God Almighty Reprehends the Quraish in the Quran for “حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ”
Are we not, the Muslims of today guilty of the same “حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ”
ABSTRACT
“Whereas they who are bent on denying the truth harboured a stubborn disdain in their hearts - the stubborn disdain [born] of ignorance - God bestowed from on high His [gift ofl inner peace upon His Apostle and the believers, and bound them to the spirit of God-consciousness: for they were most worthy of this [divine gift], and deserved it well. And God has full knowledge of all things”.
The ayah concerns a historical incident in the lifetime of the reverent sahaabaas which all of us are very familiar with: the peace negotiations at Hudaybiyyah between the Prophet and the emissary of the Meccans, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr. The petty objections put forth by Quraish at this meeting and their over all attitude are labelled as “حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ” in this ayah. It is important to correctly appreciate the implications of this phrase to ensure that we do not sink to the level of Quraish and mimic this type of attitude i.e. “حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ” in our lives. It has been rendered as “stubborn disdain” or chauvinism by the mufassirs. Thus the Quran informs us that the Quraish displayed a haughty contempt in their attitude at this meeting. The ayah then leaves the Quraish and focusses on the Muslims. The Muslims were naturally very disturbed and distressed by the terms of this agreement but they remained calm and serene.The ayah is referring to this picture when it says
“فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكينَتَهُ عَلىٰ رَسولِهِ وَعَلَى المُؤمِنينَ” “then Allah sent down His Sakinah upon His Messenger and upon the believers”. The Arabic word sakinah connotes peace and tranquillity. The ayah then adds وَأَلزَمَهُم كَلِمَةَ التَّقوىٰ Simply stated it means that they were fastened to the word of taqwaa which means God consciousness and safeguarding agains evil.. The Quran then eulogizes the faithful band of Sahaabaa stating that they were fully worthy and entitled to “the word of God-consciousness" and they rightfully deserved it.
As per the style of the Quran, the ayah ends with a general but relevant Divine attribute and conduct: “And God has full knowledge of all things”.
Take home message for us: Do we not exhibit this hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah (zealous chauvinism) time and again in our daily life— individual and collective?
Dr. Israr, the eminent scholar and orator stresses this point clearly during his sessions of Dars-e-Quran. He concludes that the present day Muslim “ummah” is committing all the deeds which are enumerated in the Quran as the wrong doings and misdeeds of the previous Ummat-e-Muslimah, the Bani Israel. Is it not true, we are behaving as the chosen people of Allah. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
On the ground, the driving force for our views and deeds very often are our resentment, animosity and malice—understandable yet reprehensible—against the USA to the obvious exclusion of the golden dictates of our religion. Total and harsh dictators, very susceptible to be brutal and ruthless to their own people in some Muslim countries rise to be heroes on the “ummah” simply because of their political posturing against America. In fact they are unable to do any good to Muslims or harm America. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
There is a clear and definite injunction in the Quran to be fair and just even to our enemies:3
This leaves hardly any doubt that good Muslims have been challenged to a real high bar for fairness and justice even to foes and adversaries. Allow me to mention a personal experience in this regard; it is, I believe a sample of behaviour in Muslims at large and not just one instance. In one of our weekly meetings of the Quranic Study Group at the Aga Khan University Hospital, America was being criticized and denounced on some issue. I did not find it fair and pointed out that we are required to be just even to our rivals and recited this ayah. No sooner had I finished it, there was an outburst of loud laughter in the room! Just imagine a group of educated Muslims shrugging off a Quranic ayah in this way. I was shocked into silence. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
Deliberate murder of a Muslim by a Muslim is a major sin with very dire consequence as per ayah:4
One cannot imagine a more abominable and atrocious crime than the attempted murder of Malala by any moral standards let alone the high Islamic standards. The day she was shot in the head I was invited for a wedding dinner. A very good and well respected Muslim with services to the community was sitting next to me. “Did you hear about Malala” I enquired. I was flabbergasted by his immediate response “why don’t they stop the drone attacks”. I felt too dazed to continue the discussion. This again is a sample of general Muslim view and not an isolated example. It should be an accolade and honor for Pakistanis in particular and Muslims in general that she received the Nobel prize specially at such a young age. Not so, to many of them simply because she was supported by the West and America. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
The list could go on. All it needs a little soul searching by all of us. However this habit I feel has become more or less extinct among the sisters and brothers of our Ummah. It seems to have been replaced by a glorified delusion of the past and a paranoid fantasy of the present. Having said that, am I being haughty and sanctimonious? I wonder.
