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The Review of Religions is honoured to present the translation of Sūrah al-Nās, chapter 114 of the Holy Qur’an, from Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’s (ra) magnum opus, Al-Tafsīr Al-Kabīr.
In this installment, the exegesis of the final three verses of Sūrah al-Nās commences.
Commentary of Verses 5-7
The verses [in the previous chapter]:
مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ* الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ * مِنَ الجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
mean: ‘I seek refuge with Allah against the evil of those who whisper evil to others and then withdraw, or who remain hidden and create doubts and suspicions in the hearts of the elite and the common man.’
The verse مِنَ الجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ may relate to يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ. In this case, it would mean that those who create suspicions and doubts in the minds of others spare neither the common man nor the elite; rather, they sow doubts in the hearts and minds of every person.
Similarly, the verse مِنَ الجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ may also relate to مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ . In this case, it would mean, ‘I seek refuge with Allah against the evil of those who whisper in the hearts of people and then withdraw, while remaining hidden from others, regardless of whether these whispers are from the common people or from their elite, and whether they are apparent or hidden.
As already explained in the lexical analysis, the word jinn has been used in contrast to ins. Jinn refers to those individuals who are usually not seen, meaning that they remain in their homes; the porches of their homes are always guarded, and they do not meet the common and ordinary folk. However, ins refers to one who can easily be approached. In other words, the word jinn signifies the elites, while ins signifies the common folk or those who keep friendly relations with the public.
During his period of Khilāfah, in accordance with this wisdom, Umar (ra) [Second Caliph after the Prophet Muhammad (sa)] instructed that no governor should appoint a guard at the entrance of their residence so that people may access them freely[1], and their insāniyyah [i.e. keeping friendly terms with the public] remains intact. Moreover, it was to prevent them from turning into a jinn after gaining authority or power.
Allah the Almighty states that in the latter days, when the Western nations will attack Islam, destroy the economies of Muslim states and take control over their lands, this all will happen by deception and deceit. They will claim to have come to teach them civilisation, aiming to promote knowledge in those countries; however, they intend to create doubts and suspicions in the hearts and minds of the people about God and His Messenger. In a similar manner, they will rule over Muslim nations under the guise of the interests of the state, but they wish to somehow make the people disillusioned with their faith and to embrace their own religion and way of life instead. They will seek to not only influence one person, but each and every person, whether he is an elite or a common man. Their schemes and strategy will be so successful that eventually the Muslims will fall prey to it to the extent that their civilisation comes to an end.
Many mischief makers will do evil and remain in plain sight, while many others will cause mischief and hide in a way that they will never be known, or they will continue to plot in secret. Such is the practice of Western nations in political affairs and other matters that they do things in a way that the other countries cannot even imagine, and consequently, they are destroyed. Similarly, they author various books in the name of promoting education, even though they seek to spread hatred against Islam or spread atheism; thus, Western nations destroy other nations from the comfort of their own countries.
One of the meanings of وَسْوَاسٌ is صَوْتُ الْحُلِيِّ, that is, the sound made from the clinking of jewellery. The words مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ infer that in the latter days Western nations will mislead people by tempting them with money and greed. At the same time, they will act like خَنَّاسٌ. For instance, they will never donate money openly to others – say 10,000 rupees – so they may fulfil their needs and own personal interests, but they will donate money to others while remaining hidden themselves. In such circumstances, every believer should pray, ‘O God! Safeguard me against their mischief and evil.’
Further, يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ * مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ explains that at times these nations will try to instil the love of wealth, sometimes through the elite, and at other times through the common folk, or that these nations will have such an abundance of wealth that will enable them to entice one with greed, whether they are a member of the elite or one of the common folk.
These verses prophesy that in the latter days this mischief would emerge in an organised [and well-orchestrated] way. That is to say, the disorder would be created in a systematic fashion, and people would not participate individually in this; rather, they would instigate others to join them too, i.e., they would make those who share similar thoughts join them. Not only would a worker quit working for his employer, but he would urge his other colleagues to quit working as well. Similarly, employers such as factory owners would discourage others from hiring them. The employers would establish their own union, and so too would the workers.
Similarly, governments would have their own organisations, as too would their subordinates. Every organisation would be linked with [similar] organisations in other countries. Similarly, those who spread mischief against religion would also work in their [respective] organisations and societies. For instance, an atheist would not hide their thoughts; rather, they would belong to organisations that publicly proclaim that their mission is to erase ‘the erroneous belief in God’ from the hearts and minds of the people. Although atheists existed in the past as well, they declared their atheism discreetly or individually, and they did not have any organisations [lobbying for them] nor did they publish newspapers or pamphlets. But today, atheist societies are found in all the countries of the world. Moreover, the opponents of Islam have their organisations as well. What is more, even the Muslim clerics, who could never in the past be united, have their own organisations and hold meetings and conferences. There are organisations for the Christian clergy and they work within these organisations. In short, this is all the fulfilment of the prophecy mentioned in the final verses of Sūrah al-Nās [i.e. verses 5-7].
Serialisation of Sūrah al-Nās will continue in the next edition.
Translated by Murtaza Ahmed.
ENDNOTES
[1] Tārīkh al-Tabarī, 23 AH, Dhikr Ba’d Siyarih.
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