Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 24:47–50
Light (Al-Nur)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(47) They say, ‘We believe in God and in the Messenger, and we obey.’ But then, even after that a group of them will turn away. Those are surely not believers (48) and when they are called to God and His Messenger so that he may judge between them, some of them turn away. (49) But if the truth happens to be to their liking, they are quite willing to accept it! (50) Is there a sickness in their hearts, or are they full of doubt? Or do they fear that God and His Messenger will be unjust to them? The truth is that they themselves are wrongdoers.
Commentary
(a) While the Prophet was in Madinah, there was a group which had apparently accepted Islam, but which was not really sincere about religion. This group was called the hypocrites (munafiqun). These people mouthed their obedience to God and His Prophet, but in practice, at the time of need, their actions would belie their pretensions.
At that time, due to prevailing circumstances, a regular Islamic Court had not yet been established. The Jewish chiefs had been deciding cases as a matter of convention for centuries. But now the Prophet Muhammad had migrated to Madinah and established himself there. It was typical of the half-hearted hypocritical Muslims to agree to have their disputes (with other Muslims) settled by the Prophet Muhammad, provided they were sure that it would be decided in their favour. But when it seemed that the outcome might be unfavourable to them, these hypocrites (munafiqun) preferred going to a Jewish chief to have the matter decided.
To all appearances this was an act of great cleverness, but in actuality they were just wronging themselves. Such apparent winners shall have lost their case even before reaching the court of God.