Page 58 - Pure Life 40
P. 58
Elucidating the Behaviors of the Hypocrites in Medina… M. Bagheri Sadr (33
earn. They swear to you that you may 3. Allah does not speak to those who
be reconciled to them. But even if you swear false oaths (Ibid).
are reconciled to them, Allah shall not 4. The humiliation and disgrace of
be reconciled to the transgressing lot” the individual on the Day of
(The Quran, 9: 94-96). Judgment (The Quran, 9: 62-63;
An oath refers to a statement that 58: 14-15)
emphasizes the truth and correctness 5. The destruction of the individual
of a matter, asserting that there is no (The Quran, 9: 42).
mistake or error in it (Ṭabarasī, 1987, 10. Disobeying the Prophet's Orders
Vol. 9, p. 87). A lie, on the other hand, One of the characteristics of the
means a statement that is false and hypocrites in Medina during the
contrary to reality and is considered Prophet’s era was their defiance of his
one of the major sins (Hāshimī commands and their avoidance of
Rafsanjānī, 2000, Vol. 13, p. 373). responsibility during critical times.
Some scholars believe that a false Historical reports indicate that during
oath involves two sins. One is the sin the Battle of the Trench, the Prophet
of lying, which is a major sin, and the assigned the digging of the trench to
other is swearing falsely by something groups of ten men. Among the
sacred, such as Allah. Therefore, the Muslims were some hypocrites who
sin of a false oath is considered to be were supposed to carry out the task of
double, equivalent to two major sins digging, just like the others. However,
(Motahhari, 1997, Vol. 8, p. 263). In when they felt that no one was
the advice of the Prophet Muhammad watching them, they would stop
to Imam Ali, it is stated that Allah working, and whenever the Muslims
does not show mercy to those who paid attention to them, they would
swear falsely in His name (Ibn resume the task. They would abandon
Shuʿbah, 1984, p. 14). According to their work without permission from the
Ḥadīths, false oaths lead to poverty, Prophet and even go to their homes
infertility, severed family ties, and the (Ibn Hishām, 1936, Vol. 2, p. 701).
depopulation of cities (Ṣadūq, 1990, The Quran addressed this issue and
pp. 226-228). said, “Do not consider the Apostle’s
The Quran also mentions the summons amongst you to be like your
following punishments for false oaths: summoning one another. Allah
1. The painful punishment of Allah certainly knows those of you who slip
(The Quran, 3: 77). away shielding one another. Those
2. Being deprived of the abundant who disobey his orders should beware
benefits of the Hereafter (Ibid). lest an affliction should visit them or a
