وَقَالَت طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ءَامِنُوا۟ بِٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَجْهَ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱكْفُرُوٓا۟ ءَاخِرَهُۥ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 72
Translations
And a faction of the People of the Scripture say [to each other], "Believe in that which was revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day and reject it at its end that perhaps they will return [i.e., abandon their religion],
Transliteration
Wa qalat taifatun min ahli al-kitabi aminu bi-alladhi unzila ala alladhina amanu wajha al-nahari wa-kfuru akhirahu laallahum yarji'un
Tafsir (Explanation)
A group from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) conspired to outwardly profess belief in the Quran during the day while secretly rejecting it in the evening, hoping to confuse the Muslims and cause them to abandon their faith. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this deceptive strategy was motivated by their desire to sow discord among the believers through hypocrisy and cunning, yet Allah exposed their malicious plot as it was futile against His guidance. This ayah illustrates the depths of spiritual deception and the futility of opposing Allah's truth through deceit.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed during the Medinan period when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was establishing the Muslim community in Madinah, which had significant Jewish tribes. The context reflects the historical tension between the Muslim community and certain groups among the People of the Book who employed psychological warfare and deceptive tactics to undermine Islamic faith.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of hypocrisy: 'The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with something he proves unfaithful' (Sahih Bukhari 33). Also relevant is the broader context of surah Al-Imran which addresses the behavior of those who conceal truth deliberately (3:71).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must remain vigilant against subtle forms of spiritual deception and hypocrisy, both external and internal, recognizing that Allah's truth cannot be undermined by cunning plots. The ayah teaches that sincere faith requires consistency in word and deed, and that attempting to manipulate religion for worldly gain ultimately fails against divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allāh has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast?
أَفَغَيْرَ دِينِ ٱللَّهِ يَبْغُونَ وَلَهُۥٓ أَسْلَمَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
So is it other than the religion of Allāh they desire, while to Him have submitted [all] those within the heavens and earth, willingly or by compulsion, and to Him they will be returned?
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ وَقُودُ ٱلنَّارِ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all. And it is they who are fuel for the Fire.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allāh those who believe, seeking to make it [seem] deviant, while you are witnesses [to the truth]? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do."