Overview (Verse 97)

Where Hypocrisy is Hardest

Bearing this in mind, we can now discuss the verses included in this passage: “The desert Arabs are more tenacious in unbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the ordinances which God has revealed to His Messenger. But God is All-knowing, Wise. (verse 97)

These verses begin with mentioning different classes of desert Arabs, some of whose tribes lived close to Madinah. Earlier, they had attacked the land of Islam in Madinah, but later, when they accepted Islam, they belonged to either one of the two groups mentioned in this passage. The descriptive outline of these groups begins with establishing a rule about their general nature: “The desert Arabs are more tenacious in unbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the ordinances which God has revealed to His Messenger. But God is All-knowing, Wise.” (Verse 97)

This description outlines a constant characteristic of desert and nomadic people, or bedouins. It is in their nature that they should be more tenacious in their unbelief and hypocrisy, and that they should be ignorant of God’s directives as He reveals these to His Messenger. Their ignorance stems from their life circumstances and the way these affect them. Thus they grow up rather hostile, having little knowledge and less inclination to abide by rules and regulations, developing a strongly materialistic outlook. Faith modifies their nature, elevates their values and brings them to a wider and more sublime horizon.

There are countless reports which mention the bedouin’s lack of refinement. Ibn Kathīr mentions some of these in his commentary on the Qur’ān: A bedouin attended the circle of Zayd ibn Şūĥān, a scholar who had a hand injured in the Battle of Nihāwand.34 The bedouin said to him: “What you say is admirable, but your hand makes me worried.” Zayd said: “What worries you about my hand? It is my left hand anyway.” The bedouin said: “I am not sure which hand they cut, the right or the left.” [He was referring to the punishment for theft which implied his suspicion that this respected scholar might have been punished for stealing.] Zayd said: “God certainly tells the truth, and so does His Messenger: “The desert Arabs are more tenacious in unbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the ordinances which God has revealed to His Messenger.” (Verse 97)

Imām Aĥmad relates on the authority of Ibn `Abbās that the Prophet said: “Whoever lives in the desert develops a rough edge, and whoever chases game loses concentration, and whoever attends rulers may yield to temptation.” Because desert people are rough, God has not selected His Messengers from among them. Prophets have always been chosen from among city dwellers: “We have only sent before you men from among city dwellers to whom We send down Our revelations.” (12: 109)

When a bedouin gave a present to the Prophet, the Prophet gave him back a much more valuable gift so that he was well pleased. He then said: “I feel I should not accept any gift unless it comes from a man from the Quraysh, Thaqīf, the Anşār or the Daws.” Needless to say that these were far more gentle in character and behaviour, because they were the dwellers of the main centres in Arabia at the time, Makkah, Ţā’if, Madinah and in Yemen respectively.

Muslim reports on the authority of `Ā’ishah: “Some desert Arabs came in a delegation to meet God’s Messenger. They asked whether the people of Madinah used to kiss their sons. When they were given an answer in the affirmative, they said: ‘But we definitely would not kiss our sons.’ The Prophet said: ‘What can I do for you if God has taken mercy out of your hearts?’”

The rough nature of the desert Arabs is well established, even after they had accepted Islam. It is only natural, therefore, that they would be harder in their stubborn rejection of the faith or in their hypocrisy. They were too brutal when victorious, and very hypocritical when subdued. They were aggressive and would observe no limits.

“God is All-knowing, Wise.” (Verse 97) He knows His creation, their circumstances, characteristics and nature. He has given them a variety of talents, capabilities and specialities, and He made them into races, communities and nations. All this is in manifestation of His wisdom.

Overview (Verse 97)

Where Hypocrisy is Hardest

Bearing this in mind, we can now discuss the verses included in this passage: “The desert Arabs are more tenacious in unbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the ordinances which God has revealed to His Messenger. But God is All-knowing, Wise. (verse 97)

These verses begin with mentioning different classes of desert Arabs, some of whose tribes lived close to Madinah. Earlier, they had attacked the land of Islam in Madinah, but later, when they accepted Islam, they belonged to either one of the two groups mentioned in this passage. The descriptive outline of these groups begins with establishing a rule about their general nature: “The desert Arabs are more tenacious in unbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the ordinances which God has revealed to His Messenger. But God is All-knowing, Wise.” (Verse 97)

This description outlines a constant characteristic of desert and nomadic people, or bedouins. It is in their nature that they should be more tenacious in their unbelief and hypocrisy, and that they should be ignorant of God’s directives as He reveals these to His Messenger. Their ignorance stems from their life circumstances and the way these affect them. Thus they grow up rather hostile, having little knowledge and less inclination to abide by rules and regulations, developing a strongly materialistic outlook. Faith modifies their nature, elevates their values and brings them to a wider and more sublime horizon.

There are countless reports which mention the bedouin’s lack of refinement. Ibn Kathīr mentions some of these in his commentary on the Qur’ān: A bedouin attended the circle of Zayd ibn Şūĥān, a scholar who had a hand injured in the Battle of Nihāwand.34 The bedouin said to him: “What you say is admirable, but your hand makes me worried.” Zayd said: “What worries you about my hand? It is my left hand anyway.” The bedouin said: “I am not sure which hand they cut, the right or the left.” [He was referring to the punishment for theft which implied his suspicion that this respected scholar might have been punished for stealing.] Zayd said: “God certainly tells the truth, and so does His Messenger: “The desert Arabs are more tenacious in unbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the ordinances which God has revealed to His Messenger.” (Verse 97)

Imām Aĥmad relates on the authority of Ibn `Abbās that the Prophet said: “Whoever lives in the desert develops a rough edge, and whoever chases game loses concentration, and whoever attends rulers may yield to temptation.” Because desert people are rough, God has not selected His Messengers from among them. Prophets have always been chosen from among city dwellers: “We have only sent before you men from among city dwellers to whom We send down Our revelations.” (12: 109)

When a bedouin gave a present to the Prophet, the Prophet gave him back a much more valuable gift so that he was well pleased. He then said: “I feel I should not accept any gift unless it comes from a man from the Quraysh, Thaqīf, the Anşār or the Daws.” Needless to say that these were far more gentle in character and behaviour, because they were the dwellers of the main centres in Arabia at the time, Makkah, Ţā’if, Madinah and in Yemen respectively.

Muslim reports on the authority of `Ā’ishah: “Some desert Arabs came in a delegation to meet God’s Messenger. They asked whether the people of Madinah used to kiss their sons. When they were given an answer in the affirmative, they said: ‘But we definitely would not kiss our sons.’ The Prophet said: ‘What can I do for you if God has taken mercy out of your hearts?’”

The rough nature of the desert Arabs is well established, even after they had accepted Islam. It is only natural, therefore, that they would be harder in their stubborn rejection of the faith or in their hypocrisy. They were too brutal when victorious, and very hypocritical when subdued. They were aggressive and would observe no limits.

“God is All-knowing, Wise.” (Verse 97) He knows His creation, their circumstances, characteristics and nature. He has given them a variety of talents, capabilities and specialities, and He made them into races, communities and nations. All this is in manifestation of His wisdom.