November 26, 2018
Read ONLY, IF AND WHEN you have time and mood for:
“An Ayah of the Quran for 30 Days” —November 2018
Choose the section you have time, in the next 30 days to read this ayah:-
Prelude: Recurrent Primary Message 1st. Page
Starting Dua, a note & The Ayah 2nd. Page
A Short Summary: For the Busy Bee None Pages
The Main Story: Recommended Two Pages
Footnotes: For the Perfectionist One Pages
PRELUDE
From the Pen and Perspective of a self-styled PPK Muslim (Proud, Practicing, Knowledgeable) with a humble submission that Islam totally rejects Blind Following BUT vigorously focusses on the Limitations of Pure Human Reasoning..............and clearly and comprehensively AlLAH knows best.
In the beginning of the seventh century C.E., the folks of Mecca and Medina had a fascinatingly unique window: they had direct access to the Heavens through one of their own. They were blessed with a regular stream of Divine counseling and guidelines. Question and answer sessions were part of the program. Even individual questioner was graced by an answer. In the short Introduction to this scheme they were assured that at the end of this twenty-two year project, Divine Directions and Admonitions will continue through the agency of the PEN. The whole discourse has been preserved and archived till eternity under the guarantee of our Lord and Creator. This record in known as the Quran.
It should sound unbelievable but factually appears to be true: Many of our prevalent, widespread and important concepts and opinions about religious matters do not have a basis in the Quran and sometimes even appear to be in obvious conflict with the teachings of the Quran. It would be very educative and helpful to discuss an Ayah once a month to see if it supports or rejects our views and actions in our daily life. I wish and hope this generates a fruitful interactive discussion.
DUAA’
بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ
In the name of Allah, we praise HIM, seek HIS help and ask for HIS forgiveness. Whosoever Allah guideth none can misguide; whosoever HE allows to fall astray, none can guide him right. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah alone and we bear witness that Mohammed, SAW is HIS slave-servant and the Seal of HIS Messengers.
Further, we recall that Allah Ta’aala has declared in HIS Book1
“He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message (or remember or receive admonition) but men of understanding (or intellect)”
and we also recollect that he has warned us about the day of judgement2
“Then on that day you shall most certainly be questioned about the boons (joy, pleasure).”
We realise, that there cannot be a greater boon or blessing or benefit than wisdom and we wonder if this should be a timely reminder to very many of us sincere and practicing Muslims who use our critical thinking to enhance the mundane for ourselves and our families but in matters religion we choose to
resort to blind following -- taqleed, doctrine of classical Sunni Islamic Fiqh.
(NOTE: I have filtered out the proofs and details into the Footnotes for those who have the time and interest for them. The main text will then be of reasonable length, hopefully for the busy majority. What follows is not a sermon; I do not feel qualified to give one, anyhow. I wish, it may provide a food for thought. A caveat seems in order: If the ayah selected pertains to issues we face in our daily life with our family, friends, neighbours or peers it may affect us personally and lead to some self analysis and soul searching which in turn could be divisive and distressing. If taken in the right spirit, it can be a humble attempt towards finding the “straight path”.)
THE AYAH
Surah Al-Fath (no. 48), Ayah 26
إِذ جَعَلَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا في قُلوبِهِمُ الحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكينَتَهُ عَلىٰ رَسولِهِ وَعَلَى المُؤمِنينَ وَأَلزَمَهُم كَلِمَةَ التَّقوىٰ وَكانوا أَحَقَّ بِها وَأَهلَها ۚ وَكانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيءٍ عَليمًا
“Whereas they who are bent on denying the truth harboured a stubborn disdain in their hearts - the stubborn disdain [born] of ignorance - God bestowed from on high His [gift ofl inner peace upon His Apostle and the believers, and bound them to the spirit of God-consciousness: for they were most worthy of this [divine gift], and deserved it well. And God has full knowledge of all things”.
