Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

18. “Indeed Allah knows those who hinder others among you and those who say unto their brethren: ‘Come to Us’ and they come not to the fight but a little,”

Allah is aware of all the evil propagations of the enemies of the truth.

This holy verse points to the state of another group of hypocrites who withdrew from the battle field of the Battle of ’Ahzab and invited others to abdicate it, too.

It says:

“Indeed Allah knows those who hinder others among you and those who say unto their brethren: ‘Come to Us’…”

They told them to leave that dangerous battle and there came not to the battle save a few of them who came rather unwillingly or hypocritically.

The verse continues saying:

“…and they come not to the fight but a little,”

The Arabic term /mu‘awwiqin/ is derived from /‘auq/ which means: ‘To hinder, to dissuade from something’.

The Qur’anic term /ba’s/ originally means ‘intensity’ and the objective meaning of it here is ‘fight’.

The above verse may point to two groups. A group of hypocrites who were among the Muslims, (that the word /minkum/ (among you) is its evidence), and they tried to dissuade the weak-faith Muslims from the fight. These were the same as /mu‘awwiqin/.

The second group were those who were outside of the scene from among the hypocrites or the Jews. When these people met the soldiers of the Prophet of Islam (S) told them to go to them and draw out themselves from that battle. (These are the ones whom are referred to in the second sentence.)

However, an Islamic narration indicates that it happened that one of the companions of the Prophet (S), who had come inside the city for a particular thing, and met his brother who had got bread and wine in his front. He told him that how he was passing the time luxuriously in the city while the holy Prophet of Allah (S) was busy fighting in the midst of swords and javelins.

In answer to him, his brother said:

“O silly man! You may come to sit with us and be happy. By the One to Whom Muhammad makes an oath, he will never come back from this battle field, and this huge army who are gathered there will not let him and his companions continue their lives.”

His brother said:

“You are telling a lie. By Allah! I will go and inform the Prophet (S) of what you said.”

Then he came to the Prophet (S) and explained for him what happened. It was then that the above verse was revealed.

Thus, the occasion of the revelation of the Qur’anic term /’ixwanihim/ (their brethren) may be meant in the sense of ‘true brothers’ or in the sense of ‘with the same manner’, as the Qur’an says:

“Verily, the squanderers are the brethrens (accomplices) of the Satans…”1

At the end, the Qur’an has pointed to the kinds of brethren:

A) Natural brotherhood which comes into being by the way of parents.

B) Religious brethren which is obtained by means of having the same religion.

C) Political and party brethren, which has been referred to in this verse.

D) The behavioural brotherhood which is provided by obedience and following someone; as the Qur’an introduces /mubaŏŏirin/ (squanderers) they are as brethren of Satan.¹