Al-Uqud al-Durriyya - Ibn Abd al-Hadi - (الكتاب/215)

—that is, they cling to it so fiercely that they will not spend it, as in His words, “Indeed, he is—out of love for wealth—most intense” (Al-ʿAdiyāt 100:8).

Then (1) the Exalted One said: “They think the confederates have not yet withdrawn; and if the confederates should return, they would wish they were out in the desert with the Bedouins, asking about your news. Yet if they were among you, they would fight but little” (Al-Aḥzāb 33:20).

He thus described them with three (2) traits:

First (3): because of their excessive fear they imagine that the confederate forces have not departed from the city. Such is the state of a coward whose heart is diseased: his heart is quick (4) to accept alarming reports and to reject any news of safety.

Second: when the confederates appear, they long not to be with you but to be out in the open country among the Bedouins, inquiring about your situation—“What is happening in Madinah? What has befallen the people?”

Third: if the confederates do arrive while they are in your midst, they fight only a little.

These three qualities apply to many people in this campaign, as they themselves know full well and as anyone (5) acquainted with them can attest.

(1) The base manuscript reads: "kama" (as). (2) Ms. F: "fa wasafahum Allah thalathatan" (so Allah described them as three). (3) Mss. F and K: "ahadaha" (one of them). (4) Ms. Q: "mubadir" (quick to act). (5) Mss. F and K: "wa ya‘rifunahu" (and they recognize him).

أي: حِراصٌ عليه فلا يُنْفقونه، كما قال: ﴿وَإِنَّهُ لِحُبِّ الْخَيْرِ لَشَدِيدٌ﴾ [العاديات: ٨]. ثم (١) قال تعالى: ﴿يَحْسَبُونَ الْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا وَإِنْ يَأْتِ الْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا لَوْ أَنَّهُمْ بَادُونَ فِي الْأَعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنْبَائِكُمْ وَلَوْ كَانُوا فِيكُمْ مَا قَاتَلُوا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾ [الأحزاب: ٢٠]. فوصفهم بثلاثة (٢) أوصاف: الأول (٣): أنَّهم لِفَرْطِ خوفهم يحسبون الأحزاب لم ينصرفوا عن البلد، وهذه حالُ الجَبان الَّذي في قلبه مَرض، فإنَّ قلبَه يُبادرُ (٤) إلى تصديق الخبر الَمخُوف، وتكذيبِ خبر الأمْن. الوصف الثاني: أنَّ الأحزابَ إذا جاءوا تَمنّوا أن لا يكونوا بينكم، بل يكونون في البادية بين الأعراب، يسألون عن أنبائكم: أيْشٍ خَبَرُ المدينة؟ وأيْشٍ جرى للناس؟ والوصف الثالث: أن الأحزابَ إذا أتوا وهم فيكم، لم يقاتلوا إلا قليلًا. * وهذه الصفات الثلاث منطبقةٌ على كثير من الناس في هذه الغزوة، كما يعرفونه من أنفسهم، ويعرفه (٥) منهم مَنْ خَبَرَهم.

(١) الأصل: «كما». (٢) (ف): «فوصفهم الله ثلاثة». (٣) (ف، ك): «أحدها». (٤) (ق): «مبادر». (٥) (ف، ك): «ويعرفونه».