Thème coranique
Madinah المدينة
- 6
The scriptural portrayal of Madinah moves past physical geography to examine the loyalties forged within its borders. When the early Muslims sought refuge, the settlement became the fulfillment of a prayer; as Zayd bin Aslam notes (موسوعة التفسير المأثور, 13/ 308), the divine promise of a "truthful entrance" was realized in Madinah. Yet the text does not romanticize the environment. Instead, it exposes a volatile mix of unmatched altruism, political friction, and hidden betrayals among the city's inhabitants.
Who were the original inhabitants of Madinah?
The verses immortalize a specific group already firmly established in their homes and rooted in faith before the migrants arrived (59:9). Rather than resenting the sudden influx of refugees, these local believers demonstrated extraordinary solidarity. They actively loved those who fled to them for shelter and harbored no jealousy over any resources allocated to the newcomers. Their defining trait was self-sacrifice: they gave the migrants preference over their own needs, even when they themselves were impoverished. The text links this specific triumph over personal greed directly to ultimate success.
What was expected of the city's people?
Living alongside the Messenger required a physical and emotional endurance that left no room for complacency. The people of Madinah, along with the neighboring desert Arabs, were explicitly barred from holding back from his campaigns or prioritizing their own safety over his (9:120). Their environment was demanding, but a precise exchange was recorded for their discomfort: every instance of thirst, weariness, or hunger suffered in God's cause, and every step taken that angered enemy forces, was automatically registered as a good deed. Nothing they endured was wasted.
Did all residents support the Messenger?
Despite the devotion of the core believers, Madinah housed a dangerous undercurrent of opposition. Some city-dwellers and surrounding desert tribes were obstinate in their hypocrisy (9:101)—so adept at concealing their nature that the Prophet himself did not initially recognize them. During times of military siege, this faction attempted to shatter morale. They reverted to using the city's pre-Islamic name, calling out to the "People of Yathrib" to abandon the defense lines, claiming their houses were exposed just to find an excuse to flee (33:13). As Ibn Uthaymeen observes (تفسير العثيمين: الأحزاب, 120), utilizing the name Yathrib was a deliberate marker of the hypocrites' disposition.
Their hostility also manifested in psychological warfare and political arrogance. Rumor-mongers and those sick at heart spread lies within the city walls, prompting a severe warning that they would face expulsion and remain only as neighbors for a short time if they did not desist (33:60). Their leaders boasted that once they returned to Madinah, the powerful among them would permanently drive out the weak (63:8).
Their calculations of dominance relied entirely on material wealth and tribal backing, ignoring the shift that had permanently altered the city's hierarchy. True authority within those walls no longer rested on ancestral claims or whispered alliances. Power belonged to God, to His Messenger, and to the believers, though the hypocrites did not know this.
Versets
- 9:101 At-Tawbah وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مُنَـٰفِقُونَ ۖ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ۖ مَرَدُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ ۖ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ سَنُعَذِّبُهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ Some of the desert Arabs around you are hypocrites, as are some of the people of Medina- they are obstinate in their hypocrisy. You [Prophet] do not know them, but We know them well: We shall punish them twice and then they will be returned to [face] a painful punishment [in the Hereafter].
- 9:120 At-Tawbah مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌ صَـٰلِحٌ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ The people of Medina and their neighbouring desert Arabs should not have held back from following God’s Messenger, nor should they have cared about themselves more than him: if ever they suffer any thirst, weariness, or hunger in God’s cause, take any step that angers the disbelievers, or cause any harm to an enemy, a good deed is recorded in their favour on account of it- God never wastes the reward of those who do good-
- 33:13 Al-Ahzab وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَٱرْجِعُوا۟ ۚ وَيَسْتَـْٔذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِىَ بِعَوْرَةٍ ۖ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا Some of them said, ‘People of Yathrib, you will not be able to withstand [the attack], so go back!’ Some of them asked the Prophet’s permission to leave, saying, ‘Our houses are exposed,’ even though they were not- they just wanted to run away:
- 33:60 Al-Ahzab ۞ لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا If the hypocrites, the sick at heart, and those who spread lies in the city do not desist, We shall rouse you [Prophet] against them, and then they will only be your neighbours in this city for a short while.
- 59:9 Al-Hashr وَٱلَّذِينَ تَبَوَّءُو ٱلدَّارَ وَٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ يُحِبُّونَ مَنْ هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ فِى صُدُورِهِمْ حَاجَةً مِّمَّآ أُوتُوا۟ وَيُؤْثِرُونَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَلَوْ كَانَ بِهِمْ خَصَاصَةٌ ۚ وَمَن يُوقَ شُحَّ نَفْسِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ Those who were already firmly established in their homes [in Medina], and firmly rooted in faith, show love for those who migrated to them for refuge and harbour no desire in their hearts for what has been given to them. They give them preference over themselves, even if they too are poor: those who are saved from their own souls’ greed are truly successful.
- 63:8 Al-Munafiqun يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعْنَآ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ ٱلْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا ٱلْأَذَلَّ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ They say, ‘Once we return to Medina the powerful will drive out the weak,’ but power belongs to God, to His Messenger, and to the believers, though the hypocrites do not know this.