فَتَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَىٰٓ أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآئِرَةٌ ۚ فَعَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِٱلْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِۦ فَيُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَسَرُّوا۟ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ نَـٰدِمِينَ 52
Translations
So you see those in whose hearts is disease [i.e., hypocrisy] hastening into [association with] them, saying, "We are afraid a misfortune may strike us." But perhaps Allāh will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful.
Transliteration
Fataral-ladhīna fī qulūbihim maraḍun yusāri'ūna fīhim yaqūlūna nakhshā an tuṣībana dā'iratun fa'asāl-lāhu an ya'tiya bil-fatḥi aw amrin min 'indih fayuṣbihū 'alā mā asarrū fī anfusihim nādimīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who possess spiritual sickness in their hearts and eagerly rush to befriend the enemies of Islam out of fear of defeat. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, their concern ('We fear a reversal of fortune') reveals their lack of faith in Allah's protection. The ayah provides consolation to the believers by affirming that Allah may grant victory or bring a matter of His own decree, after which these hypocrites will regret their hidden intentions and treachery when the truth becomes manifest.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of the Jewish tribes of Medina and their alliances, as well as hypocrites within the Muslim community who wavered in their faith during times of hardship. Surah Al-Ma'idah addresses the conduct of People of the Book and the behavior of those with weak faith, particularly regarding covenant-breaking and shifting loyalties based on worldly calculations rather than divine guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The sign of a hypocrite is three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays.' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Additionally, the Quran mentions in 9:65-66 a hadith about hypocrites making excuses for their statements, demonstrating their characteristic pattern of concealment and denial.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should never compromise their principles or betray their faith out of fear of worldly consequences, as true security comes only from Allah's protection and promise. The ayah reminds us that hidden intentions will eventually be exposed, and those who scheme against the truth will ultimately face regret when Allah's plan unfolds.
Related Ayahs
مَا قُلْتُ لَهُمْ إِلَّا مَآ أَمَرْتَنِى بِهِۦٓ أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّى وَرَبَّكُمْ ۚ وَكُنتُ عَلَيْهِمْ شَهِيدًا مَّا دُمْتُ فِيهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيْتَنِى كُنتَ أَنتَ ٱلرَّقِيبَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
I said not to them except what You commanded me - to worship Allāh, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.
فَطَوَّعَتْ لَهُۥ نَفْسُهُۥ قَتْلَ أَخِيهِ فَقَتَلَهُۥ فَأَصْبَحَ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers.
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ وَٱحْذَرُوا۟ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا عَلَىٰ رَسُولِنَا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And obey Allāh and obey the Messenger and beware. And if you turn away - then know that upon Our Messenger is only [the responsibility for] clear notification.
۞ لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ ٱلنَّاسِ عَدَٰوَةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ ۖ وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُم مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ
You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allāh; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, "We are Christians." That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.