إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 142
Translations
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allāh, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allāh except a little,
Transliteration
Inna al-munafiqeen yukhadi'oon Allah wa huwa khadi'uhum wa idha qamu ila as-salah qamu kusala yuraa'un an-nas wa la yadhkurun Allah illa qalilan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites (munafiqun) who attempt to deceive Allah, yet Allah outwits their deception—a logical impossibility that emphasizes the futility of their schemes. When they stand for prayer, they do so lazily and insincerely, performing only to be seen by people rather than for sincere worship, and they remember Allah only minimally. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah exposes the hypocrisy of those whose outward actions contradict their inner disbelief, highlighting that no deception can escape Allah's complete knowledge.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa (revealed in Medina), which extensively discusses the characteristics and punishment of hypocrites who emerged in the early Muslim community. The broader context addresses those who professed Islam outwardly while harboring doubt and disbelief, a significant concern during the Prophet's time in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The sign of the hypocrite is three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Additionally, in Surah At-Tawbah 9:67-68, Allah describes hypocrites as those who forget Him, and He forgets them in turn.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that sincere intention (niyyah) in worship is paramount—Allah cannot be deceived by outward displays of piety divorced from genuine faith and devotion. It serves as a warning against performing good deeds for human approval rather than for Allah's pleasure, reminding us that true worship requires both outer compliance and inner sincerity.
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.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."
يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ ۖ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
They think the companies have not [yet] withdrawn. And if the companies should come [again], they would wish they were in the desert among the bedouins, inquiring [from afar] about your news. And if they should be among you, they would not fight except for a little.
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.