Tabari (1 passage)

1. Full Dutch translation of Tabari's text

   The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: O you who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you who divert you from the path of Allah and discourage you with regard to obedience to Allah. So beware of them, lest you accept from them what they command you to do in abandoning obedience to Allah.

   It has been reported that this verse was revealed concerning a people who wished to accept Islam and to make the hijra (emigration), but whose spouses and children prevented them from that.

   * Mention of who said that:

   Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: Yaḥyā ibn Ādam and ʿUbayd Allah ibn Mūsā related to us, on the authority of Isrāʾīl, on the authority of Simāk, on the authority of ʿIkrima, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: A man asked him about this verse O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them. He said: These were men who had accepted Islam and who wished to come to the Messenger of Allah (ṣ), but their spouses and children refused to allow them to go to the Messenger of Allah (ṣ). Then, when they came to the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) and saw that the people had acquired knowledge in the religion, they intended to punish them, whereupon Allah, exalted is His praise, revealed: Indeed, among your spouses and your children ... the verse.

   Hannād ibn al-Sarī related to us, saying: Abū al-Aḥwaṣ related to us, on the authority of Simāk, on the authority of ʿIkrima, concerning His word: O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them. He said: The man wished to come to the Prophet (ṣ), and then his family members would say to him: Where are you going, leaving us behind? He said: And when he accepted Islam and acquired knowledge in the religion, he said: I will surely return to those who held me back from this matter and I will do such and such to them. Whereupon Allah, exalted is His praise, revealed: And if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

   Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them. When the man wished to emigrate from Mecca to Medina, his wife and child would hold him back, and they would spare no effort to discourage him from it. Then Allah said: Indeed, they are an enemy to you, so beware of them, and listen and obey and proceed with your affair. Thereafter it was the case that when the man was held back and discouraged, he would go to his family and swear an oath — and the oath is a qasam — that he would surely act and punish his family for it. Then Allah, exalted is His praise, said: And if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

   Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Salama related to us, saying: Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq related to me, on the authority of one of his companions, on the authority of ʿAṭāʾ ibn Yasār, who said: The whole of Sūrat al-Taghābun was revealed in Mecca, except these verses: O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them, which were revealed concerning ʿAwf ibn Mālik al-Ashjaʿī. He had a family and children, and when he wished to set out to fight, they would weep before him and soften his heart, and they would say: To whom are you leaving us? Then he would relent and remain at home. Then there was revealed: O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them, the whole verse, in Medina, concerning ʿAwf ibn Mālik. And the rest of the verses to the end of the sūra were revealed in Medina.

   Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both — on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word: Indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them. He said: The two of them lead him to sever his ties of kinship and to disobey his Lord, so that, because of his love for them, he cannot but sever those [ties].

   Al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both — on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, the same, except that he said: so that, because of his love for him, he cannot but obey him.

   Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, they said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word: O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them ... the verse. He said: Among them is one who does not urge toward obedience to Allah and does not restrain from disobedience to Him; and they held [the people] back with regard to the hijra to the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) and with regard to the jihād.

   Ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to us, saying: Ibn Thawr related to us, on the authority of Maʿmar, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His word: Indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them. He said: They hold back from Islam and delay [the people] from it, and they belong to the disbelievers (kuffār), so beware of them.

   It was related to me on the authority of al-Ḥusayn, he said: I heard Abū Muʿādh say: ʿUbayd related to us, saying: I heard al-Ḍaḥḥāk say concerning His word: O you who believe, indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you ... the verse. He said: This concerned people from the tribes of the Arabs. The man or a small group of the clan would accept Islam, and they would leave their tribesmen and abandon their spouses, children, and fathers, setting out purposefully toward the Prophet (ṣ). Then their tribesmen, spouses, children, and fathers would rise up and adjure them by Allah not to leave them and not to prefer any other over them. Among them was one who would relent and return to them, and among them was one who would continue until he joined the Prophet of Allah (ṣ).