THE MAIN STORY
“I am convinced about the veracity of my opinions, but I do consider it likely that they may turn out to be incorrect. Likewise, I am convinced about the incorrectness of the views different from mine, but I do concede the possibility that they may turn out to be correct.” — Imam Shafa’i
To start with, “the Taa’weele Khas”— i.e. the relevance to the original recipients—of this ayah. The ayah concerns a historical incident in the lifetime of the reverent sahaabaas which all of us are very familiar with: the peace negotiations at Hudaybiyyah between the Prophet and the emissary of the Meccans, Suhayl ibn ‘Amr. “Although this reference to the "stubborn disdain" (hamiyyah) on the part of the pagan Quraysh may have been characteristic of their over-all attitude towards the Prophet and his mission” adds Dr. Mohammed Asad. Earlier the Quraish had acted against all propriety and traditions in blocking the Holy Prophet and his team from entering Makkah, knowing fully well that they were unarmed and had the sole purpose of performing an Umrah. Next, they maltreated the envoy of the Prophet sent to clarify the situation. During this meeting the Prophet began to dictate to Ali ibn Abi Talib the text of the proposed agreement: "Write down, 'In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace’”; but Suhayl interrupted him and said: "We have never heard of [the expression] 'the Most Gracious'; write down only what we know." Whereupon the Prophet said to Ali: "Write, then, 'In Thy name, O God'." Ali wrote as he was told; and the Prophet continued: "This is what has been agreed upon between Muhammad, God's Apostle, and the people of Mecca...". But Suhayl interrupted again: "If thou wert (really) an apostle of God, (this would be an admission on our part that) we have been doing wrong to thee; write, therefore, as we understand it." And so the Prophet dictated to Ali: "Write thus: 'This is what has been agreed upon between Muhammad, the son of Abd Allah, son of Abd al-Muttalib, and the people of Mecca..." ( Nasa'i, Iba Hanbal and Tabari). These petty objections put forth by Quraish at this meeting and their over all attitude are labelled as “حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ” in this ayah. It is important to correctly appreciate the implications of this phrase to ensure that we do not sink to the level of Quraish and mimic this type of attitude i.e. “حَمِيَّةَ الجاهِلِيَّةِ” in our lives. Jahiliyyah is a fairly familiar word to most of us, meaning age of ignorance/darkness, specifically ignorance of the pre-islamic era. In the lexicon Hamiyyah means “zid”, (in Urdu) stubborn or obstinate. As mentioned earlier Dr. Asad has translated it as “stubborn disdain”. Rendering of this word by other mufassirs include “chauvinism, zealotry, heat and cant, zealous ignorance, pride and haughtiness and fierceness”. This gives an idea of the breadth in the meaning of this word. Thus the Quran informs us that the Quraish displayed a haughty contempt in their attitude at this meeting.
The ayah then leaves the Quraish and focusses on the Muslims. The Muslims were naturally very disturbed and distressed by the terms of this agreement; they seem to be paralyzed into inaction. When the Holy Prophet asked them to proceed with their sacrifice, shaving of head and changing the ehraam, not a soul moved. Our beloved Prophet repeated his command three times; of no avail. Surprised and perhaps perturbed he dashed into his camp and narrated the whole incident to his accompanying venerable wife. She very wisely advised him to go out again, just perform the ritual himself without waiting for the others. This he did with full success. Immediately, the whole crowd followed him. The ayah is referring to this picture when it says
“فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكينَتَهُ عَلىٰ رَسولِهِ وَعَلَى المُؤمِنينَ” “then Allah sent down His Sakinah upon His Messenger and upon the believers”. The Arabic word sakinah connotes peace, calm, sense of security and confidence, tranquillity. Allaamaa Yousuf Ali explains “Their calmness amid much provocation was a gift of God; they had earned a right to it by their obedience and discipline, and showed themselves well worthy of it”. The ayah then adds وَأَلزَمَهُم كَلِمَةَ التَّقوىٰ “and bound them to the spirit of God-consciousness”. This needs some explanation. Simply stated it means that they were bound/fastened (وَأَلزَمَهُم) to the word/spirit (كَلِمَةَ) of taqwaa. The latter term taqwaa is a very common and as confusing term in our religious literature. Initially I learnt it as fear and fright. It was explained, it means fear of a kind father whom you love and respect and not the dread of a devil. However a very apt and meaningful interpretation derived by scholars is “God consciousness” with all its logical and religious implications. The other translations of the word taqwaa in this ayah by various scholars are “righteousness, self-restraint, guarding (against evil), the principle of piety, word of piety and God-fearing”. The Arabic language is very rich and well-stocked. The mufassirs try to derive the exact meaning of a quranic word with a full look at the lexicon and a deep understanding of the context and background of the word and ayah under discussion; hence the similar yet varied rendering of a word. So taqwaa is God consciousness and safeguarding agains evil. I like the translation of this segment of the ayah وَأَلزَمَهُم كَلِمَةَ التَّقوىٰ by Dr. Mohammed Asad “Lit., the word of God-consciousness" (kalimat at-taqwa): implying that their consciousness of God and of His all-pervading power enabled them to bear the "stubborn disdain" of their enemies with inner calm and serenity”.
The Quran then eulogizes the faithful band of Sahaabaa stating that they were fully worthy and entitled to “the word of God-consciousness" and they rightfully deserved it.
As per the style of the Quran, the ayah ends with a general but relevant Divine attribute and conduct: “And God has full knowledge of all things”. This is the most important sanction to enforce Allah’s writ. HE does not need any detective agency or police force on the ground. HE knows your trials and tribulations and your efforts and emotions. HE will definitely respond and reward if you complete your duties and obligations towards HIM.
