ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ 16
Translations
They took their [false] oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allāh, and for them is a humiliating punishment.
Transliteration
Attakhazu aymanahum junnatan fasaddu an sabili Allahi falahum azabun muhin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who use their oaths as a shield (junnah) to prevent others from following the path of Allah and His religion. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to the hypocrites (munafiqun) who swore false oaths to obstruct people from accepting Islam and following the Qur'an. Such deception and obstruction of the divine path incurs a humiliating punishment, emphasizing that Allah is aware of their intentions and will hold them accountable.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Mujadila was revealed in Medina and primarily addresses the issue of hypocrites and those who engaged in disbelief while outwardly claiming faith. This particular ayah fits within the broader context of the surah's condemnation of hypocrites who used various tactics, including false oaths and cunning schemes, to undermine the Muslim community and prevent people from embracing Islam.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays it.' (Sahih Bukhari 33). This hadith relates to the deceptive nature of those described in 58:16 who misuse their oaths.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims must be vigilant against using deception and false promises to advance worldly interests, and should never allow personal gain to become a barrier preventing others from following the path of Allah; sincerity in speech and action is essential, as Allah is ever-aware of our intentions.
Related Ayahs
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allāh is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.
لَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أَتَوا۟ وَّيُحِبُّونَ أَن يُحْمَدُوا۟ بِمَا لَمْ يَفْعَلُوا۟ فَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّهُم بِمَفَازَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
And never think that those who rejoice in what they have perpetrated and like to be praised for what they did not do - never think them [to be] in safety from the punishment, and for them is a painful punishment.
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.