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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

bookmark 1. When the hypocrites come to you, they say, “We bear witness that you are God’s Messenger.” God knows that you are His Messenger, and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars.

1. إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَكَٰذِبُونَ

bookmark 2. They treat their oaths as a cover, and so they repel others from God’s path. Evil is what they do.

2. ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةًۭ فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

bookmark 3. That is because they believed, and then disbelieved; so their hearts were sealed, and they cannot understand.

3. ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ءَامَنُوا۟ ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا۟ فَطُبِعَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ

bookmark 4. When you see them, their appearance impresses you. And when they speak, you listen to what they say. They are like propped-up timber. They think every shout is aimed at them. They are the enemy, so beware of them. God condemns them; how deluded they are!

4. ۞ وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ تُعْجِبُكَ أَجْسَامُهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَقُولُوا۟ تَسْمَعْ لِقَوْلِهِمْ ۖ كَأَنَّهُمْ خُشُبٌۭ مُّسَنَّدَةٌۭ ۖ يَحْسَبُونَ كُلَّ صَيْحَةٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ هُمُ ٱلْعَدُوُّ فَٱحْذَرْهُمْ ۚ قَٰتَلَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ أَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ

bookmark 5. And when it is said to them, “Come, the Messenger of God will ask forgiveness for you,” they bend their heads, and you see them turning away arrogantly.

5. وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْا۟ يَسْتَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ لَوَّوْا۟ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَرَأَيْتَهُمْ يَصُدُّونَ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ

bookmark 6. It is the same for them, whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; God will not forgive them. God does not guide the sinful people.

6. سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَسْتَغْفَرْتَ لَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تَسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ لَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْفَٰسِقِينَ

bookmark 7. It is they who say: “Do not spend anything on those who side with God’s Messenger, unless they have dispersed.” To God belong the treasures of the heavens and the earth, but the hypocrites do not understand.

7. هُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ لَا تُنفِقُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَنْ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ حَتَّىٰ يَنفَضُّوا۟ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ خَزَآئِنُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ

bookmark 8. They say, “If we return to the City, the more powerful therein will evict the weak.” But power belongs to God, and His Messenger, and the believers; but the hypocrites do not know.

8. يَقُولُونَ لَئِن رَّجَعْنَآ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَيُخْرِجَنَّ ٱلْأَعَزُّ مِنْهَا ٱلْأَذَلَّ ۚ وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِۦ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

bookmark 9. O you who believe! Let neither your possessions nor your children distract you from the remembrance of God. Whoever does that—these are the losers.

9. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَٰلُكُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰسِرُونَ

bookmark 10. And give from what We have provided for you, before death approaches one of you, and he says, “My Lord, if only You would delay me for a short while, so that I may be charitable, and be one of the righteous.”

10. وَأَنفِقُوا۟ مِن مَّا رَزَقْنَٰكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِىَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَيَقُولَ رَبِّ لَوْلَآ أَخَّرْتَنِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ قَرِيبٍۢ فَأَصَّدَّقَ وَأَكُن مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ

bookmark 11. But God will not delay a soul when its time has come. God is Informed of what you do.

11. وَلَن يُؤَخِّرَ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهَا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

Context of Revelation

Surah Al-Munāfiqūn (The Hypocrites) is a Medinan surah consisting of 11 verses. It was revealed after the Battle of Banū al-Muṣṭaliq, during a time when hypocrisy began to appear openly within the Muslim community in Medina. The title, “Al-Munāfiqūn,” refers to the hypocrites—those who outwardly claim faith while concealing disbelief and opposition to the Prophet .

The surah aims to expose hypocritical behavior and remind believers of the importance of sincerity and vigilance in faith. It warns against duplicity, arrogance, and heedlessness of divine remembrance.

Main Teachings and Key Insights

Surah Al-Munāfiqūn focuses on inner sincerity and the dangers of hypocrisy within the community. Its key teachings include:

  • The description of hypocrites: they swear falsely about their belief and cause division among the faithful. (vv. 1–3)
  • The root of their corruption: pride and neglect of God’s remembrance. (v. 3)
  • Their harmful influence on the community: they discourage believers and spread discord. (vv. 4–8)
  • The call to spiritual awareness: believers are urged not to be distracted by wealth or family from remembering God. (vv. 9–11)

The surah reveals the contrast between appearance and true faith, urging self-purification and constant remembrance of God as safeguards against moral decline.

Structure and Main Themes

  • Introduction (vv. 1–3): the exposure of the hypocrites’ false declarations and deceit.
  • Moral portrait (vv. 4–8): depiction of their arrogance, manipulation, and plots against the Prophet .
  • Spiritual reminder (vv. 9–11): a warning to believers to remain focused on God and not be distracted by worldly attachments.

The tone of the surah is stern and reflective: it protects the community from the moral dangers of hypocrisy while calling each believer to examine their own sincerity and devotion.

Key Verse

The central verse of the surah is verse 9:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

O you who believe! Let neither your wealth nor your children distract you from the remembrance of God. And whoever does so—it is they who are the losers.

Why this verse is key:

  • It emphasizes the essence of sincerity: a believer’s heart must remain centered on divine remembrance, not material gain.
  • It draws the line between genuine faith and hypocrisy: the hypocrite’s attachment to wealth leads to spiritual neglect.
  • It summarizes the moral message of the surah: constant awareness of God protects against the corruption of the heart and the illusions of worldly success.

In summary, Surah Al-Munāfiqūn is a warning against moral and spiritual hypocrisy. It teaches that true faith resides in the heart’s constancy, sincerity of intention, and steadfast remembrance of God—safeguarding believers from arrogance and material distraction.

Surah Al-Munafiqun
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