بَشِّرِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا 138
Translations
Give tidings to the hypocrites that there is for them a painful punishment -
Transliteration
Bashshir al-munafiqeen bi-anna lahum adhaban aleem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to give glad tidings (bashshir) to the hypocrites (munafiqun) of a painful punishment awaiting them in the Hereafter. The use of 'bashshir' (give good news) is employed ironically here—what is good news for the believers is torment for those who conceal faith while outwardly professing it. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this severe warning emphasizes that hypocrisy is among the gravest sins, as the hypocrites' deception of both Allah and His community will result in the lowest depths of Hellfire.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa's extended discussion of hypocrites (ayahs 138-145), revealed in Medina during a period when the Muslim community faced significant threats from those who feigned belief while secretly undermining the message. The broader context addresses the characteristics and ultimate fate of hypocrites who refused sincere commitment to Islam despite living among the believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The hypocrite is like a sheep between two flocks—he goes with this one and that one.' (Sahih Muslim 2784). Additionally, Surah At-Tawbah 9:68 describes the hypocrites' punishment: 'Allah has promised the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of Hell, wherein they will abide eternally.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that sincere faith cannot be feigned before Allah—He knows what lies in hearts—and that outward compliance without inner conviction leads to severe consequences. It serves as a powerful deterrent against spiritual duplicity and encourages genuine, wholehearted commitment to Islamic principles.
Related Ayahs
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.
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.
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And [remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, "Allāh and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion,"
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ فَإِذَآ أُوذِىَ فِى ٱللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ ٱلنَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَئِن جَآءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْ ۚ أَوَلَيْسَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَعْلَمَ بِمَا فِى صُدُورِ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allāh," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allāh, he considers the trial [i.e., harm] of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allāh. But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you." Is not Allāh most knowing of what is within the breasts of the worlds [i.e., all creatures]?