11 When it is said to them: “Make not mischief on the earth,” they say: “Why, we only Want to make peace!”
Or:
- And when it is said unto them: Make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only.
The earth was cleared of mischief in the form of idolatry, infanticide, debauchery, murder and whatnot. Please do not make people return to these mischiefs since they are now Muslims and have forsaken these evils. Or, don’t prevent people from accepting this truth through your hypocrisy, the derision with which you treat this message, and by passing on classified intel about the Muslims to their enemies. This is making mischief in the earth. Stop it!
They say: “Why, we only want to make peace!”
As if peacemaking is peculiar to them only. Their preoccupation, according to their claim, is peacemaking.
Peacemaking is the opposite of mischief. So, Allah retorted them and said:
12 Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realise (it) not.
Another translation of al-Baqarah, verse 12 is:
- Are not they indeed the mischief-makers? But they perceive not.
But they perceive not that they are mischief makers? Like the ones concerning whom Allah said:
- Those whose effort goeth astray in the life of the world, and yet they reckon that they do good work. (al-Kahf)
Or is it as we see in another verse:
- Is he the evil of whose deeds is made fair-seeming unto him so that he deemeth it good (other than Satan’s dupe)? Allah verily sendeth whom He will astray, and guideth whom He will, so let not thy soul expire in sighings for them. Lo! Allah is Aware of what they do! (al-Faatir)
Another translation of the same verse in al-Faatir is:
8 Is he, then, to whom the evil of his conduct is made alluring so that he looks upon it as good (equal to one who is rightly guided)? For Allah leaves to stray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. So let not thy soul go out in (vainly) sighing after them: for Allah knows well all that they do!
Or they perceive not that their situation is plain and that the consequences of their evil deeds will be visited upon them?
13 When it is said to them: “Believe as the others believe:” They say: “Shall we believe as the fools believe?” Nay, of a surety, they are the fools, but they do not know.
Another interpretation of verse 13 in al-Baqarah is:
- And when it is said unto them: Believe as the people believe, they say: Shall we believe as the foolish believe? Are not they indeed the foolish? But they know not.
‘People’ in the verse are the companions of the Messenger, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, the early believers. Believe as these have believed. They will answer in private, not to the hearing of the Muslims; otherwise, they would have blown their cover. They answer in disdain: ‘Shall we as the foolish believe?’
Lacking a good sense of judgement, unwise is the definition of foolish. The hypocrites thought Suhail, Bilal, and whoever believed in Muhammad as foolish. Allah threw back the same description on themselves and said: ‘Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not know.’
14 When they meet those who believe, they say: “We believe;” but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say: “We are really with you: We (were) only jesting.”
Another translation:
- And when they fall in with those who believe, they say: We believe; but when they go apart to their devils they declare: Lo! we are with you; verily we did but mock.
To the believers, they say: we believe. When they are alone with the leaders of Kufr and Yahud they are asked why are you claiming Islam and being with the Muslims? They say: Don’t worry about that, “We are really with you: We (were) only jesting.”
15 Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (To and fro).
How will Allah throw back their mockery on them?
We have said that according to some scholars, the punishment took the form of the sin.
Another opinion is that this hypocrite, in this life of the world, who harms Islam and the Muslims by faking his faith and being with the Muslims, stabbing them in the back, mocking them and at the same time enjoying privileges that are for believers, Allah will not cease him immediately. He will give him a rope to do as he pleases. Then, suddenly, he dies and meets the painful chastisement waiting for him. So, Allah has thrown back the mockery on him.
They also said that the mockery with these hypocrites will be in the Hereafter when they will be in Hell, and a door will be opened through which they see al-Jannah. They will desire to be there, but it will be closed upon their faces whenever they approach the door.
- On couches, gazing, (Mutaffifeen)
- Are not the disbelievers paid for what they used to do? (Mutaffifeen)
This is the extreme mockery! They will see the believers reclining on couches of gold and silver with everything provided at a time when they long to have even water, but they cannot get it. Whenever they try reaching the door, it is banged on their faces.
“…and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (To and fro).”
There is a difference in the use of Madd and Imdaad in the Qur’an—both mean increase, more. Madda hu, and Amadda hu: he gives him more, he strengthens him; he gives him what will increase him. But Madd is used chiefly in evil, while Imdaad is mainly used in what is good.
Examples of Imdaad:
- Then we gave you once again your turn against them, and We aided you with wealth and children and made you more in soldiery, (al-Israa)
- And We provide them with fruit and meat such as they desire. (at-Tuur)
The example of Madd:
- Nay, but We shall record that which he saith and prolong for him a span of torment. (Maryam)
Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (To and fro).
They keep moving from faith to infidelity; they are Muslims here and non-Muslims there; He gives them a long rope until the day they meet Him, and there will not be a way of escape for them.
16 These are they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction,
Or:
- These are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, so their commerce doth not prosper, neither are they guided.
The entire business of buying error at the price of guidance was a total failure.
