seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Quran 9:52. Say, “Are you expecting for us anything other than one of the two excellences? As for us: we are expecting that God will afflict you with a punishment from Himself, or at our hands. So wait, we are waiting with you.”
53. Say, “Whether you spend willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. You are evil people.”
54. What prevents the acceptance of their contributions is nothing but the fact that they disbelieved in God and His Messenger, and that they do not approach the prayer except lazily, and that they do not spend except grudgingly.
55. Let neither their possessions nor their children impress you. God intends to torment them through them in this worldly life, and that their souls depart while they are disbelievers.
56. They swear by God that they are of you. But they are not of you. They are divisive people.
57. Were they to find a shelter, or a cave, or a hideout, they would go to it, rushing.
58. And among them are those who criticize you in regard to charities. If they are given some of it, they become pleased; but if they are not given any, they grow resentful.
59. If only they were content with what God and His Messenger have given them, and said, “God is sufficient for us; God will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger; to God we eagerly turn.”
60. Charities are for the poor, and the destitute, and those who administer them, and for reconciling hearts, and for freeing slaves, and for those in debt, and in the path of God, and for the traveler in need—an obligation from God. God is All-Knowing, Most Wise.
61. And among them are those who insult the Prophet, and say, “He is all ears.” Say, “He listens for your own good. He believes in God, and trusts the believers, and is mercy for those of you who believe.” Those who insult the Messenger of God will have a painful penalty.
62. They swear to you by God to please you. But it is more proper for them to please God and His Messenger, if they are believers.
63. Do they not know that whoever opposes God and His Messenger, will have the Fire of Hell, abiding in it forever? That is the supreme disgrace.
64. The hypocrites worry lest a chapter may be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, “Go on mocking; God will bring out what you fear.”
65. If you ask them, they will say, “We were just joking and playing.” Say, “Were you making jokes about God, His revelations, and His Messenger?”
66. Do not apologize. You have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon some of you, We will punish others, because they are guilty.
Commentary.The two most excellent things are, the laying down of life in the cause of Truth, or being sharer in the ultimate triumph of Truth. The Muslims never thought that they could be defeated. They would either die defending the cause of Truth or live and conquer.
The only punishment that the hypocrites received from the hands of the Muslims was that they were named and asked to leave the mosque. Otherwise their liberty was not interfered with. There is mention of one of them living in Madßnah to the time of ‘Uthmån, the third Caliph, in full enjoyment of his rights as a citizen; the only distinctive treatment mentioned of him is that the poor-rate was not accepted from him by the Holy Prophet, or by his three immediate successors.
The hypocrites experienced earthly torture about their property and children for two reasons: (1) because, avowing their belief in Islåm, they had to take some share in its defensive expeditions and thus spend part of their property, unwillingly though it was, in the cause of Islåm; (2) the children of many of them were true believers, and they knew that after their death their property and their children were to become a source of strength to the very religion which they tried to extirpate.
That by ©adaqåt in the opening of the verse is meant the obligatory charity, called zakåt, and not voluntary alms, is shown by the concluding words of the verse, which call it an ordinance from Allåh. The verse defines the objects for which the poorrate may be spent. Altogether eight heads of expenditure are recognized. There are the poor, or those in straitened circumstances; then there are the needy, by which are meant people who need some help to enable them to earn their living. Poor students and craftsmen or business men without sufficient means are included in this category. Thirdly, there are the collectors of zakåt and other people employed to administer the funds. This shows that the institution was meant for raising a public fund, whose management should entirely be in the hands of a public body. The Qur’ån does not recognize it as a private charity. It is sad to note that, as the Qur’ån would have it, the institution of zakåt is entirely neglected by the Muslims. In the fourth class are people whose hearts are made to incline to Truth. With respect to the preaching of a religion there is always a class which is ready to listen but the carrying of the message of Truth to them needs funds. There are also people who may need help, if they accept the Truth. Expenses in this connection are recognized here as a part of the necessary expenditure of poorrate. The fifth head relates to the freeing of the prisoners of war. Islåm thus laid down a permanent basis for the abolition of slavery. The sixth class is that of debtors — people who incur debts for right purposes. Islåm requires all the members of the society to live in a free atmosphere, and those burdened with debt must therefore be freed of their burdens. Squanderers of wealth are, however, not included in this category. The seventh head is in general words, fß sabßl Allåh, or in the way of Allåh. Some limit the significance of these words to warriors (fighting in defence of faith and the community), or those who are engaged in propagating Islamic truths, while others think that the words are general and include every charitable purpose. The eighth head is that of wayfarers, people who are stranded in a country, to whatever religion or nation they may belong.
The word udhun, lit., an ear, is applied to one who hears and believes everything that is said to him, “as though by reason of the excess of his listening he were altogether the organ of hearing, like as a spy is termed ‘ain” (lit., eye) (LL). The hypocrites made various derogatory remarks concerning the Prophet, saying among other things, that he was a man who believed everything that he heard, and they were therefore sure that they would make him believe their hypocritical professions.
Isn't it interesting.... they figured out that Charity brings believers. Jesus knew that. He fed over 5000 men not once but twice. That's not even counting the women and children who were with the 5,000 men. Muhammed led an army and the government had an eight headed "expenditures" committee to expend the goods and services.
Well, that's fair. In the Jewish/Christian camps..... the government was getting money from the church and the church was nudging the government to do as the church pleased. Same thing... right?
I like that last commentary. To me it says the people thought if they lied to Muhammed and his followers enough, then Muhammed and his followers would start to believe anything they were told and they could be controlled by lies and deceit.
Stupid humans.... according to the verses here.... God is in control of what Muhammed and followers believe.
When you ask God to take over your life ..... As in "accept Him as your Savior".... He will do what's best for you.
Once you let Him take over.... God will filter what you hear and how you conceive the meaning.
Pray that God will take the twist out of the world's rendition of the Word.
Charity is the best way to spread love.
