يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَـٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَـٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ 9
Translations
O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety. And fear Allāh, to whom you will be gathered.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu idha tanajaytum fala tatanajaw bil-ithmi wa-al-udwani wa-muaasiyati ar-rasuli wa-tanajayw bil-birri wa-at-taqwa wa-ittaquw-allah alladhee ilayhi tuhsharuwn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers that when they engage in private conversation (tajannud), they must not do so to plot sin, transgression, or disobedience to the Messenger, but rather their private consultations should be devoted to righteousness and piety. Ibn Kathir explains that this addresses the hypocrites' tendency to whisper among themselves with ill intent, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that the ayah establishes a principle of moral accountability even in private discourse. The closing reminder of Divine accountability on the Day of Judgment reinforces that Allah witnesses all matters, whether public or concealed.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Madinah and addresses various issues of the Muslim community, particularly concerning the hypocrites (munafiqun). This ayah specifically relates to the broader context of warning believers against secret gatherings for wrongdoing, following the pattern of hypocrites who would conspire in whispers. The surah's opening deals with a woman's complaint (hence the name), and this ayah continues the theme of proper Islamic conduct and community ethics.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'When three of you are together, two of you should not speak privately to the exclusion of the third, for this saddens him' (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim). Also relevant is the hadith: 'The best gathering is where people remember Allah, and the worst is where they plot against others' (Tirmidhi), illustrating the principle that private discourse should be morally sound.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that moral conduct extends to their private conversations and secret consultations—there is no realm of life hidden from Allah's knowledge. This teaches that true piety (taqwa) means maintaining ethical standards in both public and private spheres, and that believers should use their private moments for constructive, righteous purposes rather than plotting harm or disobedience.
Related Ayahs
لَّن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
Never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ مَا يَكُونُ مِن نَّجْوَىٰ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلَا خَمْسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلَآ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ ۖ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Have you not considered that Allāh knows what is in the heavens and what is on the earth? There are not three in a private conversation but that He is the fourth of them, nor are there five but that He is the sixth of them - and no less than that and no more except that He is with them [in knowledge] wherever they are. Then He will inform them of what they did, on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allāh is, of all things, Knowing.
لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنْ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
You will not find a people who believe in Allāh and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allāh and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allāh is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allāh. Unquestionably, the party of Allāh - they are the successful.
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.