ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَرَبَّصُونَ بِكُمْ فَإِن كَانَ لَكُمْ فَتْحٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ وَإِن كَانَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نَصِيبٌ قَالُوٓا۟ أَلَمْ نَسْتَحْوِذْ عَلَيْكُمْ وَنَمْنَعْكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ وَلَن يَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا 141
Translations
Those who wait [and watch] you. Then if you gain a victory from Allāh, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a success, they say [to them], "Did we not gain the advantage over you, but we protected you from the believers?" Allāh will judge between [all of] you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allāh give the disbelievers over the believers a way [to overcome them].
Transliteration
Al-ladhīna yatarabbasus bīkum fa-in kāna lakum fathḥun min al-Allāh qālū a-lam nakun maʿakum wa-in kāna li-l-kāfirīn nasībun qālū a-lam nastahwiz ʿalaykum wa-namnaʿkum min al-muʾminīn fa-al-Allāh yaḥkum baynakum yawm al-qiyāmah wa-lan yajʿal al-Allāh li-l-kāfirīn ʿalā al-muʾminīn sabīlan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who wait to see which side will prevail—if the Muslims gain victory, they claim they were always with them; if the disbelievers gain advantage, they boast of their allegiance to the disbelievers and their ability to prevent Muslims from reaching them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this refers to those who feign belief while maintaining secret ties with the disbelievers, seeking personal benefit from both sides. Allah assures believers that on the Day of Judgment, He will judge between them, and He will never allow the disbelievers to have dominion over the believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period and relates to the broader theme in Surah An-Nisa regarding the hypocrites of Medina who were exposed during various military campaigns. The context addresses the hypocrites' opportunistic behavior during the early Islamic conflicts, particularly their wait-and-see attitude toward the outcome of battles between the Muslims and the disbelievers.
Related Hadiths
The condition of hypocrites is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (Hadith 33) where the Prophet ﷺ describes the signs of a hypocrite: 'Whoever has these four characteristics is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them has one characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it.' Additionally, Surah At-Taubah 9:65-66 addresses hypocrites who make excuses for their statements, directly related to this ayah's theme.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah is fully aware of hidden intentions and insincere hearts, and that true faith requires unwavering commitment rather than opportunistic hedging of bets. It reassures Muslims that despite the presence of hypocrites in their midst, Allah's ultimate justice and divine protection ensure that the disbelievers will never gain lasting dominion over the faithful.