There are hypocrites, Muslims, and unbelievers, but there is another, intermediate class in the Qur’an; those with sickness in their hearts. These people are potential hypocrites as well as potential Muslims. It is easy for them to make the passage to Islam, but they also have what it takes to be hypocrites. For example, in the incident in which our Prophet’s (saas) wife was slandered, people with sickness in their hearts begin harboring doubts. They are not hypocrites, but they are skeptical. Allah asks whether it is not better to call this an outright lie. But they have doubts, and say, “I love the Prophet (saas), but what if it is true?” In the same way, there were those who raised their voices alongside the Prophet (saas), and that is a sickness of the heart. Talking in a raised voice is a way of secretly affecting people’s opinions. Allah reveals in a verse that when the Prophet (saas) said something they obeyed it without any hesitation. If you hesitate, He says, you cannot be regarded as a true Muslim. Hesitation is also a sickness. There must be no hesitation. There is no hesitation in hypocrisy. They go right ahead and deny. The unbeliever denies right off. Hesitation arises in the heart where there is sickness. He does not deny, but he doubts the truth of the Messenger’s (saas) words. He accepts them. But he does not confirm them in his heart. But he should confirm them, and that is also a sickness.
When the hypocrites and people with sickness in their hearts said, ‘What Allah and His Messenger promised us was mere delusion.’ (Surat al-Ahzab, 12)
The hypocrite both thinks it and also gives voice to it. His aim is to spread his disease and create indiscipline. To destroy respect for and belief in the Prophet (saas) and faith. He uses a language that suggests, “I am better than you. I will stay with the Muslims, but you must recognize your mistakes.” As if, may Allah forbid, the Prophet (saas) had produced a faulty analysis, led us astray. He uses a language that suggests, may Allah forbid, “Don’t do it again. You are only human, even you can make mistakes.”
And a group of them said, “People of Yathrib, Your position is untenable so return!” … (Surat al-Ahzab: 13)
“Your position is untenable, so return!” These are just the kind of words a hypocrite will use. There is a full pronouncement here.
There is no pronouncement when they say: “What Allah and His Messenger promised us was mere delusion,” but there is a pronouncement here. They are saying “Do not listen to the Messenger.” Now it becomes a hypocritic act.
One group of them said, "Our houses are exposed." This is also the language of the hypocrite. The act of flight. Those with sickness in their hearts do not flee, but remain among Muslims in a state of apprehension, unable to decide.
If they had been overrun from every side, and had then been asked to revert to disbelief, they would have done so and hesitated very little about it. (Surat al-Ahzab: 14)
This is also hypocritical behavior, because there is a direct assault on Muslims. When there is an attack, those engaged in it generally have a strategic background plan. Allah refers to this in the words "if they had been overrun from every side." When there is an attack on Muslims it is wrong to divert all one’s concentration to that direction alone, as there will inevitably be a second or third front. There will be the media aspect and the attack itself. They make wide-ranging preparations. Those with sickness in their hearts regard times of difficulty as an opportunity, and they fall upon the Prophet (saas), the imam, the messenger, but when the attack is withdrawn their hearts are pacified.
First there is an attack, and then corruption is desired. But corruption is quite separate. Corruption requires a different type of activity. Corruption is generally produced in order to facilitate dispersion, but the Messenger is essentially targeted here, and it is easy once his unreliability – in their shallow mind – has been emphasized. These activities are carried on by employing the logic that "the messenger's thoughts were wrong, his calculations were wrong, and we only wish to do you good. So return."
They would have hesitated very little: Those with sickness in their hearts are very obdurate, they cannot make decisions and are full of doubt.
Say: “Flight will not benefit you if you try to run away from death or being killed. Then you will only enjoy a short respite.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 16)
Death is what the hypocrite fears most. They fear being killed even more. They say there is a stronger risk of being killed at the Prophet’s (saas) side.
Allah knows the obstructers among you and those who say to their brothers, “Come to us,” and who only come to fight a very little. (Surat al-Ahzab: 18)
Some of them obstruct directly, kidnapping or seizing their kids. “You must not join the Muslims,” they say. And when he does not join the Muslims for some time, they believe that he will renounce Islam. When he does not go to them for a month or 6 months or a year, when they speak and condition him against Muslims, they believe he will renounce Islam. By constantly offering various opportunities and advantages and talking against the other side. This logic was around in the time of our Prophet (saas), and will also be around in the time of Hazrat Mahdi (as).
