يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ 14
Translations
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
Transliteration
Yunādūnahum alam nakun maʿakum qālū balā wa-lākinnaum fattantum anfusakum wa-tarabbastum wārtabtum wa-gharrattkumu al-āmāniyyu hattā jāʾa amru Allāh wa-gharrakum bi-Allāh al-gharūr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Judgment when hypocrites (munaafiqun) call out to the believers, claiming they were with them, but the believers respond by exposing the hypocrites' true condition: they caused their own spiritual ruin through wavering faith, waiting for the Muslims to fail, harboring doubts, and being deceived by false hopes and worldly desires until Allah's command (death or the Day of Judgment) came upon them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that the hypocrites' deception and self-delusion prevented them from sincere belief, and their claim of companionship is rejected because their hearts were never truly committed to Allah and His Messenger.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Hadid is a Medinan surah revealed during the period when the Muslim community faced internal challenges from hypocrites who outwardly professed Islam but harbored doubt and disloyalty. This ayah reflects the broader Quranic theme of exposing hypocrisy and its consequences, particularly relevant to Medinan society where such individuals were prevalent among those who claimed to follow the Prophet ﷺ.
Related Hadiths
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The example of the hypocrite is like a sheep standing between two flocks, turning to one then the other.' (Sahih Bukhari) Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah describes that on the Day of Judgment, hypocrites will be recognized by their faces being blackened, reflecting the spiritual darkness mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against the spiritual dangers of wavering commitment, false hopes in worldly matters, and internal doubt—all of which can lead to the state of hypocrisy. Modern readers should examine their sincerity in faith and ensure their actions align with their beliefs, recognizing that true companionship with the believers lies not in outward association but in unwavering conviction and righteous deeds.
Related Ayahs
۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نَافَقُوا۟ يَقُولُونَ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَئِنْ أُخْرِجْتُمْ لَنَخْرُجَنَّ مَعَكُمْ وَلَا نُطِيعُ فِيكُمْ أَحَدًا أَبَدًا وَإِن قُوتِلْتُمْ لَنَنصُرَنَّكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
Have you not considered those who practice hypocrisy, saying to their brothers [i.e., associates] who have disbelieved among the People of the Scripture, "If you are expelled, we will surely leave with you, and we will not obey, in regard to you, anyone - ever; and if you are fought, we will surely aid you." But Allāh testifies that they are liars.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى ٱللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ ٱلنَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَئِن جَآءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ ۚ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allāh, he considers the trial [i.e., harm] of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allāh. But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you." Is not Allāh most knowing of what is within the breasts of the worlds [i.e., all creatures]?
وَيَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنَّهُمْ لَمِنكُمْ وَمَا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ يَفْرَقُونَ
And they swear by Allāh that they are from among you while they are not from among you; but they are a people who are afraid.
لَوْ خَرَجُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا زَادُوكُمْ إِلَّا خَبَالًا وَلَأَوْضَعُوا۟ خِلَـٰلَكُمْ يَبْغُونَكُمُ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ وَفِيكُمْ سَمَّـٰعُونَ لَهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Had they gone forth with you, they would not have increased you except in confusion, and they would have been active among you, seeking [to cause] you fitnah [i.e., chaos and dissension]. And among you are avid listeners to them. And Allāh is Knowing of the wrongdoers.