of Nokounam, May His Sacred Secret Be Sanctified (Session 1078)
Verses 41 and 42 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, like a radiant light from the Holy Qur'an, serve as a guide for humanity in confronting moral and social complexities. These verses, addressed directly to the Noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him), speak of the challenges confronting the prophetic mission and delineate the characteristics of groups such as hypocrites, disbelievers, and some of the People of the Book who obstruct the path of truth. In this treatise, relying on the content of the lecture series, these verses have been rewritten in a clear and dignified language to serve as a mirror reflecting the profound Qur'anic meanings before the reader's eyes. The objective is not only to elucidate the concepts of the verses but also to connect them with social and ethical realities to serve as guidance for seekers of truth.
The Holy Qur'an, in verse 41 of Surah Al-Ma'idah, addresses the Prophet (peace be upon him) with words full of affection and support, cautioning him against sorrow caused by the behaviour of disbelievers and hypocrites. This address, like a soothing breeze, alleviates the Prophets psychological pressures stemming from the mission and invites him to concentrate on the divine goal.
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنْكَ is a sign of Gods emotional support for the Prophet (peace be upon him), emphasising the hardships of the prophetic mission and the necessity for composure in the face of adversaries.
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۚ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا ۖ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ ۖ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ ۖ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُوا ۚ وَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَنْ تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Translation: O Prophet! Let not those hastening into disbelief grieve you; those who say with their mouths, "We have believed," while their hearts have not believed, and from among the Jews, who are avid listeners to falsehood, and listeners to others who have not come to you. They distort the words after their proper places and say, "If you are given this, take it; but if you are not given it, then beware." And whoever Allah intends to put to trial, you will never possess for him any protection from Allah. Those are the ones whose hearts Allah has not wished to purify. For them in this world is disgrace, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.
The verse refers to a group that competes in disbelief: الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ. The word musraah denotes a deliberate, conscious race, as if this group firmly strides the path of denial of truth. These disbelievers, in contrast to hypocrites who appear to have faith outwardly, reject faith explicitly and deliberately, as though they seek nothing but the darkness of misguidance.
Another group is the hypocrites who قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قُلُوبُهُمْ, that is, they profess faith with their tongues while their hearts remain devoid of the light of faith. This duality is like a clay vessel that contains the smell of vinegar but never its taste. The hypocrites heart, due to insistence on hypocrisy, remains deprived of accepting the truth.
Part One, relying on verse 41, consoles the Prophet (peace be upon him) against sorrow and enumerates the characteristics of disbelievers and hypocrites. These verses, like a precise map, identify opposing groups and underscore the limitations of human power in guiding those whose hearts Allah has not willed to purify.
The Holy Qur'an describes some Jews as سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ, meaning those who attentively listen to the words of the Prophet not for learning but to find faults and deny them. This behaviour is like a spy seeking a moment to undermine the truth.
سماعون للکذب refers to those who listen with the intent to sabotage and find faults in the words of truth, as if their hearts are open only to darkness and misguidance.The verse continues: سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ. This group collects information for another people who avoid direct confrontation with the Prophet. This behaviour indicates the organisation of the opponents, as though a web of deceit has been woven against the light of truth.
Some of these opponents distort the words from their rightful places: يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ. This distortion is like a conscious tampering with a divine map, diverting the path of guidance. They say: إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَٰذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُوا, meaning they selectively accept or reject the Prophets words to preserve their own interests.
The verse emphasises: وَمَنْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَنْ تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا. If Allah wills to put someone in trial and misguidance, no power can guide him. These groups أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ possess hearts deprived of purity due to insistence on disbelief and hypocrisy.
The Holy Qur'an promises these groups لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ. "Khizy" means disgrace in this world, like a mirror revealing hidden faults, and the "great punishment" in the Hereafter is like the fire of divine justice burning sins.
Part Two elucidates the opponents traits meticulouslyfrom intellectual espionage and distortion of the word to impure hearts and divine punishment. These verses, like a guiding lamp, separate truth from deceit and underscore the sovereignty of divine will.
Verse 42 of Surah Al-Ma'idah calls some opponents أَكَّالُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ, meaning those who greedily consume illicit wealth and bribes. This group is like hungry wolves that are never satiated by greed and consider whatever is given to them insufficient.
أکالون للسُحْت refers to those who, through illicit consumption and greed for wealth, treat religion as a plaything and, by distorting sacred texts, seek material benefits.
سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ أَكَّالُونَ لِلسُّحْتِ ۚ فَإِنْ جَاءُوكَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ أَوْ أَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ تُعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ فَلَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ شَيْئًا ۖ وَإِنْ حَكَمْتَ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ
Translation: They listen avidly to falsehood and consume illicit gains. So if they come to you, judge between them or turn away from them; and if you turn away from them, they will not harm you in any way. But if you judge, then judge between them with justice, for Allah loves those who act justly.
The lecture, employing allegorical language, refers to some religious scholars who deviate from the path of truth by receiving illicit wealth. These individuals are like those who acquire great treasure but instead of spiritual benefit, employ it in greed and corruption. For example, a seminary student who struggles with modest income is contrasted with a scholar who unjustly amasses vast wealth. This contrast is like a mirror reflecting the difference between sincerity and illicit consumption.
Verse 42 grants the Prophet (