[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]: Ayat 20-21

২০. সুলায়মান পক্ষীদের খোঁজ খবর নিলেন, অতঃপর বললেন, কি হল, হুদহুদকে দেখছি না কেন? নাকি সে অনুপস্থিত?

২১. আমি অবশ্যই তাকে কঠোর শাস্তি দেব কিংবা হত্যা করব অথবা সে উপস্থিত করবে উপযুক্ত কারণ। 

Ayat 20. He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?

Ayat 21. "I will surely punish him with a severe torment, or slaughter him, unless he brings me a clear reason."

 

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 20 & 21. And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? Solomon was no idle or easy-going king. He kept all his organization strictly up to the mark, both his armies literally and his forces (metaphorically). His most mobile arm was the Birds, who were light on the wing and flew and saw everything like efficient scouts. One day he missed the Hoopoe in his muster. The hoopoe is a light, graceful creature, with elegant plumage of many colors, and a beautiful yellow crest on his head, which entitles him to be called a royal bird. "I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)."

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah[SAWW](PBUH) said, "He who dies without having fought in the Cause of Allah or without having thought of doing so, will die with one characteristic of hypocrisy in him.''

[Muslim Hadith # 1910]. 

  

Lesson : We learn from this Hadith that it is a different matter that one may not get a chance to take part in Jihad, but it would be a hypocritical attitude if one does not ever think that if an opportunity ever comes in his way, he will certainly go for Jihad in the way of Allah against the infidels. The reason to that is that, to stay back at home at the time of Jihad was a habit of the hypocrites. In the light of this, Imam Al-Qurtubi has stated the principle that if one is not capable of doing some virtuous deeds, he should then make a resolve that whenever he will be capable of it, he will do that deed, so that his intention takes the place of his act. He who neither performs a good deed nor aspires for it, has a hypocritical disposition. This is especially true of a Muslim who does not even aspire to take part in Jihad. Such a Muslim develops a resemblance with hypocrites.