Page 76 - The Struggle of the Messengers
P. 76

74                     The Struggle of the Messengers


             When a hypocrite gives up imitating a believer, he does not seek
             isolation, but rather tries to divert believers from Allah's way. He
             foolishly tries to destroy their zeal, make them doubt and despair,
             and weaken their loyalty to the Messenger. He elects to spread
             corruption. No hypocrite can say that he left the right road out of a

             sense of personal interest. As we read in the Qur'an, they say:
             "What Allah and His messenger promised us was mere
             delusion" (Surat al-Ahzab, 12) or  "These people have been
             deluded by their religion" (Surat al-Anfal, 49). They lie and say
             that they are aware of truths that believers do not know, as when
             Samiri explained to the Prophet Moses (as) why he led the people
             astray to worship the calf: "I saw what they did not see" (Surah Ta
             Ha, 96).
               In the Qur'an, these acts are defined as "fitnah" (meaning
             sedition, trial, temptation, dispute, mischief), which is one of the
             greatest sins: "... Fitnah is worse than killing..." (Surat al-Baqara,

             217). Samiri is one of the clearest examples of a hypocrite, and the
             Prophet Moses' (as) behavior toward him shows the Messenger's
             determination to prevent such strife. How the Prophet Moses (as)
             responded to the strife that this man had stirred up after he had
             ascended Mount Tur alone to receive Allah's revelation is related
             in detail in the Qur'an:
               [Allah asked:] "Why have you hurried on ahead of your people,

               Moses?" Moses said: "They are following in my tracks. I have
               hurried on ahead to you, my Lord, to gain Your good pleasure."
               He said: "We tried your people after you left, and Samiri has
               misguided them." Moses returned to his people in anger and
               great sorrow. He asked: "My people, did not your Lord make
               you a handsome promise? Did the fulfillment of the contract
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