Antidote to Enemy’s Treacherous Behaviors
Ill-intentions of the enemies are one of the issues that believers encounter on their path of faith. The word enemy here refers to a range of individuals who are opposed to the path of faith for any reason and try to create obstacles in the path.
“There are people whom you love, but they do not love you, despite your belief in all the (heavenly) Books.” (Verse 119 of Surah Al Imran)
The enemy sometimes approaches us under the guise of being a friend and having good intentions. (It is also a case about followers of other faiths). Some people may pretend to have faith the Old and New Testaments but the fact is that their enmity signifies their hostility with the truth.
In the next verse (120) God gives assurances to believers and says: “They hate to see your success and rejoice if any misfortune befalls you. If you will be patient and pious, their plots can cause no harm to you. God has control over all their actions.”
So there is no reason for believers to worry and all they have to do is remaining steadfast on the path of faith.
Important points in Verse 120 of Surah Al Imran:
This verse offers the path to knowing friends and enemies by looking at their mentalities and reactions to believers’ successes or failures.
In the preceding verses, Muslims are advised not to befriend the enemies of the faith. In this verse, God says the enemies may hatch plots against believers and that believers must exercise patience and Taqwa (God-fearing) so that the enemies’ plots will not harm them.
Messages of the Verse:
1- The enemies’ envy is such that they will get upset if even a little good happens to you: “When you are touched with good fortune, they grieve…”
2- The way for the enemies to infiltrate the ranks of Muslims is through Muslims’ fear or greed and the way to block their path is through patience and Taqwa. “If you will be patient and pious, their plots can cause no harm to you.”
3-To confront the jealous people who grieve our successes, we should exercise patience and Taqwa to achieve victory. “If you will be patient and pious, their plots can cause no harm to you.”
4- By revealing the enemies’ mentalities, God both warns Muslims and gives assurances to them. “If you will be patient and pious, their plots can cause no harm to you.”
