Benefits of the Verse: “And when it is said to them, ‘Believe as the people have believed,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the fools have believed?’ Know that it is they who are the fools, but they do not know.”
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Among the benefits of this verse is that these people were commanded to enjoin what is right, and in the verse before it, they were forbidden from forbidding what is wrong. [Al-Baqarah 2:11] This is a prohibition of what is wrong. [Al-Baqarah 2:13] This is a command to enjoin what is right. But they refused—may Allah protect us from that—so they did not cease from what is wrong, nor did they obey the command to enjoin what is right.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the mention of those who responded to the truth, or the mention of those who accepted the truth, to encourage its acceptance. He said:[Al-Baqarah 2:13] This is a known matter, for a person is certainly one who imitates others. So if we want to call a person of high rank, we say: “Believe as so-and-so believed,” or “Do this deed as so-and-so did it,” so that it serves to motivate and encourage him.
Among the benefits of this verse is the revelation of the hatred of the hypocrites toward the believers, because they denied faith, which is the habit of the foolish. They say:[Al-Baqarah 2:13] There is no doubt that the people who have the greatest hatred for Islam and the Muslims are the hypocrites, as the Exalted said: .
Among the benefits of this noble verse is that describing the believers, or labeling the believers with bad names, was a practice of people before, and it continues to this day. For example, describing the believers as “reactionaries” and saying, “These reactionaries have nothing of progress.” This description applies to whom? To those who described them as reactionaries, or to the believers? It applies to those who described them as reactionaries, because in reality, a “reactionary” is one who did not precede in good. As for the one who preceded in good, faith, and righteous deeds, he is the one who is advanced.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the defense of Allah the Exalted for the believers in His saying:[Al-Baqarah 2:13] This defense includes two things: it removes foolishness from the believers, because it confines foolishness to the hypocrites, and secondly, it describes these hypocrites as foolish.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is that the schemer and deceiver, whether in religion or in other matters, is considered a fool, because Allah must surely reveal His matter and expose him. And among the benefits of this noble verse is that some people are in foolishness and misguidance, but knowledge is veiled from them, so they remain thinking that they are on the right path—may Allah grant safety to us and to you.
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth,
إذا قيل لهم لا تفسدوا في الأرضBelieve as the people have believed
آمنوا كما آمن الناسAmong the benefits of this noble verse is the mention of those who responded to the truth, or the mention of those who accepted the truth, to encourage its acceptance. He said:
as the people have believed
كما آمن الناسAmong the benefits of this verse is the revelation of the hatred of the hypocrites toward the believers, because they denied faith, which is the habit of the foolish. They say:
Should we believe as the foolish have believed?
أنؤمن كما آمن السفهاءThey are the enemy
هم العدوAmong the benefits of this noble verse is that describing the believers, or labeling the believers with bad names, was a practice of people before, and it continues to this day. For example, describing the believers as “reactionaries” and saying, “These reactionaries have nothing of progress.” This description applies to whom? To those who described them as reactionaries, or to the believers? It applies to those who described them as reactionaries, because in reality, a “reactionary” is one who did not precede in good. As for the one who preceded in good, faith, and righteous deeds, he is the one who is advanced.
Among the benefits of this noble verse is the defense of Allah the Exalted for the believers in His saying:
Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish
ألا إنهم هم السفهاءAmong the benefits of this noble verse is that the schemer and deceiver, whether in religion or in other matters, is considered a fool, because Allah must surely reveal His matter and expose him. And among the benefits of this noble verse is that some people are in foolishness and misguidance, but knowledge is veiled from them, so they remain thinking that they are on the right path—may Allah grant safety to us and to you.