ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ 2
Translations
They have taken their oaths as a cover, so they averted [people] from the way of Allāh. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
Transliteration
Ittakhazu aymanahum junnatan fasaddu 'an sabili Allah. Innahum sa'a ma kanu ya'malun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the hypocrites use their oaths as a shield (junnah) to conceal their disbelief and obstruct people from the path of Allah. Ibn Kathir explains that they swear falsely to gain trust and credibility while secretly working against Islam, and their deeds are condemned as evil. Al-Tabari notes that their oaths become a barrier protecting them from accountability in their own minds, yet Allah sees through their deception.
Revelation Context
This surah addresses the hypocrites (munafiqun) of Medina who professed Islam outwardly while harboring disbelief and hostility inwardly. This specific ayah reflects the broader Medinan context where hypocrites would use false oaths and deceptive speech to maintain their position in the Muslim community while undermining Islamic teachings and the Prophet's authority.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The sign of a hypocrite is three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Additionally, Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:2-3 is directly addressed to those who use false oaths, as mentioned in various Hadith collections discussing the characteristics of munafiqun.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns believers against using false speech and oaths to conceal true intentions or mislead others, emphasizing that Allah knows all hidden matters and such deception will ultimately be exposed and condemned. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that authenticity and sincerity in faith cannot be masked by outward appearances or verbal claims.
Related Ayahs
۞ لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madīnah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little,
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَرِهُوا۟ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ
That is because they disliked what Allāh revealed, so He rendered worthless their deeds.
وَكَيْفَ يُحَكِّمُونَكَ وَعِندَهُمُ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةُ فِيهَا حُكْمُ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّوْنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
But how is it that they come to you for judgement while they have the Torah, in which is the judgement of Allāh? Then they turn away, [even] after that; but those are not [in fact] believers.