Misquotation

Q: I am a Bedouin. When I meet one of the urban people and we discuss any issue together, they embarrass me by telling me the following Ayah of the Qur'an, The bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy although I am a Muslim man, and I associate nothing with Allah in `Ibadah (worship). Please advise, may Allah guide and reward you, concerning the Tafsir (explanation) of this Ayah. Are there such Bedouins in our era? What is the difference between pure Arabs and Arabized Arab tribes? It should be noted that we are followers of the Salaf (righteous predecessors), may Allah be pleased with them all.

A: Many people commit the same mistake and misquote Ayahs of the Qur'an, such as telling a Muslim Bedouin, The bedouins are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy (Part No. 26; Page No. 135) Allah (Exalted be He) says in the next Ayah in Surah Al-Tawbah, And of the bedouins there are some who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, and look upon what they spend in Allâh’s Cause as means of nearness to Allâh, and a cause of receiving the Messenger’s invocations. Indeed these (spendings in Allâh’s Cause) are a means of nearness for them. Allâh will admit them to His Mercy. Certainly Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Thus, it is not permissible for a Muslim to tease another Muslim using a misquotation; it is not permissible either to use Qur'anic Ayahs in an irrelevant context. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.