۞ قَالَتِ ٱلْأَعْرَابُ ءَامَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِن قُولُوٓا۟ أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَـٰلِكُمْ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 14
Translations
The bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. And if you obey Allāh and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful."
Transliteration
Qalati al-a'rabu amannaa, qul lam tu'minoo wa lakin qooloo aslamnaa wa lamma yadkhuli al-imaanu fee quloobikum, wa in tutee'oo Allaha wa rasoolahu la yalitikum min a'maalikum shay'an, inna Allaha ghafoorun raheem.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah distinguishes between Islam (external submission) and Iman (true faith in the heart), clarifying that the Bedouin Arabs' declaration of belief was merely verbal submission without sincere conviction. The Qur'an instructs them to correct their claim and acknowledge that true faith has not yet entered their hearts, while promising that obedience to Allah and His Messenger will not diminish their deeds—indicating that sincere practice can lead to genuine faith. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah establishes the foundational Islamic principle that true belief requires both external action and internal conviction.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina addressing Bedouin tribes who entered Islam for material gain and worldly benefits rather than genuine spiritual conviction. The context within Surah Al-Hujurat involves addressing social etiquette and sincere belief among the Muslim community, particularly distinguishing the superficial submission of some Bedouin Arabs from the deeper faith required of true believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Faith is what is in the heart, and Iman is not mere utterance of the tongue' (related to themes in Jami' at-Tirmidhi and other collections). Also relevant is the hadith from Sahih Muslim where the Prophet explains that true belief involves the heart, tongue, and limbs working in harmony.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that genuine faith requires both internal conviction and external practice—mere verbal professions without sincere hearts are insufficient for true belief. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to examine the sincerity of our intentions and continuously work to strengthen our faith through obedience to Allah and His Messenger, trusting that Allah's mercy encompasses those who genuinely strive.