وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ 11
Translations
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
Transliteration
Wa-idha qeela lahum la tufsidu fee al-ard qalu innama nahnu muslihun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrisy (munafiqun) of those who, when commanded to cease spreading corruption on earth, claim they are only reformers and spreaders of good. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this refers to the hypocrites of Medina who engaged in mischief—sowing discord, breaking covenants, and opposing the Prophet—yet denied their wrongdoing and falsely claimed their actions were corrective. Al-Qurtubi notes the irony: their denial of corruption while actively perpetrating it demonstrates the blindness of the hypocrite's heart and the contradiction between their deeds and words.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's depiction of the three categories of people: believers, disbelievers (kafirun), and hypocrites (munafiqun). It specifically addresses the hypocrites of Medina during the early Medinan period who publicly professed Islam while secretly undermining the Muslim community. The broader context (ayat 8-20) outlines the characteristics of the munafiqun and their spiritual disease.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim reports the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying: 'The sign of the hypocrite is three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays.' This directly relates to the hypocrisy of claiming reform while spreading corruption.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers to be vigilant against self-deception and to align their actions with their words and intentions; it also teaches that truly reforming society requires sincere hearts and truthful actions, not merely claims of goodness.
Related Ayahs
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ ٱئْذَن لِّى وَلَا تَفْتِنِّىٓ ۚ أَلَا فِى ٱلْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا۟ ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحِيطَةٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
And among them is he who says, "Permit me [to remain at home] and do not put me to trial." Unquestionably, into trial they have fallen. And indeed, Hell will encompass the disbelievers.
فَكَيْفَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَآءُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَتَوْفِيقًا
So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allāh, "We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُۥ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ
On the Day Allāh will resurrect them all, and they will swear to Him as they swear to you and think that they are [standing] on something. Unquestionably, it is they who are the liars.
۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?