We request an explanation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And when you see them, their appearance amazes you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. They are as if they were pieces of wood propped up… the verse.”
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Question:
In his second question, he mentioned some verses from the Noble Qur'an, saying: I request their explanation. The first is the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Munafiqun 63:4] that they may be released.
Answer:
This verse concerns the characteristics of the hypocrites who display faith outwardly while concealing disbelief inwardly. We ask Allah for safety. Among their characteristics is that they are people of appearances; they are people of appearances and large physiques, and they may possess beauty and handsomeness. When you see them, their appearance amazes you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. Also, among their characteristics is that they are eloquent and articulate, such that when one of them speaks, he captivates the listeners. This is part of the complete trial and test. We ask Allah for safety.
The third characteristic is “as if they were pieces of wood propped up,” meaning they are of no benefit, because wood that is propped up has no benefit or use. Thus, they are of no benefit, neither from their eloquent speech nor from their beautiful appearance. They are as if they were pieces of wood propped up with no use. They think every shout is against them. This is the fourth characteristic: they have fear and anxiety that distress them on every occasion. They assume that they have been detected and that they have been called to justice, because they know the ugliness of their actions and what they conceal. So when they hear a disturbing sound, they assume it concerns them, that they have been detected, and that they are threatened with an attack against them. This is due to the fear and anxiety in their hearts regarding the evil of their actions and their beliefs, may Allah protect us from that.
The fifth characteristic: Allah, Glorified and Exalted, said, “They are the enemy,” and He confined enmity to them. Allah is the Greatest. He confined enmity to them because they mix with the Muslims and deceive the Muslims by displaying Islam, while they are enemies of Islam and the Muslims. Their enmity is more severe than the enmity of the pure disbelievers who openly declare their disbelief, because one takes caution regarding the pure disbelievers and knows that they are enemies. Yes.
As for these people, it is not assumed that they are with a caller to the truth; rather, they are thought to be among the Muslims, while in reality they are plotting against Islam and the Muslims from behind, and may Allah protect us from that. Therefore, Allah warned us against them. He said:[Al-Munafiqun 63:4] meaning that Allah has cursed them. How are they turned away? That is, how are they diverted from the truth after it has become clear to them and they have come to know it? How do they abandon it for falsehood?
In his second question, he mentioned some verses from the Noble Qur'an, saying: I request their explanation. The first is the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And when you see them, their forms please you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. [They are] as if they were pieces of wood propped up - they think that every shout is against them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded?
وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ وَإِن يَقُولُوا تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌ مُّسَنَّدَةٌ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُAnswer:
This verse concerns the characteristics of the hypocrites who display faith outwardly while concealing disbelief inwardly. We ask Allah for safety. Among their characteristics is that they are people of appearances; they are people of appearances and large physiques, and they may possess beauty and handsomeness. When you see them, their appearance amazes you, and if they speak, you listen to their speech. Also, among their characteristics is that they are eloquent and articulate, such that when one of them speaks, he captivates the listeners. This is part of the complete trial and test. We ask Allah for safety.
The third characteristic is “as if they were pieces of wood propped up,” meaning they are of no benefit, because wood that is propped up has no benefit or use. Thus, they are of no benefit, neither from their eloquent speech nor from their beautiful appearance. They are as if they were pieces of wood propped up with no use. They think every shout is against them. This is the fourth characteristic: they have fear and anxiety that distress them on every occasion. They assume that they have been detected and that they have been called to justice, because they know the ugliness of their actions and what they conceal. So when they hear a disturbing sound, they assume it concerns them, that they have been detected, and that they are threatened with an attack against them. This is due to the fear and anxiety in their hearts regarding the evil of their actions and their beliefs, may Allah protect us from that.
The fifth characteristic: Allah, Glorified and Exalted, said, “They are the enemy,” and He confined enmity to them. Allah is the Greatest. He confined enmity to them because they mix with the Muslims and deceive the Muslims by displaying Islam, while they are enemies of Islam and the Muslims. Their enmity is more severe than the enmity of the pure disbelievers who openly declare their disbelief, because one takes caution regarding the pure disbelievers and knows that they are enemies. Yes.
As for these people, it is not assumed that they are with a caller to the truth; rather, they are thought to be among the Muslims, while in reality they are plotting against Islam and the Muslims from behind, and may Allah protect us from that. Therefore, Allah warned us against them. He said:
They are the enemy, so beware of them. May Allah destroy them
هُمُ الْعَدُوُّ فَاحْذَرْهُمْ قَاتَلَهُمُ اللَّهُ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، نرجو تفسير قوله تعالى ﴿وإذا رأيتهم تعجبك أجسامهم وإن يقولوا تسمع لقولهم كأنّهم خشب مسنّدة ..الآية؟ — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.