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
وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."
فَكَيْفَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَآءُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَتَوْفِيقًا
So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allāh, "We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muḥammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allāh." And Allāh knows that you are His Messenger, and Allāh testifies that the hypocrites are liars.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِى ٱلدَّرْكِ ٱلْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will you find for them a helper -