يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ جَٰهِدِ ٱلۡكُفَّارَ وَٱلۡمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱغۡلُظۡ عَلَيۡهِمۡ
Verse: "O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them." (At-Tawbah 73)
Context:- The verse was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tawbah which exposed hypocrites in detail — especially after the Battle of Tabuk
- Scholars hold that striving against hypocrites means through argument and clarification not the sword, since they outwardly profess Islam — as stated by Ibn Abbas and Ibn Al-Qayyim
- The hypocrites referenced include Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul and his companions who stayed behind at Tabuk and discouraged others
- "Be harsh upon them" means in speech — confronting them and declaring the truth openly before them
Lesson:Hypocrisy has its own form of striving — open disbelief is confronted with arms when necessary, and inner hypocrisy is confronted with evidence, exposure, and openly declaring the truth. Both are "striving" though the tools differ.
Question: How is the hypocrite to be striven against according to commentators, and why does this differ from striving against the open disbeliever?
Answer: The hypocrite is striven against through argument, clarification, rebuking him and openly declaring the truth — because he outwardly professes Islam and cannot be killed on that basis alone. The open disbeliever is striven against militarily when conditions are met. The tool differs; the goal is one: establishing truth.