Al-Ankabut - First 13 Verses

First 13 Verses

In these first verses, the main principle of God testing (fitna) the faith and patience of mankind is established. The first verses are addressed to all of mankind. God says, "Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, We believe, and not be tried?" According to Tabatabai, fitna (trying or testing ones faith) is a practice of God. It is how God separates the truly sincere ones from the hypocrites whose faith is superficial. In order to succeed in the test, patience and reliance on God is necessary.

The first 13 verses, according to Allama Tabatabai, are concerned with the early Muslims and their persecutors, the Makkan pagans. One interpretation is that an early companion of the Prophet Muhammed, Ammar bin Yasir, had believed in him and was consequently tortured along with his parents. According to the ahadith, he came to the Prophet and told him that his parents were killed right in front of him and he was forced to commit polytheism (shirk) under torture of the pagans. The prophet told him that as long as he did not mean it and believe it in his heart, then God would not hold him responsible." This fitna that Ammar was going through, even though it was difficult torture, was his test. Ammar stayed devoted to the Prophet throughout his whole life and was martyred in the Battle of Siffin.