يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُۥ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلْكَـٰذِبُونَ 18
Translations
On the Day Allāh will resurrect them all, and they will swear to Him as they swear to you and think that they are [standing] on something. Unquestionably, it is they who are the liars.
Transliteration
Yawma yab'athuhumu allahu jami'an fa-yahlifuna lahu kama yahlifuna lakum wa-yahsabuna annahum 'ala shay'in ala inna-hum hum al-kadhibun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Day of Resurrection when Allah will raise all people together, and the hypocrites will swear oaths to Allah just as they swore to the believers in this world, deluding themselves that their false oaths hold some weight. However, Allah declares that they are nothing but liars, as their deception and false swearing will be exposed and utterly powerless before Him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse warns of the futility of hypocrisy and false testimony before Allah, whose knowledge encompasses all hidden intentions.
Revelation Context
This surah (Al-Mujadila) was revealed in Medina and addresses the issue of the hypocrites (munafiqun) and their deceptive practices. The broader context of this ayah relates to how hypocrites attempted to conceal their disbelief through false oaths and deceitful behavior, which will be evident to all on the Day of Judgment when Allah gathers all creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said regarding false oaths: 'Whoever swears by Allah, let him be truthful, for Allah is with the truthful' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, regarding hypocrisy on the Day of Judgment, the Quran mentions in Surah At-Taubah 9:65 how the hypocrites make excuses when confronted, exemplifying the deception described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that no deception, however carefully concealed in this world, will escape Allah's justice on the Day of Judgment, and that truthfulness and sincere faith are the only means of success. For modern believers, it emphasizes the importance of internal integrity and honest dealings, knowing that ultimately only truth and sincerity matter before Allah.
Related Ayahs
يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَٱرْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ ٱلْأَمَانِىُّ حَتَّىٰ جَآءَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْغَرُورُ
They [i.e., the hypocrites] will call to them [i.e., the believers], "Were we not with you?" They will say, "Yes, but you afflicted yourselves and awaited [misfortune for us] and doubted, and wishful thinking deluded you until there came the command of Allāh. And the Deceiver [i.e., Satan] deceived you concerning Allāh.
يَحْذَرُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ أَن تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ ۚ قُلِ ٱسْتَهْزِءُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا تَحْذَرُونَ
The hypocrites are apprehensive lest a sūrah be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts. Say, "Mock [as you wish]; indeed, Allāh will expose that which you fear."
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُوا۟ مِنْ عِندِكَ قَالُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ
And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَـٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allāh, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allāh except a little,