204- AND OF PEOPLE THOSE WHOM YOU LIKE WHAT THEY SAY, AND CALL UPON ALLAH TO BEAR WITNESS OVER WHAT IS IN THEIR HEARTS WHILE THEY ARE THE WORST ENEMIES.

205- WHEN HE TURNS THEIR BACKS TO YOU, HE GOES THROUGH THE EARTH SPREADING MISCHIEF, DESTROYING CROPS AND LIFE, AND ALLAH DOES NOT LIKE MISCHIEF.

206- AND WHAT IT IS SAID TO HIM TO FEAR ALLAH, HE WILL BE CARRIED AWAY BY PRIDE IN HIS SIN.  THE HELL-FIRE SHALL BE SUFFICIENT FOR HIM, AN EVIL RESTING PLACE IT IS INDEED.

A man called Al-Aknas Ibn Shareek went to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him in Medina and declared his Islam.  He was full of good words and nice things to say.  On his way out of Medina, he burned some of the Muslims plants and trees, and killed some of their animals.

General meaning:

It is about the hypocrites and knowing people.  People are known by their actions not what they say that they are or want to do or their intentions are.  Allah the Highest tells us that such people speak nice words, but do ugly deeds.  Of course there are many ways of destroying food and life than burning and killing, ways which lead to shortage of food and provisions for the Muslims and every one else.

Some people or even countries withhold food to keep its prices high for their own gain and profit.  Some even burn grain or dump it in the sea for the same purpose.  The result is that few people benefit from the high prices of food at the cost of the majority who have to pay for it, particularly the poorer of us.

The latest happening in some European countries is to farmers in order not to farm their land, or in order to do any activities other than producing food.  The purpose is the same, to reduce the food produced, either as crops or animals in order for the prices to stay artificially high.

This is destroying food and is a great mischief on Earth.

If those people are reminded that what they are doing is wrong, they never see their wrong doing, but are often proud of their sin.  Of course they consider it sinning, if they know what sinning is any way.  Allah the Highest promises them the Hell-Fire.

They usually can put a very eloquent argument, and may even be persuasive to some.  Allah the Highest warns us about them and tells us that we should look at what people do and its results, not the nice things they say.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The most I fear for my nation is a well spoken hypocrite”.  (A: 2; 22, 44 & Ma)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him also said: “I fear for my nation the Imams who misguide”.  (D:Fetan;1 & T:Fetan;51 &Da:Reqaq;39 & A:5;278,284)

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi