يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ 9
Translations
They [think to] deceive Allāh and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.
Transliteration
Yukhadi'oon-allaha walladhina amanu wa ma yakhda'oon illa anfusahum wa ma yash'uroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the hypocrites (munafiqun) who attempt to deceive Allah and the believers through false professions of faith, but their deception ultimately harms only themselves. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that the hypocrites fail to realize that Allah is fully aware of their hidden intentions and the reality of their hearts, making their deception futile and their self-deception complete.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's opening section describing the three categories of people: believers, disbelievers, and hypocrites. It was revealed in Madinah after the hijrah, addressing the growing problem of hypocrites in the early Muslim community who outwardly claimed belief while harboring doubt and disbelief in their hearts.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The sign of a hypocrite is three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays it' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Also relevant is the hadith about the hypocrites in Surah Al-Munafiqun, establishing the Quranic theme of hypocrisy's spiritual danger.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that deception of Allah is impossible since He knows all hidden thoughts and intentions, and that any attempt to fake faith ultimately harms only the deceiver themselves. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of sincere faith ('aqeedah) over mere outward conformity, and warns against the spiritual danger of internal doubt masked by external compliance.
Related Ayahs
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا ۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ
And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allāh [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.
وَإِذَا تَوَلَّىٰ سَعَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيُفْسِدَ فِيهَا وَيُهْلِكَ ٱلْحَرْثَ وَٱلنَّسْلَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْفَسَادَ
And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allāh does not like corruption.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ ۖ قُلْ مَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
They ask you, [O Muḥammad], what they should spend. Say, "Whatever you spend of good is [to be] for parents and relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler. And whatever you do of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it."
ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَكُنتُم مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
Then you turned away after that. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, you would have been among the losers.