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mathaluhum ka-mathali lladhī stawqada nāran fa-lammā ʾaḍāʾat mā ḥawlahū dhahaba llāhu bi-nūrihim wa-tarakahum fī ẓulumātin lā yubṣirūna
Their parable is that of one who lighted a torch, and when it had lit up all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them sightless in a manifold darkness.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 17-20
The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him Allah took away their light and left them in darkness unseeing. (2:17)
(They are) deaf, dumb, blind - so they shall not return (to the right path) (2:18)
Or (their) likeness is as a rainstorm from heaven wherein is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps, fearful of death; thus Allah encompasses the infidels. (2:19)
The lightning well-nigh snatches away their sight, whensoever it gives them light, they walk therein, and when it darkens over them they stand still. Had Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight. Truly, Allah is All-powerful over all things. (2:20)
Two Interesting Parables Manifesting the Hypocrite
After stating the epithets and characteristics of the hypocrite, the Holy Qur’an, in order to illustrate their condition, likens them to two expressive parables:
1. In the first parable, the idea is that they are similar to a person who kindles a fire (by dark night) - (to distinguish the right way from the false way under its light and reach the destination). It says:
The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him Allah took away their light, and left them in darkness unseeing. (2:17)
They think they can challenge against the darkness they are in with a small little fire. But, it happens that suddenly a storm arrives, or a heavy rain falls, or their fuel runs out and the fire dies in coldness; so, they remain helpless, wandering in the terrible darkness. Then, it adds:
(They are) deaf, dumb, blind - so they shall not return (to the right path) (2:18)
because they no longer have the essential necessary means of grasping the truth in their possession. Allah, the Exalted, stating the status of the hypocrites and unbelievers, informs His Messenger that they have totally lost their human innate potentialities. They, abusing it, have destroyed the talent which Allah has originally put in their created nature and they should revive it in order for it to be used correctly. They have entirely deprived themselves of the real function of the divine faculties of sight, hearing, and speech. These sense organs are practically left useless and ineffective.
2. In the second parable, the scene of their life is illustrated in another way.
It is a dark fearful night, full of terror and danger. The rain is heavily falling and lightning flashes in the corner of the horizon every now and then. The horrible crashes of thunder seem to tear the eardrums. A defenceless person, amazed at the situation in this vast dark dangerous plain, gains no benefit. For this frightened person, whose back is wet from the rain, there is neither a safe and secure shelter to take refuge, nor does the darkness let him step forth towards his destination.
The Holy Qur’an, in a short sentence, explains the situation of such a wandering passenger, thus:
Or (their) likeness is as a rainstorm from heaven wherein is darkness, thunder and lightning... (2:19)
Then, it adds:
...They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps, fearful of death... (2:19)
And, at the end of the verse, the Qur’an points to a fact that wherever the disbelievers go, they are under the forceful control and watch of Allah. It says:
...Thus, Allah encompasses the infidels. (2:19)
In this situation lightning brightens the expanse of the sky again and again.
The lightning well-nigh snatches away their sight ... (2:20)
Whenever the lightning strikes and lightens the dark spread of the desert, they walk a few steps under that light, but, immediately after that, they find themselves in the same darkness they were in before:
...whensoever it gives them light, they walk therein, and when it darkens over them they stand still... (2:20)
Every moment, they feel the danger in front of them because there is nothing in this desert, such as a mountain, a tree, or anything else for them to seek refuge in order to protect themselves from the danger of the flash of lightning and thunderbolt. At any moment they may be seized by the lightning as its prey and be laid in ashes in a blink of an eye! There is even the danger of the sound of thunder tearing their eardrums and the sharp flash of lightning blinding their eyes. Yes, it is true:
...Had Allah willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight. Truly, Allah is All-powerful over all things. (2:20)
At the time of the Holy Prophet (S), the quick spread of Islam, like the lightning, dazzled their eyes, and the verses of the Qur’an, which uncovered their secrets, surrounded them as quick as lightning. They thought that another verse might come down, too, and remove the curtains from some other secrets, so, they would become publicly more disgraced. The Qur’an also points to this very meaning where it says:
The Hypocrites are afraid lest a Surah should be sent down about them, showing them what is (really passing) in their hearts, say: ‘Mock you! But verily Allah will bring to light all that you fear (should be revealed)’ (9:64).
Again, the Qur’an, verifying that the hypocrites were always in terror and fear that with their secrets being manifested, Allah. command would come down for the Muslims to fight them, the worst interior enemy of Islam, and destroy them, says:
Truly, if the Hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who stir up sedition in the City, desist not, We shall certainly stir thee up against them: then will they not be able to stay in it as your neighbours for any length of time. (33:60).
They shall have a curse on them: wherever they are found, they shall be seized and slain (without mercy) (33:61).
In the Islamic literature, as was mentioned before, the traditions and data narrated about the hypocrite are abundant. One of them is the tradition that Imam as-Sadiq (‘a) quoted from his father and grandfathers who, in turn, had narrated from the Messenger of Allah (S) who, addressing Hazrat ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a), said:
“There are three signs for a believer: prayer, fasting, and alms. There are also indications referring to a hypocrite: when he speaks he tells lies, when he promises, he breaks them, and when he is entrusted with (something), he proves himself to be dishonest” 19
Again, Abdullah ‘Umar narrates from the Holy Prophet (S) that there are four characteristics which are the signs of hypocrisy: lie in speech, excuse in promise, wickedness in enmity, and dishonesty in deposit.20
Footnotes