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Explanatory Note
One report tells that one of the hypocrites said: “I see that those among us who are most keen to read the Qur’ān are gluttons, liars and cowardly.” This was reported to the Prophet. When the man learned of this, he went to the Prophet to find him having mounted his camel, ready to depart. He said to him: “Messenger of God, we were only engaged in idle talk and jesting.” The Prophet said to him: “Was it, then, at God, His revelations and His Messenger that you have been mocking? Make no excuses. You have disbelieved after you have professed to be believers, he did not face the man who kept holding on to the Prophet’s sword, his feet hitting the rocks.
Another report mentions that a group of hypocrites, including Wadī`ah ibn Thābit, as well as a man called Makhshī ibn Ĥimyar, an ally of the tribe of Salamah, were with the Muslim army when the Prophet headed for Tabūk. Some of them tried to frighten the believers and spread doubt in their ranks. They said: “Do you think fighting the Byzantines the same as internal warfare between Arabian tribes? We can even now see how you will all be taken captive tomorrow and be put in chains.” Makhshī said: “I wish we could escape with only 100 lashes each, without having verses of the Qur’ān revealed to expose us as a result of what you have said.”
The Prophet was informed of this and he said to `Ammār ibn Yāsir: “Rush to those people for they are burnt. Ask them about what they have said and if they deny it, tell them that they have said these very words.” `Ammār went to them and told them exactly what the Prophet said. They came to the Prophet to apologize. Wadī`ah ibn Thābit said to the Prophet as he mounted his camel, and Wadī`ah holding its reins: “Messenger of God, we were only talking idly and jesting.” Makhshī said: “Messenger of God, my name and my father’s name prevented me from leaving these people.” (This is a reference to the fact that he was only an ally occupying a weak position.) He was the one, among those to whom this verse refers, who was pardoned. He changed his name to `Abd al-Raĥmān and appealed to God to grant him martyrdom where his body would not be found. He was killed when he was fighting with the Muslim army at Yamāmah against the apostates. His body was lost without trace.
Another report says that a group of hypocrites were in the army going to Tabūk, and some of them said: “Does this man (meaning the Prophet) hope to take hold of the palaces and forts of Syria? Far be it from him.” God informed His Messenger of what they said. The Prophet ordered his Companions to have them isolated and he came to them and confronted them with what they had said. They replied: “Messenger of God, we were only engaged in idle talk and jesting.” God then revealed these verses.
“We have only been indulging in idle talk and jesting.” As if such important matters which are closely related to the very fundamentals of faith can at all be the subject of idle talk and careless jesting. Hence the reply: “Say: ‘Was it, then, at God, His revelations and His Messenger that you have been mocking?" Their offence is grave indeed. Hence they are confronted with the reality that they have disbelieved after they had professed to be believers. They are warned of grave suffering which some of them might escape because they have hastened to declare their repentance and were keen to maintain the path of the faithful. Others who remained hypocrites and continued to mock at God’s revelations as well as His Messenger and His faith could never escape that torment, on account of their being genuinely guilty.