People with Inclined Hearts

“ Al-Mu’ allafah Qulubuhum (people with inclined hearts to Islam) were a people who had accepted Allah only and had given up the worship of things besides Allah. However, true knowledge and belief that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah had not entered their hearts. The Messenger of Allah showed them kindness, provided them knowledge, so they might know the truth and he would teach them.”

“Once I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.) about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘A/- Mu’allafah Qulubuhum (the people with inclined hearts)’ (9:60) the Imam said, ‘They were a people who accepted Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, only, stopped worshipping things that were worshipped besides Allah, they had testified that no one deserves to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and in that condition they had doubts about certain issue(s) that Muhammad (a.s.) had brought. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, commanded His Holy Prophet to attract them with financial means and gifts so that their Islam may improve and they remain steadfast in their religion which they had just accepted and professed. ’ “On the day of Hunayn (a battle field) the Messenger of Allah had a meeting with leaders of Arabs from Quraysh, and others from the tribe of Mudar. Among such people were abu Sufyan ibn Harb, ‘Uyaynah ibn Hasin al-Farazi and other such people. The Ansar, people of Madina, became angiy and gathered around Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah. He went with them to see the Messenger of Allah at al-Ja’ranah. He asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, can I speak?’ He said, ‘Yes, you may speak.’ He said, ‘If the case of these goods that you have distributed among your tribesmen is something that has come from Allah, we agree, and if it is something else, we do not agree.’ Zurara has said, ‘I heard abu Ja’far saying, “The Messenger of Allah asked, ‘O people of Ansar, are all of you of the opinion of your master Sa’d?’” They said, ‘Our master is Allah and the Messenger of Allah.’ Then they said at the third time, ‘We are of the same opinion and words.’ Zurara has said, ‘I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying, “For this reason Allah decreased the light of their belief and assigned a share for people of inclined hearts in the Holy Quran.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘A/- Mu’allafah Qulubuhum (People of inclined hearts) have never been more numerous than they are today.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once asked, ‘O Ishaq, how many people can you find to whom this verse, ‘ . . . They are pleased when you give them something from it, but if they receive nothing, they become angry with you,’ (9:58) applies? The Imam then said, ‘They are more than two thirds of the people.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.) has said, ‘People of inclined hearts had never been as many as they are today. They were a people who accepted Allah only, had come out of paganism but the true knowledge about Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah had not entered their hearts as well as certain issues of what he had brought from Allah. The Messenger of Allah would meet them with kindness and after the Messenger of Allah the believers would meet them with kindness so they might receive true knowledge.’”