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
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.
فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمْ يَنكُثُونَ
But when We removed from them the affliction, at once they broke their word.
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.
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.