وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتُحَدِّثُونَهُم بِمَا فَتَحَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لِيُحَآجُّوكُم بِهِۦ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 76
Translations
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We have believed"; but when they are alone with one another, they say, "Do you talk to them about what Allāh has revealed to you so they can argue with you about it before your Lord?" Then will you not reason?
Transliteration
Wa-idha laqū alladhīna āmanū qālū āmannā wa-idha khalā ba'ḍuhum ilā ba'ḍin qālū a-tuḥaddithūnahum bimā fataḥa allāhu 'alaykum liyuḥājjūkum bihī 'inda rabbikum a-falā ta'qilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrisy of some people of the Book (Christians and Jews) who would profess belief in Islam when meeting Muslims, but then secretly instructed each other not to share knowledge that Allah had revealed to them, fearing Muslims would use it as evidence against them in argument before Allah. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to their concealment of prophecies about the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and other truths from the Torah and Injil, demonstrating their conscious rejection and deception.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the People of the Book and their attitudes toward Islam (verses 75-79). It was revealed in Madinah during the period when the Prophet (ﷺ) had direct interactions with Jewish tribes and Christian communities, addressing their false claims of faith while secretly harboring enmity and concealing scriptural truths.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself references this behavior in Surah 3:71 regarding similar deceptive practices. Additionally, the concept of true faith versus hypocrisy is addressed in various hadiths on the characteristics of munāfiqūn (hypocrites), such as those recorded in Sahih Bukhari regarding the signs of a hypocrite.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers to be vigilant against hidden hypocrisy and deceit, both in others and within ourselves, and emphasizes the importance of sincerity in faith. It teaches us that withholding truth to gain worldly advantage is a sign of spiritual corruption, and calls us to intellectual honesty and transparency in our dealings with others.
Related Ayahs
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Yes, [on the contrary], whoever submits his face [i.e., self] in Islām to Allāh while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
۞ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ ۚ فَمَن تَعَجَّلَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَن تَأَخَّرَ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ لِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
And remember Allāh during [specific] numbered days. Then whoever hastens [his departure] in two days - there is no sin upon him; and whoever delays [until the third] - there is no sin upon him - for him who fears Allāh. And fear Allāh and know that unto Him you will be gathered.
۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Indeed, aṣ-Ṣafā and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allāh. So whoever makes ḥajj [pilgrimage] to the House or performs ʿumrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allāh is Appreciative and Knowing.
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."