Page 76 - The Struggle of the Messengers

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