Surah Al-Baqarah 2:105

Manners in Speech

Allah forbade His believing servants from imitating the behavior and deeds of the disbelievers. The Jews used to use devious words that hide what they really meant. May Allah's curse be upon them. When they wanted to say, `hear us,' they would use the word Ra`ina, which is an insult (in Hebrew, but means `hear us' in Arabic). Allah said,

مِّنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَاسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَعِنَا لَيّاً بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْناً فِى الدِّينِ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاسْمَعْ وَانْظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً

(Among those who are Jews, there are some who displace words from (their) right places and say: "We hear your word (O Muhammad ) and disobey," and "Hear and let you (O Muhammad ) hear nothing." And Ra`ina with a twist of their tongues and as a mockery of the religion (Islam). And if only they had said: "We hear and obey," and "Do make us understand," it would have been better for them, and more proper; but Allah cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not except a few) (4:46).

Also, the Hadiths stated that when they would greet Muslims, they would say, `As-Samu `alaykum,' meaning, `death be to you'. This is why we were commanded to answer them by saying, `Wa `alaykum,' meaning, `and to you too', then our supplication against them shall be answered, rather than theirs against us.

Allah forbade the believers from imitating the disbelievers in tongue or deed. Allah said,

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَقُولُواْ رَعِنَا وَقُولُواْ انظُرْنَا وَاسْمَعُواْ وَلِلكَـفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

(O you who believe! Say not (to the Messenger ) Ra`ina but say Unzurna (make us understand) and hear. And for the disbelievers there is a painful torment) (2:104).

Also, Imam Ahmad narrated that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«بُعِثْتُ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ السَّاعَةِ بِالسَّيْفِ حَتَّى يُعْبَدَاللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَجُعِلَ رِزْقِي تَحْتَ ظِلِّ رُمْحِي، وَجُعِلَتِ الذِّلَّةُ وَالصَّغَارُ عَلَى مَنْ خَالَفَ أَمْرِي، وَمَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَومٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُم»

(I was sent with the sword just before the Last Hour, so that Allah is worshipped alone without partners. My sustenance was provided for me from under the shadow of my spear. Those who oppose my command were humiliated and made inferior, and whoever imitates a people, he is one of them.)

Abu Dawud narrated that the Prophet said,

«مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُم»

(Whoever imitates a people is one of them.)

These Hadiths indicate, along with their threats and warnings, that we are not allowed to imitate the disbelievers in their statements, deeds, clothes, feasts, acts of worship, etc., whatever actions of the disbelievers that were not legislated for us.

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas commented on the Ayah,

لاَ تَقُولُواْ رَعِنَا

(Say not (to the Messenger ) Ra`ina) "They used to say to the Prophet , Ar`ina samak (which is an insult)." Ibn Abu Hatim said that it was reported that Abu Al-`Aliyah, Abu Malik, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, `Atiyah Al-`Awfi and Qatadah said similarly. Further, Mujahid said, "`Do not say Ra`ina' means, `Do not dispute'." Mujahid said in another narration, "Do not say, `We hear from you, and you hear from us."' Also, `Ata' said, "Do not say,

رَعِنَا

(Ra`ina), which was a dialect that the Ansar used and which was forbidden from use by Allah."

Also, As-Suddi said, "Rifa`ah bin Zayd, a Jewish man from the tribe of Qaynuqa`, used to come to the Prophet and say to him, `Hear, Ghayr Musma'in (let you hear nothing).' The Muslims used to think that the Prophets are greeted and honored with this type of speech, and this is why some of them used to say, `Hear, let you hear nothing,' and so on, as mentioned in Surat An-Nisa." Thereafter, Allah forbade the believers from uttering the word Ra`ina." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam also said similarly.

The extreme Enmity that the Disbelievers and the People of the Book have against Muslims

Allah said next (2:105),

مَّا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ وَلاَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ

(Neither those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) nor Al-Mushrikin (the idolaters), like that there should be sent down unto you any good from your Lord).

Allah described the deep enmity that the disbelieving polytheists and People of the Scripture, whom Allah warned against imitating, have against the believers, so that Muslims should sever all friendship with them. Also, Allah mentioned what He granted the believers of the perfect Law that He legislated for their Prophet Muhammad . Allah said,

وَاللَّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ

(But Allah chooses for His mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty) (2:105).

Para Ahli Kitab yang terdiri atas orang-orang Yahudi, Nasrani begitu pula orang-orang musyrik, tidak mau percaya kepada Nabi Muhammad karena mereka iri hati dikarenakan dia diberi wahyu oleh Allah yang lebih baik. Mereka sedikit pun tidak mau mengakui bahwa Al-Qur'an kitab yang paling banyak mengandung kebaikan dan penuh hidayah. Dengan Al-Qur'an itulah Allah menghimpun dan menyatukan umat serta melenyapkan penyakit syirik yang bersarang di hati mereka, juga memberikan beberapa prinsip peraturan hidup dan penghidupan mereka.

Demikian halnya orang-orang musyrik, setelah mereka melihat kenyataan bahwa makin lama Al-Qur'an makin tampak kebenarannya, dan menjadi pendorong yang kuat bagi perjuangan Muslimin, mereka pun berusaha sekuat tenaga untuk menguasai keadaan dan menghancurkan perjuangan umat Islam hingga lenyap sama sekali.

Meskipun demikian, mereka tidak akan dapat merealisasikan angan-angan mereka karena Allah telah menentukan kehendak-Nya, memilih orang yang dikehendaki semata-mata karena rahmat-Nya. Dia pulalah yang melimpahkan keutamaan bagi orang yang dipilih untuk diberi kenabian. Dia pula yang melimpahkan kebaikan dan keutamaan, sehingga seluruh hamba-Nya bersenang-senang dalam kebahagiaan. Maka tidak seharusnyalah apabila ada seorang hamba Allah yang merasa dengki kepada seseorang yang telah diberi kebaikan dan keutamaan, karena saluran kebaikan dan keutamaan itu datangnya dari Allah semata.