وَيَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَبِٱلرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعْنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّىٰ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ ۚ وَمَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 47
Translations
But they [i.e., the hypocrites] say, "We have believed in Allāh and in the Messenger, and we obey"; then a party of them turns away after that. And those are not believers.
Transliteration
Wa yaqooluna amanna billahi wa bir-rasuli wa ata'na, thumma yatawalla fareequn minhum min ba'di dhalik, wa ma ula'ika bil-mu'mineen.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites (munafiqun) who verbally claim belief in Allah and His Messenger and profess obedience, yet subsequently turn away from the Quranic guidance and divine commands. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that such individuals contradict themselves through their actions, and Allah explicitly declares that these people are not true believers, for genuine faith must be accompanied by consistent obedience and adherence to Islamic principles. The ayah serves as a stern warning that mere verbal profession of faith without corresponding action is hollow and rejected by Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nur (Chapter 24), a Medinan surah revealed during a period when the Muslim community was dealing with internal challenges from hypocrites who outwardly claimed faith but secretly opposed the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic teachings. The broader context addresses the characteristics of hypocrites and the importance of sincere belief paired with righteous action.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks his promise; and when he is trusted, he betrays.' (Sahih Bukhari) This directly relates to the contradiction described in 24:47 between claims and actions.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith in Islam is not merely a matter of words but requires consistent alignment between belief, speech, and action. For modern believers, it serves as a reminder to examine the sincerity of their claims to faith and ensure their daily behavior reflects genuine submission to Allah's commands.