The Enemy Alliance

During the time of the Prophet (ﷺ), people didn't have toilets in their homes.

If someone wanted to use the washroom, they had to go to an area outside the buildings and relieve themselves.

Some evil youths would wait in the dark streets of Madinah at night to harass women going to the washroom.

If a woman was covered up, they would leave her alone.

But if a woman wasn't covered, they would annoy her.

So, Allah revealed verse 59 (as well as 24:30-31) instructing the believers to dress modestly, guard their dignity, and treat each other with respect.

It should be clear that the verse doesn't blame the women but protects them.

In Islam, there are strict punishments for those who harass women.

Someone may ask, 'Why do Muslim women wear the `hijab`?

' Let's think about the following points.

In Islam, both men and women are required to be modest in the way they dress, speak, and behave.

The `hijab` has also been practiced by women of other faiths, including Maryam (A.

S.

), the mother of 'Isa (A.

S.

), and Catholic nuns.

The `hijab` is worn by adult Muslim women only in public and in the presence of adult males outside of their immediate family.

Whatever we do as Muslims is to please Allah, hoping to get His reward.

We shouldn't let our friends or the fashion industry tell us how to dress and who is beautiful and who is not.

We shouldn't judge our Muslim sisters without `hijab`.

They are good Muslims like you, but they may need more time to grow in faith.

The word `munafiq` ('hypocrite' in Arabic) comes from the root `na-fa-qo`, which literally means 'for a desert rat to dig a tunnel with two holes,' one for entrance

and the other as a hidden exit.

A hypocrite is a person with two faces who pretends to be your friend but speaks and plots against you behind your back.

When the Muslim community became strong in Madinah, their enemies didn't dare abuse or mock them openly.

They pretended to be part of the Muslim community but worked against Islam and Muslims in secret.

This is why many Madani surahs (like this one) talk about hypocrites, their attitude, and their punishment on Judgment Day.

Verses 60-61 give a strong warning to the hypocrites who spread rumors about Islam and Muslims to disturb the community.

It's worth noting that the Prophet (ﷺ) never killed any hypocrite as long as they did not join the enemy to attack and kill Muslims.

Musa (A.

S.

) was a great prophet who faced many challenges.

His stories in the Quran provided comfort to the Prophet (ﷺ), because his Makkan enemies were not as brutal as Pharaoh and his people.

The followers of Musa (A.

S.

) challenged and questioned him more than the Prophet's (ﷺ) companions ever did.

For example, they asked Musa (A.

S.

) to make Allah visible to them, to make an idol for them to worship, and they worshipped the golden calf in his absence.

They also made things difficult for him every time he asked them to do something, as shown in the stories of the cow and the food.

According to verse 69, some of them even made false accusations against him.

It is reported that he was falsely accused of killing his own brother Harun (A.

S.

) or having a skin disease.

But Allah cleared him of these lies and honored him in this life and the Next.

One time, the Prophet (ﷺ) was distributing war gains and he favored some important people to strengthen their faith.

Someone protested, 'This distribution is not fair and it's not done to please Allah!

' Hurt, the Prophet (ﷺ) replied, 'If Allah and His Prophet are not fair, then who is?

May Allah shower His mercy on my brother Musa—he was harmed much more than this, but he was always patient.

'

According to the Quran, when Allah created the heavens and the earth, He asked them if they wanted to have free choice.

They chose to always submit to Him, so everything in creation—the planets, sun, moon, stars, animals, and plants—obeys the laws of Allah.

However, humans chose to carry the trust of **free choice**.

This is why some humans choose to obey Allah, while others don't.

Some are grateful to Him, while others are not.

Some do their best to please Allah, while others think they are smart and strong enough to challenge Him.

In the end, Allah will judge our actions and choices.

As far as the trust of **free choice** is concerned, people are divided into three groups: The **believers** are those who carry the trust by having faith in

Allah and obeying Him.

The **disbelievers** are those who betray the trust by denying Allah.

The **hypocrites** are those who cheat by pretending to have faith in public but denying Him in private.

Allah says: 'Do you not see that to Allah submits everything in the heavens and everything on the earth, and the sun, moon, stars, mountains, trees, and all

living creatures, as well as many humans, but many deserve to be punished.

And whoever Allah puts to shame, no one can honor.

Surely Allah does what He wants.

' (22:18)