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
وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhājireen and the Anṣār and those who followed them with good conduct - Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and be with those who are true.
أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Would you not fight against a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allāh has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ ٱلتَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَأْخُذُ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Do they not know that it is Allāh who accepts repentance from His servants and receives charities and that it is Allāh who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful?