Surah al-Ahzab (The Confederates) 33 : 13

Explanatory Note

In every community there will always be hypocrites and doubters who will, in times of difficulty, adopt the same attitude. Theirs is a state of mind encountered in all communities and across all generations.

“Some of them said: People of Yathrib! You cannot withstand [the attack] here, so go back.” Thus they tried to encourage the people of Madinah to desert and go home, arguing that standing guard behind the moat was meaningless when their homes were exposed to danger. This was a wicked attempt to exploit a natural weakness in people’s hearts: their concerns about their women and children at times of great danger. “And a group of them asked the Prophet’s permission to leave, saying: "Our houses are exposed.’“ Such people tried to give the appearance of being with the Muslims, whilst all they wanted was leave to go home under the pretext that their homes were vulnerable to attack. The Qur’ān, however, states their true motives, refutes their arguments and confronts them with their lies and tricks: “while they were not exposed. They only wanted to run away.”

One report mentions that the Ĥārithah clan sent one of their people, Aws ibn Qayzī, to the Prophet with a message saying: “Our homes are exposed. There is none among the Anşār whose quarters are as vulnerable as ours. There is nothing to repel the Ghaţafān from directing an attack against our quarters. Could you please give us permission to return home so that we can protect our women and children.” The Prophet gave them permission. However, Sa`d ibn Mu`ādh said to him: “Messenger of God! Do not give them such permission. Whenever we faced a hardship in the past, they would do the same.” Thereafter the Prophet issued an order that they should return to Madinah. It was such people that the Qur’ān put face to face with their inner motives: “They only wanted to run away.”