"Allah knows those who say to their brothers, 'Come to us'." The reason why they say “come to us” to that specific person is obvious; had they regarded that person as devout they wouldn’t have said such a thing, they only say it to people they imagine to have sickness in their hearts. When it comes to devout believers, satan also says: “I have no power over believers." If a hypocrite says such a thing to a person, then that person should respond to it with a very powerful counter-attack. It appears that there is a potential group among Muslims that hypocrites might call on.
"who only come to fight a very little." Sometimes a hypocrite may also display signs of a Muslim, albeit very weakly. For instance, they may go and preach the word, but that is only for a short while, so Allah warns the believers not to be deceived by this.
And are begrudging towards you. Then when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes rolling like people scared to death. But when fear departs they flay you with sharp tongues, grasping for wealth. Such people have no faith and Allah will make their actions come to nothing. That is easy for Allah. (Surat al-Ahzab: 19)
Hypocrites are very selfish and only interested in saving their own skins.
This flawed expression appears in their eyes; there is this lack of meaning or significance. Meaningful expression in eyes is a quality that belongs to believers. Without exception, in unbelievers and hypocrites there is that flawed expression. This is a blessing for believers. You can't make a definitive judgment from that, but it is understood.
When fear departs: When Muslims gain strength the hypocrites realize that there can now be no attack and thus their hypocritical aggression calms down.
But hypocrites are very rampant and glib, using their sharp tongues against the Muslims, and they stock up on goods, possessions, food and clothing. This is also valid for those with sickness in their hearts. They will speak most inappropriately just when you least expect it, then stop, and then do it again. Keeping religious expressions apart, no words ever escape from their mouths to promote and establish peace and calm. Even when they are complimenting there is a corruption in it. There is an incubation period for hypocrites, and they act like this then, but once they have become totally rabid they become like someone with rabies that avoids light and water at first, and then goes and dies floundering. Hypocrites resemble rabid dogs. They criticize our Prophet (saas) and they criticize the Imam, they recognize no obstacles to their criticism. Their aim is not to do any good, but to incite others or upset and disturb them. It is a veiled threat.
"and Allah will make their actions come to nothing": They do things. They are not completely inactive. They pray and give alms and fast, but Allah makes all those come to nothing.
They think that the Confederates have not departed and if the Confederates did appear then they would wish they were out in the desert with the Bedouins, asking for news of you. If they were with you they would only fight a very little. (Surat al-Ahzab: 20)
The word Bedouin refer to people who do not read or write, who are blunt and who are unintelligent, who understand nothing of faith and religion, and who want to live in a bovine manner. Good people may sometimes come from them, but generally they are not. I am emphasizing the Bedouin character, as this is mentioned in the Qur’an, or else the Bedouins who live in the desert are not the ones referred to.
They disperse and collect information about Muslims. One never knows what they are up to. They harm neither Muslims nor unbelievers. They are neutral, but blunt when it comes to matters of faith.
"If they were with you they would only fight a very little." Even if they are among Muslims they will not go preaching the word or spreading Islam. They live their own private lives, on the side. They lack the determination for active struggle alongside Muslims. They retire to a room and live their own lives, or retire to a cave and live their lives there. The whole question is one of being separate from Muslims. The important thing for them is to be distanced from Muslims and not to serve Islam.
Some people imagine if they confound me, they will confound the religion. But when criticized I say thank you and make the necessary changes. I don’t declare myself as an example; I just call them to the Qur’an. So in criticizing me they cannot harm the faith.
When the believers saw the Confederates they said: “This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us. Allah and His Messenger told us the truth.” It only increased them in faith and in submission. (Surat al-Ahzab: 22)
Muslims are not fearful. There is no disease in their hearts. Looking at our age, this is something promised by Allah and the Messenger of Allah (saas) and Hazrat Mahdi (as). When hypocrites, unbelievers and Darwinists attack us, they just make us more fervent and stronger, we become alive, masha’Allah.
O Prophet, tell your wives: “If you desire the life of this world and its finery, come and I will give you all you need and release you with kindness.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 28)
There is no hypocrisy here, but there is sickness. Sickness has come to their hearts. Sickness has formed in the hearts of many of his wives. Our Prophet (saas) says “I will give you whatever you want, money, and property and I will release you with kindness and without conflict.” By that Allah shows us how divorce is; giving the necessary means and letting them go kindly. But this is a terrifying thing for a woman; to make our Prophet (saas) say it.
