Surah Al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrite) - Salah Bukhatir

Al-Munafiqun

Hypocrisy is such a sin against Islam and Muslims that even the Rasool's prayer cannot obtain forgiveness for them from Allah.

Let not your riches or children divert you from the remembrance of Allah, lest you become a real loser.

History:

Before mentioning the particular incident about which this Surah was revealed, it is necessary to have a look at the history of the hypocrites of Madinah. The incident that occurred on this occasion was not a chance happening, but had a whole series of events behind it, all of which ultimately led up to it.

Before the Prophet's migration to Madinah the tribes of the Aus and the Khazraj, fed up with their mutual rivalries and civil wars, had almost agreed on the leadership of one man and were making preparations to crown him their king. This was Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, the chief of the Khazraj. Muhammad bin Ishaq has stated that among the people of Khazraj his authority was never contested and never had the Aus and the Khazraj rallied to one man before this.

When the Prophet arrived in Madinah, Islam had so deeply penetrated every house of the Ansar that Abdullah bin Ubayy became helpless and did not see any other way to save his leadership than to become a Muslim himself. So, he entered Islam along with many of his followers from among the chiefs and leaders of both the tribes although their hearts were burning with rage from within. Ibn Ubayy in particular was filled with grief, for the Prophet (pbuh) had deprived him of his kingship. For several years his hypocritical faith and grief of being deprived of his kingdom manifested itself in different ways. On the one hand, when on Fridays the Prophet (pbuh) took his seat to deliver the Sermon, Abdullah bin Ubayy would stand up and say "O people, the Rasool of Allah is present among you, by whom Allah has honored you; therefore, you should support him, listen to what he says and obey him." (Ibn Hisham, vol. III, p. 111). On the other, his hypocrisy was being exposed day by day and the true Muslims were realizing that he and his followers bore great malice against Islam, the Prophet and the Muslims.