Is there any take home message for us, the Muslims of the twenty first century in this ayah? Put it in another way, what is the Taa’weele Aam of this ayah. Do we not exhibit this hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah (zealous chauvinism) time and again in our daily life— individual and collective?
Dr. Israr, the eminent scholar and orator stresses this point clearly during his sessions of Dars-e-Quran. He concludes that the present day Muslim “ummah” is committing all the deeds which are enumerated in the Quran as the wrong doings and misdeeds of the previous Ummat-e-Muslimah, the Bani Israel. Is it not true, we are behaving as the chosen people of Allah because we profess to follow the beloved last Messenger of Allah Ta'aala Subhaanahoo who will rescue us on the day of Judgement. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
On the ground, the driving force for our views and deeds very often are our resentment, animosity and malice—understandable yet reprehensible—against the USA to the obvious exclusion of the golden dictates of our religion.
Total and harsh dictators, very susceptible to be brutal and ruthless to their own people in some Muslim countries rise to be heroes on the “ummah” simply because of their political posturing against America.In fact they are unable to do any good to Muslims or harm America. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
There is a clear and definite injunction in the Quran to be fair and just even to our enemies:3
“O You who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do”.
Please note the stress and emphasis on equity in the language of our Holy Text. After ordering you to “never let hatred of anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice”, it commands you to “Be just”. This is in the imperative tense (sega-e-amr) making it a fard. You are then reminded that “this is closest to being God-conscious” followed by a command to “And remain conscious of God”; again in the imperative tense. This leaves hardly any doubt that good Muslims have been challenged to a real high bar for fairness and justice even to foes and adversaries. Allow me to mention a personal experience in this regard; it is, I believe a sample of behaviour in Muslims at large and not just one instance. In one of our weekly meetings of the Quranic Study Group at the Aga Khan University Hospital, America was being criticized and denounced on some issue. I did not find it fair and pointed out that we are required to be just even to our rivals and recited this ayah. No sooner had I finished it, there was an outburst of loud laughter in the room! Just imagine a group of educated Muslims shrugging off a Quranic ayah in this way. I was shocked into silence. A lady participant belatedly added that the ayah was correct but the example was wrong. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
Deliberate murder of a Muslim by a Muslim is a major sin with very dire consequence as per ayah:4
“But whoever deliberately slays another believer, his requital shall be hell, therein to abide; and God will condemn him, and will reject him, and will prepare for him awesome suffering”.
The language and the repetitions are a clear reflection of the extant of Divine wrath and fury on this crime. Add to this that the victim is an innocent teenager girl working diligently, boldly and defiantly for female education while girl schools with their inmates were being blown up; no wonder she had a threat on her life. One cannot imagine a more abominable and atrocious crime by any moral standards let alone the high Islamic standards. You guessed it right; I am referring to Malala. The day she was shot in the head I was invited for a wedding dinner. A very good and well respected Muslim with services to the community was sitting next to me. “Did you hear about Malala” I enquired. I was flabbergasted by his immediate response “why don’t they stop the drone attacks”. I felt too dazed to continue the discussion. This again is a sample of general Muslim view and not an isolated example. It should be an accolade and honor for Pakistanis in particular and Muslims in general that she received the Nobel prize specially at such a young age. Not so to many of them simply because she was supported by the West and America. Is this not hamiyya-tal-Jahiliyyah?
The list could go on. All it needs a little soul searching by all of us. However this habit I feel has become more or less extinct among the sisters and brothers of our Ummah. It seems to have been replaced by a glorified delusion of the past and a paranoid fantasy of the present. Having said that, am I being haughty and sanctimonious? I wonder.
........and Allah knows best.
May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding--“fahm”--of our Deen, Aameen.
Dr. Khalid Mitha
FOOTNOTES
(1) Surah 2/269
يُؤتِي الحِكمَةَ مَن يَشاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤتَ الحِكمَةَ فَقَد أوتِيَ خَيرًا كَثيرًا ۗ وَما يَذَّكَّرُ إِلّا أُولُو الأَلبابِ
(2) Surah 102/8
ثُمَّ لَتُسأَلُنَّ يَومَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعيمِ
(3) Surah 5/8
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا كونوا قَوّامينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَداءَ بِالقِسطِ ۖ وَلا يَجرِمَنَّكُم شَنَآنُ قَومٍ عَلىٰ أَلّا تَعدِلُوا ۚ اعدِلوا هُوَ أَقرَبُ لِلتَّقوىٰ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبيرٌ بِما تَعمَلونَ
(4) Surah 4/93
وَمَن يَقتُل مُؤمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خالِدًا فيها وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذابًا عَظيمًا