   Abū Kurayb related to us, saying: ʿUthmān ibn Nājiya and Zayd ibn Ḥubāb related to us, they said: Yaḥyā ibn Wāḍiḥ related to us — both — on the authority of al-Ḥusayn ibn Wāqid, he said: ʿAbd Allah ibn Burayda related to me, on the authority of his father, who said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ṣ) delivering a sermon, when al-Ḥasan and al-Ḥusayn (may Allah be pleased with them both) came, dressed in two red shirts, stumbling and getting up again. The Messenger of Allah (ṣ) descended, took them up, lifted them, and set them on his lap, and then said: 'Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth: Indeed, your wealth and your children are a trial. I saw these two and could not restrain myself.' Then he resumed his sermon." The wording is that of Abū Kurayb, on the authority of Zayd.

   Yūnus related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Ibn Zayd said, concerning His word: Indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you. He said: It means: an enemy to you in your religion, so beware of them with regard to your religion.

   Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr ibn ʿAlī al-Muqaddamī related to me, saying: Ashʿath ibn ʿAbd Allah related to us, saying: Shuʿba related to us, on the authority of Ismāʿīl ibn Abī Khālid, concerning His word: Indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you, so beware of them. He said: The man would accept Islam, and then his family and his sons would reproach him for it, whereupon there was revealed: Indeed, among your spouses and your children there is an enemy to you.

   And His word: And if you pardon and overlook means: if you, O believers, pardon what they did in the past in diverting you from Islam and the hijra, and if you refrain from punishing them for it, and if you forgive them the other sins, then indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful toward you — for whoever among His servants repents — for your sins; Merciful toward you, in that He does not punish you for it after you have repented of it.

