إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ 1
Translations
When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muḥammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allāh." And Allāh knows that you are His Messenger, and Allāh testifies that the hypocrites are liars.
Transliteration
Idha ja'aka al-munafiqun qalu nashadu innaka la-rasulu Allah. wa-Allah ya'lamu innaka la-rasuluhu wa-Allah yashhadu inna al-munafiqin la-kathibun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
When the hypocrites came to the Prophet (ﷺ), they outwardly testified that he was the Messenger of Allah, yet Allah declares that He knows the truth of his prophethood while simultaneously bearing witness that these hypocrites are liars in their hearts. Ibn Kathir explains that this verse exposes the contradiction between the hypocrites' outward profession and their concealed disbelief, emphasizing that Allah's knowledge of hidden intentions supersedes all false oaths and testimonies. Al-Qurtubi notes that Allah's witness against them serves as divine confirmation of their hypocrisy despite their verbal claims.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Madinah and addresses the reality of hypocrites (munafiqun) who professed Islam verbally while harboring disbelief in their hearts. This opening ayah sets the tone for the entire surah by immediately confronting the contradiction of hypocritical behavior—they claim faith while their deeds and intentions betray them. The specific historical context involves hypocrites during the Prophet's time in Madinah who would affirm his message publicly but work against the Muslim community privately.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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 trusted, he betrays.' (Sahih Bukhari 33) This hadith directly illustrates the reality described in 63:1—the hypocrites' false testimony and hidden dishonesty.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that Allah knows what lies concealed in human hearts, and no false oath or deceptive word can escape His knowledge; therefore, believers should cultivate sincerity in both public and private conduct, knowing that true faith requires alignment between outer actions and inner conviction.
Related Ayahs
طَاعَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ ۚ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ ٱلْأَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ
Obedience and good words. And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been true to Allāh, it would have been better for them.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِهِمْ ضِعْفَيْنِ مِنَ ٱلْعَذَابِ وَٱلْعَنْهُمْ لَعْنًا كَبِيرًا
Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse them with a great curse."
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.
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
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.