This is another parable which Allah gave about the hypocrites who sometimes know
the truth and doubt it at other times. When they suffer from doubt, confusion and
disbelief, their hearts are,
﴿كَصَيِّبٍ﴾
(Like a Sayyib), meaning, "The rain", as Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, and several other
Companions have confirmed as well as Abu Al-`Aliyah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr,
`Ata', Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, `Atiyah Al-`Awfi, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi
and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas. Ad-Dahhak said "It is the clouds." However, the most accepted
opinion is that it means the rain that comes down during,
﴿ظُلُمَـتِ﴾
(darkness), meaning, here, the doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy.
﴿وَرَعْدٌ﴾
(thunder) that shocks the hearts with fear. The hypocrites are usually full of fear
and anxiety, just as Allah described them,
﴿يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ﴾
(They think that every cry is against them) (63: 4), and,
﴿وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ
لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَـكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ - لَوْ يَجِدُونَ
مَلْجَئاً أَوْ مَغَـرَاتٍ أَوْ مُدَّخَلاً لَّوَلَّوْاْ إِلَيْهِ وَهُمْ يَجْمَحُونَ
﴾
(They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they
are a people who are afraid. Should they find refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment,
they would turn straightway thereto in a swift rush) (9:56-57).
﴿الْبَرْقَ﴾
(The lightning), is in reference to the light of faith that is sometimes felt in
the hearts of the hypocrites,
﴿يَجْعَلُونَ أَصْـبِعَهُمْ فِى ءَاذَانِهِم
مِّنَ الصَّوَعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكـفِرِينَ﴾
(They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for
fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers), meaning, their cautiousness
does not benefit them because they are bound by Allah's all-encompassing will and
decision. Similarly, Allah said,
﴿هَلُ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْجُنُودِ
- فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ - بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فِى تَكْذِيبٍ - وَاللَّهُ مِن
وَرَآئِهِمْ مُّحِيطٌ ﴾
(Has the story reached you of two hosts. Of Fir`awn (Pharaoh) and Thamud Nay! The
disbelievers (persisted) in denying. And Allah encompasses them from behind!) (85:17-20).
Allah then said,
﴿يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـرَهُمْ﴾
(The lightning almost snatches away their sight) meaning, because the lightning
is strong itself, and because their comprehension is weak and does not allow them
to embrace the faith. Also, `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented
on the Ayah,
﴿يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـرَهُمْ﴾
(The lightning almost snatches away their sight), "The Qur'an mentioned almost all
of the secrets of the hypocrites.'' `Ali bin Abi Talhah also narrated that Ibn `Abbas
said,
﴿كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ
فِيهِ﴾
(Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein), "Whenever the hypocrites acquire
a share in the victories of Islam, they are content with this share. Whenever Islam
suffers a calamity, they are ready to revert to disbelief.''. Similarly, Allah said,
﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ
عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ﴾
(And among mankind is he who worships Allah on the edge: If good befalls him, he
is content with that.) (22:11). Also, Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas
said,
﴿كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ
فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ﴾
(Whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them,
they stand still), "They recognize the truth and speak about it. So their speech
is upright, but when they revert to disbeleif, they again fall into confusion.''
This was also said by Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Qatadah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas
and As-Suddi, who narrated it from the Companions, and it is the most obvious and
most correct view, and Allah knows best.
Consequently, on the Day of Judgment, the believers will be given a light according
to the degree of their faith. Some of them will gain light that illuminates over
a distance of several miles, some more, some less. Some people's light will glow
sometimes and be extinguished at other times. They will, therefore, walk on the
Sirat (the bridge over the Fire) in the light, stopping when it is extinguished.
Some people will have no light at all, these are the hypocrites whom Allah described
when He said,
﴿يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ
لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمْ
فَالْتَمِسُواْ نُوراً﴾
(On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers: "Wait
for us! Let us get something from your light!'' It will be said to them; "Go back
to you rear! Then seek a light!'') (57:13).
Allah described the believers,
﴿يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتِ
يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّـتٌ
تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا الاٌّنْهَـرُ﴾
(On the Day you shall see the believing men and the believing women ـ their light
running forward before them and by their right hands. Glad tidings for you this
Day! Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)) (57:12), and,
﴿يَوْمَ لاَ يُخْزِى اللَّهُ النَّبِىَّ
وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَـنِهِمْ
يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَآ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ
شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ﴾
(The Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad ) and those who believe
with him. Their Light will run forward before them and (with their Records ـ Books
of deeds) in their right hands. They will say: "Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light
for us ﴿and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirat (a slippery bridge over
the Hell) safely﴾ and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things'')
(66:8).
Ibn Abi Hatim narrated that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud commented on,
﴿نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ﴾
(Their Light will run forward before them), "They will pass on the Sirat. according
to their deeds. The light that some people have will be as big as a mountain, while
the light of others will be as big as a date tree. The people who will have the
least light are those whose index fingers will sometimes be lit and extinguished
at other times.'' Ibn Abi Hatim also reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "Every person
among the people of Tawhid (Islamic Monotheism) will gain a light on the Day of
Resurrection. As for the hypocrite, his light will be extinguished. When the believers
witness the hypocrite's light being extinguished, they will feel anxious. Hence,
they will supplicate,
﴿رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا﴾
(Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us).'' Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, "On the
Day of Resurrection, everyone who has embraced the faith will be given a light.
When they arrive at the Sirat, the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished.
When the believers see this, they will feel anxious and supplicate,
﴿رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا﴾
(Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us).''
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