The Quran

141

Preface

الَّذينَ يَتَرَبَّصونَ بِكُم فَإِن كانَ لَكُم فَتحٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ قالوا أَلَم نَكُن مَعَكُم وَإِن كانَ لِلكافِرينَ نَصيبٌ قالوا أَلَم نَستَحوِذ عَلَيكُم وَنَمنَعكُم مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ ۚ فَاللَّهُ يَحكُمُ بَينَكُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ ۗ وَلَن يَجعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلكافِرينَ عَلَى المُؤمِنينَ سَبيلًا

Yusuf Ali

(These are) the ones who wait and watch about you: if ye do gain a victory from God, they say: “Were we not with you?”- but if the unbelievers gain a success, they say (to them): “Did we not gain an advantage over you, and did we not guard you from the believers?” but God will judge betwixt you on the Day of Judgment. And never will God grant to the unbelievers a way (to triumphs) over the Believers.¹

The methods and motives of Hypocrisy are thoroughly unmasked here. It has no principles, but watches for an opportunity to turn any event to its own advantage. If battle is joined between two inconsistent principles, it has no belief in either, but watches the result. There is unceasing fight between Good and Evil in this world. If the Good seems to win, the hypocrites range themselves on its side with unctuous words, taking a great part of the credit to themselves. Perhaps the balance tips the other way later, and they have to make their peace with Evil. “Oh!” they say, we were in the ranks of your enemy before, on purpose to protect you when they were too strong for you!” This may suit the ways of the world. But the day of their account will come eventually. For the Good must ultimately triumph.