What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And if you were to ask them, they would surely say, 'We were only joking and playing.' Say, 'Do you make fun of Allah and His verses and His Messenger? Do not excuse yourselves; you have become disbelievers after your faith. If We pardon a group of you, We will punish a group because they were criminals.'"
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The questioner : What is the meaning of this verse: [At-Tawbah 9:65-66].
And upon whom was it revealed?
The Shaykh : This verse, or these verses, was revealed concerning a group of hypocrites who used to talk among themselves in the manner of a traveling caravan to shorten the journey and forget its hardship.
So they used to say—and may Allah protect us from that—“We have not seen anyone like our reciters”—meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions—“who are more greedy in their bellies, more lying in their tongues, and more cowardly in battle”—meaning the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
And the hypocrites lied in that, for they, the hypocrites, were the most greedy of people in their bellies, meaning the widest in their bellies, the most fond of eating, the most lying in their tongues, and the most cowardly in battle. Indeed, after they went out to fight at Uhud, they returned, which indicates their cowardice and weakness, because they had no faith or creed, and may Allah protect us from that.
So these people were talking this talk, and Allah the Exalted revealed these two verses concerning them. They came to the Messenger (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him), and he asked them, and they said: “O Messenger of Allah, we were only joking and playing, talking in the manner of a caravan to shorten the journey for us.”
So Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tawbah 9:65-66]
And in this is evidence that making fun of Allah, His verses, and His Messenger is disbelief that expels one from the religion, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:66].
(65) And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" (66) Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief. If We pardon one faction of you - We will punish another faction because they were criminals.
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ قُلْ أَبِاللَّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِئُونَ لاتعتذروا قد كفرتم بعد إيمانكم * إن نعف عن طائفة منكم نعذب طائفة بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا مُجْرِمِينَAnd upon whom was it revealed?
The Shaykh : This verse, or these verses, was revealed concerning a group of hypocrites who used to talk among themselves in the manner of a traveling caravan to shorten the journey and forget its hardship.
So they used to say—and may Allah protect us from that—“We have not seen anyone like our reciters”—meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions—“who are more greedy in their bellies, more lying in their tongues, and more cowardly in battle”—meaning the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
And the hypocrites lied in that, for they, the hypocrites, were the most greedy of people in their bellies, meaning the widest in their bellies, the most fond of eating, the most lying in their tongues, and the most cowardly in battle. Indeed, after they went out to fight at Uhud, they returned, which indicates their cowardice and weakness, because they had no faith or creed, and may Allah protect us from that.
So these people were talking this talk, and Allah the Exalted revealed these two verses concerning them. They came to the Messenger (may the prayer and peace of Allah be upon him), and he asked them, and they said: “O Messenger of Allah, we were only joking and playing, talking in the manner of a caravan to shorten the journey for us.”
So Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "Is it Allah and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?" (66) Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief.
قُلْ أَبِاللّهِ وَآيَاتِهِ وَرَسُولِهِ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِؤُونَ * لاَ تَعْتَذِرُواْ قَدْ كَفَرْتُم بَعْدَ إِيمَانِكُمْAnd in this is evidence that making fun of Allah, His verses, and His Messenger is disbelief that expels one from the religion, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: