وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ لَـَٔاتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَّا يَسِيرًا 14
Translations
And if they had been entered upon from all its [surrounding] regions and fitnah [i.e., disbelief] had been demanded of them, they would have done it and not hesitated over it except briefly.
Transliteration
Wa-law dukhilat 'alayhim min aqtariha thumma su'ilū al-fitnata la-ātawha wa-mā talabbathū bihā illā yasīrā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a hypothetical scenario where if the enemies had breached the city's defenses from all directions and the inhabitants had been tempted with apostasy (fitnah), they would have quickly succumbed to it without hesitation. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this illustrates the weakness and fragility of faith among the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Medina during the siege of Ahzab, contrasting their readiness to abandon Islam with the steadfastness of true believers. The phrase 'except a little while' emphasizes the speed with which they would have betrayed their faith.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Ahzab, revealed in Medina during or after the Battle of the Trench (Ghazwat al-Khandaq) in 5 AH. The broader context addresses the hypocrites of Medina who showed weakness and doubt when the city faced the combined assault of the Quraysh and their allied tribes, revealing their superficial commitment to Islam.
Related Hadiths
The characteristics of the munāfiqūn described here relate to hadiths about hypocrisy; see Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim's chapters on the signs of hypocrisy (Kitāb al-Īmān), where the Prophet (ﷺ) warned about those whose faith is not firmly rooted in their hearts.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that true faith must be deeply rooted in the heart to withstand external pressures and temptations; superficial belief crumbles when tested. It serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and encourages sincere introspection about the authenticity of one's commitment to Islamic principles.