يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ لِيُرْضُوكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَحَقُّ أَن يُرْضُوهُ إِن كَانُوا۟ مُؤْمِنِينَ 62
Translations
They swear by Allāh to you [Muslims] to satisfy you. But Allāh and His Messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they were to be believers.
Transliteration
Yahlifūna billāhi lakum liyurḍūkum wallāhu wa rasūluhū aḥaqqu an yurḍūhu in kānū mu'minīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah reproves the hypocrites who swear oaths by Allah to please the Muslims, while their primary concern should be pleasing Allah and His Messenger. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that true faith requires prioritizing the pleasure of Allah and the Messenger over worldly approval or social standing. The conditional phrase 'if they were believers' underscores that genuine faith necessitates this proper ordering of loyalties.
Revelation Context
This ayah is situated within Surah At-Tawbah's broader treatment of the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who inhabited Madinah. It addresses the specific behavior of those who made false oaths to gain the trust of the Muslim community while harboring doubt and disloyalty. The context involves the military campaigns and the exposed character of those whose faith was superficial.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of sincere intention: Sahih Bukhari (1:1) - 'Actions are by intentions, and every person will have what they intended.' Also relevant: Sunan Ibn Majah - Hadith on avoiding hypocrisy and ensuring one's deeds are for Allah's pleasure alone.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must examine their intentions and ensure they seek Allah's and the Messenger's pleasure above all else, rather than chasing social approval or worldly recognition. This ayah teaches that authentic faith is demonstrated through our priorities and loyalties, not merely through outward gestures or convenient oaths.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُۥ بِٱلْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ كُلِّهِۦ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُشْرِكُونَ
It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allāh dislike it.
فَإِن رَّجَعَكَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَىٰ طَآئِفَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ فَٱسْتَـْٔذَنُوكَ لِلْخُرُوجِ فَقُل لَّن تَخْرُجُوا۟ مَعِىَ أَبَدًا وَلَن تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ مَعِىَ عَدُوًّا ۖ إِنَّكُمْ رَضِيتُم بِٱلْقُعُودِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ فَٱقْعُدُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلْخَـٰلِفِينَ
If Allāh should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind."
۞ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْأَحْبَارِ وَٱلرُّهْبَانِ لَيَأْكُلُونَ أَمْوَٰلَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَيَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَكْنِزُونَ ٱلذَّهَبَ وَٱلْفِضَّةَ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَهَا فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
O you who have believed, indeed many of the scholars and the monks devour the wealth of people unjustly and avert [them] from the way of Allāh. And those who hoard gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allāh - give them tidings of a painful punishment.
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.