At the same time, the purpose of marriage is set out; it is for the Hereafter, for Allah’s approval. That means one must seek pure devoutness (taqwa). Allah manifests Himself most in whoever is seen to enjoy most of His approval, to have the greatest moral virtue, affection, depth, love and cleanliness. This is the greatest blessing in the world. What did our holy mothers in the time of our Prophet (saas) do? They looked at our Prophet’s (saas) jet black hair, his robe from Byzantium, his broad shoulders, his pinkish, childlike complexion and his power, masha’Allah. And they naturally fell in love.
There were some weird people at that time; they made unbelievable suggestions about our Prophet’s (saas) wives. May Allah forbid! There were thoughts of marrying his wives after our Prophet’s (saas) death. Allah says that because He knows their hearts. That is why He separated them with a curtain. Allah says; “they are made unlawful for you for all eternity.” Allah prevents this corruption, but the fact that such a thing even crossed their minds shows how difficult and frightening conditions at the time were.
Some of our Prophet’s (saas) wives thought that marriage would bring them a different status. Allah warns the Prophet’s (saas) wives in great detail in Surat at-Tahrim. However marriage makes no difference, he is the Imam. They are to become even more obedient and respectful. But some of them behave in a manner stemming from feminine tradition. However there is an attack by hypocrites, a difficult and distressing environment, and believers must cling tightly and support the Prophet (saas) in such a climate.
Allah creates more than one weakness in this world. There is a specific industry just for the weakness people experience through their armpits. A person has many problems if he does not clean his teeth. The whole body is full of weaknesses; one has to clean one’s ears with cotton wool, then one’s feet and hair. But there is none of these in Paradise. But in this world, just one of these weaknesses is enough to put someone off. Allah makes people want to be clean, so they desire to get rid of dirt as soon as possible. They are naturally clean and pure in Paradise. In the same way a rose smells nice, so do people there. One does not have to brush one’s teeth quadrillions of years, but they are always clean.
But those of you who are obedient to Allah and His Messenger and act rightly will be given their reward twice over; and We have prepared generous provision for them. (Surat al-Ahzab: 31)
Allah is not only referring to any kind of obedience but to true, sincere, willing, passionate and loving obedience.
Some of our brothers ask if sincerity alone is enough for salvation. What does a sincere person do? The Prophet Jesus (as) came having lost his memory. He looks around, and asks what this is. This is the Torah, they say, and this is the Gospel and the Qur’an. When he reads the Qur'an, he says that is correct, the Qur'an is the true one. And that is all. There comes a lifetime of absolute faith. He looks and sees the image and the light. He knows where they are. He hears a high-quality sound; he touches things, and comes to absolute and certain faith. His faith is never rocked again. A rational person decides once, makes a firm decision, perceives faith and never goes back on it. When a person is sincere he finds the Qur’an and obeys it completely, binding himself to Allah with love, and loving the Messenger of Allah (saas).
Wives of the Prophet! You are not like other women provided you have taqwa. Do not be too soft-spoken in your speech lest someone with sickness in his heart becomes desirous. Speak correct and courteous words. (Surat al-Ahzab: 32)
The wives of the Prophet (saas) should have thought of these things before this verse was revealed by Allah. This also is a sickness. It can vary in intensity; however it is a sickness underlying hypocrisy. A believer must have known this anyway. A person knows what it means to be the wife of a Prophet, how could anyone not know? Allah says there is a sick person there. One can tell how widespread this sickness is. That person is also weak and close to hypocrisy. Allah says the wives of the Prophet (saas) have a special status and are not like any other people.
Or did those with sickness in their hearts imagine that Allah would not expose their malevolence? (Surah Muhammad: 29)
There is elusiveness in those with sickness in their hearts, but in unbelievers things are clear. People with sickness in their hearts are prone to hatred, anger, gossip and conflict. Anger is like a passion in them. Their features are dark and they are sharp-tongued. They speak, trying to make Muslims uneasy, showing that they dislike them, intending to belittle them and to show that they are superior to them.
