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
كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ عَهْدٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ رَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّمْ عِندَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ فَمَا ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوا۟ لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
How can there be for the polytheists a treaty in the sight of Allāh and with His Messenger, except for those with whom you made a treaty at al-Masjid al-Ḥarām? So as long as they are upright toward you, be upright toward them. Indeed, Allāh loves the righteous [who fear Him].
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ ۚ نَسُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَنَسِيَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allāh, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites - it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.
وَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ أَنْ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَجَـٰهِدُوا۟ مَعَ رَسُولِهِ ٱسْتَـْٔذَنَكَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلطَّوْلِ مِنْهُمْ وَقَالُوا۟ ذَرْنَا نَكُن مَّعَ ٱلْقَـٰعِدِينَ
And when a sūrah was revealed [enjoining them] to believe in Allāh and to fight with His Messenger, those of wealth among them asked your permission [to stay back] and said, "Leave us to be with them who sit [at home]."