h-l-f

Description

The Arabic root ح-ل-ف (h-l-f) fundamentally means to swear an oath or make a solemn promise, often invoking God as witness to one's truthfulness. In the Quranic context, this root appears primarily in reference to hypocrites and disbelievers who swear false oaths to deceive Muslims or deny their wrongdoings, highlighting the contrast between their outward declarations and their inner reality. The prevalence of this root in describing insincere oath-taking serves as a warning about those who use religious language manipulatively while harboring hidden intentions contrary to their words.