We will test you until We know the true fighters among you and those who are steadfast and test what is reported of you. (Surah Muhammad: 31)
This is the key verse. It is Allah’s system that brings out the difference between the devout and the hypocrite, the believer and someone with sickness in his heart. Muslims feel a great strength for spreading the religion of Allah day and night, with great love and passion. They are naturally repelled by hypocrites and loathe unbelievers. But not the individual in person, they loathe their ideas and deeds. They loathe their intellectual system, what they do. There is also patience in the intellectual struggle. I have had the same passion ever since 1979, for instance. Most of those who set out with me have gone astray. There were all kind of associations and groups, but they are now in entirely different worlds, but I am pressing on with an ever growing enthusiasm, insha’Allah.
Religion grows stupendously where there is no pressure. Then there will always be enlightenment afterward. Religion cannot grow when there is pressure, and if it does, it grows weak. Backwardness also grows where there is pressure. What upsets them the most is science, progress and enlightenment. What happens when science meets backwardness? Backwardness comes to an end. After that, there is nowhere for the hypocrite or unbeliever to hide, insha’Allah. Just as in the time of our Prophet (saas), there will be love, love of children, beauty, joy, and enlightenment.
"... HAZRAT MAHDI (AS) WILL APPEAR with the banner of the Messenger of Allah (saas), when people are widely afflicted AND WHEN ALL HOPE OF HIS COMING HAS BEEN LOST… (al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman, p. 55)
Allah afflicts the one for whom He desires good. (Imam Malik’s Muwatta, Book 50, 50.3.7)
If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials. (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 70, 548)
What are scourges and afflictions if a person is good and reasonable? Our Prophet (saas) says there will be prison, defamation, oppression, slander, attacks from hypocrites and unbelievers, assassinations, and everything.
* A MAN [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)] FROM AMONG THE BELIEVERS WILL OPPOSE THE ANTICHRIST. MANY PEOPLE CARRYING ARMS, PEOPLE BEARING ARMS IN THE CENTERS OF SURVEILLANCE OF THE ANTICHRIST, WILL MOVE AGAINST THAT BELIEVER. (Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, Mehdilik ve Imamiye [The System of the Mahdi and Imamate], p. 37; Sahih Muslim, 11/393)
Hazrat Mahdi (as) stands against the antichrist. Against Darwinism and materialism, in other words. People of that time carrying arms will move against Hazrat Mahdi (as). People bearing arms in the centers of surveillance: This means that Hazrat Mahdi (as) will be placed under surveillance and followed. This means the antichrist will have bases from place to place. Like the Alleged Ergenekon Organization. They are also armed. They have bases in various places, and he says they are striving against Hazrat Mahdi (as).
When that Muslim personage [Hazrat Mahdi (as)] sees the antichrist, he says: “People! This is the antichrist of whom the Prophet (saas) mentioned.” Antichrist gives his order about him right away and that person is laid upon his stomach and from his back it is said: “Take him and beat him.” Then that person’s back and stomach is broadened by beating. Then the antichrist will seize him by his two hands and feet and cast him away. People imagine that the antichrist will throw him into a fire. But he will actually have been cast into paradise. (Ibrahim Suleymanoglu, Mehdilik ve Imamiye [The System of the Mahdi and Imamate], p. 40; Sahih Muslim)
"O People! This is the antichrist spoken of by the Messenger of Allah (saas)” he will say. And the antichrist will appear, but people will not understand the antichrist.
that person’s back and stomach is broadened by beating.:. He says the antichrist will go on the offensive against Hazrat Mahdi (as). This is not literal beating. Because that would kill a person.
His fame will increase. They will attack Hazrat Mahdi (as) on the television and in the press.
The more they attack Hazrat Mahdi (as) the more his fame in the public eye and his strength will grow. Because a person whose back and stomach are broadened by beating would die. That means that the more he is attacked the more his fame and name will spread. This is an allegorical [mutashabih] hadith, interpreted in this way.
People imagine that the antichrist will throw him into a fire. But he will actually have been cast into paradise: This means they will send Hazrat Mahdi (as) into a garden with vines. They will imprison him. The second meaning is this; since Hazrat Mahdi (as) experiences paradise in his soul, that place will also become paradise for him. Prison will be like paradise for him. That is what it means.
36/17- We are only responsible for clear transmission.
To preach and transmit only what we are responsible for. People are free to act as they wish.
