Explanation and implication of the verse of Surah al-Hashr

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Explanation and implication of the verse of Surah al Hashr

وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلاًّ لِّلَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا

O Allah, do not let our hearts bear malice and hatred for the people of iman

Before continuing mentioning the following incidents, it is imperative that we have an overview of these three verses of Surah al Hashr. After mentioning the recipients of a certain category from the spoils of war, Allah Ta’ala mentions three categories of people, namely the Muhajirin, the Ansar and those who came thereafter.

In the first verse, Allah Ta’ala mentions the Muhajirin who were forced to leave Makkah Mukarramah and migrate to Madinah Munawwarah, leaving behind their property and wealth. Allah Ta’ala praises them by saying that they did this with complete sincerity, seeking the pleasure, favour and rewards from Allah, and they also assist and help the din of Allah and Sayyidina Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This verse then ends of with a divine stamp of approval: “Those are definitely the truthful ones.”

The second verse describes the Ansar (of Madinah Munawwarah). Their praiseworthy qualities are mentioned as being those who have iman embedded in them, they love the Muhajirin to such an extent that if the Muhajirin are given any share of the booty or anything else, they do not bear any jealousy towards them, even though they themselves are in abject poverty. They prefer others over themselves.

The third verse mentions the duaʼ (supplication) made by those who come after the Muhajirin and the Ansar:

O Allah, forgive us and our brothers who accepted iman before us, and do not place in our hearts malice and hatred for the mu’minin (believers).

Since this is an important and commonly recited duaʼ, the Arabic will also be mentioned:

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِاِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِيْنَ سَبَقُوْنَا بِالْاِيْمَانِ وَلاَ تَجْعَلْ فِيْ قُلُوْبِنَا غِلاًّ لِّلَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ

Incident 1:

Layth ibn Abi Sulaim reports that Sayyidina ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma heard of a man speaking ill of Sayyidina ‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He sent for him and seated directly before him. After reciting the first verse, he asked him:

Do you belong to this category, i.e. the Muhajirin? The man replied: “No” Ibn ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma then recited the second verse and asked him if he belonged to this second category, i.e. the Ansar, to which he replied in the negative. Ibn ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma then recited the third verse and asked him if he belonged to this third category, to which he replied: “I have hope of being included here” Ibn ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma retorted: “I take an oath by Allah that you are not from the third category. He who speaks ill of the Muhajirin and the Ansar and bears animosity, malice and hatred for them; he can never come under the ambit of the third verse.”

Incident 2:

This narration regards Zayn al ‘Abidin ‘Ali ibn Hussain rahimahu Llah, who was the grandson of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and the great grandson of Sayyidina Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Henceforth he will be referred to as Zayn al ‘Abidin. It should be noted that he is regarded to be the fourth Imam by the Shia.

A few people from Iraq came to Zayn al ‘Abidin rahimahu Llah and began speaking ill of the first three khalifas; Sayyidina Abu Bakr, Sayyidina ‘Umar and Sayyidina ‘‘Uthman radiya Llahu ‘anhum. When they had completed, Zayn al ‘Abidin rahimahu Llah asked them: “Are you from amongst the Muhajirin mentioned in this verse?” He then recited the first verse. They replied in the negative. “Are you then from those mentioned in this verse?” He then recited the second verse. They again replied in the negative. Zayn al ‘Abidin rahimahu Llah then said: “You yourselves have acknowledged that you are not from the first two categories, and I testify that you are most definitely not from the third category regarding whom Allah Ta’ala says: “Those who come after them (the Muhajirin and the Ansar) supplicate: O our Rabb! Forgive us and our brothers who accepted iman before us, and do not place in our hearts malice and hatred for the mu’minin (believers). O our Rabb! Verily You are most compassionate, most merciful.” Zayn al ‘Abidin rahimahu Llah then instructed them to go away from him, saying: “May Allah deal with you as He deems fit.”

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