Allah states that there are disbelievers, hypocrites and believers among the
bedouins. He also states that the disbelief and hypocrisy of the bedouins is
worse and deeper than the disbelief and hypocrisy of others. They are the most
likely of being ignorant of the commandments that Allah has revealed to His
Messenger . Al-A`mash narrated that Ibrahim said, "A bedouin man sat next to
Zayd bin Sawhan while he was speaking to his friends. Zayd had lost his hand
during the battle of Nahawand. The bedouin man said, `By Allah! I like your
speech. However, your hand causes me suspicion.' Zayd said, `Why are you
suspicious because of my hand, it is the left hand [that is cut]' The bedouin
man said, `By Allah! I do not know which hand they cut off (for committing
theft), is it the right or the left' Zayd bin Sawhan said, `Allah has said the
truth,
[الاٌّعْرَابُ
أَشَدُّ كُفْرًا وَنِفَاقًا وَأَجْدَرُ أَلاَّ يَعْلَمُواْ حُدُودَ مَآ أَنزَلَ
اللَّهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ]
(The bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to
not know the limits which Allah has revealed to His Messenger.)'' Imam Ahmad
narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«مَنْ سَكَنَ
الْبَادِيَةَ جَفَا، وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ الصَّيْدَ غَفَلَ، وَمَنْ أَتَى السُّلْطَانَ
افْتُتِن»
(He who lives in the desert becomes hard-hearted, he who follows the game
becomes heedless, and he who associates with the rulers falls into Fitnah.) Abu
Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i collected this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan
Gharib.'' The Prophet once had to give a bedouin man many gifts because of what
he gave him as a gift, until the bedouin became satisfied. The Prophet said,
«لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ
أَنْ لَا أَقْبَلَ هَدِيَّةً إِلَّا مِنْ قُرَشِيَ أَوْ ثَقَفِيَ أَوْ أَنْصَارِيَ
أَوْ دَوْسِي»
(I almost decided not to accept a gift except from someone from Quraysh,
Thaqafi, the Ansar or Daws.) This is because these people lived in cities,
Makkah, At- Ta'if, Al-Madinah and Yemen, and therefore, their conduct and
manners are nicer than that of the hard-hearted bedouins. Allah said next,
[وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ
حَكِيمٌ]
(And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.) Allah knows those who deserve to be
taught faith and knowledge, He wisely distributes knowledge or ignorance, faith
or disbelief and hypocrisy between His servants. He is never questioned as to
what He does, for He is the All-Knower, All-Wise. Allah also said that among
bedouins are those,
[مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا
يُنفِقُ]
(who look upon what they spend), in the cause of Allah,
[مَغْرَمًا]
(as a fine), as a loss and a burden,
[وَيَتَرَبَّصُ
بِكُمُ الدَّوَائِرَ]
(and watch for calamities for you), awaiting afflictions and disasters to
strike you,
[عَلَيْهِمْ
دَآئِرَةُ السَّوْءِ]
(on them be the calamity of evil), evil will touch them instead,
[وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ
عَلِيمٌ]
(And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.) Allah hears the invocation of His
servants and knows who deserves victory, who deserve failure. Allah's said;
[وَمِنَ الاٌّعْرَابِ
مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـتٍ
عِندَ اللَّهِ وَصَلَوَتِ الرَّسُولِ]
(And of the bedouins there are some who believe in Allah and the Last Day,
and look upon what they spend (in Allah's cause) as means of nearness to Allah,
and a cause of receiving the Messenger's invocations.) This is the type of
praiseworthy bedouins. They give charity in Allah's cause as way of achieving
nearness to Allah and seeking the Messenger's invocation for their benefit,
[أَلا إِنَّهَا
قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ]
(Indeed these are a means of nearness for them.) they will attain what they
sought,
[سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ
اللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ]
(Allah will admit them to His mercy. Certainly Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.)
[وَالسَّـبِقُونَ
الاٌّوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَـجِرِينَ وَالأَنْصَـرِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم
بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِىَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُواْ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـتٍ
تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الأَنْهَـرُ خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَداً ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ
الْعَظِيمُ ]
(100. And the foremost to embrace Islam of the Muhajirin and the Ansar and
also those who followed them exactly (in faith). Allah is well-pleased with them
as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which
rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.)