Abjad calculation gives the date 2010. The Qur’an therefore indicates that the preaching will be very powerful in 2010.
Bediuzzaman also referred to 2010 in 1910:
IF YOU DON’T PREPARE HIS WAY STAYING IDLE, IF YOU ARE IDLE, THEN YOU WILL FULLY SEE HIS FACE ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER. BECAUSE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND ISTANBUL IS ONE MONTH...
The Master says you will see his countenance in 2010.
The easy thing for those with sickness in their heart is that they can renounce hypocrisy, and this appears in the Qur’an. But those with sickness in their hearts are in any case believers. Believers pray to Allah to lift the sickness from their hearts. Believers pray by saying, “O Lord, take the sickness from my heart.” Therefore, one can encounter Muslims with sickness in their hearts, but this can easily be cured. So one can escape it when one prays and clings to natural causes.
It is also Allah Who creates the madness of idolaters and hypocrites. Believers struggle by discharging their religious obligations. But the hypocrite is a creature who has already been defeated in destiny. A piece of paper, for instance, turns to ashes when it is burned. It is destined to turn into ashes, we know it will turn into ashes. The hypocrite is like a piece of burned paper. In other words, he will inevitably turn into ashes and dust. But the Muslim has a responsibility to prepare an appropriate environment for that burning. But Allah will still burn him whether we do anything or not. Disbelief is created to be defeated. That is the law of Allah.
The sickness is lifted from those with it in their hearts when they cling tightly to the Qur’an. The Qur’an is the cure. There is therefore a group of people who have sickness in their hearts, but there is no rule they should always have that sickness. What does it mean for a person to be sick? It means he is capable of being cured. It means being open to a cure. He just has to take his medicine and cure himself. That is why there is no reason for someone who feels he has sickness in his heart to be uneasy. It is enough to cling tightly to the Qur’an and heed their consciences. That will immediately impart the cure and they will be freed from their sickness. And it will not take long. There are some people who do not cure themselves, who catch a cold or the flu, but who then sit in the cold, stop eating and generally encourage sickness, so they are never free of it. It is the same with those with sickness in their hearts. Instead of getting on with treatment, they spend time in environments that will just encourage sickness, and so the sickness persists. But if they were to take their medicine and the proper precautions, they would get better at once.
33/56- Allah and His angels call down blessings on the Prophet. You who believe! call down blessings on him and ask for complete peace and safety for him.
In other words, they watch over and protect him, they support him and show him kindness and love. Believers must pray for him with complete submission, with genuine love, harboring no doubts in their hearts, in full trust. Because he is a very intelligent and valuable person. In other words, it would be very odd for someone to try to give advice to influence the Prophet (saas) mind on the basis of his own low intelligence. The reason is because he acts through revelation. But you act according to what you see fit. Allah tells us to “follow the Prophet.” So how can you feel any doubt? How can you say “I wonder…” in the context of those words? Abjad calculation of this verse gives 1986. The time of Hazrat Mahdi (as). The Qur’an indicates that something will happen in 1986 and tells us to help and support him. This means these are the difficult years of the system of the Mahdi.
33/60- If the hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts and the rumor-mongers in Madina do not desist, We will set you onto them. Then they will only be your neighbours there a very short time.
Allah makes a vow. Those with sickness in their hearts bear a close resemblance to hypocrites. But Allah specially refers to the hypocrites. Because the situation of the hypocrite is utterly vile. They are the people in the lowest level of hell. But people with sickness can be cured.
The rumor-mongers in Madina (city): If the hypocrites who engage in provocation in the cities, who spread false reports or fitnah, who try to give rise to doubts and suspicions regarding Muslims and who try to encourage suspicions about Islam persist in this behavior, then Muslims will attack them using knowledge, information and ideas. They will not stop. You have to go on the counter-offensive when they attack. That is a religious obligation.
33/62- This is Allah’s pattern with those who passed away before. You will not find any alteration in Allah’s pattern.
In other words, this always happens. It is the hypocrite’s character.
You will not find any alteration in Allah’s pattern: it is always the same. Hazrat Mahdi (as) resembles our Prophet (saas), and our Prophet (saas) resembles the Prophet Moses (as), and he resembles the Prophet Abraham (as). Events and their activities are similar. Almost all the prophets have been asked to show an angel above their heads. You must produce an angel, they are told, so we can see it, and then we will believe you are a prophet.