CAUSE OF THE REVELATION (VERSE NO. 75 - 78)

      These verses were revealed about one of the prophe'ts companions whose name was, `SAALABAT- IBN- HطTIB'; He was a poor man, and always attended the congregational prayer regularly and in proper time. The prophet's mosque was his favourite haunt and one could always find him there. He persistently asked the Messenger of God to pray for him to become wealthy. In answer to his request the prophet advised him saying: ``It is far better to have little with being thankful than having much and being ungrateful?''

      But he insisted upon his request, and promised to be grateful; and make a covenant with Allah to pay the alms- tax, and be of those who are rigtheous, if God granted him wealth. The prophet prayed for him to be rich, and his prayer was very soon answered! The man's cousin died and left him a great deal of heritage- enough to make SAALABAT one of the richest among the people of Medina! He soon had to look after his great herds of goats and sheep, and cattles of domestic animals; so much so that he could have no time to come to the Mosque, even once in a month! After a long absence of him, the prophet sent his collector of alms to him to get his due alms-tax from him. But he found SAALABAT, very stingy and parsimonious! Not only he refused to give his due alms- tax, but he objected to commandment of alms too, saying: ``This alms giving is the brother of tributes giving for acknowledgement of submission, (JEZYA)

      When the prophet heard what SAALABAT had said, he said: ``Woe unto him! Woe is him!''

HYPOCRITE'S LOW CAPACITY

      When they are poor and needy, they speak of their deep faith in such a way that no one can believe they will become hypocrite one day.

      On the other hand when they reach a position of rank and wealth for lack of capacity and want of faith, they lose their control and are puzzled. They plunge so deep into secular matters and materials and sensual desires that they forget their promises and covenants and ignore Allah and even their human conscience!

      In fact, they are false to their covenant and promises from the very beginning, and hypocrisy is a veil to cover their falsehood! So, the germs of show and pretence will occupy their hearts and control their deeds until the Day of Judgement when they have to account for their wrongs and mischiefs. They may deceive men by their hypocrisy, but they cannot deceive God to whom everything is known.