   Show original Arabic

   يقول تعالى ذكره: يا أيها الذين صدّقوا الله ورسوله ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ ) يصدونكم عن سبيل الله، ويثبطونكم عن طاعة الله ( فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) أن تقبلوا منهم ما يأمرونكم به من ترك طاعة الله. وذُكر أن هذه الآية نـزلت في قوم كانوا أرادوا الإسلام والهجرة، فثبَّطهم عن ذلك أزواجهم وأولادهم. * ذكر من قال ذلك: حدثنا أَبو كُرَيْب، قال: ثنا يحيى بن آدم وعبيد الله بن موسى، عن إسرائيل، عن سِماك ، عن عكرمة، عن ابن عباس، قال: سأله رجل عن هذه الآية ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) قال: هؤلاء رجال أسلموا، فأرادوا أن يأتوا رسول الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم؛ فأبى أزواجهم وأولادهم أن يدعوهم يأتوا رسول الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم؛ فلما أتَوا رسول الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم فرأوا الناس قد فقهوا في الدين، هموا أن يعاقبوهم، فأنـزل الله جلّ ثناؤه ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ ) .. الآية. حدثنا هناد بن السريّ، قال: ثنا أبو الأحوص، عن سِماك، عن عكرمة، في قوله: ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) قال: كان الرجل يريد أن يأتي النبيّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم فيقول له أهله: أين تذهب وتدعنا ؟ قال: وإذا أسلم وفَقِه، قال: لأرجعنّ إلى الذين كانوا ينهون عن هذا الأمر فلأفعلنّ ولأفعلنّ ، فأنـزل الله جلّ ثناؤه: ( وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ) . حدثني محمد بن سعد، قال: ثني أبي، قال: ثني عمي، قال: ثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن ابن عباس، قوله: ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) كان الرجل إذا أراد أن يهاجر من مكة إلى المدينة تمنعه زوجته وولده، ولم يألُوا يثبطوه عن ذلك، فقال الله: إنهم عدوّ لكم فاحذروهم واسمعوا وأطيعوا، وامضُوا لشأنكم، فكان الرجل بعد ذلك إذا مُنع وثبط مرّ بأهله وأقسم، والقسم يمين ليفعلنّ وليعاقبنّ أهله في ذلك، فقال الله جلّ ثناؤه ( وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ) . حدثنا ابن حميد، قال: ثنا سلمة، قال: ثني محمد بن إسحاق، عن بعض أصحابه، عن عطاء بن يسار قال: نـزلت سورة التغابن كلها بمكة، إلا هؤلاء الآيات ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) نـزلت في عوف بن مالك الأشجعيّ، كان ذا أهل وولد، فكان إذا أراد الغزو بكوا إليه ورقَّقوه، فقالوا: إلى من تَدعنا ؟ فيرقّ ويقيم، فنـزلت: ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) الآية كلها بالمدينة في عوف بن مالك وبقية الآيات إلى آخر السورة بالمدينة. حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أَبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى ؛ وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعًا، عن ابن أَبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، في قوله: ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) قال: إنهما يحملانه على قطيعة رحمه، وعلى معصية ربه، فلا يستطيع مع حبه إلا أن يقطعه. حدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء، جميعًا، عن ابن أَبي نجيح، عن مجاهد مثله، إلا أنه قال: فلا يستطيع مع حبه إلا أن يطيعه. حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قالا ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ، قوله: ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) .. الآية، قال: منهم من لا يأمر بطاعة الله، ولا ينهى عن معصيته، وكانوا يبطِّئون عن الهجرة إلى رسول الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم وعن الجهاد. حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى، قال ثنا ابن ثور، عن معمر ، عن قتادة، في قوله: ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) قال: ينهون عن الإسلام، ويُبَطِّئُون عنه، وهم من الكفار فاحذروهم. حُدثت عن الحسين، قال: سمعت أبا معاذ يقول: ثنا عبيد، قال: سمعت الضحاك يقول في قوله: ( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ ) .. الآية، قال: هذا في أناس من قبائل العرب كان يسلم الرجل أو النفر من الحيّ، فيخرجون من عشائرهم ويدعون أزواجهم وأولادهم وآباءهم عامدين إلى النبيّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم فتقوم عشائرهم وأزواجهم وأولادهم وآباؤهم، فيناشدونهم الله أن لا يفارقوهم، ولا يؤثروا عليهم غيرهم، فمنهم من يَرقّ ويرجع إليهم، ومنهم من يمضي حتى يلحق بنبيّ الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم. حدثنا أَبو كريب، قال: ثنا عثمان بن ناجية وزيد بن حباب، قالا ثنا يحيى بن واضح، جميعًا، عن الحسين بن واقد، قال: ثني عبد الله بن بريدة، عن أبيه، قال: " رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخطب، فجاء الحسن والحسين رضي الله عنهما عليهما قميصان أحمران يعثران ويقومان، فنـزل رسول الله صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم فأخذهما فرفعهما فوضعهما في حِجْرِهِ ثم قال: " صَدَقَ الله ورَسُولُهُ: إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ رأَيْتُ هَذْينِ فَلَمْ أَصْبِرْ، ثم أخذ في خطبته " اللفظ لأبي كريب عن زيد. حدثني يونس، قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب، قال، قال ابن زيد، في قوله: ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ ) قال: يقول: عدوّا لكم في دينكم، فاحذروهم على دينكم. حدثني محمد بن عمرو بن علىّ المقدميّ، قال ثنا أشعث بن عبد الله قال: ثنا شعبة، عن إسماعيل بن أبي خالد، في قوله: ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ) قال: كان الرجل يسلم ، فيلومه أهله وبنوه، فنـزلت: ( إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَكُمْ ) . وقوله: ( وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا ) يقول: إن تعفوا أيها المؤمنون عما سلف منهم من صدّهم إياكم عن الإسلام والهجرة وتصفحوا لهم عن عقوبتكم إياهم على ذلك، وتغفروا لهم غير ذلك من الذنوب ( فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ ) لكم لمن تاب من عباده، من ذنوبكم ( رَحِيمٌ ) بكم أن يعاقبكم عليها من بعد توبتكم منها.