۞ لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 60
Translations
If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madīnah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little,
Transliteration
Lain lam yantahi al-munafiqun wa-alladhina fi qulubihim maradun wa-al-murjifun fi al-madinah lanuqhrinnak bihim thumma la yujawirunk fiha illa qalilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah addresses Prophet Muhammad with a stern warning that if the hypocrites (munafiqun), those with diseased hearts, and those who spread discord in Medina do not cease their harmful activities, Allah will empower the Prophet against them, after which they will not be able to remain as neighbors in Medina except for a brief period. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as both a threat and a promise: the hypocrites will either cease their opposition or be expelled from the Islamic state, indicating Allah's protection of the Prophet and the Muslim community from internal corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period when the city was plagued by hypocrites and fifth columnists who undermined the Muslim community from within. The broader context of Surah Al-Ahzab addresses threats from external enemies (the combined forces at the Battle of the Trench) and internal discord, making this ayah part of Allah's assurance to the Prophet regarding how He would handle internal saboteurs.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi in Sahih Muslim where Allah promises to support His Prophet and believers against their enemies. Additionally, various hadiths in Sahih Bukhari describe the expulsion of Jewish tribes from Medina who were engaged in similar undermining activities, exemplifying the execution of this warning.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Allah grants leaders the authority to maintain order and security, the ultimate consequence for those who persistently oppose truth and spread discord is their removal from the community—reminding believers that opposing the divine message and destabilizing the righteous society has inevitable consequences, and that divine protection extends to those committed to the faith.
Related Ayahs
وَإِنَّ مِنكُمْ لَمَن لَّيُبَطِّئَنَّ فَإِنْ أَصَـٰبَتْكُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالَ قَدْ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىَّ إِذْ لَمْ أَكُن مَّعَهُمْ شَهِيدًا
And indeed, there is among you he who lingers behind; and if disaster strikes you, he says, "Allāh has favored me in that I was not present with them."
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allāh. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.