْسَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا أَشِحَّةً عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ ٱلْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدُورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَٱلَّذِى يُغْشَىٰ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۖ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ ٱلْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى ٱلْخَيْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ فَأَحْبَطَ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا
“Allah does know the ones from among you who prevent (others from joining the battle) and those who say to their brothers, “Come along with us,” and who do not come to the battle but for a little while, (and that too) with a greed against you (i.e. to extract a share of spoils from you). But when fear comes, you will see them looking towards you, rolling their eyes, like the one who gets faint because of death. Then once fear is gone, they assail you with sharp tongues, in greed for the good (i.e. the wealth acquired as spoils). These people did not accept faith (in real terms), therefore Allah has nullified their acts. All this is so easy for Allah.” (33:18–19)
And when fear comes — this is the reaction when it is in times of difficulty; what do they do? — when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes revolving like one being overcome by death. But when fear departs, they lash you with sharp tongues, indisposed toward any good. This is a quality of nifāq. In times of fear, their eyes are rotating; they are going around in circles because of fear. They are confused, they are afraid; but when fear goes away, they are very loud. They talk a lot. And then Allah says that those have not believed, so Allah has rendered their deeds worthless, and ever is that easy for Allah.
Therefore, don't go by what people say in times of peace. In times of peace, anybody and everybody can talk. But what happens in times of difficulty, in times of fitnah? The munāfiqūn stay quiet; they are afraid, they are terrified. But when fear goes away, they lash out at everyone; they start criticising so-and-so, talking against so-and-so. So the bravado only comes out at the wrong time.
يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
“They think that the coalition forces have not (yet) gone. And should the coalition forces come (again), they would like to be living in countryside among the Bedouins, asking (others) about your news. And even if they were to remain among you, they would not fight, but a little.” (33:20)
These munāfiqūn, if the armies would attack Madīnah once again, would wish that they weren't in Madīnah and that they were with the Bedouins, watching the news on their TV sets, listening to it on their radio sets. They would wish they could hold the remote control in their hands and flip through the channels, and listen to the news or watch the news about the Muslims; but they don't want to be there. Then Allah says that if they should be among you, they would not fight except for a little. These are signs of nifāq.