وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّمَا كُنَّا نَخُوضُ وَنَلْعَبُ ۚ قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ 65
Translations
And if you ask them, they will surely say, "We were only conversing and playing." Say, "Is it Allāh and His verses and His Messenger that you were mocking?"
Transliteration
Wa-la'in sa'altahum layaqulunna innama kunna nakhoudhu wa nal'abu. Qul a-billahi wa ayatihi wa rasoulihi kuntum tastahzi'oun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who mock Allah, His signs, and His Messenger, then claim they were merely joking or playing. Allah's response through the Prophet ﷺ rejects this excuse entirely, emphasizing that mockery of divine matters is a grave sin regardless of intent. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this ayah establishes the principle that jesting about matters of faith is not permissible—the excuse of 'joking' does not absolve one of accountability for words spoken against Allah's deen.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period concerning the hypocrites (munafiqun) and some believers who would mock Islamic teachings and the Prophet ﷺ, then claim innocence by saying they were joking. It is part of the broader context of Surah At-Tawbah, which discusses the treatment of hypocrites and those who violate their covenant with Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever says 'I disbelieve in Allah' as a joke will be held accountable' (Reported by At-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Hadith in Sahih Muslim emphasizes that words spoken without sincere intent are still recorded against a person if they concern matters of the deen.
Themes
Key Lesson
Joking or mocking matters of faith is not acceptable in Islam—one cannot hide behind humor or the claim of 'just playing' when speaking disrespectfully about Allah, His revelation, or His Messenger. Believers should guard their tongues with utmost care regarding religious matters, understanding that all words will be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allāh is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.
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.
لَا يَرْقُبُونَ فِى مُؤْمِنٍ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُعْتَدُونَ
They do not observe toward a believer any pact of kinship or covenant of protection. And it is they who are the transgressors.