Tafsir Ibn Kathir- Surah 2. Al-Baqara, Ayah 10

Tafsir Ibn Kathir- Surah 2. Al-Baqara, Ayah 10
10. In their hearts is a disease and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.

The Meaning of `Disease' in this Ayah

As-Suddi narrated from Abu Malik and (also) from Abu Salih, from Ibn `Abbas, and (also) Murrah Al-Hamdani from Ibn Mas`ud and other Companions that this Ayah,

﴿فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ﴾
(In their hearts is a disease) means, `doubt', and,

﴿فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا﴾
(And Allah has increased their disease) also means `doubt'. Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah also said similarly. `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on,

﴿فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ﴾
(In their hearts is a disease), "A disease in the religion, not a physical disease. They are the hypocrites and the disease is the doubt that they brought to Islam.

﴿فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا﴾
(And Allah has increased their disease) meaning, increased them in shameful behavior.'' He also recited,

﴿فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـناً وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَوَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَى رِجْسِهِمْ﴾
(As for those who believe, it has increased their faith, and they rejoice. But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it will add disgrace to their disgrace.) (9:124-125) and commented, "Evil to their evil and deviation to their deviation.'' This statement by `Abdur-Rahman is true, and it constitutes a punishment that is compatible to the sin, just as the earlier scholars stated. Similarly, Allah said,

﴿وَالَّذِينَ اهْتَدَوْاْ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءَاتَـهُمْ تَقُوَاهُمْ ﴾
(While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and grants them their piety) (47:17).

Allah said next,

﴿بِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْذِبُونَ﴾
(Because they used to tell lies). The hypocrites have two characteristics, they lie and they deny the Unseen.

The scholars who stated that the Prophet knew the hypocrites of his time have only the Hadith of Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman as evidence. In it the Prophet gave him the names of fourteen hypocrites during the battle of Tabuk. These hypocrites plotted to assassinate the Prophet during the night on a hill in that area. They planned to excite the Prophet's camel, so that she would throw him down the hill. Allah informed the Prophet about their plot, and the Prophet told Hudhayfah their names.